Why did the Eagles sack Ron Alexander in 1987?

[Godfather32]

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

No, did bugger all really. I remember as a kid being disappointed he didn't play very well.

 

[Godfather32]

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.

I'm not old enough to have seen him play unfortunately

 

[Mickey Rae]

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.

That could explain Murray's head! There are some ex-Demons players that say that Couper was the most skilful player at the club

 

[Farang83150]

That could explain Murray's head! There are some ex-Demons players that say that Couper was the most skilful player at the club

Could be wrong but i think MC had a plate in his head due to a accident or something

 

[SpaceClef]

Could be wrong but i think MC had a plate in his head due to a accident or something

Doesn't bode well for Murray

 

[Farang83150]

Doesn't bode well for Murray

I think he was playing when he had it, if I'm correct and it was MC that had the plate its been there for a very long time.

 

[JackOutback]

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?

I was too young at the time to know about Todd's difficult reputation, but to me, he was the obvious candidate; the most highly credentialed WA coach. I was surprised when he wasn't the inaugural coach and unsurprised when he got the gig a year later.

 

[Avalor]

That could explain Murray's head! There are some ex-Demons players that say that Couper was the most skilful player at the club

And they would be right. Couper was just out and out freakish. As for BC, I too learnt to kick droppies from watching him ... Perfection to an artform. I will always remember his contests with Keith Doncon, who was a star in his own right.

 

[Mickey Rae]

Could be wrong but i think MC had a plate in his head due to a accident or something

Story goes that he came off second best with an encounter with a grenade in Vietnam.

 

[Mickey Rae]

And they would be right. Couper was just out and out freakish. As for BC, I too learnt to kick droppies from watching him ... Perfection to an artform. I will always remember his contests with Keith Doncon, who was a star in his own right.

Ah .. No. 9 at the mighty Royals. Softest part of Doncon was his teeth! Great over head, goal kicking rover. WA ran him, Bill Walker and Cable as a "3 way" roving change in a game at a National Carnival in Tasmania in 1966. They each kicked 3 goals for the game.
Couper finished his career at East Perth and Doncon became a State lawn bowls champion after he retired from footy and went back to the farm in Wickipen.

 

[SpaceClef]

In what way was Todd difficult? I was only a baby at the time. Never really looked into our pre 1990s history

 

[Mickey Rae]

In what way was Todd difficult? I was only a baby at the time. Never really looked into our pre 1990s history

A bit of a "my way or the highway", strong, abusive sort of coach from what I've heard ....... which, mind you, was in the main the style in those times. Think of Mal Brown, Barassi, Kennedy etc... Also had his favourites from his Swans days.

 

[Farang83150]

Anyone know if Percy J was a candidate?...(can ever have enough Aquinians)

 

[Jascave]

I suppose what got Alexander the nod over Todd was that he was WA coach, and several State representatives such as Ross Glendinning and Phil Narkle were part of the WA State of Origin team that formed the nucleus of the new West Coast team. Yet, when Todd was WA State coach for the games against Victoria and SA in 1987, some West Coast players were in the team, yet lost both matches.


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[Avalor]

Ah .. No. 9 at the mighty Royals. Softest part of Doncon was his teeth! Great over head, goal kicking rover. WA ran him, Bill Walker and Cable as a "3 way" roving change in a game at a National Carnival in Tasmania in 1966. They each kicked 3 goals for the game.
Couper finished his career at East Perth and Doncon became a State lawn bowls champion after he retired from footy and went back to the farm in Wickipen.

He sure was tough. I was in the minority, I think, at the time, but I rated Doncon better than Cable. History won't back me up on that, as BC won 3 Sandovers if I'm nor wrong. Still, he was a mighty player.

 

[eagles rule]

I suppose what got Alexander the nod over Todd was that he was WA coach, and several State representatives such as Ross Glendinning and Phil Narkle were part of the WA State of Origin team that formed the nucleus of the new West Coast team. Yet, when Todd was WA State coach for the games against Victoria and SA in 1987, some West Coast players were in the team, yet lost both matches.


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I think it may have been Alexander over Todd purely because Of marketing and promoting especially being a new club ,Alexander was someone who the Vics all knew about from his Fitzroy days and Alexander was familiar with Melb city and had experience at all the Vic football grounds .I think it was always going to be a short coaching span .

 

[JackOutback]

I think it may have been Alexander over Todd purely because Of marketing and promoting especially being a new club ,Alexander was someone who the Vics all knew about from his Fitzroy days and Alexander was familiar with Melb city and had experience at all the Vic football grounds .I think it was always going to be a short coaching span .

Surely the marketing and promotion that truly mattered was in WA, convincing WAFL fans to back the Eagles, and for that Todd was the bigger name.

 

[eagles rule]

Surely the marketing and promotion that truly mattered was in WA, convincing WAFL fans to back the Eagles, and for that Todd was the bigger name.

WA fans I'm guessing who were split on remaining a seperate code were in the minority judging by old footage of crowd sizes .
The problem would have been drawing crowds in Melb and with Alexander well known and former Captain of Fitzroy the anger in Melb from the VFL supporters would be minimal .

I think Todd was always destined to replace Alexander after a year .

 

[Mickey Rae]

Anyone know if Percy J was a candidate?...(can ever have enough Aquinians)

Percy Johnson? ..... sincerely doubt he would have come under consideration. Percy Penguin would have had a better chance than him!

 

[Farang83150]

lol...fair enough
As a side note, I got punched in the face by Fat Cat at the rotary fair in Claremont when i was a young fella!

 

[Mickey Rae]

lol...fair enough
As a side note, I got punched in the face by Fat Cat at the rotary fair in Claremont when i was a young fella!

You dodged a bullet there mate .... lucky the punch was in the face and not the pants. Once worked at a drafting and engineering firm with the guy who "played" FC and he was as camp as a row of tents. Used to come to work with black eyes from his boyfriend giving him a belting.

 

[Tazmania]

Don't forget Ron as Captain/Coach of East Fremantle took them to two grand finals and won one. Then as coach only got them their again so unlike suggested he wasn't untried. The WAFL was a very strong comp at the time.

Ron still doesn't know the reason to this day but the former CEO of the Eagles apologised to him a couple of years ago. Made the news but I can't find a link.

Ron is a keen Dockers supporter now thanks to the West Coast treatment.

 

[Mickey Rae]

Don't forget Ron as Captain/Coach of East Fremantle took them to two grand finals and won one. Then as coach only got them their again so unlike suggested he wasn't untried. The WAFL was a very strong comp at the time.

Ron still doesn't know the reason to this day but the former CEO of the Eagles apologised to him a couple of years ago. Made the news but I can't find a link.

Ron is a keen Dockers supporter now thanks to the West Coast treatment.

Hmmm ..... that would make two of the six ex-WCE coaches who are anti-Eagles!

Didn't Alexander hold some sort of position with the Lavenders?

 

[Scotland]

Ron Alexander was the coach of the 1986 SOO side.

Given we were a 'state team' it seems a logical appointment.

 

[Keys]

Hmmm ..... that would make two of the six ex-WCE coaches who are anti-Eagles!

Didn't Alexander hold some sort of position with the Lavenders?

To be fair i reckon Ken was anti-westcoast when he took the job to begin with