Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

[SydneyD]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Essential -rutless and street smart do anything to get the 4 points and obsessed with getting the club a premiership
As a long time supporter we have had 2 coaches only who had these characteristics -Goggin and Malthouse. Iwill give you a few examples Goggin in a game at Essendon swapped the jumper numbers of a few players (which was illegal at the time) to confuse the opposition -it worked a treat -we won by 100 points -kicked a record score. He also dropped Laurie Sandilands who was captain at the time for a couple of games .Goggin kept saying a premiership a Footscray premiership not 4th or 5th had to be the goal
With Malthouse he didnt care whose ego he pricked eg Hardie ,and he wouldnt play Beasley in the wet ,and from memory when he was at West Coast he also dropped his captain Malaxos from an entire finals campaign.

No more media savvy coaches (Eade and Wallace) we want some one who craves a premiership.

[the banker]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

There are only a very small handful of coaches that achieve ultimate success.
Malthouse Thompson Clarkson Roos Worsfold Williams Matthews - thats 7 in the past 10 years. They also coached quite a few runners up. Don't know how many others there were that failed - lots.

Rocket has had real success at the Dogs and I think he can still get a result with this group if they are on board. The Grant Thomas and Jason Akermanis comments are resonating with me. Have thought the leadership group has been weak for a while. Comments on by Aker on Gia and Cooney seem relevant even given Akers issues. Not knowing but Brian Lakes attitude seems a problem?

If there is dissention amongst the leadership group and Rocket, they need to talk it out and move on quickly. Or those with an issue should give up their leadership role and concentrate on tehir own games.

[soupman]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

With these 6 we just couldn't turn that many guys over so based on form/injuries and our secession plan who knows. In order I would retire

Hahn, Gilbee, Cross, Hudson, Hall, Murphy

Pretty harsh on Murphy. Would probably be winning our B&F atm. Cross is the other harsh one, but i understand the justification with him, especially when you consider the mixture of similiar players at the club (hard at it one paced players like Boyd, Addison, Ward, Reid, Liberatore).

Also we should go out and get a true leader before a new coach, someone that demands the team do the right thing just like J.Brown, I have been concerned with things I heard about the likes of Higgins promised leadership roles, Cooney to me isn't a good fit either.

But realistically where do you find another Jonathan Brown? How many are in the entire league? There would be barely any. I agree that I would love a leader of the ilk of Brown, but you can't just go out and "recruit" one.

[Doc26]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Although I'm not necessarily advocating for a change of coach I do advocate for a change in our leadership culture across the board.

Should Rodney take sole responsibility for all of this ? I don't think so although that's not to say he may now inadvertantly be playing some part in the cultural issue. I do feel it would be short sighted and narrow minded to simply change the coach as the panacea to our fall when there are more systemic issues regarding broader leadership, list management and development that has been going on for many years.

Cultural and leadership issues aside I am concerned with our inability to play with intent to the modern game plan. The injuries to key players has not helped our cause but it is concerning how amateurish we have looked trying to handball our way out and generally cope with Collingwood's and West Coast's press. This is an area that Rodney should take responsibility for.

If we must entertain a change to our coaching panel I would be giving Scott Burns a call as he has been able to get his troops engaged and with great discipline to the modern game plan. Getting him though will be no easy task as I suspect Buckley probably has him high on his shopping list.

[Greystache]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

But realistically where do you find another Jonathan Brown? How many are in the entire league? There would be barely any. I agree that I would love a leader of the ilk of Brown, but you can't just go out and "recruit" one.

St Kilda did, they went out and bought Aaron Hamil, who they credit for turning around their on field culture. Not saying it's easy, or that there's even a candidate around at the moment, but it can be done.

[ratsmac]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

There have been several ex players who have made the transition to coach of the club they played with..

John Worsfold
James Hird - 8 games doesnt make a trend
Dean Laidley
Brett Rattern

I could coach Carlton with that many number 1 draft picks.

