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My 5c worth After a day of deliberation by 'saint66au' OK . . . 24 hours later . . . here's my theories on what's happened. I've now had time to read 500 newspaper articles, 10 hours of radio and about 10,000 posts on Saintsational. I've digested it all and heres my 5c worth. Grant Thomas was not sacked for DIRECT coaching inadequacies. I think he was sacked because he has refused to work under a new football dept structure that RB and the board want to put in place. I think the board saw us stagnate a little this year, perhaps did have some concern over his tactics and selections, and thought that GT would be better off concentrating on hands-on coaching and let a football dept run the contracts, player development. selection committee etc etc Now we all know GT has resisted this in the past. It's the reason he and Rod fell out a year or so back. He feels that his "autocratic" (very over-used word this week) style was serving the Club well and there was no need for change. As the year has progressed and it was obvious that we weren't going to make Top 4, the wheels were put in motion to sound out a Football Dept manager (As Neil Balme's role at Collingwood). This was why Anthony Stevens and Ian Foote were employed . . . not (a that stage) to sound out a new coach. Yesterday morning the board has delivered an ultimatum to GT, work under a new structure. GT has refused, Rod has asked for his resignation. The rest as they say . . . is history. Do I agree with it . . . Yes . . . to a point. Ultimately the Board, not the coach, are responsible to us the Members for results. We are the football equivalent of shareholders. Grant was employed by and is answerable to the board as Senior Coach. The board are quite within their rights to restructure a Dept under them if they see fit, just like any company. We must remember, this is the board that have saved this club from financial peril and possibly going out of business. Yes we've had draft picks blah blah blah, but to turn around our financial position to the point where we are about to post a third Million $ profit is a fantastic achievement. Without it we may not have had a side to coach. On-field results only take you so far, look at the Kangaroos. Call me naive, but I trust this board to make sound decisions for the St Kilda Football Club. Having said that, I'd be shattered if the contribution that Grant Thomas made to this Club was not recognised. 3 finals series in a row for only the second time in our history. That speaks for itself. The rubbish that this side could coach itself is just that. Its due to GT that the playing group is still together, earning way less money that they could have had at other Clubs. He's created a bond that in Modern football is very rare. These guys would take a bullet for each other. GT also handled himself magnificently at that Press conference. The guy loves this Club ("Next year I'll be going to watch the guys play every week") and I think what he has said to the players last night and today shows what the man is made of. When that flag finally comes our way GT can rightly claim a piece of it for his own. The future? Well the new coach whoever it is, will have to agree to work within a much tighter structure than existed with GT. We can afford to expand the Football Dept to include a Football Manager and a Chairman of Selectors. There will be a much tighter rein. Personally I think that's a great thing. For that reason, Id be comfortable with a coach like John Longmire or similar. Matthews/Pagan/Williams . . . sorry I still remember Malcolm Blight and football is a fast evolving game. The Post + thread 'saint66au' saintsational.com If I was the new coach . . . 'bakes' saintsational.com Thank you Grant Thomas. You did a great job. We now have the respect as a football side (and club) that you and Rod promised us in 2001. Hold your head up high. Please keep supporting this great club. History will record you as a successful coach with a 50%+ winning record over 5.5 years but more importantly a 60%+ winning record in the past 3 years despite some very bad luck with injuries. No-one can take your record away from you. Please take a well deserved rest and enjoy your family. 'BackFromUSA' - The Thread saintsational.com Once a Saint, Always a Saint (Video) Dedicated to Grant Thomas 'n1ck' saintsational.com

Pyke enters St Kilda arena as a contender
Dual West Coast premiership player Don Pyke has firmed for the St Kilda coaching job, a position that looms as one of the most sought after in the AFL. While the Saints last night said they were yet to interview Pyke, who is an assistant to Adelaide coach Neil Craig, he is understood to be an equal favourite for the position along with Sydney assistant coach John Longmire. Longmire was contacted by former Kangaroos premiership teammate Anthony Stevens from Stride Management Group, which has worked with St Kilda as a consultant for the past two months behind the scenes. Another member of that 1999 premiership team, John Blakey, flew to Melbourne yesterday for an interview with Stride.
The Article Daryl Timms/TheAge RealFooty/14Sept06

Ayres wants the top job
Gary Ayres has thrown his hat into the ring to replace Grant Thomas and said St Kilda should go for experience ahead of an untried option. Ayres said it was vital for the Saints to appoint someone with senior experience and that his credentials and style would be invaluable at Moorabbin. "I still have a real hunger to coach at senior level and, having been at the coal face, I know what's required," Ayres said. "I have a lot to offer and I think St Kilda has so much appeal. They have a great list and a very strong culture and I certainly would like to explore the prospects of coaching the club." Ayres has just completed the first of a two-year deal at Essendon as an assistant coach.
The Article Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/14Sept06

