WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM RICHMOND
On a glorious Melbourne day, the last for September 2017, the Richmond Football Club overwhelmed minor-Premiers Adelaide Football Club to send their long suffering supporters into a state of delirium and unbridled joy. A sea of yellow and black rose as one upon the final siren to ensure 37 years of heartbreak was eased with a comprehensive show of attacking football.
What lessons can community sports coaches or club committees learn from the Tigers rise from missing finals in 2016 to making history a year later.
Review. As with so many failed seasons, an expectation that the coaches head would be on the block was loudly called for by a frustrated supporter group. Damien Hardwick had been in the hot seat at Richmond as Senior Coach since his appointment in August 2009. Hardwick had a sound vision for the club since his appointment and took the Tigers to the finals series in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Review. Failure to fire in 2016 had the Tiger Army beating the drums for a change at the top and the club held a thorough review that identified that Hardwick was still the best man for the job. However, changes in support staff were immediate and a number of fresh faces were added to the Football Department including the experienced Neil Balme as General Manager - Football. The key administrator has a knack of turning around environments and Richmond would benefit in 2017 and follow on from Collingwood Football Club and Geelong Football Club having tasted success with Balme on board.
Review. A leadership consultant worked with Hardwick and Captain Trent Cotchin. Emotional intelligence, connection with the group, these were the learnings from a thorough 2016 review process.
These are but a few examples of the strategic review and plan to streamline the Football Department at Richmond. So how could a community club put in a review without the financial spend on consultants and culture experts?
Conducting interviews with the playing group could be a start. Perhaps there can be interviews by coaches, but also interviews by an independent party. The example of Richmond holding on to Hardwick in the face of discontent from the supporter group is a signal that the board had a review that stated the playing group loved their coach. A similar situation was the All Blacks coaching panel of Sir Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith continuing after the failed 2007 World Cup campaign.
Community Club committee's can gauge through independent parties the playing groups relationship with the coach. Rather than take the easy option and replace the coach, maybe extra support and professional development opportunities provide a steep learning curve and improved performance around the club or team.
If the coach doesn't have a mentor on hand, perhaps the club seeks out and finds a suitable person to act as a sounding board. At community level, there are often local representative coaches that are not hands on during domestic leagues and are often willing and able to mentor coaches and offer advice and support.
Lastly, it is when you are under the most pressure, when you are under the pump and the odds are against you that you find out what you have as a coach. When the season is lost results wise, that is when you earn your coaching stripes. For this reason, I encourage clubs and committees and boards - carry out a thorough review, results aside - your playing group may love turning up for your coach. If this is case, why not support the coaches vision and find the missing parts to execute the plan. I'm sure Hardwick believes the tough times and learnings gained in 2016 have shaped him as the 2017 AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
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