Best Available Coach

[theGav56]

Given that the Bookies have installed Connolly as the man most likely to be coach of Melbourne, it is not a big leap to suggest that he is perceived as the best "available" coach. Sumich is ranked somewhere around 8th from memory.

Regardless, given that Connolly is recognised by the Bookies as a coach who is of AFL calibre, why would you trade him in for someone who is totally unproven (Sumich, Harvey etc), or someone who has is not clearly a better option (Daniher, Ayres etc)?

 

[dugrene]

If our players get us into the finals we could see an interesting scenario where it's the coach who decides his own future. He might be wanting to go home.

A couple of stops along the journey I nearly got off. I with you though at the moment.

The footy gods mostly have looked the other way especially through '04 and '05.

I'd keep him if was up to me.

 

[chook2734]

Given that the Bookies have installed Connolly as the man most likely to be coach of Melbourne, it is not a big leap to suggest that he is perceived as the best "available" coach. Sumich is ranked somewhere around 8th from memory.

Regardless, given that Connolly is recognised by the Bookies as a coach who is of AFL calibre, why would you trade him in for someone who is totally unproven (Sumich, Harvey etc), or someone who has is not clearly a better option (Daniher, Ayres etc)?

ah, Gav, logic sucks us all in at times doesn't it. This type of thinking doesn't sell papers and it doesn't get callers ringing up radio stations. Plus, it doesn't get Sumich a job. And best of all, it doesn't give the media the opportunity to tell the Dockers how terrible they were to let Connolly go when he starts doing well at Melbourne.

I'm not entirely sure that Connolly is the coach to take us forward, but I'm yet to be convinced that there is anyone else available who can do as well, let alone any better.

 

[theGav56]

Worth adding that if either of Pagan or Sheedy are not at their respective clubs, then either of them may be much more inclined to consider a position that does not have them moving from Victoria.

 

[Freo Shark]

Regardless, given that Connolly is recognised by the Bookies as a coach who is of AFL calibre, why would you trade him in for someone who is totally unproven (Sumich, Harvey etc), or someone who has is not clearly a better option (Daniher, Ayres etc)?

I like CC - nice guy and all that. I'd like nothing more than to see us make the finals and do well and see him re-sign for us for a couple years.

But it can be that a coach regardless of how good he maybe loses the ability to get the message across and the team as a whole cant execute it as its required to be or it maybe that the coach has lost the skill to get the best out of players. I.e the team and the coach stagnates.

 

[David_Brent]

Shocking logic.

If they opened a book for the Freo job Sumich would be favourite or close to. Where a coach is listed in the market has basically nothing to do with their ability. Do you think TAB has any insight into their coaching ability? No. They are just going off media speculation.

The fact that CC has been publicly backed by Lyon and Healy, is a life memebr of Melb and is likely to be out of a job means he is favourite.

 

[pistol17]

Shocking logic.

If they opened a book for the Freo job Sumich would be favourite or close to. Where a coach is listed in the market has basically nothing to do with their ability. Do you think TAB has any insight into their coaching ability? No. They are just going off media speculation.

The fact that CC has been publicly backed by Lyon and Healy, is a life memebr of Melb and is likely to be out of a job means he is favourite.

your right u know

 

[The Night Shift]

Shocking logic.

If they opened a book for the Freo job Sumich would be favourite or close to. Where a coach is listed in the market has basically nothing to do with their ability. Do you think TAB has any insight into their coaching ability? No. They are just going off media speculation.

The fact that CC has been publicly backed by Lyon and Healy, is a life memebr of Melb and is likely to be out of a job means he is favourite.

Suma is not a better option over CC. If we loose/sack/ CC, and he goes to Melbourne good for them.
We need to make sure what ever move we make next is best for the club, and not driven by the western australian football media and the old boys eagles society.
It will become interesting if unfortuately CC finds himself in the quagmire of what I sincerely hope we don't find our team in this season, the mathematical impossiblility of making the finals with quite a few rounds to go. Will The Daniher situation replicate itself?

