German’s exit

By Paul Pickering
AMBITION has claimed another Casey Scorpions’ coach, but the club remains determined to bring another high-profile mentor to Casey Fields.
Scorpions’ officials are this week plotting the appointment of the club’s fourth coach in as many years following Peter German’s shock defection to VFL rival Williamstown.
German, who was named VFL Coach of the Year in his first season at Casey, last week accepted a dual role at Williamstown that includes a development position with the Western Bulldogs.
The former Hawthorn, West Coast and Brisbane assistant confirmed his decision at the Casey’s best and fairest count on Friday night.
Scorpions general manager Brian Woodman said the club was ‘shocked’ and ‘disappointed’ by the decision, but could not begrudge German another chance in the AFL system.
German, who took the Scorpions to an elimination final, explained that the dual role was too good to refuse.
“It was a pretty tough decision, because when the players give you everything they’ve got it certainly is hard to walk away,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, I’m a career coach and I made the decision that was best for me.”
German also doused speculation that he had become frustrated with the Melbourne alliance late in the season, when just a handful of AFL-listed players were made available to the Scorpions.
“I understood that that was just due to circumstances,” he said.
“I think everyone will be wiser for the experience and I’d be surprised if something like that ever happened again.”
Despite the untimely broadside, Woodman was quick to hail German’s tenure as a resounding win for the club.
Woodman likened German’s stint at Casey Fields to that of 2008 coach Greg Hutchison, who was lured to St Kilda as football manager.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been caught in that coaching merry-go-round two seasons in a row,” he said.
“It’s because the people we’ve had as coaches are highly credentialed and very good.
“The offers they’ve been made are so good that they just can’t knock them back – so they’ve moved on.”
Woodman said the club was not interested in appointing a less ambitious coach in the hope that he might have an extended tenure.
“At the moment, we’re still quite comfortable thinking that we need to have the highest calibre coach we can get,” he explained.
“I still think that produces the best performances on the ground.”
Woodman said Scorpions officials had already spoken to some candidates for the 2010 job and an announcement could be made by the end of the week.