Pagan to coach Knights

[gocatsgo]

From localfooty.com.au

Pagan in TAC talks
Paul Amy

07Oct08


DUAL AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan is set to make a comeback to coaching, with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup.

Pagan confirmed this morning that he had been in talks with the Under 18 club but said nothing had been finalised.

"It hasn't been fully completed yet," he said.

"Not all the i's have been dotted at this stage.

"Hopefully it can all be done by the weekend, one way or the other. I've got a few things on my plate in terms of opportunities."

The Knights are chasing a new coach after Paul Satterley stood down after the final round.

Pagan's appointment would represent a return to coaching junior footballers, an area in which he excelled at North Melbourne in the 1980s.

He steered North's Under 19s to five premierships and to nine consecutive grand finals.

Senior flags followed with the Roos, in 1996 and 1999.

Pagan moved to Carlton in 2003 but had an unhappy time of it.

The Blues finished 15th in 2003, 11th in 2004, and 16th in 2005 and 2006.

The end came in July, 2007, when he was sacked and replaced by Brett Ratten.

But in recent weeks Pagan has expressed a willingness to return to coaching, and at least one VFL club was keen to talk to him about 2009.

Northern Knights GM Peter Kennedy could not be contacted this morning.

 

[Simon]

They are paying way over the odds. 3rd round pick at best.

 

[HBF]

Would be a massive coup for the Knights to get someone of Pagan's credentials. I just wonder how he would interact with the kids, given this was one of the biggest hurdles he couldn't overcome at Carlton.

 

[Simon]

Given his ridiculous amount of success as an U19 coach, I wouldn't think it would be too much of an issue.

 

[scottwade]

Given his ridiculous amount of success as an U19 coach, I wouldn't think it would be too much of an issue.

That was a long time ago.

He and Slug Jordon had a very different way of doing things to what is now the norm.

 

[footyman]

Surely more an issue is that the Knights are the Northern Bullants VFL feeder side, and the Northern Bullants are effectively run by Carlton.

Given AFL Victoria want to integrate more TAC/VFL partnerships, particularly when it comes to more TAC Cup players playing VFL, I find the choice of club extraordinary!

Pagan as Northern Knights coach, would need to interact to some extent with the Northern Bullants coach who would be someone on Carlton's payroll!!!

 

[big_slick]

Any other bomber supporter misinterpret the title of the article? Phew...

 

[daffo]

I did, hehe.

 

[thegrach]

Surely more an issue is that the Knights are the Northern Bullants VFL feeder side, and the Northern Bullants are effectively run by Carlton.

Given AFL Victoria want to integrate more TAC/VFL partnerships, particularly when it comes to more TAC Cup players playing VFL, I find the choice of club extraordinary!

Pagan as Northern Knights coach, would need to interact to some extent with the Northern Bullants coach who would be someone on Carlton's payroll!!!

I wouldn't have thought that was the case at all, completely seperate entities. VFL clubs recruit, not just pick up U18's from their local area.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

Any other bomber supporter misinterpret the title of the article? Phew...

Yep. lol

 

[thebigboy]

His many years of AFL experience will be extremly valuable for these kids.

He worked with some of the best youngsters and knows what it takes for them to make it at the top level.

Well done to the Knights on getting him on board.

 

[footyman]

I wouldn't have thought that was the case at all, completely seperate entities. VFL clubs recruit, not just pick up U18's from their local area.

Well they are separate entities BUT AFL Victoria want them to become closer.

Also, they want TAC kids to play some VFL games. So as the TAC Cup coach Denis Pagan would have to liase with the Northern Bullants coach, discuss which kids could play, what position they play etc. What happens when the Northern Knights have a training run late in the year with the Northern Bullants? If the Bullants coach is a person who is employed by Carlton then surely its going to be awkward. Not sure if David Teague is still to coach the Bullants next year, I assume he and Pagan had a decent relationship.

 

[thegrach]

Well they are separate entities BUT AFL Victoria want them to become closer.

Also, they want TAC kids to play some VFL games. So as the TAC Cup coach Denis Pagan would have to liase with the Northern Bullants coach, discuss which kids could play, what position they play etc. What happens when the Northern Knights have a training run late in the year with the Northern Bullants? If the Bullants coach is a person who is employed by Carlton then surely its going to be awkward. Not sure if David Teague is still to coach the Bullants next year, I assume he and Pagan had a decent relationship.