 

[PAVnTAZ]

If we don't have a chance of making the finals with a month to go we'd be stupid not to have a look at Harvey. How much are we paying the guy FFS.
I think CC will get us there but if not it is in his and our best interests to part ways. You can't tell me that this team is middle of the road or less!

 

[theGav56]

Do you think TAB has any insight into their coaching ability? No. They are just going off media speculation.

Betting is based on the odds of the most likely outcome, not media speculation. It is a fair enough conclusion that based on the him being an experienced coach who is fancied as the "next" coach of Melbourne that more than the media and the TAB think he can coach. Most of the media that I have heard speculate about the position are not journalists, but ex players, who's collective opinions are much more significant than bigfooty members.

I doubt if Sumich would be favourite to Coach Fremantle next year, though he would be higher than he is for Melbourne, and probably top 3. But regardless, wherever he is rated, he is still a totally unproven coach. I'm not particularly having a crack at Sumich (insert Voss or Harvey if you prefer), just the idea of going for another unproven coach who will have to go through a massive learning curve before he is any good.

 

[jarman]

Given that the Bookies have installed Connolly as the man most likely to be coach of Melbourne, it is not a big leap to suggest that he is perceived as the best "available" coach. Sumich is ranked somewhere around 8th from memory.

Regardless, given that Connolly is recognised by the Bookies as a coach who is of AFL calibre, why would you trade him in for someone who is totally unproven (Sumich, Harvey etc), or someone who has is not clearly a better option (Daniher, Ayres etc)?

Gav - what has CC really achieved with his 6 years. Lots of useless talk and a couple of finals with a team that should have achieved far more with. He does not have what it takes.

He stays then nothing will be different for Freo, we will continue to be the useless under achievers and the competion joke. We need a change and CC needs to go.

I really don't it think will go unnoticed with Melbourne that he is an under achiever and not have what it takes to lead a team to a GF.

 

[Lach72]

Gav - what has CC really achieved with his 6 years. Lots of useless talk and a couple of finals with a team that should have achieved far more with. He does not have what it takes.

He stays then nothing will be different for Freo, we will continue to be the useless under achievers and the competion joke. We need a change and CC needs to go.

I really don't it think will go unnoticed with Melbourne that he is an under achiever and not have what it takes to lead a team to a GF.

You might wish to address the question...

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Shocking logic.

If they opened a book for the Freo job Sumich would be favourite or close to. Where a coach is listed in the market has basically nothing to do with their ability. Do you think TAB has any insight into their coaching ability? No. They are just going off media speculation.

The fact that CC has been publicly backed by Lyon and Healy, is a life memebr of Melb and is likely to be out of a job means he is favourite.

The whole thing is probably media speculation. The Connolly at Melbourne thing got started from Mike Sheahan throwing up a hypthetical doing On the Couch. Even he didn't say there was any substance to it. (I haven't checked the Hun for a couple of days so I could be corrected.) It just been spiing off from there.

As to Sumich his is definitely a media push by his mates in the media. It has nothing to do with Freo members.

 

[spitlizard]

Given the backlash against Sumich, what are peoples thoughts on Laidley. He has managed to get that ragtag group of guys at the Roo's and get them playing pretty good footy; could he be the man if CC goes?

 

[sabre_ac]

Sheedy should be our first target.

Ayre's I think has allot to offer as well.

Sumich down the bottom somewhere, I see too many parrallels between him and Conolly.

 

[dominguez]

Hypothetically though, if Pagan was sacked tomorrow Connolly wouldn't be the favourite to replace him. Connolly is the favourite because of his links to the Demons, and his close ties to 2 guys who have a bit of influence at Melbourne. The assistant at Carlton (can't recall his name) who coaches their VFL side would be favourite to coach the blues next year, does that mean he's the best available?

Connolly will have two coaching jobs to choose from at seasons end. If we don't play in a prelim I hope that he chooses Melbourne.

