Almanac Footy: Team of Caretaker Coaches who never got a full time job

 

This team is based on caretaker/interim coaches since 1980 that did not end up coaching (the men’s senior side) full time.

 

If I have missed anyone, please let me know.

 

FB:         Alan McConnell (Fitz)             Matthew Egan (Ess)                 Jarrad Schofield (WCE)

CHB:     Mark Bickley (Adel)                  Jade Rawlings (Rich)               Dean Solomon (GCS)

C:         Scott Camporeale (Adel)         Ben Allan (Freo)                       Paul Williams (WB)

CHF:     Leigh Adams (NM)                    Roger Merrett (Bris)                 Todd Viney (Melb)

FF:         Darren Crocker (NM)               David Hale (Freo)                    Paul Feltham (Bris)

Ruck:        Steven King (GCS)                    Robert Harvey (Coll)                Garry Hocking (PA)

Interchange: John Barker (Carl), Greg Hutchinson (Melb), Donald McDonald (Haw), Mark McVeigh (GWS)

Emergency: Michael Erwin (Coll), Mark Riley (Melb), Brett Scott (Syd)

 

Alan McConnell

Coached 11 Games Fitzroy 1995-1996 for 0 wins

Playing Career 37 Games Footscray 1980-1982

 

McConnell took over from Bernie Quinlan in 1995 for three games and in 1996 when the merger with Brisbane was announced, took over from Michael Nunan for the last eight games of 1996. He did not have a win with his best result a 15 point loss to Footscray. McConnell would join Geelong as an assistant coach and then head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport before coaching the GWS women’s team in 40 games from 2018-2022.

 

Matthew Egan

Coached 3 Games Essendon 2015 for 1 win.

Playing Career 59 Games Geelong 2005-2007

 

Egan took over from James Hird second stint as Essendon coach in 2015.  Essendon at that stage had won five from nineteen games and had just suffered a 112 point loss to Adelaide. In his first games as coach Essendon lost by 2 points to Gold Coast. Egan victory would be against Collingwood in the last round, winning by 3 points. Egan was an All Australian in 2007 but a career ending foot injury meant a premature retirement. Egan was an assistant coach at Geelong, Essendon the Head of Development at Melbourne, and Geelong and in 2024 was appointed Coaching and Performance manager at the Western Bulldogs.

 

Jarrad Schofield

Coached 7 Games West Coast for 2 Wins

Playing Career 206 Games West Coast, Port Adelaide & Fremantle 1993-2006

 

Schofield replaced Adam Simpson as coach after a 54 point loss to Melbourne in a season West Coast had won three games in sixteen. Schofield first games as coach was a 13 point loss to Brisbane in Perth. Schofield would enjoy back to back wins in his fourth and fifth game against Gold Coast and North Melbourne. Schofield would start his coaching career at Subiaco in 2013 and would win premierships in 2014, 2015 & 2018. Schofield was an assistant coach at Port  Adelaide from 2019-2021 before joining West Coast in 2022 and remains there still.

 

Mark Bickley

Coached 6 Games Adelaide 2011 for 3 Wins

Playing Career 272 Games Adelaide 1991-2003

 

Bickley replaced Neil Craig after Adelaide suffered a 103 point loss to St Kilda in Round 18. At that stage of the year Adelaide only had won four games for the year. Bickley first game as coach was a showdown against Port Adelaide with Adelaide winning by 32 points. Adelaide would win the following against Brisbane and then win again in his fourth game against Gold Coast. Bickley was an assistant coach from 2009 but after Brenton Sanderson was appointed coach for 2012, Bickley was not retained.

 

 

Jade Rawlings

Coached 11 Games Richmond 2009 for 3 wins and a draw.

Playing Career 148 Games Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne 1996-2006

 

Rawlings replaced Terry Wallace as coach after Round 11 when Richmond lost to the Bulldogs by 67 points. At the time Richmond had won two games from 11 matches. Rawlings first game as a coach was a 15 point win over West Coast Eagles. Rawlings would taste further success against Essendon and Melbourne and a draw against North Melbourne who was led by interim coach Darren Crocker. Rawlings was assistant coach at Richmond from 2007-09, Brisbane 2010-11, Melbourne 2012-19, North Melbourne 2020, Norwood 2021-24 where he coached a premiership in 2022 and he joined Fremantle in 2025.

