Rocket's contract
Rodney Eade and Mark Thompson to sign on again
Mark Robinson | April 02, 2009 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25276941-19775,00.html

WESTERN Bulldogs and Geelong say they will re-sign their coaches before the end of the season, heading off doubts about their futures. The clubs have made the clearest indications yet that they will settle Rodney Eade and Mark Thompson's contracts before what looms as a frenetic period of speculation about five other coaches.

Eade and Thompson are two of seven coaches coming out of contract this year.

The others include Collingwood's Mick Malthouse, North Melbourne's Dean Laidley, Port Adelaide's Mark Williams, Richmond's Terry Wallace and West Coast's John Worsfold.

Essendon's Matthew Knights and Melbourne's Dean Bailey are contracted but could face internal heat.

Bombers chief executive Peter Jackson told the Herald Sun in October, 2007, the expectation was to play finals in 2009 and be "pushing up for top four" in 2010.

Eade and Thompson would be targets for other clubs.

But Eade, in his fifth season at Whitten Oval, is chasing a three-year extension. He is likely to be offered two.

Bulldogs chairman David Smorgon and chief executive Campbell Rose said yesterday that Eade was the central to the future of the team.

"We'll be seeing Rodney's contract out and the appropriate time which works for Rodney and us we'll sit down and resolve our way forward," Rose said.

"Ideally before the end of the season."

The Western Bulldogs believe Eade, like the rebuilt football club, is embarking on period of sustained success.

The Bulldogs have almost completed the $30 million overhaul of Whitten Oval, while Eade got his team to a preliminary final in 2008.

"It's very important that there are no distractions, no things that get in the way of. . . us commencing a dynasty of ongoing finals performances.

"And Rodney is central to that, pivotal."

It is possible Eade and the club will agree to terms in the second half of the season and an announcement will be held off until after the season.

BLAH BLAH BLAH GEELONG.

really do hope we re-sign him. I for one wouldn't be to down hearted if we give him the 3 years he wants.

Re: Rocket's contract
Rocket is a fantastic coach and an excellent public face for our club. He combines the best of both worlds with his depth of experience along with forward thinking. I think it was reported last week that he is on more many than Terry Wallet but worth every cent.

More importantly, even if we could find a coach of equal quality, now is not the time we want to be changing playing styles with a premiership window open.

Two years after the end of this one is the ideal contract length for us.

BLAH BLAH BLAH GEELONG.

It gets a bit like that!