Paul Couch on Open Mike

[Sttew]

What an enlightening interview! Here's what I learnt:

1. The players despised John Devine, but only Couch and Gavin Exell had the "balls" to tell him so to his face when Devine confronted the team.
2. In 1993 Blight admitted to the team he had cost them the year by over-experimenting with placements.
3. Of the 4 grand finals in which he played, 1992 was THE one the Cats should have won. They didn't know what they were doing in 1989, were smashed by a "bigger" team in 1994 and beaten by THE best in 1995.
4. Couch insinuated (and Mike seemed to agree) that by 1994 the WCE players had bulked up to the point that questions were asked what they were on!
5. Couch "respected" Ayres, but had little else to say about him!

 

[Beth]

I loved the garbologist. Ill have to watch the replay of this one.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

The players despised John Devine, but only Couch and Gavin Exell had the "balls" to tell him so to his face when Devine confronted the team.

This is so true when you work in any organisation and have an arseh*le boss, or the place is terrible to work in. Everyone will bitch and moan but when there's a chance to say something suddenly everyone's seems to love the place/boss in question. Often leaving some poor sucker looking like an idiot because he thought he was just saying what everyone thinks. I've learnt that life lesson the hard way I can tell you.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Damn fine player - one of my favorites from that era.
Was very candid - loved the comment about Buddhas eyes and "all he wanted to do was belt people"
The 3/4 time footage of Devine was priceless !!

 

[Sttew]

This is so true when you work in any organisation and have an arseh*le boss, or the place is terrible to work in. Everyone will bitch and moan but when there's a chance to say something suddenly everyone's seems to love the place/boss in question. Often leaving some poor sucker looking like an idiot because he thought he was just saying what everyone thinks. I've learnt that life lesson the hard way I can tell you.

On the buses?

 

[dazbroncos]

I loved the garbologist. Ill have to watch the replay of this one.

linky pls…

Go Catters

 

[Beth]

linky pls…

Go Catters

Im a luddite Ill wait for the replay on Fox!

 

[Partridge]

Damn fine player - one of my favorites from that era.
Was very candid - loved the comment about Buddhas eyes and "all he wanted to do was belt people"
The 3/4 time footage of Devine was priceless !!

If it was the famous footage of Devine shaking his fist, that was three quarter time of his VERY FIRST GAME. Hardly Devine's fault that Hafey, Williams, Bolton and Toohey all left either.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

If it was the famous footage of Devine shaking his fist, that was three quarter time of his VERY FIRST GAME. Hardly Devine's fault that Hafey, Williams, Bolton and Toohey all left either.

That was probably it Partridge
Looked like a madman to be honest , don't mind a well measured bake but this was out of control and if it was his first game then how do you change it up from there?
I once heard Barassi at a Leadership Seminar about 8 years after Coaching - he ranted and raved and just seemed irrelevant to his audience.
Everyone has a use by date unless they can re-invent themselves I guess.

 

[Partridge]

That was probably it Partridge
Looked like a madman to be honest , don't mind a well measured bake but this was out of control and if it was his first game then how do you change it up from there?
I once heard Barassi at a Leadership Seminar about 8 years after Coaching - he ranted and raved and just seemed irrelevant to his audience.
Everyone has a use by date unless they can re-invent themselves I guess.

Yeah, but to be fair, it was 1986. He wasn't the only one. It was still the era where ex-players were plucked from nowhere to be senior coaches. Over a year later we annihilated North at the MCG (it was the game where David Cameron kicked 8 goals), and apparently Devine gave pretty much the same 'hot gospelling' talk before the game. Only difference was that time it worked.

Very different era, it's pretty hard if not impossible to judge one way or the other how good they were. I haven't watched Couch's interview yet, but I'll admit I am wary about some of the '80s/'90s players and their opinions.

 

[Turbocat]

If it was the famous footage of Devine shaking his fist, that was three quarter time of his VERY FIRST GAME. Hardly Devine's fault that Hafey, Williams, Bolton and Toohey all left either.

