News Phil Walsh - New AFC Coach and Art Critic

[Godallblighty]

"It is really an employer/employee relationship. So you're never really going to be friends with the players."

This kind of stuff gives me great confidence in this guy.

 

[dylan123]

We haven't gotten much out of him since he was announced as the coach really!

He's got the same few lines he loves to stick to "striving for elite standards" "team defence" etc.

Not that I'm complaining as such as I'd much rather a side that performs on match day then a coach that says what we'd like to hear but I'd love for him to give us something! Can't get much out of him about any individuals, been quite surprised at how much of a closed book he's been. Probably wants to avoid being defined by saying something early as many other coaches have been.

 

[spexau]

He won't say much about individuals because that's not his mantra. His first post game press conference should buy interesting.

 

[Sanders]

Shaw having lots of strategies & confusing the players <> good strategist!

It's a main reason he was our worst coach.

Nothing wrong with my memory - unfortunately remember well as was hard attending those 2 seasons.

geez...

I was being polite about the memory thing.

Shaw was appointed in large part because of his tactical nous, his demonstrated technical ability. He was a strategist, who had a reputation for being innovative with little cattle to work with. With a better set of players who just needed a bit of tough love to right the ship. That was the thinking. It didn't work, but he didn't become different type of coach because of it.

It doesn't really matter what your 7yr old self thought at the time

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

geez...

I was being polite about the memory thing.

Shaw was appointed in large part because of his tactical nous, his demonstrated technical ability. He was a strategist, who had a reputation for being innovative with little cattle to work with. With a better set of players who just needed a bit of tough love to right the ship. That was the thinking. It didn't work, but he didn't become different type of coach because of it.

It doesn't really matter what your 7yr old self thought at the time

Re-read the 1st sentence of my last post. Actually, I will type it again...

Having lots of strategies does not equate to making a coach a good strategist come match day. Both Shaws (Robert & Tony) had a habit of changing the strategy frequently during the games, such that they became confused as to what they should be doing & lost the players.

Shaw may have come with a reputation of being a tactical genius, but in the end he was found out as not really having much of a clue match day. Only need to listen to most of the leadership group/past players comments on Shaw to have this confirmed.

It's also why when Blighty came in, his KISS method worked much better as clearer direction of what players needed to do & he usually only tweaked the strategy as required - rather than just to show he had a gazillion strategies in his head.

 

[1970crow]

geez...

I was being polite about the memory thing.

Shaw was appointed in large part because of his tactical nous, his demonstrated technical ability. He was a strategist, who had a reputation for being innovative with little cattle to work with. With a better set of players who just needed a bit of tough love to right the ship. That was the thinking. It didn't work, but he didn't become different type of coach because of it.

It doesn't really matter what your 7yr old self thought at the time

So he arrived with a reputation of having tactical nouse and left without it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I thought the perception at the time was that the skillful, handball happy, flowing South Australian style football of Cornes wasn't going to cut it in the big, tough Victorian league.

So that inferiority complex of ours told us that we needed a Victorian, any Victorian. We ended up with an average coach from an even more average club with the thinking that even an average Victorian must be better than a South Australian premiership coach who had taken us to AFL finals.

He clearly had some idea about the game. Continues to be employed in the industry and the players he blooded went on to win flags for us. Could obviously spot a good player and knew what type of player premiership teams needed. Tactically though?

Tony Hall, who I wish we heard more from because he is a smart bloke and excellent speaker, was asked about Shaw. He said he was great until we lost a game. Then he'd doubt himself and we'd change what we were doing. "I'm mystified" was Shaw's standard response whenever asked why something had gone wrong.

 

[Scrotes2000]

We haven't gotten much out of him since he was announced as the coach really!

He needs an opposing personality as a sidekick to do media, drip feed us the good stuff etc. I'm actually really glad he's not being pushed into more than he's comfortable with - I just need the guy to coach .

 

[Mismatched]

I thought the perception at the time was that the skillful, handball happy, flowing South Australian style football of Cornes wasn't going to cut it in the big, tough Victorian league.

So that inferiority complex of ours told us that we needed a Victorian, any Victorian. We ended up with an average coach from an even more average club with the thinking that even an average Victorian must be better than a South Australian premiership coach who had taken us to AFL finals.

He clearly had some idea about the game. Continues to be employed in the industry and the players he blooded went on to win flags for us. Could obviously spot a good player and knew what type of player premiership teams needed. Tactically though?

Tony Hall, who I wish we heard more from because he is a smart bloke and excellent speaker, was asked about Shaw. He said he was great until we lost a game. Then he'd doubt himself and we'd change what we were doing. "I'm mystified" was Shaw's standard response whenever asked why something had gone wrong.

Yeah, good post. Whilst I'm too young to remember it properly, I get the feeling even Cornes believed the "we need a Victorian Coach" line. We certainly moved quickly after the failure of 1994. Sadly had we given Cornes another year, we could have grabbed Chad Cornes Father-Son, such we're the rules those days.

