Chris Maple

[gangsta deluxe]

Does anyone think that Chris Maple has played an important role in unifying the club over the pre season, selling the new coaching message to the players and is now involved a lot in game day decisions?

He was talking a hell of a lot next to Bev in the coaches box yesterday (that looked like him yesterday although I was watching in the Qantas club and had consumed a considerable amount of free alcohol could be wrong, lol). They seemed as if they were having an ongoing conversation mainly with each other whenever the tv flicked to the coaches box.

Some of the style we saw in the Footscray finals last year seems to have been replicated by our AFL squad...

What are the more educated thoughts of others on the new role of Maple, and perhaps what this means for the progression of players like Jongy and Talia? I feel he may be important than we guess..

 

[VitalDread]

Maple is a great coach with tons of years of development
bloke that senior head that a new coach needs

 

[VitalDread]

Another big move was Gia as a forward coach
hes totally changed how our forwards play alongside bevo game style

 

[fargy]

Still cost me a flag so seeing him in the box with his monobrow really rustles my jimmies

But in all seriousness hasn't put a foot wrong by the looks! Good to see

 

[paul scholes]

He has played a significant part in the development of our players .
The improvement in Jong and JJ, Talia among others. Throw in the quicker than expected development of our early draft picks and you have to say the whole coaching group has done well.
Pretty insane that one or two on here shit canned Maple's appointment

 

[fargy]

He has played a significant part in the development of our players .
The improvement in Jong and JJ, Talia among others. Throw in the quicker than expected development of our early draft picks and you have to say the whole coaching group has done well.
Pretty insane that one or two on here shit canned Maple's appointment

One of them was me, and for good reason in my opinion. I gave an insight in to what he was like as a coach, he has obviously improved, and I have recognised that. I don't find that insane sorry.

 

[gangsta deluxe]

One the point above, it is funny how people perceive the ability of others pertaining to coaching.

It seems people see it as an intrinsic ability, that does not change. You either have it, or you dont, and if you dont get it right first time you never will. Like a natural talent thing. Now, this fits more with sporting ability (but even then not really accurate), but certainly less with a role based on conceptual understanding and communication skills. Its almost as if people do not perceive coaches as people, with the capacity to develop in their communication skills and content knowledge.

What I'd like to know is why! It seems obvious to me that it is something that can develop over time. Maybe my intuitions are off and those of others are correct. What I feel we need in coaches is life long learners, and not stagnant characters.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

One the point above, it is funny how people perceive the ability of others pertaining to coaching.

It seems people see it as an intrinsic ability, that does not change. You either have it, or you dont, and if you dont get it right first time you never will. Like a natural talent thing. Now, this fits more with sporting ability (but even then not really accurate), but certainly less with a role based on conceptual understanding and communication skills. Its almost as if people do not perceive coaches as people, with the capacity to develop in their communication skills and content knowledge.

What I'd like to know is why! It seems obvious to me that it is something that can develop over time. Maybe my intuitions are off and those of others are correct. What I feel we need in coaches is life long learners, and not stagnant characters.

It can be hard to break negative impressions after they're set, even if you do allow some room for improvement. Particularly if you have an emotional attachment. I don't think there's anything wrong with how fargy went about it.

I do agree with how people in general perceive coaches though. It's rife at management level as well - a "failed" coach rarely, if ever, gets another chance at the top job. No amount of experience and development seems to change that. I'd say Ratten would be the closest of past coaches to get another job but I'd question whether he ever will. Although I've ever wondered whether the decision not to employ past failed coaches is because of the negative stigma attached, or the club's fear of fan backlash.

To keep it on topic - I find it hard to rate assistant coaches to any deep level as a fan - you simply don't see or know enough of the 'behind the scenes' work in my opinion. That said, as a development coach, the development of our players - not just the 'elite' talents - has been superb and he deserves a lot of praise for that.

 

[fargy]

One the point above, it is funny how people perceive the ability of others pertaining to coaching.

It seems people see it as an intrinsic ability, that does not change. You either have it, or you dont, and if you dont get it right first time you never will. Like a natural talent thing. Now, this fits more with sporting ability (but even then not really accurate), but certainly less with a role based on conceptual understanding and communication skills. Its almost as if people do not perceive coaches as people, with the capacity to develop in their communication skills and content knowledge.

What I'd like to know is why! It seems obvious to me that it is something that can develop over time. Maybe my intuitions are off and those of others are correct. What I feel we need in coaches is life long learners, and not stagnant characters.

As Dannnnnn said for me it's an emotional thing. To elaborate we went through that season undefeated, and in the GF Maple as coach decided to swap players around in unusual positions to throw the other team off. By the time we went back to normal we were around 8 goals down. It's a bitter pill to swallow letting a grand final get away that never should have been lost, and Maple is mainly responsible for that happening to me. So it's very hard to let it go. But I have given him his dues and have recognised he has obviously improved. But the point you make, you don't really think about someone improving when you blame them for being the reason you didn't achieve something. I was lucky enough to win a few GFs, but that GF will always be a sore point. So basically it's hard to be completely rational when it effects you emotionally as Dannn said.

 

[gangsta deluxe]

Yeah, it would certainly be hard after that, and in your personal context I can understand your position absolutely (I mean who wouldnt!)

What I said probably seemed directed at you a bit more than intended. I'm more thinking of the general view that people have of coaches, in particular the views of the public and not players in a team.