KNIGHTS TO HEAD WEST
MIDS COACH DEPARTS CATS:
CHANGE has begun as Geelong rebounds from its disappointing finals exit, with long-time assistant coach Matthew Knights departing for West Coast and three players preparing to exit.
However, Geelong will not part ways with forward Gary Rohan, who quietly signed a new deal late in the home-and-away season.
Rohan’s two-goal, 13-possession effort against GWS in the semi-final was book-ended by a quiet qualifying final and a poor preliminary final where he was subbed out with a hamstring complaint after registering just one disposal. Rohan, 30, will join Rhys Stanley in gaining a new contract, with the ruckman to be handed a two-year deal.
Former Essendon senior coach Knights (right) joined Geelong in late 2011 and coached the VFL side to the 2012 premiership before moving into an assistant role with the AFL side.
Knights, a champion Richmond onballer, has overseen Geelong’s midfield since 2015 and will take on the same role in the west.
It would be the first shake-up to the coaching panel in years as the Cats generally favour stability off the field.
The assistant coach is not the only person to depart, with Josh Jenkins on the way out after just two games in two seasons since crossing from Adelaide. Ben Jarvis and Cameron Taheny are reportedly set to follow suit as delistings.
The Cats began exit meetings the day after Friday night’s preliminary final pantsing at the hands of Melbourne, with roughly half the travelling contingent then returning to Victoria from Perth on Sunday.
The next departure from the club could be chief executive Brian Cook, who has been heavily linked to the same role at Carlton.
Cook was retiring from the post at Geelong and will be replaced by Steve Hocking, but the legendary administrator had planned to stay with the club in an advisory role.
Knights said he would miss his time in the hoops.
“I loved coming to work every day, to work with dedicated players, coaches and staff,” he said.
“West Coast has offered me a great opportunity, and while I’m excited to head to the Eagles, I will miss the Geelong Football Club.
“I wish everyone at the club every success and thank everyone for the support and friendship that I have enjoyed since first walking in the door.”