Who to Choose

[Tiger Spirit]

Who to choose?
22 July, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal/exclusive to afl.com.au

The decision by Hawthorn to replace Peter Schwab has dramatically raised the stakes in the AFL coaching merry-go-round with three AFL clubs - Adelaide, Richmond and Hawthorn - now on the hunt for new coaches.

Unlike this season's two earlier coaching victims - Adelaide's Gary Ayres and Richmond's Danny Frawley - Schwab did have a contract for 2005 but the Hawks decided not to honor it in the wake of the club winning just two of its first 16 games this year as they head for the wooden spoon for the first time since 1965.

Schwab, like Frawley, will coach out the remainder of the season as the Hawks go head-to-head in a battle with their neighbours Richmond to secure the best possible coach for next season.

The Hawks' decision on Wednesday to sack Schwab also all but guarantees the return to coaching of at least one, or probably both, of Terry Wallace and Rodney Eade - the two highly-respected former coaches who have been out of action since both quit during the 2002 season.

And it also raises the prospect of former Geelong and Adelaide coach Ayres getting a third shot at AFL coaching, given he is not only a former Hawthorn premiership player but a close friend of Dermott Brereton - one of five members on the sub-committee that will be responsible for appointing the Hawks' next coach.

However given Wallace and Eade are also both former Hawthorn premiership players and both have fine coaching records - with the Bulldogs and Sydney respectively - it's fair to say those two would be the favourites to land the Hawks' job, as they are already are the Richmond job.

And while speculation has stand-in coach and local hero Neil Craig as the man most likely to be appointed to the Adelaide job in 2005, the Crows would be bereft in their duty if they also did not consider two men with the coaching credentials of Eade and Wallace.

So former Sydney grand final coach Eade and two-time Bulldog preliminary final coach Wallace could yet have the pick of the three jobs available.

Here are the pros and cons of coaching Adelaide, Hawthorn and Richmond in 2005.

ADELAIDE:

Pros: By far the financially strongest of the three clubs looking for a new coach, with the Crows amongst the AFL heavyweights such as Collingwood, Essendon and West Coast when it comes to providing resources for an AFL coach. It is also the most stable off the field in terms of administration and the new coach would be guaranteed little upheaval for at least two to three years as he tried to re-build the Crows. The list is also not that bad, with the Crows' percentage of over 100 this season - despite just five wins - showing how competitive they actually are.

Cons: While there is pressure involved in coaching any AFL club, coaching Adelaide is probably the second highest profile job in South Australia behind being state premier. With just two teams in Australia's most passionate football state, there is extraordinary public pressures on the Adelaide coach and if that coach just happens to hail from outside South Australia then the pressure to perform and satisfy the parochial local media is that much more intense. And many of the Crows' best players such as Ben Hart (age 30), Andrew McLeod (28 next month), Mark Stevens (29 at the end of this year), Mark Riccuito (29), Tyson Edwards (28 next month) and Simon Goodwin (28 at the end of this year) are also getting towards the latter stage of their careers meaning it may take a long time to build the Crows' into a team capable of not just making the eight but challenging for the flag.

HAWTHORN:

Pros: The three leading contenders for the job (Eade, Wallace and Ayres) all began their distinguished careers at Hawthorn and would relish the chance of going "home" to resurrect the once great club's fortunes. The Hawks are also in solid shape financially, have a growing if not huge supporter base and play their home games at Australia's premier sporting ground - the MCG. The club is also planning to move into new, state-of-the-art facilities at Waverley next year, which will ensure the new coach will have far more resources at his disposal than the coach of most Victorian clubs. And even though the Hawks are last on the ladder, they have plenty of quality key position players still at their disposal such as Jon Hay, Trent Croad, Nathan Thompson and Peter Everitt as well as inspirational skipper Shane Crawford.

Cons: The Hawks are at their lowest ebb for 40 years and even with the likely priority draft picks that will come their way this season, the list is going to take plenty of re-building and it could be years before the Hawks are contenders again. The threat of a board challenge to president Ian Dicker and the current administration is also a huge worry as any prospective AFL coach would want to know just who he is working for and who he will be answerable to. And as Schwab and before him Ken Judge and Peter Knights learned, it is virtually impossible for any modern-day Hawthorn coach to live up to the feats of Allan Jeans and Alan Joyce, who between them steered the Hawks into eight grand finals in nine years between 1983-91.

RICHMOND:

Pros: Whoever takes charge simply couldn't do any worse at a club which has made the finals just twice since 1982. And with such a massive, passionate and success-starved army of fans, the Richmond coach that eventually gets it right and leads the club back to the glory days of the 1970's and 1980's would have the kind of public profile and pay packet any coach would dream of. And while the Tigers are at a low ebb at the moment they have at least unveiled some players in recent years such as Mark Coughlan, Chris Newman and this year's newcomers Daniel Jackson, Kelvin Moore, Tom Roach and Brent Hartigan who suggest they might have long AFL careers ahead of them.

