Exactly. See Michael Hagan.
Looked like he would be a super coach if he had secret ingredient Andrew Johns for 10 years. Shifts to Parra and the truth comes out within 12 months.
Bellamy gets credit for developing Smith and the others but then you still dont know how crucial he was to their development.
LMAO.
True that Smith, Cronk and Slater (all of whom have played their entire careers under Bellamy) have all played a huge part in Melbourne's success.
However to suggest that they are the only component in Melbourne's success is so naive it's embarrassing.
Let's remember none of these guys debuted as future immortals. Cronk was a utility playing 2nd row in the QLD cup. Anyone who remembers Slater's early days will know he was highly error prone and inconsistent. These guys have all developed their games under Bellamy to become what they are today.
Under Bellamy Melbourne have developed one of, if not THE strongest cultures of success in the competition. They have become the ultimate professional machine. Bellamy keeps them ahead of the game. The rest of the teams imitate what they do.
Bellamy introduced the wrestle which for better or worse revolutionized the game in the modern era.
Bellamy was the first coach to bring AFL tactics and bump pads to training to teach his outside backs to leap and catch kicks with their hands above their heads as opposed to on their chests as had been the norm for nearly 100 years.
He consistently improves every single player that comes to the Storm.
Even the most casual fan can see that Melbourne are fitter, better drilled and more structured than the competition.
It wasn't that long ago people were questioning how successful Melbourne would be after Manly poached Matt Orford on a big money deal. That's when Bellamy handed the #7 to Cronk.
I hate the storm with a passion, but to question Bellamy's credentials as a coach or make some weak illogical comparison to Michael Hagan is nothing short of embarrassing.