Autopsy Geelong coaching fact that may interest you!

[catman 71]

Here is an interesting thing I have noticed about our four most recent coaches, and it is a common thread that I am certain that this fact enters into selection of recent Geelong senior coaches.

Our four most recent coaches were:- Malcolm Blight, Gary Ayres, Mark Thompson and Chris Scott.

Question:- What do they have in common?

Here's a clue:-

Look at each coach's playing record:-

Malcolm Blight :-
Member of the 1975 and 1977 premiership teams.
Also played in the 1976, 1977 (Draw) and 1978 GFs.

Gary Ayres:-
Member of the 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1991 premiership teams.
Also played in the 1984, 1985 and 1987 GFs.

Mark Thompson:-
Member of the 1984, 1985 and 1993 premiership teams.
Also played in the 1990 GF

Chris Scott:-
Member of the 2001 and 2002 GFs (missed 2003 because of injury)
Also played in the 2004 GF

Answer:- Each of our last four coaches have played in at least two premiership sides, and in at least 3 or more GFs.

So, these have been men who have been part of dynasties (N.M. 1974-78, Haw. 1983-91, Essendon 1984-85 and 1993, and Brisbane 2001-2004).

Obviously, when picking a coach, Cookie likes to pick men who have been part of success, and will bring that success to Geelong (which, in each case, they have).

I wonder if, down the track, the trend will continue? I wonder if Geelong will one day be coached by a premiership player from another dynasty (the Geelong 2007-2011 dynasty)? Could one of our multi-premiership heroes continue the trend?

If so, who do you think it would be (not that Scotty is going anywhere for a very long time)?

 

[Turbocat]

1, Cook is post Ayres
2, SJ or Ling.

 

[year of the cat]

Why do I still, all these years gone, still get worked up when I read the name "Ayres"?

 

[AM]

Why do I still, all these years gone, still get worked up when I read the name "Ayres"?

Depends on what you mean by "worked up" I guess, ypo.

 

[year of the cat]

Depends on what you mean by "worked up" I guess, ypo.

Lol! Worked up as in angry for clarification.

 

[you pick one]

Depends on what you mean by "worked up" I guess, ypo.

Why have you got me on your mind this time of night AM,it scares me

 

[AM]

Why have you got me on your mind this time of night AM,it scares me

Be very very frightened. Sorry!

 

[AM]

Lol! Worked up as in angry for clarification.

He gives me the irits too. I read his comments on the GF in the tissues recently. Not a mention about how good we were. All about Port's deficiencies and what they need for next year. Looks like he'll be back there which means he's once again been passed over for a coaching or assistants role at AFL level.

 

[Turbocat]

Why do I still, all these years gone, still get worked up when I read the name "Ayres"?

Because he thought we were a Cancer and he was the Chemotherapy. To cure us he had to kill all the cells ... good and bad.

 

[you pick one]

He gives me the irits too. I read his comments on the GF in the tissues recently. Not a mention about how good we were. All about Port's deficiencies and what they need for next year. Looks like he'll be back there which means he's once again been passed over for a coaching or assistants role at AFL level.

If you get a chance have a listen to his 3/4 time address compared to Knights,he will never be promoted to the no1 position at an AFL club ever again.

 

[ATSAM]

Well said Turbocat

 

[supahoops]

There goes Matthew Knights' hopes of a promotion one day

SJ to be the next coach of the GFC. Half way there already

 

[Vdubs]

Ayres could have stayed longer, was only offered a 1 year deal and he wanted more, why is there all this hatred of him? He wasn't sacked and he didn't walk out as such. His last game v Freo at Geelong was quite memorable for us there, and he was not regarded as a dud coach back then.

I know he alienated some of the senior stars, including Ablett, but it's exactly how he and many of his star teammates were treated at Hawthorn, and he did stuff like that at Adelaide.

Somehow, when he got appointed, I never thought he was a loser, rather, he was such an awesome player, coming from perhaps the greatest ever culture of winningness, I thought he could have been good for us. Could it be that some of our team were never going to be part of a true winning culture? Even schizo Blight could not coach our talent to the holy grail.