 

 

Dean Solomon

Coached 3 Games Gold Coast 2017 for 0 wins.

Playing Career 209 Games Essendon & Fremantle 1998-2009

 

Solomon replaced Rodney Eade as coach after Round 20 when the Suns lost by 23 points to Fremantle. At the time Gold Coast had won six games from 19 for the year. Gold Coast would lose their first game with Solomon in charge by 58 points to Brisbane before two more losses to Essendon and a 115 point loss to Port Adelaide. Solomon started his coaching career at Fremantle in 2010 before joining Gold Coast from 2011-19 and in 2022 he was appointed assistant coach when Mark McVeigh was appointed interim coach.

 

Scott Camporeale

Coached 11 Games Adelaide 2015 for 7 Wins including 1 Finals win.

Playing Career 252 Games Carlton & Essendon 1995-2007

 

Camporeale replaced Phillip Walsh as Adelaide coach after his shock passing. Adelaide’s match against Geelong  was cancelled the week after his passing and in Camporeale first game as coach they lost to West Coast by 56 points. When Camporeale took over Adelaide were ninth on the ladder. Camporeale first win as coach was a three point win in a showdown. Adelaide would finish seventh and Camporeale would have a 7 point win over Western Bulldogs in the Elimination Final before losing to Hawthorn the following week. Camporeale was an assistant coach at Essendon from 2008-10 before joining Adelaide from 2010-19.

 

 

 

Ben Allan

Coached 13 Games Fremantle 2001 for 2 wins.

Playing Career 145 Games Hawthorn & Fremantle 1990-97

 

Allan replaced Damian Drum as Fremantle coach in Round 10 after Fremantle had lost by 19 points to Sydney. Fremantle at the time were last on the ladder and without a win and would wait until Round 18 before winning their first game. Allans two wins were against hawthorn by 16 points and then against Adelaide in Round 22 by 37 points. Allan was an assistant coach in 1998 but when Drum was appointed coach in 1999, Allan was sacked before being recalled to be caretaker coach in 2001.

 

Paul Williams

Coached 3 Games Western Bulldogs 2011 for 2 wins.

Playing Career 306 Games Collingwood & Sydney 1991-2006

 

Williams replaced Rodney Eade as Western Bulldogs coach after Eade resigned in Round 19 following a 49 point loss to Essendon. At the time Bulldogs had won seven from nineteen games. Williams first game as coach was a 60 point over Port Adelaide followed by 46 points over Hawthorn. Williams was an assistant coach at Melbourne from 2007-08, Western Bulldogs from 2009-11 and Carlton for 2012.

 

Leigh Adams

Coached 5 Games North Melbourne 2022 for 1 win.

Playing Career 104 Games North Melbourne 2007-15

 

Adams took over from David Noble who quit as coach after North Melbourne had won just one game from sixteen games. Adams would taste success in his first game as coach with a four win point over Richmond before losing his next four games. Adams started 2020 as a development coach before taking over the VFL team in 2021 and since 2023 has being an assistant coach at North Melbourne.

 

Roger Merrett

Coached 11 Games Brisbane 1998 with 3 wins and 1 draw.

Playing Career 313 Games Essendon & Brisbane 1978-1996

 

Merrett took over from John Northey as coach after Brisbane had by 71 points to Fremantle making them two wins from eleven games. Merrett first game as coach was a draw against Port Adelaide and then followed by a win over Geelong  and Collingwood the following two weeks. Brisbane would lose their next seven games before they won their last match by one point. Merrett was Brisbane assistant coach from 1996-98.

 

Todd Viney

Coached 5 Games Melbourne 2011 for 1

Playing Career 233 Games Melbourne 1987-1999

 

Viney took over from Dean Bailey as coach after they had lost to Geelong by 186 points. Melbourne had won seven games and one draw from 17 rounds after a promising start to the year where they were in the eight after Round 14 with six wins and one draw from 13 games. Melbourne would lose their first three games under Viney as coach before a win by 30 points over the Gold Coast. Viney was an assistant coach at Melbourne from 2000 and then after coaching in the country he would be an assistant at Hawthorn from 2005 -08, Adelaide 2009-10, Melbourne from 2011-19 and General manager of Football at North Melbourne from 2023.

 

Darren Crocker

Coached 10 Games  2009, 4 Games in 2015 and 1 Game in 2016 all at North Melbourne for 6 wins and a draw.