In a way Shaw and Craig were same, same but different, where one was too flexible and quick to change up plans, the other was too rigid, but in the end bOth struggled when things didn't go their way. Hopefully Walsh can bring an awesome Plan A, but understand when plans B and C are and aren't required.

Craig had a lot of success having an intricate, well thought out game plan, however up against the best in finals, when even the best laid plans can fail, he had no answer.

 

[Pdub]

So is this what "no-spin" "authentic" football club means?

Question on Facebook

then on the AFC website http://www.afc.com.au/news/2015-01-15/phil-walsh-qa

apparently the question was

You mentioned the need for 'man talks' with the leadership group, what exactly is that?

“Man conversations mean speaking your mind, even if you may not get what you want, so everyone knows where you stand on issues. That's the culture we want at the Adelaide footy club.”

 

[Tex200]

So is this what "no-spin" "authentic" football club means?

Question on Facebook

then on the AFC website http://www.afc.com.au/news/2015-01-15/phil-walsh-qa

apparently the question was

And you expected? What exactly ?

 

[Pdub]

And you expected? What exactly?

Better. You can acknowledge a question and not answer it, you can say you won't bring private questions into the public. Don't answer a question that wasn't asked.

I know Phil is new to the media game, but you can't mention that there were disagreements and then not give any more information, it's what has caused massive speculation, particularly on this board.

 

[DD#23]

Better. You can acknowledge a question and not answer it, you can say you won't bring private questions into the public. Don't answer a question that wasn't asked.

I know Phil is new to the media game, but you can't mention that there were disagreements and then not give any more information, it's what has caused massive speculation, particularly on this board.

I agree that changing the question on the afc website is extremely dodgy, but private conversations are private conversations and I have no issue with the way it was answered by Phil.

 

[Tex200]

Better. You can acknowledge a question and not answer it, you can say you won't bring private questions into the public. Don't answer a question that wasn't asked.

I know Phil is new to the media game, but you can't mention that there were disagreements and then not give any more information, it's what has caused massive speculation, particularly on this board.

None of that provides any further information though.

I'm not really sure it matters too much how he says it's none of your business does it?

 

[Apsaalooke]

Yeah, good post. Whilst I'm too young to remember it properly, I get the feeling even Cornes believed the "we need a Victorian Coach" line. We certainly moved quickly after the failure of 1994. Sadly had we given Cornes another year, we could have grabbed Chad Cornes Father-Son, such we're the rules those days.

In a way Shaw and Craig were same, same but different, where one was too flexible and quick to change up plans, the other was too rigid, but in the end bOth struggled when things didn't go their way. Hopefully Walsh can bring an awesome Plan A, but understand when plans B and C are and aren't required.

Craig had a lot of success having an intricate, well thought out game plan, however up against the best in finals, when even the best laid plans can fail, he had no answer.

Graham Cornes has even said that he offered to stay on as an 'honorary' club official for another year in order to qualify his sons for the Crows, but the club declined

 

[Sanders]

So he arrived with a reputation of having tactical nouse and left without it.

Nah not really. Got hired straight back into Essendon in a tactical role. Very similar to the one we recruited Walsh from

Shaw wasn't ready for or couldn't handle the fishbowl atmosphere in adelaide at the time. The players all said that he started off great, but after a couple of bad losses, with the media on his tail he started to doubt himself. Became gun shy and lost his nerve.

This was back at the time when his house was being pelted with eggs, his kids were being abused etc. Nasty time all round, and he cracked.

Put it this way Terry Wallace is a tactician, and a lousy list manager. Just cause he sucked at richmond doesn't change the type of coach he was.

Shaw wasn't able to handle the pressure and we as a club could probably have done more to protect him in hindsight. But i don't reckon we expected it or knew what to do either. It was made worse cause he was Victorian too.

 

[Geoffa32]

Nah not really. Got hired straight back into Essendon in a tactical role. Very similar to the one we recruited Walsh from

Shaw wasn't ready for or couldn't handle the fishbowl atmosphere in adelaide at the time. The players all said that he started off great, but after a couple of bad losses, with the media on his tail he started to doubt himself. Became gun shy and lost his nerve.

This was back at the time when his house was being pelted with eggs, his kids were being abused etc. Nasty time all round, and he cracked.

Put it this way Terry Wallace is a tactician, and a lousy list manager. Just cause he sucked at richmond doesn't change the type of coach he was.

Shaw wasn't able to handle the pressure and we as a club could probably have done more to protect him in hindsight. But i don't reckon we expected it or knew what to do either. It was made worse cause he was Victorian too.

I reckon the pressure of being the head coach will be Walhy's biggest test.

He wont have issues tatically or with the players at training. It will be having to deal with the media and public.

 

[Sanders]

I reckon the pressure of being the head coach will be Walhy's biggest test.

He wont have issues tatically or with the players at training. It will be having to deal with the media and public.

Could not agree more

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

I reckon the pressure of being the head coach will be Walhy's biggest test.

He wont have issues tatically or with the players at training. It will be having to deal with the media and public.

Easiest way to deal with the media and public is to win games of footy

 

[AFC979810]

I reckon the pressure of being the head coach will be Walhy's biggest test.

