As the football public brace themselves for possibly the best final series in a decade, the ‘silly season’ has come upon the fans a little early this year!
There are only two seasons in AFL land: ‘footy season’ and ‘waiting for footy to start again season.’ But lately, with the addition of the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney (GWS), a third category has emerged: the ‘footy silly season’. The time where rumour and speculation runs rife on who stays where and who leaves for what. Throwing a little caution to the wind, I will enlighten you with a few footy furphies, phantoms and fur-balls of my own regarding the 2012 AFL season.
A third of the league teams are actively looking for a coach. The boards’ of management these days are more experienced in sacking bad coaches rather than hiring good ones. Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and Port Adelaide are all hunting for experienced coaches to lead them into next year and beyond.
I can see Mick Malthouse putting his hand up as he will definitely not be coaching Collingwood next year. The Magpies would lose the plot if Mick wins them another premiership and then has to abdicate for Nathan Buckley. Successions can be re-negotiated and it doesn’t matter if Eddy ‘everywhere’ McGuire jumps up and down and insists that Malthouse remain a Collingwood man next year, it’s not going to happen unless he retains the coaching position. Who knows, Nathan Buckley may then decide to coach the ‘Dogs’ with his mate Paul Williams if Mick continues as coach of the ‘Pies.
Ross Lyon is a man that can build up teams as well as club structures. He has taken St Kilda to 3 grand finals and if he wanted to move on after this season, Melbourne may be his destination on a 5 year contract.
Rodney Eade could find himself coaching at Adelaide or Port Adelaide if Mark Bickley (Adelaide) or Matthew Primus (Port Power) choose not to continue their ‘part-time’ caretaker tenure into a ‘full time’ relationship with their clubs. However ‘Rocket’ Eade may land the prime position at Carlton, if Rattan’s Blues fail to win at least one final this year.
Other football greats who may be in the mix next year: Paul Roos, Gary Ayres, Matthew Knights and ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews to have another shot at a premiership or two.
Player movements will also provide a lot of interest in the off season. Trade week is going to be very busy this year, especially with Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast having precedence to the best of young talent in the draft before any other teams- way down the pecking order- have a crack at choosing their recruits. The two new clubs can exert enormous bargaining power having plum draft picks to trade for exceptional players from established teams, not dismissing the advantage of the new free agency regulation, where out-of-contract ’10 year’ players can play for anyone who offers them the right incentive, or more cash.
Luke Power, recently retired from the Lions may already be contracted to GWS as one of their co-captains, the other co-captain could very well be (surprise, surprise) Sam Mitchell from Hawthorn! Magpie premiership player Chris Dawes, could find himself at Carlton or Hawthorn and Bulldogs’ Callan Ward looks likely to sign for GWS next year.
Carlton’s Jordan Russell and Kane Lucas to Port Adelaide for John Butcher. Shaun Hampson from the Blues to go to the Bulldogs and Magpie star ‘Neon’ Leon Davies to leave Collingwood for either West Coast or Fremantle. Sidebottom and Beams from the ‘Pies may find new homes up north at either Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Tom Scully from Melbourne to GWS, Colin Sylvia from the Demons to the Suns and Saint Brendan Godard to the Sydney Swans or GWS.
Leaving the best for last, Brendan Fevola will play AFL football again. His recent goal kicking form with Casey at VFL level has been noted by many recruiters. Not only is the Fev doing well on the field, but his whole attitude to life has changed since his bad boy days and deserves another opportunity in the big time. The ‘Big Bad’ Barry Hall retirement opens the door for Fevola to take his place at the Western Bulldogs or (wait for it) if Jeannie Pratt has her way, he will be back with the Blues. I’m not always right, but I’m never wrong!