Gary Ayres
Encyclopedia
Gary Ayres is a former Australian rules football
er for the Hawthorn Football Club
and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club
in the Victoria Football League.
He was part of a total of 5 premiership teams – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1991. He won the Norm Smith Medal
twice, adjudged best on ground in 1986 and 1988 and is one of only two players in the history of the AFL to do so.
Ayres captained Victoria against Tasmania in the 1989 State of Origin contest.
He captained the Hawks in his final two years from 1992–1993.
Gary played most of his football in defence, particular the back pocket
position. He was nicknamed "Conan
" by fans in reference to his powerful upper-body physique. He used his body to good effect in body on body contested situations. Ayres' height and weight was 187 cm / 100 kg. Allan Jeans
described Ayres as "a good driver in heavy traffic"
at Geelong
. After Blight's resignation in 1994 (following Geelong's Grand Final defeat to the Eagles
), Ayres was appointed senior coach for the 1995 AFL season. In his first year, the Cats lost to Carlton in the Grand Final (their fourth Grand Final defeat in seven seasons) by 61 points. In 1999, at the end of a disappointing season (Geelong finished 11th) and following the Geelong board's refusal to offer him a contract extension beyond the 2000 AFL season, Ayres quit as Geelong coach to take the coaching position at Adelaide where Malcom Blight had, again, just resigned.
Ayres coached Adelaide from 2000 until 2004. When told he would not continue as coach for the 2005 season, Ayres quit midseason. Though he had been given the opportunity to stay for the rest of Season 2004, he told the Adelaide board that if he could not coach the following year, he would leave immediately. He then walked out of the club's office without shaking hands or responding to media enquiries. He left Adelaide with a 55–52 win-loss ratio. He was replaced by Neil Craig
, who coached for the remainder of Season 2004 and was eventually employed full time.
In 2006 he returned to coaching as assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club
, alongside veteran Kevin Sheedy.
When Matthew Knights
was appointed as senior coach of Essendon at the end of the 2007 season, Knights vowed to modernise the club's support staff. Ayres subsequently lost his position as assistant coach and left to "pursue other football opportunities".
Ayres was appointed senior coach of the Port Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
for Season 2008. Ayres coached Port Melbourne to the minor premiership, but lost the Grand Final to the North Ballarat Roosters.
In 2011 he coached Port Melbourne to a premiership after a perfect season, culminating in a 56-point win over Williamstown.
. Prior to that he also had a stint on Talking Footy
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
in the Victoria Football League.
Playing career
Beginning his football career with Hawthorn in 1978, he had an illustrious career spanning from 1978–1993, playing 269 games and booting 70 goals.He was part of a total of 5 premiership teams – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1991. He won the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
twice, adjudged best on ground in 1986 and 1988 and is one of only two players in the history of the AFL to do so.
Ayres captained Victoria against Tasmania in the 1989 State of Origin contest.
He captained the Hawks in his final two years from 1992–1993.
Gary played most of his football in defence, particular the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
position. He was nicknamed "Conan
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
" by fans in reference to his powerful upper-body physique. He used his body to good effect in body on body contested situations. Ayres' height and weight was 187 cm / 100 kg. Allan Jeans
Allan Jeans
Allan Jeans was an Australian rules footballer and coach. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame at its inception in 1996...
described Ayres as "a good driver in heavy traffic"
Coaching career
After retiring, Ayres turned to coaching; starting as an assistant coach to Malcolm BlightMalcolm Blight
Malcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
at Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
. After Blight's resignation in 1994 (following Geelong's Grand Final defeat to the Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
), Ayres was appointed senior coach for the 1995 AFL season. In his first year, the Cats lost to Carlton in the Grand Final (their fourth Grand Final defeat in seven seasons) by 61 points. In 1999, at the end of a disappointing season (Geelong finished 11th) and following the Geelong board's refusal to offer him a contract extension beyond the 2000 AFL season, Ayres quit as Geelong coach to take the coaching position at Adelaide where Malcom Blight had, again, just resigned.
Ayres coached Adelaide from 2000 until 2004. When told he would not continue as coach for the 2005 season, Ayres quit midseason. Though he had been given the opportunity to stay for the rest of Season 2004, he told the Adelaide board that if he could not coach the following year, he would leave immediately. He then walked out of the club's office without shaking hands or responding to media enquiries. He left Adelaide with a 55–52 win-loss ratio. He was replaced by Neil Craig
Neil Craig
Neil P. Craig is a former Australian rules footballer, fitness adviser and former coach of the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . As of 2012, he will be based in a new role as the Director of Sports Performance at the Melbourne Football Club...
, who coached for the remainder of Season 2004 and was eventually employed full time.
In 2006 he returned to coaching as assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, alongside veteran Kevin Sheedy.
When Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights is a former Australian rules football player, having played in the midfield for the Richmond Football Club from 1988 to 2002. He went on to a coaching career, most notably as head coach of the Essendon Football Club from 2008 to 2010...
was appointed as senior coach of Essendon at the end of the 2007 season, Knights vowed to modernise the club's support staff. Ayres subsequently lost his position as assistant coach and left to "pursue other football opportunities".
Ayres was appointed senior coach of the Port Melbourne Football Club
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
in the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
for Season 2008. Ayres coached Port Melbourne to the minor premiership, but lost the Grand Final to the North Ballarat Roosters.
In 2011 he coached Port Melbourne to a premiership after a perfect season, culminating in a 56-point win over Williamstown.
Media career
In 2005 Ayres spent the year in the media on Fox FootyFox Footy
Fox Footy is an upcoming Australian Rules football subscription television channel dedicated to screening Australian rules football matches and related programming. It will be owned by Premier Media Group, operated out of their Melbourne based studios and available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus...
. Prior to that he also had a stint on Talking Footy
Talking Footy
Talking Footy was an Australian rules football chat show appearing on the Seven Network.It appeared on TV from 1994 until 2002. The show was hosted by Bruce McAvaney in the 1990s, and included guests Mike Sheahan, Malcolm Blight and Leigh Matthews as regulars. It was screened on Monday nights at...
.