Why did the Eagles sack Ron Alexander in 1987?

[Jascave]

I was watching the 1987 Round 18 game between West Coast and Hawthorn, and seeing the team the Eagles had at that time and their end-of-year record (11-11), why did the Eagles sack Ron Alexander and replace him with WA legend John Todd, with (according to Dennis Cometti) most of the playing group already having strong opinions about Todd as coach?


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[Seadog]

I still can't understand why. Think one of the justifications was Alexander was too much one of the boys. Todd was more authoritarian,
as in a complete dickhead. Lost the players in a year, his 2nd year was diabolical but it did end with us getting Malthouse.

 

[Johnno22]

I still can't understand why. Think one of the justifications was Alexander was too much one of the boys. Todd was more authoritarian,
as in a complete dickhead. Lost the players in a year, his 2nd year was diabolical but it did end with us getting Malthouse.

I actually asked this question of Ron Alexander a few years back when he was director of Sport and Rec in Perth and he basically said that the club thought he was too close to the players. I think they offered to keep him on at the club in a lesser role at the time but he declined.

 

[Jascave]

And remember, not all of the playing group were 100% behind John Todd, who upset most of them with his comments re state selection for WA, and also most of the ex-pats wouldn't have come back and played for the new WA club if Todd was appointed coach, unless they worked alongside him at Swan Districts. In retrospect, Barry Cable should have appointed coach in the first place, considering a) the high esteem he held in both Victoria and WA with his performances as a player for North Melbourne, and b) he took North to the finals twice, and the Kangaroos made it to the preliminary final in 1983.

 

[Jascave]

Say that you were in charge of the new West Coast Eagles club prior to its inaugural season, and apart from putting together the playing list, you also have to choose the new coach. With the benefit of hindsight, who would you pick out of these candidates to take charge of the Eagles: Ron Alexander; Barry Cable; Ken Armstrong; or John Todd?

 

[Johnno22]

Say that you were in charge of the new West Coast Eagles club prior to its inaugural season, and apart from putting together the playing list, you also have to choose the new coach. With the benefit of hindsight, who would you pick out of these candidates to take charge of the Eagles: Ron Alexander; Barry Cable; Ken Armstrong; or John Todd?

Armstrong in a heartbeat

 

[Mickey Rae]

Armstrong in a heartbeat

Personally, I wouldn't have gone with any of those. Armstrong had been too long out of the game, Cable didn't do well at North, Alexander untried and Todd had a reputation as being hard to get along with. Graham Moss might have gone alright.

 

[Farang83150]

I'd go Armstrong, but that may be biased a bit on my part as with Barry Cable...CARRNNN THE DEMONS!!
I recon Baz would have been as close to the boys if not closer like Big Ron.

 

[Mickey Rae]

I'd go Armstrong, but that may be biased a bit on my part as with Barry Cable...CARRNNN THE DEMONS!!
I recon Baz would have been as close to the boys if not closer like Big Ron.

His boy might have got to play more than one game too!

 

[Godfather32]

His boy might have got to play more than one game too!

He wasn't any good was he? I just remember he had a big kick on him

 

[Jascave]

Had a look at the Eagles record in 1987, and noticed they beat the reigning premiers Hawthorn twice that year; in Round 5 the Eagles won by 12 points at Princes Park, and in Round 18, by 1 point at Subiaco. To beat the defending champions is a very good effort, when you consider the limited time West Coast had in putting a whole club into being and yet the Eagles still sacked Ron Alexander.




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[Johnno22]

Had a look at the Eagles record in 1987, and noticed they beat the reigning premiers Hawthorn twice that year; in Round 5 the Eagles won by 12 points at Princes Park, and in Round 18, by 1 point at Subiaco. To beat the defending champions is a very good effort, when you consider the limited time West Coast had in putting a whole club into being and yet the Eagles still sacked Ron Alexander.




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To be fair we didn't see the degree of professionalism required till Malthouse's appointment.

 

[ziad]

I lived in melbourne at the time, our Vic performances were pathetic, so I am surprised the question was raised.

 

[FatPizza]

Had a look at the Eagles record in 1987, and noticed they beat the reigning premiers Hawthorn twice that year; in Round 5 the Eagles won by 12 points at Princes Park, and in Round 18, by 1 point at Subiaco. To beat the defending champions is a very good effort, when you consider the limited time West Coast had in putting a whole club into being and yet the Eagles still sacked Ron Alexander.

They also beat eventual premiers Carlton.

 

[Mickey Rae]

He wasn't any good was he? I just remember he had a big kick on him

No, he was average. Probably got picked up because his dad was an assistant coach at that time.

 

[Jascave]

Just wondering about this now, but was Ron Alexander really keeping the seat warm for John Todd, because if you think about it, Todd was the initial choice for the job. It was only when concerns were raised about Todd's coaching style and the need to lure WA ex-pats from the VFL to come home and play for the Eagles that got Alexander the nod instead?


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[Godfather32]

No, he was average. Probably got picked up because his dad was an assistant coach at that time.

I remember seeing him kick a couple of big torps at training once

 

[Jascave]

Was reading 'Soaring-the official history of the West Coast Eagles' today, and read about Ron Alexander's dismissal as Eagles coach. What surprised me was that Alexander was given no explanation as to why he was sacked. Then later at the press conference to announce John Todd as the new coach, when a question was asked as to why Todd was appointed ahead of Alexander, the reply was, 'Because Todd is a better coach.' What West Coast ended up getting was a 2 year nightmare, despite the fact that Todd took them to the finals.


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[Mickey Rae]

I remember seeing him kick a couple of big torps at training once

Didn't get more than one or two in his only VFL game.

 

[Mickey Rae]

Was reading 'Soaring-the official history of the West Coast Eagles' today, and read about Ron Alexander's dismissal as Eagles coach. What surprised me was that Alexander was given no explanation as to why he was sacked. Then later at the press conference to announce John Todd as the new coach, when a question was asked as to why Todd was appointed ahead of Alexander, the reply was, 'Because Todd is a better coach.' What West Coast ended up getting was a 2 year nightmare, despite the fact that Todd took them to the finals.


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Closet Eagles supporter?

 

[SpaceClef]

Closet Eagles supporter?

Maybe just really interested in AFL history?

 

[Barney44]

Always thought that originally they wanted Todd in 1987 but Swan Districts wouldn't release him from his contract. So they hired Alexander for a year until Todd was available.

 

[Mickey Rae]

Maybe just really interested in AFL history?

Yeah ... maybe. Don't think I will ever have the time or inclination to read 17 histories of AFL clubs including "Ninth - It's Not That Bad! : The Official Recent History of The Richmond Football Club".....

 

[2006_Eagles]

Not enough crazy subtle angles buy-in

 

[Farang83150]

I remember seeing him kick a couple of big torps at training once

His old man was the reson i loved kicking droppys so much, i used to be able to kick a droppy as far as a tory no probs.
Ps, Saw BC just about decapitate Murray Couper with a close range droppy at Claremont oval i think it was.