Josh Kaplan wrote:
I hope people aren't underestimating how important this off-season is for our club, particularly in regards to the make- up of our coaching department. Astute line coaches are hugely influential in the structure of a modern AFL side. While there remains pointed question marks over Ratten's ability to adequately structure our side to compete against the best, our appointments this summer have massive implications for our side in 2011 and beyond.
Personally, I feel it is essential guys like Mark Neeld, Dean Laidley, Sos, Todd Viney, and Sanderson are spoken to. There is some essential IP pouring out of those guys, and we need to get hold of it. We should avoid the 'short cuts' of appointing more than 1 recently retired player, because we cannot afford to have both the head coach and the assistants learning on the job. While the club might deem them cheaper than more experienced assistants, if ever there was a time for us to spend money- this is it.
Also agree. The lack of IP, as you put it, might explain why we seemed to be structurally adn tactically deficient.
Harvey - never coached before
Lappin - never coached before
Montgomery - never coached before
Bradley - less than a year coaching before
Riley - experience as a coach at a bottom club
In fact, when you look at it like that, it is an indictment on the Club that this was allowed to happen. Is it Kernahan and the Board who have the ultimate say here, or Swann?
AFAIC, we need to get the best people we can. If possible, I think a good mix would be one very seasoned ex-senior coach (Laidley or Williams are the obvious ones), and a couple of very experienced assistants at a successful club (Sanderson, McCartney, Tudor, Neeld, Watters). Perhaps one experienced assistant and a newly out of the game player (Kirk, Goodwin has been mentioned). Of course, that all depends on interviews and ascertaining who is the best out there.