Guy McKenna

[scroda]

good article by a man - gary lyon - I don't usually have time for
the fact that mckenna he would be one of the most knowledgable in the land on the youngsters coming through has got to be a bonus

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/is-mckenna-the-right-guy/2009/06/02/1243708456376.html

MEMO: Richmond Football Club Coaching Subcommittee,

Who am I? I am an established and aspiring coach with a thorough apprenticeship who has coached, and continues to coach his own football team at the elite level.

I am a highly respected former club captain, dual premiership player and multiple All Australian.

I have served as an assistant coach for five years under multiple premiership coach Mick Malthouse.

I enjoy a high profile and have proven to be a highly competent and savvy media performer.

My current role has provided me with the most intimate and thorough knowledge of the best young players in the country, having recently travelled overseas with the Australian academy squad, and enabled me to establish initial working relationships with these players and their managers.

IF THE Tigers have put a line through Guy McKenna as a candidate for the Richmond job due to his involvement with the Gold Coast 17 franchise, then it is imperative that they think again.

McKenna shapes as the outstanding candidate for the position and the fact that he has a year to run on his contract with the new boys on the block should not be seen as an insurmountable hurdle.

The fact is, he is no different to the plethora of assistant coaches who have been bandied around in the media in the past 24 hours who are contracted beyond this year.

Michael Voss, having just signed on as an assistant coach at West Coast last year, was able to negotiate an immediate release to accept the senior role at the Brisbane Lions when it was offered.

It is almost an unwritten rule in football that an aspiring coach, not at senior AFL level, will be released from his contractual obligations to take up one of the 16 coveted positions.

McKenna is contracted to be coaching the Gold Coast team in the VFL next year. His future beyond 2010 is unsecured and it is a window of opportunity that the Richmond Football Club should take advantage of.

I have counted 22 potential candidates listed in the two main newspapers in this town in the past 24 hours. McKenna's name was not mentioned once and nor was he listed by the corporate bookmakers who are keen to frame a market.

It is an amazing oversight given the background of McKenna and his role over the past 12 months.

I believe McKenna is a standout candidate for Richmond. He ticks almost every box and the feedback from well-placed and experienced football people, a notoriously cynical group, hard to impress, regarding the job he is doing with the young Gold Coast group is overwhelmingly positive.

His presentation to the young academy squad in South Africa recently was said to have held the group spellbound. Talent scouts from around the country, who monitor the under-18 competition forensically, have raved about his handling of the group, their rapid and ultra-impressive development and the manner in which he addresses the team and the clarity of his coaching philosophies. Any rough edges he may have had before heading north have been well and truly knocked off.

Significantly he has been able to coach, at senior level with Claremont in the WAFL, and now with the Gold Coast under 18s. I think it is a crucial, but underrated consideration in the appointment of a senior coach. To be the ultimate decision-maker in terms of the direction a side takes demands accountability and responsibility. The consequence of any decision ultimately rests with the head coach, and that demands thorough preparation and an unwavering faith in your philosophies.

To have been able to take charge of both a senior list, as well as a developing group, provides invaluable experience in dealing with the psychology and challenges that come with motivating and handling a broad gamut of personalities. It must give you a head start, however small, over those who have served only in the supporting roles.

The challenge of appointing a new coach is enormously difficult. From my observations, and experience, there is no right or wrong template to work from. It is, despite the increasing level of sophistication being introduced to the process, nothing more than an educated guessing game.

And for those who beg to differ, cast your mind back to the recent appointments and reappointments of our most successful clubs.

Alastair Clarkson's appointment was howled down by some of the biggest names in the game. And if some Hawks supporters were honest, they would put their hand up as well. Overlooking favourite sons of the club with previous coaching experience was one of the main beefs of the most vocal critics. Four years into his tenure he delivers a flag.

John Worsfold was an assistant at Carlton before many in the industry s******ed at his appointment at West Coast. Five years into the job he delivered a flag.

