Drubbing it could be that they already know that as tough as it was for them as a player, it is going to be a lot tougher as a coach. Fellas who think outside the square are not exactly welcomed into the fold of coaching these days, add in a bit of casual racism, and is it really worth what it will put you and your family through?
Josh Simpson was mentioned earlier in the thread, what happened to him is a result of that casual racism, combined with the 1 size fits all approach of todays administration. The ideal for some coaches is a squad of 6' 4" big bodied midfielders, chasing the footy from 1 end of the ground to the other. They should go and coach rugby or soccer and leave footy to the people who understand that the diversity of the game is the attraction of the game, both in player types and tactics and strategies.
It seems to me the more qualified coaches get the more they fit into the mould, rather than finding their own way in the game, witness the desire to copy the tactics of the latest premiership coach, rather than find a new style to beat that coach.