Who is the best coach in the league at the moment?

[juss]

There actually is a credible argument that he was the best coach in 16, 17 and 18 and that is that he is the best coach in the comp, full stop.

You seem to be arguing that because he didn’t have the cattle in 16/17/18 to play off in a GF, others coaches are better. That’s some really oversimplified viewpoint.

He was still the best coach in the comp, regardless of where Hawthorn finished at the end of that run between 2012-2015.

He is the best coach over his career. Not in any recent seasons though. Please answer the below

Which if his 2016, 2017 or 2018 coaching performances were better than Beveridge, Hardwick or Simpson/Buckey in those years?

Do you not understand my point that in each of those individual years he hasn't been the best performed coach of that particular year?

Don't blame lack of cattle otherwise every single coach can claim lack of cattle. Maybe Lyon, Longmire and Simpson are better coachs than Clarkson but just had lack of cattle compared to Hawthorn? Or does your argument not get applied to anyone else? You cant have it both ways.

 

[juss]

Respectfully disagree. Hardwick rates highly, clearly. However, the very fact Richmond didn't make the Grand Final is a fair blight on Hardwick. Richmond were exceptionally dominant leading into the finals with many questioning who would be able to take it up to them.

The fact Hardwick couldn't essentially get them up for the prelim should have every Tiger seething. Every chance to go back to back, perhaps even contemplate a 3 peat.

Huge missed opportunity for mine.

No but the decision to play Dusty who looked to be on 1 leg was poor. As was his lack of changes in the first half of that PF when De Goey was clearly too good and fast for Rance and Cox was allowed to have an acre of space to lead into. I couldn't believe he was sticking with the defensive set up that was being mauled for so long. He eventually made the change but far too late.

I tend to agree. For me, given the 19-4 record the Tigers had at that point in time, and the way they had dominated the season and their finals campaign thus far, Hardwick was the coach of the year carrying on from 2017 up until the preliminary final.

But the way we lost that game, and some of the poor tactical and strategic decisions that led to it, and during the game, means you couldn't possibly have him as COTY for 2018 after that result, especially when Buckley and Simpson achieved what they did.

However, if he wears blame for the PF, he must certainly also earn significant credit for the 18 months prior to that.

 

[Doashuey]

However, if he wears blame for the PF, he must certainly also earn significant credit for the 18 months prior to that.

Undoubtedly... he changed his whole approach after some introspection and it worked perfectly. It takes a lot of courage and self awareness to be able to do that. Those are 2 common traits of todays best coaches.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Clarkson

//.

 

[Kanga87]

Hardwick .

Wow, what a surprise

 

[Socrates2]

Wow, what a surprise

Well I might be biased, but he's better than the Scott twins at strategy and man management.

 

[juss]

Clarkson

//.

Similar question to you, what did Clarkson do in 16, 17 and 18 that would have him as a better coach in those years than what Beveridge, Hardwick and Simpson achieved in those respective years?

I fully agree with you though that over their entire coaching careers he's been the best of the current coaches. But not sure how he can currently be the best on exposed form when he hasn't been the best performed coach, or probably top 2 coach in any of the last 3 years.
It's certainly not just about winning premierships, but the manner in which recent flags have been achieved have to put Bevo, Dimma and Simmo as the rightful coach of the year in those years.

 

[donbooger]

Good way to think about it is fire all the coaches and put them into a draft, you have first choice.

I'm taking Clarkson, what more do you want from a resume.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Dazzler9]

Definitely still Clarkson.

 

[pluggeranddoc]

More than happy for Lyon getting paid 1 million a year. At least got us into a Grand final.


Would you justify paying 1 million a year for Alan Richardson for his out put in the last 4 years?

It says plenty about the culture of both Freo and Saints when losing GF's is considered a success.
Is Freo still in the running for the AFLW?
More than one way to fill a trophy cabinet!

 

[Benny78]

Probably Clarko but it could all be a sharade and end soon. No Hodge = No success.

As much as I'd hate to admit the second best and don't think he's any good. It would probably be Ross Lyon behind Clarko.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

He is the best coach over his career. Not in any recent seasons though. Please answer the below

Which if his 2016, 2017 or 2018 coaching performances were better than Beveridge, Hardwick or Simpson/Buckey in those years?

Do you not understand my point that in each of those individual years he hasn't been the best performed coach of that particular year?

