McGowan to assist Clarkson at Hawthorn.

[Rotter]

Good luck Rick....liked him as a player and even more as a coach.
To think we could have had him at Norwood but chose......

Do you know who to blame for that or at least had a large influence

[therisingblues]

I'd heard about this rumour a little while back but kept my peace until I heard definitely one way or the other.
I cannot blame Macgowan for accepting a contract in the AFL. Coaching is his career now, and he deserves to make the most that he can out of it.
Think back to two years ago, and we almost finished bottom and got royally spanked 6 weeks straight and looking a right rabble. We were suffering financially (to put it mildly) Almost everybody with an opinion on the SANFL reckoned we'd need a long time to rebuild, many tipped us for the spoon.
Macgowan took over the club in that atmosphere and made an immediate impact. We made the finals in his first year with largely the same playing group that almost finished bottom the year before. We beat the Dogs at Unley for the first time since 1985. We beat the Pies at Alberton twice. etc. Roll on 2008 and suddenly people are expecting Sturt to make the grand final, maybe even win it. We are attracting quality recruits from all over. Our juniors are carving it up. Memberships are up. Our investments are doing well and our financial position is much improved.
Macgowan played a huge part in all that, in his short tenure he has put us way ahead of the position almost everybody expected us to be at almost every turn. To my understanding of the situation he has been very good for the Double Blues and I wish him every success in the AFL.
Farwell Macgowan and all the best.

[Adelaide Hawk]

seems he has a history of walking out on clubs....

if I was a Hawthorn supporter I would not be impressed....

McGowan who?

he's done nothing so far......

Funny ... people said the same thing about Clarkson 4 years ago

[CUTTERMAN]

Well done Rick, good luck in Melbourne, I'm sure he'll do well along side Clarkson. He's been good for the club over the last 2 years, by all accounts he's been targeted by Hawthorn for quite a while now, so while I'm disappointed you can't blame the guy. Sturt has very good depth and I'm sure Luke Norman would do a good job as coach if that is what is to happen.

[Wedgie]

On the money as usual No Mercy and also as per usual SAFooty days ahead of the Advertiser!

[TigerBoss]

Here's the full article, written by Zac Milbank in the Tiser:

STURT coach Rick Macgowan has shocked the Double Blues, revealing he will leave Unley for AFL club Hawthorn. Also chased by Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson – whom he played under at Central District – this time last year, Macgowan has accepted a coaching role with this year's premier.

Reluctant to let the Double Blues down, Macgowan finally buckled after Clarkson continued to pursue his services this month.

The Hawks, with Todd Viney and Barry Mitchell leaving Clarkson's coaching panel, needed one more assistant having already lured John Barker back from St Kilda.

Macgowan will guide the Hawks' talented midfield brigade while also acting in a development role at Glenferrie.

"Alastair's a very aggressive man and I said to him: 'Can you wait two years'?," Macgowan said last night.

"Because I feel the job hasn't been done here and I was very disappointed this year.

"But he said he's not going to ask me three times so I had to take it. It's very hard because you get attached to the players and it's a hell of a lot harder leaving a group of players as a coach compared to when you're a player.

"I can see so much potential in the next two years here (Sturt) so it's really hard. I haven't spoken to them (players) yet because they're away on a footy trip and I've just got back from a holiday myself.

"I guess you've just got to do what's best for you sometimes."

Sturt president Richard Allen said the club was prepared to release Macgowan from his contract to advance his career at the elite level.

"He's (Macgowan) been fantastic through the whole process and the way he's gone about it has been sensational," Allen said.

"We're devastated to lose him but when you get an opportunity like that you can't hold them back. We know there's that link between Rick and Alastair (Clarkson), that's been there since Rick started with us. They're good mates and have a close working relationship from their days at Central."

Allen said the board would waste little time in advertising, and head-hunting, for Macgowan's replacement.

"We'll work out the advertisement and have it in the papers on the weekend," said Allen, acknowledging Sturt's reserves premiership coach Luke Norman would be a strong candidate.

"We'll look around ourselves as well as advertise, what we're doing already is working out people we can target."

Macgowan's influence on Sturt has been profound since he assumed the coaching mantle at the end of 2006, a season in which the Blues won just three matches.

In his first season in charge, Macgowan catapulted Sturt into the finals on the back of a 12-8 win-loss record, only to bow out in the elimination final.

In 2008, Macgowan's charges finished third after completing the minor round ranked second on the ladder with an impressive 15-5 win-loss record.

Sturt is also edging closer to appointing a chief executive – to replace outgoing Stuart Totham – and its inaugural under-18 coach.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

I can't blame Rick for making the decision to take the next step. He's been great for our club and leaves it in a position of enormous strength across all grades.

Disappointing nonetheless...

[maxyoz]

he is committed to Sturt for next year.

Noble "committed" to the GFC board a week before he accepted the Crows position in 2004...

Don't get started on this again, Tassie. Facts and Press Releases - 2 very different things.

[TigerBoss]

he is committed to Sturt for next year.

Noble "committed" to the GFC board a week before he accepted the Crows position in 2004...

Don't get started on this again, Tassie. Facts and Press Releases - 2 very different things.

No room for facts on this site Maxy...or in anything written by Ben Hack in the Sunday Mail.

[JK]

Good luck Rick....liked him as a player and even more as a coach.
To think we could have had him at Norwood but chose......

Do you know who to blame for that or at least had a large influence

You're going to say Dale Lewis I suppose?

[Bluedemon]

it is disapointing for Rick to leave when the job is half finished, he would have liked to leave with a premiership for the club. the ground work he has done is fantastic and is setup for the next person to take over.

[FlyingHigh]

While disappointing for Sturt, it will be interesting to see how Rick without AFL playing experience, and whether that will have an effect. We have had a good crop of young-ish coaches in the SANFL over the last few years who have been solely or predomninantly involved in this league.

[Dutchy]

Firstly his name is Macgowan
Secondly he's going nowhere in the near future
Thirdly the Hawks announced today that former player John Barker is joining the coaching panel.

[TigerBoss]

G

"Yeah but, I'm his best mate and all that, and I was just protecting him".

Can G also protect Ricky Mac from the Sturt Cheersquad?

I'm off to play tennis with the Woodies.

[Pseudo]

he is committed to Sturt for next year.

Noble "committed" to the GFC board a week before he accepted the Crows position in 2004...

Don't get started on this again, Tassie. Facts and Press Releases - 2 very different things.

and contracts are another thing again.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Good luck Rick....liked him as a player and even more as a coach.
To think we could have had him at Norwood but chose......

Do you know who to blame for that or at least had a large influence

You're going to say Dale Lewis I suppose?

Wasn't THAT a wonderful choice?

We had a veritable "who's who" lining up to coach the Redlegs that year and we went for Dale Lewis.

[Barto]

and contracts are another thing again.

especially with out clauses in them.

[sturtpeter]

Good Luck at Hawthorn, Rick.

Sorry to see you go...but..Goodbye and All the very best.

[wycbloods]

Best of luck Rick at Hawthorn. I hope you enjoy your time their and i think you will make a great AFL coach at some point in the future. Also good luck to Luke Norman when he gets the league coaching gig.

[sturtpeter]