Cons: Is there a more poisoned chalice in football than being coach of Richmond? The Tigers have gone through 12 coaches in 28 years since their greatest ever coach Tom Hafey departed in 1976. The club's army of fans, so frustrated and angry by years of constant failure, will demand success immediately even though the Tigers playing list is one of the worst in the competition. The club is also facing a $2 million loss this season, which will not only affect just what kind of salary they can offer a new coach (particularly compared to wealthier Adelaide and Hawthorn) but just how many resources the new coach will have at his disposal. The financial position also raises the question of whether the Tigers will be able to pay the full 100 percent of their salary cap next year, making it harder for the club to be competitive and attract new players. And last but certainly not least the current board - led by president Clinton Casey - is facing an imminent challenge for control at Punt Road and few clubs have the ability to let such situations get out of hand like Richmond, which may well scare off potential coaches or delay the naming of Danny Frawley's successor.

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=161577

[mightytiges]

The Tigers have gone through 12 coaches in 28 years since their greatest ever coach Tom Hafey departed in 1976.

That old line is totally irrelevant now. If we can stick by Frawley for 5 years then it would be safe to say that the new coach would getting similar backing.

The club's army of fans, so frustrated and angry by years of constant failure, will demand success immediately even though the Tigers playing list is one of the worst in the competition.

Who's demanding success immediately  ???

The club is also facing a $2 million loss this season, which will not only affect just what kind of salary they can offer a new coach (particularly compared to wealthier Adelaide and Hawthorn) but just how many resources the new coach will have at his disposal.
[The financial position also raises the question of whether the Tigers will be able to pay the full 100 percent of their salary cap next year, making it harder for the club to be competitive and attract new players.

Paying 100% of the cap doesn't mean success as we all know too well. The TPP will be reduced to 97% (hardly slash and burn stuff) and the reduced payments hopefully will see the end of $$$ and long-term contracts for little return. As we are rebuilding and heading down the youth path we shouldn't have any problem over the next couple of years drafting and keeping talented kids as well as staying within 97% of the cap.

And last but certainly not least the current board - led by president Clinton Casey - is facing an imminent challenge for control at Punt Road and few clubs have the ability to let such situations get out of hand like Richmond, which may well scare off potential coaches or delay the naming of Danny Frawley's successor.

It's the uncertainity of when the challenge may happen and who is part of this challenge which could cost us. A new coach would accept a changing of the board if he could sit down with the alternative to discuss their plans and if they are of similar mind to his. At the moment all we have is a threat of a challenge by Schwab and Welsh through the media and Michael threating to force a EGM. This is why Michael's petition is flawed. It only increases uncertainty as he has presents a vote with no alternative at a time when we need to present decisiveness.

[Harry]

Hear hear Mighty Mouse - well said

The media like to hang on to the notion that we are trigger happy when it comes to caoches.  But there's nothing further from the truth atm.  If we can keep a half brained potato for 5 years then any other coach would be guaranteed stability.

Also most supporters are aware that we ned to rebuild and would all be patient for 5+ years if the coaching staff also recognise this and go through a proper rebuilding program based on recruiting and developing talented kids.  As a result the 97% of the salary cap argument doesn't stand.

I advise Paul Gough to do some more research as he really is struggling to come up with an article.

[Ox]

The Tigers have gone through 12 coaches in 28 years since their greatest ever coach Tom Hafey departed in 1976.

So what !

A guy with his schit together would not be intimidated by such a statistic.

[WilliamPowell]

Cons: Is there a more poisoned chalice in football than being coach of Richmond?

Debatable at best - I reckon you could throw in a couple of others in there. How disappointing it must be that we haven't sacked a coach for 5 years

The club's army of fans, so frustrated and angry by years of constant failure, will demand success immediately even though the Tigers playing list is one of the worst in the competition.

"Demanding success immediately" - that is absolute crap .

I think it is fair to say that the majority on this board have stated and are prepared for a few more years of poor to average seasons. More importantly we are prepared to accept it as long as the Club sticks to its plan to rebuild - we will be patient. Chop and change the plan and people will get frustrated.

Regarding our list: although they are a number of players that are not up to standard. I think there are some others that are just as bad as ours

[gustiger12]

And Goughy is a Tigers supporter after his beloved Royboys went down the girgler. ???

[Ox]

Hey Willy Pee,

Can we start a journalists board where we can disect the individual  bastards fictional dribble and prove
on a public forum just how much of what they say is pure schit.

Journalist board.

Run it the same way u run the comp board.

End of the year we can crucify the arsholes with their own words.

[mightytiges]

Hawks hat fits best for Wallace
24 July 2004   
Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan

RICHMOND and Adelaide already have registered their interest in Terry Wallace as a prospective coach.
 
A chat with a coaching sub-committee at one, an expression of interest by phone from the other.

If Hawthorn hasn't done something similar just yet, it will, and as soon as this weekend.

Wallace is in an extraordinary position: at or near the top on the list of possible coaches at three AFL clubs.