Don't blame lack of cattle otherwise every single coach can claim lack of cattle. Maybe Lyon, Longmire and Simpson are better coachs than Clarkson but just had lack of cattle compared to Hawthorn? Or does your argument not get applied to anyone else? You cant have it both ways.

It’s become clear that it’s quite pointless arguing with you.

The thread isn’t “who has been the best individual coach of the last 3 seasons”.

I’ll let the sea of “it has to be Clarkson” responses from all the other posters in this thread do their thing.

 

[Makka]

Well, judging on last season Adam Simpson was the best because he won the premiership and coached well all season. Now it's an even playing field again as the new season starts.

 

[juss]

It’s become clear that it’s quite pointless arguing with you.

The thread isn’t “who has been the best individual coach of the last 3 seasons”.

I’ll let the sea of “it has to be Clarkson” responses from all the other posters in this thread do their thing.

Cool, I don't need to be a sheep.

My definition of the word currently means that someone who hasn't been the best coach in any of the last 3 years isnt my best current coach. Il go with Simpson and that could change by the end of 2019.

 

[Doashuey]

Probably Clarko but it could all be a sharade and end soon. No Hodge = No success.

As much as I'd hate to admit it and don't think he's any good. It would probably be Ross Lyon behind Clarko.

Ross Lyon- legit or troll? Interested to hear reasoning if legit.

 

[KermitJagger]

Similar question to you, what did Clarkson do in 16, 17 and 18 that would have him as a better coach in those years than what Beveridge, Hardwick and Simpson achieved in those respective years?

I fully agree with you though that over their entire coaching careers he's been the best of the current coaches. But not sure how he can currently be the best on exposed form when he hasn't been the best performed coach, or probably top 2 coach in any of the last 3 years.
It's certainly not just about winning premierships, but the manner in which recent flags have been achieved have to put Bevo, Dimma and Simmo as the rightful coach of the year in those years.

In 2016 - he took a team that had been to 5 consecutive prelims and 4 consecutive Grand Finals to top 4 having just lost one of the top 10-20 players in the competition for a season with cancer (imagine what that would have done to the playing group as a whole), with the retirement of a first choice ruck/fwd and our full back. He literally coached and crafted his way to winning EVERY game in the regular season that came to within 12 points. Every game! Coaches are defined by how they close out games and he had that group in a winning position every time. Hawthorn were one Isaac Smith shank away from a prelim final, and his game plan is how we even got ourselves into that position.

In 2017 - we tumbled a bit after completely rewiring our midfield and losing 1+2 in our B&F from the previous year, but somehow he managed to engineer a mid season revival that had us close to sneaking into the finals with a top 4 record after the bye. He did all that whilst losing the following key players for huge amounts of games:

Grant Birchall (17 games lost)
Jaeger O'Meara (16 games lost)
Cyril Rioli (15 games lost)
James Frawley (14 games lost)
Ben Stratton (14 games lost)
Josh Gibson (10 games lost)

He had us competitive whilst literally losing two thirds of his starting defense, three of which had been All Australians. What would happen to Richmond if they lost Rance, Grimes, Vlastuin and Astbury?

In 2018, suffice to say he secured top 4 for a team that no one on Big Footy seemed to think had any talent.

If you want to look at the previous 3 years of all those coaches, Bevo has taken a premiership side to the bottom 8 for two years in a row. Hardwick won a premiership after having to survive an almost violent uprising from Richmond fans after a submissive 2016 where his team somehow nose dived despite not really missing many games from their better players. Simpson is the only one who hasn't really got much of a blemish over the previous 3 years.

When you add Clarkson's efforts in what has been 3 years of huge turnover after such prolonged success, it should only add to his reputation as a coach. He's managed to largely stay relevant for his entire time coaching and all three of the most recent premiership winning coaches graduated from his tutelage at Hawthorn.

I cannot even begin to imagine how you can be so obviously wrong, yet so resolute about it.

 

[juss]

In 2016 - he took a team that had been to 5 consecutive prelims and 4 consecutive Grand Finals to top 4 having just lost one of the top 10-20 players in the competition for a season with cancer (imagine what that would have done to the playing group as a whole), with the retirement of a first choice ruck/fwd and our full back. He literally coached and crafted his way to winning EVERY game in the regular season that came to within 12 points. Every game! Coaches are defined by how they close out games and he had that group in a winning position every time. Hawthorn were one Isaac Smith shank away from a prelim final, and his game plan is how we even got ourselves into that position.