He wont have issues tatically or with the players at training. It will be having to deal with the media and public.

Disagree with the media part.

Fagan is fantastic with media dealings and has brought this to the club. Make absolutely no mistake this is 100% Fagan. From day one of his hiring - we have had the whole club singing the same tune. There is a very very clear and concise way that we are going to come across to the media and the public.

Fagan identified us as a club which was soft and tried to please everyone. We were more about marketing and 'spin' than results on the football field.

We are now an 'Authentic football club'. This means that we are mostly focused on getting results on the football - not being a nice club. We have a plan on how to do deal with the media / fans and thats already in play. Walsh will be under no pressure for how the media responds to him from the club. We have replaced the nice coach who has the players over for dinner (Sando) with a gruff guy who doesn't publicly thank our previous captain for a job well done. We have replaced our intelligent choir boy captain with a guy who had a mullet for 2 years and can barely construct a proper sentence.

This is one of the biggest turnarounds of a sporting clubs culture that I have seen in a 6 month period in professional sport.

And for all the discussion about Walsh and his 'Man Conversation'. This once again comes from the top and is a Faganism.

 

[Geoffa32]

Disagree with the media part.

Fagan is fantastic with media dealings and has brought this to the club. Make absolutely no mistake this is 100% Fagan. From day one of his hiring - we have had the whole club singing the same tune. There is a very very clear and concise way that we are going to come across to the media and the public.

Fagan identified us as a club which was soft and tried to please everyone. We were more about marketing and 'spin' than results on the football field.

We are now an 'Authentic football club'. This means that we are mostly focused on getting results on the football - not being a nice club. We have a plan on how to do deal with the media / fans and thats already in play. Walsh will be under no pressure for how the media responds to him from the club. We have replaced the nice coach who has the players over for dinner (Sando) with a gruff guy who doesn't publicly thank our previous captain for a job well done. We have replaced our intelligent choir boy captain with a guy who had a mullet for 2 years and can barely construct a proper sentence.

This is one of the biggest turnarounds of a sporting clubs culture that I have seen in a 6 month period in professional sport.

And for all the discussion about Walsh and his 'Man Conversation'. This once again comes from the top and is a Faganism.

I agree with you, and yes it does appear to be the line the club is taking. I just hope we stick to this and not falter under real pressure from the media and a worry about our image.

As The Sloane Ranger has said, if we win games this is not an issue and Walsh can do what he wants at pressers. But if we are losing that gruff exterior can wear thin when results are not being seen. Rooch will pick up on this quickly and drill him. His test will be holding it together and still wanting the job when times are tough.


I personally think he will be as good as Ken Hinkely with the media. Ken was also reluctant in the media when he started and was very "down the line" and does talk in cliches. But he has not been tested yet, no knives have come out. He has had a very good run. The real test will be if they start losing and in danger of missing the 8.

Walsh has his cliches and mannerisms, easy to control a presser now with them, will be harder when times are tough.

 

[Red mist]

Disagree with the media part.

Fagan is fantastic with media dealings and has brought this to the club. Make absolutely no mistake this is 100% Fagan. From day one of his hiring - we have had the whole club singing the same tune. There is a very very clear and concise way that we are going to come across to the media and the public.

Fagan identified us as a club which was soft and tried to please everyone. We were more about marketing and 'spin' than results on the football field.

We are now an 'Authentic football club'. This means that we are mostly focused on getting results on the football - not being a nice club. We have a plan on how to do deal with the media / fans and thats already in play. Walsh will be under no pressure for how the media responds to him from the club. We have replaced the nice coach who has the players over for dinner (Sando) with a gruff guy who doesn't publicly thank our previous captain for a job well done. We have replaced our intelligent choir boy captain with a guy who had a mullet for 2 years and can barely construct a proper sentence.

This is one of the biggest turnarounds of a sporting clubs culture that I have seen in a 6 month period in professional sport.

And for all the discussion about Walsh and his 'Man Conversation'. This once again comes from the top and is a Faganism.

Focused on getting results, not being a nice club reminds me of the unsociable football mantra another club uses.

 

[CrowsB4hoes]

Agree with all that except the turn around started with Roo and that speech on his radio show. That was the catalyst in bringing in Fagan and Walsh.

 

[Jars458]

geez...

I was being polite about the memory thing.

Shaw was appointed in large part because of his tactical nous, his demonstrated technical ability. He was a strategist, who had a reputation for being innovative with little cattle to work with. With a better set of players who just needed a bit of tough love to right the ship. That was the thinking. It didn't work, but he didn't become different type of coach because of it.

It doesn't really matter what your 7yr old self thought at the time

He was appointed because he was a hard nose Victorian as we were considered soft.

 

[mattymac]

Just listened to the SEN interview. Good stuff. Now that we've got the introductions out of the way and he doesn't have to repeat his life story and philosophy in every interview we're starting to see a bit more of what he's like. No nonsense but talks a lot of sense and cracks a decent joke now and then. I like it. I think the media will too.