He is understood to be Richmond's primary target, marginally ahead of Rodney Eade; he is tipped to be Hawthorn's first choice; and he is regarded as the most likely alternative to Neil Craig in Adelaide.

Wallace may have botched his departure from the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 2002 season, but he didn't damage his reputation.

His record – 79 wins from 148 games (53.3 per cent – is healthy, his enthusiasm is undeniable, there is no keener student, and, not to put too fine a point on it, he is media-friendly.

He is sitting pretty. So, what will convince him to pick one ahead of the other if it comes to a choice?

Knowing Wallace, it will be almost a mathematical exercise. He will list the pros and cons, weigh the ticks against the crosses, and come to a decision.

My guess is he will end up at Hawthorn. Not because he has playing history at Glenferrie, but because he believes that's where he is best suited.

Be in no doubt, his decision will be based on logic, not emotion, hope or romance.

List strength

Hawthorn: Nowhere near as good as most of us predicted, as 16th position and two wins from 16 rounds tell us. Everitt has been outstanding and Croad encouraging. Hodge, still just 20, continues to blossom.

Richmond: The Tigers also have failed to live up to pre-season expectations, although the most optimistic prediction was a spot in the bottom of the eight. Bowden is reborn, while Richo has stuck at his task in typical fashion, and Brown has added a dose of class.

Adelaide: An ageing list was knocked round by a batch of injuries to key men, including Hart, Goodwin and Stevens. Five wins is a poor return.

Ricciuto has been the main man yet again, with good support from Edwards and McLeod.


List flexibility

Hawthorn: Will be rewarded with two selections in the first three or four at the national draft. Will be happy to trade, but will struggle to move Nick Holland and John Barker at the money.

Jonathan Hay and Angelo Lekkas represent the best trade bait.

Richmond: The Tigers also are in line for a priority choice, which would give them two selections in the first four or five.

The kids look exciting: Schulz, Hartigan, Roach, Jackson, Gilmour, Raines.

Ottens would create huge excitement if made available, but Richmond might have invested too much time and money to give up on him just yet.

Gaspar – reputation badly damaged this year – might be happier going home to Perth. He will be better.

Adelaide: The Crows have to hang on to what quality they have, and finally confront rebuilding via the draft.

Bizarre as it sounds, they have made just three top 30 selections in the past five drafts: Laurence Angwin (2000), Brent Reilly (2001), Fergus Watts (2003).

Internal expectations

Hawthorn: The Hawks are talking a rebuilding program of anywhere from 3-5 years. A rather gloomier assessment than the flag talk six months ago.

The new coach will be given time, a rare commodity in the modern game.

Richmond: Reality has hit home at Punt Rd: the place needs to be reblocked and rebuilt.

Greg Miller will settle on a mix of youth and experience and try to grab another Nathan Brown (or Dean Solomon) but, with three of the first 25 draft selections, the emphasis will be on youth.

Adelaide: For reasons that escaped most of us, the Crows thought they could finish in the top four this year.

The hopes for 2005 must be more realistic. Off-field stability and financial strength, coupled with a home-ground edge, are handy, yet a competitive team remains the basic requirement.

Administration

Richmond: The performance has been poor to fair. How can it be rated any higher when the team is in the bottom four for the third year in a row, with another loss of $2 million to come?

Hawthorn: Similar mark to Hawthorn. It has been a season of crisis after crisis, on and off the field. As Shane Crawford said the club has been "all over the shop".

Adelaide: Sound, as always. A cash flow that would fund New Zealand, no rumblings, not even a hint of fallout from the decision to dump Gary Ayres.

Leadership

Richmond: Time for change. Loyal servant Wayne Campbell at 32 (in September), should be left to concentrate on his game. Too soon for Coughlan. Kane Johnson by default.

Hawthorn: Time for change here, too. Neither the club nor Crawford showed the other much respect this week, which tells us something.

Too soon for Hodge. Has to be one of Thompson, Vandenberg or Everitt.

Adelaide: Ricciuto is a strong, visible leader and gets good support.

The X-factor

Richmond's instability and recent history is against it, while Adelaide eats Victorian coaches like apples.

Hawthorn also carries a major query on stability in the form of Don Scott and the growing toll on Ian Dicker.I have a hunch Wallace will find himself headed back to Glenferrie.

Bet he never thought Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton ever would be offering him a job.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10226840%255E19771,00.html

[mightytiges]

If you read Sheahan's article, on-field out of the three clubs Richmond has the best potential for a new coach to play with given our promising kids yet is the poorer (in more ways than one) of the three clubs off-field. A good AFL coach should come in seeing this potential in the playing list and drag the whole club, kicking and screaming if need be, to where it needs to be. That's the kinda of coach we definitely need. At the consistently top clubs, the coach is the front man; the president or CEO hardly says boo in the media. 

[gustiger12]

Two, well maybe 3 things SHEEHAN didn't consider.

1.  Can one club accommodate Wallace and Dermies egos;
2.  Todays performance against the Roos; and
3.  Jason Piggy DUNSTALL acting as your CEO.