Jay Clark: Leigh Tudor has brought success to every club he’s coached at, could be North Melbourne’s lucky charm

WHEREVER Leigh Tudor has gone as coach, success has followed. And for North Melbourne, having him this Friday could not be more timely.

North Melbourne training at Aegis Park, Assistant coach Leigh Tudor talks with Luke McDonald. Melbourne. 10th September 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch

YOU won’t hear Leigh Tudor ever shout from the rooftops about his coaching record.

The curly-haired former small forward has such an understated style that he would be all-but anonymous if not for that famous chip to Gary Ablett in the 1994 preliminary final.

It was a finals moment as unforgettable as Leo Barry’s mark.

But the fact is wherever Tudor has gone as coach, success has followed.

And for North Melbourne, having him in Brad Scott’s back pocket this week to tactically deconstruct his former side Sydney, and great mate John Longmire, could not be more timely.

The 44-year-old has been involved at four clubs since 2006: Geelong, St Kilda, Sydney and now North Melbourne.

Tudor leaps for mark during his playing days with Geelong.

In that period, he has been a part of six grand finals for two flags, plus a preliminary final and semi-final loss.

He has not taken a September holiday since John Howard was prime minister and Schapelle Corby was convicted in 2005.

We are not sure about his PowerPoint presentation skills, but it is a record that would suggest he is surely good enough to become a senior AFL coach.

If Melbourne has its sights set on Essendon’s Simon Goodwin, as we believe, surely Tudor is the next cab off the rank.

This year Tudor has had one job, and flourished again. He had to make North Melbourne defend better. It was the missing ingredient the club thought would help turn a team that has finished outside the eight last year into a genuine contender.

On Friday night, they play a preliminary final.

Tudor with fellow North assistant coach Gavin Brown. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The Kangas’ conceded an average 88 points a game last season. This year, it’s 79 points a game.

Scott has immense respect for Tudor.

All-Australian full-back Scott Thompson said Tudor’s recruitment had been vital to the Roos’ defensive improvement.

“His experience, in particular in finals, is hard to come by and now more than ever it is perfect timing for us,” Thompson said.

“Last year we were getting scored against too easily, so in preseason it was a big thing that we worked on and he was a big part of that.”

And what about drilling down on his old mates from the Swans this week? Sydney offered him a three-year deal at the end of last season, but Tudor returned home to the northern suburbs of Melbourne, in part for family reasons.

Thompson is happy Tudor, who started as a Kangaroos player before moving to Geelong, will be in the royal blue and white bunker this week.

“There will be some vital information when we have our team meetings throughout the week,” Thompson said.

Originally published as Jay Clark: Leigh Tudor has brought success to every club he’s coached at, could be North Melbourne’s lucky charm