When Chris Scott was named coach of Geelong in late 2010, the Cats released a fascinating criteria document which broke down the job description for the new coach and what percentage of his time would be taken up with each element of the job.
Interestingly, the hard-core coaching element came in at about 25 per cent of his time.
Over at Collingwood, we’re not sure what the key performance indicators are to determine how Nathan Buckley is performing in his job, but it would not surprise in the least that over the course of a year, he has to regularly devote a percentage of his time to deal the following.
- The aftermath of his president shooting his mouth off.
- The mess following various episodes of tip rat behavior by his players.
Buckley is one of the great people in footy. Calm, measured and purposeful are three of his many admirable traits, but pretty much every season, he gets sidetracked by events he neither instigates, nor condones.
A season already so complicated has come off the rails in the last few weeks. It started with Jeremy Howe’s knee injury, a unfortunate football-related event and Buckley knows well enough that these things happen.
But the Steele Sidebottom shenanigans, which president Eddie McGuire inflamed with his ham-fisted remarks over the last week or so, the resurfacing of the Heritier Lumumba racism controversy and then Jordan De Goey’s indecent assault charge are issues that make life so difficult for Buckley.
In a way, he should be used to it. McGuire is forever talking up the size and importance of Collingwood, but with the braggadocio comes the inevitable scrutiny. And there’s no escaping that ‘Collingwood’ and ‘controversy’ seem to go hand-in-hand, not just this season, but every season.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Pies. This week they face Hawthorn, who they have beaten just once in their last 13 encounters. Missing Howe, Sidebottom and De Goey, they’re a bit short-sticked and they need to work out why Mason Cox can hardly get a kick. The big American’s career is reaching a critical juncture.
But they do get the Hawks coming off a five-day break and also in their favour is that for all the tired, old gags about the Pies not knowing the way to the airport, they actually play quite well on the road.
They’re 26-19 under Buckley outside Victoria. The road mentality actually suits the Pies and they enjoy getting out of the at-times intoxicating Victorian bubble, even if it is partly of their own making.
But we're used to seeing them produce something special on the road and the sneaking feeling here is that they're primed to do so again this Friday night.
It’s also a big weekend for…
1. Queensland clubs
The Lions are now second favourites for the flag and on exposed form, justifiably so. But their last four wins have all come at the Gabba and the lingering question remains as to how they’ll fare away from home. Geelong at the SCG on Thursday night could not have come at a better time. The Suns are 3-2 for the third straight year and we know what happened in 2018 and 2019. Beat the Dees on Sunday and they’re firmly in the finals discussion. Lose and it will be hard to suppress the sinking ‘here we go again’ feelings.
2. The northern markets
It’s a strange season and this is a strange weekend. Five games of footy in Queensland and four in New South Wales, with the home teams all out of town. TV ratings for AFL games north of the Murray have been excellent so far this season, so the interest now will be how that translates into match attendances, particularly at the SCG, which is hosting a neutral game for the first time since 1981 and the Gabba, whose only ever non-Brisbane Bears/Lions game was also in the same year.
3. Simon Goodwin
Can he coach? It’s not just Melbourne supporters who are asking the question, with Melbourne’s gameplan under increased scrutiny. The lack of on-field adjustment as Richmond players went down the count last week was disheartening for Melbourne supporters and just another grievance to add to the perceived lack of kicking ability and questionable defensive running. Goodwin’s every move, both at selection this week and then on Sunday against Gold Coast will be heavily scrutinised.
4. Jack Riewoldt
He’s in the hub, but with some reservations. And with a pregnant partner and young daughter left behind in locked-down Melbourne, who can blame him? But the Tigers need him more than ever as they take a decimated team into their clash with the Swans. Trent Cotchin, Toby Nankervis, David Astbury, Shane Edwards, Bachar Houli, Dion Prestia and perhaps Tom Lynch will all be missing. That represents a ton of experience and leadership, meaning Riewoldt will need to be a huge presence in the lead-up to and during this one.
5. St Kilda
The Saints are built for speed and it was the right way to go when the original AFL schedule for 2020 had them listed for 14 games on the slick, speedy Marvel Stadium surface. But the revised fixture throws them a curveball and they might not see preferred indoor deck for some time. How will the ‘run-and-gun’ fare outdoors on the road? In their only game away from the Docklands, they were pulled apart by a (then) disciplined and organised Collingwood. On Saturday, it is Fremantle at Metricon Stadium. On paper, the Saints appear to have the edge in talent, even with Nat Fyfe returning for the Dockers. The biggest hurdle the Saints might need to overcome is their preparation. They’ll be leaving their Noosa base at 7.30am ahead of a 12.30pm start on the Gold Coast. Two hours plus on the morning of a game is not the ideal lead-up.
TIPS
Geelong v Brisbane (4)
Collingwood (10) v Hawthorn
Fremantle v St Kilda (13)
Melbourne v Gold Coast (4)
West Coast (26) v Adelaide
Essendon (16) v North Melbourne
Port Adelaide v GWS Giants (10)
Richmond (9) v Sydney
Carlton v Western Bulldogs (14)