The Special One
Years ago
Just thinking this the other day, I have noticed alot of ex-AFL players becoming a coach of an AFL club then eventually becoming a mentor. Just wondering why the ex-NBL players such as Maher, Gaze etc dont take up roles as coaches ???
They would have a great advantage, what do you all think ????
Isaac
Years ago
They don't want to, not enough money, happy doing other things, etc.
Andrew Gaze is coaching, the 18.1s Melbourne Tigers team
Wright, Clarke, Lemanis, Robilliard, McLeod and Fearne are all ex-NBL players. There are only so many jobs to go around. And Isaac is right, the few top line guys whose name can carry on after basketball can make much better money without the stress of coaching.
One thing that seems different to me are the number of assistant coaches who didnt play NBL (although I havent done a count) compared to the AFL, where most are ex-players.
PeterJohn
Years ago
Much more fun being CEO of the NBL than coaching in it - and probably better money.
But there have been a lot of ex players who have been NBL head coaches over the years (Smyth, Goorjian, Joyce, Fisher, Bruton senior, Ninnis, Heal, Black etc.) and, as Anon points out, more than half of the current crop of NBL coaches formerly played in the league.
The transition to coach is hard. You can be a top player but not know how to manage people well enough to make a team function well. However, you may be in a good position to give one-on-one advice and help to individual players - on technique or personal development or coping with being a full-time professional player. So, you become a mentor rather than a coach.
paul
Years ago
Sorry, anon was me again. Basketball is also a more technical sport than Aussie rules, so it probably takes longer to get to the level where you can coach in the national league successfully.
It would be great if BA could find a way to keep more ex-players in the sport full time, but it is easier said than done and there are bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Being a great player doesn't gurantee being a good coach. This is especially true in juniors. Ino the topic is nbl, but generally great players may not be great coaches. Those who can, do! Those who understand, coach! (b that ex player or not).
o/t but why is joyce always spelled by everybody with a zero ???
Most of the great coaches are the ones who had limited success as a player, if people haven't noticed. Maybe it's because the only reason they were there in the first place/their strength if they were good was in their basketball IQ.
Isaac
Years ago
Anon, Google reasons. Joyce is a big fan of making legal threats, including if anyone refers to his son as "SoJ".
ineedmore
Years ago
The 0 is directly above the o on the keyboard.....
JTW
Years ago
Our old mate Heal is coaching his daughters up on the Gold Coast u18 + u14 this year in the Brisbane league. Is always interesting to to watch and lots of 'banter' between Heal and other Coaches, Refs, spectators, Stadium officials.
Suceesfully coaching?we all know he faailed as a nbl coach
Mr Black
Years ago
Bball legends do not alweays make great coaches....The Mark Price experiment with the Dragons proved that.
Yeah I agree that although I love AFL, basketball is tougher to coach. It's rare to find someone who has a complete basketball mind. Every coach grew up playing ball like all of us and obviously understood "the game" extremely well. I've been playing for 20 years so far, played district all through juniors and there's no way I'd coach. I know the game but successful coaches have rare basketball minds and see it on a whole new level. The best AFL coaches are ones that inspire their players.
Dont underestimate the strategy & game play of afl coaches look how much the game has developed over the past 20 yrs, all due to sports science,& great tactical minds. Though I do agree bball far more technical. A good bball coach can inspire & lead but first & foremost needs the understandinh & technical ability to succeed.
Ballinger Fan
Years ago
heard ex 36er captain Dean Kinsman is/was an assistant on the Tall Ferns bench,
you never know where these guys are going to turn up when they start on the professional coaching merrygoround.
The big difference between AFL and NBL is that there is no money in coaching in the NBL. Sure for a few coaches there are, but for former players there is no legitimate career path into it. AFL clubs have many more assistants and they are paid a lot better.
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