Chris RubickGRANT THOMAS AND HIS ST KILDA BIAS
May 20th 2008 12:13
Since his sacking from St. Kilda in 2006 Grant Thomas has built his media career on the perception that he is an expert on leadership and team dynamics. As a coach he was much maligned for introducing “corporate speak” to the world of AFL and in the ensuing years he has dissected and strongly criticised the leadership skills of coaches, administrators, players and clubs alike.
During the pre-game on SEN1116 on Friday night he commented that Fraser Gehrig was up and about, bouncing around, yapping and encouraging his mates. According to him, the G-Train was set for a big one and his ‘mood’ would have an uplifting impact on his team and a devastating effect on Collingwood.
He continued to recall how ‘Frase’ was the ‘barometer’ for St Kilda and that his pre-game attitude and behaviour would often dictate how others in the team would feel, and as a consequence, influence their performance on the field.
But ask any sport or organisational psychologist and they will tell you that allowing one player’s mood to influence that of the entire group is not a trait of an effective team. It reflects poorly on the coach and the club’s leadership. I am in no doubt that had Thomas been commenting on the ‘mood swings’ of any other player at any other club he would agree. In recent memory he has attacked Matthew Pavlich and Brendan Fevola and their respective clubs, coaches and leadership groups for exactly that.
The difference here is that for over 5 years Thomas was responsible for Gehrig, his behaviour, and the ability of his playing group to deal with it. If what Thomas recalled about Gehrig is true, then he failed in the one area of expertise that supposedly differentiated him from his peers at the time, the art and science of leadership.
Once again his allegiance to the Saints and his nostalgic reminiscence, whilst appearing insightful on the surface, have only served to diminish his credibility as a ‘special comments’ broadcaster. Indeed, what he said about Gehrig pre-game on Friday night suggests that as coach of St Kilda Thomas failed to ‘walk’ what he now ‘talks’.
During the pre-game on SEN1116 on Friday night he commented that Fraser Gehrig was up and about, bouncing around, yapping and encouraging his mates. According to him, the G-Train was set for a big one and his ‘mood’ would have an uplifting impact on his team and a devastating effect on Collingwood.
He continued to recall how ‘Frase’ was the ‘barometer’ for St Kilda and that his pre-game attitude and behaviour would often dictate how others in the team would feel, and as a consequence, influence their performance on the field.
But ask any sport or organisational psychologist and they will tell you that allowing one player’s mood to influence that of the entire group is not a trait of an effective team. It reflects poorly on the coach and the club’s leadership. I am in no doubt that had Thomas been commenting on the ‘mood swings’ of any other player at any other club he would agree. In recent memory he has attacked Matthew Pavlich and Brendan Fevola and their respective clubs, coaches and leadership groups for exactly that.
The difference here is that for over 5 years Thomas was responsible for Gehrig, his behaviour, and the ability of his playing group to deal with it. If what Thomas recalled about Gehrig is true, then he failed in the one area of expertise that supposedly differentiated him from his peers at the time, the art and science of leadership.
Once again his allegiance to the Saints and his nostalgic reminiscence, whilst appearing insightful on the surface, have only served to diminish his credibility as a ‘special comments’ broadcaster. Indeed, what he said about Gehrig pre-game on Friday night suggests that as coach of St Kilda Thomas failed to ‘walk’ what he now ‘talks’.
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