Senior Assistant Coach Brett Montgomery departs the kennel

[Throughandthrough]

Why wouldn't we? The reasons provided for his departure don't appear to fit.

Maybe he glassed Zaine Cordy in a drunken fit of rage?

[LostDoggy]

Just been reading that Assistant Coaches must have their contracts renewed by July 31 if they are going to be retained for the following year. Peter Sumich departed Freo, effective immediately, a day or two before Monty left us. Given the timing, this seems a probable course of events.

[Axe Man]

Moves on Sumich, Montgomery doesn't concern AFLCA

THE AFL Coaches Association is not concerned by decisions from Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs to send departing assistant coaches on gardening leave before the end of the season.

Dockers assistant Peter Sumich was last week stood down with four matches to play after notifying the club he would be exploring other opportunities.

On Wednesday the Western Bulldogs followed suit, releasing senior assistant Brett Montgomery from his contract to allow him "more time to start planning for the next phase of his career".

It is understood it was the choice of both clubs – rather than the respective assistants – for them to finish early instead of seeing out the season, and in the Bulldogs' case a finals campaign.

Both coaches were initially offered the opportunity to stay, but the two clubs then changed their minds.

Last season 25 assistant coaches left their clubs, with 18 moving to a new AFL home. Seven did not find new clubs.

All were aware by July or August that they would be finishing at the end of the season but stayed on until the end of the season.

The AFLCA expects another 20 assistant coaches to move clubs this year.

CEO Mark Brayshaw said Sumich and Montgomery were "outliers" and their clubs' decision to stand them down was not a reason for concern for the rest of the industry.

"Both are Level Four coaches and the market for their services is hot at the moment, so their clubs decided to send them on gardening leave," Brayshaw told AFL.com.au.

"The Coaches Association’s advice to every coach who gets bad news in the lead-up to August 1 is simple – work as hard and professionally as you can until your clubs’ season ends, so that your reputation is not tarnished."

All assistant coaches who are coming out of contract are told of their contract status for the following year by August 1.

According to one senior coach, it is a date that sees a bomb go off in the industry, sparking a flurry of interviews in the final month of the season.

There are concerns in the coaching industry that the decisions by Fremantle and the Bulldogs could see more clubs walking their departing coaches out after the August 1 deadline.

Brayshaw said the reason for the early deadline was the timing of the AFL's financial year, which ends on October 31.

"If a coach’s contract is not extended, come the 1st August the clock is ticking and he or she has three months to find another job to pay the bills," Brayshaw said.

"To hold off notifying a coach until, say, late September, risks putting the coach and his family in harm’s way, without enough time to find a new job.

"This is especially challenging for coaches outside Melbourne due to the scarcity of AFL Employers."

[Twodogs]

That's close to the least interesting article I've ever read.

[Remi Moses]

Why wouldn't we? The reasons provided for his departure don't appear to fit.

The criteria is they have to be told by July 31 if they're going to be re-contracted .
I'd be thinking Monty's been told he's not going to be renewed, hence he's now started looking for alternate coaching .
It's unusual, but it's what the coaches association wanted

[ratsmac]

The club probably told him that we need his full attention come finals and we can't have him applying for any senior coaching roles should any become available. If that is what you think you might do it's better you leave now to avoid any un-wanted distraction during finals for the club. And given the fact that Monty has ambitions to be a senior coach he has left.

[Bulldog4life]

He might even go to the Suns under Rocket and be involved in a hand over in a couple of years like Melbourne has done with Goodwin.

[LostDoggy]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...11-gqqned.html

Caroline Wilson's take.

[Bulldog4life]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...11-gqqned.html

Caroline Wilson's take.

Loves having a go at our Club.

[jeemak]

The headline isn't reflective of the content, it's clear she curries no favour at Whitten Oval and receives no preferential treatment from the club over others of her ilk, leaving shit on her liver.

[KT31]

The headline isn't reflective of the content, it's clear she curries no favour at Whitten Oval and receives no preferential treatment from the club over others of her ilk, leaving shit on her liver.

Its not the liver her shits spewing from.

[Twodogs]

Its not the liver her shits spewing from.

Not the only spot anyway.

Meanwhile, Brenton Sanderson is reportedly about to leave his AFL academy coaching role to take up an assistant coaching position at Collingwood. The Magpies are set to part ways with recent Hall of Fame inductee Ben Hart who has worked with Nathan Buckley for the past five years.

Port Adelaide will also make changes to its coaching line up.

Regardless of Justin Leppitsch's future at least three of his assistants – Simon Black, Gary O'Donnell and Shane Woewodin – look certain to depart the Lions. At Richmond senior development coach Mark Williams and Damien Hardwick's long-time assistant Brendon Lade, along with forwards coach Greg Mellor, have all been told they could not be guaranteed contracts for next year.

But Richmonmd sacking their assistants is OK? As is Collingwood changing their coaching panel before the end of the season. And Brisbane aren't despotic for sacking THREE assistants?

Cut the biased bullshit Caro. Step up into the real world where not everyone agrees all the time with whatever you reckon is a fair deal.

[The Underdog]

The difference of course being that none of the other teams she mentions are about to play finals.
I'm not sure there's anything in her article that isn't fairly close to the mark.

[bornadog]

Monty has put up his hand for the Lions job as has Sumich.

[bulldogtragic]

Monty has put up his hand for the Lions job as has Sumich.

Well that all makes sense. The club has allowed him to chase it with 100% commitment, and not be even slightly distracted in finals if he were to stay.