AFL Daily: AFL guru David Rath to help St Kilda with coach search
St Kilda has unveiled a five-man panel to select the club's next coach, which will include a key background figure during Hawthorn's golden flag era. RECAP THE DAY'S FOOTY NEWS
Michael Warner
less than 2 min read
July 25, 2019 - 7:12AM
David Rath (left) will help St Kilda find its next coach.
St Kilda has turned to an AFL official to help uncover the club’s next senior coach.
League coaching and strategy guru David Rath has agreed to join a five-man selection panel charged with finding Alan Richardson’s replacement.
Saints president Andrew Bassat, chief executive Matt Finnis, football boss Simon Lethlean and club director Dean Anderson make-up the selection sub-committee.
Rath was a key backroom figure behind Hawthorn's golden four-flag era before joining the AFL last year.
He helped devise a series of rule changes introduced by the league this season, including the contentious 6-6-6 starting positions system.
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt declined an offer to be part of the selection panel, which does not include a former coach.
Interim Saints coach Brett Ratten is in the box seat to replace Richardson, but former coach Ross Lyon has also been linked to a stunning return to Moorabbin.
Rival clubs believe St Kilda figures have seriously explored making a play for Lyon, who has been unable to convince Fremantle to extend his contract beyond next year.
Bassat said the club was “committed to a rigorous process and an open mind to potential candidates.”
“We feel we have the right people in place to oversee the recruitment of a coach who can drive us towards a second premiership,” Bassat said.
On Rath, the AFL’s Head of Coaching responsible for the level four coaching program, Bassat said: “David is highly respected across the industry and offers a unique insight given the leadership role he plays in shaping the current coaching landscape in the AFL.
“His inclusion, alongside the experienced members of our board and executive, gives us a good balance to begin the search for the next senior coach of St Kilda.”
Updates
STAT THAT LIONS CAN WIN WITHOUT HARRIS
Chris Vernuccio
Turns out Harris Andrews’ suspension may not be so costly for Brisbane afterall.
The key defender will miss Saturday’s AFL clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania after copping a one-game ban for striking North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey in the Lions’ victory over the Kangaroos at the Gabba last weekend.
Lions coach Chris Fagan has turned to Josh Walker to replace Andrews in the Lions’ backline as his team aims to stretch its winning run to six-straight matches.
Fagan says recent history would also suggest the second-placed Lions will do just fine without their key tall defender.
“Harris pointed out to me the other night he’s missed six games over the last 18 months and five of them we’ve won. So it’s actually a good sign for us,” Fagan said.
“No, I’m joking, but the thing is you’re going to have good players out from time-to-time.
“We had it a few weeks ago against Port Adelaide. We didn’t have (Luke) Hodge, we didn’t have (Hugh) McCluggage, we didn’t have (Eric) Hipwood but we were able to go over there and everybody played their role and we were able to come away with a good result.
“This week is no different. We’ve got our No.1 tall defender out but Josh Walker will come into the side and play that role.”
The Lions, meanwhile, have re-signed Dan McStay for another three years.
Geelong coach Chris Scott is confident the Cats will be easier on the eye this week against Sydney, but it won’t come at the expense of more important matters such as getting back on the winners’ list.
The playing group will now spend more than a week together for back-to-back interstate games against the Swans on Sunday and Fremantle on Saturday week.
“It’s the new normal to an extent,” Scott told reporters on Thursday.
“The reason for going to Perth straight from Sydney more was to take the opportunity, as we do most years, to have the best part of a week with an extended squad together and get ourselves organised for a tilt at the end of the year.”
Despite a recent downturn in form and scoring output, Geelong still sit a game and a big slab of percentage clear atop the ladder.
Scott admits the Cats were “boring to watch” in the 24-point loss to arch-rivals Hawthorn.
“Playing exciting footy is not our priority necessarily,” he said.
“I think over the course of a long period of time, well and truly before I arrived at Geelong, we have tended to play an attractive style of footy.
“But I don’t think it’s ever been at the expense of giving ourselves the best chance to win.
“I’d probably reference some of the good footy we were playing early in the year when we were well and truly up there in terms of the ladder for points for. “Was it daring footy? I’m not convinced of that either but I don’t resile from the fact that we were boring to watch and we took some options that weren’t our preference on the weekend.
“I don’t think we’ll be all-out attack this week, but hopefully the viewership will have a better time watching the hoops.”
St Kilda has unveiled a five-man panel to select the club's next coach.
AFL head of coaching and former Hawthorn strategist David Rath will join Saints president Andrew Bassat, chief executive Matt Finnis, football boos Simon Lethlean and club director Dean Anderson on the selection team.
Rath was a key backroom figure behind Hawthorn's golden four-flag era before joining the AFL.
He was a driver behind the series of rule changes introduced by the league this season, including the contentious 6-6-6 starting positions.
Club great Nick Riewoldt declined an offer to be part of the panel.
Interim coach Brett Ratten is in the box seat to replace Alan Richardson permanently but former coach Ross Lyon has also been linked to a stunning return to Moorabbin.
AFL GURU TO HELP SAINTS WITH COACH SEARCH
Chris Vernuccio
St Kilda has unveiled a five-man panel to select the club's next coach.
AFL head of coaching and former Hawthorn strategist David Rath will join Saints president Andrew Bassat, chief executive Matt Finnis, football boos Simon Lethlean and club director Dean Anderson on the selection team.
Rath was a key backroom figure behind Hawthorn's golden four-flag era before joining the AFL.
He was a driver behind the series of rule changes introduced by the league this season, including the contentious 6-6-6 starting positions.
Club great Nick Riewoldt declined an offer to be part of the panel.