It's simple, get on with job
Grant Thomas arrived at Moorabbin yesterday at 9am and was gone barely 10 minutes later. No longer wanted, the former Saints coach dropped in to implore the men he had just guided the club into the finals for a third straight year to remain strong. Then he left. Having said his goodbyes, he was off. After all, who wants to hang around an organisation that's just sacked you? "I just said goodbye," Thomas said before driving off yesterday. And what was his final message? "They have to get on with the job. It's that simple," he said.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/14Sept06

Granted every wish, Thomas fell short of board's desire
The origins of Grant Thomas' demise can be traced back 12 months, to the days after the injury-ravaged Saints unexpectedly succumbed to Sydney in the final quarter of the preliminary final. On that evening, Thomas is understood to have had terse words with his assistant and club legend Nathan Burke in the coach's box during the last quarter. Burke resigned within days, without much explanation. At Thomas' request, the training services department was cleaned out, and the board gave Thomas carte blanche to hire new fitness staff. He chose just-departed Brisbane Lions fitness coach Craig Starcevich as the man responsible for ridding the Saints of that troublesome soft-tissue plague that might have cost them the 2005 flag. Even then, the St Kilda board harboured reservations about whether Thomas would be able to deliver a premiership and whether he was prepared to loosen his control of nearly all aspects of the football department.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge RealFooty/14Sept06

Players struggle to cope with axing
Nick Riewoldt was shattered and angry. Aaron Hamill perplexed. Justin Peckett philosophical. And former great Nathan Burke surprised. If Grant Thomas lacked one thing, it was not the support of those who played under him. "I'm shattered," Riewoldt said as he walked from the Linton Street club rooms after the players met the now former coach for an official final meeting. "Obviously I don't want to speak for the rest of the players but I think the consensus was shock, maybe a little bit of anger in there as well . . . angry about the decision . . . He was an inspiration to all of us players. I arrived at the club when we were on the bottom of the ladder and what he has been able to do with the club is amazing, he has always had the full support of the playing group - that is why, for us players, it is so disappointing. He was really an inspiration to us all. We will miss him." Former captain Hamill said the playing group had considered Thomas a friend as well as coach.
The Article Michael Gleeson and Martin Boulton/TheAge RealFooty/14Sept06

Assistants win endorsement
Fremantle assistant coach Mark Harvey and his West Coast counterpart Peter Sumich have been anointed as senior coaches in waiting by their respective bosses here as St Kilda begins its search for a new coach to replace the dumped Grant Thomas. A day after Thomas' shock sacking, the speculation is well and truly underway as to who will take over at Moorabbin. While there is already strong speculation the Saints might chase dual premiership coach Denis Pagan and that Pagan may be prepared to walk away from Carlton given the recent unsuccessful push to oust him by some Blues' board members, the Saints are also likely to interview a host of untried coaches who are currently assistants at rival clubs.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/13Sept06

Thomas cops it on the chin
After his shock departure from Moorabbin, former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas was a disappointed man. Speaking at Tuesday's media conference after being advised that the board believed it was time for a change at the top, Thomas said: "I'm very disappointed obviously because you don't put your heart and soul into something and not be disappointed."
The Article Mark Rasmussen/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Sept06

Players shattered, says Riewoldt
Speaking as he left the club, Riewoldt said: "He (Thomas) was really an inspiration to us all." Team-mate Justin Peckett, whose own playing future is uncertain, was philosophical about Thomas' departure. "That's footy - Thommo came in this morning and said get on with it, get on with the job - as usual, pretty selfless," Peckett said. "We're a bit flat, but what do you do? Get on with it, come back to training, get fit and have another crack at it". "It's disappointing for Thommo, he's done a good job, but what do you do? The coaches come and go, just like the players." Saints veteran Robert Harvey told waiting media he was still a few days away from deciding whether he would continue for another season.
The Article AAP/HeraldSun/13Sept06

Saints' search starts now
With the departure of Grant Thomas on Tuesday, club president Rod Butterss has said the Saints will take their time appointing a new coach. "We now have the time to put in place a detailed selection process and that will allow us to secure the very best candidate in the position of senior coach at the St Kilda football club," Butterss said. "We'll look at everyone that's available and I suppose you've got to be careful when you start looking at blokes that are contracted, but we'll look at everyone and that's our honour to this club." There was no canvassing of names in the media conference, though the spotlight will inevitably fall on a host of assistants at a range of clubs including Daryn Cresswell who recently resigned after a stint in Brisbane, Fremantle's Mark Harvey, John Longmire at Sydney or possibly ex-Adelaide and Geelong coach Gary Ayres.
The Article Mark Rasmussen/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Sept06

