Coaches Association sends tanking memo to coachesMike Sheahan | July 23, 2009
THE AFL Coaches' Association has called for a united voice from its members on the so-called tanking issue. Association chief executive Danny Frawley sent a message to all coaches yesterday on the importance of solidarity.
Frawley, a former Richmond coach, also offered his members responses to any questions from the media on tanking.
In a memo sent yesterday in response to a story in the Herald Sun on tanking, Frawley said: "We don't want to be part of it. We don't want to be talking about it, as any discussion by coaches about tanking not only adds fuel to the fire, but brings our own integrity, both personally and collectively, into question."
Frawley was responding to a story quoting former Richmond coach Terry Wallace saying he did "absolutely nothing" to change the trend in a game that Richmond had to lose to safeguard a prime draft selection.
The Tigers lost and secured the selection that landed Trent Cotchin.
Frawley told the coaches: "Terry contacted me after this morning's article, concerned that he was going to be quoted on saying that he tanked, when it is not what he said at all."
(The author Mark Stevens said in the seventh paragraph of the article Wallace stressed he did not tank.)
"The media will continue to talk about tanking whatever happens with priority picks," Frawley told his constituents.
"I think this is unfair but, as long as we keep adding to the debate and talking about it, certain sections of the media, who are obsessed with the topic, will keep writing and talking about it. Not sure about you, but I have had enough of it."
Under the heading "Suggested lines", coaches were offered the following: I WANT to make it clear - I coach my team to win. That's what I will be doing this weekend, next weekend and every weekend. I coach to win. That's my job. My players play to win. That's what they get paid for.
IT'S BLOODY hard to get a coaching position and history says coaches that don't win and players that don't (don't) have a long career in the AFL.
PLEASE don't ask me that question again. I'm not here to be insulted or bored by this topic. Happy to talk about our club and what we will be doing to win this weekend and to win for the rest of the season.
I AM here to talk my club up. If you want to talk the game down, find someone else. If you can't get excited about this round of football, that's pretty disappointing.http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25822021-19742,00.html
