In my opinion there is successful players, successful assistant coaches and successful head coaches at any sport at any level. There are those who are going to be successful players, but not great assistant coaches. There are going to be successful assistant coaches who never become great head coaches (to many to name really), and there are going to be successful players who never become great head coaches (Tim Watson, I suppose Terry Wallace as well).
All this talk of we need a coach who ticks the box of being in a preimership side, or who ticks the box of coaching their own football team in some way shape or form are all cases where it would be handy but not essential. There are plenty of successful coaches in other sports who have not had success as a player or assistant coach and have gone on to have tremendous success as a coach, why is AFL football any different? As a Richmond fan, I want the coach who can do the job better than anyone else. Who has a plan for success which is logical and is possible. I want a coach who is going to better the team, and better the players, and start them on the road to success. If thats a successful player and a successful assistant coach then so be it. If its the assistant coach of the Craigieburn under 12 team then so be it.
Richmond's next coach needs to be a man who has the ability and plan to change the football club. It does not need a coach who has 'the right pedigree'.
Just my 2 cents.