Strategy Strengthening the Coaching Box

[AsterixTheGaul]

Jake Niall reported during "On The Couch" last night that Nisbett had informed the assistant coaches at West Coast that no decisions will be made until end of season and that included Longmuir. I was under the impression the assistant coaches not getting a gig the next year were meant to have been informed about 8 weeks ago.

Anyway, it had me thinking what we need to do.

I firmly believe we have failed to strengthen the coaching team since we lost Pyke to Adelaide.

Supporting Simpson in the coaching ranks are:

Longmuir - senior assistant
Hickmott - midfield
Cox - midfield
Pratt - back line and team defence
Graham - forwards

We have contracted Mitchell to a coaching role for 3 years. I hope that is in the midfield

The rest are really rather bland.

Does anyone have a view as to whether it was Hickmott or Pratt that drove the web in 2015? Both were listed as backline coaches but who is the brains behind it?

Cox has to be demoted like many off-field Eagles to his area of competence being ruck and stoppages.

Graham feels like he needs someone else above him. Now that could come from the senior assistant or senior coach but he looks a little green.

So why is it that we are so inexperienced in the box? I believe we are slow to react and the lack of true leaders on the field and in the box has been one of the reasons we were over-run in 2017.

We are a club with strong finances - I would be happy to spend over the soft cap and to pay the AFL tax for off-field spending. Go for it.

In closing, why was Nisbett the one who told this to the coaches? Surely this would be Vozzo's job as Football Operations GM! Or is this another signal that Vozzo has been over-promoted and Nisbett's inability to delegate! Worth considering.

 

[KERRPOW]

i certainly think changes will occur around Simpson. None of those guys appear to be strong strategic leaders. The forward group can function autonomously. we have failed in the midfield and need a change there.

 

[CM9000]

If I was in charge, I'd do the following:
* Reinstate Longmuir as forwards coach. It was a bad move to give Graham the role and we've clearly regressed under him.
* Recruit a senior assistant with a proven track record e.g. Rodney Eade
* Move Hickmott back into his previous role with Pratt. Mitchell will become our mid coach in 2018 and it's only natural for Hickmott to return to his best position.

 

[Crimson King]

I hope Mark Stone is brought back to the club to look after the stoppages and structures side of things. Also, IIRC, both Pratt and Hickmott were credited by Simmo for the web back in 2015.

 

[Chris_6678]

Longmuir isn't going to want to step back and no doubt it would be a pay drop too going from Senior Assistant back to a line coach. He has been at the club since 2011 so he might want a change of scenery and head over east or back at his old mob down the road.

Hickmott is rumored to be moving back to Melbourne.

Cox i would keep around but as a Ruck coach who works in conjunction with Mitchell.

Graham i would move on.

J Schofield should be brought in.

 

[matt_bas]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/the-tuesday-wafl-jarrad-schofield-earns-afl-chance-ng-b88589612z

Would he take an assistant role? I really rate him.

 

[matt_bas]

Longmuir isn't going to want to step back and no doubt it would be a pay drop too going from Senior Assistant back to a line coach. He has been at the club since 2011 so he might want a change of scenery and head over east or back at his old mob down the road.

Hickmott is rumored to be moving back to Melbourne.

Cox i would keep around but as a Ruck coach who works in conjunction with Mitchell.

Graham i would move on.

J Schofield should be brought in.

Beat me too it

 

[Crimson King]

Longmuir isn't going to want to step back and no doubt it would be a pay drop too going from Senior Assistant back to a line coach. He has been at the club since 2011 so he might want a change of scenery and head over east or back at his old mob down the road.

Hickmott is rumored to be moving back to Melbourne.

Cox i would keep around but as a Ruck coach who works in conjunction with Mitchell.

Graham i would move on.

J Schofield should be brought in.

Development coaches need a good kick up the ass too. We have fallen waay behind in that area.

 

[squashface]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/the-tuesday-wafl-jarrad-schofield-earns-afl-chance-ng-b88589612z

Would he take an assistant role? I really rate him.

The way that journo wrote that article made it very annoying to read for me.

 

[matt_bas]

The way that journo wrote that article made it very annoying to read for me.

Why's that?

 

[Quinz]

No point strengthening the coaches box, they're about to move into a new one at Perth Stadium.

Typical short sighted Adam simpson. This week should be his last game.

 

[Doughboy]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/the-tuesday-wafl-jarrad-schofield-earns-afl-chance-ng-b88589612z

Would he take an assistant role? I really rate him.

