The first wave of pre-season games are almost upon us, and do you know what that means? Rankings!
Today, I will join the ranks of these people and rank the AFL coaches from best to worst, despite my own coaching experience extending to assistant coaching my cousin’s under nines game a few years ago (I’m probably still a bit overqualified).
Anyway, let’s get on with the list.
I’ve declined to rank the four first time coaches coming into this season because I haven’t seen any actual head coaching out of them, and ranking them would be unfair.
You can still group these new coaches into three areas: the highly touted fresh-faces (Adam Simpson and Leon Cameron), the experienced assistant finally getting his crack at the big time (Alan Richardson) and the ‘Oh man we shouldn’t have fired the last coach, quick hire someone who has the same exact background’ (Justin Leppitsch).
It will be interesting to see how these four will go, with my money on Simpson being the best coach of the lot, and Leppitsch in real trouble with a group of young players who’d rather play in Kalgoorlie than in Brisbane.
The two coaches returning after a leave of absence – Paul Roos and Mark Thompson – also weren’t ranked, mainly due to our lack of knowledge about how much Thompson will be controlling things and how much Roos actually cares after basically confessing he wants out of the job as soon as possible in his introductory press conference.
Anyways, on with the actual list:
12: Brad Scott – North Melbourne (record: 89 games – 45 wins, 44 losses)
For North Melbourne supporters, the future looks bright: the financial issues that once dogged the club seem to have dissipated, they have a young squad with a bright future, along with several older players to provide leadership, and an assistant coaching ‘dream team’ brought along in the off-season.
Their weakness lies in coach Brad Scott, whose coaching performance in close games last season was historically bad, as he managed to lead a team with a midfield containing Daniel Wells, Ryan Bastinac, Jack Ziebell and Andrew Swallow to lose 10 games by less than 20 points, several of which were lost in the games’ final moments.
As much as you can blame the umpires, unimaginable player errors and a sinister conspiracy by the Etihad Stadium officials to keep the roof open for the Roos’ losses, at some point the blame has to shift to the coach for not getting his team in a position to realise the final quarter doesn’t end after 15 minutes.
11: Guy McKenna – Gold Coast (record: 66 games – 14 wins, 52 losses)
The hardest person on this list to rank, as no one really has any clue about how well the Suns should’ve done these past few years.
They looked better in their first two years than the Giants did, but then again, the Giants don’t have Gary Ablett Junior to rack up 50 disposals, three goals and 300 commentator comparisons to his father per game.
The Suns looked on the right track last year, but do we even have any idea what the track is meant to look like?
Should a club built from the ground up and made up of mostly teenagers be contending by now, and McKenna is the horrible coach holding them back, or should they have been so scarred by the constant floggings that they’ve stopped caring, and only McKenna’s amazing work has kept the Suns from turning into the Demons?
I don’t think McKenna is a really bad coach, but I don’t think he’s a particularly good one either.
The eight wins the Suns got last year seems about right, but I give more credit to Ablett single-handedly winning at least three of those matches than I do to McKenna.
A finals appearance this year may be enough to convince doubters of his coaching skills.
10: Nathan Buckley – Collingwood (record: 48 games – 31 wins, 17 losses)
I rated the Collingwood teams of the last two years very highly, not quite as highly as I rated the Hawks, but still very high.
And why wouldn’t I? They had a midfield containing Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas, Dayne Beams and Luke Ball, as well as the best big marking forward in the game in Travis Cloke.
Nathan Buckley inherited a team unlike anything a first time coach has ever dealt with, and he’s done poorly with them.
Most first coaches start with a team in the doldrums, having sacked or forced their coach to resign due to poor performance, which allows the new coach to come in and implement his own strategies, rightly pointing out how the previous strategy was unsuccessful in achieving its aims, and generally attempting to make the team better.
The team may not be appreciative of these new strategies, but will at least acknowledge something had to change and not begrudge the coach of trying to do what he thinks will improve performances.
Nathan Buckley did not go through this experience: he was handed a team that had appeared in three consecutive grand finals by the club President who thought everything would go swimmingly when he relegated the egomaniac premiership coach in favour of the club golden child.
The distraction of replacing one of the greatest coaches ever was always going to hang over Buckley’s head, but if he was either a Mick Malthouse clone or had the same level of success, he should have been fine.
Instead, the player group are questioning why the path they were on needed to be changed so rapidly even though it was successful.
Maybe if Buckley had taken the normal path of coaching and instilled his will on an unsuccessful team, he may have been hailed as a great coach, but at this moment in time, it looks like Bucks isn’t ensuring the playing group plays to its peak.
9: Brenton Sanderson – Adelaide (record: 47 games – 28 wins, 19 losses)
The Adelaide Crows somehow won 17 games in 2012 and were only a kick away from the grand final, a year removed from winning only seven games under Neil Craig, in a season that remains one of the most mystifyingly dominant in AFL history.
