Outgoing Devils coach Adrian Fletcher makes no apologies for hard-nosed style

Parents raised concerns about his coaching methods but inaugural Devils coach Adrian Fletcher says he was simply raising the bar to give players the best chance of getting noticed by recruiters.

OUTGOING Devils coach Adrian Fletcher makes no apologies for doing whatever it took to make the state’s best teenagers competitive in the NAB League competition.

As revealed by the Mercury yesterday, Tasmania’s inaugural under-18 coach resigned from his post after just one season to return his Brisbane-based family.

However it is understood Fletcher’s hard-nosed style drew criticism from several parents of Devils’ players.

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Fletcher said he had no direct contact with parents about his coaching methods, but declared it was all about ensuring his players were aware of the level required if they were serious about forging a career in the AFL.

Adrian Fletcher. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“All I know is if you want to be drafted you have to set a high standard,” Fletcher said.

“Competitiveness is the first thing they [recruiters] look at on game day, then they look at intensity, then they look at skill, then they look at decision making and then they look at character.

“I have been in the system a long time. As a group we raised the bar, we made sure that they understood that they would be critiqued on game day.

“I love the players, they loved the environment, we were consistent with our performances so it was a happy environment.

“The NAB League sets a standard, so we coach our players to that standard of what’s required to play at that level.

“I think they understand what intensity looks like now, they understand what competitiveness looks like, they understand what resilience is.

“They understand it is a journey and they also understand there are opportunities in this state now.”

Despite the difficulties of sparsely having his entire squad training together — the Devils have three training centres based on the North West Coast, Launceston and Hobart — Fletcher does not think a centralised hub is required to take the under-18 program forward.

“I think the hubs work well, I think it connects all the communities around Tassie, we have some great people working in those hubs.

“They train together at the end of the week and there is positivity when they come together.

“We have set the foundations which is exciting for the Devils, somebody will get the baton, someone will put their stamp on the way they want to run it.”