Playing Career 165 Games North Melbourne 1985-98

 

Crocker took over from Dean Laidley as coach  after Laidley had quit after a 44 point loss to Adelaide and North Melbourne had won four from sixteen game for 2009. Crocker would lose his first three games as coach and then draw against Richmond  before finally notching up a win in his seventh game against Melbourne by 62 points. In the ten games in 2009 North Melbourne won including the last two games giving Crocker three wins and a draw. In 2015 Scott coached four games while Brad Scott had back surgery, notching up two wins against West Coast and GWS. In 2016 Crocker coached North Melbourne to a 70 point win against Richmond with Brad Scott unavailable due to illness. Crocker was an assistant coach at Richmond from 2000-04 and then North Melbourne assistant from 2005-19 before taking over the AFLW side from 2020 and coaching them to a premiership in 2024.

 

 

David Hale

Coached 1 Game Fremantle 2019 for 0 wins.

Playing Career 237 Games North Melbourne & Hawthorn 2003-15

 

Hale took over from Ross Lyon after he was advised his contract would not be renewed for 2020 with Fremantle having won nine from 21 games. Hale would coach against Port Adelaide where they lost by 43 points. Hale was an assistant coach at Fremantle from 2016-21 and has been at Hawthorn since 2022.

 

 

Paul Feltham

Coached 7 Games Brisbane 1989 for 5 wins.

135 Games North Melbourne & Richmond 1970-78

 

Feltham took over from Peter Knights after Brisbane lost to Geelong by 74 points in Round 15. Brisbane had won three games from 15 games for the year. Feltham would win his first game against St Kilda by 4 points and followed up with 83 point win against North Melbourne in his third game and in his last three games he had wins against eventual premiers Hawthorn, Fitzroy, and Carlton. Feltham was the part time sports psychologist when appointer having previously coached in the VFA, ACT and then Morningside in the QAFL. Feltham would not appear again at AFL level and would be live in Canada where he coached the London Magpies AFL team.

 

Steven King

Coached 7 Games Gold Coast 2023 for 2 Wins

Playing Career 240 Games Geelong & St Kilda 1996-2010

 

King took over from Stuart Dew after 33 point loss to Port Adelaide in Round 17. At that stage Gold Coast had won seven games from sixteen games. In King’s first game as coach Gold Cost would defeat St Kilda by 26 points before also beating hat year Grand Finalist Brisbane two weeks later by 41 points. King was an assistant coach of St Kilda from 2010-11, Western Bulldogs from 2012-21, Gold Coast 2022-23 and Geelong since 2024.

 

Robert Harvey

Coached 9 Games Collingwood 2021 for 2 wins.

Playing Career 383 Games St Kilda 1988-2008

 

Harvey took over from Nathan Buckley as Collingwood after Buckley resigned after Round 13 win over eventual premiers Melbourne. Collingwood were 4 wins from 13 games at this stage of the season. Harvey would lose his first game as coach to Fremantle by 12 points and then against St Kilda by 9 points before having a win in his third game against Richmond by 16 points. Harvey’s second win would be against West Coast 3 games later by 45 points. Harvey would be an assistant at Carlton from 2009-10, St Kilda 2011, Collingwood 2012-21, Hawthorn 2022, and St Kilda from 2023.

 

Garry Hocking

Coached 4 Games Port Adelaide 2012 for 1 draw.

Playing Career 274 Games Geelong 1987-2001

 

Hocking replaced Matthew Primus after Port Adelaide lost to GWS by 34 points and had won five games from 18 matches for the season. Hocking would lose his first game as coach to Hawthorn by72 points. After losses to West Coast and Brisbane, Port Adelaide would draw against Richmond in the last game. Hocking would coach Peel and Geelong Falcons before joining Port Adelaide as an assistant in 2010 and then SANFL coach 2013-16, Collingwood assistant and VFL coach from 2017-20.

 

John Barker

Coached 14 Games Carlton 2015 for 3 wins.

Playing Career 168 Games Fitzroy, Brisbane & Hawthorn 1994-2006

 

Barker took over from Mick Malthouse after Carlton lost by 77 points to Geelong. Carlton had won only one game in their first eight games of the year. Carlton would lose their first game with Barker as coach by 60 points to Sydney. Barker would get back to back wins in his third and fourth game as coach against Port Adelaide and Gold Coast and a further win in his twelfth against Melbourne. Barker was an assistant coach at St Kilda from 2007-08, Hawthorn from 2009-10 and Carlton from 2011-21.

