Geelong Advertiser | HE learnt from the master coach Kevin Sheedy, developed under the tutelage of Mark Harvey, Matthew Knights, Chris Connolly, Ben Allan and Damian Drum.
Yet the coaching know-how gleaned in just one season under Ross Lyon is what former Fremantle and Essendon utility Adam McPhee is trying to impart on a young list at St Mary’s.
“I was exposed to seven coaches while I was in the AFL system and I got to see a variety of styles.
“But without discrediting any of the coaches, Ross Lyon really exposed me to where the AFL was heading with rolling zones, ball movements and what to look for.
“And while I had really high expectations on myself, when he came in he really made a stance on the club with the values that were really driven by him but created by the players.
“Ultimately, he kept us accountable with strong values that I really admired and I think today it’s something the club has really benefited from that platform when he originally came through.
“It’s no surprise that they have had a little bit of success and they could potentially have more success and win a premiership this year.”
McPhee, who retired at the end of the 2012 season after 223 games with the Dockers and Bombers, was recruited to St Mary’s to be a player as much as a developer.
And while he has been involved with the Saints in a limited capacity due to work commitments, McPhee is eager to impart his knowledge on senior coach Bryce Vincent and the coaching staff.
He began the process with Greenvale in the Essendon & District Football League.
“I was trying to implement some of the things I learnt from Ross but it is harder because the time commitments with players is a lot less,” McPhee said.
“So I learnt in my first couple of weeks of coaching that Ross’ game plan, while it is very good, is very demanding and you need to be able to educate the players.
“But that’s where I feel the GFL is ahead of the EDFL because it’s more professional and they have more time to be able to sit down and review games and implement these structures.
“Bryce is really open to it, and in time, we’d like to drip feed these plans in but not introduce too much too soon.”
