Worsfold says no to Crows
Premiership coach John Worsfold last night ruled himself out of coaching Adelaide, declaring he was committed to staying away from any full-time football role for at least another 12 months.
As Brenton Sanderson outlined his surprise and disappointment about his sacking, Worsfold - recently appointed to the role of chairman of the AFL Coaches' Association - said he would not consider a return to coaching in 2015.
"I don't have any interest in terms of next year," he told _The West Australian _.
"I made the decision that I was going to continue on with what I am doing for another 12 months and then assess more strongly whether I keep going in that direction or look to go back into some sort of full-time football position in about August next year.
"That hasn't changed."
An extraordinary 48 hours on the AFL coaching landscape continued yesterday, with Gold Coast mentor Guy McKenna pleading his case to the Suns' board of directors.
In an alarming sign for the dual Eagles premiership defender, the Suns announced a full and immediate review of their football department, to be overseen by football manager Marcus Ashcroft. "The football review announced by the board will assist in making decisions about season 2015," Suns chairman John Witheriff said.
"As a young club we should be very proud, but our members and the Gold Coast community deserve to see us aiming higher every year. This review will give us the information we need to make the right decisions."
Both Adelaide and Sanderson were regrouping yesterday - Sanderson because he had lost his job and the Crows because the man many tipped to replace Sanderson, Essendon assistant Simon Goodwin, was announced as Paul Roos' successor at Melbourne.
Goodwin, a member of Essendon's coaching staff for the past three seasons, will be Roos' senior assistant at Melbourne in 2015 and 2016 before assuming the main role in 2017.
Sanderson was puzzled as to why he was sacked, but refused to blame senior players for knifing him in the back. He was blind- sided by Wednesday's axing.
"It is a shock for me obviously because I didn't see it coming," Sanderson admitted yesterday.
Asked why he lost his job, Sanderson replied: "I'm not sure. There were some reasons Rob (Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman) and the board went through and I have just got to live with the decision that has been made."
Senior Adelaide players criticised Sanderson in post-season interviews, prompting a review which led to his sacking.
Chapman denied star players Patrick Dangerfield and Taylor Walker, among others, threatened to walk out of the club if Sanderson remained.
"That gun was never levelled at my head," Chapman said.
But he said senior players supported the decision to remove Sanderson. "I'm very confident they're on the same page as the board," he said.
Sanderson didn't believe he had lost player support.
"My relationship with the players is really strong ... my phone has been ringing off the hook with some emotional players who are really disappointed," he said.
Adelaide's search for a new coach immediately hit a snag when Goodwin agreed to a five-year deal with the Demons.
Adelaide powerbroker Mark Ricciuto, a close friend of Goodwin, was part of a four-member review panel which recommended Sanderson be ousted.
Ricciuto rang Goodwin on Wednesday night to gauge his interest, only to discover he had committed to Melbourne.
"I got a call from Roo (Ricciuto) late last night just to see where my thinking was," Goodwin said.
"He sussed me out to see where I was with Melbourne."
Chapman said premiership coaches, including those currently employed at other clubs, were on Adelaide's radar. "That gene pool isn't very deep," he said. "There are only a select number. Many of them are in current jobs so we may have to wait a while."
Worsfold took West Coast into eight finals series in 12 seasons, including preliminary finals in three years, grand finals in 2005 and 2006 and the 2006 premiership. His right-hand man until the end of 2011, Peter Sumich, is understood to still hold senior coaching aspirations.
Sumich, who narrowly missed landing the Eagles role 12 months ago, is currently Fremantle mentor Ross Lyon's senior assistant.
Sumich did not return calls from _The West Australian _yesterday. Sydney assistant Stuart Dew, courted by Melbourne last year, is considered a frontrunner.
"I made the decision that I was going to continue on with what I am doing …"" *John Worsfold *
with Australian Associated Press
