ANDREW BEWS: Richmond needs Matthews to become Lethal again
Joel Cresswell
June 3rd, 2009
I WONDER how hard it would be to get myself an interview for the Richmond gig?
I'm pretty good mates with Anthony Mithen and I reckon I would interview well - I can talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles.
I've kept my hand in coaching, three seasons at Williamstown in the VFL, local football at senior level, I've even coached kids to get that grass roots feel.
The football manual I put together with my colleagues at Willy would need to be brushed up a tad but would serve as the centrepiece of how I would sell my ideas with the help of a beautiful power point presentation and plenty of handouts for my assessment panel.
The only problem from here is I don't want to do it, I value my family life too much.
Anyway, I was interested to read that the Tigers believe they need a young coach to build for the future.
My train of thinking is that they need an experienced, strong, committed individual who actually has a senior history of building success.
If I was on the board my first six interviews would be with Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse, Malcolm Blight, Kevin Sheedy, Dennis Pagan and Grant Thomas.
Matthews would be number one.
On two occasions he has been able to shake up shabby organisations and set them on the path to the ultimate glory.
Back in the '80s the Pies had the vision to recruit a coach from outside the club who had experienced consistent success (at the Hawks) over a long period.
After achieving a premiership at Collingwood Matthews became a commentator before he was called upon by the Brisbane Lions to straighten out a club which had plenty of potential but was unable to tap into it.
Within four years the club grabbed its first premiership and would see three more appearances on footy's ultimate stage.
Matthews obviously knows what it takes to get the job done and the Tigers need someone who knows what they're doing from day one.
The question is whether Leigh would want to leave the media now to do it?
My second pick would be Malcolm Blight, he was hugely successful at Geelong and Adelaide before being offered a poisoned chalice to take charge at St Kilda.
I have no doubt Malcolm would have all the tricks to get the job done but I think he's in a pretty happy space enjoying life away from the pressure cooker.
Pagan, Sheedy and Thomas present interesting scenarios.
I think Both Pagan and Thomas would crawl over broken glass to get the job and both have the ability and strength of mind to lead the club in their own right.
Dennis was criticised at Carlton for his inability to bridge the generation gap and it appears he's gone back to school at the TAC Cup club Northern Knights to work with Generation Y.
Then there's Sheeds, who could be a good choice just to give the Tigers players a new perspective on life, it would be like being coached by a Hindu Monk from up in the mountains - I think we'll leave it at that.
The next tier of suitors present different pathways.
Some of them have coached outside the AFL system with a degree of success.
Ken Hinkley coached Camperdown and Bell Park to premierships, Peter Jonas has coached in the SANFL as has Shaun Rehn, Todd Viney coached Moama and was also a fitness advisor in the tennis world.
Most of the other guys on the shortlist haven't left the safety and sanctity of the AFL system and never having coached in their own right, should have a question mark over their heads.
Justin Leppitsch, John Longmire, Brian Royal, Gary O'Donnell and Peter Sumich have all sat on the right hand side of the coach since retiring.
Then there's another group who may well have the skills but if they don't have the right communication/presentation skills they won't get a look in.
I can think of some guys who are excellent assistant coaches but will never be considered for senior roles.
Adrian Fletcher for one is too shy, Brendan McCartney at the Cats would probably interview very well but doesn't pump up his own tires enough. While this massive talent pool presents a myriad of opportunities, it also means there is a greater chance of making the wrong choice.
It's crucial the two guys on the Tiger board are heavily involved in the process, ex-captain Tony Free and Mitho.
These guys would be the ones to assemble an assessment group to shortlist the possible suitors.
In that assessment group I'd include Rob Walls, David Parkin, Tony Shaw, Graham Cornes and Kevin Sheedy.
You'd never get this group into a room together but I reckon you'd find that this mix would come up with the best candidate to make an impact on the Richmond Football Club.
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