Why Central District coach Roy Laird will be so sorely missed when he stand downs from head coach at end of season
An incredible era at Central District is to come to an end after seven-times premiership coach Roy Laird’s decision to stand down. We reveal why he will be so sorely missed at Elizabeth — and across the SANFL.
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If Roy Laird had his wish, he would pick up his bag and slip quietly out the Elizabeth Oval back door after his final game as Central District coach.
No fanfare, no media and no back slaps. His want immediately after the final minor round commitment against Port Adelaide at home next month would be some words with his players and support staff to say his days as Bulldogs coach were done, and then depart.
That is who he is and has been for the 17 years in charge of the team. His passion for the club is his No. 1 motivation, not any praise or money. In fact, it would be a fair bet he is the lowest paid coach in the SANFL.
This week, Laird made known this would be his final season as coach, bringing to an end the most incredible ride in the club’s history.
Recent years have been lean pickings for the Bulldogs, but there is not a club who wouldn’t take seven flags in 17 years.
Laird has cited those disappointing results in the past few years for his decision to stand down. That, and a battle to attract players to Elizabeth Oval. He takes ownership of recruiting.
Revealing his decision to stand down from the job this week went against his beliefs, knowing it means there will the unwanted attention. He loathes any attention.
This had to be the way though so the club could get organised to find a replacement.
“Roy has always put the club first, it has never ever been about Roy Laird,” long-serving Bulldogs chief executive Kris Grant said. “It has always been about the club.
“Roy is passionate about the Central District Football Club and passionate about the SANFL competition. He is very, very loyal and he is direct, he likes to call it as it is.
“To many people, he appears gruff, but for those who know him, he has a very funny sense of humour. He has been huge for the club and his record speaks for its self.
“ He just loves to see footballers who have a talent use it to the best of their ability and play at the highest level they can.”
It has been 32 successive years of involvement with the Bulldogs, starting in 1988 as a member of the under 19 side.
There were 87 league and 83 reserves appearances in a career disrupted by injuries, and after retiring in 1998 he took on the role of league runner for a year, then became an assistant league coach to Peter Jonas in 2000 when the club created history with its first flag.
He coached the reserves to the 2001 grand final and won the flag the next year, before being promoted to the senior job as the replacement for current Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.
Chris and James Gowans, who both played in all nine Bulldogs’ flags, praised Laird as a legend.
“If you want to compare him to the best, and we were lucky to play under supposedly the best in Clarko, he is every bit as good,” Chris said.
“He thought outside the box. He was hard, but he had the respect of everyone. He was fair as well.
“You just wanted to play for him, and he ticked all the boxes for me. We were lucky at Central, we had a good culture.
“He is humble how he plays it down, saying he had a good group of players, but he was a leader who brought them together. We were lucky to have him running the ship, stability was so good.
“To coach at the same club at that level for 17 years is unbelievable. He is a superstar.”
James said Laird was tactically as good as anyone and a tremendous motivator.
“He was hard, but fair,” James said. “He could rip into you, but you could then have a beer with him.
“You could call him old school, he had the same principles I was brought up with. He is my type of bloke, I love him.”
What you see is what you get from Laird. There is no sugar coating bad performances and he looks players in the eye and never minces his words.
To say he provides honest feedback is an understatement. However, as the years progressed in his tenure, it has become an issue and he has had a tough job adapting to the ways of the modern player. Those honest assessments don’t often go down too well with the younger folk these days.
Bulldogs captain Trent Goodrem said he had been super fortunate to play under Laird for 13 years and describes him as an unbelievable coach.
Goodrem said Laird was so passionate about the club and community and it was difficult not to be inspired by him.
“I’ve been in countless meetings, countless pre-game talks, and he still revs you up,” Goodrem said. “People see this hard edge and think he is all tough.
“But he is so tactical, so thoughtful how he goes about his business. He is direct and knows what he wants and what he expects from everyone.
“We have all been in that position of getting a spray and he is clear with his expectations of us. I have no issue with that at all.
“I’ve been fortunate to be captain and spend lot more time talking open conversations about the club, the team, the players and about how we going.
“I’ve also been really fortunate to get a different side of him. Those who know him well, know he is a funny man and a good story teller. He doesn’t mind a joke in front of the boys every now and then and the guys love it when he lets his lack of hair down.”