Opinion Senior coach options

[Mowman]

We picked Sheldon and made finals for the 1st time in 17yrs.
Nearly won a flag with Alves.
Nearly made a few Grand Finals with Thommo.
Shouldve won 2 under Lyon.
At times our board is very good at picking coaches.
Its the SACKING of coaches we seem to have problems with

Good point

 

[Mowman]

to be fair the first real challenge for the majority of this board was the appointment of watters. it turned over slightly since then, if they get this one wrong there will be another ticket found from somewhere. maybe possible AFL intervention ala melbourne

Any chance Gerry Ryan could be on the ticket

 

[tbarker]

Love the idea

Well - funny you should mention that option. He was guilted into playing next year (Caro got this one right) and I bumped into him recently in a park and he was more interested in being a dad than a footballer from the discussion we had (His wife is very pregnant). He didn't come out and say "I don't want to go around again" but wasn't sounding too keen to be doing another one. This time last year he was very passionate about playing. He was keen to hit another pre-season and chomping at the bit to hit Colorado. I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit mid-season if he gets an injury. The man is a legend so he can do what he wants but he is running out of mates at the club to hang out with on a daily basis so it will get harder for him to stay motivated.

 

[Defacto]

Well - funny you should mention that option. He was guilted into playing next year (Caro got this one right) and I bumped into him recently in a park and he was more interested in being a dad than a footballer from the discussion we had (His wife is very pregnant). He didn't come out and say "I don't want to go around again" but wasn't sounding too keen to be doing another one. This time last year he was very passionate about playing. He was keen to hit another pre-season and chomping at the bit to hit Colorado. I wouldn't be surprised to see him quit mid-season if he gets an injury. The man is a legend so he can do what he wants but he is running out of mates at the club to hang out with on a daily basis so it will get harder for him to stay motivated.

what is he interested in, life after football?

 

[Jack Stevens]

One very fast Photoshop later:

 

[tbarker]

what is he interested in, life after football?

Yep. He is a pro though so I have no doubt that if he goes around again then he will give it everything.

 

[tbarker]

W2L - you started the Choco train . Do you know why he left GWS and or why he didn't get the gig over Cameron?

 

[thomas_m18]

Off topic now but if Lenny's wavering and decided "Alright guys I've had it now", he would allow us to take another in the draft or as a delisted player wouldn't he? Will always be a spot for Lenny at St Kilda FC so he'd slip into a midfield coaching role pretty easily at the club I would assume. Head coach maybe too...

Would love to see Lenny go around again but the heart wants what the heart wants. Either way I'm sure he'll make a great senior coach one day if he chooses that path, whether that be in 20 years time or...

 

[Defacto]

Yep. He is a pro though so I have no doubt that if he goes around again then he will give it everything.

i was wondering what are his interests? like what does he want to do after football?

 

[felsty]

i was wondering what are his interests? like what does he want to do after football?

coach coach and more coach from what I have heard

 

[Eddie Dingle]

W2L - you started the Choco train . Do you know why he left GWS and or why he didn't get the gig over Cameron?

I'm fairly sure he was promised (or so choco thought) the top job after the first year and when Sheedy went around again he walked.

Richmond snapped him up fairly quickly iirc.

 

[stkildathunda]

What has Adam Kingsley done to get a shot at the top job, haven't been that impressed with his work so far.

Just wondering why he hasnt impressed you? Couple people said this but havent really given any reasons. Curious to know why.

 

[Baldur]

Any odds on Lenny Hayes coaching next year?

A man who demands respect, clearly has the support of the player group, has a feel for the game and in particular big moments, not currently in any formal leadership capacity in the club.

Could do worse.

Not without an apprenticeship as an assistant. But this year he could do a playing/assistant role, moving into a pure assistant role the year after while being groomed for a handover the year after.

 

[Macca19]

I'm a fan of coaches with experience, especially ones who've won premierships. Even Choco, who I think is a great coach but a tool of a bloke.

