I am genuinely interested here in people’s opinions. I get a sense some think if you’re interested in another role, there is no possible way you’re committed to your current employer.

Edited September 12, 2025Sep 12 by Engorged Onion

I think they should definitely be able to pursue any position they like inside or outside the football industry but if you take up a role as a senior coach of an opposition team your tenure at the current club ends the moment you accept that job.

1 minute ago, Ted Lasso said:

I think they should definitely be able to pursue any position they like inside or outside the football industry but if you take up a role as a senior coach of an opposition team your tenure at the current club ends the moment you accept that job.

What’s the rationale @Ted Lasso ?

IP?

Optics of conflict of interest?

‘Mind elsewhere’?

Just now, Engorged Onion said:

What’s the rationale @Ted Lasso ?

IP?

Optics of conflict of interest?

‘Mind elsewhere’?

Conflict of interest largely. I mean if your long term best interests revolve around a different club being successful, naturally your bias kicks in and maybe you start trying to subtly recruit people. This can easily derail a club before a final.

it’s just more simple and clean to cut the cord and the club be aware you’re applying so plans are in place.

and... 😙

Easy, its not like his whole time would be taken up, if he had time to prepare and interview he will have time to implement some things off Cats time.

No different than handing in 2 weeks notice and working them.

Different answers for different clubs...

We're not in the same stratosphere as Geelong and there's zero risk of raiding their players. Gameplan wise I certainly hope we're not imitating the Cats. We don't have the cattle.

If we had taken someone from Brisbane or say Bulldogs and they were still in the finals you might have a greater argument.

The only argument you might have is "time on job." King will now be perusing our drafting/trading strategy which could take his eye off his day job

3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

I am genuinely interested here in people’s opinions. I get a sense some think if you’re interested in another role, there is no possible way you’re committed to your current employer.

I hope he is downloading and stealing all the IP he can get his hands on for the next 2 weeks.

10 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

I think they should definitely be able to pursue any position they like inside or outside the football industry but if you take up a role as a senior coach of an opposition team your tenure at the current club ends the moment you accept that job.

Agree with this. Once you're appointed head coach of one club you cease to be an Assistant at your current club.

I hope steven king is stealing a much ip, stationary and footballs each day at kardina park and putting in the boot of the car

Discussed this at work yesterday. Started with what is the role of an assistant and whether its doable in a somewhat reduced capacity. That is, if their structures and game plans are imbedded then it’s only in game tactical changes that need 100% focus to execute at the right time.

But we ended at: if your not with me, you’re against me.

It"s up to the club (employer) to decide. If I gave notice at my job I would be put on gardening leave.

King is obviously vital to Geelong's premiership tilt, otherwise, he would be out the door

If Fagan announced weeks ago he was retiring it would be ridiculous if yesterday King became the Lions successor and then in a fortnight had a foot in both camps in a Cats v Lions GF. But I just don't think him going to Melbourne's the same. Of course King will take knowledge from his time at Geelong (and GC and Dogs and Saints. I can't vouch for others but I still wanted to do my wbest on the last day of most of my jobs. Surely King still wants his current club and mates there to win this year's flag. Also if Melbourne doesn't quite work out a premiership as an assistant coach at a second club will look better on his cv if he looks at being assistant or senior coach yet again. While it would be nice if King virtually started yesterday as our coach there may well be a lot of great.... "learnings" he still gets in the next fortnight which ends up seeing Melbourne win the 2028 GF by a goal instead of losing it by that amount. Anyway I'm sure Geelong and the AFL have properly thought these scenarios through. ( I'm sure King and Neeld aren't the only assistant coaches that have been in this position.)

Am I missing something here?

He’s starting a new job next year, and seeing out his current job. It’s not a big deal.

We are not in the finals Not playing for 6 months absolutely no conflict of interest .

He starts work in two or three weeks. Then there is a conflict

44 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Am I missing something here?

He’s starting a new job next year, and seeing out his current job. It’s not a big deal.

It seems like you are.

You can't equate AFL coaching to any other job. As soon as he applied, his mind was with the new role, it has to be. If not, he doesn't get the gig (hello Nathan).

With respect to you, to say the job starts next year, is laughable.

58 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Am I missing something here?

He’s starting a new job next year, and seeing out his current job. It’s not a big deal.

Yeah you are. The new job starts today, not next year.

7 hours ago, Palace Dees said:

It seems like you are.

You can't equate AFL coaching to any other job. As soon as he applied, his mind was with the new role, it has to be. If not, he doesn't get the gig (hello Nathan).

With respect to you, to say the job starts next year, is laughable.

I wasn’t being literal.

Of course there’s a pre-season, and much to do before pre-season training begins.

But our players are not currently hanging around the doors of the club wondering where the new coach is. They’ve clocked off.

It’s a professional organisation. Anyone alluding to stuff akin to “where does his heart lie?” is being, too put it as kindly as possible, a bit romantic.

8 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Yeah you are. The new job starts today, not next year.

Lol. Well you might want to inform the club and our new coach of this, because they seem unaware of it.

7 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

I wasn’t being literal.

Of course there’s a pre-season, and much to do before pre-season training begins.

But our players are not currently hanging around the doors of the club wondering where the new coach is. They’ve clocked off.

It’s a professional organisation. Anyone alluding to stuff akin to “where does his heart lie?” is being, too put it as kindly as possible, a bit romantic.

Exactly. Why is he expected to be physically at our club when all his charges are on holidays? What’s he supposed to be doing right now?

This is how I see it: he’s loyal and committed to Geelong right now. Therefore loyalty and commitment are things we know we’ll get from him when he officially starts with us. If he jumped ship now, with Geelong preparing for a prelim, I would question his resolve .

Imagine if one of our assistant coaches up and left immediately a week out from a prelim. We’d be livid.

8 hours ago, Palace Dees said:

It seems like you are.

You can't equate AFL coaching to any other job. As soon as he applied, his mind was with the new role, it has to be. If not, he doesn't get the gig (hello Nathan).

With respect to you, to say the job starts next year, is laughable.

19 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Exactly. Why is he expected to be physically at our club when all his charges are on holidays? What’s he supposed to be doing right now?

This is how I see it: he’s loyal and committed to Geelong right now. Therefore loyalty and commitment are things we know we’ll get from him when he officially starts with us. If he jumped ship now, with Geelong preparing for a prelim, I would question his resolve .

Imagine if one of our assistant coaches up and left immediately a week out from a prelim. We’d be livid.

Right? Bizarre thread.

It's very common to apply and interview for a new job while in a current job and if you get offered the new job you often work out the notice period of your current job.

If the existing and new organisations are in competition then it's possible that the existing organisation will choose to let you go immediately, commonly on "garden leave". But that's not up to you or the new employer, you need to report to work out your notice - it's up to your current employer.

Please don't try to tell me AFL is a special case.

12 hours ago, Rocknroll said:

I hope steven king is stealing a much ip, stationary and footballs each day at kardina park and putting in the boot of the car

If he were doing anything of the kind, which I very much doubt, he is not the sort of person I would want at my club.

Ummm.. there was a reason to have a head coach appointment by now and no later. Obviously we need him to tick of which players to keep and target as well as recruit assistants. We are already playing catch up in that regard.

12 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Am I missing something here?

He’s starting a new job next year, and seeing out his current job. It’s not a big deal.

He isn’t starting next year, he is starting as soon as Geelong are out, either next Saturday or Monday week.

He will be with us throughout the trade and draft periods (even thought he isn’t the list manager he will have the usual input)).