John Reid 5AA interview - interesting points

[pjcrows]

Anyone hear John Reid's interview on 5AA last night? Reminiscing on his time at the Crows etc.

He was asked about James Fantasia, how he is often maligned when it came to picking the wrong players and so on. Rediy said the three "big blunders" that he is often bagged for weren't even his fault.

1. Pavlich/McGregor - Fantasia wanted Pavlich, but it was Blight who didn't want to take him. Blight thought he didn't have the body type, and McGregor was more ready.
2. Angwin - Fantasia wanted Cornes, Ayres wanted the "best ruckman available". Ayres had the final call (interesting to note this has changed now - Craig gives Rendell 100% of the final decision on who to take).
3. Carey - Fantasia wasn't that crash hot on the idea, but supported Ayres, Reid etc who wanted it.

I basically bagged him for years because of these 3 decisions, and it turns out it wasn't even him who made the final decisions...

He was also asked about the most influential player in the 1997/98 flags, and he said without a doubt Shaun Rehn.

He commented on how when he came to the club (end of 1995/start of 1996) at how shockingly unfit the team was and how softly they trained. That certainly changed pretty quickly after Shaw left!

He spoke about how good Blighty was, he just had his plans and stuck by them. Always took a risk or had a Plan B - something that he said Craigy has learned over time.

He said 2005/6 were huge disappointments, but the club was a shambles at the end of 04 and were expected to enter a massive rebuilding phase. To finish Top 4 in those years was a huge achievement - and the players just ran out of puff by the end of the year, despite every effort to peak them.

Also asked any players that didn't live up to the potential - Laurence Angwin had "all the talent", but obviously not the brain. He was asked about John Meesen - "simply not good enough".

A great interview.

 

[craig crowing]

Only heard some of it. Certainly wasnt letting out any big secrets and avoiding being critical of anyone.
But would have liked to heard all. Someone told me he said current squad was the best squad Crows have ever had.
He said one of favourite players was Peter Caven and one of funniest to have around was Kym Koster. Very high in praise of Darren Jarman as well.

 

[amer]

How ironic is it to hear that the man who delivered us our only premiership successes so far passed on the one player we were screaming out for to help us repeat the feat in 05/06?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Anyone got the recording of this?!

 

[Thunderstruck]

Geez if only we had Pav now (and the past 9 seasons). Then again, we probably wouldn't have drafted Tippett if we had a forward like Pav.

 

[twentydollarnote]

How ironic is it to hear that the man who delivered us our only premiership successes so far passed on the one player we were screaming out for to help us repeat the feat in 05/06?

and also points back to reidy and co not organising the football department properly rather than jimmy F's recruiting ability.

 

[twentydollarnote]

How does everyone rate Reidy's job at the crows considering the resources we had and concession players we got? Before 97/98 we were a bit of a joke and its only been since craigy's come on board that we've really ramped things up professionally to match our resources imo. It seems its taken a really good coach to fix the place up rather than the opposite.

 

[J-Ro-20]

nobody knows of a link to download the mp3 of this by any chance?
Would be great to listen to.

 

[amer]

Craigy has changed the face of this club and blazed the trail for professionalism without a doubt. The way our side is prepared, the planning processes prior to match day, how well our players conduct themselves in front of the media, all drastically improved and even today in this era of every club allegedly knowing everything about its opposition, these are areas in which you can see we stand above other clubs.

He's such a dedicated club man, he goes above and beyond to look for competitive advantages and he has developed a culture that makes us one of the most appealing clubs to forge a career at. The players love him, they feel like they can approach and talk to him about anything, and as we are seeing that sort of thing is repaid with player loyalty. The new faces who come through are really looked after, and any Adelaide stigma is snuffed out. He is as fair dinkum as you'll get and I bloody hope we see him up on the grand final podium lifting that cup with the captain soon, because there is no more deserving coach in footy.

 

[cmndstab]

I'm sorry I missed this interview, I always enjoyed listening to Reidy and will miss hearing him in the role he's made his for so long.


Usually 5AA puts big-name interviews up on their website a day or two afterwards so hopefully they'll link to it. If I notice it I'll post the link here.

 

[KUNG FU]

Stories like this make my stomach turn when I hear Jason Dunstall whinge about coaches needing more input at the recruiting stage. Uuugggghhhh.

 

[srv23]

Reidy was in the studio talking to McDermott and Wildy for an hour/taking questions from callers etc rather than it being an interview as such. 5AA might not have the whole time he was there available to listen to on line. I only heard a little bit of it but did hear the bits mentioned in the OP. The Pav one was very interesting - they thought he was a bit podgy and Blighty thought he didn't have the right build to develop into a big kpp. The Angwin vs Kornes one has been reasonably well publicised. Interesting he said all this in response to a callers question about Fantasia and his recruiting. He said much of this to defend Fantasia saying "people criticise our decisions but for example James wanted Kane Crones, Ayres wanted a ruckman and so chose Angwin but James gets the blame for that when it wasn't his decision etc etc" and talked about the other decisions. Said now we have our list that Rendell prepares and for the most part we just go down our list of players and choose the next on the list. Also did say we aren't the only club to have kpp picks not develop as we'd like. Wildy then said that it was safer to pick a midfielder to which Reidy responded "Yeah but you can't have 18 midfielders can you"

Carey - Reidy he said he had no regrets about the decision - they did their research and he always wonders what could have been if he didn't smash his knee into that point post. Did say the incident at the Grand was the worst week in his and Triggy's life at the club from a media point of view.