Only fear is that although Pelch and Choco worked together at Port, presumably Pelch was down the chain from Choco, or at least not his boss.

I posted in the thread on our board and its been quoted here as well but Pelchen was our Victorian recruiting officer from 1997-2004 and headed our trading from 02-03. His trading was great. The Victorian players we picked were shithouse. His job was made redundant as we re-structured the football operations after the premiership in 04.

So definitely down the chain from Choco in their time at Port. Reports were that they had a positive relationship when at the club.

There is basically 2 sides of the Choco train at Port Adelaide. There is the extremely talented coach capable of developing match winning game styles and developing a young list into a premiership contender and ultimately a premiership winner. This is what we had from 99-04. A coach capable of feeding confidence into young players, getting the very best out of them and almost forcing them to improve.

Then there is the other side which we saw from 05-10. As we made off field cuts, Choco became the head coach, the quasi football operations manager, the quasi recruiting officer, the quasi president. The media went to him for controversial sound bytes like they would with Eddie. His ego took over and he became very arrogant. He would harass the admin staff, some who resigned very early on as they couldn't handle him. We had coaching staff leave because of falling outs with him. He made assumptions on where football was heading and demanded specific players to be drafted accordingly. Our recruiting officer at the time didn't have the balls to stand up to him. On field, we turned into a disaster. He struggled to develop youngsters. He oversaw some of the worst on field results in our history (record finals loss against the Crows, 119, constant losing to wooden spooners). He played favourites and internally it split the playing group in half. Was unwilling to put his favourites in line. Public disagreements and undermining of the CEO and president. After falling outs with coaching staff, he tailored his box full of yes men as opposed to people that could challenge his opinion on game day.

So theres really two sides of the coin. We all revered him when he was coach and kept in line by a strong football operations manager (Rob Snowden), a strong coaching group (Clarkson, Bailey, Walsh) and a strong Pres/CEO combo (Boulton/Cunningham). Then most of us prayed for his demise as he took control of the club and tore it in half.

If Pelchen is as powerful within the club as he thinks he is then this will be a good thing if you get Choco. So long as your President and CEO keep him in line as well then Choco will work. If the lines start to get muddy then it can be a very public downward slope.

 

[L_W_P]

I'm fairly sure he was promised (or so choco thought) the top job after the first year and when Sheedy went around again he walked.

Richmond snapped him up fairly quickly iirc.

It wasn't just this.

From what I remember hearing/reading at the time his wife was very keen to get to Melbourne. Had he taken the GWS role they would've stayed but when Choco was told he'd be an assistant for the time being, he decided he could do that in Melbourne.

He's always wanted to be a senior coach again.

I'm calling it now - Presser tomorrow at 3pm

 

[stkildathunda]

What about Sheeds? Would he be better option then Choco?

 

[cartwright]

What about Sheeds? Would he be better option then Choco?

Seriously?

 

[L_W_P]

What about Sheeds? Would he be better option then Choco?

Seriously?

I don't even think he has been coaching the Giants this year, at least not 100% on game day.

The AFL media knew from the start he was just there for publicity. It just took the NSW crowd 18 months to catch on.

Massive respect for his contributions to the game, but a big pass from me as head coach.

Now a Director of Coaching or Footy Ops Manager role.....

 

[stkildathunda]

Seriously?

Seriously?

I don't even think he has been coaching the Giants this year, at least not 100% on game day.

The AFL media knew from the start he was just there for publicity. It just took the NSW crowd 18 months to catch on.

Massive respect for his contributions to the game, but a big pass from me as head coach.

Now a Director of Coaching or Footy Ops Manager role.....

He can have same role as he does at GWS. Getting a young, raw coach ready to take over the reigns, like he's doing with Leon Cameron. The info a young coach could get out of his brilliant footy mind would be invaluable moving forward. It's basically same as what people want with Choco.

