Rodney Eade
Eade in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Rodney Eade
Nickname(s) Speed, Rocket
Date of birth (1958-04-04) 4 April 1958 (age 65)
Place of birth Tasmania
Original team(s) Glenorchy
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Wingman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1976–1987 Hawthorn 229 (46)
1988–1990 Brisbane Bears 030 0(3)
Total 259 (49)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1996–2002 Sydney 152 (81–69–2)
2005–2011 Western Bulldogs 162 (88–72–2)
2015–2017 Gold Coast 63 (16–46–1)
Club total
377 (185–187–5)

2011		 Representative
Australia
2 (0–2–0)
Total 379 (185–189–5)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1990.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of the end of 2016[1].
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Rodney Eade (born 4 April 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the Australian Football League. He is a former coach of the Sydney Swans, the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Football Club. He has, to date, coached 377 games of AFL football, placing him first on the all-time AFL/VFL list of most games coached without a premiership.

Playing career

Hawthorn

Recruited from Glenorchy, while still a schoolboy, young Rodney Eade made his VFL debut for the Hawthorn Football Club as an 18-year-old. Playing with a lot of dash and blistering speed, Eade capped off his debut season by playing in the 1976 premiership team. He went on to play in the Hawks' 1978, 1983, and 1986 premierships sides. In all, the winger played 229 games and kicked 46 goals for Hawthorn between 1976 and 1987.[2][3][4]

Brisbane Bears

His time at the Hawks finished when he moved to the Brisbane Bears in 1988. Suffering injuries later on as he got older, Eade managed to play 30 games and kicked three goals until his retirement in 1990.[5][6]

Coaching career

Immediately following his retirement from his playing career at the end of 1990, Eade took up coaching. In 1991 he was the reserves coach of the Brisbane Bears and led the Bears to the reserves' premiership in that season.[7] He later coached the North Melbourne reserves, and led it to the premiership in 1995. These successes at reserves level gave Eade a strong case for a senior coaching job in 1996.[8][9]

Sydney Swans

Eade replaced Ron Barassi when he became senior coach of the Sydney Swans in the 1996 season, taking them to the 1996 AFL Grand Final in his first year, in which they lost to North Melbourne by a margin of 43 points.[10][11][12] In his second year, in the 1997 season, he took Sydney to sixth on the ladder but they were eliminated in the qualifying finals to the Western Bulldogs.[13] In the 1998 season, he took Sydney to a better performance to third on the ladder where they defeated St Kilda in the qualifying finals before being beaten by Adelaide, the eventual premiers, in the semi-finals. In the 1999 season, he took Sydney to eighth spot on the ladder where they were eliminated in the qualifying finals to Essendon by 69 points.[14] In the 2000 season, he took Sydney to eleventh spot on the ladder, missing out in the finals. In the 2001 season, he took Sydney back into the finals finishing with seventh spot on the ladder before being beaten by Hawthorn in the elimination finals. In the 2002 season, with Sydney's record under Eade becoming worse week by week and being placed fourteenth on the ladder, Eade resigned following a narrow Round 12 loss to Geelong; he was replaced by assistant coach Paul Roos as caretaker senior coach for the rest of the 2002 season and Roos was eventually appointed full-time senior coach.[15][16][17]

Western Bulldogs

Eade was appointed senior coach of the Western Bulldogs for the 2005 season, when he replaced Peter Rohde who was sacked at the end of the 2004 season.[18][19][20] In his first season as Bulldogs senior coach, he took an under-achieving Bulldogs side within a goal of a finals series berth, after they had finished with less than five wins in the previous two years, but just missed out on the finals, finishing in ninth spot on the ladder. In the 2006 season, he took the Bulldogs to a finals series for the first time since Terry Wallace in 2000, where they defeated Collingwood in the elimination finals but lost to eventual premiers West Coast in the semi-finals. In the 2007 season, Eade took the Bulldogs to thirteenth on the ladder and, consequently, his job was in jeopardy due to the sudden downturn in the team's performance. But rather than firing him, the club limited his expansive duties.[21][22]

In the 2008 season, Eade coached the Bulldogs to third on the ladder and then to the club's first preliminary final since 1998, but they were eliminated by Geelong who were the eventual runners-up. In the 2009 season and the 2010 season, Eade took the Bulldogs two more consecutive preliminary finals, falling to St Kilda on both occasions.[23][24]

The Western Bulldogs under Eade did not progress well in the 2011 season, being placed twelfth on the ladder. Following a big loss to Essendon by 49 points in Round 21, 2011, it was announced on 17 August 2011 that Eade's contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2011 season.[25][26][27] The following day, Eade stepped down as senior coach of the Bulldogs.[28][29] He was replaced by assistant coach Paul Williams as caretaker senior coach for the remainder of the 2011 season.[30]