 

Greg Hutchinson

Coached 13 Games Melbourne 1997 for 3 wins.

Playing Career 96 Games Melbourne 1975-84

 

Hutchinson took over from  Neil Balme after he was sacked after a 51 point loss to Port Adelaide in Round 9 (though he was temporary sacked at half time over the radio in Round 6). Melbourne had only won one of the first nine games that season which was against the reigning premiers North Melbourne in Round 1.Hutchinson first game as coach saw Melbourne defeat Richmond by 25 points. Melbourne would win five weeks later against Carlton and then the last round against Fremantle. Hutchinson coached Prahran in the VFA and then Dandenong Stingrays from 1993-95 before joining Melbourne in 1996-99, Richmond 2000-05, Casey Scorpions who were aligned with St Kilda in 2008, then football manager at St Kilda from 2009-12, Fremantle 2013-14.

 

 

 

Donald McDonald

Coached 5 Games Hawthorn 2005 for 2 wins.

Playing career 155 Games North Melbourne 1982-92

 

McDonald took over from Peter Schwab as coach, after Schwab resigned as coach after 52 point loss in Round 16. Schwab coached in Round 17, but Hawthorn lost by 80 points and Schwab bought forward his decision from end of the year to effective immediately. Hawthorn had won 2 games from 17 games until then. Hawthorn lost by 44 points in McDonald’s first game in charge but would beat the Western Bulldogs by 11 points the next week and two weeks later Hawthorn beat Richmond by 23 points to avoid the wooden spoon. McDonald coached Werribee from 1993-99 and Box Hill Hawks 2000-02 winning premierships at both, Hawthorn 2003-04, North Melbourne assistant 2005 and then football manager  2006-13, leaving the club once son Luke was drafted.

 

Mark McVeigh

Coached 13 Games GWS 2022 for 4 Wins

Playing Career 232 Games Essendon 1999-2012

 

McVeigh took over from Leon Cameron who resigned after Round 9 with the Giants losing by 30 points. Giants had won two from their nine games at that stage. GWS would beat West Coast by 52 points in McVeigh’s first game as coach and would follow up with wins against North Melbourne two weeks later, the Hawthorn in his sixth game and against his old club Essendon in his eleventh.

McVeigh started with GWS Academy for 2013-14 and then assistant from 2015-22.

 

Michael Erwin

Coached 12 Games Collingwood 1982 for 3 wins.

Playing Career 62 Games Collingwood & Richmond 1962-68

 

Erwin took over from Tom Hafey who was sacked after a 7 point loss to Melbourne. Collingwood who made the Grand Final the previous year had only won one game from ten. Erwin first game as coach saw Collingwood win by 36 points and in his second game, he came up against Footscray who had Ian Hampshire in as first game as coach. Collingwood would lose the next nine game before winning the last home and away match against Geelong. Erwin had coached in the VFA, Diamond Valley and was a specialist coach at Richmond before being appointed Reserves coach of Collingwood in 1982.

 

Mark Riley

Coached 9 Games Melbourne 2007 for 3 wins.

Played for Perth & Claremont in WAFL

 

Riley took over from Neale Daniher who resigned before Round 12 where Essendon beat Melbourne by 2 points. Melbourne had two wins from 13  games until then. Melbourne won their first game with Riley in charge beating Carlton by 23 points. Melbourne two other wins under Riley were against Western Bulldogs and Carlton again in the last round. Riley coached Claremont to a premiership in 1994, assistant coach at Fremantle 1995-2000,  Claremont 2001-02, Melbourne 2003-07, Carlton 2008-12, and Gold Coast 2013-15.

 

Brett Scott

Coached 2 Games Sydney 1993

Played 59 Games Sydney 1981-89

 

Scott took over from Gary Buckenara who was sacked after 86 point loss to Essendon. Sydney was winless in the first four weeks and Scott was the interim coach until Ron Barassi took over in Round 7. Scott’s two games in charge saw Sydney lose by 93 points to Fitzroy and 124 points to North Melbourne. Sydney would win just one game for the year. Scott was an assistant coach in 1992-93.

 

The Following Coaches stepped for a short time due to unavailability of the coach for certain reasons.

