wedgetail wrote:whufc wrote:Want constructive
One thing I’ve observed since moving up to the Mid North is the Eagles (who I consider the on field benchmark over the last ten years) willingness to bring in ‘outsiders’ into their club.
Off the top of my head, Jade Sheedy, Brian Hairada, Daniel Schell, Corey Ah Chee have all been involved in the Eagles over the last heap of years in various roles. All quality football brains whose previous clubs didn’t impact on them having a role
I look at our club and see the bloke hired to coach the league team presumably the man for the job, the best candidate not allowed to bring in his people because ‘club legends’ would be out of gig.
I think we need a massive shift and be open to new ideas from other clubs. Hopefully Edwards is the first step in that but it has to happen right from the top down to the junior development officers, coaches.
Just an observation.
Brian Haraida has been a constant at the Eagles for 5-6 years now under 3 coaches - Godden, Lonergan and Sheedy. That gives you an idea of how much he is respected at the club. Also, Shane Reardon has been exemplary as a junior coach (mainly u-18's) for many, many years and although an Eagles man, the stability of his presence is gold.
Ben Kane ex Sturt is an assistant this year.
Sheedy also uses to great effect former players of the club for opinions, mentoring, advice such as Justin Cicollela, Steven Hall and Luke Powell which is great for club culture.
Is or was Ben Kane the main football coach at Henley High? Given the talent that comes through that school with much of it going to the Eagles (although Glenelg and Bloods also get a share of the players) having familiar mentors at the Eagles might help with attracting and/or pushing some of those kids through our system.