Four-time Olympian Phil Smyth says appointing a new head of leadership and culture would benefit Crows’ coaching team
Former Olympian Phil Smyth says the appointment of a new head of leadership and culture at the Adelaide Crows would be beneficial to coach Matthew Nicks and his team.
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Former Olympian Phil Smyth says there’s certainly a place for a new head of leadership and culture at the Adelaide Football Club.
The Crows are yet to appoint someone to the position, which was recommended to be created as one of the key findings of the external review into the club’s football department that was completed in October.
Earlier this month, one of the leading candidates for the role, former Adelaide 36er and now Trinity College director of sport Rupert Sapwell, revealed to The Advertiser he had withdrawn from the running after the two parties “couldn’t agree to terms”.
Ex-Redbacks cricketer and coach of Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades Michael Klinger is also understood to be one of the frontrunners, but in early January The Advertiser reported he had not been contacted by the Crows over the festive period despite Sapwell removing himself from contention.
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Speaking with Kymbo and the Rooch on SEN SA radio on Tuesday afternoon, Smyth – who was coaching mentor to Damien Hardwick in Richmond’s surge to the 2017 flag, then joined Brisbane for its rise from 15th to the finals last year under Chris Fagan – said there was value in the Crows appointing a new head of leadership and culture.
“I reckon it’s a play on words as to what that role really is,” he said.
“So Neil Balme for example at Richmond, and before that at Geelong, the role that he has just has a different title.
“I think there’s a place for it, and I think the place is being a buffer between the coach and the board, and the players and the board, in that you can do a lot of filtering.
“The coaches have to absorb lots of information … you need someone who can walk the floors, in and out of the corridors, keep the club upbeat.
“There’s 178 people, or however many, that work at the Crows – that’s not counting the football players and the coaches – they’re involved, they want to be upbeat.
“So, I think there’s a place for it.”
Adelaide is likely to have delayed appointing its new leadership guru because it plans to have new football manager Adam Kelly involved in the process – he was not due back at work until early January.
Smyth was on the panel that selected Matthew Nicks as the replacement for departed head coach Don Pyke, and will remain at Brisbane this year “out of loyalty to Fages … and the coaches there”.
Asked about a possible return to West Lakes next year in some capacity, the former three-time championship-winning Adelaide 36ers coach and four-time Olympian played a straight bat.
“I’m with the Brisbane Lions, I’ve been with them last year and this year, so I hadn’t given it a thought,” Smyth said.
“It comes down to the coach and those people, who they want around them and what they want.
“The coach at the time may not want that kind of person (around).”
According to the findings from the external review, led by Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall, Adelaide’s inaugural leadership boss must direct a revised approach that tackles a culture of self-preservation among players.