Adam Simpson v Nathan Buckley: AFL greats debate who is leading the 2018 coach of the year race
ARE you more impressed with Collingwood’s return to form or West Coast’s fight? How about Damien Hardwick’s dominant Tigers or Brad Scott’s efforts at North? Check out who some of the game’s greats are backing for coach of the year.
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COACHING legends have backed West Coast’s Adam Simpson as the coach of the year ahead of the resurgent Nathan Buckley.
Four premiership coaches with a combined 10 flags were polled 3-2-1 by the Herald Sun with Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy the only man to award Buckley top votes.
“Because he was sacked 8000 times,” Sheedy told the Herald Sun.
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“I’ve never known a bloke to be persecuted by everybody. Buckley has overcome a truckload of problems. He’s had his team injured and it’s now knocking on the door.”
Simpson has steered the 13-4 Eagles to second on the ladder despite losing Josh Kennedy for six games, Jack Darling for four games and Nic Naitanui (knee) for the rest of the season.
“I always look at teams that overachieve,” inaugural winner Paul Roos said.
“From that point of view it’d be Adam Simpson. He’s my clear choice with where they sit, losing Naitanui, beating Collingwood.”
Mick Malthouse gave Buckley, his Collingwood successor, two votes and said Greater Western Sydney’s fightback should have Leon Cameron in the mix.
“I had (Collingwood) between sixth and ninth, and they’re third on the ladder. With Leon, I had them finishing on top,” the 2010 winner said.
“But they were hit so hard with injury and suspension that there was a period where they looked like they might not even make it.
“They’re not out of the woods, but he’s done a marvellous job to get them back.”
The Giants have won six of their past seven games.
Roos gave North Melbourne’s Brad Scott two votes, partly because he made “some really good moves” in the off-season.
“Again, I think everyone had them bottom four,” Roos said.
“He’s done a fantastic job with (Billy) Hartung in, (Ben) Jacobs is a big loss at the moment, but he talked (Scott) Thompson into playing on. I factor in all those sorts of things.”
Sheedy said Buckley, Simpson and Damien Hardwick were skilled before taking on the job.
“All three have done a proper apprenticeship to be a top coach,” he said.
“This is where the AFL has failed coaches in the past.”
Sacked coaches including Essendon’s James Hird stepped straight into the senior job.
“Simpson flies every second week from Perth and Hardwick actually handles coaching extremely well, whether it’s winning premierships or missing finals,” Sheedy said.
“I admire him because he’s got the club to 100,000 members. That’s because the Tigers have been hungry for 37 years.”
When Sheedy first met Hardwick at Essendon he worked as a Commonwealth Bank teller.
“He’s the best bank teller I’ve ever seen. I remember him taking money off little old ladies,” Sheedy said.
Roos said Hardwick and Buckley were hard to split for one vote.
He pointed out how fickle coaching was, with Toronto Raptors coach Dwayne Casey sacked before he won the NBA’s gong.
COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND YOU COULD WIN GRAND FINAL TICKETS
HOW DOES IT WORK?
* About 190 AFL Coaches’ Association members vote 3-2-1 after the preliminary finals
* Criteria includes available resources, player talent and team management
* Voting was pushed into the finals in 2016 after Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson failed to win the award despite coaching four premierships
PAST FIVE WINNERS
2017 Damien Hardwick (Rich)
2016 Luke Beveridge (WB)
2015 Luke Beveridge (WB)
2014 John Longmire (Syd)
2013 Ken Hinkley (PA)
HERALD SUN LEADERBOARD
11 — Adam Simpson (WC)
7 — Nathan Buckley (Coll)
3 — Damien Hardwick (Rich)
2 — Brad Scott (NM)
1 — Leon Cameron (GWS)
KEVIN SHEEDY
3 — Nathan Buckley (Coll)
2 — Adam Simpson (WC)
1 — Damien Hardwick (Rich)
MICK MALTHOUSE
3 — Adam Simpson (WC)
2 — Nathan Buckley (Coll)
1 — Leon Cameron (GWS)
PAUL ROOS
3 — Adam Simpson (WC)
2 — Brad Scott (NM)
1 — Damien Hardwick (Rich)
DENIS PAGAN
3 — Adam Simpson (WC)
2 — Nathan Buckley (Coll)
1 — Damien Hardwick (Rich)
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