How Bomber ‘DNA’ is driving their coaching success
Brad Cox-Goodyer’s progression to North Launceston coach was eerily similar to his predecessor Taylor Whitford. Both hope the outcome is the same - the club winning another flag on Saturday.
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Their progression to North Launceston coach was eerily similar, and former Bombers mentor Taylor Whitford reckons it’s a “no-brainer” Brad Cox-Goodyer would follow his footsteps.
Now coach at Melbourne’s VFL affiliate Casey, Whitford was Bombers captain under Zane Littlejohn (now at Box Hill), and they won TSL flags together in 2014-15.
After Tom Couch took the reins for a year Whitford was named coach in 2018, with Cox-Goodyer his captain.
They won a further two flags in 2018-19 and after taking over as coach in 2021, Cox-Goodyer hopes to add another when the Bombers play Kingborough in Saturday’s grand final at North Hobart Oval.
Whitford is renowned for his prowess with ‘x’s and o’s’, but Cox-Goodyer has made no secret building relationships with players is what he prides himself on most.
It’s something that wasn’t lost on Whitford when asked to name his former skipper’s strengths this week.
“From what I’ve seen, he develops really good relationships with his players,” Whitford said. “He’s got a good rapport with younger players, and the demographic of that list is still quite young.
“To have that skill set, to give them the freedom to just go out and play, it looks like it’s something they’ve enjoyed.
“One aspect he was always going to have leading the footy club was elite standards, which we’ve had at the club for a long time now on what we expect.
“He led that as a captain, and I’m assuming that’s something he’s doing as coach.”
BOMBERS BLOOD IN HIS VEINS
He may have departed a while ago now, but Whitford still says ‘we’ and ‘our’ regularly when discussing North Launceston.
He said the club prides itself on developing people from within.
“We’re not necessarily a club that brings in players from other clubs, we harness the junior program we’ve got with lots of participation and lots of talent,” he said.
“We put development into our people, we want to make our people better. We put time into Brad - he did his coaching courses while he was still playing, like myself. It gave him the opportunity in the back end of his captaincy that if he wanted to be the next coach, the opportunity was there.”
Whitford said plenty of credit should go to Bombers president Thane Brady for taking a punt on three previously unproven coaches in himself, Cox-Goodyer and Littlejohn.
“Thane has done an awesome job with the culture he’s cultivated, it was probably a no-brainer when I left to continue that,” Whitford said.
“The development the club gave me when I was still playing enabled me to have that opportunity.
“Brad was the same as captain. He would run some training sessions, he’d do his coaching courses, he was involved in coaching meetings.
“Developing from within, they understand what our coaching is, they understand what our habits are and they can continue to drive that.
“Zane and myself coaching in the VFL, it’s a great pathway and it comes back to the TSL and Thane giving us that opportunity.
“Thane took a chance on Zane on a young coach who hadn’t coached before, and the same with myself and Brad.
“It comes back to Thane and his leadership, taking a chance on a couple of kids who wanted to get better.”
RELATIONSHIPS KEY FOR COX-GOODYER
Cox-Goodyer lives opposite Whitford’s grandparents, and in the same street as his parents.
Both are gun players, with Whitford a four-time best and fairest at the Bombers.
They also juggle playing with coaching, and Cox-Goodyer still talks regularly to his predecessor.
While their ideologies are very similar, Cox-Goodyer said he takes pride in relationship building.
“That’s where Taylor and I are slightly different. Not that he isn’t great with people, but he’s good at x’s and o’s and drives standards,” Cox-Goodyer said.
“I’m not saying I don’t, but I try and put people first and lean on that a bit more. I’m a firm believer if you’ve got good people, you can create good footballers.
“You’ve got to drive your own ship, you can’t really do it if it’s not who you are. I’m relationships first.
“I’m lucky I’ve got a group I can be hard with and they respond to it, no matter their age.”
Cox-Goodyer said he tries to take advantage of Whitford’s access to an elite AFL program.
“When I took over as coach I bounced off his experience because it was very similar. He was captain as well before he took over, it was a similar scenario,” he said.
“I bounced off him what his week looked like, who he leant on, what he did as a player because he was still playing.”
Cox-Goodyer has won two Alastair Lynch Medals as the TSL’s best and fairest, when he would dominate in the midfield. Aged 30 he still has a huge impact up forward, winning the Hudson Medal this year with 53 goals.
Like Whitford did before him, he said taking a back seat to let others lead on the field was his toughest transition.
“Playing and coaching adds extra layers people don’t think about too much. You’ve still got to go out there and play, but your responsibility is you’re a coach first,” Cox-Goodyer said.
“We spoke about me learning to play different positions, and you don’t necessarily have to be the best player.
“It was a difficult transition for me to go from being a midfielder and trying to dominate games, to putting myself up forward or half-back so I can see the game a bit better. That was probably the steepest learning curve.
“I speak to Taylor all the time. Mainly around structure and game plans - the AFL is probably two or three years ahead of state leagues and he’s obviously at a very successful club.”
THE MAINLAND MOVE
Whitford, who guided Casey to this year’s VFL finals, said the move to Melbourne at the end of 2020 was a massive decision for him and his young family.
Wife Amy and daughter Olive (now three) were in tow, and second daughter Gigi (who turned two on Thursday) followed later.
He said the looming introduction of Tasmanian VFL and AFL teams is huge, not just for players, but coaches and other staff with higher aspirations.
“To have to pick up our family and two little girls to move Victoria, it’s not for everyone. It gives them a chance to do it in Tasmania,” he said.
“The AFL and VFL licenses will give Tasmanians a chance to ply their trade and not have to move interstate.
“I’ve loved my time up here and loving the opportunity, but it was a massive move for us.
“I’ve learned so much, being surrounded by the best of the best. I work closely with (premiership coach) Mark Williams here, that’s been awesome for me.
“I can’t wait to get back into it next year and go again.”
Whitford has no doubt Cox-Goodyer can eventually step up to the next level. Cox-Goodyer has made no secret of his desire to coach at the highest level he possibly can.
“Brad’s had the opportunity to develop himself and bring it back to a state league program, which is invaluable,” Whitford said.
“I’m not in a position to say I’m pro-TSL or not (with the league due to disband after next year), but I know what it’s given me.
“As long as there’s a clear pathway for players, coaches and staff where they can see themselves getting better.
“I don’t know half the (Bombers) team any more, but I support them like I do. Hopefully they can add to the trophy cabinet.”
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