In 2017 - we tumbled a bit after completely rewiring our midfield and losing 1+2 in our B&F from the previous year, but somehow he managed to engineer a mid season revival that had us close to sneaking into the finals with a top 4 record after the bye. He did all that whilst losing the following key players for huge amounts of games:

Grant Birchall (17 games lost)
Jaeger O'Meara (16 games lost)
Cyril Rioli (15 games lost)
James Frawley (14 games lost)
Ben Stratton (14 games lost)
Josh Gibson (10 games lost)

He had us competitive whilst literally losing two thirds of his starting defense, three of which had been All Australians. What would happen to Richmond if they lost Rance, Grimes, Vlastuin and Astbury?

In 2018, suffice to say he secured top 4 for a team that no one on Big Footy seemed to think had any talent.

If you want to look at the previous 3 years of all those coaches, Bevo has taken a premiership side to the bottom 8 for two years in a row. Hardwick won a premiership after having to survive an almost violent uprising from Richmond fans after a submissive 2016 where his team somehow nose dived despite not really missing many games from their better players. Simpson is the only one who hasn't really got much of a blemish over the previous 3 years.

When you add Clarkson's efforts in what has been 3 years of huge turnover after such prolonged success, it should only add to his reputation as a coach. He's managed to largely stay relevant for his entire time coaching and all three of the most recent premiership winning coaches graduated from his tutelage at Hawthorn.

I cannot even begin to imagine how you can be so obviously wrong, yet so resolute about it.

Because your not arguing against my points. I'm not disputing hes been great, I'm disputing whether he was better than the coaches I've listed in those respective years in isolation. Which he wasn't. You also seem to think some adversity is unique to Hawthorn. It's not.

The unbelievably bias or stupid part is you are genuinely trying to argue the taking to one of the GOAT teams to 12th placed Hawks in 2017 was a better coaching performance than Hardwick changing his team that hadnt won finals in 36 years to a dominate finals series and flag in the space of one offseason. Like WOW. If that's your level of bias I wont even bother trying to argue anymore.

 

[Back One Out]

Amazing that Clarkson was snubbed for the coach of the year award in 2008. He revolutionized the game with his zone defence and brought undone the Geelong superteam to pinch an unlikely flag with a bunch of rejects, rookies and late picks. (Osborne, Gilham, Guerra, Young, Sewell, Campbell, Renouf, Williams, Bateman, Dew)

In 2013, Clarko had rebuilt the team and coached them to the top of the ladder (19 wins) and won the flag, but the AFLCA voted Ken Kinkley as the coach of the year for taking a team that nobody rated all the way to 7th (12 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Pfft.

Clarkson was overlooked by the AFLCA in 2014 for coaching his injury-depleted team into 2nd place (17 wins) and winning B2B flags
The AFLCA preferred John Longmire's effort of coaching the Swans to top spot (also 17 wins) and losing the Grand Final. It was Horse's second award.

Clarko was again overlooked for the Coach of the Year award in 2015, despite his team completing the 3peat.
Luke Beveridge got the nod for steering a team that nobody rated into 6th place (14 wins) and an Elimination Final defeat.

Bevo deservedly won the award (again) in 2016, but Clarkson's coaching was amazing that year. Hawks were probably the 5th or 6th best team, but somehow finished equal 1st with Sydney and Geelong (17 wins) after winning 7 or 8 close games.

Hardwick was rewarded in 2017 when the Tigers replicated Hawthorn's 2015 season - finishing 3rd on 15 wins and brushing aside the interstate challengers at the MCG. Except the Hawks travelled twice to WA in Sept'15. Richmond never left Melbourne

Finally in 2018, Clarkson completed the prerequisite task for winning Coach of the Year. He took a team that nobody rated as a Top 8 contender all the way to 4th spot on the ladder (15 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Unfortunately, he was overlooked again by the AFLCA who preferred Buckley's effort of coaching the injury-plagued Pies in to 3rd place (also 15 wins) and a GF defeat.


