Premiership coach Mark Williams has urged Collingwood not to make the mistakes of Richmond as the Magpies embark on a full scale club review.
After a disappointing 2016 season the Tigers employed audit and consulting giant Ernst and Young to oversee a review that resulted in the sacking of assistant coaches Brendon Lade, Ross Smith, Mark P. Williams, Greg Mellor and the former Port Adelaide premiership coach Williams, who was four years at club in the role as development coach.
The review paved the way for Damien Hardwick to coach the team for an eighth season.
Williams supported the Magpies’ decision to undertake a review of all aspects of its workings, but warned the reviewers had to be suitably qualified.
“It’s healthy (to have a review) as long as people aren’t accountants like Richmond got,” he told SEN Afternoons.
“Get some people who actually know what they are talking about that have been involved in lots of football clubs and have seen lots of different organisations as well the accountancy aspect of it.”
The future of coach Nathan Buckley will hinge on the reviews findings.
Currently 10th, and a game out of the eight with five wins from 11 matches, Buckley and his staff are under pressure after the coach pinned a finals appearance to his tenure beyond this season.
In Buckley’s favour is the fact that the two most publicised reviews in recent history – Geelong in 2006 and Richmond last year – endorsed the incumbent coach to retain his position.
Geelong went on to win three premierships under Mark Thompson while the Tigers have been the surprise packet of the year this season with seven wins under Hardwick.
Collingwood takes on Melbourne in Monday’s blockbuster Queen’s Birthday clash. Victory could lift the side into the top eight for the first time this year.