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It is now certain that 3 clubs will dump their current coaches at year's end (if not before) and, unfortunately for all, there does not appear to be a solid core group of capable replacements handy. Frankly, I can scarcely recall potential coaching options being so lean and limited.
HAWTHORN... Its going to be a costly exercise to dump Schwab with a year to run on his contract, but had I been at the helm of the club I would have dumped him following the Essendon debacle. Your team has just lost a highly controversial match by 74 points after having been a mere four goals adrift and controlling general play midway through the third term, so what do you say to the assembled media throng? I can tell you what you should NEVER say when you've been smacked-up, and that is that you thought the side "went pretty well, all things considered"!!! How embarrassing! It is unacceptable for the Hawthorn coach to EVER publicly address such a defeat in this fashion, and the man must go! Even more frightening is the fact that he must surely be making similar overtures to the players, who should have been let know in no uncertain terms that they were appalling! If you throw in his disconcerting comments about scanning other lists for "tough recruits" then you hint at a man set to trade away precious draft picks for older opposition second-stringers! Sod that for a punnet of strawberries, get the man out of there! Alas, the following names appear to have been shortlisted for any potential changes at year's end - Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade, Gary Ayres, Mark Harvey, Gary O'Donnell, Neil Craig & Robert Hyde. Fruit me tingles! None of these guys fill me with confidence (with the possible exception of Wallace) and, at any rate, I think its time for Hawthorn to turn away from ex-Glenferrie types. There is one exception to this rule, however, and I think the Hawks should bite the bullet and reverse up Leigh Matthews driveway with a trailer full of cold hard cashin the hope that he may be ready to make good on his stated desire to return to Hawthorn in the head coaching role. It may yet come off, although it would appear to depend upon Brisbane failing to win the flag this year, and that prospect is beginning to look more and more remote with every round.
RICHMOND... I felt that the Tigers should have made the switch a couple of season's ago, given that Spud Frawley has floundered in the role throughout his tenure with the troubled club. They'll certainly do it now, with Terry Wallace hot favourite to snare the top job. He may be a shrewd choice, given that there are similarities between Richmond and the Bulldogs that he took charge of during his heyday. Both teams had a small core group of quality players, lost amid an overall list that about as weak as anything going around. Wallace must surely be haunted by that long ago preliminary final thriller loss, as it was clear that whoever would meet the Saints in the big one would win the title. That Wallace performed so well across several years with a minimalist list, suggests that he deserves another chance with a troubled squad, and it will only be a case of when, not if. One thing's for sure, Richmond is (as per Hawthorn) not the club for a rookie coach, and one would hope that Greg Miller is smart enough to ensure that such an appointment is strongly resisted. I predict that Wallace will beat Eade to the gig, but don't be surprised if the latter option builds some momentum as the year drags on.
ADELAIDE... Adelaide could, and most probably will, take the punt on a rookie coach. For mine, the support structures in place at this club are stronger than those on offer at the clubs mentioned above, which makes long term assistant, Neil Craig a shoe-in for the top job. Don't be surprised, however, to see Mark Harvey pushing hard for the job, even though he scarcely raises support from Essendon supporters when talk turns to a future replacement for Sheeds. The Crows will be a big challenge also, with their fast ageing and tiring list, and allowing for the huge expectations placed on the club by the Adelaide fan masses. I'd run with Craig who has a good reputation, and appears to have the confidence of all within the organisation.
Any other prominent possibilities that anyone would care to put forward?
CyberKev
HAWTHORN... Its going to be a costly exercise to dump Schwab with a year to run on his contract, but had I been at the helm of the club I would have dumped him following the Essendon debacle. Your team has just lost a highly controversial match by 74 points after having been a mere four goals adrift and controlling general play midway through the third term, so what do you say to the assembled media throng? I can tell you what you should NEVER say when you've been smacked-up, and that is that you thought the side "went pretty well, all things considered"!!! How embarrassing! It is unacceptable for the Hawthorn coach to EVER publicly address such a defeat in this fashion, and the man must go! Even more frightening is the fact that he must surely be making similar overtures to the players, who should have been let know in no uncertain terms that they were appalling! If you throw in his disconcerting comments about scanning other lists for "tough recruits" then you hint at a man set to trade away precious draft picks for older opposition second-stringers! Sod that for a punnet of strawberries, get the man out of there! Alas, the following names appear to have been shortlisted for any potential changes at year's end - Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade, Gary Ayres, Mark Harvey, Gary O'Donnell, Neil Craig & Robert Hyde. Fruit me tingles! None of these guys fill me with confidence (with the possible exception of Wallace) and, at any rate, I think its time for Hawthorn to turn away from ex-Glenferrie types. There is one exception to this rule, however, and I think the Hawks should bite the bullet and reverse up Leigh Matthews driveway with a trailer full of cold hard cashin the hope that he may be ready to make good on his stated desire to return to Hawthorn in the head coaching role. It may yet come off, although it would appear to depend upon Brisbane failing to win the flag this year, and that prospect is beginning to look more and more remote with every round.
RICHMOND... I felt that the Tigers should have made the switch a couple of season's ago, given that Spud Frawley has floundered in the role throughout his tenure with the troubled club. They'll certainly do it now, with Terry Wallace hot favourite to snare the top job. He may be a shrewd choice, given that there are similarities between Richmond and the Bulldogs that he took charge of during his heyday. Both teams had a small core group of quality players, lost amid an overall list that about as weak as anything going around. Wallace must surely be haunted by that long ago preliminary final thriller loss, as it was clear that whoever would meet the Saints in the big one would win the title. That Wallace performed so well across several years with a minimalist list, suggests that he deserves another chance with a troubled squad, and it will only be a case of when, not if. One thing's for sure, Richmond is (as per Hawthorn) not the club for a rookie coach, and one would hope that Greg Miller is smart enough to ensure that such an appointment is strongly resisted. I predict that Wallace will beat Eade to the gig, but don't be surprised if the latter option builds some momentum as the year drags on.
ADELAIDE... Adelaide could, and most probably will, take the punt on a rookie coach. For mine, the support structures in place at this club are stronger than those on offer at the clubs mentioned above, which makes long term assistant, Neil Craig a shoe-in for the top job. Don't be surprised, however, to see Mark Harvey pushing hard for the job, even though he scarcely raises support from Essendon supporters when talk turns to a future replacement for Sheeds. The Crows will be a big challenge also, with their fast ageing and tiring list, and allowing for the huge expectations placed on the club by the Adelaide fan masses. I'd run with Craig who has a good reputation, and appears to have the confidence of all within the organisation.
Any other prominent possibilities that anyone would care to put forward?
CyberKev