It doesn't seem to matter what he does, the AFLCA always find a way to give their award to someone else. The Hawks are widely tipped to finish 11th or 12th. Clarko could coach them to a Prelim Final, but the AFLCA would probably reward Simon Goodwin for coaching the Dee-Draftpicks to a losing GF.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

Amazing that Clarkson was snubbed for the coach of the year award in 2008. He revolutionized the game with his zone defence and brought undone one of most dominant teams ever and pinched an unlikely flag with a bunch of rejects, rookies and late picks. (Osborne, Gilham, Guerra, Young, Sewell, Campbell, Renouf, Williams, Bateman, Dew)

In 2013, Clarko had rebuilt the team and coached them to the top of the ladder (19 wins) and won the flag, but the AFLCA voted Ken Kinkley as the coach of the year for taking a team that nobody rated all the way to 7th (12 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Pfffft.

Clarkson was overlooked by the AFLCA in 2014 for coaching his injury-depleted team into 2nd place (17 wins) and winning B2B flags
The AFLCA preferred John Longmire's effort of coaching the Swans to top spot (also 17 wins) and losing the Grand Final. It was Horse's second award.

Clarko was again overlooked for the Coach of the Year award in 2015, despite his team completing the 3peat.
Luke Beveridge got the nod for steering a team that nobody rated into 6th place (14 wins) and an Elimination Final defeat.

Bevo deservedly won the award (again) in 2016, but Clarkson's coaching was amazing that year. Hawks were probably the 5th or 6th best team, but somehow finished equal 1st with Sydney and Geelong (17 wins) after winning 7 or 8 close games.

Hardwick was rewarded in 2017 when the Tigers replicated Hawthorn's 2015 season - finishing 3rd on 15 wins and brushing aside the interstate challengers at the MCG. Except the Hawks travelled twice to WA that Sept. Richmond never left Melbourne

Finally in 2018, Clarkson completed the prerequisite task for winning Coach of the Year. He took a team that nobody rated as a Top 8 contender all the way to 4th spot on the ladder (15 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Unfortunately overlooked again by the AFLCA who preferred Buckley's effort of coaching the injury-plagued Pies in to 4th place (also 15 wins) and a GF defeat.


It doesn't seem to matter what he does, the AFLCA always find a way to give their award to someone else. The Hawks are widely tipped to finish 11th or 12th. Clarko could coach them to a Prelim Final, but the AFLCA would probably reward Simon Goodwin for coaching the Dee-Draftpicks to a losing GF.

the fact that Alistair Clarkson hasn't won the coach of the year award has to make it the least credible award in the history of sports.

 

[Dazzler9]

the fact that Alistair Clarkson hasn't won the coach of the year award has to make it the least credible award in the history of sports.

It's a bit like Matthews, Ablett Snr and Carey never winning the Brownlow.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Amazing that Clarkson was snubbed for the coach of the year award in 2008. He revolutionized the game with his zone defence and brought undone the Geelong superteam to pinch an unlikely flag with a bunch of rejects, rookies and late picks. (Osborne, Gilham, Guerra, Young, Sewell, Campbell, Renouf, Williams, Bateman, Dew)

In 2013, Clarko had rebuilt the team and coached them to the top of the ladder (19 wins) and won the flag, but the AFLCA voted Ken Kinkley as the coach of the year for taking a team that nobody rated all the way to 7th (12 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Pfft.

Clarkson was overlooked by the AFLCA in 2014 for coaching his injury-depleted team into 2nd place (17 wins) and winning B2B flags
The AFLCA preferred John Longmire's effort of coaching the Swans to top spot (also 17 wins) and losing the Grand Final. It was Horse's second award.

Clarko was again overlooked for the Coach of the Year award in 2015, despite his team completing the 3peat.
Luke Beveridge got the nod for steering a team that nobody rated into 6th place (14 wins) and an Elimination Final defeat.

Bevo deservedly won the award (again) in 2016, but Clarkson's coaching was amazing that year. Hawks were probably the 5th or 6th best team, but somehow finished equal 1st with Sydney and Geelong (17 wins) after winning 7 or 8 close games.

Hardwick was rewarded in 2017 when the Tigers replicated Hawthorn's 2015 season - finishing 3rd on 15 wins and brushing aside the interstate challengers at the MCG. Except the Hawks travelled twice to WA in Sept'15. Richmond never left Melbourne

Finally in 2018, Clarkson completed the prerequisite task for winning Coach of the Year. He took a team that nobody rated as a Top 8 contender all the way to 4th spot on the ladder (15 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Unfortunately, he was overlooked again by the AFLCA who preferred Buckley's effort of coaching the injury-plagued Pies in to 3rd place (also 15 wins) and a GF defeat.