Fair enough, didn't know that. Didn't Pagan get Teague over from North to Carlton. I reckon he might have been one of his favorites.

 

[bibi01]

Would be a massive coup for the Knights to get someone of Pagan's credentials. I just wonder how he would interact with the kids, given this was one of the biggest hurdles he couldn't overcome at Carlton.

shouldn't be an issue, most of ther kids at TAC level want to learn and listen,

unfortunatly carlton had a 'rotten' senior group, who thought they new more and better than the coach.

carlton't biggest problem was the playing group and their attitude and the lack of support the ccoaching and footy dept's were given prior to pratt arriving.

good luck to pagan.

 

[thegrach]

shouldn't be an issue, most of ther kids at TAC level want to learn and listen,

unfortunatly carlton had a 'rotten' senior group, who thought they new more and better than the coach.

carlton't biggest problem was the playing group and their attitude and the lack of support the ccoaching and footy dept's were given prior to pratt arriving.

good luck to pagan.

That is a pretty honest appraisal from a Carlton supporter.

 

[looker]

As already mentioned, and correctly stated, TAC U/18 Northern Knights are seperate entities to Preston Bullants Seniors club, which are also seperate entites to Preston Bullants Junior Club.
All three during the season share and have lease agreements to use the same oval , Preston Cramer St.

Above mentioned posts state the supposed strategies of Football Vic aiming to gain stronger working relationship between TAC clubs and VFL clubs.

1) Pagan is appointed by Football Victoria, and on their payroll. He answers to the High Performance coach (if that's the name of the role). His ongoing working relationship with the TAC club will be a professional working relationship, however they are not his employer. Any future ambitions that football Vic have, will work hand in hand with this particular appointment.

2) VFL and TAC are predominetly Victorian based competitions. This was only qualified by the AFL this year when they kicked the TAC grand final off the MCG for the first time since its inception, and replaced it with what the AFL would like to think is the national elite junior competition. U/16 state Grand Final.

Football Vic's intentions of strengthening it's state competiton, junior and senior, would fall quite close to the pin.

 

[mediumsizered]

That is a pretty honest appraisal from a Carlton supporter.

Not only an honest appraisal, but a spot-on appraisal. Unfortunately many Carlton supporters found it easier to 'bag' Pagan than to accept the real reason for our mediocrity. Pagan has never had any trouble communicating with younger players, it was his honesty with some of the experienced Carlton players that was to ultimately lead to his demise.

If Pagan does get the 'gig' at the Northern Knights, I hope it goes well for him. There are certainly no hard feelings towards Pagan from my point of view.

 

[thegrach]

I actually did hear a similar thing from the inside of the playing group after about 2 years, and Kouta's book confirmed it. I think you are right, to blame Pagan was an easy out, but I guess it wasn't only the players but the other circumstances at that time that contributed to the whole situation.

 

[Slattery_20]

Surely more an issue is that the Knights are the Northern Bullants VFL feeder side, and the Northern Bullants are effectively run by Carlton.

Given AFL Victoria want to integrate more TAC/VFL partnerships, particularly when it comes to more TAC Cup players playing VFL, I find the choice of club extraordinary!

Pagan as Northern Knights coach, would need to interact to some extent with the Northern Bullants coach who would be someone on Carlton's payroll!!!

Barry Mitchell still? That would be hilarious!

btw - AFL Vic are being absorbed up by the AFL again I believe.

 

[HBF]

Some speculation that Pagan has taken this role, as perhaps a stepping stone into a coaching role at Western Sydney when they are up and running.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

shouldn't be an issue, most of ther kids at TAC level want to learn and listen,

unfortunatly carlton had a 'rotten' senior group, who thought they new more and better than the coach.

carlton't biggest problem was the playing group and their attitude and the lack of support the ccoaching and footy dept's were given prior to pratt arriving.

good luck to pagan.

That's always been my opinion too, nice to see that from a Blues supporter.

 

[looker]

Some speculation that Pagan has taken this role, as perhaps a stepping stone into a coaching role at Western Sydney when they are up and running.

Interesting, cause the bloke will be 65 by that time.
Not that it should be an issue.

If the mind is willing ...