Mark Robinson From: Herald Sun July 05, 2011 10:20am
If THE Western Bulldogs are looking for a coach, the search is already over.
Rodney Eade should be reappointed, if not soon then certainly at the end of the season.
Before the whackos start shrilling about Eade being a media darling, those same whackos clamouring for Eade's head should start analysing what Eade is accomplishing in the final year of his contract.
Facts first, Eade is a very good coach.
His overall win/loss record is 168 wins and 137 losses, including three preliminary finals.
In movie-speak, three times he has been invited to the Oscars, while most of the rest have been forced to settle for the Logies.
So season 2011 should not be singular on the minds of Bulldogs officials.
If it is, bare in mind the injury list, the selection of next generation players and the evolution of game strategy, ie, the defensive press, that seemingly has found strength and consistency over the past six weeks.
Eade is not Bambi, however.
While the rest of the football world, save for Melbourne, were imploring the press, Eade was reluctant, believing he had the personnel to win the premiership. Personnel and strategy wins flags, not personnel alone, and Eade has rectified that.
The Bulldogs have won their past three matches, and before that scrapped itself to a 24-point loss against the Saints.
Friday night's win against Melbourne was the best consistent, four-quarter effort of the season.
So, strategy is slowly becoming a tick.
Importantly, attitude has propelled Eade to new levels of respect.
In an expansive interview on SEN on Saturday, Eade spoke about personal development in crisis.
At Sydney, crisis led to savage condemnation of his players and he was rail-roaded out of town, and replaced by Cool Hand Luke - Paul Roos.
This time round, Eade has shown he has learnt by his mistakes.
Clearly, it's Cool Hand Rocket.
He's even cooled on his criticism of Brian Lake, who might be his most important player and who might not play seniors again this year.
Then there's the rest of the players.
Not that they should be calling the shots in times of coaching appointments, but they are firmly in Eade's corner. Radio and newspaper interviews are telling. Each to a man they are saying the coach is educating, encouraging and developing.
What else can they say? Well, they could say it's up to the club to the make the decision and leave it be. But they aren't. It's a plus for the coach.
Along this hellish highway called 2011, Eade has exposed his playing list: Skinner, Schofield, Mulligan, Dahlhaus, Howard, Wallis, Barlow, Djerrkura, Reid, Markovic, Liberatore and Jones have made their debuts or have been given extended playing time.
It's a plus for the football club.
It is said the Bulldogs have lacked leadership in the past, but it's that quality shining from Eade's office at the moment.
He knows Whitten Oval needs a renovation, not a complete overhaul, and he is strong with his direction as coach.
Of course, the Bulldogs don't owe him anything, other than honesty and a common-sense approach.
And if they are honest and have common sense, their next coach is already in the building.