 

[L_W_P]

He can have same role as he does at GWS. Getting a young, raw coach ready to take over the reigns, like he's doing with Leon Cameron. The info a young coach could get out of his brilliant footy mind would be invaluable moving forward. It's basically same as what people want with Choco.

I can appreciate that idea. That's not what I'm hoping we hire Choco for though.

I don't want him there for 3 years teaching a 'successor'. I want him there for 7+ years getting the rebuild done and pushing right through our next 'window'.

 

[cartwright]

He can have same role as he does at GWS. Getting a young, raw coach ready to take over the reigns, like he's doing with Leon Cameron. The info a young coach could get out of his brilliant footy mind would be invaluable moving forward. It's basically same as what people want with Choco.

See your point... though if we're going that route I think I'd rather Choco.... looks to have been working well at Richmond.

 

[hayes]

Is it just a matter of time until Choco is appointed coach?

 

[Half Back Pocket]

A good mate of mine is the runner for Collingwood VFL. He believes Harvs is not the man for a Senior coaching gig. Said he's just too quiet, to the point where he just fades into the background. Understand that he might be great 1 on 1, and a great tactician...but surely there is a need for the head coach to have a strong, outgoing personality.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

It wasn't just this.

From what I remember hearing/reading at the time his wife was very keen to get to Melbourne. Had he taken the GWS role they would've stayed but when Choco was told he'd be an assistant for the time being, he decided he could do that in Melbourne.

He's always wanted to be a senior coach again.

I'm calling it now - Presser tomorrow at 3pm

Choco's wife is a Melbourne girl who he met when he was playing at Collingwood.

He didn't "take" the GWS role because the goal posts changed and he was not happy about it. It is no secret he wants to be a senior coach again and will go to any club to achieve this. Anyway good luck Sainters I hope who ever you get works out and gets you back up the table quicksmart.

btw - the presser is at 2pm

 

[Kildonan]

I posted in the thread on our board and its been quoted here as well but Pelchen was our Victorian recruiting officer from 1997-2004 and headed our trading from 02-03. His trading was great. The Victorian players we picked were shithouse. His job was made redundant as we re-structured the football operations after the premiership in 04.

So definitely down the chain from Choco in their time at Port. Reports were that they had a positive relationship when at the club.

There is basically 2 sides of the Choco train at Port Adelaide. There is the extremely talented coach capable of developing match winning game styles and developing a young list into a premiership contender and ultimately a premiership winner. This is what we had from 99-04. A coach capable of feeding confidence into young players, getting the very best out of them and almost forcing them to improve.

Then there is the other side which we saw from 05-10. As we made off field cuts, Choco became the head coach, the quasi football operations manager, the quasi recruiting officer, the quasi president. The media went to him for controversial sound bytes like they would with Eddie. His ego took over and he became very arrogant. He would harass the admin staff, some who resigned very early on as they couldn't handle him. We had coaching staff leave because of falling outs with him. He made assumptions on where football was heading and demanded specific players to be drafted accordingly. Our recruiting officer at the time didn't have the balls to stand up to him. On field, we turned into a disaster. He struggled to develop youngsters. He oversaw some of the worst on field results in our history (record finals loss against the Crows, 119, constant losing to wooden spooners). He played favourites and internally it split the playing group in half. Was unwilling to put his favourites in line. Public disagreements and undermining of the CEO and president. After falling outs with coaching staff, he tailored his box full of yes men as opposed to people that could challenge his opinion on game day.

So theres really two sides of the coin. We all revered him when he was coach and kept in line by a strong football operations manager (Rob Snowden), a strong coaching group (Clarkson, Bailey, Walsh) and a strong Pres/CEO combo (Boulton/Cunningham). Then most of us prayed for his demise as he took control of the club and tore it in half.

If Pelchen is as powerful within the club as he thinks he is then this will be a good thing if you get Choco. So long as your President and CEO keep him in line as well then Choco will work. If the lines start to get muddy then it can be a very public downward slope.

Thanks Macca - it is always wise to go into the search for a new coach with open eyes.