Former Adelaide Crows back a return to senior coaching for Neil Craig at Western Bulldogs

FORMER Crows coach Neil Craig described as the ideal coach for the Western Bulldogs by those who worked with him at Adelaide.

Essendon training and media oppPicture Wayne Ludbey.Paul Chapman and Neil Craig,

LONG-SERVING former Crows coach Neil Craig has been described as the ideal coach for the Western Bulldogs by those who worked closely with him at Adelaide.

Craig, whose odds of being appointed to the Bulldogs job were yesterday slashed to $2.75, is the second favourite to be the next coach at Whitten Oval behind former Hawthorn assistant Luke Beveridge.

Craig has spoken to the Bulldogs and it is also understood he will be considered as a mentor to a rookie coach, which creates an option of Craig and Beveridge working together.

Former Adelaide chairman Bill Sanders, who rubberstamped the appointment of Craig ahead of the 2005 season, could not think of a better person for the Bulldogs to recruit.

``If he’s in for it, he’d be an ideal type for their footy club,’’ Sanders said. ``Craigy can coach; I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.

``I’m sure Essendon would endorse that as well as the Melbourne people.

``It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he was offered that job. He’s the sort of person who would make an impact, for sure.’’

As highly as they though of Craig when he departed West Lakes, Sanders predicted he would make a better coach today.

Not only had he been exposed to more football programs, he had now developed a deep understanding of the Melbourne landscape after stints with Melbourne and Essendon, where he now works as the performance general manager.

``He’s now got a good grounding in what the Victorian scene is, the vagaries of Victorian football’’ Sanders said. ``And he’s also got a national understanding.

``I would think that if the Bulldogs had the chance to get somebody of his status and experience they should go for it.

``It’s a skinny field when you look at the people who have that sort of experience and that respect in the game.’’

Michael Doughty, who chalked up 231 games for the Crows, said Craig had qualities that would be invaluable at the Bulldogs.

Doughty remains in the game as a player manager with Elite Sports Properties, and as a player he did not come across a thorough coach.

``He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,’’ Doughty said. ``He has the ability to fast-track players his intensity is as good as any.

``He’s a workaholic, just loves it. For all of his experiences of developing a list and his time in Melbourne he’ll be more rounded, having sat behind other coaches and given feedback to coaches.’’

Craig’s coached Adelaide from late in the 2004 season, resigned after feeling his tenure was hurting the club after a 103-point loss to St Kilda in Melbourne in July 2011.

He is the longest serving coach in the Crows’ history.

Beveridge has accepted a position as coaching director at St Kilda for 2015, but that contract has a standard out clause should he be offered a senior coaching role elsewhere.

Originally published as Former Adelaide Crows back a return to senior coaching for Neil Craig at Western Bulldogs