Terry Wheeler

[OldSchool]

Just read an article that Terry Wheeler is no longer the coach of the AIS/AFL footballers. He is a terrific bloke and it would be great to get him back at the Bulldogs in some capacity.

Wheeler:

 

[The Doctor]

Just read an article that Terry Wheeler is no longer the coach of the AIS/AFL footballers. He is a terrific bloke and it would be great to get him back at the Bulldogs in some capacity.

Wheeler:

I'd love to see Wheels back at the Bulldogs. He would be a fantastic addition. Surely there could be a place for him as a match committee man or as a specialist coach. Look at the great work he done in recent years preparing talented kids for AFL level. So having him continue to work with our elite juniors like Griffen,Williams, Ray, Cooney, Wells et al and some of those who have been in the system a bit longer but need a little more guidance would be so invaluable.

And he's a real Bulldog!

 

[scooter600x]

I thought it was wierd the way he went from being a super coach in '92 to a Peter Rohde standard dud in '93.

He should have been sacked at the end of '93 or after losing to Sydney (who had one a game in about 2 years) in the Wizard (whatever it was called then) Cup.

 

[mjp]

It is strange he has left the AIS - less than 6-months ago he was interviewing new strength and conditioning guys for the AIS program...if he was on the outer, you would think he would have been off the panel back then...

I wonder what happened?

 

[Derek Zoolander]

I thought it was wierd the way he went from being a super coach in '92 to a Peter Rohde standard dud in '93.

He should have been sacked at the end of '93 or after losing to Sydney (who had one a game in about 2 years) in the Wizard (whatever it was called then) Cup.

You've got to be kidding. On what grounds would you have sacked him? What stands out as the major problem he had in 93 that makes you so sure he should have been given his marching orders?

 

[Leon]

You've got to be kidding. On what grounds would you have sacked him? What stands out as the major problem he had in 93 that makes you so sure he should have been given his marching orders?

I've always assumed Wheeler's sacking was more to do with his relationship with the administration at the time rather than his form as a coach, i.e indifferences over Wheeler's style with the players and issues over the captaincy.

I do admit I was surprised when Wheeler got shown the door, but to be honest, at the time I was also beginning to have doubts over whether he could take the club to further success, so I was not too unhappy about it.

 

[scooter600x]

You've got to be kidding. On what grounds would you have sacked him? What stands out as the major problem he had in 93 that makes you so sure he should have been given his marching orders?

I can't remember specifics but I remember being seriously ********ed with him. Had a fair bit to do with Brad Nicholson I think.

 

[OldSchool]

I can't remember specifics but I remember being seriously ********ed with him. Had a fair bit to do with Brad Nicholson I think.

I'm not aware of any problem with Nicholson and Wheeler. From memory both he and Ellis were pre-season draftees in 93.
What's the connection with Nicholson and Wheeler?

 

[scooter600x]

I'm not aware of any problem with Nicholson and Wheeler. From memory both he and Ellis we pre-season draftees in 93.
What's the connection with Nicholson and Wheeler?

He kept playing him full back when he was about 186cm and slower than me.

 

[OldSchool]

He kept playing him full back when he was about 186cm and slower than me.

I remember when both he and Ellis arrived at the club and both played in few trial games at Skinner reserve. Ellis was on a wing and was very skinny. Nicholson acquitted himself reasonably well. Must have played 30 plus senior games before he was let go.

 

[Derek Zoolander]

He kept playing him full back when he was about 186cm and slower than me.

You have very strong views on this, yet the arguements you use are somewhat weak. I mean, it's your opinion, so it would be harsh of me to say you're right or wrong, but surely there's more to it than "Brad Nicholson played full back".

 

[Ching]

I thought the effort v Geelong at Kardinia just before he got sacked was woeful. He really had no answers for Geelong's style in that game or in finals.
I thought he was pushing some sort of product/service to the players and that him put against the admin.

It was a bit harsh.

 

[Derek Zoolander]

I thought the effort v Geelong at Kardinia just before he got sacked was woeful. He really had no answers for Geelong's style in that game or in finals.