The push from outside Geelong was for Mark Thompson to go after finishing 10th on the ladder in his seventh year. The following year Geelong capped off a magnificent season and secured its first flag since 1963.

Anyone want to own up that they thought Ross Lyon was no good at St Kilda early on at Moorabbin? Ten wins on the trot, top of the ladder and the doubters are nowhere to be found.

I was involved in the interview process at Melbourne after Neale Daniher's reign. The club did the initial legwork and then a group of us interviewed six candidates before making a recommendation to the board.

I would never get involved in that process again. Not because of any misgivings with the way it was handled, and I think Dean Bailey will be a very good coach, but no matter how much work you do, and how well the interview process went, it somehow, for me, didn't seem enough to make such an important decision.

And I guess that remains the challenge today. The best recruiting firms, the best "processes", the most homework and research done can take you only so far.

Is coaching a team in your own right more important than having been involved as an assistant at a successful club? Is an experienced coach, who understands the immense workload of senior coaching but may be a little jaded with the process, going to be better than an untried coach with boundless enthusiasm?

Does profile and charisma, bearing in mind the need to "sell" a club to all stakeholders, put one candidate ahead of another?

Are some people just destined to be great assistant coaches and no more, while others are born to lead?

Untried coaches without assistant coaching experience have been unpalatable since Tim Watson's ill-fated time at St Kilda. Has that landscape changed with Michael Voss walking into Brisbane and having it positioned in the top four after his first 10 games at the helm?

It certainly won't scare those eyeing off Nathan Buckley as the possible answer to their prayers.

The Tigers have stolen a march on a number of clubs who may be in the market for a new coach in the coming months. They have to get it right, and the first door I would be knocking on would be Guy McKenna's.

As it stands, he can do all the legwork for the Gold Coast, only to see a Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse or Paul Roos appointed over the top of him when the team enters the AFL in 2011.

He may not be interested, but they will never know if you don't ask the question. The promise of a senior job and a three-year contract may be the thing to lure him away from a backdrop of uncertainty and a further 12-month apprenticeship.

 

[tugga]

Lyon's right in that McKenna has been forgotten about by the general public.
I'm very open to this suggestions. Knows what success is and how to get it as a player.

 

[blaisee]

gary lyon pffft what a joke,


Right up there with Gerald Healy, Dermie, and soon Wallet.


Media personalities first, and fake and phoney knowledgeable football journalists second.

Mckenna is Lyons mate and he is doing him a favour by putting his name up there. Mckenna is destined to be a career assistant, has no hope of ending up with the Gold Coast job let alone the richmond job.

 

[Bojangles17]

the fact that he never got past first round of interviews at Carlton, Melbourne and st.kilda isnt't lost on me, NO thanks...there's a stack of others around, lets work through them

 

[lvt06]

the fact that he never got past first round of interviews at Carlton, Melbourne and st.kilda isnt't lost on me, NO thanks...there's a stack of others around, lets work through them

This is what worries me about Hardwick. Why didnt he get the senior job at Essendon or Melbourne.....

 

[krustyman]

This is what worries me about Hardwick. Why didnt he get the senior job at Essendon or Melbourne.....

I share the same concerns. from a distance he may seem the right person being associated with successful coaches. I suspect the hardwick way is to rip the entire squad and start all over again and this means another 5 year plan ala teaser wallace. They just need a few more quality player to push them over the line, rather than filling the side with kids and hoping one or two might be successful.

 

[Bojangles17]

This is what worries me about Hardwick. Why didnt he get the senior job at Essendon or Melbourne.....

well that my friend is what I have maintained all along when people on auto pilot slot him to head of pack...he indeed should be in the long list but by no means guaranteed the job

 

[corporal]

I share the same concerns. from a distance he may seem the right person being associated with successful coaches. I suspect the hardwick way is to rip the entire squad and start all over again and this means another 5 year plan ala teaser wallace. They just need a few more quality player to push them over the line, rather than filling the side with kids and hoping one or two might be successful.

