John Cahill says a lack of club structure was the main reason why he relinquished the coaching reins at Collingwood.
Cahill guided Port Adelaide to three SANFL premierships before moving to Melbourne to coach the Magpies in 1983.
After two seasons at Victoria Park, Cahill returned to South Australia to coach West Adelaide.
“There was no chain of command, there was no structure through the club,” he told SEN’s This Is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.
“I had players just drop at my door on training nights, ‘I’ve just recruited this player for you’. I couldn’t believe it.
“That wouldn’t happen at Port Adelaide. You’d go through the coach or the selection committee if we needed a player.
Subscribe to the SEN YouTube channel for the latest videos!
“But at Collingwood there was no structure whatsoever.
“I love Collingwood, I love the supporters, the administration could’ve been improved a lot.
“That was the bottom line, but I enjoyed it. I learned a lot.”
Cahill won 27 of 47 games in charge of Collingwood between 1983 and 1984.
He later coached Port Adelaide in their inaugural AFL season in 1997.