12 Outsiders for the Melbourne Coaching post

[The Red Fox 216]

Dean Bailey – Highly regarded at Alberton, Bailey was ready to step up for Mark Williams, who was in doubt to coach in round 10. A former Essendon player, Bailey has coached Mt Gravatt in the AFLQ and was a development coach at the Bombers. He has been with Port Adelaide since 2002 and was part of the Power's history-making flag in 2004.

Michael Broadbridge – Never played in the AFL, but forged a fine WAFL career with East Fremantle and Swan Districts. His early coaching highlight was leading the 1999 under-18 Western Australian team to a division-one title. He then joined Collingwood as an assistant coach under Mick Malthouse and has been a Fremantle assistant coach since 2004.

Peter German – Joined Fremantle this season after a remarkable coaching record with Subiaco in the WAFL. The former Kangaroos player coached Subiaco to the 2006 premiership and achieved an 82 per cent winning record in four seasons. He started his coaching career Burnie in 1995 and was previously an assistant coach under Ken Judge at Hawthorn and West Coast.

Tony Micale – Micale had great success as a coach in the WAFL. He coached East Fremantle to the flag in 1998 and then guided East Perth to three successive premierships in 2000-01-02. Micale joined West Coast in 2003 and was part of West Coast's premiership success in 2006.

Brendan McCartney – If Geelong is to go all the way this season, credit must be given to McCartney for his contribution, having been an assistant coach at the Cats since Mark Thompson's first season as senior coach in 2000. Before joining Geelong, McCartney coached Ocean Grove to four consecutive premierships from 1994-97. He was also Richmond's assistant coach in 1998-99.

Alan McConnell – McConnell, who played 37 matches for the Bulldogs from 1980-82, has an outstanding coaching background. He has coached at all levels of the game – including the AFL where he was Fitzroy's final coach – and he is now the head of the AIS/AFL Academy. He has also coached East Burwood at suburban level, been an assistant coach under Gary Ayres and Mark Thompson at Geelong and coached school football at Geelong Grammar.

David Noble – A key man to Neil Craig at Adelaide, Noble played two matches with Fitzroy in 1991. He was an assistant coach at the Oakleigh Chargers and then coached the NSW/ACT Rams. Noble was then an assistant at the Western Bulldogs for five seasons. In 2003-04, he coached Glenelg, before being added to Craig's coaching staff when he was appointed full-time for 2005.

Kelly O'Donnell – O'Donnell played 80 matches with Melbourne from 1979-84, before guiding the Murray Bushrangers to the finals six times in his eight seasons from 1993-00. He coached the Bushrangers to the 1998 premiership and joined Fremantle in 2001.

Alan Richardson – With Collingwood possessing one of the biggest coaching panels in the competition, Richardson has occasionally been overlooked with higher profile assistants such as Guy McKenna at the club. But Richardson is highly respected in the industry, particularly for his development work. He has also coached in his own right, guiding East Burwood to two flags in 1999-00. Richardson was also an assistant at Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.

Brad Scott – The 2001-02 Brisbane Lions premiership player may only be in his first season as an assistant coach, but already there are wraps on the former hard-nut defender/midfielder. He might be an outsider at this early stage, but down the track he looms as a senior coach in the making. A development coach at Collingwood, he has already played a key part in fast-tracking the development of Irish sensational Martin Clarke. He is a smoky in the smokies but definitely one to keep an eye on.

Darren Trevena – Trevena may have only been appointed Port Adelaide's assistant/development coach at the end of 2006 season, but he was a standout junior coach guiding Northern Territory to its first under-18 title in 2002. He then coached the under-18 South Australian team. A former South Adelaide and Tasmania player, Trevena has earned plenty of plaudits via his work with some of the finest young talent in the country and will be a coach to watch out for in the future.

Mark Williams – No, not the Port Adelaide premiership coach, although this Williams is no stranger to grand finals, having guided Sandringham to three consecutive VFL flags in 2004-05-06. He also coached the VFL to a crushing win over the WAFL this season. Quite simply, Williams' record in an elite competition outside of the AFL is one of the finest in the country. His affiliation with Melbourne also strengthens his coaching CV. He has been a major part of the successful Melbourne/Sandringham partnership.

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[Chelly 738]

Number 13

Gus Hiddink - Has an established record as a quality football coach. Could be somewhat expensive however.

[Oxxx 0]

According to Betstar.com.au, Daryl Somers is $501 to get it!