Central District coaching legend Roy Laird to end his career after game against Port Adelaide
Central District coach Roy Laird had to be convinced to take on the top job. On Saturday he will quietly leave the game as one of the most successful coaches in the SANFL’s history.
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Central District coaching legend Roy Laird will end his illustrious career with Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide at Elizabeth Oval, 17 years after he had to be pushed into the role.
Laird had been reluctant to take on the job because of his loyalty to Alastair Clarkson for the two years the current Hawthorn coaching guru was at the Bulldogs.
When the Bulldogs parted ways with Clarkson at the end of the 2002 season, they had already decided Laird would be his replacement.
Just two years earlier, former Sturt champion Daryl Hicks had stood down as Bulldogs’ reserves coach to allow Laird to take over, telling the club he was ready to coach his own team.
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Laird took the reserves to the 2002 flag and then, after being convinced to coach the senior side, began his phenomenal league career when he guided the club to seven more premierships.
Ian Callinan played in four of those glory years and was far from surprised with the response to the “heartfelt” text message he sent to Laird.
The reply to Callinan, who also played 32 AFL games with Adelaide before returning to Tasmania, was trademark Laird, claiming he won the premierships because he had the players and the players made the coach.
“That is Roy,” Callinan said. “He never wanted the limelight.
“He is the best coach I have had by a country mile. Just the way he led, expected nothing short of 110 per cent and he backed you all the way.
“We believed in him and he believed in us and that is why we had so much success.
“Tactics-wise he was very, very, very, very underrated. He could have gone to the next level quite easily but because he loved Elizabeth and the Dogs he never did.
“He is unbelievable, a father figure really, especially for me coming from interstate and how he made me feel so welcome. And not only me but my wife Lauren and son Jack at first, then Harry, he made us part of the family.”
Only coaching greats Jack Oatey (10), Jack Cahill (10) and Fos Williams (nine) have had more SANFL grand final triumphs than Laird.
The battle against Port will be his 358th game in charge of the Bulldogs, the club with which he played 87 league games.
Laird has a reputation as a straight shooter and it is an attribute which Callinan admires, believing it enabled the former rover/small forward to get the best out of himself.
“I wasn’t used to the sort of training midway through the year,” Callinan said. “It was a bit tough at first but he kept saying ‘back us in, this is what we have been doing for a long time and it has worked’.
“He never expected you to do something he would not do himself.
“I’d go to training early sometimes and he would be there setting an example.
“He is a straight shooter and what he says is what he means.”
Laird was an assistant for Peter Jonas when the former Bulldogs and North Melbourne star took Central to its historic first flag in 2000 to kickstart one of the greatest eras in SANFL history.
Jonas was an immediate fan, describing Laird as honest and loyal, “all those words Roy is renowned for” and someone he could completely trust.
He also had no doubt Laird had the goods to be a successful coach, even though he wasn’t too sure of himself taking on the job.
“I was confident he could do it, obviously (Bulldogs chief executive) Kris (Grant) was as well,” Jonas said. “He was really well organised, someone who could manage his job as well as coaching.
“That is something that stood out. He probably saw a bit of how I did it, how Clarko did it, but in the end he did it his own way, different to all of us and probably better than me.”
To coach for such a lengthy period and be successful means Laird would have kept reinventing himself, according to Jonas.
“His longevity is fantastic — to do it for 17 years is a massive effort,” Jonas said.
“He is a legend as a coach.”
Tributes to Roy
What more can you say about Roy Laird other than an absolute genius of a coach but more importantly, he hasn’t changed as a person and is one of the nicest people you will meet on and off the ground. He is what Centrals is all about, family orientated, passionate about the club and all involved, always caring, the way you look after everyone is very special. The fans and volunteers especially will miss you. Roy you have been a great servant and also had so much success and you have left the club in a better shape. You should be very proud of your achievements, and now its time to spend some extra time with the family and enjoy some beers on the hill now mate
— Darren Lehmann
Thanks very much for your fantastic contribution and effort towards our footy club over a number of years Roy. You’ve had great success and it’s thoroughly deserved. Congratulations.
— Stuart Dew
Proud to have been able to play under, coach with, and most importantly, call a mate. A loyal, selfless, single-minded genius. Hopefully now he might join us for a beer at the reunions.
— Daniel Healy
I’ve learnt just much from Roy as I have from my AFL coaches, he’s been amazing, he knows the game, knows the tempo, the gameplan, I feel even at times when we were down and out a bit he still had the enthusiasm and expertise to get the blokes up and about to win very important games.
— John Platten
He’s just community-first, that footy club for a long time has been the central part of the northern area and Roy has done everything for the club and in essence for the community. Being successful for such a long time gave people something to hold on to and be super proud and he’s driven that for 17 years.
— Paul Thomas
He’s an absolute legend of the club, the community, he is so passionate and proud. I feel privileged to have played under for such a long time.
— Trent Goodrem
Passion, pride and success for seven premierships, but most of all just a developer of footballers and men, and I’m sure there are many people thankful for that in their lives. — Jake Parkinson