Analysis Is Leppa the Right Man for the Job?

[ColdWarWarrior]

Everything you mention assumes that if we had another coach we'd be doing better (Simpson is your example) but it also assumes that if Leppa took over a better team he'd also be no good.

We were/are a pretty bad team to start with ...

Yeah I agree, the problems are deep and systemic, simply replacing the coach is not going to change a lot. I question wether Leppa or the entire coaching staff are getting the support and resources they need to compete at AFL level, we know the club is cash strapped and the AFL has not been helpful. One big problem is the training ground, we are still using a junior footy clubs ground and cement block sheds that the guys were using 15 years ago, the game has moved on substantially from those days but the Lions have not.

 

[chopperduck]

IIRC the average club spending with footy dept is about 9mil. Top clubs up over 10 mil. We are at 7.5 and that is AFTER we increased it this year. We still need a lot more support off field, which i'm sure would make a big difference. Certainly not blaming this as the cause of our current problems, but i do believe it is a major factor in our ability to solve those problems.

 

[lioninthesand]

Everything you mention assumes that if we had another coach we'd be doing better (Simpson is your example) but it also assumes that if Leppa took over a better team he'd also be no good.

We were/are a pretty bad team to start with ...

We are going backwards, that's all that matters. name one player who has genuinely improved under him? Look around at other clubs with great young coaches at the helm? I refuse to have such a negitive view of our club to decide that this is our destiny and nothing can change it. His coaching tenure has been characterised by turmoil, poor stratagy and an unclear message - anyone know what he stands for yet? Its just depressing that this cancerous tenure will stubbornly be persisted with, meaning another year in the duldrums untill he is eventually sacked in the second half of next year.

 

[Layland_brother]

The AFL in 2016 is a pretty close competition, with drafts, free trade and salary cap not a great deal separates teams like years gone by. Sure injuries play there part. But any team can have a crack on the day if they are up for it. Coaching is the main reason for failure. The players know it which does not help, when the playing group give up on the coaching staff there is no return.

 

[lioninthesand]

IIRC the average club spending with footy dept is about 9mil. Top clubs up over 10 mil. We are at 7.5 and that is AFTER we increased it this year. We still need a lot more support off field, which i'm sure would make a big difference. Certainly not blaming this as the cause of our current problems, but i do believe it is a major factor in our ability to solve those problems.

Agree there is a huge number of issues, hense we need a special appointment to help these young men find the confidence to fight through this battle. Leppas short comings have been brutality exposed through tough circumstances - none the less he is not the coach for job, ours being a very unique one.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Leppa just looked so bamboozled up in the coaches box. If you go to the smart reply on afl.com.au and click on Richy's goal in the 4th quarter they show Leppa in the coaches box just afterwards and he looks completely dumbfounded. He looked like he was somewhere else mentally.

This doesn't sound too concerning to me, he's had a fair bit of time to reflect on the team not turning up to play and would be trying to think of where it all went wrong. If he was like that in the first and second quarter then I think you could draw conclusions from it.

 

[James North]

We are going backwards, that's all that matters. name one player who has genuinely improved under him? Look around at other clubs with great young coaches at the helm? I refuse to have such a negitive view of our club to decide that this is our destiny and nothing can change it. His coaching tenure has been characterised by turmoil, poor stratagy and an unclear message - anyone know what he stands for yet? Its just depressing that this cancerous tenure will stubbornly be persisted with, meaning another year in the duldrums untill he is eventually sacked in the second half of next year.

The Saints under Richardson? Same record...

 

[Eons]

This doesn't sound too concerning to me, he's had a fair bit of time to reflect on the team not turning up to play and would be trying to think of where it all went wrong. If he was like that in the first and second quarter then I think you could draw conclusions from it.

He looked completely shell shocked halfway through the first quarter. Never seen anyone look so helpless, was like he was watching a nightmare unfold in front of his eyes.

 

[James North]

I'm probably at the point where I think the players are just as much up in the air as him - everyone is up for trade as far as I'm concerned.

For the selective readers, I just wanted to point out that I did say this.

 

[Football Pope]

Robbo getting stuck into the players on 360

 

[James North]

He looked completely shell shocked halfway through the first quarter. Never seen anyone look so helpless, was like he was watching a nightmare unfold in front of his eyes.

What else would he do?

 

[dlanod]

We are going backwards, that's all that matters. name one player who has genuinely improved under him?

Obviously excluding those drafted under his watch:

Rockliff, 2014.
Hanley, 2014.
Zorko, 2014-2016.
Martin, 2015.
Bewick, 2016.
Lester, 2016.

 

[James North]

Obviously excluding those drafted under his watch:

Rockliff, 2014.
Hanley, 2014.
Zorko, 2014-2016.
Martin, 2015.
Bewick, 2016.
Lester, 2016.

