Learn from Miller bungle
Herald-Sun | July 29, 2008
WHEN Richmond secured Greg Miller in 2002, it was both thrilled and relieved to land such an experienced and versatile person.
Just as he had been at South Melbourne/Sydney and North Melbourne, Miller went in at Punt Rd as the classic all-purpose player.
For two powerful reasons: (1) because Richmond was on its knees, and (2) because it's his nature to do whatever it is that must be done.
Six years on, what were seen as Miller's strengths have brought about his downfall.
Gary March's board has decided it wants a more contemporary figure, a fresh face, in charge of its football department. Someone with a different "skills set".
A skills set, apparently, that will place stricter controls on the football department, principally coach Terry Wallace. Make it more accountable, whatever that means.
What seems to have happened is March and Co decided several weeks ago on a vigorous review of the football department, with a view to major change at season's end.
Mid-season, the Tigers were 3-7 with one draw and 12th on the ladder. Another wasted year looked inevitable.
Yet, six rounds on, they are 8-8-1 and just half a game outside the eight.
Interesting that one close observer mused publicly a week ago whether everyone at the club was committed to playing finals. The better the side performed, the less likely a overhaul.
March addressed the media at Punt Rd yesterday to try to explain the bungled handling of Miller's removal.
"When Greg came, he was jack-of-all-trades in this club. We didn't have the resources around him . . . but we want to be one of the leaders in this competition."
Miller was a jack-of-all-trades because he was prepared to get his hands dirty.
He also believed in the old culture of leaving the coach and his assistants to their own devices unless they sought help, or clearly were struggling.
The March administration had other ideas.
"Do we need a more contemporary person." he asked yesterday? "Maybe. We've got to look at all of those things."
He acknowledged Miller's commitment, but said: "This is about a skills set that we felt Greg didn't have, the right skills set for what we were looking for going forward."
He declined to specify just which skills and conceded the timing of Miller's removal "wasn't ideal"
"In an ideal world, I would have sat down with Greg and we would have discussed it and worked on his departure."
He denied Miller's assertion he had confirmed the sacking by telephone late on Friday night, prompting Miller to miss the club's game on Saturday.
Bottom line? Clubs need to get much better at dealing with redundant staff, particularly those like Miller, who have given so much to the game.
West Coast announced mid-season that two assistants coaches would be gone at season's end; Melbourne dumped Paul McNamee after three months as chief executive. After he raised the issue after reading about speculation in the Herald Sun. Now Miller's gone after 38 years as a player, recruiter and administrator.
Clubs are a long time learning that decisions to replace key figures don't stay quiet for long.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24093299-19742,00.html
