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Ayres' time is up as Crows eye future
By Greg Denham
May 28, 2004
ADELAIDE coach Gary Ayres will be replaced at the end of the season, with Sydney assistant Peter Jonas the front-runner to become the Crows' fifth coach.
In his fifth season with the Crows, Ayres' contract ends in September and he will not be given a third extension.
The Crows are expected to put out feelers to Jonas in the next two months. They are also likely to discuss the senior coaching role with Adelaide assistant Neil Craig and possibly former Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace. After three years of final-eight finishes, the Crows are 14th with just two wins from nine rounds.
Ayres fronted an Adelaide board meeting last week and was told by directors that they were not happy with the team's on-field performance.
And following the Crows' three-point loss to Collingwood last Friday night, Ayres again came in for strong criticism from his administration for allowing himself to be miked-up by Channel Nine for a national audience to listen to his quarter-time address.
With Adelaide certain to take a new direction next year with a bigger concentration on youth, the 44-year-old Jonas fits the mould perfectly. It is understood the Adelaide board has become impatient with its ageing list and will demand a new coach with a fresh approach to recruiting and the implementation of a youth policy.
Jonas, who would not comment yesterday when contacted by The Australian, has specialised in player development in recent years.
Sydney coach Paul Roos yesterday said he did not want to buy into any discussion on who would be coaching Adelaide next year.
"Out of respect for Gary Ayres, I don't want to get involved," Roos said.
"He's the coach and anything else is pure speculation."
But it is well known that Roos rates Jonas highly after targeting him specifically as a development coach at the end of 2002.
"We sought him out for this specific role and he's been great," Roos said. "You only have to look at the way some of our kids have come on."
Jonas, who comes out of contract with the Swans at the end of the season, is also Sydney's defensive coach on match days.
Jonas is a highly respected football identity in Adelaide, where he gained All-Australian status as a 19-year-old and represented his state seven times.
As a ruck rover, he played almost 100 games for SANFL club Central District before making a name for himself at North Melbourne in the 1980s despite twice breaking his leg.
In eight mainly injury-prone seasons at Arden Street, he played 82 games and kicked 115 goals from half-forward.
He started his coaching career at Central District in 1998 and won the SANFL premiership two years later.
Jonas followed long-time friend Malcolm Blight to St Kilda as an assistant in 2001, but his association with the Saints ended when Blight was sensationally sacked after round 15.
He and Geelong assistant coach Ken Hinkley declined to remain at Moorabbin without Blight.
Jonas previously played under and alongside Blight at the Kangaroos and was his runner at Adelaide in the Crows' first premiership.
In 2002, Jonas was employed by the SANFL as a development manager, in charge of the state's elite under-18 players.
After a rare year of no senior coaching changes in 2003, at least two will be made before the end of this calendar year.
Following Ayres will be Richmond's Danny Frawley, who comes out of contract this season, and his tenure will not be extended at Punt Road.
Of the other coaches coming off contract this year, Kevin Sheedy will stay at Essendon, Mark Williams is almost certain of being retained beyond 2004 by Port Adelaide, Neale Daniher is set to remain with the rejuvenated Demons and St Kilda's Grant Thomas will next month be reappointed for at least a further three years.
By Greg Denham
May 28, 2004
ADELAIDE coach Gary Ayres will be replaced at the end of the season, with Sydney assistant Peter Jonas the front-runner to become the Crows' fifth coach.
In his fifth season with the Crows, Ayres' contract ends in September and he will not be given a third extension.
The Crows are expected to put out feelers to Jonas in the next two months. They are also likely to discuss the senior coaching role with Adelaide assistant Neil Craig and possibly former Western Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace. After three years of final-eight finishes, the Crows are 14th with just two wins from nine rounds.
Ayres fronted an Adelaide board meeting last week and was told by directors that they were not happy with the team's on-field performance.
And following the Crows' three-point loss to Collingwood last Friday night, Ayres again came in for strong criticism from his administration for allowing himself to be miked-up by Channel Nine for a national audience to listen to his quarter-time address.
With Adelaide certain to take a new direction next year with a bigger concentration on youth, the 44-year-old Jonas fits the mould perfectly. It is understood the Adelaide board has become impatient with its ageing list and will demand a new coach with a fresh approach to recruiting and the implementation of a youth policy.
Jonas, who would not comment yesterday when contacted by The Australian, has specialised in player development in recent years.
Sydney coach Paul Roos yesterday said he did not want to buy into any discussion on who would be coaching Adelaide next year.
"Out of respect for Gary Ayres, I don't want to get involved," Roos said.
"He's the coach and anything else is pure speculation."
But it is well known that Roos rates Jonas highly after targeting him specifically as a development coach at the end of 2002.
"We sought him out for this specific role and he's been great," Roos said. "You only have to look at the way some of our kids have come on."
Jonas, who comes out of contract with the Swans at the end of the season, is also Sydney's defensive coach on match days.
Jonas is a highly respected football identity in Adelaide, where he gained All-Australian status as a 19-year-old and represented his state seven times.
As a ruck rover, he played almost 100 games for SANFL club Central District before making a name for himself at North Melbourne in the 1980s despite twice breaking his leg.
In eight mainly injury-prone seasons at Arden Street, he played 82 games and kicked 115 goals from half-forward.
He started his coaching career at Central District in 1998 and won the SANFL premiership two years later.
Jonas followed long-time friend Malcolm Blight to St Kilda as an assistant in 2001, but his association with the Saints ended when Blight was sensationally sacked after round 15.
He and Geelong assistant coach Ken Hinkley declined to remain at Moorabbin without Blight.
Jonas previously played under and alongside Blight at the Kangaroos and was his runner at Adelaide in the Crows' first premiership.
In 2002, Jonas was employed by the SANFL as a development manager, in charge of the state's elite under-18 players.
After a rare year of no senior coaching changes in 2003, at least two will be made before the end of this calendar year.
Following Ayres will be Richmond's Danny Frawley, who comes out of contract this season, and his tenure will not be extended at Punt Road.
Of the other coaches coming off contract this year, Kevin Sheedy will stay at Essendon, Mark Williams is almost certain of being retained beyond 2004 by Port Adelaide, Neale Daniher is set to remain with the rejuvenated Demons and St Kilda's Grant Thomas will next month be reappointed for at least a further three years.
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