Brad Gotch gives South Adelaide fans a reason to dream of SANFL glory
BRAD Gotch taught a successful lesson in his first season as coach of South Adelaide.
BRAD Gotch wanted to be a teacher when his school days were completed.
To be more precise, his wish was to be a physical education teacher. The opportunity did not eventuate, however, and Gotch had to look elsewhere for a career path.
Not that he had to look too far. Gotch was able to bury himself in football, playing 43 games for Fitzroy (before they became the Brisbane Lions) then half a season with Port Adelaide before having five seasons with St Kilda.
At 28, he decided coaching was his thing. There have been stints in the VFL and TAC, working with Mick Malthouse at Collingwood and two years at the Power, the first as defensive coach under Matthew Primus and then as the opposition analyst in Ken Hinkley’s first season.
Giotch, 52, concedes his dream of a senior coaching job in the AFL system has all but passed. The assistant roles were enjoyable, and educational, but he admits he wanted a team of his own.
When the South Adelaide gig became available after the Panthers released Ron Fuller, Gotch knew Noarlunga was the ideal next stop in his football journey.
Before he could apply for the position, however, there was the need to get the OK from his son Xavier, who he was reluctant to unsettle after being with the Panthers for three years.
“Xavier said if I was the best candidate then I should go through the processes,’’ Brad said. “So I got an interview and presented my case.
“South had a reputation for not being successful and not be as professional as they should be. I did my homework behind the scenes and I thought ‘wow, this is a great opportunity’. It would be a big challenge but it was an exciting challenge.’’
So Hickinbotham Oval became his classroom and he set about teaching his players the necessary lessons to become successful. He recalls his first meetings with the squad and selling the message of a new future.
“I wanted to be really strong,’’ said Gotch, whose wife Michelle still lives in Melbourne with their other two sons Sebastian, a member of the Adelaide Strikers supplementary list, and Jake. “One thing I learnt from Ken (Hinkley) is he is strong, decisive and sells a vision. We wanted to be successful for starters and then have a sustained period of success, not be a flash in the pan.
“I did a fair bit of work with the leaders and we spoke about training, game plans and behaviours. The second biggest thing was getting them all together to talk about the culture, cleanse themselves from what had gone on. That was the past, how do they want to be portrayed in the future?’’
Gotch’s education had an immediate influence, taking the club to the preliminary final to allow long-suffering supporters to dream.
He has his demands and standards, yet rarely rants and raves. Gotch says the three-quarter time speech in the preliminary final was lively but a rarity.
“All I wanted when I barracked for Fitzroy was to see them competitive,’’ Gotch said. “If they did not win but had a crack you can accept that. As long as you give your all.’’
All his words are delivered with a passion for the Panthers and an enthusiasm for a job he “loves”and hopes will be long term. It is the same dedicated, commitment attitude he has attacked each coaching role.
Every player in the navy blue jumper from three-times best and fairest Nick Liddle to the teenage kid without a league game beside his name gets the same treatment. That also goes for Xavier, who is no more important than any teammate when he wanders into the club. They are all made to feel welcome by the coach and communication is a key ingredient.
Gotch acknowledges the supporters and the need to give back to them on the field. He also talks honestly about the clubs in the Panthers zone and the desire to work with them, offering knowledge, advice and encouragement.
And he wants his players to take their game to another level this season.
“Don’t be fearful, take it on,’’ he has told them. Typical of Brad Gotch.