Devil's Advocate

[astro_toby]

IF.... the coaching structure instilled by Essendon, with a young James Hird coaching with a the very experienced, successful Bomber Thompson assisting him, is proven to work this year ( which isn't miles away from the current structure apart at Collingwood already) .....

IF the RFC struggles to improve or show significant improvement in 2011....

SHOULD the Club considering approaching Mick Malthouse to fill a similar role at the RFC, and offer him a pay salary (funded by the tiger fund) that would be worthy of someone of his stature to fill a lead assistant role. Is this money well spent, compared to a new training centre?

Considering the past 25 years of RFC coaches and coaching staff, should they not attempt to get someone of the genuine success and quality of Mick Malthouse ? Does the idea of DH & MM working together seem impossible, would you believe either one of these individuals has too big of ego to work with the other? Would it work, would it be just create pressure and innuendo?

...And would they possibly be the toughest, most uncompromising coaching pair to exist, who both have somehow managed to inspire and develop a (Y) generation of players that apparently do not react to getting a spray, and are difficult to get respect from?

The mind boggles...

Just playing devil's advocate while watching "The Couch"

 

[Rustof]

Get him in player development, now.

 

[Puntroad]

Will probably end up as the new environmental ambassador for Visy at Carlton.

 

[astro_toby]

well, something certainly happened to make the club decide they need some serious cash asap to spend on the football department.

 

[docko911]

I personally think you are better off recruiting 2 or 3 of the best coaches from different state wide leagues and using them as a group of assistants. They would probably have more experience than most AFL coaches, they would not have the excessive egos and they would be a lot cheaper. If someone with the sort of mentality of DH had the tutoring of experts then i can't see how it would not benefit our team.

Just because you played AFL doesn't mean you can coach, just because you didn't play AFL doesn't mean you can't coach.

 

[Azzleberry]

Why would Matlhouse bother when he can have the same role at the Pies?
The only reason Malthouse will leave Collingwood is for a senior coaching role, which Richmond won't be offering.
Absolutely fine with our young coaches, I think they gel with the young playing group better...

 

[scarecrow2k1]

Why would Malthouse turn down serious money to be Collingwood's Director of Coaching to come to the Tiges for what is most likely less money for the same role?

 

[Tiger_Stripes]

Malthouse is the master of his domain, he wouldn't do assistant. Clubs like Carlton are going to try long and hard to snare him.

 

[El Tigre]

I'm sure theres going to be lots of conversation between Malthouse and their Board. He's still got very significant value, and would be a very valuable addition to any club. (Unlike Sheedy, who i think is rapidly developing into an eccentric old character) I just don't think the Pies would want that amount of value "falling" into the opposition hands so quickly (potentially within a month of the grand Final). if he doesn't take a role on at the Pies, then surely they're will be some sort of signed agreement (with money) that says he will stay one year away from football, to allow Bucks and his coaching panel to develop their game subtly that would lessen the impact of Malthouses knowledge in another clubs hands.

I would take Malthouse, in any role, in a heartbeat. He's got a wise head, he's got respect by players, lots of experience, and you could argue that he's still very much in the "prime" of his coaching.

Would require a massive amount of effort, and not sure that this would be way too much of a distraction from other things that need lots of work along the way.

 

[Roachy8]

I have always thought Malthouse to be one of the best 'accelerators of development of young players' in the whole comp.
Has always got his kids to step up and contribute very early on and let's face it, even after another year, we will still be quite young in 2012...

Probably highly unlikely but I would take him in a recruiting/player development role in an instant.

& is a Tiger deep down too.

 

[CallMeAl]

The situation is completely different Essendon.

Hird has no coaching experience so it was vital the he had an experiences support group put together.

Hardwick has had coaching experience, and unlike with previous appointments, the club went through a very thorough,systematic and professional process to appoint him.

Too bring in Malthouse now, part way through a contract would possibly be seen as undermining the current head coach and could be more harmful than beneficial.

 

[TJTIGER]

If MM was looked at seriously. I would only favour it if there were no backward steps for the club. I don't think DH & MM are very different characters from what I've seen in that they are both very honest in their assessment and clear about what they want, which is what the RFC needs now.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

If Essendon were to rise up the ladder this season , how much of the credit would go to Alan Richardson .
He was also at the pies and IIRC , commenced their development academy which has seen the increased development of many of their premiership players ?
Should he be a target ?

 

[True Thylacine]

I found 3 things interesting watching On the Couch last night.

1. How Essendons coaching expenditure doubled to around $2.5mill
2. How Sheehan et al are declaring Hird a messiah already
3. How Paul Roos said about 5 times "the season doesnt start until Thursday Mike"

I remain unconvinced that the Bombers Ides of March approach to coaching has been an instant panacea. Coaches need players and I genuinely can't see a nucleus of stars emerging from their list.....I may be wrong ..what have I missed here?

As for Mick it would be great to have him around the Club in some capacity but the timing is all wrong in the coaching role. He likes to ascert himself in control and rightfully so which is just a clash for an up and coming Hardwick at present so its tough to see a fit in any kind of footy based role.

 

[Goldust]

The situation is completely different Essendon.

Hird has no coaching experience so it was vital the he had an experiences support group put together.

Hardwick has had coaching experience, and unlike with previous appointments, the club went through a very thorough,systematic and professional process to appoint him.

Too bring in Malthouse now, part way through a contract would possibly be seen as undermining the current head coach and could be more harmful than beneficial.

Agree completely …. and also ….
The Essendon set-up is an ideal arrangement as the coach is both unproven and NEW into the job. Bringing a mentor-type in when the coach is established would only see Hardwick forever looking over his shoulder. And if you are always looking over your shoulder wondering what the mentor (and hugely successful coach) is doing, you ain’t focusing on the game plan and on-field. From the start at Essendon, the roles were clearly defined.

As a footnote: This is all being based on Essendon winning a few pre-season competition games. There is a very real chance that the Bombers lose their season opener to the Bulldogs, second-up in Sydney, third-up against St Kilda at Etihad before a round four encounter against Carlton and round five against Collingwood. Will people be spruiking the success of Hird-Thompson of they are 1-4?

 

[1980GFVideo]

If Essendon were to rise up the ladder this season , how much of the credit would go to Alan Richardson .
He was also at the pies and IIRC , commenced their development academy which has seen the increased development of many of their premiership players ?
Should he be a target ?

Yep smarter hypothetical than the MM one.

Although Richardson might feel that his talent was not duly recognized when he was with us coaching Coburg. Any extra money that we get should be directed towards the development area of the club.

A football department has so many contributors today that I think the days of being able to identify the people most responsible for the success becomes harder.

 

[astro_toby]

Yep smarter hypothetical than the MM one.

Although Richardson might feel that his talent was not duly recognized when he was with us coaching Coburg. Any extra money that we get should be directed towards the development area of the club.

A football department has so many contributors today that I think the days of being able to identify the people most responsible for the success becomes harder.

surely getting malthouse would be "putting money into our development area"?

MM ability to develop youngsters, or at a minimum - his ability to build a successful development team, is 2nd to none.