Inflated hopes hurried Thomas's demise
Former St Kilda coach Stan Alves says Grant Thomas has been made a scapegoat for inflated expectations of the Saints. Alves, who coached the Saints from 1994 to 1998, said last night he was shocked by the news Thomas had been dumped as St Kilda coach. He said questions about the Saints' performance should also be directed at the playing group. "His problem may have been that he may have got too much out of this list and people may have got ahead of themselves," Alves said. "Perhaps people within that club may rate the playing list a little bit higher than what it is. As a result, he might be the sacrifice here for other people's expectations. There are a number of players who, when injury has occurred, I don't think they have stepped up."
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/13Septo6
Harvey link to Saints 'a distraction' for Freo AAP/TheAge/13Sept06
Angry Saints farewell Thomas Martin Boulton/TheAge/13Sept06

Sacked Thomas meets with Saints players
Star St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt admits the AFL team is "pretty shattered" at the sacking of coach Grant Thomas. But Saints president Rod Butterss is confident the players will quickly regroup and continue their push for an elusive premiership. After an informal gathering on Tuesday night, Thomas said a formal goodbye to the team on Wednesday morning at the club. Butterss and other officials then met with the players, who also spoke among themselves. "It's not about me, it's about St Kilda . . . they (the players) have just got to get on with the job," Thomas said before his 10-minute address to them. Butterss said the players were more disappointed than angry at Tuesday's shock announcement.
The Article AAP/TheAge/13Sept06

A coach dogged by bad luck
I've never been especially close to Grant Thomas. We never really got on. But I think the sacked St Kilda coach has been terribly hard done by. My initial reaction on hearing of Grant's sacking was shock. That didn't last long. The longer you think about it, the more things become clear. Thomas could never quite stop the dogs from barking in the media. Eventually they turned on him and ripped him to shreds. Grant won't make this excuse for himself so I'll do it for him. Injuries during a season can cripple a coach. Injuries during a game can destroy a side.
The Article Mick Malthouse/TheAustrlian/13Sept06

A coach with the guts to be different
As other coaches stressed about kids and numbers, Grant Thomas was kicking back in thongs in a shack halfway across the world. It was draft day 2004, but Thomas didn't have a problem being on a training camp in the backblocks of South Africa. In the early hours of a scorching hot morning, he was an observer via a phone hook-up as Andrew McQualter and James Gwilt were selected. Recruiting manager John Beveridge was in Melbourne, basically all alone. Thomas's assistants crossed off the names from the Saints' wish list. Some coaches feel responsible for recruiting and can't help interfering. Thomas's view was simple: "That's what we pay Johnny for . . . he's the expert." It was just one case of the St Kilda coach doing it differently.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/13Sept06

Saints shoot for coaching stars
Some of the biggest names in football are included on St Kilda's "shoot for the stars" coach hunting list. While Sydney's John Longmire is seen as the leading assistant coach, it emerged last night that an experienced coach was St Kilda's preferred option. Although they would be considered longshots, Collingwood's Mick Malthouse and Port Adelaide's Mark Williams will be approached, as will Western Bulldog Rodney Eade and three-time Brisbane premiership coach Leigh Matthews. Malthouse, Williams, Matthews and Eade are all contracted next year, with Eade poised to commit to the Dogs for a further two years. Carlton coach Denis Pagan is thought to have been ruled out.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/13Sept06

Brutal secret rocks Grant
. . . He wasn't popular, yet didn't seem to care. He would do the job his way and you fitted in or you . . . left. When his time inevitably came, he was different yet again. It was a brave and gracious exit yesterday. Flanked by his executioners, Thomas faced the media and spoke with more grace than any of the dozens of coaches I have witnessed in the same situation in the past 30 years. His sentiments were encapsulated by the simple sentence: "What's most important is the St Kilda Football Club." No "ifs", no "buts".
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/13Sept06

Saints in turmoil over Thomas axing
. . . "He was an inspiration to all us players," Riewoldt said. "I arrived at the club when we were on the bottom of the ladder and what he has been able to do at the club is amazing. He has always had the full support of the playing group. That's why for us players it's so disappointing. He was really an inspiration to us all and we'll miss him." Thomas made a brief visit to Moorabbin this morning but left the ground after addressing the players. "I suppose he just reiterated what he said yesterday in his press conference, just be strong, stay united as a playing group," Riewoldt said. "He still wants us to achieve what we all set out to achieve together, that was his message."
The Article ABCSport/13Sept06

