Coach Dean Cox - 2025 Coach - Signed 4 year deal

[McRobie]

I mean literally in the post you quoted I said I expect top 6 next year..

I don’t think top 6 is enough after off season moves.
I don’t like what Cox has done so far, I don’t like how the team played last season, they seemed have no edge at all. Something as a Swans fan I can’t relate to.

Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make it a melt. Or is that just how you perceive anyone who doesn’t completely agree, a melter?

 

[SM]

I don’t think top 6 is enough after off season moves.
I don’t like what Cox has done so far, I don’t like how the team played last season, they seemed have no edge at all. Something as a Swans fan I can’t relate to.

Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make it a melt. Or is that just how you perceive anyone who doesn’t completely agree, a melter?

You said I had zero expectations. I was pointing out I have expectations.

No edge? We had the most suspensions of any side in the comp. If anything we didn't know when to not go over the edge.

I was referring to your three posts in a row (multi-quote?) getting more and more irritated at people thinking Cox was fine in his first season and then just making up stuff I didn't say to get annoyed at me.

 

[tombomb]

We will see won’t we? So you think there’s no expectation or pressure on cox to perform?
He can just take a bunch of years to build? Build with what?
He’s got the team he’s asked for, there’s no picks, it’s now or never.

I am not sure what we will be waiting to see.

I don't share the absolutist type view on next season or Cox or the prospects of the team generally.

 

[robbieando]

Did we trade away players and 3 years of picks under Horse’s first year?
Did we go from the best team in it to a mediocre team under first year of Horse?

So you’re saying 0 expectation and he’s got 3/4 years to build? Out of interest build with what?

Highest pick Horse had available to him in his first three years was Pick 21 in 2010 and 2011 and then Pick 22 in 2012, none of whom worked out for the club. Then he had picks in the 40's and 60's to build from. It's not like Horse had a lot to work with pick wise either. Traded out a higher pick in 2011 also because we were going to get Tom Mitchell under Father/Son and got Tommy Welsh in return.

 

[SM]

Highest pick Horse had available to him in his first three years was Pick 21 in 2010 and 2011 and then Pick 22 in 2012, none of whom worked out for the club. Then he had picks in the 40's and 60's to build from. It's not like Horse had a lot to work with pick wise either. Traded out a higher pick in 2011 also because we were going to get Tom Mitchell under Father/Son and got Tommy Welsh in return.

View attachment 2461426

We also then absolutely sold the farm to get Tippett and Buddy into the club, forcing a number of players out.

 

[MF]

Yeah, unless something goes horribly wrong under Cox's watch next season I'd prefer we don't go the Essendon & Carlton method of sacking a coach every 2 years.

 

[McRobie]

You said I had zero expectations. I was pointing out I have expectations.

No edge? We had the most suspensions of any side in the comp. If anything we didn't know when to not go over the edge.

I was referring to your three posts in a row (multi-quote?) getting more and more irritated at people thinking Cox was fine in his first season and then just making up stuff I didn't say to get annoyed at me.

So having blokes get suspended means we play hard does it?
I’m not sure you understand what playing with edge and being competitive means.
I won’t say anymore or I’ll be labeled a melter.

 

[McRobie]

Highest pick Horse had available to him in his first three years was Pick 21 in 2010 and 2011 and then Pick 22 in 2012, none of whom worked out for the club. Then he had picks in the 40's and 60's to build from. It's not like Horse had a lot to work with pick wise either. Traded out a higher pick in 2011 also because we were going to get Tom Mitchell under Father/Son and got Tommy Welsh in return.

View attachment 2461426

ok I mean you’re completely ignoring the fact my initial point was he’d taken us from flag fav to mediocre and now sold 3 years of first rounders, Hayward and Florent.
I then went on to say surely the expectation is top 4 or it’s a fail? Or what are we even doing here?

 

[McRobie]

We also then absolutely sold the farm to get Tippett and Buddy into the club, forcing a number of players out.

When you say “absolutely sold the farm” how so?

 

[SM]

So having blokes get suspended means we play hard does it?
I’m not sure you understand what playing with edge and being competitive means.
I won’t say anymore or I’ll be labeled a melter.

Did you miss my final sentence regarding our 'edge'?

You've been incredibly antagonistic in this discussion from the beginning, not just towards me but towards anyone who holds a view even mildly counter to your own, which is why I observed it as somewhat of a melt, you continuing to hyper-fixate on that isn't really helping your case.

