John Northey

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John "Swooper" Northey (born June 29, 1943) is a former Australian rules football player and coach.

Northey was a dual premiership player at the Richmond Football Club in 1967 and 1969 but is probably best known, however, for his coaching.

After retiring as a player, Northey took up assistant VFL coaching positions, where he stayed for 14 years until the opportunity to coach at senior level presented itself. He coached 315 VFL/AFL games including stints at Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Demons ,Richmond Tigers and Brisbane Bears. He was known for his ability to rebuild struggling clubs, managing to produce results at all of these clubs, his first coaching club was Sydney Swans for one season in 1985 where he was unsuccessful and sacked after his first year. He then went to coach Melbourne from 1986-1992 . his most successful year was when he took the Demons to the 1988 VFL Grand Final, only to lose. after the 1992 season he was sacked as Melbourne coach after a most struggling year when they finished 11th. then he when to coach Richmond from 1993-1995 his first two seasons at Richmond were unsuccessful but in the 1995 season they finished 4th putting them into the finals. but however after the 1995 season he resigned as Richmond coach. Then he was appointed Brisbane Bears coach for the 1996 season which they made the finals but however after the 1996 season they were forced to merge with Fitzroy Lions making them the Brisbane Lions he was appointed first ever coach of the Brisbane Lions coaching them in the 1997 season which he was successful and put them into the finals. and Part of the 1998 season. he was sacked in the middle of the 1998 season after finding Brisbane Lions last on the ladder. He was Replaced by Roger Merrett for the rest of the 1998 season. At the end of his AFL coaching career he went on to coach South Fremantle Football Club in the WAFL.

He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Northey now lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

[edit] External links

• Swooper's World - John Northey's personal site