MELBOURNE has appointed one of the AFL’s most respected and experienced football mentors, George Stone, to the role of midfield and strategy coach.
Stone, who was an integral part of Hawthorn’s golden era in the 1980s and early 1990s, later became a key component in the Sydney Swans’ drought-breaking premiership in 2005 under new Melbourne coach Paul Roos. Stone was also part of John Longmire’s coaching panel for the Swans’ 2012 flag.
In 2013, Stone was rewarded with the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the game.
Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Stone was an outstanding addition for the club.
“George has a proven track record in developing quality AFL players at both Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans,” he said.
“His experience will be invaluable for our players and coaches as we look to improve as a club.
“George will work closely with our midfielders, with particular focus on their game education and running patterns.
“George has worked previously with Paul Roos at the Swans and knows intimately the way that Paul wants to play, which clearly is an advantage for the Melbourne Football Club, as it allows us to hit the ground running from day one of pre-season training.”
Stone played more than 200 matches in the VFA (now VFL) with Camberwell, Brunswick and Prahran. He was named in Camberwell’s Team of the Century. He also captained Hawthorn’s under 19s.
A Hawthorn life member, Stone returned to the Hawks in an official capacity in 1984, as an assistant to under 19s coach and former Melbourne player Ray Biffin. In 1986, Stone worked closely with legendary coach Allan Jeans. He was a runner, specialist coach and selector under Jeans. Stone also worked under Hawthorn coaches Alan Joyce, Peter Knights, Ken Judge and Peter Schwab.
Stone’s Hawthorn connection took him to the Sydney Swans, where he was a development and forwards coach under four-time premiership player Rodney Eade from 1997-2001.
Throughout his career, Stone worked closely with two of the top three greatest goalkickers in VFL/AFL history, Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall. He was also credited with much of Irishman Tadhg Kennelly’s development into a premiership player with the Swans in 2005.
After being an assistant coach under Schwab at Hawthorn from 2002-04, Stone returned to the Swans, where he has since been. In 2005, he became an opposition analyst and before his move to Melbourne, he was Sydney’s development coach, with Jared Crouch.
He is one of the most experienced football coaches in the game and will bring a wealth of knowledge and success to the Demons.
Stone adds to our previously announced coaching group of Roos, Brett Allison, Jade Rawlings, Ben Mathews and Brad Miller.
