Coach If not Simpson, then WHO

[06Premiers]

Mods please merge with the Simpson megathread.

Oh wait…

We should do what we did a decade ago, interview and decide who’s the best assistant, and hire them. Tough to know who that’d be, not sure how many would have had Simpson as the man to replace Worsfold at this stage of 2013.

Adem Yze, Ash Hansen, Chris Newman … actually you’ve mentioned all the main names in the OP. I can’t think of any others.

If we're gonna hire good assistant coaches, then surely Sam Mitchell is top of the list.

 

[tigger_ferret]

Not sure this was the case in August when Worsfold was still in the seat and talking about coaching on - i.e. where we are now.

Once the process of hiring his replacement started, Simpson emerged as a likely candidate. That’s my recollection anyway.

Like I said, it was until after the Adelaide loss, that it looks the right move for Woosha to step down. In contrast I think most accept Simmo should go, and believe the only thing holding it back is whatever payout is required. So where we are now probably isn’t really comparable.

 

[Ghossein]

bunga

 

[Barrybran]

Like I said, it was until after the Adelaide loss, that it looks the right move for Woosha to step down. In contrast I think most accept Simmo should go, and believe the only thing holding it back is whatever payout is required. So where we are now probably isn’t really comparable.

Simmo likely won't last his current contract but he should be given an opportunity to coach a team with 22 fit players for more than two games in a season, and any chance to his position should come after any change to Nibett's position (I'll believe the transition when it happens).

 

[Dylan82]

Don Pyke.

Posted previously in another thread:

Don Pyke.

Former club Director, club life member, club champion and x2 Premiership Eagle.


Joined Adelaide at the end of 2004 as midfield coach under then caretaker N.Craig. The Crows had finished 12th of 16 teams. The Craig-Pyke coaching combination gave rise to the "Crowbots" that finished top 2 in the next two seasons, ironically losing in Preliminary Finals to West Coast in both of those years.

After 2006, he left coaching to focus on his family and continue previous business interests in oil and gas that proven to be extremely lucrative.


Returned to coaching again after the 2013 season, joining West Coast under new head coach A.Simpson, specialising in strategy, stoppages, and structure.

In two seasons, the club had climbed from 13th to playing in the 2015 Grand Final, showcasing an innovative zone and counteroffensive gameplan, that came to be known as the "Web".


At the end of 2015, Pyke left the Eagles and returned to Adelaide, this time as head coach after the tragic death of P.Walsh earlier that year.

The Crows had spent the past three seasons stuck between 11th and 7th, had just seen Dangerfield depart for Geelong, and were still reeling from the draft impacts of the Tippett-gate shenanigans.

In his first season, the Crows finished with a 16-6 record, just a single win away from top spot - yet still finished 5th in what was arguably the closest season ever, losing out in finals to minor premiers Sydney at the SCG.

The next year Adelaide finished the 2017 season top of the ladder, scoring almost 300 more points in matches than any other team and progressing to the club's first Grand Final appearance in 20 years. Then came the "Power Ranger" stance, the Tiger Army finding its voice, the arrival of D.Martin and it all turned to s**t.

The 2018 preseason camp on the Gold Coast run by Collective Minds, intended to strengthen the resolve of the playing group, only resulted in tearing it apart. A player exodus, and two under-performing seasons later, Pyke had resigned.


Less than a year later however, he was already at another club - joining Sydney as an assistant in strategy and structures to Longmire.

The Swans had spent the past two years in the bottom 4 coming into 2021, looking poised for the rebuild that had been long anticipated, but largely avoided for over a decade.

Instead the Swans radically shifted their approach, becoming the best "early adapters" to rule changes, winning their first four matches of the season, including against reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG. They moved from 9th to 2nd in metres gained differential, trailing only eventual premiers Melbourne. Despite spending half the season away from home due to Covid interference, they finished with a 15-7 record, missing out on a top 4 place by percentage alone. T.Greene heroics then dumped them in a Sydney showdown final played out in Tasmania.

The success of the approach continued in 2022, culminating in a Grand Final appearance from a group that was widely expected to be several years away from that level of competitiveness at the start of the season.


