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Rodney "Rocket" Eade was the Sydney Swan's longest serving and most successful coach. Taking over the reins from Ron Barassi he led the team to its first grand final appearance in 51 years in 1996 in his first season as coach. This was the Swan's first grand final appearance since 1945.
His overall coaching record is 81 wins from 152 matches, for a healthy winning percentage of 54. Rodney Eade is an innovator and is regarded as one of the best tacticians in the AFL having been widely accredited for inventing the now commonly used practice of "flooding" the opposition team's forward line with extra defensive players. During his tenure the Swans made the finals in 1996-1999 and again in 2001.
After a 259 game career as a player with Hawthorn including the premierships of 1976, 78, 83 and 86 and Brisbane, Rodney became reserves coach at Brisbane and led the club to the 1991 reserves premiership.
He was then an assistant coach at the Kangaroos from 1992-95, working alongside Denis Pagan before being appointed coach of Sydney in 1996.
Rodney Eade is now a senior coach at the Western Bulldogs and is one of the most respected coaches in the AFL.
Based in: Sydney