Pies make changes to football department
COLLINGWOOD has cut ties with high performance manager Bill Davoren and development coach Anthony Rocca as it overhauls the football department.
The pair last night joined chief executive Gary Pert and midfield coach Scott Burns (Hawthorn) on the departure list after missing finals for the fourth consecutive season. But re-signed senior coach Nathan Buckley yesterday met with retired Western Bulldogs’ great Matthew Boyd, 35, about his coaching options next season.
The pair caught up in a Melbourne cafe to discuss Boyd’s future in the game as he prepares to play in Sunday’s VFL elimination final for Footscray.
While there has been no formal offer from Collingwood, the decorated Bulldog and three-time best-andfairest winner looms as a possible addition to Buckley’s newlook coaching set up.
Davoren leaves the Pies after a four-year stint heading up their strength and conditioning department, following previous jobs at Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. The Pies last night said assistant coach Robert Harvey, development coach Tarkyn Lockyer and VFL coach Jared Rivers would continue to support Buckley.
Assistant coach Brenton Sanderson and academy boss Bradley Gotch were already contracted for next season.
Before inking his new twoyear deal as senior coach, Buckley said on Saturday there would be key changes at Collingwood this off-season.
“There’s going to be change around the place,” he said.
“Inevitably, even good people will come and go but the challenge of an organisation is to continue to build.”