Hamish Hartlett being mentioned for a development role.

I don't know much, but I know I love you... whoops, got sucked into a sludge-filled 80s rabbit hole...
But I know there are plenty of good assistants around. No need to panic.

Sam Edmund just casually threw in Dean Solomon as a potential assistant for Carlton...

What does an Assistant Coach do? Legit question, I just don't know what their job entails. What makes a good assistant coach?

Just my opinion based on a bit of knowledge, clubs mostly work with individual lines (backs, mids, forwards). They'll do game reviews and opponent assessment for upcoming games. Code gameday footage and hold one on one meetings to review with the players.
Some clubs do it differently and run offensive/defensive coaches where they manage the offensive and defensive movement with all players (not just nominated lines).
Some manage stoppages/set plays/kickouts etc.
The soft cap affects the numbers but ideally, I like line coaches, a set play coach and an innovation coach. Someone with lots of alternative ideas. The coaching group can sort through the 90% of overly radical ideas that wouldn't work and can channel the 10% that are worth consideration. You need an eccentric character with a good idea about the sport but an imagination is gold. I love this idea. Innovation and out of the box thinking should be embraced but it rarely is.
AFL coaches are often very conservative in their approach and their idea of innovation extends to language, instead of embracing imagination. That's what made Clarko such a good coach. He embraced alternative thinking but the game bought him back to the pack eventually.

What are people's thoughts on Ben Hart?

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-20 ... 0ac6838d71

Probably because we haven't been looking ?

A bit left field but it's a shame we couldn't consider Daisy Pearce.
She sees the game really well, communicates it in simple terms and she appears to be a top shelf person.
Unfortunately AFLW lists are settled otherwise it would be good to get her across to play for our AFLW team and then move into assisting with the mens team.

The salient point is that why would an ambitious assistant coach join a new head coach?...Why - if you backed yourself in you'd have a clearer path to recognition by joining an existing or embattled coach than a new one where your ideas/achievements likely would be conflated with the new coach's rise.

Just my opinion based on a bit of knowledge, clubs mostly work with individual lines (backs, mids, forwards). They'll do game reviews and opponent assessment for upcoming games. Code gameday footage and hold one on one meetings to review with the players.
Some clubs do it differently and run offensive/defensive coaches where they manage the offensive and defensive movement with all players (not just nominated lines).
Some manage stoppages/set plays/kickouts etc.
The soft cap affects the numbers but ideally, I like line coaches, a set play coach and an innovation coach. Someone with lots of alternative ideas. The coaching group can sort through the 90% of overly radical ideas that wouldn't work and can channel the 10% that are worth consideration. You need an eccentric character with a good idea about the sport but an imagination is gold. I love this idea. Innovation and out of the box thinking should be embraced but it rarely is.
AFL coaches are often very conservative in their approach and their idea of innovation extends to language, instead of embracing imagination. That's what made Clarko such a good coach. He embraced alternative thinking but the game bought him back to the pack eventually.

Thanks for the response. I guess my next question then is why does an assistant coach always need to be an ex-player (not aimed at you specifically -suppirters in general)?
And the preference a 'good' or name ex-player? Surely getting in stats nerds who can spot the trends should be priority yeah? Or is that just too scary?

All these folk love to quote moneyball but I bet none of them have read it.