Brenton Sanderson Biography

Brenton Sanderson is appointed by the AFL as community umpiring development manager.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley and assistant coach Brenton Sanderson agree to pay a $25,000 fine (that was imposed on the club) after breaching the AFL's COVID-19 rules by playing a tennis match together.

"We let the club down in that regard by our miscommunication and not being diligent enough in our understanding of what we could and couldn't do," Buckley said.

"There has been almost weekly updates or changes to what has occurred and I'm not making an excuse but that is the reality that clubs are facing and there's probably some of the slip-ups have stemmed from that, but I need to be better, we need to be better."

Collingwood assistant coach Brenton Sanderson is using the 2020 AFL shutdown period (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) to complete web seminars from the US, which means getting up at two in the morning once a week.

"We're always looking for time to further your education and this is probably the perfect opportunity. There's some gaps in my CV and some areas I want to get better at," Sanderson said.

Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson joins Collingwood as an assistant coach.

The payout of sacked coach Brenton Sanderson has hit Adelaide's bottom line, with chairman Rob Chapman announcing a 2014 operating financial loss of $408,011 at the club's annual members meeting on Wednesday night.

Sanderson was dumped as Crows coach last September with another season left on his contract, costing the club a reported $1.2 million.

"There was a contract termination that resulted in some sizable expenses that we incurred … we're not hiding from that (but) this is the cost of doing business in an elite sport," Chapman said.

Brenton Sanderson is appointed as head coach of the NAB AFL Academy.

Sanderson will guide the development of the most talented teenagers in the country who will be picked from the NAB AFL Under-16 and Under-18 Championships.

"The transition from underage junior football to the senior AFL competition is the largest step in the game for our elite juniors," AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said.

"Match-specific coaching that will be led by Brenton centres around areas including skill acquisition, game awareness, contested ball-winning, decision-making and physical preparation."

Brenton Sanderson remains hopeful he can remain involved in football after being sacked by the Crows.

"My long-term plan is to get back into the industry…that could happen in the next couple of weeks because I know there's still clubs looking for [people to fill] roles," Sanderson said.

"I haven't shut the door on being involved in the 2015 season, but whether I'm the right fit for those clubs and the timing's right for me, we'll have to wait and see.

"Whether that's an administration role or a coaching role, I think I can offer something in both."

Retired Adelaide forward Jason Porplyzia believes the club got it right in sacking Brenton Sanderson and replacing him with Phil Walsh, confirming a rift had opened between Sanderson and the Crows players.

"I think towards the end there was a bit of a disconnect between the playing group and (Sanderson), and going forward I'm not sure if the club wanted to persist – it may have taken some time to rebuild things," Porplyzia told radio station 5AA.

"It was a fairly ruthless decision by the club, but I think the right call was made."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is critical of Adelaide for the way it handled Brenton Sanderson's sacking.

"I think Sando's been dealt a really harsh card because the club didn't put that support around him." Buckley said.

"They (the Crows) were unable to handle the circumstances that no-one would've foreseen. It wasn't just personnel in the coaching staff. It was draft picks (too).

"The consistency at the management level has not been there and I think Sando's been an unfortunate victim in all of that."

Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto says the Crows do not have a replacement coach in waiting after sacking Brenton Sanderson on Wednesday.

The former premiership player told Triple M Adelaide the club would not have talked to a replacement before informing the incumbent he was no longer required.

"I can guarantee we haven't done that," Ricciuto said.

"You don't go looking at coaches. Well, some people do go behind your current coach's back and start talking to people - some people choose to do things like that. We haven't."

Crows chairman Rob Chapman says Brenton Sanderson's inability to communicate with players led to his sacking.

"I've said it often, Brenton is a good coach, strategically, tactically, game-day he's very, very sound," Chapman said.

"But there are a lot of things that go into making a good coach.

"He's very good in the media, his external communication was good; I think [his lack of internal communication] was feedback he's received.

"That was something he needed to improve upon … I think he would acknowledge that."

Brenton Sanderson says he was blindsided by Adelaide's decision to sack him on Wednesday with two years remaining on his contract.

