Blighty hints at comeback

[Crowked]

Blight hints at comeback
By NEIL KEARNEY in Cairns
09mar05

MALCOLM Blight is making a surprise return to football - as a commentator - but don't be surprised if he coaches again.

The dual-premiership coach, who was dramatically sacked by St Kilda four years ago, is ending his self-imposed exile from AFL by taking a commentary role for Network Ten this season.
Speaking yesterday at his home in far-north Queensland, where he is bracing himself for tropical cyclone Ingrid to hit the coast today, Blight said his time away from football had rekindled his enthusiasm.

"I'm dipping my toe in the water this year and we'll see what happens after that," he said, before taking a dip in his backyard pool. "I'm more than happy here but I'm not saying never again. I said never twice before.

"Not now."

Blight, 55, has rejected coaching offers from at least two clubs in the past year and had seemingly walked away from the game that had given him Hall of Fame status and often considerable anguish.

A significant change came three weeks ago when he bantered with Ron Barassi on the microphone before the Brisbane-Melbourne Wizard Cup match in Cairns. "I quite enjoyed talking footy again and, after a few more beers, came home rather chirpy. Patsy (Blight's wife) said: 'What's happened?'

"I said, 'I think I've got a taste for footy again'.

"As luck or fate would have it, David Barham (Channel 10 executive producer of AFL) rang me next morning and asked if I'd like to do some commentary."

Blight has signed on to be expert commentator for nine matches this season - four home and away games in Brisbane, two at Sydney's Telstra Stadium and three finals.

He will begin with the Brisbane-Sydney clash in round three. Ten sees Blight as a strong presence in the northern markets as it telecasts AFL into Brisbane every Saturday night this season.

The Wizard Cup match three weeks ago that sparked his interest in commentary also renewed his enthusiasm for coaching.

After the game he found himself conducting an impromptu clinic with four boys from Papua New Guinea, who had played in a curtain-raiser to the Brisbane-Melbourne match.

"Holding the ball and showing them kicking skills, I found I had missed the teaching aspect," he said. Yesterday, when asked if he felt the urge to coach football again, he said: "At that point, I certainly did.

"Do I need it (football)? Yeah, I do. Emotionally, yeah.

"What I'm doing this year is probably more than a toe back in the water - let's see what unfolds."

Two years in the tropics have both invigorated Blight and cleared his head after the trauma of his St Kilda sacking.

He has become a Howard Hughes-like character, shirking approaches from hopeful clubs and media, but yesterday he was relaxed and looking as fit as in his playing days.

He plays golf at least three or four times a week and lives within a nine-iron shot of the sixth green at the Palm Cove Country Club, where he plays off a 10 handicap.



I wonder who the two clubs were, and if we were one of them.

 

[jmorg1]

Your time's up, Malcolm
09 March 2005 Herald Sun

IF YOU knew Malcolm Blight, you knew the Blight story wasn't finished when he headed into the wild blue yonder.

He went all the way to Palm Cove in Queensland's far north, where he has immersed himself in golf and hospitality, but Blight is a restless soul.

As hurt as he was after being dumped by St Kilda in July 2001, as humiliated as he felt, he wasn't going to lick his wounds forever.

Despite his insecurities, and they are real, he loves being centre stage. Proffering his opinions, offering advice, pontificating.

He is, of course, eminently qualified, too, as the most decorated South Australian in the history of Australian football, with a pile of premierships and medals even he couldn't jump.

Only Blighty knows if he was teasing when he raised the issue of a return to coaching yesterday during an interview with Neil Kearney.

After all, he has been prone to spontaneous decisions of major significance throughout his football life.

Like quitting North Melbourne at the height of his playing powers to resume with Woodville back in Adelaide; like announcing the end of his time as coach of the Adelaide Crows during the 1999 season; like coming out of cushy retirement to coach St Kilda.

Blight has been seen to have severed all ties with football, particularly the AFL, since the spectacular failure of the St Kilda venture.

Most pointedly, he failed to attend the Hall of Fame dinner last year.

He seemed to have cut himself off from almost everyone in the southern states, but the interview with Kearney has him yelling from the mountain tops that he is alive and well, and may yet come again.

The pictures tell us he is in superb shape; Kearney says he is bubbling with life and enthusiasm.

Be that as it may, he is finished with coaching at senior level.

As good as he is at the business, his interest is fleeting. He lost enthusiasm for the Crows the year after their second premiership in a row; he never really had his heart in his $1 million job at St Kilda.

Neutral observers who saw him up close at St Kilda will be spluttering on their muesli this morning at the thought of him having another go.

One, a man experienced in league football at more than one club, said recently Blight was "gone" at Moorabbin three weeks into the season.

Blighty promised St Kilda supporters the "ride of your life", but the train to glory was derailed after 15 rounds.

He didn't respect the club or its heroes, he had no interest in the lesser lights among the player group, and he no longer wanted to do the hard yakka.

He seemed happy only in the company of his two assistants, Ken Hinkley and Peter Jonas, who he appointed.

The natives got restless and, ultimately, dumped him.

It was the most devastating time of his illustrious career.

