New assistant coaches at the Demons?

[neolightveo 10]

On 26/10/2024 at 09:55, The Jackson FIX said:

They’ll be holding onto any major announcements to align with the release of review-findings. Including Jonesy.

 

Probably released on the Monday before cup day, after the evening news.

You know this for sure? 

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,608]

10 hours ago, neolightveo said:

You know this for sure? 

Looks like it. Let’s hope review findings come today or Monday, makes sense to have chunk on baked before releasing to show we are being pro active.

 

Keep hearing how damming it is and that heads will roll, I’d say they’ve already rolled and that Bassett/Jones are seen as a key component of solution. 
 

Looking fwd to seeing Chaplin as the game day strategy coach in box. That’s surely the other change, can’t see it being Bassett.

[FreedFromDesire 936]

12 hours ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Looks like it. Let’s hope review findings come today or Monday, makes sense to have chunk on baked before releasing to show we are being pro active.

Keep hearing how damming it is and that heads will roll, I’d say they’ve already rolled and that Bassett/Jones are seen as a key component of solution. 

Looking fwd to seeing Chaplin as the game day strategy coach in box. That’s surely the other change, can’t see it being Bassett.

From what I understand, Jones will be midfield coach, Bassett backline, and Chaplin forward line coach, with the club hopeful of bringing in another coach to focus on strategy.

[FreedFromDesire 936]

20 hours ago, FreedFromDesire said:

From what I understand, Jones will be midfield coach, Bassett backline, and Chaplin forward line coach, with the club hopeful of bringing in another coach to focus on strategy.

This is official now. (Aside from the strategy coach part).

[DeeZone 9,538]

8 minutes ago, FreedFromDesire said:

This is official now. (Aside from the strategy coach part).

Thanks FFD what is your source??

[titan_uranus 24,963]

4 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

Thanks FFD what is your source??

The club's just published it on the website with the summary of the review findings:

Letter from Brad Green | Football and Board Updates

[demoncat 1,260]

20 hours ago, FreedFromDesire said:

From what I understand, Jones will be midfield coach, Bassett backline, and Chaplin forward line coach, with the club hopeful of bringing in another coach to focus on strategy.

Thanks FFD - any idea who the club might be targeting for that strategy coach?

I don’t mind Jones and Bassett - and promoting Radford - but I still think we could use someone with a bit more tactical nous, as it’s been an area of significant weakness the past few years 

[FreedFromDesire 936]

Just now, demoncat said:

Thanks FFD - any idea who the club might be targeting for that strategy coach?

I don’t mind Jones and Bassett - and promoting Radford - but I still think we could use someone with a bit more tactical nous, as it’s been an area of significant weakness the past few years 

I have absolutely no idea to be honest. I only hear snippets of info on the odd occasion, I'm not as on top of things as the handful of posters here who seem to get continually good mail. I believe the Jones appointment is, in part, in place as it allows us to bring in more coaches within the soft cap, hence the strategy role. Given what has been reported in the media recently, it could be the club has identified that as a better way to support Goodwin. You would hope they find someone for that role as soon as possible so things can be in place before the players return - assuming it's still a requirement.

[spirit of norm smith 16,171]

MELBOURNE has welcomed two additions to its AFL coaching panel, appointing Nathan Bassett and Nathan Jones for the 2025 season.

The duo will join AFL Senior Coach Simon Goodwin’s team, with Bassett to oversee the backline and team defence, and Jones to head up the midfield.

They will accompany Troy Chaplin as part of next year’s line-up, who will make the switch to lead the team’s forwards, having spent the past seven seasons looking after defence.

Bassett arrives at Melbourne with experience aplenty, coaching across ten seasons in different roles at Essendon and Port Adelaide.

He joined the Power as a defensive coach ahead of the 2016 season, spending the two years prior at the Bombers, before switching to look after the Port forwards in 2019.

The 47-year-old finished up his time at Alberton at the end of 2023, following eight seasons of service.

General Manager of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson said Bassett’s knowledge and perspective will be of significant benefit to the program and broader club.

“We are thrilled to have Nathan join our club in an assistant coaching capacity,” Richardson said.

“Nathan’s coaching experience over the past 15 years is incredibly impressive. From winning two premierships with Norwood in his early years of coaching, to spending time at Essendon and more recently Port Adelaide; we are excited by what he can add to our program, with specific focus on our backline and team defence.

“We look forward to welcoming Nathan, his wife Nicole and his children Charlotte and Will, in preparation for the 2025 season.” 

Melbourne will welcome home a favourite son in Jones.

The much-loved Demon, who is a Life Member and played 302 games for the club, had his first official taste of coaching in 2024, leading Peninsula Grammar’s Boys First team.

With an existing understanding of team structure and game style, Jones will return to help bolster the Demons’ stoppage work.

He will work alongside Sam Radford, with the pair aiming to maximise the group’s strengths, while integrating new talent into the midfield mix.

Richardson was equally as pleased to bring Jones back into the fold.

“It’s really exciting to be able to welcome Jonesy back to the club,” Richardson said.

“He has an incredibly thorough understanding of our foundations and the game, and obviously has some strong relationships within the program. He’s ready to hit the ground running and have an immediate impact.

“Jonesy is a passionate Melbourne person, and we look forward to welcoming him, his wife Jerri and kids Bobbi, Remy, Odie and Dove back to the club they called home for 16 years.”

Jones was drafted to Melbourne in 2005 and went on to play the second-most senior games in the club’s history.

