Perfect one day, imbeciles the next
By Patrick Smith
August 13, 2003
DANNY FRAWLEY used to be a genius. Well, 11 rounds ago he was. He had his Tigers with six wins out of eight games and the most successful Victorian team in a competition dominated by the fancy pants north and west of the border.
Since then Frawley has apparently lost all ability, all knowledge, insight and good sense and should be sacked. He's a duffer.
These things happen to AFL coaches. Perfect one day, imbeciles the next.
It is true that Richmond have slumped to 12th place and won just a solitary game since Frawley was the sole defender of Victorian honour.
Indeed, this week's headlines have screamed that Frawley has won only 14 of his past 41 games. It has become the critical ratio that, we have been told, is sufficient for Frawley to be sacked or the players deported. But a win-loss ratio like that means it has to be one or the other.
Richmond have stood firmly behind their coach as they did when the media discovered the coach had lost the ability to walk on water.
For Frawley this is the second time this season that the Great Light of media scrutiny has sought him out.
Over at Melbourne, coach Neale Daniher must think he is running a school for journalists, for they surround him every other day and dutifully film and jot down everything he says.
Daniher has Melbourne - who finished sixth last year and played in two finals - in third last spot. He has won 18 of his past 43 games.
A board member, Bev O'Connor, was on radio last Friday saying that Melbourne lacked a spine. They also need tall key position players.
Last week, during his Wednesday tutorial, Daniher told the media that his men would come out fighting. That it was the only way to go. That he would never walk away from a battle. This was duly recorded in print and electronically. It was so absorbing you got a bit twitchy just listening to him.
Melbourne, of course, got flogged by Geelong, a side many people thought had dropped out of the competition due to lack of interest.
The Demons played an uninspired and listless game and the media said this was clear evidence Daniher could no longer get across his message.
Geelong are coached by someone called Mark Thompson. He has won 17 of his past 41 games. Apparently he is a very good coach because Frank Costa, the president, says he is.
It was reported last week that the Cats were in the market to draft or pick up key forwards. Names were named. So many, in fact, it appeared Geelong was after anybody and everybody taller than a fire hydrant.
Denis Pagan has won two premierships with the Kangaroos. Under his control they were said to be the best team of the 1990s. It was reckoned that here was a guy who could coach. This may have been a tad premature for Pagan, now at Carlton. He has won just 16 of his past 42 games.
Earlier this season Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab was so appalling that one media outlet suggested the club hire an interim coach until the Great Gabba Guru, Leigh Matthews, put down his sun screen and returned to Glenferrie Oval.
The GGG has since re-signed with the Brisbane Lions and Schwab took the Hawks to a mighty win over competition darling Sydney on Saturday. Schwab has won 20 of his past 41 games.
When it was thought necessary to sack Schwab, the Hawks were judged to be too slow, too slow moving the ball, guilty of kicking short and to the side, mentally and physically fragile. At the same time Richmond under Frawley were quick, good at clearances, and master of a direct game plan of kicking long to marking forwards.
Now, it is Richmond who are too slow moving the ball and Hawthorn who are thriving because they kick long and direct to tall forwards.
By Patrick Smith
August 13, 2003
DANNY FRAWLEY used to be a genius. Well, 11 rounds ago he was. He had his Tigers with six wins out of eight games and the most successful Victorian team in a competition dominated by the fancy pants north and west of the border.
Since then Frawley has apparently lost all ability, all knowledge, insight and good sense and should be sacked. He's a duffer.
These things happen to AFL coaches. Perfect one day, imbeciles the next.
It is true that Richmond have slumped to 12th place and won just a solitary game since Frawley was the sole defender of Victorian honour.
Indeed, this week's headlines have screamed that Frawley has won only 14 of his past 41 games. It has become the critical ratio that, we have been told, is sufficient for Frawley to be sacked or the players deported. But a win-loss ratio like that means it has to be one or the other.
Richmond have stood firmly behind their coach as they did when the media discovered the coach had lost the ability to walk on water.
For Frawley this is the second time this season that the Great Light of media scrutiny has sought him out.
Over at Melbourne, coach Neale Daniher must think he is running a school for journalists, for they surround him every other day and dutifully film and jot down everything he says.
Daniher has Melbourne - who finished sixth last year and played in two finals - in third last spot. He has won 18 of his past 43 games.
A board member, Bev O'Connor, was on radio last Friday saying that Melbourne lacked a spine. They also need tall key position players.
Last week, during his Wednesday tutorial, Daniher told the media that his men would come out fighting. That it was the only way to go. That he would never walk away from a battle. This was duly recorded in print and electronically. It was so absorbing you got a bit twitchy just listening to him.
Melbourne, of course, got flogged by Geelong, a side many people thought had dropped out of the competition due to lack of interest.
The Demons played an uninspired and listless game and the media said this was clear evidence Daniher could no longer get across his message.
Geelong are coached by someone called Mark Thompson. He has won 17 of his past 41 games. Apparently he is a very good coach because Frank Costa, the president, says he is.
It was reported last week that the Cats were in the market to draft or pick up key forwards. Names were named. So many, in fact, it appeared Geelong was after anybody and everybody taller than a fire hydrant.
Denis Pagan has won two premierships with the Kangaroos. Under his control they were said to be the best team of the 1990s. It was reckoned that here was a guy who could coach. This may have been a tad premature for Pagan, now at Carlton. He has won just 16 of his past 42 games.
Earlier this season Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab was so appalling that one media outlet suggested the club hire an interim coach until the Great Gabba Guru, Leigh Matthews, put down his sun screen and returned to Glenferrie Oval.
The GGG has since re-signed with the Brisbane Lions and Schwab took the Hawks to a mighty win over competition darling Sydney on Saturday. Schwab has won 20 of his past 41 games.
When it was thought necessary to sack Schwab, the Hawks were judged to be too slow, too slow moving the ball, guilty of kicking short and to the side, mentally and physically fragile. At the same time Richmond under Frawley were quick, good at clearances, and master of a direct game plan of kicking long to marking forwards.
Now, it is Richmond who are too slow moving the ball and Hawthorn who are thriving because they kick long and direct to tall forwards.
