Wooden spoon to finalists
say they are on a par, but ultimately players play for coaches.
And the AFL basically inserted Noble into Brisbane, so while Swann and co can take the credit for a lot that has gone right at Brisbane, their footy manager was thrust upon them.
Not that anybody is complaining.
Noble and Fagan have become such a double act it is often difficult to separate the two. But first back to Leppitsch. There were mitigating factors behind the decision to recontract Leppitsch.
The Lions did not want a club legend entering the final year of a contract and the constant questions about the coach’s future that brings if the losses start mounting up.
It is the same situation Gold Coast now face with Stuart Dew, and the player grumblings and unhappy staff that is dogging the Suns at the moment were rampant at Brisbane as they headed into 2016.
Swann was ultimately the man who had to tap Leppitsch on the shoulder, but this time it came after a complete topto-bottom review of the club’s football operations.
That review identified a need for a senior football manager as well as a new coach, and found problems right across the football operations.
But Brisbane also have a bit to thank Leppitsch for. He backed in the kids. The likes of Andrews, Hipwood, Darcy Gardiner and Dan McStay all played every week under Leppitsch.
Even in his pitch as he fought desperately to save his job, Leppitsch told the club the framework for success was there.
Leigh Matthews’ actions in this period were significant. Matthews had offered qualified support for Leppitsch during the review period because he understood the need to find out if the young players on the list were up to the task.
It was how Matthews responded to the pressure on his former vice-captain that showed just how united the once fragmented Lions had become in a short time.
Rather than use his considerable influence in an attempt to rally support to save
I THINK WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THIS FOOTBALL CLUB IS REMARKABLE