Collingwood

On 3 October 2011, Eade was appointed by Collingwood to the position of Football and Coaching Strategist, replacing outgoing coach Mick Malthouse, who had originally planned to step into that role after the 2011 season.[31][32][33][34] In September 2013, Eade changed positions when he was appointed to the position of director of football at Collingwood Football Club.[35]

Gold Coast Suns

On 30 October 2014, Eade was appointed the Gold Coast Suns second senior coach, replacing Guy McKenna.[36][37][38] In the 2015 season, Eade guided the Gold Coast Suns to finish sixteenth on the ladder with four wins and seventeen losses. In the 2016 season, Eade guided the Gold Coast Suns to finish fifteenth on the ladder with six wins and sixteen losses. During the 2017 season, when the Gold Coast Suns under Eade were sitting at fifteenth on the ladder with six wins and thirteen losses after Round 20, 2017, on 8 August 2017, with three games left in the season, Eade was told his contract would not be renewed.[39][40][41][42] Eade departed immediately and was replaced by assistant coach Dean Solomon as caretaker senior coach for the rest of the 2017 season.[43][44][45]

Post-coaching career

On 18 January 2024, it was announced Eade returned to Hawthorn Football Club, the club he formerly played for, in the club's administration department as Capital Campaign Executive, helping elevate fundraising efforts for the Kennedy Community Centre.[46]

Media career

Eade spent 2003 and 2004 as a media writer and commentator.[47]

Cricketing career

Eade was a talented junior cricketer, making his senior cricketing debut for Glenorchy Cricket Club aged 14. On his debut Eade scored 31*, sharing a match saving partnership with future Australian Test cricketer Roger Woolley.[48]

Statistics

Playing statistics

[49]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Led the league after season and finals
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1976† Hawthorn 26 9 4 3 130 28 158 25 — 0.4 0.3 14.4 3.1 17.6 2.8 — 0
1977 Hawthorn 26 22 6 8 248 76 324 45 — 0.3 0.4 11.3 3.5 14.7 2.0 — 0
1978† Hawthorn 26 25 5 7 362 86 448 89 — 0.2 0.3 14.5 3.4 17.9 3.6 — 2
1979 Hawthorn 26 21 9 6 317 70 387 48 — 0.4 0.3 15.1 3.3 18.4 2.3 — 2
1980 Hawthorn 26 20 2 1 305 84 389 99 — 0.1 0.1 15.3 4.2 19.5 5.0 — 6
1981 Hawthorn 26 14 5 4 170 61 231 45 — 0.4 0.3 12.1 4.4 16.5 3.2 — 0
1982 Hawthorn 26 23 3 5 311 149 460 69 — 0.1 0.2 13.5 6.5 20.0 3.0 — 4
1983† Hawthorn 26 22 1 3 297 132 429 72 — 0.0 0.1 13.5 6.0 19.5 3.3 — 3
1984 Hawthorn 26 22 4 6 260 100 360 71 — 0.2 0.3 11.8 4.5 16.4 3.2 — 3
1985 Hawthorn 26 21 5 3 233 88 321 76 — 0.2 0.1 11.1 4.2 15.3 3.6 — 3
1986† Hawthorn 26 14 1 2 171 64 235 46 — 0.1 0.1 12.2 4.6 16.8 3.3 — 0
1987 Hawthorn 26 16 1 0 188 74 262 39 24 0.1 0.0 11.8 4.6 16.4 2.4 1.5 0
1988 Brisbane Bears 26 13 1 4 178 53 231 62 13 0.1 0.3 13.7 4.1 17.8 4.8 1.0 0
1989 Brisbane Bears 26 12 1 3 129 37 166 39 21 0.1 0.3 10.8 3.1 13.8 3.3 1.8 0
1990 Brisbane Bears 26 5 1 0 68 22 90 19 5 0.2 0.0 13.6 4.4 18.0 3.8 1.0 0
Career 259 49 55 3367 1124 4491 844 63 0.2 0.2 13.0 4.3 17.3 3.3 1.4 23

Coaching statistics

[50]
Legend
 W  Wins  L  Losses  D  Draws  W%  Winning percentage  LP  Ladder position  LT  League teams
Season Team Games W L D W % LP LT
1996 Sydney 25 18 6 1 74.0% 1 16
1997 Sydney 23 12 11 0 52.2% 6 16
1998 Sydney 24 15 9 0 62.5% 3 16
1999 Sydney 23 11 12 0 47.7% 8 16
2000 Sydney 22 10 12 0 45.5% 10 16
2001 Sydney 23 12 11 0 52.2% 7 16
2002 Sydney 12 3 8 1 29.2% 14^ 16
2005 Western Bulldogs 22 11 11 0 50.0% 9 16
2006 Western Bulldogs 24 14 10 0 58.3% 8 16
2007 Western Bulldogs 22 9 12 1 43.2% 13 16
2008 Western Bulldogs 25 16 8 1 66.0% 3 16
2009 Western Bulldogs 25 16 9 0 64.0% 3 16
2010 Western Bulldogs 25 15 10 0 60.0% 4 16
2011 Western Bulldogs 19 7 12 0 36.8% 12^ 17
2015 Gold Coast 22 4 17 1 20.5% 16 18
2016 Gold Coast 22 6 16 0 27.3% 15 18
2017 Gold Coast 19 6 13 0 31.5% 15 18
Career totals 377 185 187 5 49.07%

^Eade resigned twice mid-season; in 2002, Sydney were fourteenth when he resigned and in 2011, the Western Bulldogs were twelfth when he resigned.


