Hadn't thought of Ayres until article today.

Ticks the right boxes for me:

a) 'A' grader as a player with long(ish) playing history

b.) As a player, known for their hardness and attack on the ball

c) Premiership experience (preferrably as a player)

We could do a lot worse, and he presumably wouldn't demand the same $s as some.

thoughts?

Haven't seen his name mentioned around demonland until now.

You're right, we could do a lot worse. But we could do a lot better. Is he still coaching in the VFL?

Gary Ayres is coaching at port melbourne, he's been there for a while. Just saw an interview, where he said he is definatly intrested in the Melbourne coaching job, but not intrested in the adelaide one(been there before?)

He's been getting good results at port melbourne, i'd be happy to have him as coach.

Based on the OP's criteria, would prefer him as a player rather than a Coach. Ayres has had his day as a coach and been found wanting at the top level. We surely can do better than Ayres cant we?

Not for me. Nor Laidley or Eade.

I'd be seeing how Choco Williams interviews in a thin field.

Thought: no.

We could do worse, but not a lot worse.

Took over a good Geelong list - took it down.

Took over a good Adelaide list - took it down.

Ayres hasn't been a senior AFL coach for how long now?

Why is that, do you think?

Just like Matthews, he's been out of the game for far too long.

The game evolves quickly.

Ayres hasn't been a senior AFL coach for how long now?

Why is that, do you think?

Just like Matthews, he's been out of the game for far too long.

The game evolves quickly.

And Matthews was a successful coach (at two clubs) and Ayres wasn't (at two clubs).

NO

Coaching records of Ayres, Laidley and Williams make interesting comparison.

Ayres 223 games, 120 wins, 102 losses, 1 draw, 53.8%

Laidley 149 games, 72 wins, 75 losses, 2 draws, 48.3%

Williams, 274 games, 151 wins, 121 losses, 2 draws, 55.1% (Williams only won 21 games in his last 3 seasons out of 59 games coached)

I'd say Ayres stacks up about as well as 2 of the blokes under serious consideration.

Coaching records of Ayres, Laidley and Williams make interesting comparison.

Ayres 223 games, 120 wins, 102 losses, 1 draw, 53.8%

Laidley 149 games, 72 wins, 75 losses, 2 draws, 48.3%

Williams, 274 games, 151 wins, 121 losses, 2 draws, 55.1% (Williams only won 21 games in his last 3 seasons out of 59 games coached)

I'd say Ayres stacks up about as well as 2 of the blokes under serious consideration.

Maybe it's more to do with Beautiful people and coteries, that footy?

Both Geelong 1995 to 1999 and Adelaide 2000 to 2004 had mature lists and good players. Geelong wins went 16, 13, 15, 9, 10. Joe Bloggs could have taken over the Cats after Blighty and delivered those numbers. Adelaide went 9, 12, 15, 13, 8 (with several of those last 8 wins attributable to Neil Craig). See Geelong. He obviously could not, ahem, get the job done at either club and eventually lost the players at both; spectacularly so at Adelaide. Nor has he had any experience developing young players at either club. And nor does the VFL count. An experienced coach with a good list should be able to show good results at a lower level. And, and nor has he displayed any great talents in the media, for what that is worth, apart from a talent to spout clichés and refer to his players in the plural.

As an aside, lets see how Chris Scott does when the Geelong champs (Scarlett, the Coreys, etc) pull the pin.

Chris Scott got the easiest gig in coaching history. I could coach Geelong and they would still perform as they do. Well, maybe not quite, but you get the picture.

If Ayres had coached Port Melb to a premiership then I'd give him a second interview. Been in the coaching caper for too many years with no results. Pass.

Edited August 11, 201114 yr by america de cali

Would be great news for Shane Valenti at least.

Chris Scott got the easiest gig in coaching history. I could coach Geelong and they would still perform as they do. Well, maybe not quite, but you get the picture.

He may have but don't forget it was all doom and gloom at the cattery at the end of last season. Even their membership melted away dramatically in anticipation of decline. He's done a great job killing off that mentality.

I have an intense dislike for Gary Ayres.

If he actually were to become coach of the dees, I'd seriously have a hard time supporting them.

Fortunately there's no chance of that happening.

He may have but don't forget it was all doom and gloom at the cattery at the end of last season. Even their membership melted away dramatically in anticipation of decline.....

Melodrama at best. Even without Ablett, the Cats still had a formitable playing list with a number at their prime. Scott has done a good job but he would have realised that he has an opportunity to flag challenge within in the next 2 to 3 years

I put Ayres in the same boat with Eade, Laidley and other types who've never quite made it as senior AFL coaches.

They're the 'almost men'. We've been there, done that.

The only measure of success that people seem to have on here is premierships. So, let's have a look at the question in a new light - everyone seems to be in agreement that we want an experienced coach. None of the premiership coaches are available, so your choices are Laidley, Eade and Ayres. Are there others?

Ayres hasn't been a senior AFL coach for how long now?

Why is that, do you think?

Just like Matthews, he's been out of the game for far too long.

The game evolves quickly.

I don't agree. Is still in the game. Did pretty well at Adelaide and Geelong, record wise. Port has done well.

And unless there is a major character flaw don't you think someone who has been there stepped back, had time to refine and reflect, could come back in and be even better the next time?? His playing credentials are first rate.

I just think about if I went back to a previous role, work wise, I would be a lot better the second time around.

John Northey was better the second time around. SO were a number of coaches. Mick Malthouse for another.

I don't agree. Is still in the game. Did pretty well at Adelaide and Geelong, record wise. Port has done well.

And unless there is a major character flaw don't you think someone who has been there stepped back, had time to refine and reflect, could come back in and be even better the next time?? His playing credentials are first rate.

I just think about if I went back to a previous role, work wise, I would be a lot better the second time around.

John Northey was better the second time around. SO were a number of coaches. Mick Malthouse for another.

Yeah, I agree. It makes no sense to say that you've either coached a premiership or you're useless. Surely, there's got to be a hell of a alot of good coaches who haven't won a premiership.

Rodney Eade's consistent top four finishes in a club that doesn't spend nearly as much money as recent premiership sides certainly shouldn't be seen as a failure. A club like Melbourne should see a record like that as a step in the right direction. When was the last time we appointed a coach who had come off the back of such a record?

I still believe in the list of on-field talent we've accrued. The Bulldogs are a club with a similar recent history to ours. If Eade could do the same job with us as he did with the Dogs, wouldn't we be well placed for a shot at a premiership??

Edited August 11, 201114 yr by WAClark

Well I subscribe to Malthouse's theory that as a coach, if you're out of the game for 1 year, you're too far out of the loop.

That's partly my reasoning on Matthews too (also that he is not that astute tactically).

Don't ask for a link, because I can't remember where he said it.

Well I subscribe to Malthouse's theory that as a coach, if you're out of the game for 1 year, you're too far out of the loop.

That's partly my reasoning on Matthews too (also that he is not that astute tactically).

Don't ask for a link, because I can't remember where he said it.

I guess you don't rate coaching at VFL level as being in the game.

Gary Ayres is an undefeated coach this year in a stand alone VFL club.

That means he must be doing the right thing. Whether that is at an AFL level who can say, But he definately deserves an interview or phone call.

Could be a great assistant...Gary Ayres was a huge part of a Hawthorn dynasty...so i gotta give him some respect at least.