What is your critique of Rodney Eade comrade.... most would say successful.. and indeed our most successful... does that mean he 'deserves' the remainder of the season to turn our ship... will history prove as harsh on rocket as it currently proves on these three in your eyes?

There seems to be a feeling amongst the posts that is is too early to react, and too harsh on rocket to pull up stumps before season end. I particularly do not agree with those assessments as I have made clear throughout my brief posting history on this site. But I don't want to keep repeating my thoughts.. the fact that I have tried to start this dialogue shows where my views lay.. and they are not with Rodney...
Whilst i'm at it.. I also do not believe that Smorgon's apology is justified yesterday.. it comes across as a sign of weakness in my book... why does it need to be communicated? it will serve as marker for the press and nothing more.. poor leadership in my eyes..maybe I might think differently in a few days.. but at present I would much rather see actions, see some direction, see some heart.. see some counter press intiatives.. and no longer have to hear words and excuses from Rocket and Smorgo.. it is beginning to remind me of Plough's exit at Richmond where he talked about process every 5 minutes.. will be an interesting month ahead... looking forward to it serving as turning point nonetheless...

I would like to see Rocket continue as coach. I believe that he has tried to win a premiership with this group by tweaking and adding some quality players along the journey. His plans didn't work but so didn't 15 other coaches every season! He is a intelligent coach who may have to rebuild the list and deserves another crack at it. It took Mick Malthouse 10 years to win a premiership at Collingwood. Yes they made two previous grand finals but it took 7 years of rebuilding the team to finally win it. We have been pretty close to making the GF too. Eade can coach and there is no doubt about that. He is our most successful couch to date without winning the big one. Why get another coach who might make us go backwards rather than forward. Eade wants a premiership just as much as you and me. We have had some well documented changes to our team this season and it might be one step back to take two steps forward.

It's a delicate decision that needs to be made but I'm still strongly in Eade's corner.

[Kelso @ Mt Eliza]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Have thought the leadership group has been weak for a while. Comments on by Aker on Gia and Cooney seem relevant even given Akers issues. Not knowing but Brian Lakes attitude seems a problem?

If there is dissention amongst the leadership group and Rocket, they need to talk it out and move on quickly. Or those with an issue should give up their leadership role and concentrate on tehir own games.

Agree with these comments.... i was told by a 'source' that Rocket and Brian had a falling out after the Collingwood game.. and that his playing for Williamstown banishment was more to do with attitude reasons, and far less to do with form as was reported in the media at the time...

I would hope that if this is indeed true, that it was addressed soon after and not left to fester.. there has been plenty made of Brian's attitude... but what if he is not an orphan here.. and what his his side if indeed this rumour and inuendo is near true...

Also... strongly disagree with some posts against Bob Murphy... he has been a shining light to date this season and has really turned it around... have to say I am now a big Bob Murphy fan.. even Gilbee is worthy of a further chance to prove his worth... Gia, Hudson & Grant however... must be banished to willy...
also... am I alone to think that J.Hill is being harsly dealt with? his form does not seem to warrant the in and out nature of his spot in the team.. I would perservere with him on a HBF, Wing or HFF and allow him freedom to create..

[Greystache]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Agree with these comments.... i was told by a 'source' that Rocket and Brian had a falling out after the Collingwood game.. and that his playing for Williamstown banishment was more to do with attitude reasons, and far less to do with form as was reported in the media at the time...

I would hope that if this is indeed true, that it was addressed soon after and not left to fester.. there has been plenty made of Brian's attitude... but what if he is not an orphan here.. and what his his side if indeed this rumour and inuendo is near true...

Also... strongly disagree with some posts against Bob Murphy... he has been a shining light to date this season and has really turned it around... have to say I am now a big Bob Murphy fan.. even Gilbee is worthy of a further chance to prove his worth... Gia, Hudson & Grant however... must be banished to willy...
also... am I alone to think that J.Hill is being harsly dealt with? his form does not seem to warrant the in and out nature of his spot in the team.. I would perservere with him on a HBF, Wing or HFF and allow him freedom to create..

