Grant Thomas no longer saints coach

[bigwilly]

Allan Jeans is still alive isn't he? Gotta be a great chance

 

[Blues_Man]

He'll always be the drunken bus hi-jacker in my eyes, though.

A larrikin and a Saint...

Maybe he has hijacked the mini bus this time ?

 

[MarkT]

Hey Mark
Are you concerned with the attitude of Eddie and the Collingwood board regarding Malthouse's tenure at the club.

Yes.

I mean I've just read Len Thompson's autobiography (published back in 1999) and from what I understand, in years gone by, Malthouse's performance as coach in the last 3 years would have been deemed unacceptable by Collingwood.

MM has been at Collingwood longer than Tom Hafey was and Hafey took them from last to second in year 1 (1977) and made the grand final again in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Len Thompson was a great ruckman but he was as bad as anyone when involved with The New Magpies.

You could argue that Collingwood have improved this year then the last two years,

I disagree. You can say they had better results with most players available most weeks and that’s about it. In the end though whether it is 2005 or 2006 results it is all achieved with Malthouse’s list. We lack depth, speed and footskills and the ruck and midfield deficiencies have been clearly apparent for a long time.

Surely Eddie has to consider that the Pies won't improve much if they keep Malthouse for an couple more seasons.

There is only 1 question to answer IMO. Will MM bring a flag. If not then he should go IMO and I don’t think he will. Wether there is a better option apparent now or not should not be an issue. You don’t know who may or may not be better and you never really can unless there is a Mathews for the taking. IMO you have to take the plunge unless the incumbent is the answer. This is where St. Kilda have made the courageous and intelligent decision. The one your club and mine should make.

 

[jimmy35]

Bit of a suprise I must say , I thought he may have gotten another go at it next year at least.
Showed a bit of class staying around for the press conference in my opinion ,
considering his coaching career is dead . At least he had his shot at it I suppose.

 

[Blue Boyz]

BTW, does anyone know what Thomas's contract status was?

Are the Saints faced with any kind of payout situation or do they get out of it $ free?

 

[richmondgal]

Bit of a suprise I must say , I thought he may have gotten another go at it next year at least.
Showed a bit of class staying around for the press conference in my opinion ,
considering his coaching career is dead . At least he had his shot at it I suppose.

I was suprised this year too. But due to their performance compared to last year and even though they got to the finals but then they got beaten, i guess the board would've started wondering whether he stays or he goes...and off he goes.
Bye Bye Grant.

Hope you had the time of your life.

 

[McBain]

Say what you like about the guy's coaching, but I truly believe that GT just wanted the best for the Saints footy club.

Feel a bit sorry for him, bcoz i reckon he did bring alot of positive things for the club.

Very ballsy decision by Butters and the board, since when is 3 finals series in a row not a good enough effort at STKFC ?.

Hopefully a sign that acceptance of the losing culture of the 70's - 80's is far behind us.

 

[celtic_pride]

Yes. MM has been at Collingwood longer than Tom Hafey was and Hafey took them from last to second in year 1 (1977) and made the grand final again in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Len Thompson was a great ruckman but he was as bad as anyone when involved with The New Magpies. I disagree. You can say they had better results with most players available most weeks and that’s about it. In the end though whether it is 2005 or 2006 results it is all achieved with Malthouse’s list. We lack depth, speed and footskills and the ruck and midfield deficiencies have been clearly apparent for a long time. There is only 1 question to answer IMO. Will MM bring a flag. If not then he should go IMO and I don’t think he will. Wether there is a better option apparent now or not should not be an issue. You don’t know who may or may not be better and you never really can unless there is a Mathews for the taking. IMO you have to take the plunge unless the incumbent is the answer. This is where St. Kilda have made the courageous and intelligent decision. The one your club and mine should make.

You have to remember as well that the Swans were simply going nowhere until they got rid of Eade and hired Paul Roos as coach.
An change of coach could do the same thing to the Pies playing list. It's a different kettle of fish with Carlton though as we are coming from an long way back, whereas the Pies may only have 1 or 2 more years left of legitmatley giving Buckley an chance of winning an premirship. I would much prefer an younger, more imagintive coach at Carlton then Pagan though.

 

[Honest John]

Official Andy Mahar has the job . Who will be the assistants?

