Rodney Eade Biography

Rodney Eade will juggle a new business and media commitments in his return to football as coach of Eastern Football League powerhouse Balwyn in 2018.

"I had to tick off a few things, time wise, more than anything, as to whether I had the time to do it and what the time requirements were," Eade said.

"They're starting a bit of an academy with local lads around the area as well, so I'm certainly happy to help in that aspect and put something back into the local community."

Sacked coach Rodney Eade has revealed he wouldn't have taken on the Gold Coast job had he known the true extent of the fledgling club's problems.

"There's a lot of things that surprised me and then keep happening. You turn over another rock and, whether it's June or July, and you think you're on top of it and something else happens," Eade said.

"There's a few things that got out publicly but there's a lot of things that were kept in-house as well that people don't know about.

"And the injury rate was horrible. It was a lot better this year but the last five or six weeks it's really gone south again.

"All those factors involved, no I wouldn't have done it …

"You set some standards and make some decisions in one area and then another area would pop up. That was a constant for 12-18 months."

Rodney Eade says he regrets not speaking to Suns staff and players after he was told he would not receive another contract at season's end.

Eade was told of his fate on Monday night, but declined the opportunity to say a few words to his players.

"Having been through it before, one of the times it didn't work that well, it was really flat. And I suppose having been told the night before, my head space was in a different angle," Eade told Channel Nine.

"I probably regret that to a degree, because I had some great relationships with the players and 35 of them have sent me a text or phoned up.

"Most of them have been very heartfelt, which has been great. In hindsight, I probably should have, but I thought, you go there having experienced it before, everyone doesn't know what to say and you feel like you're going to an executioner's room. But I should've taken that option."

Rodney Eade is relieved of his duties as head coach of the Gold Coast Suns.

Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane said Eade's 16 wins and a draw from 63 matches just wasn't good enough.

"It's as simple as wins and losses," Cochrane said.

"At the start of this year we had a very strong belief around this club that we would challenge for the top eight and we simply have failed.

"We are simply in the same position, if we're going to be really honest, as we were three years ago and that's not good enough for our board."

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade will have to be patient as he fights for a contract extension, with CEO Mark Evans prepared to let the season play out before addressing the veteran coach's future.

"My view is always let football shine for as long as you can … having only seen the nine or 10 matches myself so far I'd rather let it play out," Evans told ABC radio.

"It's a little bit like players out of contract and you say to the players, 'The best of everything for you happens with good performance, so go and concentrate on the job that's in front of you'."

Geelong coach Chris Scott has called out Gold Coast counterpart Rodney Eade for seeking AFL clarification on umpiring decisions, saying the move could have benefits for the Suns this week.

Eade put in a call to umpires coach Hayden Kennedy on Tuesday to discuss two decisions in his team's loss to North Melbourne, also complaining about the umpiring in his post-match press conference last Saturday night.

Speaking as the Cats flew out of Melbourne on Friday to play Gold Coast, Scott said it was a move the Suns had benefited from against his team last year, when Eade complained about the treatment of his star forward Tom Lynch.

"I think sometimes saying you've rung the umpires and got some clarification around some rules can have a benefit," Scott said.

"Last year we played Gold Coast and Rodney Eade had made some comments about Tom Lynch being manhandled and he (Lynch) got two dubious free kicks early in the game.

"So sometimes it works, I notice he's done it again."

Michael Barlow comes to the defence of Suns coach Rodney Eade who is under the microscope following the Gold Coast's 102-point loss to GWS.

"As a player group we are right behind Rocket," Barlow said.

"Rocket is a strong character, he is a proud Gold Coast Sun. If everyone jumps behind that mindset, we will have a much better output."

With the Suns struggling with injuries and heavy losses on the field, Suns chairman Tony Cochrane guarantees the security of Rodney Eade's position as head coach of the team.

"You have it in writing. I'll put it in my blood if you like, not that my blood's worth much," Cochrane said.

"Rocket's got a three-year deal here, and I am not a change merchant for the sake of change."

Gold Coast forward Brandon Matera credits Suns coach Rodney Eade with giving him the wake up call that he needed.