 

Nathan Bassett

Played 210 Games Adelaide 1998-2008

Coached 1 Game Port Adelaide Round 18 2022

 

Bassett had the opportunity to coach due to Ken Hinkley unavailability because of Covid. Port Adelaide would lose by 14 points. Bassett won two premierships at Norwood as coach and is now an assistant at Melbourne.

 

John Blakey

Played 359 Games Fitzroy & North Melbourne 1985-2002

Coached 1 Game Brisbane Round 18 2005

 

Blakey started at Brisbane in 2003 and took over with Leigh Matthews unavailable due to the passing of his mother. Brisbane lost to Western Bulldogs by 28 points. Blakey was at Brisbane until 2006, Sydney 2007-20 and being at North Melbourne since 2021.

 

Scott Burns

Played 265 Games Collingwood 1995-2008

Coached 1 Game Adelaide Round 8 2022

 

Burns took over as coach with Matthew Nicks unavailable for COVID protocol. Adelaide would lose by 48 points. Burns was at West Coast 2009-13, Collingwood 2014-17, Hawthorn 2018-19, and Adelaide since 2020.

 

Blake Caracella

Played 187 Games Essendon, Brisbane & Collingwood 1997-2006

Coached 1 Game Essendon Round 4 2022

 

Caracella coached Essendon to a 4 point win over Adelaide with Ben Rutten unavailable due to Covid protocol. Caracella was an assistant at Collingwood 2007-10, Geelong 2011-16, Richmond 2017-19, Essendon 2020-24 and is now back at Richmond.

 

Allan Davis

Coached 4 Games St Kilda Round 19-22 1987

 

Davis took over as coach after Darrel Baldock suffered a minor stroke. Davis had a win in his first game as coach against Footscray by 3 points and then against Collingwood by 49 points in his third game. Davis stayed at St Kilda as Reserves coach for 1988.

 

Tony Franklin

Played 32 Games South Melbourne 1974-75

Coached 1 Game Sydney Round 14 1984

 

Franklin took over from Ricky Quade who was unavailable with a bleeding ulcer in hospital. Sydney would lose to Collingwood by 31 points. Franklin joined Sydney as Reserves Coach in 1980 and the Chairman of Selectors from 1982-85.

 

 

 

Frank Goode

Played 73 Games North Melbourne 1961-67

Coached 1 Game Footscray Round 3 1981

 

Goode stood in for Royce Hart who was unavailable due to illness in Round 3. Footscray would suffer a narrow one point loss to Melbourne.  Goode had coached Sandringham , North Melbourne Under 19’s and was an assistant at Footscray for two years before serving on the AFL tribunal.

 

Jaymie Graham

Played 37 Games West Coast 2005-08

Coached 1 Game West Coast Round 2 2018

Coached 2 Games Fremantle Round 3 & 4 2022

 

Graham coached West Coast to a 51 point win with Adam Simpson unavailable due to illness in the family. Graham would coach Fremantle with Justin Longmuir in Covid protocols and would have two wins over West Coast by 55 points and GWS by 34 points. Graham was at West Coast from 2016-21 and joined Fremantle in 2022.

 

Bob Hammond

248 Games North Adelaide & Norwood 1960-74

Coached 8 Games Sydney Round 15-22

 

Hammond, I have put here as Quade did not coach due to illness and he eventually resigned as coach, though Hammond could easily have been in the first team. Hammond took over from Tony Franklin who did want the full time job. Hammond coached Swans to 3 wins with a win against Fitzroy by 28 pints in his first game. His other wins were the following against Footscray and in his seventh game against Essendon. Hammond declined to coach in 1985 due to business reasons. Hammond coached Norwood from 1974-79 winning two premierships and was Chairman of the Adelaide Football club from 1991-2000.

 

Ashley Hansen

Played 78 Games West Coast 2004-10

Coached 1 Game Carlton 2022

 

Hansen took over from Michael Voss due to Covid protocols having a 12 point win over Western Bulldogs. Hansen was an assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs from 2013-21 and was the Reserves coach when Bulldogs won 2016 VFL premiership. Hansen has been at Carlton since 2022.

