The Warlord
RuSsIa iS BaD
- Aug 21, 2018
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- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
It is interesting how much impact Denis Pagan has had on the last decade of football - yet how little this has been commented on.
Of the premiers of the last decade, by my count, only three coaches haven't had direct personal experience playing or coaching with Pagan:
2019/17 - Richmond/Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick played under 19s under Pagan at North, then Pagan took him to Essendon in the year he coached the twos:
2018 - West Coast/Adam Simpson.
Simspon played in two premierships under Pagan, was a core member if the great Pagan teams. Simpson called Pagan for advice on the morning of the 2018 Grand Final
2016 - Western Bulldogs/Luke Beveridge
No playing or coaching link I know of.
2015/14/13 - Hawthorn/Alistair Clarkson.
Clarkson played under Pagan at North senior in 93/94/95 before being traded to Melbourne.
There's a hell of a lot in Clarko's approach to footy that can be seen in Pagan's attitude too - especially the "unsociable footy" stuff.
2012 - Sydney/John Longmire
Played in a premiership at North under Pagan, played under-19s under Pagan, Denis loved him and Longmire obviously learned from him.
2011 - Geelong, Chris Scotts
No link to Pagan I know of.
2009 - Geelong, Mark "Bomber" Thompson
Bomber was assistant under Pagan, including the 1999 flag, which no doubt helped him get appointed at Geelong the next year.
2010 - Collingwood/Mick Malthouse
No playing or coaching connection I can think of.
Now obviously Pagan had a bigger influence on some than others, and these are all very very effective men in their own right.
But it is undeniable that a key indicator of coaching success in the last decade has been working with Denis Pagan during your career.
Has the shitshow at Carlton really undermined his reputation that much? He's seen as very old school now, almost like a relic, yet the 2018 premiership coach, known for being right up at the cutting edge of coaching and "cultural" trends, rang him for advice the morning of the Grand Final.
Where does Denis Pagan's legacy sit?
Of the premiers of the last decade, by my count, only three coaches haven't had direct personal experience playing or coaching with Pagan:
2019/17 - Richmond/Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick played under 19s under Pagan at North, then Pagan took him to Essendon in the year he coached the twos:
"Then obviously I went and learned under Denis Pagan and spent a couple of years there, got delisted at North Melbourne, went to Springvale, had my jaw broken in my first game there in three places.
"Then I was very fortunate that Denis took me across to Essendon with him, at the highly-regarded pick of 87, I was that year in the draft."
2018 - West Coast/Adam Simpson.
Simspon played in two premierships under Pagan, was a core member if the great Pagan teams. Simpson called Pagan for advice on the morning of the 2018 Grand Final
Denis Pagan has opened up on the details of West Coast Eagles premiership coach Adam Simpson’s phone call on the morning of Saturday’s Grand Final.
Pagan coached Simpson when he was playing at North Melbourne, and the dual flag coach at the Kangaroos explained what was said during their chat.
“Adam Simpson rang me on Saturday morning,” Pagan told SEN Breakfast.
“It was more a parental, fatherly talk. We talked about 98 and how in 1998 we came in at half time and the staff were all excited, clapping and cheering, and I had to give them all a rocket to be quiet, shut up.
“We just spoke about that, how firm has he been with the boys and how he has changed from last year and those sort of things.
“It only went for four or five minutes and I wished him all the best.
Adam Simpson’s Grand Final morning phone call to Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan explains the chat he had with Adam Simpson on Saturday morning.
www.sen.com.au
2016 - Western Bulldogs/Luke Beveridge
No playing or coaching link I know of.
2015/14/13 - Hawthorn/Alistair Clarkson.
Clarkson played under Pagan at North senior in 93/94/95 before being traded to Melbourne.
There's a hell of a lot in Clarko's approach to footy that can be seen in Pagan's attitude too - especially the "unsociable footy" stuff.
2012 - Sydney/John Longmire
Played in a premiership at North under Pagan, played under-19s under Pagan, Denis loved him and Longmire obviously learned from him.
“He showed so much guts and determination when his body was giving up on him,” Pagan said.
“He probably thought he’d never get the chance to play in a premiership. I was so happy for him.
“Everything he has achieved at the Swans is a feather in his cap…he’s done a wonderful job.”
Longmire the leader
Dual premiership coach Denis Pagan never thought John Longmire, the player, fit the coaching “mould”.
www.sydneyswans.com.au
2011 - Geelong, Chris Scotts
No link to Pagan I know of.
2009 - Geelong, Mark "Bomber" Thompson
Bomber was assistant under Pagan, including the 1999 flag, which no doubt helped him get appointed at Geelong the next year.
Thanks also to Denis Pagan for giving me my first coaching opportunity outside the Bombers which was an incredibly worthwhile experience.
My story – Mark "Bomber" Thompson
bomberthompson.com
Denis Pagan employed him as an assistant at North Melbourne, having spotted something special when working under Kevin Sheedy at Essendon while Thompson was captain. ''When he spoke, people listened,'' Pagan says. ''Part of the reason was that he didn't talk all the time. He walks quietly but he carries a big stick, does Bomber. A lot of AFL coaches just run around waving their stick all the time.''
Bomber: one cool Cat
www.theage.com.au
2010 - Collingwood/Mick Malthouse
No playing or coaching connection I can think of.
Now obviously Pagan had a bigger influence on some than others, and these are all very very effective men in their own right.
But it is undeniable that a key indicator of coaching success in the last decade has been working with Denis Pagan during your career.
Has the shitshow at Carlton really undermined his reputation that much? He's seen as very old school now, almost like a relic, yet the 2018 premiership coach, known for being right up at the cutting edge of coaching and "cultural" trends, rang him for advice the morning of the Grand Final.
Where does Denis Pagan's legacy sit?
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