Preview of This Weekends Semi-Finals

With the departure of Denis Pagan from the Kangaroos - only three days after he coached the Roos in an Elimination Final against Melbourne last Sunday - the club is on the look-out for a new coach.

President Dr Alan Aylett declared on Wednesday that the club would “leave no stone unturned” in replacing Denis Pagan.

Contenders at this stage are:

Dean Laidley – gritty defender who played with West Coast before crossing to North Melbourne in the early 1990s. Laidley is currently assistant coach to Michael Malthouse at Collingwood.

Mark Harvey – Essendon hero who is an assistant to Kevin Sheedy. Harvey debuted in 1984 and played in that year’s Grand Final against Hawthorn, as a teenager with a mop of bleached-blonde hair (these days Harvey has let his hair return to its natural colour, though he still has that baby-face).

Rodney Eade – former assistant to Denis Pagan at Arden Street who went on to coach Sydney to a Grand Final in 1996 (against the Roos, who won). “Rocket” Eade played for Hawthorn.

Gary O’Donnell – former Essendon captain who currently assists Leigh Matthews at Brisbane.

Wayne Brittain – treated poorly by the Blues this week, the ex-Carlton coach will have earned admirers amongst the football fraternity with the way he handled the situation, despite being publicly humiliated. The Kangaroos may at least talk to him to assess whether he is interested in the role at Arden Street.

Paul Roos, who coached the Swans from mid-season when Eade “resigned” (read: was sacked) looks likely to retain the role as the Sydney administration appears to have gone cold on Terry Wallace. Wallace seems destined to spend season 2003 in the commentary box; despite declaring himself a “career coach” when he unexpectedly quit the Bulldogs a few weeks ago. The former Bulldog coach can hardly be considering the role at the Kangaroos, in light of the fact that he left the Bulldogs for the very same reason that Pagan left the Roos – poor financial situation and doubts about the long-term viability of the Club. In a word: money.

NB: Corey McKernan, who spent nine years at North Melbourne under Denis Pagan, left the Roos last year to begin a new career at the Blues and a fresh start (in other words, a coaching change)… Now his former coach follows him to Carlton.

Last night Corey won the Blues’ best and fairest award, a great effort considering he had a terrible start to the season. He thanked ex-coach Wayne Brittain on sticking by him throughout the season. Brittain attended because the players wanted him there, but the Blues board agreed only on the proviso that Brittain agree – in writing – not to say anything critical about the Board’s decision to axe him. Club President John Elliott’s attempts to rouse the audience’s enthusiasm with a toast for Wayne Brittain were embarrassing and tactless. John (Jack) Elliott faces a huge fight to retain the Presidency and media opinion in Melbourne today is that it’s time to “hit the road, Jack”.

This weekend

This weekend sees two semi finals; one in Adelaide tonight (Friday) and one in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Port Adelaide vs Essendon

Tonight Essendon travel to AAMI Stadium (formerly Football Park) in Adelaide to take on Port Adelaide. The latter, still stinging from their shock defeat to Collingwood last Friday, must win to not only to ensure their finals campaign stays alive; but to save face in front of a critical Port crowd. Last week’s loss to Collingwood amounted to four finals losses to Port, for four attempts.

Essendon’s season will most likely end tonight. The Bombers put on a brave show against West Coast last week, with gun forward Matthew Lloyd concussed, and injured captain James Hird not taking the field. This week both have been selected but Lloyd would have to be a doubtful starter, considering the headaches from his severe concussion only ceased midweek. The Bombers will be without defender Dustin Fletcher, who failed in his attempt to have his tribunal sentence of two weeks, for “conduct unbecoming”, overturned at appeal last night.

But, as season 2002 has shown, any team is capable of beating any other on any given day, and who’s to say that the cracks displayed in Port’s armour last week will not be exploited by Sheedy’s experienced Bombers?

Adelaide vs Melbourne (in Melbourne)

Adelaide drew the short straw and is the big loser of this year’s finals series, despite finishing third at the end of the home and away season. Having to travel to Queensland to face Brisbane last week, Adelaide now must travel to Melbourne from South Australia this week to take on the Demons. Even if they defeat Melbourne tomorrow night at the MCG, there is no respite for the Crows as they will then have to come to Melbourne again to meet a refreshed Collingwood in a Preliminary Final against a hostile crowd. Adelaide is a far better team than what it served up to Brisbane last Saturday night and will be keen to make amends. Melbourne, at home, will be hard to beat especially if the midfield serves the ball well to captain David Neitz, this year’s competition goalkicking leader (John Coleman Medallist).

-Jane Woolard
Melbourne