An AFL coach who has never played the game?

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STFU Donnie

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#53
Thanks for the info, seems to be a few.

Reason I asked is that I understand in NFL that skills in strategy and psychology rate pretty highly as well as having an excellent technical understanding of the game. That is, all three can be learned by not necessarily being a player. Oh, and the third skill can be picked up in BF of course ;)
Well, if most of the recent research is true, many/most NFL players are gibbering idiots post career.
 

greatwhiteshark

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#54
As long as you have played AFL/VFL, WAFL or SANFL or major state leagues then that is all you should need.
Unfortunately it is a boys club and people seem to think unless you were a star player you can't be a good coach which is pretty ignorant.

As for the stupid John Todd remarks earlier, he was one of the best players in the country before he did his knee and his coaching record is outstanding. Again just ignorant comments.
 

hoianbulldog

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#55
In the NFL, there are famous coaches who have never played football and a quite lot of famous coaches who played football but never at NFL level.

Had me thinking about this in the AFLs context and whether there has ever been a coach AFL/VFL who has never played the game?, or at the very least never played at AFL level?

Does anyone know if this is the case? or why not?
OMG!
 

Ron The Bear

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#57
Coaches without VFL/AFL playing experience:

Coach

Club(s)

Career

Gms

W

L

D

Win %

Best finish

Brittain, Wayne

Ca

2001-2002

46

18

28

0

39.13

6th/14

Brown, Vic

Un

1913

18

0

18

0

0.00

10th/10

Cahill, John

Co,PA

1983-1998

91

46

43

2

51.65

3rd/12

Cassidy, Jim

WB

1926

8

1

7

0

12.50

N/A

Craig, Neil

Ad,Me

2004-2013

177

93

84

0

52.54

3rd/16

Hammond, Bob A.

Sy

1984

8

3

5

0

37.50

10th/12*

Hickinbotham, Dave

Ge

1910-1911

36

18

16

2

52.78

5th/10

Jordon, Ray

NM

1976

1

0

1

0

0.00

N/A

Kinnear, Col

Sy

1989-1991

66

23

42

1

35.61

7th/14

McCartney, Brendan

WB

2012-2013

44

13

31

0

29.55

15th/18

Melling, Ted

Fi

1919

9

4

4

1

50.00

5th/10*

Riley, Mark

Me

2007

9

3

6

0

33.33

14th/16*

Thomas, Hughie

St

1944-1945

38

8

28

2

23.68

9th/12

Todd, John

WC

1988-1989

45

20

25

0

44.44

5th/14

Worrall, John

Ca,Es

1902-1920

279

165

110

4

59.86

1st/10 (5 flags)


* coach at end of season but not start
 

gsmiths_s

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#58
Coaches without VFL/AFL playing experience:

Coach

Club(s)

Career

Gms

W

L

D

Win %

Best finish

Brittain, Wayne

Ca

2001-2002

46

18

28

0

39.13

6th/14

Brown, Vic

Un

1913

18

0

18

0

0.00

10th/10

Cahill, John

Co,PA

1983-1998

91

46

43

2

51.65

3rd/12

Cassidy, Jim

WB

1926

8

1

7

0

12.50

N/A

Craig, Neil

Ad,Me

2004-2013

177

93

84

0

52.54

3rd/16

Hammond, Bob A.

Sy

1984

8

3

5

0

37.50

10th/12*

Hickinbotham, Dave

Ge

1910-1911

36

18

16

2

52.78

5th/10

Jordon, Ray

NM

1976

1

0

1

0

0.00

N/A

Kinnear, Col

Sy

1989-1991

66

23

42

1

35.61

7th/14

McCartney, Brendan

WB

2012-2013

44

13

31

0

29.55

15th/18

Melling, Ted

Fi

1919

9

4

4

1

50.00

5th/10*

Riley, Mark

Me

2007

9

3

6

0

33.33

14th/16*

Thomas, Hughie

St

1944-1945

38

8

28

2

23.68

9th/12

Todd, John

WC

1988-1989

45

20

25

0

44.44

5th/14

Worrall, John

Ca,Es

1902-1920

279

165

110

4

59.86

1st/10 (5 flags)


* coach at end of season but not start

Nice list but there should be an * for those with significant SANFL or WAFL experience.
 

Belnakor

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#60
But why do I get the feeling that coaches like Voss, Hird and Buckley all got their jobs because they were great players and loved by their respective clubs and no other reason.
and how much success have they had?

Some teams appoint coaches on emotion and feelings. As Ross Lyon would say - emotions don't win football games.

The only justification for appointing someone like Hird is the massive amount of media work the coach has to do. And essendon realized he can't coach thats why they hired bomber.
 

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Doctor Feel

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#63
Ryan Mcmillan was our I.T guy, and then got a position on the coaching panel. Never played the game.

This was done during the very dark years when we didn't remotely have enough or any coaches and support for Primus.

He was sacked for leaking sensitive information by Keith Thomas.
 

UpForGrabs

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#65
10 out of the 32 current NFL head coaches actually played in the NFL.

Doesn't look like they have such a boy's club mentality and it's working out for them quite well.
 
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