Coach Dean Cox - 2025 Coach - Signed 4 year deal

[GoTheSwannies]

The changes Cox needs to make dont need to be dramatic. To me, it's a mindset shift, everyone needs to go hard, no weak / soft efforts. We have enough competition for spots to weed out any players that are incapable of bringing grit and intensity each and every game.

Slight tweak to the gameplan to turn the dial back slightly to the defensive side. Place an expectation that every player needs to contribute defensively.

We have 23 games to tinker with the 3 tall set up and drop it back to 2 if needed.

The midfield shouldn't be chosen by reputation, positions won based on who can stick to the task consistently, competitively and aggressively for 4 quarters.

We have a few aging players who may no longer be up to it, but we do have some promising youth to push up and apply pressure to the incumbents. We also have depth, granted of lesser quality in some cases. But attitude and application will go a fair way in bridging the gap between the experienced players who aren't up to a more aggressive approach.

My 2c

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Be interesting if he shakes up the leadership group

I was going to say the same thing. I think this will be one of the earliest glimpses we get on possible changes in approach.

 

[caesar88]

Mitch Cleary reckons Cox's biggest challenge will be convincing Chad Warner to stay.

Actually I reckon Cox's biggest challenge might be winning a premiership??? They're not that easy to win Mitch, ya ****ing idiot

 

[Jack2Jack]

You never really know how an untried coach will go and would've loved Horse to prove everyone wrong, but feeling positive positive about this appointment. He was the first choice assistant coach the other sides wanted. He knows the system and doesn't need to reinvent the wheel, but a few tweaks and new ideas could be the circuit breaker that changes things (hopefully for the better).
It probably also takes a little bit of the flag or complete bust out of next year, and as much as I still want/expect a flag out of Cox in these 4 years, that little 2025 pressure valve release will make next year probably more enjoyable....might be able to enjoy the week to week a bit more.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I felt like as he said that he kind of held back from saying what he really had in mind. Obviously due to respect for Horse, but I'd imagine there are several points of difference that we'll see developing over the coming season/s.

Cox was a part of a team with a star-studded midfield so I'm hopeful that holds him in good stead in terms of getting the best out of our dynamic mids.

The stage is set for him to show what he has to offer.

Yep, the way he said “a few tweaks” made me think he had clear ideas already in mind.

Horse’s body language also suggested that he could feel changes afoot (not in an inappropriate way, just in an awkward way in that he had to hear it while sitting there in front of the cameras).

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Mitch Cleary reckons Cox's biggest challenge will be convincing Chad Warner to stay.

Actually I reckon Cox's biggest challenge might be winning a premiership??? They're not that easy to win Mitch, ya ****ing idiot

I hope he does the opposite of pander to Warner to keep him on.

Show Warner some tough love. If he responds well and stays, great outcome. If he doesn’t like it and leaves, then the standard is set for everyone else on what it takes to be a blood.

Culture is worth so much more than any one player.

 

[RUNVS]

2014-2017 was a better list than this current group.

Forward and defence definitely, but our 2024 team has a better midfield and ruck.

 

[Cadsky]

Cox’s brain power matched his running power: John Worsfold

John Worsfold coached Dean Cox for nearly his entire AFL career and saw his skill, tactical nous and ability to relate to people. Cox will use all of those attributes now that he’s taken over as Sydney coach.

thewest.com.au

 

[Punts]

I just hope he makes the hard calls John couldn’t and have more pressure on particular players

If they are not playing well then drop them.

Have pressure on each individual to play there best

Horse let to much go imo

Blokes should have been dropped this season to have pressure on them but he didn’t

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Cox on SEN Sydney:

 

[The King!]

I just hope he makes the hard calls John couldn’t and have more pressure on particular players

If they are not playing well then drop them.

Have pressure on each individual to play there best

Horse let to much go imo

Blokes should have been dropped this season to have pressure on them but he didn’t

When Horse did make hard calls and made people play VFL you complained

 

[zyzzbruh]

I just hope he makes the hard calls John couldn’t and have more pressure on particular players

If they are not playing well then drop them.

Have pressure on each individual to play there best

Horse let to much go imo

Blokes should have been dropped this season to have pressure on them but he didn’t

We had no depth to drop anyone. There were calls to drop Lloyd, Florent, Hayward etc all throughout the year but there was no one to bring in. Corey Warner was literally the only replacement for any of these guys and every time he played it was just an ok performance, got us no where essentially. Dropping a player needs to come at a benefit to the team that week, not just to send a message to the player dropped.

That's why i'm kinda liking our draft hand. We have a mature running type who can come in an be expected to impact from the get go and replace an out of form Florent or Lloyd. And with the smalls the landscape has shown these types can come in and impact with their x factor much earlier than other types.

All Cox needs to do is bring that fresh voice for renewed internal motivation, make a couple of tweaks to our lineup, and the rest will come.

 

[RUNVS]

I really hope by the time Cox finishes coaching the Swans people see him as more of a Swans legend than a West Coast legend.

 

[hairy biker]

Cox’s brain power matched his running power: John Worsfold

John Worsfold coached Dean Cox for nearly his entire AFL career and saw his skill, tactical nous and ability to relate to people. Cox will use all of those attributes now that he’s taken over as Sydney coach.

thewest.com.au

That's a good read (and doesn't appear to be paywalled).