"Rocket was into me pretty early that I didn't work hard enough, and I took that on board," Matera said.

"It was hard to take, but I've learnt from that. If you actually listen to him, he's trying to make you better.

"That's the one thing I got out of him and why I rate him highly as a coach. He works you hard to get the best out of you."

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett says Collingwood is entitled to ask for compensation from Gold Coast for the loss of its football director Rodney Eade.

"I think Eddie has got every right to ask for compensation," Nisbett said.

"It's not a new concept. It happens in the NFL. In fact they trade draft picks for coaches.

"It's something that's got to be on the agenda and I think Eddie is floating it because it's a concept that needs to be explored and the reason Eddie would float it is that he then has to go and find someone.

"He has to spend a lot of money using a search company who will go and find someone who can replace someone of the calibre of Rodney Eade and Rodney Eade's don't come around every week. Someone with his standing within the football fraternity is really difficult to replace."

Rodney Eade is officially appointed as senior coach of Gold Coast.

"Only a very specific opportunity was going to lure me away from Collingwood and back into coaching," Eade said.

"The opportunity with the Suns emerged and, to be honest, there probably wasn't another that I was prepared to consider."

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has vowed Collingwood won't sign off on Rodney Eade's move to Gold Coast unless the Suns compensate the Magpies for their loss.

"My man has a three-year contract. Someone will have to dip into their pocket to get our director of coaching," McGuire said.

"These are clubs screaming out that we needed a footy department cap and we are paying money to subsidise them and they are using that to take our people.

"My birthday present (on Wednesday) on the 16th anniversary of being president of Collingwood is a nice compensation cheque from Gold Coast – or the AFL, or anyone else who wants to sign one.

"Send it down to the Westpac Centre and I will send Rodney Eade back with a nice bow around him."

Rodney Eade insists he has no issues with Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's push for compensation which is delaying his official announcement as Gold Coast coach.

"Ed's got his agenda and what he wants to talk about and that's fine," Eade told Channel Seven.

"He's a very passionate Collingwood man. I must admit I have a pretty good relationship with him, so hopefully it gets done in the next couple of days."

Rodney Eade will coach Gold Coast in 2015 with his wife Wendy confirming his passion for coaching was too "overwhelming" to ignore.

"I know Rodney's passion to coach is still there and the list is fantastic on the Gold Coast," Wendy Eade told 3AW radio.

"When they approached him it was just something we had to deal with and I'm absolutely delighted for him, to be honest.

"It wasn't that easy to make the decision, to be perfectly honest, but at the end of the day, Rodney's passion for coaching is overwhelming and I just want him to be happy."

Rodney Eade is reportedly weighing up an offer to coach Gold Coast being understood to have been approached by the Suns about filling the club's vacant coaching position.

Collingwood officially announces that Rodney Eade will stay on as its director of football.

"I suppose you ask yourself how you want to make a contribution," Eade said.

"Coaching again was certainly something I seriously thought about.

"A part of me will always see the game through the eyes of a coach but the longer I thought about it, the idea of being able to offer assistance to 'Bucks' (coach Nathan Buckley) in that way, but in so many other ways as well, became appealing."

Rodney Eade turns his back on the Melbourne Football Club and its vacant coaching position, choosing instead to stay at Collingwood as Director of Football.

Rodney Eade reaffirms his intention to stay with Collingwood next season, thereby pulling out of the race to be the Power's next head coach and leaving Brett Ratten as the main contender for the position.

"My understanding after talking with 'Rocket' was that he was very impressed with Port's vision for the future and their general football direction," Magpies chief executive Gary Pert told The Age.

"But he has also indicated he would not be presenting for the job and intends to see out his contract with Collingwood, which has two years remaining."

Rodney Eade refuses to say no to at least talking to Port Adelaide about its vacant coaching position.

"You've still got that desire because that's what you enjoy … education and teaching, obviously the cut and thrust. You do enjoy that," Eade said.

"But the fact I've had 14 years of it, I must admit I don't think about it that much. I'm very happy in what I'm doing but I suppose I'll preface that by saying never say never."

