‘Cream of the crop’: Bombers legend urges Devils to target coaching giants

Bombers legend and media commentator Matthew Lloyd has urged Tasmania to target the coaching “cream of the crop”, including two leading premiership mentors. Read who here.

Sydney coach John Longmire and Brisbane’s Chris Fagan address media on Friday before the AFL grand final. Picture: Mark Stewart

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd has urged Tasmania Devils to head hunt the “cream of the crop” in the search for their inaugural AFL coach, naming premiership mentors Chris Scott and John Longmire as ideal targets.

Speaking at South Launceston Football Club’s traditional AFL grand final luncheon on Friday, Lloyd said the Devils should shoot for the stars and work their way down in the hunt for their main man.

Scott, a two-time premiership winner, is contracted until the end of 2026 and took the Cats to the preliminary final in his 14th year in charge this season.

Longmire is preparing for his fifth grand final with Sydney against Brisbane on Saturday, and looking to claim his second flag.

Scott is regarded by many as the best coach in the game, but media commentator Lloyd believes if the league’s leading coaches feel they can’t win another cup at their long term homes, Tasmania should look to pounce.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd, Devils executive director Kath McCann, champion woodchopper David Foster and Geelong legend Sam Newman at Friday's South Launceston Football Club AFL grand final luncheon. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

“The best coach to take on the Tasmanian job, I just think you target the best,” Lloyd said.

“I’d be going after anyone who’s around the mark who potentially can’t get there (premiership at current club) and their time comes up.

“I’m talking Chris Scott at Geelong. If say he can’t get a premiership in the next year or two, could you try and prise him out of Geelong because they might feel his time is up as well.

“If John Longmire can’t quite get close in the next year or two (also). That’s the cream of the crop-type people I’d be going for if I was Tasmania.”

Lloyd warned Tasmania’s rivals the AFL will learn from their mistakes when setting up expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, and give Tasmania every possible chance for immediate success.

“Any successful club just needs great people. Brendon Gale (appointed CEO) is a fantastic start, and you need everything you can to hunt the best coach, best list manager, best development coaches,” Lloyd said.

Chris Fagan and Chris Scott exchange words after last week’s preliminary final. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“The AFL realises how difficult it has been for the Giants and the Suns, and they want the Tasmania Devils to be competitive right from the start.

“All the other clubs would want to get their ducks in order because the next few drafts are going to be all about Tasmania, and it’s an exciting time for the game.

“Everyone wants to get into this year’s draft because it’s a stronger draft than next year’s. Then after that it’s Tasmania’s turn to have the cream of the crop.”

Tasmania Devils executive director Kath McCann, also a guest speaker at the luncheon, said there was no shortage of interest from highly credentialed candidates.

“Certainly from a coaching perspective, both the AFL and AFLW, we haven’t been short of interest, and we haven’t been short of interest from people at the top of the game and the industry,” she said.

“We’ll be making sure that decision is taken very seriously and we get the best possible candidates for Tasmania, because we deserve it.”

Although he tipped the Swans to win the decider, Lloyd praised Tasmanian expat Chris Fagan’s efforts to guide Brisbane to a second straight grand final.

Geelong coach Chris Scott. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I think Chris Fagan has been the story of the finals series, the age he’s coaching at and the way they’ve won their games (comeback wins over the Giants and Cats),” he said.

“What I’m pleased about for Chris Fagan is he’s probably been questioned, and I’ve been one of them, for his tactical nous over time.

“The way the players speak about how Chris has driven their belief from the midway point of the season and the way they’re playing, he’s getting the recognition he deserves. But unless you’re a premiership coach you don’t get the full recognition.

“The relationships with your players is probably 70 or 80 per cent (of the job) and the x’s and o’s are the 20 per cent.

“That’s where Chris is a fantastic coach because of how good he is with relationships. The players love him and he puts so much confidence in his players.”