David EdwardsWho Should Be the Demons Next Coach?
June 27th 2007 14:36
News was released today that the Melbourne Demon’s coach, Neale Daniher has announced his retirement from the game at the end of 2007 season. After twelve rounds, the Demons have only two wins under their belt, and despite coming off a severe injury run and finally looking like they can provide a solid squad, there is no doubt that after their loss to Richmond on Friday night (which was of course the Tigers first win of the season) the Demon’s finals chances, and in essence their season, has disappeared.
Daniher announced his retirement today only 24 hours after the board announced they were conducting a coach review after their loss to the Tigers. In his retirement press release he stated “I’ve been here for 10 years and i think it’s time, it’s the right time for me to move on,”
“We’ve had a lot of issues this year regarding injuries and all sorts of things, it’s been a difficult year... It was a poor loss against Richmond and instead of going through with this “Will I go through this process or won’t I?’ I think this is the right time.”
It is a classic case of the coach jumping before he was pushed. It was no secret that after so much hype placed on the Demons at the start of the season, and their dismal performance so far this year, that Daniher’s career was on the line. In fact other than Fremantle coach Chris Connolley, it was Daniher’s position that was constantly mentioned as being in the winds of change.
But Daniher has always been behind the eight ball for a number of years. The Demons have been solid enough to be placed in the finals five times in the past nine years, including facing up against Essendon in the Grand Final in 2000. But it seems that the axe has always been swinging dangerously close above his head ever since he took over the role from Greg Hutchinson in ‘98. Even with the finals performances Daniher was on the edge, proven in ‘06 when his role was questioned when it seemed that Melbourne was going to miss out of a top eight spot.
Now that he has stepped aside from the head position, the question is now who will take over the helm in ‘08? The three big names already mentioned has been Connolley (who has been mentioned to be the next coach on the chopping block), assistant coach for Collingwood Guy McKenna, and recently retired player and the newest coaching prospect Michael Voss.
With Melbourne in a downward spiral, and there is an certainty that they will suffer ever further this season. If they are looking at starting afresh, they will need a decent skipper at the helm. With those choices, it should be easy who needs to be the frontrunner.
Voss is just too inexperienced, and that should be it. There is no doubt that he was one of the smartest and analytical minds of the game when he was playing, but it would be downright foolhardy to place him at the at head so soon after his intentions to coach. It is like placing a player in the starting squad for the first round without a single training session. He might become one of the best coaches to emerge in the new generation, but without the basic training and working in the same environment without the immense pressure then they will suffer and flail in an instant.
Connoly is also a bad idea. After working, and as it looks so far this season, failing in making the second west coast side a true leader in the competition, he should not be in charge of the next big challenge of the league. After Melbourne’s horror run this year, and from what it seems a need to completely rethinking their working and strategy process it does not make sense placing an incumbent coach with one walking on the tightrope as well.
Personally I think that McKenna is a great person to take the helm. He has paid his dues with a successful club, has had a major input in how Collingwood have worked on and off the field, and above all I believe that he is in the perfect form to take the new role and give the Demons the success they are wildly predicted to be on the verge of.
It is a shame to see when a club tipped so high at the start of the year to crash so badly in just an half an season, but Daniher knew that the writing was on the role after losing their first four games. Whilst the Demons will not be any form of threat for the rest of year (except for their next game, which is just one of the freaky occurences of football), it is important to look at where they can go from here. If their new coach can get in there quickly, and make the right decisions in the off-season, then there is a strong chance that the Demons can be the next Geelong Cats, horrible one year then leaders the next.
Until next time, sports minds.
Daniher announced his retirement today only 24 hours after the board announced they were conducting a coach review after their loss to the Tigers. In his retirement press release he stated “I’ve been here for 10 years and i think it’s time, it’s the right time for me to move on,”
“We’ve had a lot of issues this year regarding injuries and all sorts of things, it’s been a difficult year... It was a poor loss against Richmond and instead of going through with this “Will I go through this process or won’t I?’ I think this is the right time.”
It is a classic case of the coach jumping before he was pushed. It was no secret that after so much hype placed on the Demons at the start of the season, and their dismal performance so far this year, that Daniher’s career was on the line. In fact other than Fremantle coach Chris Connolley, it was Daniher’s position that was constantly mentioned as being in the winds of change.
But Daniher has always been behind the eight ball for a number of years. The Demons have been solid enough to be placed in the finals five times in the past nine years, including facing up against Essendon in the Grand Final in 2000. But it seems that the axe has always been swinging dangerously close above his head ever since he took over the role from Greg Hutchinson in ‘98. Even with the finals performances Daniher was on the edge, proven in ‘06 when his role was questioned when it seemed that Melbourne was going to miss out of a top eight spot.
Now that he has stepped aside from the head position, the question is now who will take over the helm in ‘08? The three big names already mentioned has been Connolley (who has been mentioned to be the next coach on the chopping block), assistant coach for Collingwood Guy McKenna, and recently retired player and the newest coaching prospect Michael Voss.
With Melbourne in a downward spiral, and there is an certainty that they will suffer ever further this season. If they are looking at starting afresh, they will need a decent skipper at the helm. With those choices, it should be easy who needs to be the frontrunner.
Voss is just too inexperienced, and that should be it. There is no doubt that he was one of the smartest and analytical minds of the game when he was playing, but it would be downright foolhardy to place him at the at head so soon after his intentions to coach. It is like placing a player in the starting squad for the first round without a single training session. He might become one of the best coaches to emerge in the new generation, but without the basic training and working in the same environment without the immense pressure then they will suffer and flail in an instant.
Connoly is also a bad idea. After working, and as it looks so far this season, failing in making the second west coast side a true leader in the competition, he should not be in charge of the next big challenge of the league. After Melbourne’s horror run this year, and from what it seems a need to completely rethinking their working and strategy process it does not make sense placing an incumbent coach with one walking on the tightrope as well.
Personally I think that McKenna is a great person to take the helm. He has paid his dues with a successful club, has had a major input in how Collingwood have worked on and off the field, and above all I believe that he is in the perfect form to take the new role and give the Demons the success they are wildly predicted to be on the verge of.
It is a shame to see when a club tipped so high at the start of the year to crash so badly in just an half an season, but Daniher knew that the writing was on the role after losing their first four games. Whilst the Demons will not be any form of threat for the rest of year (except for their next game, which is just one of the freaky occurences of football), it is important to look at where they can go from here. If their new coach can get in there quickly, and make the right decisions in the off-season, then there is a strong chance that the Demons can be the next Geelong Cats, horrible one year then leaders the next.
Until next time, sports minds.
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