He also says he doesn't see 05/06 as wasted years. That our list was in pretty bad shape at the end of 04, everyone tipped that we would be bottom 4 and would struglle. Said in reality people should appreciate what a great job Craigy did in getting that quality of footy out of the playing group.

Also said he feels we have a real crack at the flag in the next couple of years and that we have the most genuine footy talent on our list now than we've ever had since he's been there. (Lauded Rendell as well for his recruiting as well as picking guys who fit in well with our culture and structures)

Talked about the professionalism of Macca and Edwards with their professionalism to get on with the job on the footy ground despite their differences off it and manage to stay at the same club.

Had a chuckle about the Ramsgate affair but said if it would have been looked on far differentl in this day and age and the AFL would have really cracked down on it. Said it did add a bit of extra spice to the Showdowns in the "early days"

That's all I can remember off the top of my head. Was certainly interesting to listen to.

 

[footy4ever]

How does everyone rate Reidy's job at the crows considering the resources we had and concession players we got? Before 97/98 we were a bit of a joke and its only been since craigy's come on board that we've really ramped things up professionally to match our resources imo. It seems its taken a really good coach to fix the place up rather than the opposite.

I don't care.

It was Reid who convinced Blight to coach us. Enough said.

 

[craig crowing]

I don't care.

It was Reid who convinced Blight to coach us. Enough said.

Yes Agree agree agree .
But he was not liked around SANFL clubs ,though since Williams has pushed all the good people from Power they now think Reidy etc are ok.
Also agree the Craig influence on club is enormous as Amer so expertly posted.
Craig only weakness to some other coaches is in the match box.
But thought that was better last year

 

[afc1991]

How ironic is it to hear that the man who delivered us our only premiership successes so far passed on the one player we were screaming out for to help us repeat the feat in 05/06?

And, to the best of my knowledge, has never put his hand up to admit it.

 

[tribey]

1. Pavlich/McGregor - Fantasia wanted Pavlich, but it was Blight who didn't want to take him. Blight thought he didn't have the body type, and McGregor was more ready.

It's hard isn't it. I'd love the definitive scouting reports or transcripts on discussions on him at the time.

He eventually maxed out at 192cms - on the shorter side for a glamour CHF - and had dodgy shoulders.

It's also important to remember Pavlich was only 16 years old at the time of the 1998 Draft. How tall would he have been at the time pre-final growth spurt? 186-188cms? Maybe they thought he wouldn't grow to McGregor's size or, as Reid admitted, ultimately have the right body shape.

Basically there was enough red flags there to justify the decision they took, but jeez, if they'd gone the other way and taken him with what was essentially the last pick in the draft? It was hardly a club-shattering risk.

 

[macca23]

It's hard isn't it. I'd love the definitive scouting reports or transcripts on discussions on him at the time.

He eventually maxed out at 192cms - on the shorter side for a glamour CHF - and had dodgy shoulders.

It's also important to remember Pavlich was only 16 years old at the time of the 1998 Draft. How tall would he have been at the time pre-final growth spurt? 186-188cms? Maybe they thought he wouldn't grow to McGregor's size or, as Reid admitted, ultimately have the right body shape.

Basically there was enough red flags there to justify the decision they took, but jeez, if they'd gone the other way and taken him with what was essentially the last pick in the draft? It was hardly a club-shattering risk.

Quite right DT. It must be remembered that 15 other clubs passed on Pavlich as well. If I remember correctly, each team was allowed to take only one 17 year old that year. Also, apart from Pavlich, McGregor was the best of the other 17 year olds taken that year.

The real dilburys were Richmond who passed on Pavlich to take a very average player in Fiora the next year - a very mind-blowing irrational decision given what Pavlich had already shown at WWT.

 

[twentydollarnote]

Craigy has changed the face of this club and blazed the trail for professionalism without a doubt. The way our side is prepared, the planning processes prior to match day, how well our players conduct themselves in front of the media, all drastically improved and even today in this era of every club allegedly knowing everything about its opposition, these are areas in which you can see we stand above other clubs.

He's such a dedicated club man, he goes above and beyond to look for competitive advantages and he has developed a culture that makes us one of the most appealing clubs to forge a career at. The players love him, they feel like they can approach and talk to him about anything, and as we are seeing that sort of thing is repaid with player loyalty. The new faces who come through are really looked after, and any Adelaide stigma is snuffed out. He is as fair dinkum as you'll get and I bloody hope we see him up on the grand final podium lifting that cup with the captain soon, because there is no more deserving coach in footy.

lol is this what reidy said about craigy or is this your take on him? If its your take on him i dont know what it has to do with reidy which is who this thread is about.

 

[twentydollarnote]

I don't care.

It was Reid who convinced Blight to coach us. Enough said.

yes that was great but since then we've been a bit directionless up until a few years ago when craigy has been able to get hold of the squad, which makes me think it was probably craigy responsible for giving that not reidy who really should of been doing it. Also we should of traded for a forward in 05/06 in terms of aiming to win a flag, we didnt really go for it.