Gary Ayres

Gary Ayres (born 28 September 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club 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 an amazing 5 premiership teams - 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1991, adjudged best on ground in 1986 and 1988, winning the Norm Smith Medal. He also captained the Hawks in his final two years from 1992-1993. Gary played most of his football in the back pocket. He was known as "Conan" for his heavy upper-body structure which he used to great effect to hold his ground when competing body on body with an opponent.

Post-playing career

Coaching career

After retiring Ayres turned to coaching, taking over from Malcolm Blight at Geelong, where he coached from 1995 to 1999. Geelong reached the Grand Final against Carlton in his first year, where Geelong were defeated by 61 points.

In 2000 he once again replaced Malcolm Blight at the Adelaide Football Club and coached them 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". [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22527600-11088,00.html Herald Sun: Knights cleans out assistants Gary Ayres, Dean Wallis] ]

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.

Media career

In 2005 Ayres spent the year in the media on Fox Footy. Prior to that he also had a stint on "Talking Footy".

References