The way that journo wrote that article made it very annoying to read for me.

Totally agree

What a terribly badly written article

 

[06Premiers]

No point strengthening the coaches box, they're about to move into a new one at Perth Stadium.

Typical short sighted Adam simpson. This week should be his last game.

Beat me to it.
I was thinking maybe adding some extra angle bars & stiffeners to the box in the meantime.

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

I thought Richmond were just kicking the can down the road when they blamed everyone but Dimma and got a new set of assistants in. Funny things happen though eh.

From what little I know of most of our assistants they seem to be an inexperienced bunch, at least comparatively. I'd be quite excited if we had a big cleanout over the off-season.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

What's Simmo's old teammate Dean Laidley up to?

As head coach of North he seemed pretty abrasive and not much good with the media but tactically very astute. He could be a perfect fit as the right-hand-man.

Plus he ticks a couple of boxes to serve on our coaching staff, as both an ex-Eagle and an ex-Roo

 

[Chris_6678]

What's Simmo's old teammate Dean Laidley up to?

As head coach of North he seemed pretty abrasive and not much good with the media but tactically very astute. He could be a perfect fit as the right-hand-man.

Plus he ticks a couple of boxes to serve on our coaching staff, as both an ex-Eagle and an ex-Roo

Wasn't he Simmos coach for a few years?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Wasn't he Simmos coach for a few years?

Yeah he would've been.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

What's Simmo's old teammate Dean Laidley up to?

As head coach of North he seemed pretty abrasive and not much good with the media but tactically very astute. He could be a perfect fit as the right-hand-man.

Plus he ticks a couple of boxes to serve on our coaching staff, as both an ex-Eagle and an ex-Roo

I think Simmo was particularly nervous about what happened with Pagan leaving and the transition to Laidley. No idea whether there was any love between the two.

Maybe having strength in the box supporting him is a weakness for Simmo!

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

I think Simmo was particularly nervous about what happened with Pagan leaving and the transition to Laidley. No idea whether there was any love between the two.

Maybe having strength in the box supporting him is a weakness for Simmo!

They ended up as a captain-coach pair for five seasons so they can't have been too acrimonious.

 

[Lynch's Glove]

Longmuir is as good as gone (already in talks with Melb-based clubs), and many other assistants will not get the call up once our season is confirmed as over.

I agree, spend over the cap, get the high quality names we can afford.

 

[Crimson King]

Longmuir is as good as gone (already in talks with Melb-based clubs), and many other assistants will not get the call up once our season is confirmed as over.

Yeh sounds like posturing from Nissy.

 

[frenchconnection]

What's Simmo's old teammate Dean Laidley up to?

As head coach of North he seemed pretty abrasive and not much good with the media but tactically very astute. He could be a perfect fit as the right-hand-man.

Plus he ticks a couple of boxes to serve on our coaching staff, as both an ex-Eagle and an ex-Roo

Not as silly as it sounds if he should be available and is interested!

 

[frenchconnection]

Longmuir is as good as gone (already in talks with Melb-based clubs), and many other assistants will not get the call up once our season is confirmed as over.

I agree, spend over the cap, get the high quality names we can afford.

Do you have any suggestions? Also in the event we have to look East, getting them to move West is not that easy, partcularly should they have a family?

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

In:
Sumich - senior assistant and forward line. Will need someone to support him and someone who is ready to develop. I do not see the upside in Graham.
Jarrad Schofield - overall midfield
Cox as ruck coach
Mitchell to be given a specialist midfield role like stoppages
Hickmott and Pratt - Backline and team defence
Create a new role that is a voice for youth development in the senior side. Think of it like matt_bas has been an annoying advocate for Masten but a full time voice to ensure there is the right balance in youth/experience.

Out:
Gepp - under each and every scenario
Longmuir
Graham

 

[Chris_6678]

In:
Sumich - senior assistant and forward line. Will need someone to support him and someone who is ready to develop. I do not see the upside in Graham.
Jarrad Schofield - overall midfield
Cox as ruck coach
Mitchell to be given a specialist midfield role like stoppages
Hickmott and Pratt - Backline and team defence
Create a new role that is a voice for youth development in the senior side. Think of it like matt_bas has been an annoying advocate for Masten but a full time voice to ensure there is the right balance in youth/experience.

Out:
Gepp - under each and every scenario
Longmuir
Graham

Sumich was ear marked for a role last year and he said he didn't want to be a line coach.