Isn't this the reason we are in such a bad situation to begin with? Never properly rebuilding the list?

 

[krustyman]

Isn't this the reason we are in such a bad situation to begin with? Never properly rebuilding the list?

they got a lot of young players who have played significant number of games, only there are too few good ones compared to other teams. wallace never recruited any quality players in his time, young or old.

 

[lvt06]

well that my friend is what I have maintained all along when people on auto pilot slot him to head of pack...he indeed should be in the long list but by no means guaranteed the job

I agree with everything you have said in regards to the situation.

At first i wasnt worried, but the more i thought / think about it it makes me worry what happened.

I want the best person for the job. And they might be Campbell as much as people hate it....

 

[tigerdan]

gary lyon pffft what a joke,


Right up there with Gerald Healy, Dermie, and soon Wallet.


Media personalities first, and fake and phoney knowledgeable football journalists second.

Mckenna is Lyons mate and he is doing him a favour by putting his name up there. Mckenna is destined to be a career assistant, has no hope of ending up with the Gold Coast job let alone the richmond job.

Agree 100%.

The idiot recommended Frawley!

If I remember the article correctly he said of Frawley: "underestimate him at your peril!"

He should have been banned from the media for that piece of "insight". Idiots of the highest order the both of them.

 

[1980GFVideo]

Agree 100%.

The idiot recommended Frawley!

If I remember the article correctly he said of Frawley: "underestimate him at your peril!"

He should have been banned from the media for that piece of "insight". Idiots of the highest order the both of them.

What should happen to us since we took it a step further and made him coach.

Lyon is a dill though pumping up his mates.

Big man when it comes to no name players like Jake King but will suck up to the big names. See him trying to stare down Carolyn on FC on Monday night. Didnt do it enough on the footy field against blokes?

 

[Coach_Required]

He would be a much better candidate than Campbell thats for sure.

Has been part of a successful club, has done a decent amount of time as an assistant and is currently dealing with developing a young list.

Thats all 3 boxes ticked that Campbell wouldnt be able to claim

 

[Bojangles17]

He would be a much better candidate than Campbell thats for sure.

Has been part of a successful club, has done a decent amount of time as an assistant and is currently dealing with developing a young list.

Thats all 3 boxes ticked that Campbell wouldnt be able to claim

ok so without even knowing him you'd ignore what 4 clubs failed to see in him huh.....he's clearly an assistant and thats his level..not everyone has the ability to effectively manage 50 people and it takes more than being on WC list for 10 years to be qualified to do so, which may come as a massive suprise to some

 

[Coach_Required]

ok so without even knowing him you'd ignore what 4 clubs failed to see in him huh.....he's clearly an assistant and thats his level..not everyone has the ability to effectively manage 50 people and it takes more than being on WC list for 10 years to be qualified to do so, which may come as a massive suprise to some

LMAO @ your weak efforts to justify campbell over any other rookie coach. We already have another thread on that why dont you just stick to that and enter your 150th post on the issue.

 

[Tiger67]

LMAO @ your weak efforts to justify campbell over any other rookie coach. We already have another thread on that why dont you just stick to that and enter your 150th post on the issue.

Rather than Bo justify why Campbell could well be the coach we need why don't you fill us in on what evidence you base not going for Campbell.
I'm sure you have a multitude of informed information to give us.
Waiting..........Waiting........

 

[Coach_Required]

Rather than Bo justify why Campbell could well be the coach we need why don't you fill us in on what evidence you base not going for Campbell.
I'm sure you have a multitude of informed information to give us.
Waiting..........Waiting........

I'm sorry but unlike Bojangles I prefer not to repeat myself 1,000,000 times over with the same repetitive crap. If you want to know what I think so desperately go up to the other thread which is about 11 pages long and search through there.