"I didn't see it coming, we were very much deep into our planning for pre-season," Sanderson said.

"I got notified yesterday by Rob Chapman and Andrew Payze and then had to go down and tell the coaches, then go home and tell my family.

"That's the way this industry is though, it's ruthless and it's very much results driven."

Sanderson says he still plans to be involved in coaching at AFL level.

"It's only been 24 hours and the dust hasn't settled yet but I've taken some phone calls already from some club execs," he said.

"I'm still very passionate about coaching, I've got a commerce degree and a pilot's licence but coaching is what I love doing."

Brenton Sanderson is sacked as coach of the Crows despite having two years left on his contract.

"Brenton is a quality person and accomplished coach, but recent weeks have unearthed a need for change," Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman said.

"Both parties have realised they have different perspectives on where we are at as a footy team.

"It is a tough decision but one the club feels pushes us closer to realising our ambitions.

"We would like to thank Brenton for his contribution and wish him every success."

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson questions the frequency with which the Crows have been drawn to play the Lions during the day at the Gabba over the last few years.

"If you crunch the numbers, the Crows in the last four years have played that day game in Brisbane [three times]," Sanderson said.

"Collingwood - it's been 14 years since they've played a day game at the Gabba, Essendon 18 years, Hawthorn seven years, Richmond 13 years. For some reason Adelaide are OK to play a day game in Brisbane in the middle of the hottest time of the year for them."

As the Crows announce a $1.8m loss for 2013, Brenton Sanderson earns contract extension to remain coach of the Crows until the end of 2016.

"We've been heading in this direction with our discussions for quite some time butit's good to have it all done and dusted well before the 2014 season," Crows CEO Stephen Trigg said.

"Brenton has had a range of experiences in his two seasons as senior coach. We are very confident that he is continuing to grow as a coach and is very much the right person to build on all the work of the past two years."

Crows chairman Rob Chapman says Brenton Sanderson's honest assessment of his own coaching performance in 2013 was impressive.

"We do a review of the coach at the end of the season and Sando walked in and put it on the table, warts and all," Chapman said on 5AA radio.

"He said, 'Here's what we did well and here's what we didn't … and here's what I'm going to do to improve it and you can hold me to account for this'.

"Geez, it was a mature discussion … and I know he's very enthused about the program of work in place for the players when they start up on November 6."

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson regrets his public display of anger during the quarter time break of the Crows' clash against the Bulldogs where he is seen to push full back Ben Rutten in the chest.

"I should be a bit calmer in those situations but sometimes the anger and emotion spill over the edge," Sanderson said.

"I caught up with Truck (Rutten) who was the main one that got caught on vision. But you have got to pick your targets - he's one of our senior players and most experienced player.

"I wouldn't do it to a first gamer or second gamer or one of our younger players because you know you would lose them for the rest of the match - but Truck was one you knew you would get a response from."

Despite having another year to run on his contract, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says he would be more than happy to sign a contract extension now.

"If it ends up that the club offers me a contract extension, I'd be really thrilled with that," Sanderson said.

"The relationship's really strong [with the club], I really like it here, I've become quickly attached to this young group.

"If the club says to me they'd like to extend my contract I'd certainly sit down with them, but whether it's the end of this year or the end of next year, it's no real issue for me."

After coaching the Crows to a top 2 position on the eve of the 2012 finals, Brenton Sanderson admits he didn't handle finals expectations well as a player.

"I didn't handle big games well and I've been honest with our playing group ... I let the big games get to me too much," Sanderson said.

"I've tried to help the ones that are feeling anxious with the expectations and what's important in these big matches is to talk about it, and that might be to me, it might be to a skipper, it might be to another coach.

"It's all about speaking to coaches, speaking to players and trying to understand what it takes to get the best out of individuals in these big games."

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson has admitted losing his cool with Scott Thompson after the pair were shown having a heated discussion during the Crows' game against the Lions but says all is fine now.

"I lost my cool with a couple of decisions he made as a leader, giving away a free kick at a centre bounce, then giving away a 50, [I] just explained to him I needed more from our senior players," Sanderson said.

"[He] didn't like what he heard so I just had to remind him who was boss."