Rodney Eade says he is still trying to clarify his role at Collingwood but that it is a role he is enjoying.

"Both the club and myself are sort of in the dark a bit about where it sits and it's going to depend on the personalities of the coaches and things, and it's up to me to adjust to people," Eade said.

"I'm enjoying [the role]. I think that helps me with where I'm at in my footy life. I'm comfortable with the role, I really enjoy it, I enjoy the people and the club, so from my point of view, I'm happy."

Former Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has signed with Collingwood as football and coaching strategist.

"I'm thrilled to be given the opportunity to work at Collingwood, and be part of what is clearly one of the most professional and well resourced football programs in the AFL," Eade said.

"I'm looking forward to joining Nathan and his team and doing everything possible to ensure Collingwood remains in a position to challenge for the 2012 premiership."

Rodney Eade has decided against coaching out the season with the Bulldogs, with senior assistant coach Paul Williams to replace him as caretaker coach.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to guide the club through the remainder of the 2011 season," Williams said.

"While the last couple of days have been difficult, this is a great club with a fantastic future. I am looking forward to working with the players, coaches and staff as we move into this new and exciting phase."

Rodney Eade's contract will not be renewed by the Western Bulldogs with president David Smorgon saying it is time for change at the club.

"We feel it's time for a change, it's time for a different approach," Smorgon said.

"Rodney's given his all, and we've previously extended [his contract] twice and we just felt on reflection … in our interests, it's time to find somebody else."

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says he won't be quitting before season's end if the side's fortunes don't improve as speculation mounts on his future at the club who sit on just three wins for the season after twelve rounds.

No, I'm going to stick through," Eade said.

"If the club think it's better that way and I get a tap on the shoulder, well, you do what's best for the club, but from my point of view, I'm going [to be] here for the long haul and I want to stick through."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott responds to Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade after the latter was critical of tactics used by Kangaroos players to unsettle his side.

"We had two players with severe head cuts, there were a lot of cheap shots off the ball all day and our players were very disciplined," Eade had said about the match between the two sides.

"I thought the discipline and our character showed through and that's why we had such a big win."

Scott took offense to Eade's comments, labelling them "disappointing".

"Comments made by Rodney Eade after the match suggesting our players took 'cheap shots' off the ball are categorically incorrect and disappointing from such an experienced coach," Scott said.

"They strike at the heart and integrity of our playing group; they are factually incorrect and are without foundation."

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says Jason Akermanis's claim that AFL clubs are not ready to embrace an openly gay player is incorrect.

"There's some comments there we don't agree with, no doubt," Eade said.

"I think maybe Jason was trying to put a point across in a different way. It's certainly created some discussion, which has probably got it on the table a bit and we can debate and talk about it and maybe get some positive outcomes."

The Western Bulldogs plan to develop Leon Cameron with the skills required to be a senior coach, but not necessarily at their club.

"You want to develop your people and Leon is an outstanding coach and we want to give him as much exposure as possible," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"It's certainly not a succession plan for me to hand over to him in two years, it's for him to get wider knowledge so he is ready to senior coach wherever and whenever that may be."

Rodney Eade's tenure at the Western Bulldogs will run to a seventh season after the coach signed a new two-year contract with the club.

"Certainly from a personal point of view, it's fantastic and exciting to be re-appointed for another two years," Eade said.

"I think the hard work that's been done over the last four or five seasons as far as development of the list and development of the team and the club, we're heading in the right direction."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade reckons there is plenty of life left in Brad Johnson who is due to become the club's games record holder by playing in his 342nd game for the Bulldogs.

''He's probably going to end up with 370, 380 and hopefully 400,'' Eade said.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says forward Scott Welsh failed to read the match-up board at three-quarter time, which gifted St Kilda a crucial goal.

Welsh did not realize he was meant to sit on the interchange bench and started the quarter on the field which resulted in a 50m penalty and goal to Nick Riewoldt.

"I asked him if he'd read the match-up board and he said he didn't," Eade said.

"I said, 'At 30 years of age, you might have learned something'."

