Phil Smyth set to remain as Brisbane’s leadership mentor as Adelaide closes in on football department moves
Adelaide is considering appointing a former Australian batsman in a leadership role for next season, while Phil Smyth reveals why he’s likely to stay at Brisbane.
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He’s the ideal fit as Adelaide’s next leadership guru, but Phil Smyth feels there’s unfinished business as Brisbane coach Chris Fagan’s mentor next season.
Adelaide is moving to fill key positions within its football department following the exits of head of football Brett Burton and senior strategist Scott Camporeale.
Former GWS head of football Wayne Campbell is available to reunite with new Crows coach Matthew Nicks at West Lakes, but could be reticent to uproot family.
SANFL general manager Adam Kelly is yet to undertake any interview process regarding head of football.
The Advertiser understands former Australian batsman and Redbacks skipper Michael Klinger is being considered for roles as Adelaide’s Leadership/Culture head and national cricket selector.
The Jason Dunstall external football department review recommended the appointment of a leadership head.
Smyth was on the coaching panel that selected Nicks, which could complicate a leadership pivot to West Lakes for the Olympic basketball legend.
Adelaide’s inaugural leadership boss must direct a revised approach that tackles a culture of self preservation among players identified by Dunstall.
“I will probably stay with Brisbane this year out of loyalty to Fages and Danny Daly and coaches there. I was a player/coaches mentor, you can call it what you like, just a little piece of the puzzle,” Smyth told The Advertiser.
Smyth was coaching mentor to Damien Hardwick in Richmond’s surge to the 2017 flag then joined Brisbane for its rise from 15th to second after the minor round this year under Fagan.
Smyth said leadership appointments drawn from outside the system, such as Billy Slater at St Kilda or Cooper Cronk at GWS, worked with demarcation between skill sets.
“He will be terrific,” said Smyth of Cronk.
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“It’s okay if you are prepared to stay away from the intricacies of the game, bring skills from a certain area and not the whole cake.”
Nicks is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the coaching panel inherited from Don Pyke while options to recruit a senior assistant are limited.
Midfield coach Michael Godden has impressed at West Lakes and could be in line for a promotion.
“The reality is if you are bringing in senior assistants, most are signed for roles next year anyway,” Smyth said.
“My understanding in AFL is Nicksy could recruit a senior assistant coach if it was a higher position than someone already holds.
“He will come in, have a really good look and get a really good picture of where he needs to go.”