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CHANGEOVER: Six clubs will be unveiling new senior coaches in 2014 – clockwise from left: Paul Roos (Melbourne), Adam Simpson (West Coast), Mark Thompson (Essendon), Leon Cameron (GWS Giants), Alan Richardson (St Kilda) and Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane Lions). THE COACHING CAPER FRESH & FAMILIAR FACES The AFL coaching landscape will have a different look in 2014. Four clubs will have rookie coaches – Leon Cameron (Greater Western Sydney), Alan Richardson (St Kilda), Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane Lions) and Adam Simpson (West Coast). Another two – Essendon and Melbourne – have lured back respected premiership coaches Mark Thompson and Paul Roos. What are their hopes and expectations? ASHLEY BROWNE They have an unbelievable passion for the game and for teaching the game HAWTHORN COACH ALASTAIR CLARKSON ON PROTEGES LEON CAMERON AND ADAM SIMPSON THE COACHING CAPER FRESH & FAMILIAR FACES n the ideal world, every new AFL coach would have landed his job in identical fashion. There would be development coaching, teaching the kids and learning to coach. Throw in some line coaching and perhaps a practice match or a NAB Challenge encounter as the senior coach just to get a taste for the big chair. At some stage, perhaps at the start or somewhere along the journey, Ithere would be a period as standalone coach at under-18 or state league level, where with every decision made, the buck stops with you. Coaching pathways have become a trendy topic, as illustrated by Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in his remarks about the difficulties faced by James Hird during the Essendon supplements scandal. BACK IN THE FOLD: The point Clarkson tried to highlight Former premiership was whether Hird might have star Justin Leppitsch returns to the handled things better had he not Brisbane Lions as been thrust into the job at Essendon senior coach. without following a traditional pathway into senior coaching. This is a job, after all, that one Simpson, who was learning at the senior coach told the AFL Record feet of David Parkin, Leigh Matthews is five per cent coaching and 95 and coaching specialist David per cent the myriad of other duties Wheadon while still captaining that come with managing a staff of North Melbourne and before up to 40 full-time employees, not becoming the first graduate of the They’ve all had really counting the players. AFL Players’ Association’s Next What should reassure anxious Coach program. supporters of the four clubs with “Adam’s playing CV was this good, thorough first-time coaches at the helm in high,” said Frawley, raising his 2014 is that their appointees have hand to his forehead. “But when ticked most of the boxes along what clubs saw his coaching CV, it went apprenticeships is now the preferred pathway. through the roof. He had a distinct AFL COACHES CEO DANNY FRAWLEY Alan Richardson started in plan to get into coaching.” suburban footy and worked his way Simpson spent four years at through five AFL clubs in various Hawthorn coaching the midfield One club was under-resourced, capacities before becoming coach of and then the forwards and the early the second was well-resourced and St Kilda. Leon Cameron and Justin signs at West Coast are that he has high-performing while the third Leppitsch left their longtime playing brought Hawthorn’s highly skilled, was just starting out, albeit with the homes to experience life elsewhere high-possession game-plan with him. masterful Kevin Sheedy at the helm. in order to round out their coaching Frawley had identified Cameron Cameron and Simpson’s education. West Coast’s Adam as a future coach as far back as appointments mean the Clarkson Simpson started down his road to the early 2000s when, as coach coaching tree is firmly taking becoming a senior coach before his of Richmond, he left it to the root. Damien Hardwick was the playing days even ended. immaculately skilled defender to 30 first of Clarkson’s lieutenants to “They’ve all had really good, take care of the defensive kick-outs. win a senior job when he took Mick Malthouse, thorough apprenticeships and all “I didn’t realise I was getting an over at Richmond in 2010 and now the elder been in really strong programs,” AFL on-field coach. He obviously had the Hawthorn coach sees similar statesman of coaching Coaches Association CEO Danny a good feel for footy,” he said of potential in his latest protégés. at 60, was 30 years Frawley said. “From our point of view, Cameron, who started as an assistant “I knew all along that if they and 228 days when they have all shown a distinct passion coach at the Western Bulldogs under kept