Rodney Eade says his club has moved on from last year's effort to lure Barry Hall but won't rule him out completely.

"If push came to shove, you'd say highly unlikely," Eade said.

"We'll talk about these sorts of things later on. We haven't even thought about it right now. It's a list management issue for us to discuss down the track."

Rodney Eade says he is not considering pursuing Barry Hall should the Swans forward become available at the end of the season.

"I haven't thought about it. I don't think he's on our radar. We've got a couple of good young lads up forward," Eade said.

"We've got a campaign of 10 weeks ahead so that is what we're looking at. We've got a couple of good young forwards; how they can develop only time will tell."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade believes Callan Ward is on the verge of NAB AFL Rising Star recognition after impressive performances in the past month.

"He's playing very good footy. His last three games have been fantastic," Eade said.

"His chance will come. Unless they have a standout game, they reward players for consistency.

"Callan's not far away. He's just got to keep working on his deficiencies. He's been a valued addition to the team."

Former Sydney Swans coach Rodney Eade says retiring Michael O'Loughlin was a pleasure to coach.

"He gave me a call yesterday about 10 o'clock to tell me he was going to retire, which was nice," he said.

"We had a good chat. I think he'll be considered as one of the greats of the club. He'll be the first player there to reach 300 games, and he's played in three grand finals and won a best and fairest, and was very unlucky for a second.

"He was All Australian, so it's a pity it's going to end the way it is because talking to him yesterday, mentally, he feels good. Most of the time, it's the other way around."

The Western Bulldogs are at least a month from putting the stamp of approval on a new deal for coach Rodney Eade.

Eade will present to key members of the club's football sub-committee before a final call is made.

Former Richmond and Footscray utility Leon Cameron has signalled his ambition to win a senior coaching position next season after serving an apprenticeship under Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade.

"I'll wait and see how things unfold at the end of the year and go through the interview process," Cameron said.

"The last couple of seasons I've developed under Rodney Eade. The advantage I've had is that Rodney gives me an enormous amount of scope.

"He lets me experience the things that a senior coach goes through.

"That leads to you thinking about the future. You're learning, learning, learning and if something comes up I'll go."

The Bulldogs coach refuses to blame his skipper for the missed shot at goal that could have won the game against Geelong on Friday night.

"He was beating himself up a bit," Eade said.

"He takes that personally but it is not just one act that wins or loses you a game.

"That sort of kick he practises a lot, we practise goalkicking and different situations and different angles.

"I think he just rushed it a little bit. It is all ifs, buts, maybes after it has gone but after he heard the siren maybe he could have gone back; I don't know.

"Anyway, it was certainly a tight angle but he didn't kick it."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says the club and Jason Akermanis may have to rethink the veteran's retirement plans after some recent terrific form.

"His form the whole year's been very good," Eade said.

"At the start of the year there was no discussion at all about that and Jason made it known it'd be his last season, so there's been no discussion."

In-form Bulldog Shaun Higgins is unlikely to play against Melbourne on Saturday due to groin soreness.

"He's a good chance to be right to play, but we're not going to take any risks with him," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"It's a groin and we don't want those to linger on. He'll train later in the week, he trained yesterday and he's pulled up OK, but if he's 95 per cent, we won't play him."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade wants to stay in charge at Whitten Oval long term.

Eade is one of seven coaches coming out of contract at the end of this season but says he has no plans to go anywhere else and doesn't want the issue to become a distraction.

"I would certainly love to stay, there is no doubt about that," Eade said.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says in future the AFL should make sure there is a longer break between Perth trips

Rodney Eade has tailored pre-season training to ward off the effects of two trips to Perth in the AFL's first four rounds.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has told supporters there is no cause for alarm at Whitten Oval, despite his side's winless pre-season.

Rodney Eade says increasingly defensive, low-scoring games could be here to stay.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade was at a loss to explain a "lamentable" skill level as his team was wasted by the Saints.

Rodney Eade believes the rushed behind rule being trialled in the pre-season comp will hurt teams in the real stuff.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has slammed the new rushed-behind rule as a complete over-reaction that could decide matches.