Two Bulls in a Paddock

What an ugly and demeaning expression that is.

They’re doing it at Collingwood, it seems like Port might be keen, and now it turns out that they tried to do it at Brisbane, failed to get the contract signed, but ended up with the bloke they wanted, when they wanted him, anyway. All of this succession planning is interesting but jeepers, what a beat up.

In the modern era of the game one club has one coach, or at least that’s how it appears from the outside. But things are always more complicated than they appear. Historically the coaching position was never so clear cut, there have been plenty of captain-coaches like Jesaulenko and Barassi, as well as formal and informal succession plans down the ages. And in the modern game the head coach might have the final say, but there are almost as many coaches as there are players at today’s football clubs. Fitness coaches, weights coaches, midfield coaches, kicking coaches, etc. As well as directors of coaching, welfare officers and the like. The players don’t seem to have any trouble figuring out who is boss.

Perhaps the media are the only ones who have a problem with it? Presumably because they are not sure who to hassle for a quote or whose resignation to call for when things are going pear-shaped. Or perhaps its just because anytime they put Collingwood on the back of the newspaper they sell more copies.

I predict that the next two years will be all sunshine and roses down at Collingwood, as long as the team keeps winning. Come round 6 2011, if the pies aren’t in the top half of things, then it will take significant board level intestinal fortitude to not give Mick the boot and install Nathan a smidge early. We shall see...