I think it makes sense that a coach should come from a background of some success, why I thought Knights was a sus choice, can be proven wrong.

Port have done well as a stand-alone team, and he's been a great coach for them, very popular, maybe he's lightened up a bit. Time to forgive and forget?

 

[year of the cat]

Veedubs, I just find him arrogant and obnoxious. I could be completely wrong. There's just something about him. When he won that game down at KP coaching Adelaide and proceeded to antagonize the locals that was it.

 

[darren forssman]

his smarmy reaction to phil cleary's questions/comments pre vfl final were disturbing.

 

[Grizzly_82]

Gary Ayres ruined my teens......that is all

 

[David the Cat]

Why do I still, all these years gone, still get worked up when I read the name "Ayres"?

Because he's a shit.

 

[And_ROOS]

Maybe someone will coach us from the Collingwood dynasty... Oh, right, they didnt have one. My mistake.

 

[RogersResults]

Since 1932 Geelong has only had one coach who did not have a part in at least one League Premiership - Rod Olsson 1976-9.

(Caretaker coach for two matches in 1940, Les Laver was playing coach of the Geelong Reserves 1937-38 premiership teams.)

Charlie Dibbs who played in 5 Grand Final wins for Collingwood resigned before the half-way mark of his one season as coach of Geelong in 1936.

 

[Moggy]

If you get a chance have a listen to his 3/4 time address compared to Knights,he will never be promoted to the no1 position at an AFL club ever again.

I saw that. I thought he started off okay, but then he kept going on and on. I think some of the players were nodding off by the end of it.

I think SJ has a good tactical brain, but I don't see him having the temperament for the head coach role. He would be brilliant to have in the coach's box on matchday.

For me it could be Harry Taylor

 

[Moggy]

I saw that. I thought he started off okay, but then he kept going on and on. I think some of the players were nodding off by the end of it.

That's Ayres I am talking about, to be clear

 

[Partridge]

Ayres could have stayed longer, was only offered a 1 year deal and he wanted more, why is there all this hatred of him? He wasn't sacked and he didn't walk out as such. His last game v Freo at Geelong was quite memorable for us there, and he was not regarded as a dud coach back then.

I know he alienated some of the senior stars, including Ablett, but it's exactly how he and many of his star teammates were treated at Hawthorn, and he did stuff like that at Adelaide.

Ayres biggest problems were ones that seem to be common from players of that era. The faith shown in plodders who work hard - hence recruiting absolute stinking duds like McKinnon, Hargreaves, Spinks and plenty more. No doubt they all trained hard. But you need more than that at the top level. Some ability would be nice.

His management skills of his top players was nothing short of appalling. Rule number one is that people are different. You have to understand this and find out their strengths to get the most out of them. Whatever Blight's faults as a coach (and he had plenty), he got the best out of Ablett.
Ayres figured whatever worked for him was the only way. It wasn't.

Look at the list Thompson inherited. That was directly the result of Ayres' mismanagement and poor recruiting. He deserves every bit of blame he gets. Hope he choked on the result last weekend.

 

[Partridge]

Port have done well as a stand-alone team, and he's been a great coach for them, very popular, maybe he's lightened up a bit. Time to forgive and forget?

I don't forget, and I never forgive. So that's a no from me.

 

[topic97]

I saw that. I thought he started off okay, but then he kept going on and on. I think some of the players were nodding off by the end of it.

I think SJ has a good tactical brain, but I don't see him having the temperament for the head coach role. He would be brilliant to have in the coach's box on matchday.

For me it could be Harry Taylor

Agreed. You only have to have seen him on the Footy Show last night & he just doesnt seem comfortable public speaking or being authoritive.
If you cant do that you cant coach senior AFL - look it could change but I cant see it.

Taylor would be good, is a really good speaker & tactician of the game.

 

[catman 71]

Agreed. You only have to have seen him on the Footy Show last night & he just doesnt seem comfortable public speaking or being authoritive.
If you cant do that you cant coach senior AFL - look it could change but I cant see it.

Taylor would be good, is a really good speaker & tactician of the game.

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I think Cameron Ling would be brilliant at it, if he ever went into coaching.