Last season, their forward line was reduced to the equivalent if the English cricket team’s top order, as Taylor ‘The Mullet’ Walker tore his ACL and Kurt Tippett abandoned the club with the grace and humility of Anthony Mundine.
So, why is Sanderson ranked so low when in his only season with a full squad he did so well?
In my opinion, the Crows were probably only the sixth or seventh best team of 2012, still an improvement on the year before for sure, but I don’t think a team has ever received a more beneficial schedule, as they played the first year Giants, the second year Suns and the then terrible Port, meaning their record was better than teams like Collingwood, Sydney and West Coast, all teams that were probably better than them over the course of the season.
Last year they didn’t have such an easy schedule, and they struggled mightily, although injuries did play a part.
I don’t think Sanderson is a bad coach by any stretch of the imagination, but it does seem as if he lacks the tactical genius or the skills as a motivator the coaches above him possess.
watergate
Guest
Buckley has now been given all of the rope that he demanded, and will be swinging by his neck when the Pies fail to make the eight during season 2014.
alicesprings
Guest
I agree, Guy Mckenna is highly under rated. When they win a premiership in the next few years i wonder how everyone will judge him then? Its not all about wins. The importance of a senior coach is not what it used to be..it would be interesting to have a discussion on the respective football departments. I would say that Geelong, Sydney & Hawthorn have the best, they have been up for so long and will again be in the top4 this yr. The fact that they have been able to refresh their list while continually be in contention makes teams like Melbourne look stupid.
Franko
Guest
Perhaps Polec did always want to go to Port, it would have been interesting if the Crows backed up their 2012 performance in 2013 to see where he would have gone? That is another thing that Sanderson has learnt. Talking his team at the beginning of 2013 was madness, I'm sure he has learnt from this and will be a better coach for it.
Lightning Jim
Guest
Agree with what you say about Polec, Vocans. Even though he floated the idea that he would be happy to be drafted by either SA club, believe it was always his intention to end up at Port if possible. No reflection on Sanderson. However it's difficult to rate how good Sanderson is at the moment. Last year was a horror year for the club for reasons beyond his control. This year should give us a better indication. But Bailey will be sorely missed if he returns later rather than sooner. And appreciate your magnanimous spirit re Port's resurgance.
vocans
Guest
I'm right that Polec grew up a Port fan? That's important. Choosing Port does not imply something is up at the Crows but that the fit at Port was what he wanted. And, even as a Crows fan, I can appreciate Hinkley, Thomas, and the rest at Port. As a Croweater I'm pleased with the Port resurgence. So why wouldn't Jared head to the team he loves? I don't think it necessarily casts aspersions on Adelaide.
Floreat Pica
Guest
Again, I fail to see the link between any of your arguments and the topic of coaching ability- aside from the tenuous link to coaching that the very short-sighted idea of some sort of 'familiarity advantage' would be (which is thus offset by the corresponding disadvantage Collingwood would have playing on other grounds). As to your strident points.. I'll be at Kardinia Park on Feb 12 for the opening of the NAB Challenge when the Cats host us there. Looking forward to being back again- you are correct that it has been some time, as the Cats seem to want the higher gate of a near-capacity MCG during the regular season rather than enjoy their 'home ground advantage'. As for Tassie, or Cairns, Darwin or Wellington for that matter there is the additional issue for the hosting clubs that their 'home crowd advantage' would in all likelihood be swamped by the number of Collingwood supporters who would turn up (with the possible exception of Hawthorn in Launceston which I would definitely lock-in if the Hawks were ever to open it up). This happened at both Metricon and even Skoda stadium for a NAB Cup game. It will work very well for the Suns as the blow-out in 2011 with a mostly Collingwood crowd gave them a very tangible sense of being the underdog victor in last year's Metricon clash- but I can see it being advantageous for any of the other markets I have mentioned as the 'home team' is yet to really establish itself as such. Even the slightest effort at research would allow you to discover that Collingwood is one of 7 clubs playing 4 Sunday twilight fixtures in 2014 (starting time between 3 and 5pm). The vast majority if the other clubs are playing less than 4 twilight games. Two clubs have 5 Sunday twilight games, but it seems only the Bulldogs are really investing in this timeslot with a whopping 10- Im wondering if they are seeing this as the ideal slot to bring your family to, thus going for the long-term appeal to signing members. In any case, example fail. Clash strip issue- really? That was the best fifth argument you could come up with? Good thing you tried hiding it in the middle. What is the relevance to team or coach performance in any way?? I cannot even see how it would be a financial benefit. Your only point here that could really string together an ongoing debate is the ANZAC Clash. As numerous opinion articles and their rebuttals across the media bring up around mid-April every year, you cannot manufacture what that fixture has become- and if you don't think its about the 'meaning of the day' I suggest you join me from dawn service through to sunset at the G and then make the call. Yes the participating clubs are incredibly privileged by this, as is the entire competition- but simply ask yourself what possible combination would make more of the tradition? The only logical answers in my mind would be State of Origin (who gets to play the Vics at the G- is it fair to always have it there?) or a Grand-Final replay, which will forever be flawed due to the increasing likelihood of it featuring two non-Victorian teams, and the fact that it would then cost the competition the marketing for a stand-alone 'Replay' fixture which is to everyone's detriment. ..
bilo
Guest
They did alright in that last quarter against the Roos in Melbourne!!
