Sojourner wrote:One would think that the Crows are in a position where some decisions need to be made about the contract of the Senior Coach and no doubt others on the Assistant Coaching staff. I think going from the signals from Stephen Trigg, a longer term contract extention will be in the offering for Craig. My suspicion is that the club realise that they have much work to do in terms of player development to make the side competitive at the top level and perhaps they feel that is where Craig excels in the player development type role.
Its fairly easy to take pot shots at Neil Craig, yet few people that are observers really can coach at the same capacity as Craig and would have little idea of what is required in the role. So for an outsider its fairly difficult to critisize, the one concern that I would raise is based on comments from Neil Curleys observations on Craigs coaching in finals where it was raised that Craig appeared slow to make decisions and perhaps had to much faith in specific players to do the job required. Clearly Craigs finals record then comes up for examination along those lines.
Its easy to look back and be an expert, yet most agree that when the Crows rushed out and signed Shaw as coach that it set the club back several years. Whatever the decision made at this time has the same capacity to do the same damage if the club makes the wrong decision. Suppose Craig does get the sack, who replaces him then? An untried Sanderson or Bickley? Does the club throw money at Malthouse to get him away from the Director role to the Senior Role at Adelaide? Do they try and poach someone like Eade and hope for a better result? Plenty of questions and no doubt mountains of critiscm of any choice made in any direction.
Great post Sojourner. Sums up the situation beautifully.