 

Brendon Lade

Played 234 Games Port Adelaide 1997-2009

Coached 1 Game St Kilda Round 5 2022

 

Lade took over from Brett Ratten due to Covid protocol and would coach Saints to a 26 point over Gold Coast. Lade was an assistant at  Richmond from 2010-16, Port Adelaide 2017-18, St Kilda 2019-22, Western Bulldogs from 2023-

 

Gary O’Donnell
Played 243 Games Essendon 1987-98

Coached 1 Game Essendon Round 16 2006

 

O’Donnell took over for one week while Kevin Sheedy recovered from a shoulder injury. In his only match as coach Essendon drew with Carlton. O’Donnell was at Brisbane 1999-2003, Essendon 2004-2010, and Brisbane again 2011-16.

 

The following coaches did not fit the criteria of the team as they ended up at another club, but I have listed them here.

 

Brendan Bolton

5 Games Hawthorn 2014

77 Games Carlton 2016-19

 

Bolton coached Hawthorn to 5 wins in May while Clarkson recovered from Guillain Barre syndrome. Bolton was at Hawthorn from 2009-15 and 2020-21, Collingwood 2022-24 and he joined St Kilda for 2025

 

Chris Connolly

1 Game Hawthorn 2001

125 Games Fremantle 2002-07

 

Connolly oversaw Hawthorn with Peter Schwab ill. Hawthorn won with a kick after siren against Carlton. Connolly was an assistant at Melbourne 1991, Eastern Ranges 1992-95, Hawthorn 1996-2001, Melbourne Football club manager 2008-13.

 

Neil Craig

11 Games Melbourne 2013

166 Games Adelaide 2004-11

 

Both times Craig was appointed he was caretaker, taking over from Gary Ayres at Adelaide and Mark Neeld at Melbourne. Craig won just one game at Melbourne winning his second game against Western Bulldogs. Craig would take over from Gary Ayres after Round 13 2004 and won his first game over Melbourne by 72 points. Craig was Fitness advisor at Adelaide 1997-98, worked with Australia cycling team for the Olympics, assistant at Adelaide 2001-04, Melbourne 2012-13, Essendon 2014-15, Carlton 2016-17, Gold Coast Suns part time 2020-21.

 

Simon Goodwin

1 Game Essendon 2013

187 Games Melbourne 2017-

 

Goodwin coached Essendon in Round 22 2013 with James Hird resigning to the drug scandal. Essendon would lose to Richmond by 39 points. Goodwin was at Essendon 2011-14 and Melbourne since 2015.

 

Mark Harvey

3 Games Brisbane 2013

97 Games Fremantle 2007-11

 

Harvey like Neil Craig started his stints both times as interim coach. Harvey replaced Chris Connolly at Fremantle and Michael Voss at Brisbane. Harvey had 25 point win over Adelaide in his first game at Fremantle and had 60 point win against GWS in his first at Brisbane. Harvey would win 2 out 3 games at Brisbane. Harvey was at Essendon 1998-2005, Fremantle 2006-07, Brisbane 2012-13, and Essendon again 2015-20.

 

Matthew Knights

1 Game West Coast 2022

67 Games Essendon 2008-10

 

Knights took over from Adam Simpson due to COVID protocol with West Coast losing to Brisbane by 75 points. Knights started with Port Adelaide SAN FL then Bendigo Bombers, Geelong 2012-2021, and West Coast 2022-24.

 

Andrew McQualter

13 Games Richmond 2023

5 Games West Coast 2024-

 

McQualter took over from Damien Hardwick mid 2023 and guided Richmond to seven wins from thirteen, despite losing his first game as coach. Richmond would then win six of next seven games. McQualter was at Richmond from 2014-23 and Melbourne for 2024

 

Brett Ratten

10 Games North Melbourne 2023

120 Games Carlton 2007-2012

68 Games St Kilda 2019-2022

 

Ratten started his coaching career as an interim at all three clubs. Ratten stood in for Alistair Clarkson due to illness in 2023 and interim coach from Alan Richardson at St Kilda. At Carlton he took from Denis Pagan where they suffered a 10 point loss. At North Melbourne they did not win a game under Ratten while at St Kilda they had a win by 27 points over Western Bulldogs in his first game. Ratten was an assistant at Melbourne 2004-06, Carlton he started in 2007, Hawthorn 2013-18, St Kilda he started as an assistant in 2019, North Melbourne 2023 and back to Hawthorn in 2014.

