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Coaches don’t make the team, players make the coach

By Mr Dandalooa

Did they jump or were they pushed?

Tensions are mounting for the AFL’s senior coaches as poor-performing teams look for answers to opportunities missed in season 2009.

North Melbourne president James Brayshaw has backed departing head coach Dean Laidley despite his decision this week to resume his AFL career with a rival club.

Earlier this month Laidley reaffirmed his intention to coach in the AFL in 2010 regardless of whether Kangaroos appointed him or not.

Laidley is amongst six senior coaches who are set to out of contract at the end of the season, with the seventh, Terry Wallace, already departed from Richmond.

Weeks prior to Wallace’s departure, media scrutiny and public speculation created an aura of uncertainty around the former Tigers coach’s future, eventually succumbing to the pressure after a controversial intervention and emergency meeting with players.

Laidley stepped down yesterday in his seventh season at the helm with the Kangaroos and amid controversy about a round 16 clause in his contract which forced the club to review his performance.

Brayshaw is believed to have been against the clause; however FootyGoss understands that it was vehemently requested by Laidley.

At a press conference, Brayshaw said: “I think that anyone that knows footy knows that there aren’t too many coaches that can genuinely say that they’ve regularly won matches from the coach’s box,” he said.

“I think this bloke has and he will be a great asset to any club he goes to.”

Speculation is mounting over the future of Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade despite the team’s almost certain final berth this year, with questions raised about the propensity of the AFL to give coaches the flick mid-season.

AFL punters are also warning the West Coast Eagles not grant John Worsfold a long-term contract, and even the Fremantle Football Club’s watchers are speculating about a reshuffle of the coaching structure there.

Is it healthy to give coaches of poor-performing teams the boot half-way during the season?

Unless its is the result of something sinister or by misconduct, I would say no.

It doesn’t help the sport, it doesn’t help the team, it doesn’t breed competition, and worst of all, it throws in a tense feeling of uncertainty about coaches with a plan for long-term building.

Look at any sport in the world and I doubt half as many would have the propensity to sack or push a coach out willy nilly over a few losses.

Coaches don’t make the team, players make the coach.

Unless you have the skills and expertise in the team to begin with, a coach isn’t able to breed magic on the field.

Laidley presided over nearly 1450 matches during his tenure for 72 wins, 75 losses and two draws.

While not hall of fame statistics, it shows that he knows how to coach.

Assistant coach Darren Crocker will take control of the Kangaroos for the rest of the season.

Then the team is set to look for another coach, with another playing and coaching style, who has to win the support and respect of the team.

It begs the question as to whether these guys are jumping off a sinking boat or were pushed without a life jacket.

I’m inclined to believe the latter, and I suspect behind closed doors, management and boards manipulate to media to play it out as though they jumped as not to create discontent amongst sometimes rabid supporters.

If this trend continues, I wonder if long-term coaching contracts will be offered at all in the future, or if former players and other would be attracted to the positions.

I don’t think there are any winners for a coach to leave or to be sacked like this mid-season and even if board decisions are made I reckon they be kept hush hush or unofficial until the end of the season to let the game play without fear or controversy.