Even with just three wins from 15 games, he couldn't rationalise how a club like St Kilda could dump a person like him.

That was the end of him as a senior coach.

 

[Crow-mosone]

sheehan is wrong. dead wrong.
I think this illustrates his lack of feel for the game despite good sources and no shortage of primary information.

Blights behaviour at St Kilda should have been the end of him as senior coach, but sure as eggs it has not been.

he is the best there is, at least the best without a job, and maybe the best including those currently going around. Someone will be seduced by the idea of employing zen master malcolm.
maybe they shouldn't but it is very foolish to suggest they won't.

who wouldn't want the chance to hire him if he has recharged his batteries.

consider Collingwood, I think Malthouse is a great, great coach and his record attests to this - however after this year his message may have grown old with the players. in this situation, does anyone think eddie wouldn't be interested in the Blighty, and that he wouldn't be interested in them?
Look at this way, perhaps the best senior team coach of the modern era, or promoting an assistant from another team - what would the sponsors say?

we all know the answer to that, and to my mind, Pagan's relative success at Calrton has just proven the importance of a first rate coach to a teams prospects.

Blight will coach again, regardless of what mike sheehan thinks, if he wants to. and he will have his choice of jobs.

 

[bringbackbucky]

everyone on here is always (and quite rightly) bagging rucci for his incompetence but this bloke (sheehan) isnt far behind him IMO

 

[Alex99]

Your time's up, Malcolm
09 March 2005 Herald Sun

IF YOU knew Malcolm Blight, you knew the Blight story wasn't finished when he headed into the wild blue yonder.

He went all the way to Palm Cove in Queensland's far north, where he has immersed himself in golf and hospitality, but Blight is a restless soul.

As hurt as he was after being dumped by St Kilda in July 2001, as humiliated as he felt, he wasn't going to lick his wounds forever.

Despite his insecurities, and they are real, he loves being centre stage. Proffering his opinions, offering advice, pontificating.

He is, of course, eminently qualified, too, as the most decorated South Australian in the history of Australian football, with a pile of premierships and medals even he couldn't jump.

Only Blighty knows if he was teasing when he raised the issue of a return to coaching yesterday during an interview with Neil Kearney.

After all, he has been prone to spontaneous decisions of major significance throughout his football life.

Like quitting North Melbourne at the height of his playing powers to resume with Woodville back in Adelaide; like announcing the end of his time as coach of the Adelaide Crows during the 1999 season; like coming out of cushy retirement to coach St Kilda.

Blight has been seen to have severed all ties with football, particularly the AFL, since the spectacular failure of the St Kilda venture.

Most pointedly, he failed to attend the Hall of Fame dinner last year.

He seemed to have cut himself off from almost everyone in the southern states, but the interview with Kearney has him yelling from the mountain tops that he is alive and well, and may yet come again.

The pictures tell us he is in superb shape; Kearney says he is bubbling with life and enthusiasm.

Be that as it may, he is finished with coaching at senior level.

As good as he is at the business, his interest is fleeting. He lost enthusiasm for the Crows the year after their second premiership in a row; he never really had his heart in his $1 million job at St Kilda.

Neutral observers who saw him up close at St Kilda will be spluttering on their muesli this morning at the thought of him having another go.

One, a man experienced in league football at more than one club, said recently Blight was "gone" at Moorabbin three weeks into the season.

Blighty promised St Kilda supporters the "ride of your life", but the train to glory was derailed after 15 rounds.

He didn't respect the club or its heroes, he had no interest in the lesser lights among the player group, and he no longer wanted to do the hard yakka.

He seemed happy only in the company of his two assistants, Ken Hinkley and Peter Jonas, who he appointed.

The natives got restless and, ultimately, dumped him.

It was the most devastating time of his illustrious career.

Even with just three wins from 15 games, he couldn't rationalise how a club like St Kilda could dump a person like him.

That was the end of him as a senior coach.

If he wanted to MB could apply and be offered at least 6 senior coaching jobs in the AFL. Assuming all the coaches were sacked or quit today

Adelaide (his legacy will get him the job at the AFC)
North Melbourne (a favourite son coming home)
Fremantle (
Sydney (If anywhere this is the job, big name coach in a big time market)
Collingwood (A Quick hit at a premiership)
Brisbane (that list is still good and can still win a few more premierships, a blight specialty)

 

[drakeyv2]

If he wanted to MB could apply and be offered at least 6 senior coaching jobs in the AFL. Assuming all the coaches were sacked or quit today

Adelaide (his legacy will get him the job at the AFC)
North Melbourne (a favourite son coming home)
Fremantle (
Sydney (If anywhere this is the job, big name coach in a big time market)
Collingwood (A Quick hit at a premiership)
Brisbane (that list is still good and can still win a few more premierships, a blight specialty)

Brisbane would NOT give up Matthews for anyone else under any circumstances (and neither would I).

I couldn't see Collingwood getting rid of Malthouse at this stage either.

Sydney love Roos & he has done plenty right there in a short time.

Freo & North have just re-appointed their guys & seem happy enough with them.

And Adelaide - His performance in throwing in the towel in 99 was very poor & should not be forgotten.

