Would seem that we'll be in the market for at least one new assistant coach, perhaps two if Mitch follows his son across to GWS as rumoured.
So we might as well use the time now to speculate on who might be in the club's sights.
So to get the ball rolling here are some possibilities
The "Tell 'em They're Dreaming" Candidates
Stephen Silvagni. Extremely unlikely, and yes, born and bred defender, plus get's chronically homesick to the point that he tears up as he's manouvering out the garage - and that's just when he's wheeling out the garbage bin.
But who knows, maybe SNOS has some incriminating family Christmas photos involving SOS and the family goat, or something really feral like Victoria Nicholls that we can use to get him over. Or not.
Matthew Lloyd
Too many interests in Melbourne, but hey, dreaming costs nuttin'!!
Not Out of the Realms of Possibilty Candidates
Simon McPhee (Claremont senior coach)
From basket case to comp leaders in the space of two years, it'd be wrong to at least not have a sit down with the lad and see what he might have to offer.
Tony Micale (The Mighty Royals senior coach)
Just seems to get regularly get WAFL teams into finals and the fact that he's on the outer at WCE is a point in his favour.
Bomber Riley (Carlton assistant coach)
Been around forever with heaps of clubs, but is that really a negative? His longetivity in the game, that he's ex-WA and a Neesham protege means that there's no surprises, both parties know what they're getting into.
Serious Candidates
Gavin Brown (Collingwood reserves coach)
Has worked as an assistant coach, currently the Magpies reserves coach and is getting results. May be disappointed to have been so quickly overlooked as heir apparent. Worked with Simon Lloyd who may be the man to talk him to cross the Nullarbor.
Gerard FitzGerald (North Ballarat)
Like Riley he's been around a bit, but the Roosters have been doing very well and his record at other VFL clubs doesn't appear to be too shabby either.
Joel Corey (Geelong)
Ex-WA, part of their leadership group and after Saturday's loss to Collingwood now more conscious of the ravages of time. Would also consider Milburn but was he ever a team leader? And sufficiently versed in the arts of the forward 50?
Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood)
Likely to retire ahead of getting delisted, he's an ex-Sharks player and occassional Magpie captain. Gutsy player, but seemed to have some footy smarts too.
The "Now Just Hear Me Out on This One" Candidate
Andrew Jarman. Not really a forward in his time as a player, but has been a patient mentor at North Adelaide and Perth; that all AFL assigned players - Sibo, Ruffles, Bollenhagen, Houghton and Ash Smith - have shown steady improvement would suggest that, at the very least, he has been able to communicate effectively with senior AFL coaches to understand and help implement their player development strategies.
No doubt there are many other contenders worthy of a chat (A Lynch, Bradshaw, various U18 and SAFL coaches) that I've forgotten, so feel free to throw their names in.
Discuss.
So we might as well use the time now to speculate on who might be in the club's sights.
So to get the ball rolling here are some possibilities
The "Tell 'em They're Dreaming" Candidates
Stephen Silvagni. Extremely unlikely, and yes, born and bred defender, plus get's chronically homesick to the point that he tears up as he's manouvering out the garage - and that's just when he's wheeling out the garbage bin.
But who knows, maybe SNOS has some incriminating family Christmas photos involving SOS and the family goat, or something really feral like Victoria Nicholls that we can use to get him over. Or not.
Matthew Lloyd
Too many interests in Melbourne, but hey, dreaming costs nuttin'!!
Not Out of the Realms of Possibilty Candidates
Simon McPhee (Claremont senior coach)
From basket case to comp leaders in the space of two years, it'd be wrong to at least not have a sit down with the lad and see what he might have to offer.
Tony Micale (The Mighty Royals senior coach)
Just seems to get regularly get WAFL teams into finals and the fact that he's on the outer at WCE is a point in his favour.
Bomber Riley (Carlton assistant coach)
Been around forever with heaps of clubs, but is that really a negative? His longetivity in the game, that he's ex-WA and a Neesham protege means that there's no surprises, both parties know what they're getting into.
Serious Candidates
Gavin Brown (Collingwood reserves coach)
Has worked as an assistant coach, currently the Magpies reserves coach and is getting results. May be disappointed to have been so quickly overlooked as heir apparent. Worked with Simon Lloyd who may be the man to talk him to cross the Nullarbor.
Gerard FitzGerald (North Ballarat)
Like Riley he's been around a bit, but the Roosters have been doing very well and his record at other VFL clubs doesn't appear to be too shabby either.
Joel Corey (Geelong)
Ex-WA, part of their leadership group and after Saturday's loss to Collingwood now more conscious of the ravages of time. Would also consider Milburn but was he ever a team leader? And sufficiently versed in the arts of the forward 50?
Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood)
Likely to retire ahead of getting delisted, he's an ex-Sharks player and occassional Magpie captain. Gutsy player, but seemed to have some footy smarts too.
The "Now Just Hear Me Out on This One" Candidate
Andrew Jarman. Not really a forward in his time as a player, but has been a patient mentor at North Adelaide and Perth; that all AFL assigned players - Sibo, Ruffles, Bollenhagen, Houghton and Ash Smith - have shown steady improvement would suggest that, at the very least, he has been able to communicate effectively with senior AFL coaches to understand and help implement their player development strategies.
No doubt there are many other contenders worthy of a chat (A Lynch, Bradshaw, various U18 and SAFL coaches) that I've forgotten, so feel free to throw their names in.
Discuss.
