Coaching & Support Staff List

[imuninformedtwo]

Caro on CH 7 news announced Tom Harley will accept offer to become 2IC to Andrew Dillon at the AFL. She will.expand further on AS (7mate) at 7pm. I actually think is good news for the AFL and the Northern Clubs in the long term.

Hopefully the combination of him and Swann in the footy ops role will see the VFL finally push back on the whinging re northern academies.

[liz]

While this sounds like a positive (potential) move from the perspective of the northern markets, it’s really not great for us at a time we have a brand new senior coach who already doesn’t have the support in place to help him succeed (ie no senior mentor, his own prior role not replaced). If Harley leaves I truly hope it won’t be until after this season has finished, and that Harely will make addressing our coaching panel his swansong objective.

[The Big Cat]

While this sounds like a positive (potential) move from the perspective of the northern markets, it’s really not great for us at a time we have a brand new senior coach who already doesn’t have the support in place to help him succeed (ie no senior mentor, his own prior role not replaced). If Harley leaves I truly hope it won’t be until after this season has finished, and that Harely will make addressing our coaching panel his swansong objective.

There’s also been talk of Andrew Pridham heading the Commission. That would behead our whole club. Have to bring back Andrew Ireland and Richard Colless.

[Blood Fever]

While this sounds like a positive (potential) move from the perspective of the northern markets, it’s really not great for us at a time we have a brand new senior coach who already doesn’t have the support in place to help him succeed (ie no senior mentor, his own prior role not replaced). If Harley leaves I truly hope it won’t be until after this season has finished, and that Harely will make addressing our coaching panel his swansong objective.

Longmire would make a good CEO. Swans originally wanted him to go into administration before he became coach. Would be good for stability and he is settled in Sydney.

[imuninformedtwo]

There’s also been talk of Andrew Pridham heading the Commission. That would behead our whole club. Have to bring back Andrew Ireland and Richard Colless.

They won’t both go. That’s not the Swans way, despite the tempting roles on offer. One will sacrifice the opportunity. I think it’s Harley that goes, but I wouldn’t be completely surprised if he says no as his family is deeply settled in Sydney. But it does look likely.

Have always thought Ireland would make a great chair of the Commission, and he’s had a couple of years of prep as a member.

[Nico]

I think putting JL as Harley's offsider has been strategic in that it was likely Harley would take a promotion. JL did say he was in the office next to Harley every day. JL will seamlessly move into Harley's position.

[Roadrunner]

I think putting JL as Harley's offsider has been strategic in that it was likely Harley would take a promotion. JL did say he was in the office next to Harley every day. JL will seamlessly move into Harley's position.

Seems logical if Harley decides to go. JL would want to stay with the club, and would be a very popular choice with the fans.

[liz]

Except that Longmire has barely any experience as an administrator. Enough to be a CEO? I’d be surprised.

Harley spent several years as Head of the Football department, working alongside the highly experienced Ireland, before being elevated to the CEO role.

[KSAS]

Don Pyke went straight to West Coast as a CEO after he finished with us as a coaching director (credited for being influential in developing our new attacking style at the time).

Whilst Horse may not have the same admin development as Harley, his extensive 23 year inside knowledge of all the football facets of the club and the NSW football landscape, makes him more valuable (imo) than an external experienced administrator.

Horses for courses!

[liz]

Pyke appointed new West Coast Eagles CEO

Pyke also had a fair bit of non-football related commercial experience before he landed the Eagles role. Does Longmire?

[KSAS]

Thanks Liz, for pointing out Pyke's commercial degree & experience as highlighted in the attached link, which I wasn’t aware of.

Nevertheless, i'm still swayed that Horse would still make a great CEO for us despite his lack of admin experience, for the reasons i'd posted above. Plus, he has always represented the club very well whenever he addresses the media, which is not always the case with those in the industry.

I recall an embarrasing exchange between Adam Simpson and Don Pyke last year during the media conference announcing Simpson's departure as coach. Pyke mentioned Simpson may coach out the year, to which a surprised Simpson quickly quipped back that it was news to him! These things can happen regardless of one's background experience and credentials.

[liz]

Coaches' coffers boosted after months of soft cap angst

Further to my rant a couple of weeks ago - it's not in this thread and I can't remember where I put it - the AFL has finally come out with the changes to the soft cap for next season. I guess it's a step in the right direction, though I still don't understand why they exempt a proportion of the senior coach's salary from the cap (an anti-equalisation move) rather than just increase the total soft cap so that each club can choose to spread it as they see fit across their entire football department.

The most important job of Harley - or, if he is AFL-bound, his replacement - over the next six months is to boost our coaching team. It doesn't matter if Cox is the most gifted senior coach in the competition if he doesn't have the necessary support around him. Having not replaced Cox himself, we must have the skinniest coaching fraternity in the competition. Where is the next Don Pyke (in his strategic Swans coaching role)?


Edit: Deja found my earlier rant. It's here for anyone interested. Round 11: the other games. - RWO - RedAndWhiteOnline.com

Thanks Deja!

[KSAS]

Apparently Tom Harley will be officially named as the AFL COO and 21C to Andrew Dillon today, according to several media sources overnight.

if so,, I'll be interested when he starts at the AFL and how long club had been preparing for his move, expecting Tom would have given club heads up from early on.

I think he'll be a great appointment, along with Swann, as the AFL desperately needed new talent to get them out of the hole their in and shape the competition for the better in the near future.