 

[bigwilly]

Had one year left to go on contract

 

[Jumpin' Jimmy]

Official Andy Mahar has the job

He'll be good at giving them a spray in the huddles

 

[Banjo]

Hey Mark
Are you concerned with the attitude of Eddie and the Collingwood board regarding Malthouse's tenure at the club.
I mean I've just read Len Thompson's autobiography (published back in 1999) and from what I understand, in years gone by, Malthouse's performance as coach in the last 3 years would have been deemed unacceptable by Collingwood.
You could argue that Collingwood have improved this year then the last two years, but for an club that looked okay for an top 4 position by rnd 16/17, to fall away badly in the finals against the 8th ranked team would be unacceptable. Surely Eddie has to consider that the Pies won't improve much if they keep Malthouse for an couple more seasons.

I thought this thread was about St Kilda and THEIR coaching problems - some people just want any chance to kcik Eddie and MM in the guts....bring it on then.

I reckon their are some great coaches waiting in the wings - Mark Harvey woudl have be a biggie unless Freo "tank it" this week and he gets the berth there. Gary O'Donnell - pretty good apprenticeship....forget Mick McGaune - please - what about Guy McKenna....let's face it - it would be a good gig!

 

[piro*]

looked very sad. feel sorry for the poor fella. ******** you rod butterss

 

[McBain]

looked very sad. feel sorry for the poor fella. ******** you rod butterss

does this mean that now we replace GT with Rod as the most reviled person in footy ?

 

[Father Jack]

Thomas gone
Sportal

Grant Thomas has coached his last game with the St Kilda Football Club. Thomas and the Saints have parted company by mutual agreement.

The second-longest serving coach in St Kilda history has been at the helm of the Saints since 2001 when he was a shock mid-season replacement for Malcolm Blight, but club president Rod Butterss and Thomas broke the news at a media conference at Moorabbin on Tuesday that he was leaving the club.

We've had longer serving coaches than that and we've been around for five minutes.

 

[Chewy]

One word Saints fans. Culture.

Stand by for announcement: Akermanis to be appointed captain-coach.

 

[lazy]

looked very sad. feel sorry for the poor fella. ******** you rod butterss

It was inevitable that it was going to end in tears. Better to do it now. Buttarse got it wrong in the first place so should take much of the blame.

 

[D Mitchell]

St kilda picked up Riewoldt and Kosizchte in 2000, Dal Santo and Ball in 2001 and Goddard in 2002. It traded and got Hamill, Gherig and Voss. It built a list with early picks and good trading. That list should be good for a good few years yet with care ful management. 2002 and 2003 were too early in the rebuilding process to expect finals success. St Kilda then got to two consecutive prelims and in an injury laden year, 2006, played finals footy loosing in the last 10 minutes when it had no reserves after half time. how many other clubs did that over the last 3 years ? To sack Thomas for under achievement is extraordinarily harsh.

 

[Tas]

He was sacked .Butterss said it was by mutual agreement but Thomas said he was "gutted" and "it came out of left field" etc.
At least he is honest.

Mutual agreement is the politically correct term for getting the sack, it allows the sackee to bow out gracefully rather than be escorted off.

No coach would be willing to go, most prefer to go out with their dignity intact.

I think it had to happen, last year he was given the benefit of the doubt and fitness staff got the arse, at the end of the day, the coach chooses who to recruit and list management is one of the most important roles in coaching.

I think the board probably asked him about Everitt and that St Kilda's weakest link is the ruck and he probably said something like not while I am here...

Never say never. Even if you never intend to recruit someone, saying never implies you would rather retain a weak link rather than consider fixing it.

 

[Murray]

Well i hope this is a lesson to all coaches that you might get sacked just because for who you are practically.

Say what

 

[Murray]

Mutual agreement is the politically correct term for getting the sack, it allows the sackee to bow out gracefully rather than be escorted off.

What does Politically Correct mean?

 

[Benny_]

A new coach will not make any difference to St.Kilda than what Thomas did in his time. 2 Prelim finals and a quick elimination this year and bang sacked. You cannot expect to perform with your Centre Half Back injured, Probably your best ruckman playing less than half the year along with the best defensive forward in the league. Plus other players in and out e.g. the Clarke's. This is the dumbest move ever.

 

[saintsrule]

Thomas took the club to a new level of professionalism, which is evident in the way this was handled. Compare the Blues public embarrassment! Saints mean business on this one. It hasn't escaped them how far the best Victorian clubs have fallen behind the interstate teams. Freo is the only interstate club that haven't won a premiership in their relatively short histories.

There will be a total revamp of the football department as well. Saints have head hunted 4 excellent prospects via a recruitment agency. Stand by for further news!

 

[lyall]

He never really looked like a coach to me, always just a board director

 

[Crow-mo]

Wow! Did Butterssss plunge the knife or did Thomas walk? I wonder if he will stay with the footy department.

just waiting for JD, Firemen and the other saints Nuff Nuff's to turn on cornflakes now.

is that the drum of the lemming marching band I hear in the distance?