Essendon need a big name coach to replace Knights

Essendon weren’t keen on wasting time yesterday when they sacked Matthew Knights a day after the final game of the season (just the third season of Knights’ reign). It was quick. It was ruthless. But in no way was it surprising.

There was an outside chance Knights would be given an extra year to prove himself – he was contracted until the end of 2012, after all – but the likeliness of him going had been increasing all season. Losing on Saturday night ensured the Bombers would finish 14th with only seven wins.

Things were never pretty off the field, either, with chairman David Evans in July famously failing to guarantee supporters Knights would see out his contract. Instead, he spoke glowingly of the club’s end of season review.

Club officials did not break from this stance when given the opportunity after those comments, which gave a fair hint a change in the coaches box was on the way.

Of course, some would say Knights was on a road to nowhere from the moment he arrived at Windy Hill.

Stepping into the shoes of the great Kevin Sheedy wasn’t going to be an easy assignment no matter who was given the job. The expectations of such a large supporter base, after the highs of the Sheedy era, were always going to be tough to meet.

While both Melbourne papers are reporting a severance payment in the vicinity of $1 million is likely, there was a cost attached to keeping him on as coach as well. This year’s membership figures attest to that.

The Bombers currently have nearly 17,000 less members than fellow powerhouse Collingwood.

And although the Pies can be accused of heavily promoting three-game memberships, something the Dons are yet to do, the gap would’ve almost unquestionably increased next year had Knights still been coach, judging by the frustration evident in Bomber fans this year.

So, in the end, even those who thought Knights wasn’t given enough time wouldn’t have been surprised by yesterday’s news. Most would at least have some understanding of why Essendon made the call they did.

Now, attention turns to finding a replacement.

Alan Richardson, development coach at the Bombers and candidate for Port Adelaide’s head coach position, is considered a decent chance. Dean Laidley and Neale Daniher, both former AFL coaches, may have a shot. James Hird, club champion, will find it hard to escape these discussions for a while yet.

Then there’s Mark Williams, the premiership-winning coach who parted with Port this year, rounding out the list of immediate options.

Given Knights was relatively unknown (as a coach at least) at the time of his appointment, going down a similar path again will have its difficulties. In the short-term, someone like Richardson would hardly be an easy sell to a supporter base already unhappy with where the club is at.

Beyond the short-term, you have to wonder if the club has the patience to deal with the hiccups that inevitably come with the majority of inexperienced coaches getting their first crack at it.

So someone like Williams makes a lot of sense. He has the experience to put the Bombers on the right track and wouldn’t be such a difficult sell to fans.

Of course, Hird has obvious appeal.

If he makes himself available, it’s hard to see the club go any other way. The only question mark, as I wrote not that long ago, is that he doesn’t quite tick the experience box like a Williams does. He will, however, have a pretty decent honeymoon period to work with.

For mine, the ideal set-up would be a Malthouse-Buckley-type partnership, with Williams handing over to Hird after a couple of seasons.

But, leaving aside wishful thinking like that, handing the reigns over to someone fans already recognise definitely has its appeal. After a season like this one, maybe it’s the only choice the Bombers have.

MATTHEW KNIGHTS
DOB: 7/10/70
* Former Richmond captain, played 279 matches for the Tigers 1988-2002
* Worked at Essendon under coach Kevin Sheedy, who was sacked in 2007 after 27 years in the job and four premierships.
* Knights took over as senior Bombers coach in 2008

2008 – 8 wins, 14 losses, 12th
2009 – 10 wins, 12 losses, 1 draw, 8th
2010 – 7-15, 14th

* Sacked as coach on August 29, a day after Essendon’s season ended.