References

  1. ^ "AFL Tables – Rodney Eade – Coaching Record".
  2. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Champion Tuesday: Rodney Eade". 5 March 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Sacked podcast 2022: The coaching offer that nobody could convince Rocket not to take". 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  5. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Sacked podcast 2022: The coaching offer that nobody could convince Rocket not to take". 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  7. ^ Glenn McFarlane (29 September 1991). "Brisbane breaks the ice". The Sunday Herald-Sun. Melbourne, VIC. p. 72.
  8. ^ "Roos' turn to celebrate". The Sunday Age (Sports Liftout). Melbourne, VIC. 1 October 1995. p. 13.
  9. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Timeline: Barassi and Eade deliver hope (1996 – 2005)". Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  11. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Sacked podcast 2022: The coaching offer that nobody could convince Rocket not to take". 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Timeline: Barassi and Eade deliver hope (1996 – 2005)". Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Timeline: Barassi and Eade deliver hope (1996 – 2005)". Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Eade quits: Roos tip for job". 25 June 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Paul Roos started his career at Fitzroy. He's set to end it as a Demon". 6 September 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  17. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. ^ "2000s". Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  19. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Bulldogs sack Newport". 9 September 2004. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  21. ^ Smith, Patrick. "Eade Cops Rocket after Review." The Australian. 8 November 2007. EBSCOhost: Newspaper Source. Accessed 16 December 2007, http://web.ebscohost.com
  22. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  23. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Sacked podcast 2022: The coaching offer that nobody could convince Rocket not to take". 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  25. ^ Wilson, Caroline; Brodie, Will (17 August 2011). "Eade to leave Bulldogs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  26. ^ "Eade to leave Bulldogs". 17 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Eade to leave Bulldogs". Australia: ABC News. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  28. ^ Kogoy, Peter (18 August 2011). "Paul Williams take reins after Rodney Eade walks". The Australian. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  29. ^ "Eade won't coach again in 2011". 18 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Eade won't coach again in 2011". 18 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Eade to join Collingwood coaching team". 3 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Eade's role questioned". 4 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Eade appointed as Football and Coaching Strategist". 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Eade joins Pies' coaching staff". Australia: ABC News. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Eade confirmed as new Director of Football". 1 September 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Rodney Eade confirmed as Gold Coast Suns coach". 28 October 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Gold Coast Suns reach agreement with Collingwood to sign Rodney Eade as new head coach". Australia: ABC News. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  38. ^ "RODNEY EADE". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  39. ^ Whiting, Michael (8 August 2017). "Eade out: 'Not even close' on win–loss ratio". BigPond. AFL.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  40. ^ "Rodney Eade sacked by Gold Coast Suns as AFL coach". Australia: ABC News. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Gold Coast sack coach Rodney Eade after another disappointing AFL season". The Guardian. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  42. ^ "Sacked podcast 2022: The coaching offer that nobody could convince Rocket not to take". 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  43. ^ Whiting, Michael (8 August 2017). "Eade out: 'Not even close' on win–loss ratio". BigPond. AFL.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  44. ^ "Gold Coast Suns sack coach Rodney Eade, Dean Solomon steps in as interim coach". 8 August 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Gold Coast sack coach Rodney Eade, Dean Solomon steps in as interim coach". 8 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  46. ^ "Rocket returns to Hawthorn". 18 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  47. ^ "Create an experience with Rodney Eade". Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  48. ^ Gandy, M., "Tasmania", Australian Cricket, February 1973, Modern Magazines: Sydney, p. 65.
  49. ^ "AFL Tables – Rodney Eade – Stats – Statistics". afltables.com.
  50. ^ "Rodney Eade's coaching profile". AFL Tables.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rodney Eade.
Hawthorn Football Club 1976/78 VFL premiers
Hawthorn Football Club 1983 VFL premiers
Hawthorn Football Club 1986 VFL premiers
Coaches of the South Melbourne Football Club/Sydney Swans
Coaches of the Footscray Football Club/Western Bulldogs
Coaches of the Gold Coast Suns
1996 All-Australian team
Australian squad – 2011 International Rules Series
Tasmanian Team of the Century
Australia international rules football team – coaches
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