Opinion Is Fly our best coach since McHale ?

[PonsfordMagpie]

We have a special coach in our midst.

Ever since he arrived in late 2021, Fly has transformed the club and made the experience of supporting the club such an enjoyable one. The consistency of the playing group, the style of play, the culture he's built has been immense.

He won us a premiership in 2023 and is on his way to winning a second one if this level of performance can be sustained for another 3 months.

He's now 90 games into his tenure and he currently has a 72% winning record as coach, which is a remarkable level of consistency. The only other coach in the league that compares is Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

50

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

.

Tactically, he's one of the best in the competition. Innovative, agile, always wanting to play an attacking style where ever he can without compromising on our defensive structures. He's elevated many players beyond their capabilities and reignited the careers of various veterans (e.g. Pendles, Sidebottom, Elliott, Howe etc).

On the man management front, his level of inspiration, empathy, care, instilling "winning behaviours" and getting the players to buy into the system is second to none.

Is he our best coach since McHale, not withstanding we've had some excellent coaches along the way (e.g. Kyne, Hafey, Malthouse)?

 

[nahnah]

Yes

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

No Kyne delivered two flags including the 58 that prevented Melbourne winnjng 4 in a row . If Fly can deliver a 2nd premiership that might change

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

No Kyne delivered two flags including the 58 that prevented Melbourne winnjng 4 in a row . If Fly can deliver a 2nd premiership that might change

That's fair. At this moment in time, I think you're right.

Fly is close though especially if we win can another one under him.

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

That's fair. At this moment in time, I think you're right.

Fly is close though especially if we win can another one under him.

Yes I agree, delivering #17 before Essendon or Carlton would be as significant as the 58 flag was to our history .

 

[timokane]

2025 is his 4th year at the pies already won a flag in his second year and might add this years flag as well and stil got another 4-5 years at Collingwood Fly will be Pies coach until 2030 but i think more like 2032.
I think Leppa will be our next coach after 5 years of Fly

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

I'd have Hafey at #2 even though a premiership eluded him. Hos coaching from 1977 - 1981 was super impressive - 4 GF in 5 years

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

I'd have Hafey at #2 even though a premiership eluded him. Hos coaching from 1977 - 1981 was super impressive - 4 GF in 5 years

Hafey's tenure was amazing. Top 3 finishes for 5 consecutive seasons and 4 Grand Finals (excluding the Replay).

Took a team who won the wooden spoon, to a minor premiership and a Grand Final appearance in a single season.

But the ending came quick as we know in mid-1982.

 

[Doc1763]

Hafey's tenure was amazing. Top 3 finishes for 5 consecutive seasons and 4 Grand Finals (excluding the Replay).

Took a team who won the wooden spoon, to a minor premiership and a Grand Final appearance in a single season.

But the ending came quick as we know in mid-1982.

should have won 3 flags

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

should have won 3 flags

1977, 1979 and 1981 ?

 

[Doc1763]

1977, 1979 and 1981 ?

yep

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

yep

If he'd won those three, it would have put him 2nd of all time in Premiership coaches on 7 flags, just behind Jock's 8.

Norm Smith won 6 in comparison.

 

[Doc1763]

If he'd won those three, it would have put him 2nd of all time in Premiership coaches on 7 flags, just behind Jock's 8.

Norm Smith won 6 in comparison.

yep, he was so close

 

[Go Woods]

I think if we win the flag this year definitely yes.
I've been following the Pies since '79' no doubt the best coach we've had in that period imo.

 

[Rail King]

He is tactically brilliant and clearly superb at dealing with people. From the moment he arrived has been incredibly good in all aspects and will hopefully become a double premiership coach very soon.
Hafey was great, and just extremely unlucky.
Fly is in an 18 team competition compared to 12.
McCrae is the best I've seen at the mighty pies.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

He saved our club in my opinion

Post 2021 we really could have gone down the gurgler

He gave us back our soul and transformed us into the envy of the competition

He’s our most important figure in 30 years

 

[Jelly Bean]

If he gets us 17 then yes.

 

[gouki88]

He’s probably the best we’ve ever had with the human side of coaching. Connects with people (including us fans) like nobody I’ve ever seen.

Tactically very good, knows how to set people up for success. Kyne, Hafey & Mick were all very good too however.

Another flag and I’ll happily rank him above those. I feel like the personal connection we all have with the 2023 flag is in large part due to Fly

 

[Masked Magician]

Mick has my complete and utter respect, he too transformed the culture, and the project he took on alongside Eddie was an incredible one.

We were a shocking club in the mid to late 90’s.

He too instilled a great winning culture.

 

[Masked Magician]

He saved our club in my opinion

Post 2021 we really could have gone down the gurgler

He gave us back our soul and transformed us into the envy of the competition

He’s our most important figure in 30 years

Hard to argue with that, I would just say though that where we were mid to end of 1999 was in my opinion worse than where we found ourselves mid to end of 2021.

 

[jathanas]

Impossible question to answer because of recency bias.

Fly's soft skills separate him from his peers. Seems to instinctively build strong connections, something that is hard to teach. He has morphed Collingwood in a way that has reignited my passion for footy and the club. I feel proud to support this mob.

If he wins a second flag history will record him as the most successful Collingwood coach of the modern era.

 

[jathanas]

Hard to argue with that, I would just say though that where we were mid to end of 1999 was in my opinion worse than where we found ourselves mid to end of 2021.

+1

Terrible, terrible days.

Think Carlton today. That's how much of a laughing stock we had become.

 

[cakewalk_1]

I'd have Hafey at #2 even though a premiership eluded him. Hos coaching from 1977 - 1981 was super impressive - 4 GF in 5 years

Agree, however my only arguement is there were 12 VFL teams, Let's be honest these teams were never going to win a VFL flag, Saints, Footscray, Melbourne, South Melbourne, Fitzroy, maybe throw in Geelong and Essendon (until 83) and it was really out of 5 maybe 6 teams each year.

 

[Lockyer24]

End of the day, it’s multiple flags which prove greatness. He looks more than capable

 

[Robroy22]

"Lethal" also transformed our club and under most would say tougher conditions (32 years of Colliwobble garbage from the media and every other team in the competition and their supporters)

He did so with a bunch of kids (who came from the 1986 U/19's Premiership side) and a few well chosen imports but it was his "winning and competitive acumen" that was instilled into the side that got the job done. "If it bleeds we can kill it" wasn't just quote from a movie....it found its mark with Millane, Banks, Shaw, Manson, Kelly and Brown...and that 1990 side broke through where others couldn't quite get the job done.

If Pants hadn't written himself off in a car accident who's to say how many flags Matthew's Pies might have won. As it were following Millane's tragic death, the club spiralled down rather too quickly until Eddie convinced Malty to come on board.

I'd rank Matthews at least as strong a contributor to our club's culture as Fly has been so far (and his 3 flags with Brisbane sort've confirmed his coaching prowess)