Mickan Coach of the year

[Adelaide Hawk]

Mind you it comes back to the old question whats more important to success the caoch or the players. Plenty of players have made good coaches and their have been coaches that have made good teams. Chicken and egg situation isn't it.

There has never been any doubt in my mind that great players make great coaches. Not the other way around. A coach has his role to play, but without the cattle he could never achieve anything.

Many coaches over time have been very successful at one club and a flop at others. I always recall Pat Reilly who coached the LA Lakers to great success in the 80s saying the players turned him into a successful coach. He went on to prove it at other franchises where he couldn't bring success.

Unless we are spending a lot of time at the inner sanctum of all 9 clubs and see first hand what each coach brings to his team, then we wouldn't have a clue which coach is performing better.

[zipzap]

I don't have a problem with the coach of the year being someone other than the premiership coach, I just think that while the season has yet to be played out that there is no need to do this just yet.

Spot on there. I do think Laird would easily claim the mantle of best SANFL coach at the minute though.

[cd]

This is the coaches own award so he has been judged by his peers - a bit like the players MVP.
I'm sure fans outside of the coaches would perhaps see coach of the year differently to the 9 league coaches who have decided Mark is the best of the group this year.

Congratulations to Mark

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Not sure I like the idea of the coach of the year being awarded before the season is over. A coaches prime concern is getting the team in the best position to win a flag I would have thought. Mickan may well still be worthy after the next 2 games but while there is a part of the story yet to be told this is one award I'd like to see awarded after the season.

Nah, I think it's fair. The coach of the minor premier should be named as such.

So if the Bays were to bow out in straight sets (of course it is only IF) and Roy Laird leads the Dogs to the flag from 3rd position, is Mark Kickan deserving of coach of the year over Roy Laird ???

I think it is best awarded to the Premiership coach, pretty simple I would of thought...

BTW... Just an honest post, not bias towards Roy because I'm a Doggies fan...

I think what you've suggested backs up my opinion. Let's say the Tigers go minor premiers undefeated and then bow out in straight sets... I'd say the coach whose team has won 22 matches throughout the year is the worthy recipient of the title "Coach of the Year". I'm sure I'm in the minority with this view...

[wycbloods]

I reckon your only exceptions to the rule are examples where a coach has completely reversed the fortunes of a club in the one season (which Mickan and MacGowan have, just not in 1 year).

Say Westies were to finish 3rd next year for example, well then Collins would have to come under serious consideration IMHO.

That would make him a miracle worker and should be in line for greater awards than coach of the year .

[sturtpeter]

Thoroughly deserved.

Let's hope Rick proves he's the Master on Sunday though.

[LPH]

Err... Coach of the Decade... Roy Laird

[eaglehaslanded]

This has to be a mistake - surely SANFL coach of the season has to be Ron Fuller

[TigerBoss]

Not sure I like the idea of the coach of the year being awarded before the season is over. A coaches prime concern is getting the team in the best position to win a flag I would have thought. Mickan may well still be worthy after the next 2 games but while there is a part of the story yet to be told this is one award I'd like to see awarded after the season.

Agreed.

[JK]

Shouldn't this be in the "Something for West Adelaide to be proud about thread"