AFTER more than 30 consecutive years in the VFL/AFL, highly-respected coach George Stone – one of the most successful mentors in the game – has announced his retirement.
Although Stone spent just one season at Melbourne – as midfield and strategy coach in 2014 – he came to the club having been part of a remarkable six VFL/AFL premierships (four with Hawthorn in 1986, 1988-89 and 1991 and two with the Sydney Swans in 2005 and 2012).
But Stone said he felt it was the right point in time to retire after such a distinguished coaching career.
“I think the timing is right,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“The club has made some significant improvements under Roosy’s leadership and that’s progressed with the succession plan of Simon [Goodwin] coming in and that lays the club out in a good state to go on.
“The timing’s right for that to allow that to happen. I feel comfortable with the way the club’s heading. It’s going to see a lot more wins in the near future.”
Stone was an integral part of Hawthorn’s golden era in the 1980s and early 1990s and the Swans’ drought-breaking past decade.
He was a key member of the Swans’ first premiership in 72 years, when he was part of Paul Roos’ coaching panel in 2005. Stone was also a member of John Longmire’s coaching team when the Swans defeated Hawthorn in the 2012 Grand Final.
In 2013, Stone was rewarded with the lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the game.
Stone played almost 200 VFA (now VFL) matches for Camberwell, Brunswick and Prahran. He was named in Camberwell’s team of the century.
Although he didn’t play a senior VFL/AFL match, Stone played with Hawthorn’s under 19s in 1968-69, including captain in 1969.
After his playing career, Stone joined Hawthorn in an official capacity in 1984. He was an assistant to under 19s coach and former Melbourne player Ray Biffin.
In 1986, Stone became a specialist coach with legendary coach Allan Jeans. He forged a close relationship with Jeans and learned the majority of his coaching philosophies from the four-time premiership coach.
From there, he acted as a runner, specialist coach and selector under Jeans. Stone then later worked under Hawthorn coaches Alan Joyce, Peter Knights and Ken Judge. He remained with the Hawks until the end of the 1997 season.
Stone moved to the Sydney Swans and became a development and forwards coach under four-time premiership player Rodney Eade from 1997-2001.
He then returned to Hawthorn and worked under Peter Schwab from 2002-04.
In 2005, Stone returned to the Swans where he became an opposition analyst. He later became Sydney’s development coach, with Jared Crouch.
During his coaching career, Stone worked closely with the great Jason Dunstall, who is third on the VFL/AFL all-time goalkicking list. He was also credited with much of the development of Irishman Tadhg Kennelly, who played in Sydney’s 2005 premiership.
Stone retires from the game having left an indelible mark on Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans and in his one season with Melbourne, he made a genuine impact on the club.
