News Murray Davis joins as Coaching Director

[PeterSalt]

Good thing on Murray Davis in the Age today:

1. His partner is the Lions AFLW football boss (she might move here)
2. We tried to get him the year before too
3. “When the two teams played each other in the 2025 pre-season, the Lions players noted their Crows’ opponents had adopted a significant number of their team terminologies and plays.”

Interesting that the article also mentions 3 GWS assistant coaches living away from family

 

[PeterSalt]

Chelsea Randall would be in that discussion?

The article mentions the possibility of her replacing Phil Harper

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Hopefully Neil Balme is quietly telling Davis he's getting a promotion to senior coach when Nicks's contract is up. Should be an attractive offer. The lure of a ready made list vs leaving to go to a basket case.

 

[NSolis]

Hopefully Neil Balme is quietly telling Davis he's getting a promotion to senior coach when Nicks's contract is up. Should be an attractive offer. The lure of a ready made list vs leaving to go to a basket case.

This is some quality BigFooty fan fiction. The job of a coach who just won the minor premiership being at risk is a classic but I like the added touch of Neil Balme making important decisions at the Crows, apparently on his own.

 

[cleanhands]

This is some quality BigFooty fan fiction. The job of a coach who just won the minor premiership being at risk is a classic but I like the added touch of Neil Balme making important decisions at the Crows, apparently on his own.

And rightfully so

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Maybe that will give us the answer whether this year has been Davis or nicks

I think the answer is obvious

 

[Cleric]

thanks, good article. The Age normally allows one freebie article per mth for non subscribers I think (otherwise just delete cache/internet browsing history if you have already used your first article up and then go again!)

Why this AFL power couple uprooted their lives to chase premierships with different clubs

She built a dynasty at the Brisbane Lions. He helped transform the Crows into minor premiers. They live 2000 kilometres apart.

www.theage.com.au

Just use archive.

 

[chazwazza]

Maybe that will give us the answer whether this year has been Davis or nicks

I heard that interview, while you can’t back away from his words, his tone and context gave me a bit of a different vibe, more that he felt honoured that someone would even consider him for a senior role

 

[Rotayjay]

Wonder if that was always the plan/ how we sold it to him - getting a second club on his resume

I think it was either a spoken or unspoken understanding that he would take Nicks' job if Nicks continued to underperform. Anyone could put two and two together.

But you could say Davis' appointment has worked too well. It would be hard to justify turfing a minor premier senior coach, and Davis becomes hot property for another club. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes his one and only year at the Crows.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

 

[119others]

Just use archive.

OK cheers, so when I posted that article was about 30 minutes old only. You are saying you can have immediate access to all articles - Herald Sun, The Age, Financial Reivew etc as soon as they are released 'live?

If so, pretty bloody stupid of me paying subs haha

 

[1990crow]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

The Melbourne job is the only one available right?
Last I read Buckley was looking at the role.

 

[dogs105]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

Mackay?

 

[hugecannon]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

Probably Goodwin?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Probably Goodwin?

Apparently we spoke to Davis a couple of years out. Takes time for all the planets to align

I wonder what Adam Simpson's next role will be? Does he want another head coaching gig or is a Head of Football type role the next step.

 

[Cleric]

OK cheers, so when I posted that article was about 30 minutes old only. You are saying you can have immediate access to all articles - Herald Sun, The Age, Financial Reivew etc as soon as they are released 'live?

If so, pretty bloody stupid of me paying subs haha

The majority of them work.
You just put the link in and it archives it and makes it readable.

 

[Mattrox]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

Fortunately we have a list and now a winning record and players who stand out as players you want to coach. Attracting a high quality candidate will be easier than 5 years ago.

 

[Mostyn]

Hopefully Neil Balme is quietly telling Davis he's getting a promotion to senior coach when Nicks's contract is up. Should be an attractive offer. The lure of a ready made list vs leaving to go to a basket case.

This is absolutely hilarious.

The guy just coached the club to the minor premiership and somehow a new board member is plotting to sack him. Maybe when Nicks wins AFL coach of the year we can use that as a reason to fire him immediately.

Just peak nuffy, fantastic

 

[Mostyn]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

Tim David?

I'd probably play Mitch Owen, personally.

 

[Mostyn]

The Melbourne job is the only one available right?
Last I read Buckley was looking at the role.

Murray Davis hasn't even been approached to interview for it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Fortunately we have a list and now a winning record and players who stand out as players you want to coach. Attracting a high quality candidate will be easier than 5 years ago.

It depends on perspective

Someone with a view to becoming a senior coach may have seen Adelaide after the 2024 season as a prime landing spot

Now maybe not so much

There's almost two types. Someone on the way up, who wants to be a senior coach. Or someone going the other way, who has coached previously but those days are behind them

 

[Mr_Moogle]

This is absolutely hilarious.

The guy just coached the club to the minor premiership and somehow a new board member is plotting to sack him. Maybe when Nicks wins AFL coach of the year we can use that as a reason to fire him immediately.

Just peak nuffy, fantastic

I was saying what I hope would happen, not what I think is going to happen. I think Nicks will mostly likely be extended in the offseason. The admin don't really need to be plotting anything right now though. Nicks has a contract for 2026. The smart play would be to sit on their hands until part way through 2026 but they haven't shown themselves to be shrewd operators when it comes to coaching extensions in the past.

I'm pretty sure hiring Davis filled two needs, the coaching director role and also a potential succession plan if things went awry. The club outperformed expectations massively and now he's looking around to see what's on offer elsewhere. Probably suffering from his own success a bit because if we'd missed finals this year, he'd already have a senior coaching role in 2026.

 

[MRB37]

Bit from the Age is interesting

The prevailing view is that the position of head of women’s football at the Crows could become available in the coming years should Phil Harper choose to retire, but Brock is circumspect about her future beyond this AFLW season. Crows boss Silvers said a thorough process would take place should Harper depart. However, the Lions appear resigned to the prospect of losing their pioneering women’s football boss.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I hope we have a Plan B in case David gets snapped up

It's not ideal though is it? That we need a permanent position specifically to hold Nicks's hand. That's soft cap that could be spent elsewhere if just let the mentor take the reigns instead.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

It's not ideal though is it? That we need a permanent position specifically to hold Nicks's hand. That's soft cap that could be spent elsewhere if just let the mentor take the reigns instead.

This is elsewhere.

Having good, experienced people in your coaching group is not necessarily a weakness of the head coach.

Chris Scott brought in James Rahilly
Hawks have Brett Ratten