Daniher To Quit As Coach

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Early last week, club officials appointed a review panel to determine the fate of Coach Neale Daniher. The panel was to have reported to the board at the end of July. Twenty four hours later, Daniher saved them the effort by announcing he would resign as coach at the end of the year.

Then on Thursday, the club announced that this weekend's game would be Neale's last at the helm. The team will be coached for the remainder of the season by assistant coach Mark Riley, who joined the Demons from West Australia in 2003.

The situation came about as the result of Melbourne's horrible loss to Richmond last week with Daniher slamming the players' performance in that game. Former players Garry Lyon and David Schwarze also put the heat on the players. Lyon said the players had to respond with a better effort against Essendon this week, while Schwarze said the embarrassing loss to Richmond did "...three years of damage in one game".

Lyon stressed that intent and player attitude was more important than the final result. Neither Lyon nor Schwarze were in favor of terminating Daniher's tenure midseason.

Daniher was appointed coach at the start of the 1998 season, taking over from caretaker coach Greg Hutchison. Hutchinson replaced Neil Balme who had been axed in mid-1997. He led the club to six finals series, including the 2000 Grand Final which it lost to the rampaging Essendon.

Daniher, whose contract expires this year, said his decision to step down would "stop a lot of...uncertainty" surrounding the club and the coaching position. He further said his decision was best for the club, the players, and for himself. He would like to continue coaching at another club.

Current favorites to replace Daniher are former Lion captain Michael Voss and current Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna. Fremantle Coach Chris Connolly could also be considered for the position should the Dockers decide against reappointing him at the end of this season.

Daniher, 46, said he enjoyed his time as Demon Coach and is satisfied he had done his best.

In a media statement released by the club, Melbourne Chairman Paul Gardner said the parting was amicable with all parties deciding it was best for all concerned. Gardiner also praised Neale's contribution to the club as the third longest serving coach behind only Norm Smith and Frank "Checker" Hughes.

Gardner said in the statement, “Across this span of service, Neale has shown passion, skill and expertise, often under trying conditions. His laconic manner often belied the intensity that he had for the contest, the game and the Melbourne Football Club...." two of my most enduring memories of Neale’s time as coach come from different ends of the spectrum. I can vividly remember the excitement, joy and relief when we broke a particularly bad losing drought by beating Geelong by one point at the dreaded Skilled Stadium, our first win there in almost a decade. I can also recall the dignity and compassion that Neale showed during the Troy Broadbridge disaster..."

(NOTE: Troy was a talented young defender who was killed in a tsunami which hit Thailand in January 2005 while Troy and his bride Tricia were on their honeymoon. - ed.)

Mark Riley played for Claremont in the WAFL. He was Claremont's assistant coach in 1993 and senior coach in 1994. In both those seasons, Claremont won the WAFL premiership. RIley then joined Fremantle as a development coach from 1995-1997 and as an assistant coach 1998-2000. He returned to Claremont in 2001-02 and won a coach of the year award in 2002.

Source: Melbourne Age ; Herald Sun; Leigh Newton, Club Media Release