If there was any doubt as to the ruthless nature of the AFL coaching profession, those doubts were answered with the sacking of Brenton Sanderson by Adelaide.
In reality, this was a decision that puts the AFL alongside English and American sport with the showing of a coach being expendable for a greater good. Consider this a sacking that makes the AFL just like any other sport around the globe.
Prior to 2011 Australian Rules had for the most part done things right with coaches. Yes, coaches were sacked and years were left on contracts, but for the most part an AFL coach was always held with respect from the club.
The change began in 2011 when Fremantle head hunted Ross Lyon and clinically and coldly removed a beloved club coach in Mark Harvey. It was the first example of an administration putting success ahead of fans, players and coaches. This was business.
While the Fremantle board received immediate condemnation for their actions, the results by Lyon and Fremantle over the next three years have meant that what began as an unthinkable decision is now considered one of the AFL’s great masterstrokes. Like any movement, there needs to be a trailblazer and the Fremantle Football Club played that role perfectly.
The success they have experienced from such a calculated business decision probably always meant it was going to happen again. But for it to happen just three years later, to a coach with just three years of coaching experience, two years removed from a preliminary final berth and a career 60 per cent winning record? This indeed was shocking.
With the decisions made by Adelaide and Fremantle, these can no longer be seen as isolated cases. This is a new era for coaches, one in which the club has all the power and failure is not accepted. Again, this was Adelaide taking a play from an EPL, NFL or NBA handbook, where coaches are chopped and changed seemingly monthly.
In both English and American sports coaches are judged in the moment. It is rare to see a coach who can survive on past success. Learning from global sport sackings generally happen for three reasons. A team has underachieved in the moment, a new administration comes into power or there is a movement against the coach. Unfortunately for Sanderson, he entered the perfect storm where all three were against him… in the moment.
This is a world of instant gratification and perhaps it is naive to imagine sport would be different. But it still has to be seen as going against the traditions of the game for a coach to be considered just some interchangeable piece in the quest for success.
Prospective AFL coaches need to consider what lies ahead of them. This is no longer a coaching world where mediocrity will be accepted. Five-year plans are a thing of the past. Australian Rules and the AFL are a sport and competition that is about results. Career coaches are likely dead with the bygone years of coaches surviving decades or more at a club unlikely.
Coaching has always been considered a tough gig, over the past 24 hours it just got tougher.
vocans
Guest
Olivia, Sanderson says many players have rung him in shock. Unlikely lie. Radelaide, who is a Port supporter, spreads gossip and innuendo, getting imaginations running. Was Sando a paedophile or something!!? I think he's stopped now, and I forgive him. But fans are also shocked and, until we get better explanations, the Crows brand is besmirched. Of course, they bank on us getting back to our bread and circuses so that it all goes away, but I'm sick of being treated like an infant and still expected to pay at the gate (sorry, ... online). It would be so honourable to have the Captain step forward with the Board's blessing to explain what has happened. They stick up statues honouring the greats but that's easy - how about honourable action in times like these?
Bosk
Roar Rookie
You act like Sanderson is the first bloke ever to be sacked a year after making the finals. Go do your research and you'll find countless other examples, its been like this for generations, maybe you were never paying enough attention to notice or you've only recently discovered the sport (many of your other articles have given me this impression) but this is the way things have always been. Sanderson just got handed a million bucks in cash and will walk straight into another high-paying job as an assistant at another club if he wants it. Yeah, maybe he didn't deserve to get sacked but I won't spill any tears for the bloke when there's millions of Aussies living in poverty right now who are *really* doing it tough.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Haha good point!
slane
Guest
We are going to have to agree to disagree. I think that a mid-season sacking and/or forced resignation is more ruthless than an end of year chop.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Does not even compare... Daniher quit. Connolly was sacked after a poor finish to the season Pagan sacked because Carlton got smashed for a month Sheedy was moved on due to age and club direction. Not one of those compares to the ruthlessness that has been seen in the past three years. Swing and a miss buddy.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
The great irony of all this. Three years ago when it came down to two candidates, Burns and Sanderson. It was Sanderson who got the job because he was positive about the list whereas Burns believed it was a clean out that was needed. Sanderson was super confident about the list and that got him the job. Three years on and Sanderson gets the sack for keeping that positive vibe and now the board don't. CRAZY! Get Burns back in for an interview.
slane
Guest
Check out 2007! Danniher, Connely and Pagan all copped the axe.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Thanks for making my point. Ratten was sacked post 2011 in this new world for coaching.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Okay. Research time. Last three years sackings that were ruthless 2014 Sanderson - Ruthless business sacking 2013 Voss - Ruthless business sacking 2013 Watters - Ruthless business sacking 2013 Neeld - Ruthless business sacking 2012 Ratten - Ruthless business sacking 2011 Harvey - Ruthless business sacking Go and find me six examples better then that from history previous... Hint. There isn't any. It is a new world for coaches. This is far different then prior to 2010.
slane
Guest
Coaches have been sacked mid season though. Nothing more ruthless than getting the chop a few hours after a flogging.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Was not just the playing group. As I said this was a perfect storm of a movement, underperformance and a new admin wanting to make waves. Waves made.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
It is different because clubs are making these decisions in the moment with little regard to the past nor the future.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Norm Smith missed one game. It is stupid to compare and if anything aids my argument that the Australian way has always been different to coaches. People power allowed Smith another two albeit unsuccessful seasons. If Smith had been sacked and stayed sacked you may have a point. But alas. You don't.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Yes, coaches have always been sacked. Never in the ruthless way that the last three years has shown.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Imagine if The Roar existed back in the 60? The place would've be wall-to-wall with bleeding hearts crying about how stiff Norm Smith was to get axed from the Dees.
asd
Guest
sando was too good to his players . the players will regret this when they a cranky no nonsense coach who wont put with this garbage. city of churches or city of strip clubs
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I don't know that much about the behind the scenes issues between coach and players. Has any of it been publicised before this review? If possible, could someone please enlighten me on what it was the players felt the coach to be out of step with? Most sackings are predictable or explainable and I'm sure that the Club feels what it uncovered during the review to be a valid reason for acting, but I'd like to know what the players thought and why they decided they could no longer work with Sanderson as coach. If I were a senior coaching candidate I have to say such ruthlessness on the Club's part would make me really stop and think before taking any position with them. They have shown they do not respect employment contracts so you would literally be coaching on a day by day tenure.
BigAl
Guest
So true, St Kilda got rid of Stan Alves mid season under this scenario.
micka
Guest
Goodwin's going to be Roos Successor.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
McKenna must not have slept well last night. GCFC are having a similar board meeting tonight and Guy might not also be a senior coach come this time tomorrow.