- Dec 14, 2002
- 19,301
- 29,318
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Sturt, Liverpool
I think he had the support and confidence of the older guys from early on actually. I think it's more the challenge of giving harder messages, even dropping players, that would have been hard with players closer to your age. He's also been pretty firm in the 'back your players' philosophy, especially I guess, the senior ones.I've actually been in that situation to go from recently retired player to coach pretty much overnight and having tell people you physically battled against on the field (and ego wise) that you're now the boss and it aint easy!
The young players look up to the senior players and therefore the new coach's vision/authority can be undermined by the senior groups influence over the rest of the playing group.
I'm not insinuating the seniors undermined Brad in any way, but not having the 'old firm' around anymore will certainly help to drive culture change.
The brrrmph caused by the end of year decisions not to renew contracts has presented, as you say, a chance for a major review of where he's at with his coaching. It has caused not just a major shift in public perception of the club (the loss of all the experience and possible new era associated with 'aggressive reset') but also an opportunity for Brad to significantly reassess his own approach, along with a 'new group' to apply it with. I think it's as much about him (and his age now) as the age of the list.
While on the surface it may seem unrelated, even to him, it wouldn't surprise me if the family tragedy may have given him pause to reflect on football and life. For example, to see what may previously have been regarded as 'hard decisions' as pretty trivial in the bigger picture of things.