Former football players who go onto coach, is not unusual in the AFL. Out of the current 18 senior coaches, only Carlton coach Brendan Bolton did not play footy at AFL level; however, not all great players go on to become great coaches, and not all the best coaches were superstar players back in their day.

Very few talented men in AFL history can be considered both great players and great coaches, and we’re going to take a look at the very best of the best.

TOP 3: AFL/VFL’s most successful player/coach combinations.

1. Jock McHale was both a player and a coach for Collingwood FC for a total of 975 games, from 1903 until his retirement in 1949. He was part of a premiership winning side during his very first year at the club, and later coached Collingwood to seven premierships after his playing days were over. He also has the rare distinction of winning a premiership as a playing coach in 1917, for a total of nine flags. Although he didn’t coach the 1930 Grand Final due to illness, the AFL still recognise this among his accolades. He is a Legend in the AFL Hall of Fame, and as a testament to his talent as a coach, each year the winning premiership coach is awarded the Jock McHale Medal. He is certainly one of the best player/coach combination in VFL/AFL history.

2. Ron Barassi was affiliated with Carlton, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Sydney over a 769 game playing/coaching career. He won six flags as a player (two as captain); and four as a coach, is a named legend of the AFL Hall of Fame and was named as part of the VFL/AFL Team of the Century. His total of 10 flags is the equal highest result in the Game (AFL competition); and he is certainly one of the top contenders for best player/coach in the history of the game.

"Practice doesn't make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect." – Ron Barassi

3. Norm Smith had a 679 game career with Fitzroy, Melbourne and South Melbourne. During that time he played in four premiership sides, and coached six, making for a total of 10, the equal highest in history with Ron Barassi. He is recognised as the Father of modern coaching, and he was named the coach of the VFL/AFL Team of the Century. He is also a Legend in the AFL Hall of Fame. Furthermore, the best on ground at each year’s AFL Grand Final is awarded the Norm Smith Medal. Incidentally, the medal was first awarded in 1979, to Smith’s great nephew Wayne Harmes. He is without a doubt, one of the best player/coaches in the VFL/AFL.

"Do the common things uncommonly well" – Norm Smith

These are statistically the three most successful player/coaches in AFL history, however their careers all fell under the “VFL” time frame, with less teams in the competition.

My personal pick for best player/coach combination in today’s modern game.

Featured above: Leigh Matthews

For a more modern example of a player/coach, one must look no further than ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews. As a Brisbane Lions FC supporter, am I biased? Probably, but just take a look at his achievements!

Matthews, won four flags as a player for Hawthorn FC, and was captain for one of those premierships. He still holds the record for most goals kicked by a player who wasn’t a full-forward (915). He also coached in four successful seasons, one for Collingwood, and three consecutive wins for the Brisbane Lions (an AFL record, which was only matched this year by Hawthorn). His total of eight premiership wins, is only two behind the record, with half of these wins coming-in during the AFL era of the game.

Matthews is also an AFL Hall of Fame Legend, has been named in the Team of the Century, and has had the annual Player’s Association MVP award named after him. He is one of the top player/coaches of all time, and certainly of the modern AFL era.

His individual talent as a player, was proven by his selection as the Best Player of the Century by the AFL. And he is one of only two coaches, in the modern era to win three consecutive premierships (Alastair Clarkson recently became the second). Credit for these flags cannot be given solely to the players either, as they never finished at the top of the ladder, proving he can bring success out of a team, which wasn’t necessarily ranked the strongest of the year.

And as far as memorable quotes go, Lethal takes the cake. In round ten 2001, the Lions were about to come up against Essendon, the side which had won the premiership emphatically the previous year. However, a loss to Carlton earlier in the season had proven that the Bombers weren’t untouchable. Drawing inspiration from this, Matthews referenced 80s action movie, Predator, comparing Essendon to the giant alien monster of the film.

Quoting Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lethal once said on the radio, the now infamous line,

“If it bleeds, we can kill it, and we believe Essendon can bleed!” - 'Lethal' Leigh Matthews

Brisbane FC, went on to win that match against the Bombers. They went undefeated for the remainder of the season, winning the premiership by beating Essendon once again. How about that for a prophetic and poetic line, from one of the greatest players and coaches the game has ever seen?!

Modern game player/coach standouts

In terms of current coaches who were former players, only John Worsfold and Chris Scott, have had premiership success both on and off the field. Worsfold has had three (two as a player and one as coach) for West Coast. While Scott has three, as a player for Brisbane (under Leigh Matthews); and one as a coach for Geelong. This makes Chris Scott the most successful current player/coach at four flags.

Featured above: Chris Scott Current Coach Geelong FC

 

So these are the stats, but who will be next?

Will one of our current player/coaches reach the heights of our legends of the past? And who do you think out of the current group of premiership players, could possibly go on to be a successful coach? Let us know!