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Could Connolly be the new Smith?

warren dean
warren dean
in Melbourne Demons

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There appears to be very little support here for Connolly to coach the Demons. I must admit I'm not a fan based on his efforts with the Dockers. I had a look at Norm Smith's record with Fitzroy who he coached before he became Coach of the Century at the MFC. His record between 1949 and 1951 was 30 wins, 22 losses and 2 draws (no finals appearances). Connolly's between 2002-06 61 wins, 53 losses and finals in 03 and 06. If the club at the time had placed too much emphasis on Smithy's record at Fitzroy we may have missed out on the coach of the century! By the way, he had decent players at Fitzroy, including the Baron Ruthven who won the Brownlow in 1950!

Just something to think about!

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    Not really.

    different era's where players came from your zone so you got what grew up in your zones.

    connolly is a DUD!

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    Not really.

    different era's where players came from your zone so you got what grew up in your zones.

    connolly is a DUD!

    Don't really see the logic. Are you saying Smith would have been no good in the present era of drafting, or that Connolly would have been more successful if he had a zone of half of WA? For a more modern comparison, Connolly's record far outstrips anything Malthouse produced at either Footscray or Collingwood, yet he was very successful with the Eagles.

    Just saying Connolly shuld not be dismissed out of hand -other than his first year (02), when they were coming off the wooden spoon, he has never had worse than a 50-50 season. People talk about the quality of the Dockers list, but he inherited an ageing rabble.

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    Don't really see the logic. Are you saying Smith would have been no good in the present era of drafting, or that Connolly would have been more successful if he had a zone of half of WA? For a more modern comparison, Connolly's record far outstrips anything Malthouse produced at either Footscray or Collingwood, yet he was very successful with the Eagles.

    Just saying Connolly shuld not be dismissed out of hand -other than his first year (02), when they were coming off the wooden spoon, he has never had worse than a 50-50 season. People talk about the quality of the Dockers list, but he inherited an ageing rabble.

    Thank goodness the posters on here arn't selecting. . Its such a subjective job! I wonder if we would have been happy with Ross Lyon??

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    Im going out on a limb here...lol.. But id suggest our CEO and board are a little more level headed that that at St Kilda!!

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    just saying that you can not compare the 2, smith might have been failing at fitzroy due to zoning etc.

    connolly has a good list with no discipline.

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    just saying that you can not compare the 2, smith might have been failing at fitzroy due to zoning etc.

    connolly has a good list with no discipline.

    Fair enough. Agree that it is difficult to compare eras. Just making the point that success or failure at one club does not mean the same outcome at another. Although from the outside he doesn't seem to have been too successful with the Dockers, I must admit to getting around with the number 22 on my duffle coat in the mid 80's. I was devastated when he did his knee in round 5 of 1987 at Cararra against the Bears. It took him a couple of years to get back and then he did it again. He was a good player and I know why blokes like Lyon and Healy have a high regard for him.

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    He taught at my school and tried to coach our school football and couldn't even do that, even knowing where we played at our clubs and he still couldn't figure out where we should play.

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    He taught at my school and tried to coach our school football and couldn't even do that, even knowing where we played at our clubs and he still couldn't figure out where we should play.

    Sounds like a couple of other coaches we've had!

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    Fair enough. Agree that it is difficult to compare eras. Just making the point that success or failure at one club does not mean the same outcome at another.

    Agree WD. History tells the tale. Just ask Alan Joyce. You've probably noticed that the power of insight can be maligned.

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    Heretic!!!!!!!!!

    Absolutely no comparison.

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    Heretic!!!!!!!!!

    Absolutely no comparison.

    I just wonder how many Demons fans were happy with his appointment at the end of 1952 - and how many were calling for his head after his first season in charge when we finished 11th (in a 12 team comp) in 1953?

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