I could see him being VERY usefull in a mentoring/skills coaching/football opps type roll, BUT I think his performances here in 99 & with St Kilda suggest he is damaged goods as far a senior roll goes.

 

[arrowman]

Choosing a coach is always about a 2-way fit between coach and club (something the "Terry Wallace for Adelaide" fans don't get) but in Blight's case I'd say this would be more important than most, because he's "different". Therefore he wouldn't be a shoe-in at any club, and any club would be wise to go through "the process" very carefully.

St Kilda and Blight both made huge mistakes in choosing each other. IMHO it should have been clear to St Kilda right from the outset that he was not the coach for them, it's like they just threw money at the best coach available and then assumed he'd suit their style and expectations, despite all the pbulicy available evidence to the contrary. And Blight should have worked out there was something wrong, too. But end of the day it's more likely (IMHO) that most of the responsibility for that fiasco lies with St Kilda.

He didn't respect the club or its heroes...

Hmm, just like his failed effort at Adelaide, eh Mike?

...he had no interest in the lesser lights among the player group

Heh, I think Shane Ellen might argue with that

Blight would have to be a prime candidate for any club, but the "fit" and mutual expectations would have to be very clear.

 

[outback jack]

everyone on here is always (and quite rightly) bagging rucci for his incompetence but this bloke (sheehan) isnt far behind him IMO

no, no i think rucci is a long, long way behind him. Rucci has to learn the difference between fact and opinion and then clearly differentiate between the two when he writes his garbage. Sheehan at least backs some of his stories with a touch of factual information. And his opinion isnt 90% pro-port that helps too.

 

[- PC -]

I think MBs time has passed him by. I will always admire him for what he helped Adelaide achieve. But he has been out of it too long to ever be anything but a mentor or ''wise owl'' for the players or coaching group.

Will be great to hear his comments, found him very knowledgable without being hysterical

 

[Mad Dog]

Success has always followed Blighty and he definately has something intangible that draws the best out of people........but not even he can turn a bowl of porridge into duck a' lorange..

We musn't forget that he had a fair squad to work with in 97 and 98.....and that player group should take most of the credit for being good enough to respond to Blighty and his methods.

My point is...I would hate a club like Hawthorn or the Bulldogs to offer him a million dollars and a wand and a cape ...and then sit back and expect a premiership.......even Micelangelo would struggle with BiLo paint...

stay in retirement Malcolm........maintain the mystique.....

 

[Alex99]

Assuming all the coaches were sacked or quit today

Meaning the club in question had a vacancy not they would get rid of the current coach in favour of Malcolm Bight

Brisbane would NOT give up Matthews for anyone else under any circumstances (and neither would I).

I couldn't see Collingwood getting rid of Malthouse at this stage either.

Sydney love Roos & he has done plenty right there in a short time.

Freo & North have just re-appointed their guys & seem happy enough with them.

And Adelaide - His performance in throwing in the towel in 99 was very poor & should not be forgotten.

I could see him being VERY usefull in a mentoring/skills coaching/football opps type roll, BUT I think his performances here in 99 & with St Kilda suggest he is damaged goods as far a senior roll goes.

 

[drakeyv2]

Meaning the club in question had a vacancy not they would get rid of the current coach in favour of Malcolm Bight

ok fair enough

 

[Crowked]

I for one havent written Blighty off as far as successfully coaching an AFL clubs concerned.

In the words of the great man himself (no I dont mean Russell bloody Ebert, KG ) "never say never".

The mans capable of anything.

 

[Jerome]

If Blight wants to coach ... sack Daryl Hart and put Blighty in charge of the SANFL state team!

 

[blighty]

I for one havent written Blighty off as far as successfully coaching an AFL clubs concerned.

In the words of the great man himself (no I dont mean Russell bloody Ebert, KG ) "never say never".

The mans capable of anything.

Blight is a football genius[ along with Mathews & Parkin]....these are the only football authorities that talk sense & that everyone listens to.
Everyone else is simply waffling[ have a listen to Malthouse & you'll understand waffle!! & Sheedy utterly without credibility!] and going through the motions.

Blight can do & will do whatever he wants & the rest will pay whatever he demands.
even as a commentator he's poops on everyone else.
Thank the good lord Buddha he's back

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

he hasn't got the emotional & mental toughness to coach

he should stick to commentating on brisbane home games and maybe a few finals

 

[Crow-mosone]

he hasn't got the emotional & mental toughness to coach

he should stick to commentating on brisbane home games and maybe a few finals

and you don't have the mental or emotional ability to make this sort of statement.

 

[thesouthernend]

The MAN has coached Geelong to three count them three GFs, he took Adelaide to two GFs and won them, the MAN can seriously coach a football team. What ever he chooses to do he will if committed to it SUCCEED.

 

[Bombers 2003]

he hasn't got the emotional & mental toughness to coach

Despite his performance at the Aints,i'd disagree with this .

 

[Damp Squarie]

everyone on here is always (and quite rightly) bagging rucci for his incompetence but this bloke (sheehan) isnt far behind him IMO

I reckon Sheehan would find that remark offensive LOL

Do you think Blighty would ever coach the smears