Frawley: Lyon an option
18 July 2004
Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph and Scot Palmer
RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley believes the Tigers' administration should cast the net wide to find their next leader and didn't necessarily need an experienced coach.
Tigers president Clinton Casey recently said the club was likely to appoint a seasoned coach, but Frawley yesterday said the likes of Garry Lyon and AFL assistant coaches should also be in the picture.
"Obviously (Terry) Wallace and (Rodney) Eade are very good coaches and they will get a coaching gig, and if it's not this year it will be in the near future," he said on Triple M.
"I was lucky enough to get an opportunity, and there's a lot of good coaches out there that need an opportunity, whether they have been coaches or are in the system as an AFL assistant coach, and also there's a few good guys in the media.
"I look forward to seeing Garry Lyon out there. I look forward to seeing his hair turn grey."
He joked that former players turned media stars such as Lyon should "put your balls on the line" and risk their reputations on a senior coaching role.
Frawley said he would sit down with ruckman Brad Ottens to discuss his ongoing future at the club.
Ottens, out of contract this year, will wait until season's end to consider offers from other clubs, including those from hometown South Australia.
Frawley said that while Ottens' year had been better than some critics thought, he had a big decision ahead.
"I get on really well with Brad," he said. "We have come through together and we expected bigger things from the team and individual, and I would be keen to sit down and see what he wants to get out of the rest of the year, and more importantly the future and see what lies within."
He said that the next Richmond coach needed time to develop a side, an opportunity he was not always afforded.
"I see our club of the next three years being really patient and that's something that hasn't really happened in my time," he said.
He again raised the prospect of a return to coaching at some stage.
"I know I am going to come out of it a better person and a better coach," he said.
Captain Wayne Campbell has revealed he has been kept in the loop with all the Tigers' latest moves.
Campbell, who has seen six coaches, four chief executives and three Presidents at Punt Rd in the past decade, disclosed he has regular discussions with football director Greg Miller on what changes were being made to the club.
"Unfortunately I've been through a few too many during my career but we've put all our faith in Greg Miller to hopefully get things right," he said.
Former Bulldog coach Terry Wallace denied rumours this week he had lunch at the Flower Drum restaurant with Richmond officials.
President Clinton Casey said yesterday that any one approached had been promised absolute confidentiality and were assured they would not read their names next day in the newspaper.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10169117%255E19771,00.html