Outside of a 6 goal one off game up forward Gilbee's form for the last 18 months has been abysmal. With better list management, fewer injuries, or stronger selection decisions he'd be playing at Willi.

[Kelso @ Mt Eliza]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Outside of a 6 goal one off game up forward Gilbee's form for the last 18 months has been abysmal. With better list management, fewer injuries, or stronger selection decisions he'd be playing at Willi.

Fair call - I stand corrected after some thought.. perhaps the Richmond game has made me lighten my appraisal.. truth be told I was keen to have him up as trade bait at the end of last year along with Gia in the hope of luring some draft picks from GC... having said that though... I was also not upset when we retained them since I believed we were at 11.47PM on the premiership clock... seems we forgot to allow for daylight savings...

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Essential -rutless and street smart do anything to get the 4 points and obsessed with getting the club a premiership
As a long time supporter we have had 2 coaches only who had these characteristics -Goggin and Malthouse. Iwill give you a few examples Goggin in a game at Essendon swapped the jumper numbers of a few players (which was illegal at the time) to confuse the opposition -it worked a treat -we won by 100 points -kicked a record score. He also dropped Laurie Sandilands who was captain at the time for a couple of games .Goggin kept saying a premiership a Footscray premiership not 4th or 5th had to be the goal
With Malthouse he didnt care whose ego he pricked eg Hardie ,and he wouldnt play Beasley in the wet ,and from memory when he was at West Coast he also dropped his captain Malaxos from an entire finals campaign.

No more media savvy coaches (Eade and Wallace) we want some one who craves a premiership.

We will never succeed as long as we are not prepared to drop any underperforming players, without reservation, if needed and that means ANYONE - even Cross / Boyd etc.

[Mantis]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Agree with these comments.... i was told by a 'source' that Rocket and Brian had a falling out after the Collingwood game.. and that his playing for Williamstown banishment was more to do with attitude reasons, and far less to do with form as was reported in the media at the time...

Without burning your source are you able to shed any light on the 'falling out'?

I guess I'm interested in knowing more about the supposed attitude problems.

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Without burning your source are you able to shed any light on the 'falling out'?

I guess I'm interested in knowing more about the supposed attitude problems.

I will tell you one thing, Greystache and I watched training two weeks ago and Brian looked way out of shape. He had a session with one of the coaches running up and down, about 100m back and forth, with Hall. They didn't push themselves but Brian could barely run. Wood and Higgins also did the same and they looked good.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

also... am I alone to think that J.Hill is being harsly dealt with? his form does not seem to warrant the in and out nature of his spot in the team.. I would perservere with him on a HBF, Wing or HFF and allow him freedom to create..

Not alone at all.

How Hill gets dropped and Stack is allowed to play on and have his confidence completely killed is remarkable.

[Mofra]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

How Hill gets dropped and Stack is allowed to dish up that sort of garbage week after week without consequence is remarkable.

Hill was much worse than Stack against Richmond and wouldn't have been in our bottom 10 against West Coast.

[Doc26]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

I will tell you one thing, Greystache and I watched training two weeks ago and Brian looked way out of shape. He had a session with one of the coaches running up and down, about 100m back and forth, with Hall. They didn't push themselves but Brian could barely run. Wood and Higgins also did the same and they looked good.

As we all know he had three fairly significant back to back operations over the pre season. I'm not sure we're really giving Brian enough credit and respect here. I fear there is a production line mentality going on with his recovery timeline.

Although it is hurting us now as we desperately want him to return in all his glory, I'd prefer we err on the side of letting Brian know how how his body is fairing post op rather than having to swallow the line that 'all players play through injury', that he should be somehow pushing through it harder.

Absolutely, lets encourage him to regain his fitness and confidence but I'm struggling to condemn him for his lack of progress.