Adelaide has confirmed the coaching structure that will support Brenton Sanderson in 2012.
Senior assistant coach Mark Bickley will remain in charge of the forward line, but his portfolio has expanded to include ‘team attack’ and a mentoring role to the other assistant coaches.
New senior coach Sanderson said Bickley would play a major role in the team’s ball movement.
“As the senior assistant, ‘Bicks’ will pretty much coach the coaches,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“He’ll also coach the forwards and the team attack. Every time we’ve got the ball basically it’s Bicks’ baby. He’ll look at how we move the footy and the structure of our forwards ahead of the ball.
“His relationship with Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker will also be pretty important.”
Second-year assistant coach Scott Camporeale will continue to oversee the midfield and will be supported by former Melbourne mentor and new strategy and innovations coach Dean Bailey.
Sanderson said he would draw on Bailey’s experiences throughout his first season at the helm.
“Dean’s going to be fantastic support for me,” he said. “The enormity of the job, I don’t think any rookie coach can be ready for. [CEO] Steven Trigg and [General Manager Football] Phil Harper were fantastic in saying, ‘we might be able to have access to these sorts of people. Who do you like in a senior-type role?’
“I was keen to get Dean because I knew him pretty well. We spent a year together at Port Adelaide in 2006 and kept a strong friendship after that.
“He’ll be great for the group. I just know he’s the perfect fit for the profile of our list.
“He’ll help Scott Camporeale out with the midfield. With so many players going through the midfield in the modern game it’s good to have two coaches dedicated to that area.”
Matthew Clarke, who shared the midfield duties with Camporeale last season, has shifted into a development role but will continue work closely with the onballers as ruck and stoppage coach.
Recently retired Geelong veteran Darren Milburn will be in charge of the Crows defence.
Sanderson said he’d been keen to get his ex-teammate to the club since he announced his retirement after the Cats’ Grand Final win over Collingwood.
“Darren’s a great get for us. As a player, he was just so reliable in the way he played and was also a ruthless competitor,” Sanderson said.
“He’s got a wealth of experience and has been involved in a successful program at Geelong.
“He’ll be a great teacher. The players will be drawn to him just because of who he is, but the young players if they’re smart will get around him all the time and ask him questions about how he played because the best way to learn is by soaking up as much of that experience as you can.”
In another change next year, the development coaches will be aligned to a particular ‘line’.
Clarke will mentor the young midfielders as part of his role, while development coach Tate Kaesler will work with Bickley looking after the emerging forwards.
Experienced development manager Peter Jonas will work alongside first-year coach Milburn.
“We’ve really beefed up that area of development and there’s a good blend of youth and experience in the coaches,” Sanderson said.
