Coaching credentials

In the wake of Voss being appointed to coach Brisbane in 2009, and with some other coaches potentially under pressure next year, it's a good time to consider how coaches are chosen.

It's one of the fables of aussie rules that truly great players can coach — a fable that Brisbane have bought into big time.

I've started a study to look at the influences on "successful" coaches. I am, somewhat arbitrarily, using Premierships as the signifier of "success".

Looking at Premiership coaches from 1960 to the present day, there are some interesting points to note. There are a few dynasties.

• Norm Smith – Ron Barassi – John Nicholls – Alex Jesaulenko – Robert Walls – Malcolm Blight
• John Kennedy – David Parkin – Leigh Matthews
• Tom Hafey – Tony Jewel – Kevin Sheedy – Mick Malthouse – Mark Thompson
  

Of course the lists available have a lot to do with premierships, as do administrations. But,using the first list above as an example, Norm Smith clearly had a significant influence on Ron Barassi, who in turn influenced Nicholls, Jezza, Walls (I could have coached THAT team to a flag!) and Blight. Kennedy clearly influenced Parkin and, in turn, Parkin influenced Matthews, and so on.

It's interesting to note that only nine (9) coaches have achieved only a single flag over the past forty-eight years: Nicholls, Jesaulenko, Walls, Davis, Williams, Jewel, Roos, Worsfold, Thompson (soone to exit this list).

It's also interesting to note that a very low number of naturally-talented footballers have achieved the ultimate coaching success: Blight (2), Jesaulenko (1), Roos (1), Coleman (2), and, stretching the definition in my view, Matthews (4).

Gritty players who got the most out of their (limited) talent are over-represented: Parkin (4), Sheedy (4), Hafey (4), Jeans (4), Barassi (4), Kennedy (3), Malthouse (2), Pagan (2), Williams (1), Thompson (1 and counting).

More to come on this subject.