Terry Wallace has named his Top 10 coaches of the past 50 years.
The Hawthorn great and former Western Bulldogs and Richmond coach has clearly set out his criteria for selection.
Plough said: “I ranked performances on field, not off field. The AFL rewards things like growing the game such as Anzac Day and Dreamtime games. They didn’t come into my assessment.
“I was not overly worried about games coached as you can see that either way. More games as a positive for longevity or more games means a lower percentage of premierships per games coached.
“One of my biggest positives for coaching was those who won flags at two clubs as to me that shows that they can impact their environments and change culture no matter what is placed in front of them.
“The ability to coach a club to their first ever flag was also a telling point which I also rated highly.”
Terry Wallace's Top 10 coaches of the last 50 years
1. Ron Barassi Jnr.
“I think this guy is still the Messiah of coaching. 515 games coached. Four flags, two clubs, the first ever at North Melbourne.
“It only took him four years to get his first premiership at Carlton, he went to North and it took him three years.
“In his first 15 years coaching, he never had a losing year, until he got to Melbourne.”
2. Leigh Matthews
“465 games coached. Four flags, two clubs.
“He broke the ‘Colliwobbles’, the run of outs for Collingwood. He won the first ever premiership up in Brisbane and also got a three-peat which is high up in the ranks.”
3. Allan Jeans
“575 games coached. Four flags at two clubs and a first ever premiership for the St Kilda Football Club.
“The big one for me was first ever at the Saints plus over two clubs.”
4. David Parkin
“518 games. Four flags, two clubs, a back-to-back and he came back to a club (Carlton) to win a flag a second time around.
“He’s done it at two clubs, done it twice at his other club plus had a back-to-back.”
“He was so learned about the game. He was the first to look at opposition analysis, coach-player feedback, no one else was doing that.”
5. Kevin Sheedy
“Four flags is a magnificent performance. Took him longer to get those but in fairness to ‘Sheeds’, it was over three eras.
“He did it three separate times by regenerating his footy club. Had a back-to-back victory as well.”
6. Alastair Clarkson
“Four premierships, a three-peat and over two eras. He got the 2008 (flag) then moves onto the other group to win more.
“I’m suggesting if Clarkson wins one more over the course of his time, he will be number 1 on this list.”
7. Tom Hafey
“522 games, four premierships. He was really good at Collingwood and did a good job at Sydney and Geelong but wasn’t able to add to the flags. So close at Collingwood with somewhat inferior sides.
“Four flags (with Richmond) still made him an absolutely magnificent coach of that era.”
8. John Kennedy Snr.
“Won three flags in 412 games so he did it in nearly half the time (as Malthouse).
“Turned a side that were almost a laughing stock, won their first ever premiership plus another two.”
9. Michael Malthouse
“Three flags, the first ever premiership at the West Coast Eagles and was able to do it at two clubs. The three flags over the longest period of time of the Top 10.”
10. Malcolm Blight
“Coached two premierships including the first ever for his club. Malcolm also coached five Grand Finals, the Cats got there but didn’t want flags.”
Listen to Terry Wallace name his top 10 coaches on SEN Drive in the player below