No doubt about it, the game at Kadinia Park stands out of me because it was my first game i'd ever saw there after years of begging my Dad to take me. After the game he vowed and decleared he'd never go back. (Thankfully, i managed to convince him to go there for our first win vs Geelong in 25 years).

Gordan was looking for an excuse to give Wheels the flick and he found it with that game. (Were we 1 - 1 at the point? Something tells me we won the first game of that year?)

The fact we went on to make finals that year says to me that we could have still under Wheeler. He was a coach that most loved. Only one who wanted to touch us after 89 and a Bulldog through and through. Also, he has never taken another job, even after being approached to put himself forward, and working at the VIS says that he's obviously got the smarts but is a Bulldog man. He never wanted to coach anyone else.

If Gordan was fair dinkum about sacking coaches after thumpings, Joyce would have been given the arse after Round 1 96, or at least Round 2 96. Two of the worst beating i have ever seen. I still remember the numb feeling i had after Nth beat us to the tune of 131 (or something similar) points. Of course, Round 2 96 was his third big beating in a row after we got done by Melbourne in the Semi Final the year before.

Wheels was a victim of Gordans ego.

 

[scooter600x]

You have very strong views on this, yet the arguements you use are somewhat weak. I mean, it's your opinion, so it would be harsh of me to say you're right or wrong, but surely there's more to it than "Brad Nicholson played full back".

Sure, but it was 12 years ago.

I'm sure in 12 years I'll remember how bad Rohde was but when someone asks me why I don't think I'll be able to give answers then, either.

 

[Guido]

I thought it was wierd the way he went from being a super coach in '92 to a Peter Rohde standard dud in '93.

'93 season:

11 wins, 9 losses.

2.5 wins off top spot.

Convincingly beat both Grand Finalists during the season.

And not to forget that you couldn't script a worse draw (played most of the finalists twice, only got to play the bottom 4 teams once). Wheeler would have to be right up there for the stiffest coach in the modern era.

 

[Pembleton]

Wheeler would have to be right up there for the stiffest coach in the modern era.

My take on it too.

 

[lachy]

It was thought Wheeler lost the players with the Sky Diving episode and its relationship to football. It was also thought his gameplan was ordinary and the players had no confidence in it.

Rightly or wrongly the team did improve under Alan Joyce for the first year.

Personally I thought Wheeler was and still could be an excellent assistant and development coach with the dogs.

 

[OldSchool]

Personally I thought Wheeler was and still could be an excellent assistant and development coach with the dogs.

I think he could perform a number of duties very well for the Doggies. I have a lot of respect for Wheeler.

 

[scooter600x]

I think he could perform a number of duties very well for the Doggies. I have a lot of respect for Wheeler.

Don't get me wrong, so do I. I just thought there was an enormous difference in his coaching between '92 & '93.

Joyce was a fabulous 'right now' coach who didn't care one iota about what happened the next year.

 

[OldSchool]

Don't get me wrong, so do I. I just thought there was an enormous difference in his coaching between '92 & '93.

Joyce was a fabulous 'right now' coach who didn't care one iota about what happened the next year.

I didn't take what you said as any shot at Wheeler at all. It was just a reflection of how you think he performed as a coach during that time.

I think someone like Wheeler could still offer the club a fair bit given his experiences.

 

[The Doctor]

I think someone like Wheeler could still offer the club a fair bit given his experiences.

well some team is bound to snap him up. He's too good to be on the loose for too long.

Surely we could find a role for him.

 

[starz]

Same i would also like to see him back at the club after Wallis&Wallace stabbed him in the back.

 

[OldSchool]

Same i would also like to see him back at the club after Wallis&Wallace stabbed him in the back.

Can you elaborate on why you believe both Steve and Terry had something to do with him being sacked ?

 

[lachy]

Can you elaborate on why you believe both Steve and Terry had something to do with him being sacked ?

I think he is confusing the sacking of Alan Joyce with that of Terry Wheeler.

 

[OldSchool]

I think he is confusing the sacking of Alan Joyce with that of Terry Wheeler.

Thats what I initially thought but it's was worth clarifying.