He retired during the Demons’ 2021 AFL campaign after captaining the team across five seasons and being awarded three best and fairest titles.

Prior to coaching, Bassett enjoyed a 12-year playing career, initially drafted to Melbourne as a rookie in 1997.

He made the move to Adelaide the following season, where he went on to play 210 games across 11 years as a Crow – all alongside Demons AFL Senior Coach Simon Goodwin.

Retiring at the end of 2008, Bassett made the switch to coaching in 2010, taking up a position at Norwood where he was part of two premierships.

Bassett and Jones join the red and blue following the departures of Greg Stafford and Andrew McQualter in recent months.

[Demonland 71,114]

 

[Demonland 71,114]

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,676]

Will be very interesting to see how our forward line functions now with Troy Chaplin.

[DeeZone 9,538]

Received my email from the club it is a big read, interesting that midfield has Sam Radford and Nathan Jones sharing midfield coaching duties with Jonesy taking on the stoppage role, so pretty exciting.

[DeeZone 9,538]

18 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Will be very interesting to see how our forward line functions now with Troy Chaplin.

Agree BBP I have a lot of faith in Troy Chaplin, he has been excellent with our backline group and team defence hopefully he is just as successful in the forward line.

[Palace Dees 2,266]

No ruck coach in '25?

Presumably TBA.

[Travy14 1,910]

35 minutes ago, Palace Dees said:

No ruck coach in '25?

Presumably TBA.

Max Gawn

[Adam The God 30,026]

Really happy they've shifted Chaplin back to the forwards. As I've said a number of times now, he oversaw the highest scoring forward half in the league in 2018. I'm a big fan.

Bassett with our defenders is going to keep things going at that end, maybe even add a more attacking flair to our backs.

And whilst I'm not excited by the midfield coaches (would have preferred Teague), I like that they've broken the midfield into two line coaches. More hands on deck at midfield level will be handy, particularly given experience levels there in the coaching ranks.

There were hints in that Green email today that game style won't change dramatically, but be calibrated to the list we have. Which for me is forward half territory (based on smashing sides in the contest) and trying to turn the ball over through the middle part of the ground.

I think what we do with our two top 10 picks will be instructive RE our midfield. I'm not saying we won't pick best available, but if we feel our midfield needs more support, we might look to split that second pick.

Be interesting to see how our mids in particular set up next year.

[Little Goffy 14,399]

It was strange to recognise Sam Redford's name and then need to think for a moment why I recognised it. 

Tried some googling but can't find much info about what he's been up to since being a casualty of the Covid crunch.

Can anyone bring me (and all of us) up to date?

[Adam The God 30,026]

11 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

It was strange to recognise Sam Redford's name and then need to think for a moment why I recognised it. 

Tried some googling but can't find much info about what he's been up to since being a casualty of the Covid crunch.

Can anyone bring me (and all of us) up to date?

He was a development coach wasn't he? I looked him up a few months back.

[MrFreeze 1,944]

3 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

He was a development coach wasn't he? I looked him up a few months back.

Has a history at the club being a Casey and AFLW coach 

[Palace Dees 2,266]

2 hours ago, Travy14 said:

Max Gawn

Needs to have completed at least a level 2 to coach himself. 🙃

[Supreme_Demon 3,715]

While it great news to have Nathan Jones and Nathan Bassett (back) at the Demons.

I do feel a little bit underwhelmed.

Was David Teague not interested?

What's happening with Jimmy Bartel?

Who will be ruck coach?

Who will be strategy coach?

Will we have any other assistant coaches coming to the Demons?

Anyway, I am genuinely pleased at these announcements so I will shut up with any complaints. It is only the 1st of November and still early days.

[Demon Disciple 11,999]

20 hours ago, FreedFromDesire said:

it could be the club has identified that as a better way to support Goodwin.

Isn’t that meant to be a part of Richardson’s MO?

Better replace him soon then.

[FreedFromDesire 936]

2 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Isn’t that meant to be a part of Richardson’s MO?

Better replace him soon then.

Definitely a fair point, and could be a part of the reason his role was mentioned in the review findings. Will be really interesting to see what changes there. From what I understand though, and don't take this as absolute gospel, he has been a bit stuck in the middle in terms of who has been calling the shots, as in - he hasn't had the power to do the things his role really should do. My personal feeling is that is a small part of why Roffey and Pert are both no longer there but Richardson has remained.

My point about support though was that it has felt like we've had a smaller coaching group to some other teams. I'm not sure if that's completely accurate in terms of going over every club and counting them, it's just gut feel. The comments about Goodwin in the review and then the likelihood we'll have a larger coaching group were telling in my view. If they do end up adding in a specific strategy coach then I'll be really happy as it's been a clear weakness for us I think and having a coach solely focused on that aspect can only help.

[DeeZone 9,538]

16 hours ago, Adam The God said:

He was a development coach wasn't he? I looked him up a few months back.

I checked him out on Demonwiki Adam, he played a lot of footy with Parkdale and Sandy and has been coaching at St Bedes since 2011, also coached Parkdale to a flag, was also coaching VFL & VFLW at Casey, took over the senior role when Jade Rawlings moved to AFL but became redundant due to Covid when VFL closed down in 2020.

Must have very good footy development skills to have stayed the course probably works in close with the DNA under Choco as well. Interesting man and school teacher as well, augurs well for our younger brigade. That was also an area that the FD review honed in on, year 1-3 player development and leadership.