Pyke loves the club, has experience both at other clubs and outside of football, and is well-known to be a "total-football" person, constantly thinking about how the game is played, where it is going, how it can be improved.

Everywhere he goes, success quickly follows.

To me it goes without question that he should be at the very top of the shortlist.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

What's Mark Williams up to these days?

Has an excellent reputation as a developer of yoof.

 

[Nuffington Post]

Is Robert Harvey an option?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[bzparkes]

What's Mark Williams up to these days?

Has an excellent reputation as a developer of yoof.

Worked at Melbourne for years.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

Put yourself in the shoes of the highly rated assistants.

Imagine you are an assistant coach in his 40's who has been in coaching system for 10 years, worked really hard, differentiated yourself from 90% of the other 80 or so assistant coaches in the league to the point where you were widely regarded as being in the top 5 assistants in the league and regularly invited to apply for open senior coaching positions. You think there is probably an 80% chance that you will be offered a senior coaching position somewhere in the next 3 - 5 years.

You are also keenly aware of history and trends in your industry and so you also know that when you get a senior coaching gig you need to make it a winner. You need to stay around at the club long enough to achieve multiple top 4 finishes in order to have career longevity of 10 years plus and be considered for senior roles at other clubs after your tenure at your first club ends. You also know that a relatively low profile assistant appointed to his first senior coaching gig who doesn't get his club into the 8 in his first 3 years is almost always sacked. And if you are sacked from your first gig as a senior coach before significant success is achieved there is a 99% chance that you will go the way of Brendan Bolton and Damien Drum etc and will just disappear into obscurity and never be considered for another senior coaching gig again.

You get invited to apply for the vacant WCE coaching position but in your estimation the club's list is so run down that you think it highly likely that the club will be mired in the bottom 4 for another 3 or 4 seasons. Would you want to bet on historical trends being bucked and the club sticking with you through that? Bear in mind that you have spent a decade plus of your life earning this shot and you will only get one shot at it. Or would you rather wait and bet on an offer from another club in the future that is at a better point in the development cycle?

I don't think the likes of Josh Carr

Josh Carr

Age

44

Ht

179cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.8

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.3

5star

CL

2.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.8

3star

or McQualter (if he doesn't get the Richmond gig) or assistants of that calibre will apply for the job and we will need to have a Plan B in place in case we don't get those highly rated assistants applying.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

For an assistant who wants to be senior coach, there’s a total of 18 jobs available and some of them don’t come around often. This would be our fifth senior coach in the last 35 years.

Doubt many of them would be too picky about which jobs they apply for.

 

[Big_Birdy]

For an assistant who wants to be senior coach, there’s a total of 18 jobs available and some of them don’t come around often. This would be our fifth senior coach in the last 35 years.

Doubt many of them would be too picky about which jobs they apply for.

Especially to a stable club that’s had 4 coaches in 30 years. And knowing they will be given a minimum of 3 years with access to the best talent in the country.

 

[BrotherDodge]

There’s a danger with favoured sins returning as coach but Cox has served a significant apprenticeship

That rules out Cox. The last thing we need is the favoured sins of his era returning.

 

[jaxxon]

I think I could get two wins a year as coach, I'd even accept slightly less cash than Simmo (but not too much less).

 

[Goroyals22]

I like the idea of Jaymie Graham

Jaymie Graham

Age

41

Ht

196cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

0.4

3star

for a few reasons (and not because he's an ex Eagle)

• He's had experience at different AFL Clubs Saints, Eagles & Freo Plus senior WAFL coaching experience. (inc. AFL premiership coaching panel)
• He has had a rough upbringing and brings with him a story of real life resilience and hard work. We need this type of character. A humble, hard working person that has not been spoon fed. I think this will bring outside & inside perspective of the Eagles being an arrogant club down a peg or two.
• I think he'd relate really well with a young list, from all backgrounds. I guess the benefit of having come from the premiership year is that he will also know what makes the older crew tick, who will need motivation in what will likely be another tough year nxt year.

If you don't know his story. Look it up.

Sure there's plenty of other candidates too.