When you say “absolutely sold the farm” how so?

Are you saying more?

 

[McRobie]

Did you miss my final sentence regarding our 'edge'?

You've been incredibly antagonistic in this discussion from the beginning, not just towards me but towards anyone who holds a view even mildly counter to your own, which is why I observed it as somewhat of a melt, you continuing to hyper-fixate on that isn't really helping your case.



Are you saying more?

Being arrogant and condescending isn’t really helping your case either. It seems to be your thing. But you do you.
You equated bulk suspensions to playing with edge, again I don’t think you understood what I meant.

 

[SM]

ok I mean you’re completely ignoring the fact my initial point was he’d taken us from flag fav to mediocre and now sold 3 years of first rounders, Hayward and Florent.
I then went on to say surely the expectation is top 4 or it’s a fail? Or what are we even doing here?

Horse took us from a GF to mediocre and back in 22-23-24, so why are you assuming we aren't on a similar trajectory when you consider that 25 was far more injury impacted than 23? Why is it that Cos has devalued the list to such an extent that you're in here over multiple pages bashing him as a coach?

 

[zyzzbruh]

Horse took us from a GF to mediocre and back in 22-23-24, so why are you assuming we aren't on a similar trajectory when you consider that 25 was far more injury impacted than 23? Why is it that Cos has devalued the list to such an extent that you're in here over multiple pages bashing him as a coach?

Without getting involved in the argument - I think the concern is beyond the injuries, we were legitimately poor in certain fundamental aspects of our game.

imo I can compensate mentally for the injuries, it is expected that we would fall short in some games based on an absence of quality players, but our general play was so poor at times it appeared Cox was struggling to harness the groups strengths (which was mostly consistent for 3-4 years) - for me it was quite apparent that he would lose control of the group in terms of our method quite often throughout the season - there were losses where injuries were not an excuse in comparison with the opposition.

The reality is this group had synergy, our ball movement was consistently A grade prior to last year. Come round 1 Cox has to find that synergy again otherwise it will prove that he is struggling to handle it.

 

[bedford]

Maybe just Horse had had his day , froze in the GF and the message was done
Good luck to Cox going forward and for all this crap , how nice will it be if he wins the flag
GO BLOODS

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Dean was handed the job right before the preseason started, a few days before the draft

We were 2 coaches short all year

We had the EGM of Football pretty much acting as an assistant coach, and running the coaches box from the Demons game onward

Several of the playing group have publicly said they let some standards fall at certain points of the year


Going into 2026:

We now have Goodwin as Coaching Director, Leon can now concentrate on running the footy dept!

We now have Laidler as forwards coach, as well as whatever role Buchanan is taking

Mathews is now Cox's Senior Assistant

EDIT: We have Mal coming in as VFL and presumably development coach

We now have a proper coaching system in place, let 'em cook!

 

[Millky95]

Dean was handed the job right before the preseason started, a few days before the draft

We were 2 coaches short all year

We had the EGM of Football pretty much acting as an assistant coach, and running the coaches box from the Demons game onward

Several of the playing group have publicly said they let some standards fall at certain points of the year


Going into 2026:

We now have Goodwin as Coaching Director, Leon can now concentrate on running the footy dept!

We now have Laidler as forwards coach, as well as whatever role Buchanan is taking

Mathews is now Cox's Senior Assistant

EDIT: We have Mal coming in as VFL and presumably development coach

We now have a proper coaching system in place, let 'em cook!

Also worth pointing out, Cox got the gig 12 months early. If Horse stayed on for 2025 he would have handed (presumably) handed more over to Cox during the year and had a potentially cleaner transition

 

[SM]

Without getting involved in the argument - I think the concern is beyond the injuries, we were legitimately poor in certain fundamental aspects of our game.

imo I can compensate mentally for the injuries, it is expected that we would fall short in some games based on an absence of quality players, but our general play was so poor at times it appeared Cox was struggling to harness the groups strengths (which was mostly consistent for 3-4 years) - for me it was quite apparent that he would lose control of the group in terms of our method quite often throughout the season - there were losses where injuries were not an excuse in comparison with the opposition.

The reality is this group had synergy, our ball movement was consistently A grade prior to last year. Come round 1 Cox has to find that synergy again otherwise it will prove that he is struggling to handle it.

