‘FLIGHTY’ COAST DOESN’T HELP CAUSE
A MEMBER of the dumped coaches association feels a lack of tradition could have contributed to the sackings of Gold Coast coaches Rodney Eade and Neil Henry.
Robert Walls, who coached the Brisbane Bears in their days at Carrara (now Metricon Stadium), feels that lack of tradition leads to lack of success which in turn leads to the axe falling on coaches.
Henry was dumped yesterday, only weeks after Eade was told his contract at the Gold Coast Suns (AFL) would not be renewed for next year.
Walls is adamant that sacking coaches is not the way for any sporting franchise to go.
“Not really, I think that’s the easy out,” said Walls, who was axed by Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond as a coach.
But failures to established strong local support has been a problem, he believes.
“I think one of the things is that on the Gold Coast a lot of people come and go,” he said.
“And even those who are there have been there only five, 10, 15 years, so no one has really grown up with a club.
“Having said that, the Bears were there for a few years and they went. The Suns have been there for seven years so it’s not a long time. I don’t there’s any strength of connection and I think that can take time.
“Other clubs have come to the Gold Coast – rugby, basketball, soccer.
“The Gold Coast to me is a bit flighty. People come and people go so established roots are not really there.”
— TERRY WILSON