When it comes to good recently-retired champions to step into a coaching role, I can't think of a better candidate than that bloke they call Matthew Pavlich. It's a shame he's saying he'll step away from the game for the time being.
Lenny Hayes could be good - with the prior relationship with Ross Lyon. Or Bartel. We need a smart guy who set such high standards himself as a player, that the playing group would really listen to him, and aspire to reach the level he did. Brett Kirk was ideal. And note the drop in performance the year after Chris Scott left the Dockers. I think that's more important than ex-players touched by the golden glitter of premierships, but who, just because they were 'from a winning culture', may not be able to pass the magic onto our players.
Fitness and ball skills can be taught by most competent specialised coaches, and Ross has the strategies, but we need someone who eye-balls the players, and makes them want to take games on. It's as though the Freo lifestyle - and the five-year tenure - has softened Ross, he looks like he's too relaxed.
