Booney wrote:Was the Thomas appointment a comprehensive search for the best coach, or was it Thommo is available?
Given how quick he was appointed after Andrews was 'sacked / resigned' they clearly didn't go out to the market at any great level. Was hired within 2 weeks....?????
In fairness though Thommo would have been a very strong candidate at any SANFL club and most likely would have been the best man for the job given his onfield and Adelaide Crows / Henley High credentials.
My biggest concern was not that Thommo was appointed but the reasons why I believe he was appointed...….for me Andrews made the 'clubmen' feel uncomfortable. I know as 100% fact he had planned and requested to move on the assistant coaches and bring in his own. There are other reasons floated around for his sacking but I only know them as rumours and they have always come from third parties.
For mine the Thommo appointment was very much a boys for the job appointment albeit he may have been the best man. The dominos started to fall in place when Thommo was made redundant by the Crows and was given a coaching role at club against the plans of the current coach. At that point Andrews would have been able to see the inevitable ending.
I really don't know where the club goes if Thommo isn't 'the man'. I'm sure the club will give him much more time than they would ordinarily give a coach, they did this with Jonas which proved to be a gold club defining decision, they also allowed Lairdy to stay on which ultimately didn't prove to be as successful.
Its only early days but nothing I have watched on digital pass of the Dogs suggests that Thommo is the messiah, we had one week of new coach honeymoon, a plan that clearly didn't suit the cattle, and the blokes checked out with a few weeks to go in the season. You could count on one hand the amount of 23-27 year old players who improved significantly on what they have shown over the last couple of years, obviously there was some 'natural' improvement from the young 18-21 year old brigade.
He did a little bit of cleaning out in year 1, Menzel x 2 and Boyd. This will be his second off season and expectation around him keeping the decent players and bringing in some quality will be high.