tracking as we expected, that he coached at League to become senior coaches.” Rodney Eade in 2005. they’d become senior coaches,” level for the first time Frawley is well versed on the Frawley believes Cameron’s Clarkson said. “They have an in round one, 1984. merits of the new AFL coaches. pathway to senior coaching is unbelievable passion for the game Only four full-time His role dictates that he identifies almost perfect because of his and for teaching the game. coaches have been prospective coaches well before experience with the Bulldogs, “We’re a little bit sad when they up younger on debut. they finish playing, as he did with Hawthorn and now the Giants. and leave and go to other clubs, but 14 AFL RECORD | afl.com.au THE COACHING CAPER FRESH & FAMILIAR FACES when it’s all about being the best they JL: Leigh Matthews has been a mentor of can be in their chosen field, we know WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST mine, but also Wayne Bennett (veteran NRL too well that when we get them into coach) and Gil Reyes (former fitness coach to our club it’s not their ceiling.” ‘HEY, THE BUCK STOPS Andre Agassi). As Clarkson spawned Hardwick, 1 Hardwick then spawned Leppitsch, a WITH ME’ MOMENT? AS: Aside from the senior coaches who triple Lions premiership defender who Leon Cameron: A week into our-pre-season you I have learned from, I was mentored by David coached at the club before joining have about seven assistant coaches coming to Wheadon at Hawthorn and have great respect Richmond. But it’s not merely a case you with questions and then you realise that for his thoughts and insight into the game. of the prodigal son returning home. they are relying on you for the answers. “He’s come back a completely Alan Richardson: Just making sure I had the different person after his time at right people, meet the people that were there FINISH THIS SENTENCE: Richmond,” Frawley said. and make decisions on others we need to bring “That will make him ideal for into the club. 5 TEAMS COACHED BY Brisbane because they’re on the rebuild just like the Tigers were Justin Leppitsch: Every moment the senior YOU WILL … when he got there and he walks back coach is always thinking that way, that LC: Never give in. everything is his responsibility. into the club as Justin Leppitsch the AR: Be very hard to score against. coach, not the former premiership Adam Simpson: Planning the first training player. He brings a completely session when the boys came back from JL: Be competitive and consistent. different skill set.” the break. AS: Be united in everything they do and Of the four new coaches, only aim for consistency of performance. Richardson has experience coaching his own side. That was at East HAVE YOU HAD TO DELIVER Burwood, in Melbourne’s Eastern Football League, where he landed 2 A SPRAY TO THE PLAYERS? back-to-back premierships in 1999 LC: We had a couple of sessions over and 2000, followed by two years as summer that were sub-standard. It was coach of Coburg in its early days as interesting to look back and see whether Richmond’s VFL affiliate. I said the right thing to the players, but Since then he has been a it’s funny giving that first spray. IMPRESSIVE: development and assistant Adam Simpson coach at the Western Bulldogs, AR: Yes. was earmarked as a senior Collingwood, Essendon and JL: Not yet, thankfully. But I’m sure I will coach in his Carlton, with last year spent as Port at some stage. playing days. Adelaide’s director of coaching. “Like Ken Hinkley at Port, he’s done AS: I haven’t delivered a spray and it’s the hard yards, so there’s no surprise not the way I intend to coach. There are that when the Saints needed someone better ways to illustrate your point. at the 11th hour, they looked at a guy like Alan,” Frawley said. Richardson was not installed at DO YOU PLAN TO WEAR St Kilda until the middle of November, which is about six 3 A HEADSET OR TALK weeks later than most coaches are appointed. Given that pre-season INTO A PHONE? training was already underway, LC: I’ll be talking into a phone. Richardson had to move with great AR: I plan to wear a headset. haste to put his plans in place, while at the same time reflecting an aura JL: I’ll just use the phone. of calm and authority at a club in a AS: Probably the phone, but I’ll try both state of flux. and see what works best for me and “Our whole game is about the other coaches. people,” Clarkson said. “You talk about systems and facilities and philosophies, but it’s about the people you have in your program.” IS THERE A COACH/LEADER Ultimately, the win-loss ledger will determine the job security of the 4 FROM OUTSIDE THAT YOU new coaches.

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