Curious about which games you saw that in and what you saw that you hadn't seen previously under Horse in, for instance, our belting against Port in 24. Every coach can have off days, and I'm sure early days in the season Cox was absolutely still finding his feet off a short run up, but I thought the form we showed once Gulden in particular was back in the side showed that we can also be absolutely fine under Cox.

 

[.Shotties.]

Nah you’re right he has a great year,
No other team in the AFL had injuries, it was exclusive to Sydney

The teams that has similar or worse injury to what ours was for the majority of the year finished in the bottom half of the ladder.

 

[joeykanga]

Team underperforms shambolically in 2 grand finals.

Coach tried to adapt game plan and has a look see for a year.

Coach gives team a much deserved and overdue rev up.

Coach trying to bring in new talent whilst making a call who won’t be part of it going forward.

Sounds like coach trying to build a high performance culture.

Coach doing exactly what we want him to do.

Coach going well.

You’ve got to crack a few eggs if you want to make an omelette.

Is the simile cracking different types of eggs. Not just chicken eggs? Perhaps a duck egg omelette or organic eggs. You cant just keep cracking the same eggs? I think you can actually crack the same eggs for a good omelette. But i guess the quality of the omelette is better with eggs from chicken that are free to roam.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I think 2025 will go down as the year we had to have, and that Cox needed to have. He learnt a lot this year, and will have sufficient support next and a list that better matches his preferences.

I think it is safe to say there is more pressure than last season, especially if our injury list improves.

While for me next year is not do or die, I can also understand why some would give Cox less leeway - if they weren’t comfortable with where he is taking the team.

 

[rustycrate]

I think 2025 will go down as the year we had to have, and that Cox needed to have. He learnt a lot this year, and will have sufficient support next and a list that better matches his preferences.

I think it is safe to say there is more pressure than last season, especially if our injury list improves.

While for me next year is not do or die, I can also understand why some would give Cox less leeway - if they weren’t comfortable with where he is taking the team.

I'm excited to see the season start.
Injury free we could do anything.

And we still have not got a full list.

 

[.Shotties.]

imo I can compensate mentally for the injuries, it is expected that we would fall short in some games based on an absence of quality players, but our general play was so poor at times it appeared Cox was struggling to harness the groups strengths

Yeah that's also an injury thing. Injuries aren't just the players themselves, it's the flow on effect of pulling other players into different positions and bringing up players from the VFL to play roles they haven't had to do often if at all. This kinda thing is covetable for a few injuries, but not extended periods of a third of your best 22 out, or your entire stock of tall forward for stretches.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Reasonably understood some circumstances for the results of some games however the Adelaide game on such a historic evening for the club was the first time i thought Cox either needed help/was out of his depth or was not going to get anything out of this side.

 

[zyzzbruh]

Curious about which games you saw that in and what you saw that you hadn't seen previously under Horse in, for instance, our belting against Port in 24. Every coach can have off days, and I'm sure early days in the season Cox was absolutely still finding his feet off a short run up, but I thought the form we showed once Gulden in particular was back in the side showed that we can also be absolutely fine under Cox.

Even when Gulden came back in yeah we were falling over the line in games we would've probably otherwise lost, but to the eye test I still felt we were very clunky and inefficient - particularly our ball movement when not under pressure which was telling for me anyway.

So yeah pretty much all games gave me an uneasy feeling barring the Dogs and Lions games in which I was impressed with our 4 qtr performances. It was hard to feel content seeing our transition game unravelling before our eyes, and not really recovering despite getting players back and starting to put a few wins on the board. It just feels like such a big gulf that needs to be reigned in between round 24 and round 1 next year that i can't trust that the issue was purely a player availability thing.

 

[rustycrate]

Even when Gulden came back in yeah we were falling over the line in games we would've probably otherwise lost, but to the eye test I still felt we were very clunky and inefficient - particularly our ball movement when not under pressure which was telling for me anyway.

So yeah pretty much all games gave me an uneasy feeling barring the Dogs and Lions games in which I was impressed with our 4 qtr performances. It was hard to feel content seeing our transition game unravelling before our eyes, and not really recovering despite getting players back and starting to put a few wins on the board. It just feels like such a big gulf that needs to be reigned in between round 24 and round 1 next year that i can't trust that the issue was purely a player availability thing.

After the bye we won 7 of the last 10 games. We still did not have all the crew.
We will be thereabouts next year given a good run with injuries.