 

Alan Richardson

1 Game Port Adelaide 2013

126 Games St Kilda 2014-19

 

Richardson stood in for Ken Hinkley who was ill. Port Adelaide would lose by 10 points. Richardson was Coburg/Richmond reserves coach 2001-02, Western Bulldogs 2003, Collingwood 2004-07, Essendon 2008-10, Carlton 2011-12, Port Adelaide 2013, and Melbourne since 2020 as club director of coaching.

 

Phillip Walsh

1 Game Port Adelaide 2001

12 Games Adelaide 2015

 

Walsh stood in for Mark Williams in Round 22 2001 after the passing of Williams Dad Fos. Port Adelaide would win by 112 points over West Coast. Walsh was fitness coach at Geelong 1996-99, Assistant at Port Adelaide 2000-08, West Coast 2009-13 and back to Port Adelaide 2014.

 

Adem Yze

1 Game Melbourne 2022

29 Games Richmond 2024-

 

Yze stood in for Simon Goodwin due to COVID protocol and guided Melbourne to a ten point win over Hawthorn. Yze was an assistant at Hawthorn from 2012-20, Melbourne from 2021-23.

 

Coaches that got the full time job after being the caretaker coach

 

Neil Craig

See above.

 

 

 

Alex Jesaulenko

34 Games Carlton 1989-90

 

After coaching in 1978 coming in mid-year and coaching Carlton to a premiership in 1979 before leaving before the start of 1980 season, Jezza was back taking over from Robert Walls. Carlton would beat Sydney by 28 points in this match.

 

Brett Ratten

See Above

 

David Teague

50 Games Carlton from 2019-21

 

Teague took over in Round 12 2019 with a 15 point win over Brisbane.

 

Leigh Matthews

224 Games Collingwood from 1986-1995

 

Matthews took over from Bob Rose in Round 4 1986 with Collingwood winning by 45 points.

 

Mark Harvey

See Above

 

 

Barry Cable

76 Games North Melbourne from 1981-84

 

Cable took over from Malcolm Blight who was playing coach in Round 17 1981. North Melbourne beat Footscray in his first game as coach by 9 points,

 

Matthew Primus

47 Games Port Adelaide from 2010-12

 

Primus took over from Mark Williams in Round 16 2010 losing to Western Bulldogs by 36 points.

 

Jeff Gieschen

49 Games Richmond 1997-99

 

Gieschen took over from Robert Walls and guided Richmond to a 15 point win in Round 18.

 

Alex Jesaulenko

64 Games St Kilda 1980-82

 

After being Captain/Coach at Carlton in 1979, Jesaulenko was at St Kilda as a plyer in 1980.  He took over Mike Patterson as coach in Round 3 where they would draw against the eventual premiers Richmond.

 

Graeme Gellie

62 Games St Kilda 1984-86

 

Gellie took over from Tony Jewell in Round 19 and coached the Saints to a 7 [point win over Richmond. Darrel Baldock was meant to coach in 1985 but was unable to commit so Gellie stayed on.

 

Grant Thomas

123 Games St Kilda 2001-06

 

Thomas took over from Malcolm Blight who was sacked after Round 15. Saints would lose to the Bulldogs by 34 points in Thomas first game.

 

Brett Ratten

See Above

 

Ron Barassi

 

Not included as while he started mid-year he was appointed for future years.

 

Paul Roos

202 Games Sydney 2002-10

 

Roos took over from Rodney Eade in Round 13 2002 and would lead Sydney to a 77 point win over Fremantle. It looked set that Terry Wallace would be appointed coach but with six wins from ten games and a lot of member support Roos was appointed coach.

 

 

Ian Hampshire

33 Games Footscray 1982-83

 

Hampshire replaced Royce Hart as coach in Round 12 and would lose to Collingwood by 66 points.

 

Alan Joyce

54 Games Footscray 1994-96

 

Joyce took over from Terry Wheeler in Round 3 and would lose to Collingwood by 1 point in his first game.

 

Terry Wallace

148 Games Western Bulldogs 1996-2002

 

Wallace replaced Alan Joyce in Round 13 1996 and would lose to West Coast by 12 points.

 

Peter Rohde

45 Games Western Bulldogs 2002-04

 

Rohde replaced Terry Wallace in Round 22 2002 after Wallace announced his intentions to leave the Bulldogs at the end of the year. Bulldogs lost by 41 points.

More from Rodney Here.

 

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