I dont know for sure , been told Devine was asked to help out for basically zip due to our financial situation. I think he may have struggled for a generation gap , and they just didn't respond to his approach yet for mine , its not far of what Barrassi would be known for. Lacked reputation. It sort of like Macca at the Dogs , compared to a Matthews or even a Chris Scott at Geelong , hands up who dares question them.

 

[Son_Of_God29]

Couchy should be in The Hall of Fame

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

John Devine was/is a very very average human being.

 

[Sttew]

I dont know for sure , been told Devine was asked to help out for basically zip due to our financial situation. I think he may have struggled for a generation gap , and they just didn't respond to his approach yet for mine , its not far of what Barrassi would be known for. Lacked reputation. It sort of like Macca at the Dogs , compared to a Matthews or even a Chris Scott at Geelong , hands up who dares question them.

He moved from Tasmania, and had been out of football for some time as I recall. In the modern era you would have called him well past his use-by date

 

[Sttew]

John Devine was/is a very very average human being.

Amazing then that Malcolm Blight was "book-ended" by Devine and Ayres, two of the least popular coaches ever at Geelong

 

[Whit3y]

a great player for the cats

pity his media and political career didnt go as great

 

[Bobby_]

posted this episode in our YouTube thread

 

[David the Cat]

don't know about him being an average human being, but Devine was one hell of a player. Was a critical element of one of Geelong's great half back lines, and was untouchable during that particular era.

Johnny Devine…..Peter Walker…...Stuart Lord ... That line won us a Premiership…( tho one G Farmer, and his mate W Goggin also contributed )

 

[allrighty]

That was probably it Partridge
Looked like a madman to be honest , don't mind a well measured bake but this was out of control and if it was his first game then how do you change it up from there?
I once heard Barassi at a Leadership Seminar about 8 years after Coaching - he ranted and raved and just seemed irrelevant to his audience.
Everyone has a use by date unless they can re-invent themselves I guess.

Had two mates played plenty under Barassi and said after while you just switch off and stop listening.

 

[FredLeDeux]

don't know about him being an average human being, but Devine was one hell of a player. Was a critical element of one of Geelong's great half back lines, and was untouchable during that particular era.

Johnny Devine…..Peter Walker…...Stuart Lord ... That line won us a Premiership…( tho one G Farmer, and his mate W Goggin also contributed )

Peter Walker's continuing omission from our Team of the Century is a blot on the Club's history.

 

[Partridge]

Had two mates played plenty under Barassi and said after while you just switch off and stop listening.

Yep. That's why I've never been too harsh about Devine, it was a poorly thought out appointment, and he'd spent far too long out of the game. Barassi had less excuse as he was involved the whole time.

Or the older truism for both simply rings true - players make coaches. When Barassi had superstar teams at Carlton and North he won flags, when he didn't at Melbourne and Sydney he won wooden spoons.

 

[year of the cat]

don't know about him being an average human being, but Devine was one hell of a player. Was a critical element of one of Geelong's great half back lines, and was untouchable during that particular era.

Johnny Devine…..Peter Walker…...Stuart Lord ... That line won us a Premiership…( tho one G Farmer, and his mate W Goggin also contributed )

My father thought he was one of the toughest players he ever saw play the game.

 

[sarah.13]

Couchy great player.. Fantastic bloke.

 

[Partridge]

My father thought he was one of the toughest players he ever saw play the game.

So did (and does) mine.

 

[goyoucatters]

don't know about him being an average human being, but Devine was one hell of a player. Was a critical element of one of Geelong's great half back lines, and was untouchable during that particular era.

Johnny Devine…..Peter Walker…...Stuart Lord ... That line won us a Premiership…( tho one G Farmer, and his mate W Goggin also contributed )

To this day, my Dad still prefaces almost any comment on our selected team from week to week with, "like the look of that half-back line".