Franko
Guest
You are correct Luke, most clubs would struggle given the talent Adelaide have seen walk out the door and that is not Sandersons fault (Trigg?). Sanderson has done well with some of the youngsters and if he can get them playing consistent footy, they will be in the race for finals this year. I'm still not 100% convinced that the atmosphere down there is as good as it could be, but again, I'm not sure if that is Sandersons fault as much as it is others at the club. As for Polec: "Money won’t come into it. It will be about which club I feel will give me the best chance to take my game to the next level. "At the moment I’m still open minded about which club that is."
Cody
Guest
C'Wood play in Tassie? " " play at Kardinia Park? " " play Sunday twilight? " " play in a clash strip? And I think a few other teams would love to play at the G on ANZAC day, but I guess it's not about the meaning of the day anymore but how much $ the AFL can make!
Andrew A
Guest
Well said Floreat Pica. Buckley has done well managing the side in light of a substantial injury toll to make top 4 in 2012 and top 6 last year. Malthouse was a terrific coach at Collingwood who lifted the team into genuine premiership contention in 5 of the 12 years he was there. He didn't deserve to lose the top job based on that record. Malthouse's departure however has no relevance to Buckley's ability as a coach. Buckley is thorough in his preparation of the side. The only question is whether Buckley, as he gains more experience as a senior coach, will develop relationships with the players to inspire them to achieve success. There was no doubt about Malthouse's ability in this regard.
Luke
Guest
Your actually wrong. Gunston and Davis were not at the club when Sanderson were there. Kurt tippet left for an amazing deal at Sydney. Talia won a rising star user him and to have 4 rising star nominees in a competition that has two new teams full of top draft picks means his players are well coached and highly motivated by him. Last year was pretty ordinary but losing your 2 main tall targets up forward makes it pretty hard to score effectively.
vocans
Guest
Franko, I would have thought Polec supporting Port all along would have made his choice more about that than against the Crows?
Floreat Pica
Guest
It will be very interesting to see if his style changes as they push up into the eight over the next few years. If nothing else, the culture of the club is very promising.
Judy Atu
Guest
I think you have been unnecessarily harse on Guy McKenna the Suns have done amazingly well for a bunch of kids, and to say that 3 wins were because of Gazza is not giving credit where credit is due. (the rest of the regular players) What other team can say 13 of the regular senior players turned 21 last season, and only 6 of those players have played over 50 games and 3 of those stand at 51 games. Give Guy and the players the credit that's due. I will love to see you with egg on your face.
Shmick
Guest
I pretty much stopped reading this article when I saw Buckley so low. The manner in which he's managed to keep his side in the top 8 when they've only had half a team for the past two seasons is to be commended. Only in 2014/15 with a fit list will we be able I see him coach a team that he has put together. He also handles himself very well in the public arena. I'd be inclined to put him in the top 5.
TomC
Roar Guru
I think you're misrepresenting Paul. He hasn't made any comments at all about Leppitsch's quality at this level, simply that he's taken the route to senior coaching that perhaps Voss should've taken. In any case, why defend such an extraordinarily stupid comment as that which came out in the article?
Floreat Pica
Guest
So your only argument relevant to coaching ability is that he has underachieved with the list he had the last two years. I put it to you that if anything, the list that was available overachieved (no doubt the paper list was outstanding, but in two years the full list has not taken the field). In his first year he managed his injury-riddled side into a top four position when by all rights they should have dropped five or more games that juniors such as Keefe, Williams, Seedsman and Sinclair were used superbly in. The mark of a great coach is not whether they can win when all the balls are in their favour, but when they can get a result when all seems lost.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
He's a club favorite son who cant coach who Collingwood fired a premiership-winning coach for. He then proceeds to underachieve, given his list. Yep. Tony Shaw Mark Two.
Floreat Pica
Guest
Not that coaching ability is related to how much you or your players are paid (let alone in a in a salary-capped competition), but Im trying to understand your perspective here.. in your opinion its Collingwood has been ransoming the AFL (who makes the schedule) and all the clubs that request to play them at the G (Melbourne for example get home rights to the Queens birthday match every year)? I'm genuinely interested in how you can justify that this is not ultimately to the benefit of the entire competition? I'm not claiming that it isn't great for Collingwood, but I do not believe this is as strong an overall advantage as say what the Cats have going with Kardinia Park, or what the new oval in Adelaide should provide.
Floreat Pica
Guest
Clearly a substantiated opinion you've put in there Ian..