Rodney Eade

Rodney ”Rocket Eade” was recruited from Glenorchy in Tasmania to Hawthorn in 1976. He played 229 games and kicked 46 goals during his time with the Hawks (1976-1987) and was also a Premiership winner in their 1986 team. He then moved to the Brisbane Bears in 1988 and stayed until 1990 when he retired from playing.

His first coaching job was with the Brisbane Bears when he took up the position of Reserves Coach. He coached them to a Premiership in 1991. In 1996 he became the coach of the Sydney Swans and took them to the Grand Final of that year, but they lost to North Melbourne. He resigned as coach of the Swans in 2002.

During 2003 and 2004, Rodney worked as media writer and commentator.

In 2005 he took up another coaching job, this time at the Western Bulldogs. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Eade managed to change an under-achieving side into a team that had a real chance at making the finals. The just missed out.

2006 was a good year as this time they made it into the finals series.

Eade’s job looked on the line in 2007 as the club didn’t perform as well as was expected. He managed to keep his job and in 2008 the Bulldogs finished 3rd on the AFL ladder