Seeing Grant Thomas go about things and then watching Peter Schwab point to a few of his players at 3 quarter time against Geelong on the weekend inspired me to put fingers to keyboard. (And no, this has nothing to do with the fact that I had the temerity to tip Hawthorn on the weekend. What was I thinking, I ask myself?).
It’s all well and good for Peter Schwab to point the finger at his players, but perhaps he should look to see how many fingers are pointing back at him. From my limited insight into the Hawks, the players he was pointing at have not delivered for some time now, not just last weekend’s match. Their efforts are reflective of the approach by their match committee, I believe. It’s great that they have faith in their players, but I doubt it’s great when it’s to their own detriment and that of the team they play for. And the same applies to Richmond.
Rather than wanting to denigrate the efforts of anyone, I merely want to point out the differences I see in the approach of Grant Thomas, Peter Schwab and Danny Frawley. I think most people acknowledge and agree that Peter Schwab and Danny Frawley are great blokes and you couldn’t question their commitment to their respective clubs. However, the difference in approach by these two, compared to Grant Thomas, is of gi-normous proportions, to my way of thinking.
On paper, neither Richmond nor the Hawks are a Brisbane, on the field, or even on paper, but you would think that, given a different approach, both Clubs could produce better than they have since 2001. And they could do worse than to take a leaf out of Grant Thomas’ book, even if it sounds like mumbo jumbo. Because if they want the fortunes of their team to change for the better, they have to realise that change starts with them and their players need to respond or risk the consequences. Obviously, players have to be responsible for the part the play, but somehow, the responsibility always seem to have a way of coming back to the Coach.
If anyone needs evidence of the merits of a change in approach, one only needs to see the difference that it has made to the fortunes of Melbourne this season. Neale Daniher has changed his attitude and his team has turned things around on the field. At least for the moment. Whether it can be sustained is another thing, because a successful Club needs to all be pulling in the one direction. Maybe they are starting to do that. We will wait and see.
Things all seem like smooth sailing for the Saints right now, but when Grant Thomas took over from Malcolm Blight, there was disbelief in the football world. When Thomas and Rod Butterss spoke, there was perhaps much rolling of the eyes and shaking of the head by those who weren’t still scratching their head at the decision.
Thomas and Butterss have a lingo all their own that is foreign to footy. Enough to make anyone doubt they could turn their Club around or that the right call had been made on Blight. A couple of seasons on and how things have changed and it is perhaps hard to believe that they could turn the whole culture of a Club around in such a short time. The job is nowhere near finished, but they are a lot further down the track than some thought they could ever be.
And even though they haven’t achieved anything real just yet, the transformation, so far, is something to be proud of. And it gives others hope that it is possible and achievable, if you have the right people with the courage of their convictions to bring about real change.
When Thomas speaks, you know he has and is still setting the standards and foundations for a successful team and therefore Club. The transformation in his team, the progress of his young players and the maturity they show is inspiring to see. By all accounts, he’s no strategist, but that doesn’t seem to be hampering his team at the minute. Obviously, having players with ability is one thing, but being able to harness that and creating a united front, on and off the field, is another and helps overcome any perceived weaknesses. Or maybe he’s learning on the job.
On the other hand, when Peter Schwab and Danny Frawley speak, you wonder where their next win is going to come from and at times you wish the season would hurry up and end, for their sake as well as their players. Not only that, you wonder how players and teams can progress under Coaches weighed down by so much pressure, for such extended periods of time, because they seem to be forever distracted by outside influences, and things they can’t control, to ever have enough time and energy to devote to players and the long-term cause.
As unfair as it may seem that inexperienced coaches, or any Coach for that matter, could come under such intense scrutiny and criticism, the reality could turn out to be that, ultimately, all their Club’s problems turn out to be their fault.
We’ll have to wait and see whether either or both of them will become victims of their own inexperience/lack of awareness and also the inability of their Club’s to assist them to develop themselves and their players?
If neither of them is suited to the role, then that is one thing, but what you rarely get to find out is whether it’s the Clubs who aren’t prepared to recognise and acknowledge their own deficiencies.
Perhaps the fact that the same mistakes continue to be made by some Clubs and that they continue to be unsuccessful answers that to some degree.