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says he didn't handle the pressure well as St Kilda charged home last week.

"[I] talk a lot about calmness and poise, I think we're getting better at that ... but there's still opportunities for us to get better," Sanderson said.

"I personally didn't handle those moments great in a game - you look at the scoreboard, you look at the clock and you think, 'Time's going to run out here soon'.

"Dean Bailey's been fantastic. I've got Darren Milburn sitting next to me who's really calm, and obviously (Scott) Camporeale and (Mark) Bickley who provide really good debate at important times."

Midfielder Scott Thompson says Crows coach Brenton Sanderson won't play down this week's clash with old side Geelong where he spent 16 years as a player and assistant coach.

"He'd no doubt have a few nerves but at the same time be pretty excited facing his old side," Thompson said.

"(Sanderson would) know the club inside out, he worked with them last year for the majority of the year so I'm sure he knows a few of their tricks."

Defender Graham Johncock says the club is more relaxed under new coach Brenton Sanderson.

"Sando is a little bit more laid-back around the club and Craigy was sort of the same when things were going well, he was up and about, but definitely when things weren't going well there was a lot of pressure around the club," Johncock said.

"We could feel it and see it on Craigy and it would come across to the boys as well. Sando's taken a lot of that pressure off … it feels like he's just one of the boys … it's good to have him around."

Geelong assistant Brenton Sanderson has been appointed as Adelaide's new senior coach.

"The club undertook a really exhaustive selection process and our clear conclusion is that Brenton is ready," Crows chief executive Stephen Trigg said in a statement.

"He has the skills, experience, plans and personal qualities. Brenton has worked incredibly hard. He's faced a number of setbacks early on and emerged strong and successful, and in successful environments."

Geelong coach Chris Scott says Geelong would have preferred assistant Brenton Sanderson stay on for the rest of the Cats' finals campaign after his assistant accepted the job as head coach of Adelaide.

"It was important from our perspective that we back him in and the decision was completely his,'' Scott said.

"He understood that our preference was for him to stay, but we were going to completely support him in whatever decision he chose.''

New Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson is expecting a rapid return to form in 2012 for the Crows.

"I've seen how quickly things can change with a new senior coach coming onboard and I was very bullish about the list," Sanderson said.

"There are a lot of players here aged 22 or under, and I think we'll see some great improvement in them, and this footy club very quickly."

Mark Bickley will remain at the Crows under new coach Brenton Sanderson, despite missing out on the top job.

"I rang him last night and he's going to stay on in a pivotal role as my right-hand man, which I'm thrilled about," Sanderson said.

"He's critical for our success and will be a great help for me. I mentioned in my presentation [to the coaching selection panel] that if I was to get the job I'd love for 'Bicks' to stay involved if possible."

Geelong has retained Brenton Sanderson, who has decided to stay on at the club as an assistant coach under new senior coach Chris Scott in 2011.

Geelong chief executive Brian Cook says he hopes Brenton Sanderson remains at the club as an assistant after being unsuccessful in his pursuit of the head coaching role.

"Brenton was fantastic, but very disappointed - he's a mature guy, he's lived and breathed Geelong," Cook said.

"We want this guy badly, we want Brenton to stay - if he's listening in, come on back, make a decision quickly."

Mark Thompson says it would be a mistake if Geelong lost Brenton Sanderson because it couldn't guarantee him its senior coaching position.

"If we couldn't keep, because we couldn't guarantee him a position, then I think that would be a mistake," Thompson said.

"He's a Geelong person. I think he's done a marvellous job. If he wants to coach senior footy, and I know he does, then he's more than ready to get a job."

He has been touted as Nathan Buckley's right-hand man, but Geelong is confident assistant coach Brenton Sanderson will stay.

After re-signing senior coach Mark Thompson for two more years a fortnight ago, the Cats began discussions with their assistant coaches, in particular Sanderson, who has been linked to Buckley through his long-time friendship with the Collingwood champion.

"We have spoken to Sando in a fairly informal way and he is very keen to stay and we are very keen for him to stay," Geelong football operations manager Neil Balme said.

"We will go through the process now and I would be surprised if he were to go somewhere."