At this time of the year in AFL just like most sporting codes it comes to the end of the line for Star Players. They leave the game in the 3 very different ways.
- Managed well by a number of parties to ensure a smooth transition to after football (Joel Corey – Geelong)
- Forced in to retirement by an indiscretion (I wont name names here because it serves no purpose
- Forced in to retirement because Clubs don’t love them for reasons they can’t see (Darren Jolly – Collingwood)
In 1999 on the back of some ugly retirements and because telling someone NO is always the hardest to do I decided I had to make sure that NO wasn’t so hard and that it felt natural to a player.
Hence managing a player in to retirement became a 1-2 year management plan. My method was simple. Get 3 people you trust. One from the Club, a family friend and myself to tell you over a period of time (not just the end of the season) how you are travelling. Try to make the decision before the end of the season if possible. In the meantime it was the Managers job to plan the future after football as well. This could be Coaching, Media or other employment or education. The best example I can think of in recent times was Brad Johnson. He was monitored on a weekly basis as to his not only his form but mental state, family wants and needs and after football opportunities.
I told Brad a month before the season ended that his time was up and that I wouldn’t change my mind.
I also told Brad the day you wake up and say “I really really don’t want to do this today then you finished”
Amazingly to this day I remember Johno calling a few weeks after I told him I thought it was time and saying “guess what ? I don’t want to do this today”
So the retirement plan went in to phase 2 that day. Brad had an excellent chance to do several things at once.
- Retire before his form dropped away completely
- Retire before his body gave up (I use to say that the 6 months between Oct the start of then next season in April to a 30+ body can feel like 6 years)
- Spend time with his young family
- Take up a major role in the Media and potentially with the Club.
All of this was made easier when Brad agreed to the plan well before the day came. In other words he let other tell him that time was up. Of course the decision is still the Players but it’s a lot easier if people who love you “help” with that decision.
On the opposite hand we have a situation this week with Darren Jolly that no-one likes to see. I think Darren has been a Star of the game and I admire the way he speaks his mind. However, three things have happened to Darren.
- He has been seduced by the prospect of other Clubs wanting him
- He clearly didn’t see what many others did. A failing body. An inability to cover ground and young gun with a lot of talent in the ranks.
- He either hasn’t listened to people around him or didn’t have a retirement plan or no-one told him not to be bitter because it can backfire big time.
What I don’t like is the negativity coming about Jolly when he should be a celebrated player going out of the game with 2 premiership.
Before discussing Jolly’s situation further lets wind the clock back to where the catalyst for retirement started for players I managed.
Chris Bond was a Richmond B&F winner and became Captain of Fremantle when Damien Drum decided not only was Bondy’s time up as Captain but that he would delist him as well. 15 years ago retirement plans probably didn’t exist. There was no real discussion about whether Bondy should retire or not in fact the discussion for Player and Manager was probably more about how to survive and get another contract. Bondy got the chop and it was fair to say we were in shock but more was to come. Bondy rang to say Drum was on his way to his place with a slab of beer to wish him the best. I’ll take a bit of licence here but from memory Bondy words to me were along the lines of “you ring him and tell him if he turns up here I’ll knock him out and that I’m going to give it to the Club as well” I’m not sure why I said it to this day but I said “you listen to me……you greet him at the door, you tell him the truth that you’re not happy but that you accept that football has given you everything and that you want to do a press conference to thank the Club turn this all around in your favour mate not a bitter person who football supporters turn on” Bondy wasn’t convinced. But he did it. And did it very very well. With the football eyes of Australia glued to the News that night they saw a person handle his sacking with sincerity (he didn’t agree with the sacking) but that he owed everything to football and his family and himself were grateful for the opportunity football had given them. The next day the phone started ringing. Offers from everywhere. Why ? Because Clubs wanted that sort of person at their Club. Bondy went in to football administration very successfully and is now ironically the Football Operations Manager at Fremantle. How different it might have been if Damien Drum’s reception at Bondy’s place had been much different.
The message is simple. Don’t focus on the disappointment of it being over. Focus on the gratefulness of what football has given you. Bondy didn’t play in premierships. Bondy didn’t get to play at one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world like Collingwood. But by getting on the front foot, holding his tongue, being grateful he has carved out a very successful career in football administration.
Darren Jolly can turn this around quickly as well. All he needs to do is get on the front foot today. Show people why he’s are a two time premiership player and an ex-player now that can offer so much to football. Explain why is better to be thankful than bitter. Trust me it isn’t worth it.
***Note ….Footy from a different angle will start appearing regularly @ www.rickynixon.com.au 
Ricky Nixon 