Interim coach Brett Ratten is in the box seat to replace Alan Richardson permanently but former coach Ross Lyon has also been linked to a stunning return to Moorabbin.
PERTH TRIP TO HELP WITH CATS BONDING
Chris Vernuccio
Geelong coach Chris Scott is confident the Cats will be easier on the eye this week against Sydney, but it won’t come at the expense of more important matters such as getting back on the winners’ list.
The playing group will now spend more than a week together for back-to-back interstate games against the Swans on Sunday and Fremantle on Saturday week.
“It’s the new normal to an extent,” Scott told reporters on Thursday.
“The reason for going to Perth straight from Sydney more was to take the opportunity, as we do most years, to have the best part of a week with an extended squad together and get ourselves organised for a tilt at the end of the year.”
Despite a recent downturn in form and scoring output, Geelong still sit a game and a big slab of percentage clear atop the ladder.
Scott admits the Cats were “boring to watch” in the 24-point loss to arch-rivals Hawthorn.
“Playing exciting footy is not our priority necessarily,” he said.
“I think over the course of a long period of time, well and truly before I arrived at Geelong, we have tended to play an attractive style of footy.
“But I don’t think it’s ever been at the expense of giving ourselves the best chance to win.
“I’d probably reference some of the good footy we were playing early in the year when we were well and truly up there in terms of the ladder for points for. “Was it daring footy? I’m not convinced of that either but I don’t resile from the fact that we were boring to watch and we took some options that weren’t our preference on the weekend.
“I don’t think we’ll be all-out attack this week, but hopefully the viewership will have a better time watching the hoops.”
WALKER TO REPLACE SUSPENDED ANDREWS
Michael Randall
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan will replace suspended key defender Harris Andrews with Josh Walker as the Lions aim to extend their AFL winning run. The second-placed Lions travel to Tasmania to face Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday seeking their sixth win in a row.
Andrews is unavailable due to a one-match ban for striking North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey with Fagan confirming Walker would come into the team to face the Hawks.
Sydney co-captain Josh Kennedy insists the last five weeks of the AFL season are critical for his club, even though their AFL finals streak is about to end.
The hardy midfielder played 22 finals matches in his first nine seasons with Sydney, but the 6-11 Swans look certain to miss out on September action for the first time since 2009.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a different situation, it’s the first time that I’ve been in Sydney that finals are really unlikely,” Kennedy said.
“But it’s a different challenge and it’s really important for the next five weeks that we play really good football, that we get better every week and that we finish the year with some momentum to carry forward.
“I think it’s a really critical time for the footy club.”
For all their difficulties this season, 15th-placed Sydney havestill proven a tough nut to crack despite invariably fielding sides chock full of youngsters. “There’s certainly been games this year when you step back and think ‘gee, this is pretty exciting,” Kennedy said of the Swans young brigade.
– AAP
Jay Clark
Melbourne has signed highly-rated fitness boss Darren Burgess.
In a massive coup for the Demons, the former Arsenal and Port Adelaide high performance guru agreed to join the Demons yesterday.
As the new high performance boss, he will oversee the strength and conditioning programs and medical department ahead of next season.
It is a crucial role for the Demons who have suffered a glut of injuries and pre-season surgeries which delivered a massive blow to the club’s hopes of performing well this season.
However, with Burgess in charge, Melbourne hope it can get on top of the injury problems and climb up the ladder in 2020 after a strong pre-season.
Burgess parted ways with Arsenal last month after two years helping manage some of the highest-paid athletes on the planet.
He is considered one of Australia’s top fitness experts.
The Demons beat several overseas clubs, at least two other AFL teams and one A-League club for his signature.
Burgess will replace David Misson who will leave the Demons to live with his family in Canada.
LAST FIVE GAMES STILL MATTER FOR SWANS
Chris Vernuccio
Sydney co-captain Josh Kennedy insists the last five weeks of the AFL season are critical for his club, even though their AFL finals streak is about to end.
The hardy midfielder played 22 finals matches in his first nine seasons with Sydney, but the 6-11 Swans look certain to miss out on September action for the first time since 2009.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a different situation, it’s the first time that I’ve been in Sydney that finals are really unlikely,” Kennedy said.
“But it’s a different challenge and it’s really important for the next five weeks that we play really good football, that we get better every week and that we finish the year with some momentum to carry forward.
“I think it’s a really critical time for the footy club.”
For all their difficulties this season, 15th-placed Sydney havestill proven a tough nut to crack despite invariably fielding sides chock full of youngsters. “There’s certainly been games this year when you step back and think ‘gee, this is pretty exciting,” Kennedy said of the Swans young brigade.
– AAP
-GILBERT GARDINER
Is Chris Mayne Collingwood's most important player?
He might not be the best every week, or most talented, but Magpies premiership captain Nick Maxwell, now revered leadership guru at Melbourne Storm and Collingwood, has shared a glowing insight into "glue man" Mayne, a "really selfless team guy".
"He might perform at a certain level and he's not in the best few players in the team but his role every single week you just tick it off," Maxwell told the Fuelled by Fire podcast.
"You know he's going to do his job but you also know he's going to make other around him better.
"If he makes five people three per cent better that's 15 per cent more that you get as opposed to the five per cent that you get (from one person) in an extra talent, or extra leg speed, or extra goal kicking… it's important you identify those people and make them feel important and needed because it's one of the immeasurables."
Fuelled by Fire is the brainchild of Storm winger Sandor Earl.
The podcast, which launched last month, has featured guests including Richmond premiership forward Kane Lambert, Storm and Origin stars Josh Addo-Carr and Jesse Bromwich, self-help and motivational speaker Hugh van Cuylenburg, of The Resilience Project.
Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.