Worsfold believes Cox’s ability to connect with his players will be a feature of his coaching.
He’s authentic, has high values, is a good person and made other people feel important. He wasn’t transitional with his contact with people. He always made them feel like he was enjoying time with them.

Tony Micale (his first coach at East Perth and former WCE asst coach) ;
“He will be an outstanding coach. He is a strong character, he doesn’t suffer fools,”

He has a great imagination, but it is his strength of character as well.

“They are a super, super football club, but he will add another dimension to the mental side of the game. Dare anyone knock John Longmire, but they won’t be beaten by big margins in grand finals. I think he will really tighten that aspect of it."

 

[momentbymoment]

One would hope that one of the greatest rucks ever to play the game should have some thoughts on how to get first hands on the ball. Time will tell.

 

[caesar88]

That's a good read (and doesn't appear to be paywalled).

Worsfold believes Cox’s ability to connect with his players will be a feature of his coaching.
He’s authentic, has high values, is a good person and made other people feel important. He wasn’t transitional with his contact with people. He always made them feel like he was enjoying time with them.

Tony Micale (his first coach at East Perth and former WCE asst coach) ;
“He will be an outstanding coach. He is a strong character, he doesn’t suffer fools,”

He has a great imagination, but it is his strength of character as well.

“They are a super, super football club, but he will add another dimension to the mental side of the game. Dare anyone knock John Longmire, but they won’t be beaten by big margins in grand finals. I think he will really tighten that aspect of it."

Come onnnn small margin losses in grand finals

 

[Cadsky]

Come onnnn small margin losses in grand finals

That was my first thought too

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Dean on RSN this morning:

What to expect from the Swans under new coach Dean Cox - Breakfast with Harf

Dean Cox joined Breakfast with Harf after it was announced on Tuesday that John Longmire would be standing down and Cox would be taking charge.

omny.fm

 

[Punts]

Have to admit, awesome hear that his focus is front half pressure and keeping the ball inside 50

Also contested footy

 

[Superstar swan]

Very comforting to hear they will be focusing on pressure. That forward line will need a rejigging if it’s going to apply pressure though.

 

[Nool Carpenna]

Really hanging for next season now. I mean, having high hopes and wanting wins is par for the course, but I'm really curious to see how this handover pans out.

How discernible will the difference in playing styles be? Will Cox look to manufacture some "edge" into the group? Is he looking for change in the leadership group? Which players does he appreciate more or less than Horse did? Will some players struggle with the transition even if they maintain their place in the pecking order? How does the shake-up impact the coaching box?

Then there's big Dean himself. How does he cope with the increased workload and responsibility, the scrutiny he'll be subject to from game one, facing up to the media?

Couple of things that are of particular interest to me.... does he see a role for Adams and... does Ben Mathews become a more prominent figure on game-day.

It's really hard to know what to expect but I'll be cheering him on. Be nice if in another 14 years we're celebrating the retirement of another Swan's legend.

Exciting times. The human behaviour study will be worth the price of admission alone.

 

[Superstar swan]

Really hanging for next season now. I mean, having high hopes and wanting wins is par for the course, but I'm really curious to see how this handover pans out.

How discernible will the difference in playing styles be? Will Cox look to manufacture some "edge" into the group? Is he looking for change in the leadership group? Which players does he appreciate more or less than Horse did? Will some players struggle with the transition even if they maintain their place in the pecking order? How does the shake-up impact the coaching box?

Then there's big Dean himself. How does he cope with the increased workload and responsibility, the scrutiny he'll be subject to from game one, facing up to the media?

Couple of things that are of particular interest to me.... does he see a role for Adams and... does Ben Mathews become a more prominent figure on game-day.

It's really hard to know what to expect but I'll be cheering him on. Be nice if in another 14 years we're celebrating the retirement of another Swan's legend.

Exciting times. The human behaviour study will be worth the price of admission alone.

Adam’s is an interesting point. Really not sure what his role in the 22 is if any

 

[McGowan3]

Have to admit, awesome hear that his focus is front half pressure and keeping the ball inside 50

Also contested footy

His appointment is beginning to ease some of the pain of the GF for me. Starting to feel a touch of excitement, especially when he speaks of personnel and positional changes.

 

[caesar88]

Have to admit, awesome hear that his focus is front half pressure and keeping the ball inside 50

Also contested footy

Agreed. Also just the honesty to come out and say it. He's probably within his right to keep his cards close to his chest early on while he figures things out, also wants to be as respectful as possible to his predecessor, but I like that he's putting it out there straight away as a priority for the team. Shows he's not afraid to set goals publicly and let his players (and himself) be judged for how well they do or don't meet them.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Really hanging for next season now. I mean, having high hopes and wanting wins is par for the course, but I'm really curious to see how this handover pans out.

How discernible will the difference in playing styles be? Will Cox look to manufacture some "edge" into the group? Is he looking for change in the leadership group? Which players does he appreciate more or less than Horse did? Will some players struggle with the transition even if they maintain their place in the pecking order? How does the shake-up impact the coaching box?

Then there's big Dean himself. How does he cope with the increased workload and responsibility, the scrutiny he'll be subject to from game one, facing up to the media?

Couple of things that are of particular interest to me.... does he see a role for Adams and... does Ben Mathews become a more prominent figure on game-day.

It's really hard to know what to expect but I'll be cheering him on. Be nice if in another 14 years we're celebrating the retirement of another Swan's legend.

Exciting times. The human behaviour study will be worth the price of admission alone.

14-17 wins collapse at some point in finals ?