Saint walked into ambush
. . . Having risen to the position of St Kilda coach in 2001 courtesy of some decidedly Machiavellian power plays within the club, Thomas yesterday fell foul of an eerily similar boardroom ambush. And as much as the 48-year-old tried to portray his axing as a "mutual agreement" that was in the best interests of the club, he knew he had become the victim of a familiar sting.
The Article Andrew Ramsey/TheAustralian/13Sept06
Saints wrong: Thomas Sportal/13Sept06

Thirty-year-old Saints veteran Stephen Powell has announced his retirement. - TheAge

Alves says St Kilda has lost its way
FORMER St Kilda coach Stan Alves believes the Grant Thomas sacking is a "classic case of the St Kilda football club losing it's way again". "I find it quite remarkable that Thomas had no idea of his sacking," Alves said. "I'm disappointed with the St Kilda Football Club because if they had concerns with his coaching and he had no inkling of it, it means that all that has been done cloak and dagger. It's a classic case of why this club continually gets itself in trouble, because they don't deal open and honestly with themselves. Thomas has been at the helm of the Saints since Malcolm Blight's sacking in 2001 and Alves believes the club's decision-makers have a lot to answer for. They appointed him and they thought he was the right guy for the job, you can say they were right or wrong but they made that decision and now once he's in there they have become dissatisfied with him," Alves said.
The Article Brad McGrath/BorderMail/13Sept06
Saints start hunt for new coach ABCSport/13Sept06

Thomas' fate sealed mid-year
. . . Thomas and the Saints yesterday agreed on a pay-out, but it is believed he will not receive the full amount of next year's contract remuneration. Thomas did not fit the mould for the future, according to the six-member board, which at times found him unmanageable and holding too much control.
The Article Greg Denham and Andrew Ramsey/TheAustralian/13Sept06

Did the Saints do the right thing sacking Grant Thomas? HeraldSun Blogs
Rendell likely to go.... 'saintsRrising' et al/saintsational.com
St Kilda top job vacant as Thomas exits TheAge/12Sept06
how much harder is harvey's decision now? 'shinsmate' saintsational.com
Summer Shopping List 'Statsman' saintsational.com
who makes list management decisions now??
'st.mart' et al/saintsational.com

St Kilda restores law and order
. . . This time around it is apparent that St Kilda will appoint the best coach who is available and ready to come to the club. It will be a long queue. Already the Saints have discreetly sounded out the likelihood of the most senior coaches being wooed to Moorabbin. Thus the sacking of Thomas was no overnight coup. It is believed the board seriously considered it at the end of 2005. But Thomas had taken the club to a second consecutive preliminary final. The board opted to give Thomas his head for one more year. Yesterday the board asked for it back on a platter. And that is what you do with Thomas. It is the paradox of the man. He lectures on empowerment of players and staff yet ultimately rules all about him with a heavy fist.
The Article Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/13Sept06

Signed, sealed sacked Sainter
St Kilda's search for a new senior coach was well under way before yesterday's shock sacking of Grant Thomas. Two high-profile assistant coaches, Sydney's John Longmire and Brisbane's recently departed Daryn Cresswell, were sounded out about the role at least 24 hours before Thomas learned of his fate. Neither Cresswell nor Longmire were told, however, which club was potentially seeking their services. The two are on a long list of possible candidates for what must be one of the most sought-after positions in the AFL. But the list is unlikely to include the likes of experienced premiership coaches Denis Pagan and Mick Malthouse, whom the club has virtually ruled out.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/13Sept06

Saints' coach search started early
St Kilda already has indirectly approached two candidates for the coaching job that became vacant yesterday when the club sacked Grant Thomas. Sports management group Stride interviewed ex-Brisbane Lions and Geelong assistant Daryn Cresswell on Monday - at least 24 hours before the Saints dismissed Thomas - and sources last night confirmed that well-regarded Sydney assistant coach John Longmire also had spoken to the firm, which did not tell the candidates which club was seeking a senior coach. The interviews were conducted by former Kangaroo captain Anthony Stevens and firm partner Ian Foote, a former business partner of St Kilda president Rod Butterss. It is believed Stride was hired to conduct a review of the football department and seek prospective coaches.
The Article Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Michael Gleeson
TheAge RealFooty/13Sept06
St Kilda Coach contenders TheAge RealFooty/13Sept06
Thomasisms Chloe Saltau/TheAge RealFooty/13Sept06

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