- Aug 21, 2007
- 33,355
- 110,702
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Aston Villa, San Antonio Spurs
I think Bucks was a decent coach, very smart and hard working. I think he should coach again (likr Ratten and Voss).
He wasn't great 2012-2016, we essentially slid down the ladder as he learned the ropes he should led have learnt as an assistant at other clubs, and dealt with a successful sides with strong personalities he had to reshape. He also had a president riding him and making footy decisions.
Bucks inherited some issues from MM including an unresolved racism claim that was handled poorly.
2018 showed he could develop kids, take chances and adapt his gameplan (we pinched Richmonds). Even Eddie backed off...for 1 year, then he was back making footy decisions like recruiting Beams.
Many successful players in the current side were developed if not by Bucks then under his watch, as he was a loyal club man and didn't burn future chances pursuing instant success.
We kept him on longer than most thought we should because he was popular but also because we are a loyal club. However Bucks got the job too early, and because he was parachuted in as a clubs favourite son rather than earning his way he lacked authority.
You know your club better than me, and like I say maybe it is Ken's time. In this comparison Buckley isn't Hinkley, he's Carr.
Hird. Buckley. Carr. Add in Voss at Brisbane and Ratten at Carlton. Favourite sons with short apprenticeships. It's not often a winning formula.
Maybe Sam Mitchell will buck that trend. Seems to be going steadily at Hawthorn.
Carr hasn't done a short apprenticeship. He's been in the coaching system for 12 years, a stint at Port, a stint at North Adelaide as head coach where he won them a drought breaking premiership, a stint at Freo where they looked like they were building something special, then back here as effectively the matchday coach in a season where our matchday coaching has come along in leaps and bounds.
He's one of the most highly rated assistants in the league, he couldn't really be further away from a favourite son parachuted into the role.