Port Adelaide’s match-day strategist and AFL journeyman Phil Walsh is the new coach of Adelaide, appointed today for a three year term.
He replaces Brenton Sanderson, sacked three weeks ago, with a clear brief – immediate results.
Crows Chairman Rob Chapman said the full Board had no hesitation in endorsing Walsh as Senior Coach.
“The feedback we have received from across the competition reinforces what we already knew – Phil Walsh is a quality individual and an outstanding football person,” Chapman said.
Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said Walsh was a perfect fit for the current playing group.
“Phil is a respected figure in the AFL and the right man to lead our Club down a path of sustained success,” Fagan said.
“Our search was thorough and intensive and he emerged as the standout candidate, possessing an astute football mind and team-first approach.”
Walsh said he was honoured to become the Club’s seventh Senior Coach.
“I would like to thank the Board for its belief and trust,” Walsh said.
“As a career coach, I am ready for the ultimate test and 100 percent committed to this fresh challenge. Success doesn’t come looking for you.
“You must chase it as a team, with a focus on hard work and elite habits.”
The announcement was gazumped by Adelaide’s arch rivals, Port Adelaide, when Port President David Koch revealed the move on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program just after 8am.
Walsh was the last man standing after Adelaide’s selection panel interviewed Port Adelaide and Hawthorn premiership player and current Sydney midfield coach Stuart Dew, Crows fans favourite Nathan Bassett and Hawthorn assistance Brendon Bolton.
Bassett was interviewed in Melbourne on Wednesday, but unlike the other contenders he wasn’t invited to make a second presentation to the board yesterday.
Walsh’s selection was “announced” by Koch on his Channel Seven Sunrise program, indicating that Walsh had notified the club that he had got the job and required to be released from his contract at Port.
So, who is Phil Walsh?
Walsh joins the Crows from Port Adelaide where he held the position of Midfield Manager in Season 2014.
Walsh, 54, spent the previous five years (2009-2013) at West Coast as Strategy and Innovation Coach.
This followed an initial 10-year stint at the Power where he was regarded as playing a pivotal role in the club’s 2004 premiership.
He started his 20-year coaching career overseeing strength and conditioning at Geelong in the 1990s.
From Hamilton in country Victoria, Walsh was also a talented player.
The wingman played 122 games for Collingwood, Richmond and the Brisbane Bears, winning the Bears inaugural best and fairest award in 1987.
He doesn’t drink and he rides a bike to work.
Port midfielder Robbie Gray hinted Friday that Walsh might be on his way to Adelaide.
“Walshy has been massive for us this year. He took over our midfield and he takes our leadership meeting and he does quite a bit around the club, so he’d be a massive loss,” Gray said at the club’s best and fairest count.
“He’s as tactically as good as they come in the AFL. I have no doubt he could take on a head coaching position.”
One thing Walsh might want to do is put a GPS on the Crows players, lest he loses them.
Sanderson, apparently, had “lost the players”.
His predecessor Neil Craig got the boot after he apparently “lost the players”.
This followed the troubled run of Gary Ayres who had “lost the players”.
Oddly, Ayres has no problems losing players at Port Melbourne nor does Neil Craig have such issues at Essendon where he assisted Mark Thompson in a tough year.
The sacking of Sanderson and the reasons given suggests the board wants immediate results; finals or nothing – it’s a tough pass mark for a first year coach, but Phil Walsh is now the man with the job that probably four weeks ago was the farthest thing from his mind.
Over at Essendon, meanwhile, they can’t get rid of their coach.
James Hird will stay Essendon coach for the time being, the AFL club announced on Monday afternoon.
The club released a statement only minutes after Hird had ended a day’s work and left their Tullamarine headquarters.
There had been widespread speculation that the Bombers could sack Hird on Monday following his decision to appeal against last month’s Federal Court verdict.
That put Hird and Essendon at odds, because the club opted to accept Justice John Middleton’s ruling.
“The board met today and resolved to retain its existing football structure in the immediate term,” Essendon said in the statement.
“Chairman Paul Little said there were several complex matters of significance currently in progress, being the Federal Court Appeal by James Hird and the expected re-issuing of show-cause notices by ASADA.”
Little was then quoted: “as such, the board believes it would be potentially reckless to make any decisions of significance until there is further clarity on these crucial matters.
The board recognises the rights of James to pursue his appeal of the recent Federal Court decision.
“James remains senior coach of Essendon and will work closely with other members of the football department during this particularly important trade and planning period in preparation for the 2015 season.”
Little added Essendon hope the ASADA process can finish by the end of this year.
“The board has set no timeframe on further considering these matters, however, will monitor developments as they occur,” he said.
“After discussions with key relevant parties, we remain hopeful the ASADA process can be expedited and completed prior to the end of 2014.
“In the meantime, we will continue to provide all available support to the players and their families.
“The board understands the uncertainty ongoing media speculation creates for our members and supporters.
“We recognise there are many different opinions on these matters and reaffirm the board is committed to acting in the best interests of the club and its members.”
Essendon, it appears, is looking for a way to sack the coach, keep the players and not have to part with too much money in payments for contractual breaches.