Suggest you speak to anyone who was at East Perth when he was coach and you will say it’s anyone but Graham.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[The Passenger]

I think this is the big question... Is there a really good bet in the land of assistant coaches?

Simmo was very highly rated, had come off a flag with hawthorn and one a flag as a player. Very well credentialed, and despite the last couple of years it's proved to be an astute choice.

I'm not convinced on the choices out there, although Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

43

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

is certainly an intriguing possibility. He's also been involved in successful as both player and assistant and IMO that has to be the minimum criteria.

There is also the argument that this appointment would just be a sacrificial lamb. No chance finals next year. Finals in 2025 is a very optimistic view. 2026 is a difficult but reasonable target IMO - it's unlikely a new coach would survive three years without finals.

So if we're just gonna burn a new coach why not out the Simpson payout money to better use and fix the single biggest issue at the club and that is our complete inability to keep players fit, healthy and on the park.

 

[ausbacker]

Put yourself in the shoes of the highly rated assistants.

Imagine you are an assistant coach in his 40's who has been in coaching system for 10 years, worked really hard, differentiated yourself from 90% of the other 80 or so assistant coaches in the league to the point where you were widely regarded as being in the top 5 assistants in the league and regularly invited to apply for open senior coaching positions. You think there is probably an 80% chance that you will be offered a senior coaching position somewhere in the next 3 - 5 years.

You are also keenly aware of history and trends in your industry and so you also know that when you get a senior coaching gig you need to make it a winner. You need to stay around at the club long enough to achieve multiple top 4 finishes in order to have career longevity of 10 years plus and be considered for senior roles at other clubs after your tenure at your first club ends. You also know that a relatively low profile assistant appointed to his first senior coaching gig who doesn't get his club into the 8 in his first 3 years is almost always sacked. And if you are sacked from your first gig as a senior coach before significant success is achieved there is a 99% chance that you will go the way of Brendan Bolton and Damien Drum etc and will just disappear into obscurity and never be considered for another senior coaching gig again.

You get invited to apply for the vacant WCE coaching position but in your estimation the club's list is so run down that you think it highly likely that the club will be mired in the bottom 4 for another 3 or 4 seasons. Would you want to bet on historical trends being bucked and the club sticking with you through that? Bear in mind that you have spent a decade plus of your life earning this shot and you will only get one shot at it. Or would you rather wait and bet on an offer from another club in the future that is at a better point in the development cycle?

I don't think the likes of Josh Carr or McQualter (if he doesn't get the Richmond gig) or assistants of that calibre will apply for the job and we will need to have a Plan B in place in case we don't get those highly rated assistants applying.

You underestimate the appeal of becoming an AFL Head Coach. For those in the industry, it's a pheromone calling to coaches.

 

[Nedland]

Carr or Newman

 

[squashface]

Newman is a left field pick that I like.

Newman in for Simmo as coach and Pyke in for Trev as CEO.

Get it done

 

[Dugg]

Needs to be someone with a bit of campaigner imo, so it's Carr for me

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

43

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

 

[BeornJ]

So according to the thread title it's between Simpson and the World Health Organisation.

Damn, looks like the S and C will get an overhaul after all.

 

[18082015]

Need a coach that is a great relationship builder / teacher but is also tactically astute, though having good assistants would help
So for me that would be in the mould of Longmire / Hardwich / McRae
Don Pike just doesnt have that personality - which is why he's a great assistant

None of the choices so far suggested fill me with any excitement but thats not to say they're all poor choices
McQualter probably the best suggestion if he doesnt take the Richmond job

 

[Monocle]

Easy decision for me

Kane Cornes ……… guy has all the answers and is the most astute football analysis and strategist in the land ….. just ask him.

Has the answer for everything football related.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Was at EP during the alignment and can vouch for this. Also a few guys around on the list still who have already been coached by JG, would prefer a fresh set of eyes.

Pyke would be ideal imo

Aren’t there a few guys on the list who have already been coached by Pyke, too?

 

[MrKennedy17]

Cousins Head Coach, Kerr & Cox Assistants. Hell get Judd & Embers too. Thinking outside the box, Cinderella Story in the making.