Off-Season Musings: Gone in a Woosh! Worsfold Resigns; Nic Nat Endorses Burns

It has been a week now since John Worsfold resigned as Coach. The greatest contributor in the club's history, our 1 and only true icon, playing a leadership role in all 3 premierships (you get them when you win things Freo fans) called it quits after 12 years at the club.

I did start writing this post last Thursday, but I was feeling rather rudderless at that stage. But the dust has (relatively) settled now, so here we go.

Worsfold resigned. It appears of his own volition. One 'expert', quite probably full of crap, implies that he was pushed due to player unease.

I'm a cynical person by nature. But I don't see any evidence that Worsfold was given an ultimatum.

Although it did appear strange that he wasn't at the press conference, Worsfold released a statement outlining his decision:

"I have come to that decision around the fact I shouldn't do the job if I don't have the energy to give it absolutely everything; that wouldn't be the right thing for the club and basically that's where it got to.
It's not the right thing for me or for the club. The players will feel it, the staff will feel it, if the senior coach is not warts and all in. And that means emotionally you have to be right in, you have to be all over everything.
It has been in the back of my mind and I have been convincing myself that at the end of the season there's less intensity, you'll rekindle all the energy, you'll have a break and you'll be up and going again, but I just think it's time now.
I think I could do that, but I don’t want to have that doubt. There are plenty of people out there who are ready for this opportunity. This club will give them a wonderful opportunity.
My time is done as coach of this footy club. I couldn't have had a better time, I couldn't have asked for any more. I certainly couldn't have given any more."

So, as has been self-evident since the start of the season, the man does not have the passion nor energy anymore. It's been a strange season. He started off looking disinterested. He then shocked everyone by saying he wanted to coach on. Now, he has shocked everyone again by resigning.

But all that does not matter now. It's time to reflect on what an amazing person Worsfold has been for the Eagles. He may have ended his tenure on a very sour note on the field, with 3 of the worst losses you'll ever see, yet his overall record stacks up very well:

Coaching career
West Coast senior coach: 2002-2013
Games coached: 281
Games won: 149
Games lost: 130
Drawn: 2
Premierships: 1

Honours: premiership coach 2006

He built us up twice, from nothing, to premiers on one occasion and to a finals outfit on the other. He has been a superb leader, both on and off the field. You never got any hysterics from John. No moping like the Scotts, no abusing umpires at a kids game like 'Clarko', no jerkishness like Malthouse.

He has been an upstanding member of the organisation. He leaves a huge hole to fill, as coach and icon. He was loved by players and fans alike.

But all things must end. He made the right decision to quit, in that, if the desire wasn't there, the results would be atrocious. We saw that this season. But I say thanks to John and all the great things he has done for the club.

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Now where for the club?
- Burns?
- Sumich?
- Adam Simpson?
- Voss!?

These are names that have been mentioned. Naitanui endorsed Scott Burns. Not that you put much stock in that. He knows Burns, they're probably friendly, what else would he say?

In my opinion, the options are wholly uninspiring. If I was forced to choose, I'd pick Burns. He's highly regarded, he seems well liked by players and would hit the ground running. Conversely, the fact he was part of the system may count against him. He has been the midfield coach of a group which has been mediocre at best. The club may also want a complete clean out.

As for Sumich...not my type of fellow. It's personal in his case: I met him when I was a kid and he was rather on the rude side. Plus, doesn't he love the Dockers or something? I think the ship has sailed on this one.

Like Burns, Simpson is a well-regarded assistant at the Hawks. It's impossible for us to now his quality, but working under that angry gnome may be a good thing.

Then there is Voss. Out of all those mentioned, Voss would be the one I would be most afraid of.  Contrary to what the AFL media has been running about him being 'unfairly dealt with', the facts are these:

Games Coached: 109
Wins: 43
Losses: 65
Win %: 39.4%

The man had a decent first season, before absolutely wrecking the club with disastrous trading decisions. The man traded for Fevola...and Staker! Following that his teams have been the definition of mediocre at best. I think the Lions board did the right thing in firing him and we would be fools to give him a second chance.

So overall, we aren't in good shape. Regardless of who gets the gig, there are huge problems with our team. Putting aside the gameplan, effort and intensity issues, the talent deficit is obvious. The midfield isn't good enough, we are lacking an elite crumber and our backline looked especially vulnerable as the season ended.

Who do you want to be our new coach? Vote in the poll in the above right.

Off-Season Musings: Kerr-tains for Daniel the Eagle-hearted

Daniel Kerr has now officially retired. Kerr will join the list which has doubled in recent days to include Adam Selwood, Mark Nicoski, Andrew Embley, Ashton Hams and Brad Dick in hanging up the boots.

With all due respect to 250 gamer Embley and the tireless Selwood (and Dick who played a memorable...erm...ah...let me get my abacus...0 games) Kerr easily headlines that group.

As I remarked earlier in the year, after a completely unfathomable, unjustified and unfair attack on Kerr by Worsfold, I consider him one of the real giants in our history. 

He debuted in 2001 and as I recall he had hair. Beyond his follicles, I think it was clear from his early days that he was a player with exquisite skills, damaging pace and goal kicking ability.

But to me, his extraordinary talent, precision and vision were merely the superficial beauty of number 4. It was the man's toughness, his tenacity in the bottom of the pack and his ability to fight and never give up which will etch his name into the history books.

For me, his amazing goals are great. But that last-ditch tackle to ensure victory against the evil Swans in 2007 will live forever in my memory. 

 

Yes, we shouldn't forget the dark days. He wasn't a Saint off the field in his early days. Not that he was bad as the 'Saints' or anything, but he did partly  contribute to an unsavoury culture. He also endured a horror 3 year run, from 2008-10 where he was seemingly suspended or injured every other week. But I see those times as a reflection of the state of the club.

Source: Fanfooty

 In fact, I'd go further to say that the fact he stuck it out is admirable. I remember there were rumours of interest from Carlton (apparently the Juddas was willing to take a paycut) but Kerr wanted to stay an Eagle and he did.

He may have never won the Brownlow, finishing 2nd twice, but out of the big 3, Kerr is the Eagles Legend. There is no but after that statement. He stuck with the club whilst others left us for various reasons which aren't necessary to repeat here.

In 2011, there was the Kerr-surgence, as he played a critical role in lifting the Eagles from last to a preliminary final.

His final season wasn't great, but he was far from the worst player on the team. We were always better with him than without him. Unfortunately his body finally seems to have abandoned him, as he clearly had the desire to play on.

It's also a little unfortunate that his last game was against Essendon, a match which will not be remembered for his departure. On the other hand, I attended that game, a moment in our history and now the closing chapter in an illustrious career.

Thanks Kerr-y: Star, Legend, Eagle.