You would need to give it to the holder of the Marino Cup, Mr. Lucas.

Hang on...so a coach loses 2 starters (Duke, Smart) and other key players, replaces them including bringing up some players from lower divisions, and this should discount him?

I would have thought Pritchard would be a good contender for it.

lets see what ben todd does with 10 games to go before we discount him folks.

I agree with centrals form Ben Todd could snare some votes but he would ave to finish very strongly. Even still it would be tough to justify a coach of the year in 11 games.
As for Prichard coaches that recruit key players seem to be over looked, a good example is west in the championship year, won reserves, abl and 21's and John gillies didn't get a look in! I don't think it's right but seems to be the trend.
This year there are great coaches but the league is lacking the average to good coaches that we have seen from years ago.

I agree with centrals form Ben Todd could snare some votes but he would ave to finish very strongly. Even still it would be tough to justify a coach of the year in 11 games.
As for Prichard coaches that recruit key players seem to be over looked, a good example is west in the championship year, won reserves, abl and 21's and John gillies didn't get a look in! I don't think it's right but seems to be the trend.
This year there are great coaches but the league is lacking the average to good coaches that we have seen from years ago.

What is Winter's background anyway? I've been around a long time, and nobody I know has ever heard of her. From what I've heard from people who I trust would know, she seems to be way out of her league at ABL level. Surely after all the years of mediocrity, Woodville needed to recruit a coach with some profile, in the hope of bringing some decent players to the women's program.. Can't imagine anybody moving to Woodville to play for someone so unknown.

Woodville have chosen to have Winter being mentored by previous coach - to maintain the strong junior focus this club has.Players being attracted has more to do with dollars and cents. A mentor with strong Junior Dev background, albeit having struggled to get strong results doesnt mean that having a "no name coach" cant bring program forward. Get off the Woodville band wagon- club is trying to build a base and cant afford to lose experience as well as fast track new direction. Coach Winter has full support of club to bring success.Give her time and then your know her name.

anon - what strong junior focus? Woodville's junior program is on the verge of collapse, especially on the girls side. The club chose to persist with Holland year after year with no success. appointing a no-name coach who looks out of her depth just smacks of taking the easy approach. It's long been a criticism that Woodville put little or no effort into the women, while focussing on the men. This just seems to prove it. Over the past ten years they have had a number of high-profile coaches in the men (with some success), yet the first chance they get for 10 years to do something about the women, they just appoint whoever happened to be willing at the time, without bothering to head-hunt a more suitable candidate.

I thought this post was about who people thought should win coach of the year? Apparently its not

Woodville putting little or no effort into Womens program is wrong Lynne Holland has worked harder than any other coach to dev and stick with a youth program.The club has chosen to back her in and is doing so again. Maybe management need to be asked what their vision statement is and where they think they are at with it.Men have chosen a different path -horses for courses. Doubt many coaches would have persisted as long as Woodville have and is some merit have stuck to a direction which has much merit but still work in progress.So head hunt who Red 77 - as if coaches are falling out of sky to coach a struggling club.

Referees are so precious and not voting on COY is a good thing - most of them use the classic i didnt see when ever they stuff a call that blind freddy could see
so they hasve no chance determining good coaching
plus so are so easily upset thet tech at drop of hat and that have to impact
COT - LOOK AT BIG IMPROVER Centrals Women - if they make finals surely thats a huge effort - no doubt have to bwe recognised

York at North if they keep rolling... Young and undersized and now playing some really good ball by the sounds of it! And 2 losses by 1pt so with some luck that 4-4 record could be 6-2!

anon - "as if coaches are falling out of sky to coach a struggling club."

And therein lies your problem...accepting mediocrity by going with more of the same. That mindset is exactly whay Woodville is on the point of collapse, and not many can see themselves digging their way out of it this time.

Think find Winter was Magic also - so has experiences outside of Woodville.
Very focussed hard working - give her a chance.She is her own person and result will follow.Win number one and perhaps another this weekend - soothsayers.

Think find Winter was Magic also - so has experiences outside of Woodville.
Very focussed hard working - give her a chance.She is her own person and result will follow.Win number one and perhaps another this weekend - soothsayers.

Anonymous 319175 - I assume you go to every game to observe this...Probably the quietest coach in the league..

So you can hear what is being said....Sure you are not assuming the refs are being ridden...

Any coach can 'recruit' players in! Means they dont have as much to 'put in' I guess........They're already experienced.......easy ride I reckon Mr. P

Never know. But not hard to work out who.

Why dont you throw your hat in the ring anon. Or are you afraid it might turn out like every other time your have coached.

Like lots of awards, COY is a slightly ridiculous award because it is decided on a hill slope not a level playing field. Club resources decide the success of teams not the coach who, many players will tell you, they play in spite of.
To say salary caps even out the comp is like saying speeding fines stop speeding. I prefer the award title 'Championship Coach' because COY doesn't always reflect coaching skill just recruiting power and cheque book sizes.

let's judge Ben Todd by how many of the current players are there next season

well if those current players are thinking of leaving after only 1/2 a season with Todd then they weren't worth having in the first place

Hard working by virtual of the work thats showing and been done with the juniors and focussed on a course of promoting and supporting fast tracking juniors to the next level. The youngest group by far in the competition and on solid path.

#098 - I assume you're new to the scene and unaware of the professionalism and discipline that goes on elsewhere as compared to Woodville. You really should get out more.

ganymede, your post would carry more weight if you explained what clubs are in the 'elsewhere' you talk about and exactly you mean by professionalism and discipline and how they differ to Woodville.

Tony Moore should be coach of the year - Centrals won more times in six games under him than they did in the previous 100 years