It doesn't seem to matter what he does, the AFLCA always find a way to give their award to someone else. The Hawks are widely tipped to finish 11th or 12th. Clarko could coach them to a Prelim Final, but the AFLCA would probably reward Simon Goodwin for coaching the Dee-Draftpicks to a losing GF.

Unfortunately for Clarkson his team never embarrasses itself one year so that the following year they shoot up the ladder unexpededly, which seems to be what wins the award.

I would have thought Simpson would have won the award as I'm pretty sure overall WC was ranked lower than Collingwood prior to 2018 by the average person, and they finished higher on the ladder

 

[RAPPA]

Ross Lyon. Done sweet FA over the last how many years with Freo yet his role is as secure as a government job. Tactical genius internally.

 

[melanChronic]

Amazing that Clarkson was snubbed for the coach of the year award in 2008. He revolutionized the game with his zone defence and brought undone the Geelong superteam to pinch an unlikely flag with a bunch of rejects, rookies and late picks. (Osborne, Gilham, Guerra, Young, Sewell, Campbell, Renouf, Williams, Bateman, Dew)

In 2013, Clarko had rebuilt the team and coached them to the top of the ladder (19 wins) and won the flag, but the AFLCA voted Ken Kinkley as the coach of the year for taking a team that nobody rated all the way to 7th (12 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Pfft.

Clarkson was overlooked by the AFLCA in 2014 for coaching his injury-depleted team into 2nd place (17 wins) and winning B2B flags
The AFLCA preferred John Longmire's effort of coaching the Swans to top spot (also 17 wins) and losing the Grand Final. It was Horse's second award.

Clarko was again overlooked for the Coach of the Year award in 2015, despite his team completing the 3peat.
Luke Beveridge got the nod for steering a team that nobody rated into 6th place (14 wins) and an Elimination Final defeat.

Bevo deservedly won the award (again) in 2016, but Clarkson's coaching was amazing that year. Hawks were probably the 5th or 6th best team, but somehow finished equal 1st with Sydney and Geelong (17 wins) after winning 7 or 8 close games.

Hardwick was rewarded in 2017 when the Tigers replicated Hawthorn's 2015 season - finishing 3rd on 15 wins and brushing aside the interstate challengers at the MCG. Except the Hawks travelled twice to WA in Sept'15. Richmond never left Melbourne

Finally in 2018, Clarkson completed the prerequisite task for winning Coach of the Year. He took a team that nobody rated as a Top 8 contender all the way to 4th spot on the ladder (15 wins) and a semi final exit in the second week of September. Unfortunately, he was overlooked again by the AFLCA who preferred Buckley's effort of coaching the injury-plagued Pies in to 3rd place (also 15 wins) and a GF defeat.


It doesn't seem to matter what he does, the AFLCA always find a way to give their award to someone else. The Hawks are widely tipped to finish 11th or 12th. Clarko could coach them to a Prelim Final, but the AFLCA would probably reward Simon Goodwin for coaching the Dee-Draftpicks to a losing GF.

How did he not win it in 2008? Brought down one of the greatest teams of all time largely through clever coaching (the cluster, the rushed behind strategy, Hodge as quarterback, deploying Dew at key moments).

Pushed a young promising team way ahead of its curve to snatch a flag. One of the best coaching seasons ever-- not to mention the 4 years rebuilding he had overseen to get them there. Ludicrous.

 

[KermitJagger]

How did he not win it in 2008? Brought down one of the greatest teams of all time largely through clever coaching (the cluster, the rushed behind strategy, Hodge as quarterback, deploying Dew at key moments).

Pushed a young promising team way ahead of its curve to snatch a flag. One of the best coaching seasons ever-- not to mention the 4 years rebuilding he had overseen to get them there. Ludicrous.

Because it's given out before the Grand Final, and like it or not Geelong were the most dominant team through the regular season. One loss.

 

[melanChronic]

Because it's given out before the Grand Final, and like it or not Geelong were the most dominant team through the regular season. One loss.

True? OK makes a lot more sense then.