Rodney Eade
Encyclopedia
Rodney "Rocket" Eade is a former Australian rules football
er and the former coach of the Sydney Swans
and Western Bulldogs
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Eade is the current Football and Coaching Strategist of the Collingwood Football Club
.
, the winger played 229 games and kicked 46 goals for Hawthorn
between 1976–1987, playing in the 1976, 1978, 1983, and 1986 premierships. He moved to the Brisbane Bears
in 1988, playing 30 games and kicking three goals until his retirement in 1990.
in 1996, taking them to a Grand Final
in his first year however they lost to North Melbourne. In his second year, in the 1997 season he took Sydney to sixth spot on the ladder but were eliminated in the qualifying finals to Western Bulldogs. In the 1998 season, he took Sydney to a better performance to third on the ladder where they eliminated St Kilda in the qualifying finals before being eliminated by Adelaide in the preliminary finals who where eventual premiers. In the 1999 season he took Sydney to eighth spot on the ladder where they were eliminated in the qualifying finals to Essendon by a big margin of 69 points. 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 eliminated by Hawthorn in the elimination finals. In the 2002 season, with Sydney's record getting worse week by week by being placed fourteenth on the ladder, Rodney Eade resigned following a narrow Round 12 loss to Geelong
; he was replaced by Paul Roos
for the rest of the 2002 season who was eventually appointed full time.
for the 2005 season. In his first season as coach, he took an under-achieving Bulldogs side within a goal of a finals series berth, when they had finished with less than 5 wins in the previous two years, but just missed out of the finals finishing in ninth spot on the ladder. In 2006, he took the 'Dogs
to a final series for the first time since Terry Wallace
in 2000 where they eliminated Collingwood in the elimination finals but lost to West Coast in the preliminary finals who where eventual premiers . In the 2007 season, he took Bulldogs to finish thirteenth on the ladder which was very unexpected, due to this his job was in jeopardy in 2007 due to a sudden downturn in the team's performance, but rather than firing him, the club limited his expansive duties
In the 2008 season
, Eade coached the Bulldogs to third on the ladder, and then the club's first preliminary final since 1998, but were eliminated by Geelong who were eventual runners-up. In 2009 and 2010, Eade took the Bulldogs two more consecutive preliminary finals, falling to St Kilda on both occasions.
Due to Western Bulldogs not progressing well in the 2011 season, being placed twelve on the ladder. Following a big loss to Essendon by forty nine points in Round 21. It was announced on 17 August 2011, that Eade's contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2011 season. The following day, Eade stepped down as coach of the Bulldogs. He was replaced by caretaker coach Paul Williams
for the remainder of the 2011 season.
, who was due to step into that role after the 2011 season. No press conferences or comments are set to be available until the Copeland Trophy (Collingwood Best and Fairest) night has concluded.
Eade will coach the Australian International Rules side in October/November 2011 in Australia.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and the former coach of the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). Eade is the current Football and Coaching Strategist of the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Playing career
Recruited from GlenorchyGlenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
, the winger played 229 games and kicked 46 goals for Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
between 1976–1987, playing in the 1976, 1978, 1983, and 1986 premierships. He moved to the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
in 1988, playing 30 games and kicking three goals until his retirement in 1990.
Sydney Swans
He took the coaching reins of the Sydney SwansSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in 1996, taking them to a Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
in his first year however they lost to North Melbourne. In his second year, in the 1997 season he took Sydney to sixth spot on the ladder but were eliminated in the qualifying finals to Western Bulldogs. In the 1998 season, he took Sydney to a better performance to third on the ladder where they eliminated St Kilda in the qualifying finals before being eliminated by Adelaide in the preliminary finals who where eventual premiers. In the 1999 season he took Sydney to eighth spot on the ladder where they were eliminated in the qualifying finals to Essendon by a big margin of 69 points. 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 eliminated by Hawthorn in the elimination finals. In the 2002 season, with Sydney's record getting worse week by week by being placed fourteenth on the ladder, Rodney Eade resigned following a narrow Round 12 loss to Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
; he was replaced by Paul Roos
Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)
Paul Roos is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL and Australian Football League.Playing the majority of his career with Fitzroy, Roos was one of the teams greats, captaining the side for a long time and was acknowledged as its best player for several seasons, being named...
for the rest of the 2002 season who was eventually appointed full time.
Western Bulldogs
He spent 2003 and 2004 as a media writer and commentator, before being appointed coach of the Western BulldogsWestern Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
for the 2005 season. In his first season as coach, he took an under-achieving Bulldogs side within a goal of a finals series berth, when they had finished with less than 5 wins in the previous two years, but just missed out of the finals finishing in ninth spot on the ladder. In 2006, he took the 'Dogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
to a final series for the first time since Terry Wallace
Terry Wallace
Terry Wallace is a former professional Australian rules football player and coach.As a player, his career spanned three VFL/AFL clubs; most notably Hawthorn where he played in three premierships as well as achieving All-Australian selection, and two Best and Fairests with the Footscray Football Club...
in 2000 where they eliminated Collingwood in the elimination finals but lost to West Coast in the preliminary finals who where eventual premiers . In the 2007 season, he took Bulldogs to finish thirteenth on the ladder which was very unexpected, due to this his job was in jeopardy in 2007 due to a sudden downturn in the team's performance, but rather than firing him, the club limited his expansive duties
In the 2008 season
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
, Eade coached the Bulldogs to third on the ladder, and then the club's first preliminary final since 1998, but were eliminated by Geelong who were eventual runners-up. In 2009 and 2010, Eade took the Bulldogs two more consecutive preliminary finals, falling to St Kilda on both occasions.
Due to Western Bulldogs not progressing well in the 2011 season, being placed twelve on the ladder. Following a big loss to Essendon by forty nine points in Round 21. It was announced on 17 August 2011, that Eade's contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2011 season. The following day, Eade stepped down as coach of the Bulldogs. He was replaced by caretaker coach Paul Williams
Paul Williams (Australian rules footballer)
Paul Williams is a former Australian rules footballer with both Collingwood and Sydney. Since retiring from playing, he has been an assistant coach, including a bried period as caretaker coach of the Western Bulldogs towards the end of the 2011 season...
for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Collingwood
On 3 October 2011, Eade was appointed by Collingwood to the position of Football and Coaching Strategist, replacing outgoing coach Mick MalthouseMick Malthouse
Michael "Mick" Malthouse is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Collingwood Football Club.While his playing career included a premiership for Richmond in the VFL, he is best known for his Australian Football League coaching career.Malthouse is the most successful coach...
, who was due to step into that role after the 2011 season. No press conferences or comments are set to be available until the Copeland Trophy (Collingwood Best and Fairest) night has concluded.
Eade will coach the Australian International Rules side in October/November 2011 in Australia.