Rocky is quoted as saying that his game has improved under Leppa, isn't he?

 

[Eons]

What else would he do?

Get out of the box and coach from the boundary.

 

[James North]

Get out of the box and coach from the boundary.

Surely nodding knowingly from the showers is better?

 

[Eons]

Surely nodding knowingly from the showers is better?

Depends on who was in there with him.

 

[lioninthesand]

The Saints under Richardson? Same record...

Adam simpson at westcoast, brendan bolton at carlton, luke beveridge at the bulldogs.. plus saints are dangerous this year, come on man.. I like your posts but this desperation to deflect and excuse at all costs must be getting tiring. His coaching tenure has been 'neeld like' and his friendship with Leigh is the only thing that is going to save the last year of his contract. Theres no debate to be had, it has been an absolute disarster in every sense of the word with no light at the end of the tunnel. Not even a glimmer.

 

[Gibbo_88]

He looked completely shell shocked halfway through the first quarter. Never seen anyone look so helpless, was like he was watching a nightmare unfold in front of his eyes.

Shell shocked and watching a nightmare is exactly what I would expect to see. I didn't watch the game and I won't put myself through it either so I will take your word for it but I'm sure there would have been a lot of anger expressed as well.

I would think there is enough leadership with Merrett, Hanley, Beams, Zorko and Rich to organise the structures so we either stopped them scoring or turned it into a rolling maul till everyone has sorted themselves out. Obviously there isn't.

 

[M Malice]

there was massive pressure on clarko and bomber to be sacked at stages during their early years, not saying this is the same as the jury is still out on leppa IMO, but may put a little perspective into some thoughts.

a story on alistair clarkson almost being sacked.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-02-15/clarko-almost-sacked-in-2010

and mark thompson.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/im-s...efiant-thompson/2006/06/08/1149359883485.html

 

[Eons]

Shell shocked and watching a nightmare is exactly what I would expect to see. I didn't watch the game and I won't put myself through it either so I will take your word for it but I'm sure there would have been a lot of anger expressed as well.

I would think there is enough leadership with Merrett, Hanley, Beams, Zorko and Rich to organise the structures so we either stopped them scoring or turned it into a rolling maul till everyone has sorted themselves out. Obviously there isn't.

None from what I saw on the telecast during the first half, just in shock.

 

[James North]

Adam simpson at westcoast, brendan bolton at carlton, luke beveridge at the bulldogs.. plus saints are dangerous this year, come on man.. I like your posts but this desperation to deflect and excuse at all costs must be getting tiring. His coaching tenure has been 'neeld like' and his friendship with Leigh is the only thing that is going to save the last year of his contract. Theres no debate to be had, it has been an absolute disarster in every sense of the word with no light at the end of the tunnel. Not even a glimmer.

Way too early on Bolton - give him a few years (see Hinkley, the great saviour).

However, our players have been like this under two coaches now - does that not mean anything?

 

[lioninthesand]

there was massive pressure on clarko and bomber to be sacked at stages during their early years, not saying this is the same as the jury is still out on leppa IMO, but may put a little perspective into some thoughts.

a story on alistair clarkson almost being sacked.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-02-15/clarko-almost-sacked-in-2010

and mark thompson.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/im-s...efiant-thompson/2006/06/08/1149359883485.html

Alister clarkson won 14 games in his third year, bomber made finals in his second year. Theres no conparisons IMO - the jury is out, true - but after saturday, i am now convinced he cannot turn this around. Zero improvement is 3 years, no one should survive that, so the clock is ticking.

 

[M Malice]

Alister clarkson won 14 games in his third year, bomber made finals in his second year. Theres no conparisons IMO - the jury is out, true - but after saturday, i am now convinced he cannot turn this around. Zero improvement is 3 years, no one should survive that, so the clock is ticking.

didn't do any research into their records leading up to these articles just had a memory of them being under pretty intense pressure to hold their jobs so did a quick search on the google machine and those two popped up.

i don't think i have read on our board anyone calling for leppa to be sacked immediately and i am waning in my support but why not give him till the end of the season or close to it and make the call then you never know it may turn around.

if he was sacked now who would do the job? murray davis?

 

[ooby]

Is Aker still looking for a senior coach role? If we can't compete we can at least entertain.

 

[Football Pope]

Alister clarkson won 14 games in his third year, bomber made finals in his second year. Theres no conparisons IMO - the jury is out, true - but after saturday, i am now convinced he cannot turn this around. Zero improvement is 3 years, no one should survive that, so the clock is ticking.

The clock has been ticking since the start of the year...The Jury handed Leppa a contract extension because they considered it was an unfavourable draw....Start of the year.. I had us 0-10...My complaint is the basic skills aren't there and at times we seem to be miles behind the State leagues in traditional football States...