 

[theGav56]

Hypothetically though, if Pagan was sacked tomorrow Connolly wouldn't be the favourite to replace him. Connolly is the favourite because of his links to the Demons, and his close ties to 2 guys who have a bit of influence at Melbourne. The assistant at Carlton (can't recall his name) who coaches their VFL side would be favourite to coach the blues next year, does that mean he's the best available?

Connolly will have two coaching jobs to choose from at seasons end. If we don't play in a prelim I hope that he chooses Melbourne.

Yes Carlton have already played their hand about who they want to be their next Coach (Mitchell?). In a hypothetically neutral coaching vacancy, say N Melbourne or Hawthorn (who probably are unlikely to need a coach change next year), Connolly would rate very highly. Higher for example than Daniher, who is possibly the most likely replacement if Connolly is not here next year.

 

[dominguez]

Higher for example than Daniher, who is possibly the most likely replacement if Connolly is not here next year.

If we miss the 8 I reckon it would be 50-50 if Connolly and Daniher both applied for the same job, but CC would be favourite with the bookies/media. External opinions would be based on how the teams are currently travelling, and 6 and 7 looks a lot better than 2 and 11. There is also an opinion in the east that Connolly has done a good job and is poorly treated by the fans and WA media because he isn't from WA, but that is nonsense.

Just because Connolly is favourite for other jobs doesn't mean he is the right coach for us. If you think that most of our team have played to the best of their ability consistently over the last 4 years then CC should be our coach. If you think that the team has been performing below their best then it is time for change.

 

[theGav56]

Daniher would also be highly rated because he has taken a team to the finals pretty consistantly. Of course I think the team has underachieved, but I think you should only change a coach (or player) if you have a better option available. If you change a coach because players aren't playing to the best of their ability, then you let those players off the hook by blaming the coach.

 

[dominguez]

If you change a coach because players aren't playing to the best of their ability, then you let those players off the hook by blaming the coach.

Blaming the coach does take the onus off the players, but Connolly has built the list. It's not like he has been here for a couple of years and is trying to beat out the bad habits developed under the previous coach. If he has recruited guys who are inconsistent and want to play the game on their terms then that is his problem. Resolve those issues or bugger off.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

If we can beat Sydney next week and go 7 and 7, with 5 to win from 8 the speculation will die down a bit.

One thing to note from this week is how the engineered dismissal of Daniher has ripped the heart out the players. I'd suggest that has f**cked them for this season and probably next.

From yesterday, I don't think Pagan is the guy. He didn't attempt to play our weaknesses. There were some strange moves. He left his defence completely weakened. Leaving Gibbs on the Wiz weakened their midfield. He let O'Hailpin wander too far up the ground leaving Fisher with no room to move when he was playing on an out of form Parker. At times they had 4 big guys roaming their forward line. Carlton also looks unfit. They ran out of legs pretty early.

Lets hope for a big win against sydney next week. Especially because I'll be there.

 

[dominguez]

Carlton often run out of legs. I don't think it's because they are unfit, I reckon it's because they don't have a B team. Most sides rotate players through the middle, but because of their lack of talent the same guys seem to play onball all day for the blues.

Crows have been terrible today, hopefully they play in a similar fashion in round 16.

 

[newlander77]

Even with the Swans down on form, the dockers would have to beat another away hoodoo at the SCG. I can't remember the dockers last won there. They always seem to fade in the final quarter.

 

[Borry]

Even with the Swans down on form, the dockers would have to beat another away hoodoo at the SCG. I can't remember the dockers last won there. They always seem to fade in the final quarter.

We last won there in 1996. We managed to knock them off twice there when Sydney were mediocre. It happened in round 2 in that year - before the Swans became the consistently good side they have been over the next 11 years from that period.

Every time we've played them they have always had a supreme 30 minute period where they are able to bang on 5 or 6 unanswered majors.

 

[theGav56]

Blaming the coach does take the onus off the players, but Connolly has built the list.

Glad your not one of those guys who subscribe to the theory that Connolly should have done better with the list he inherited.