- Alan Joyce
Alan Joyce (born 21 October 1942) is a former
Australian rules footballer who after playing 49 games for Hawthorn became a premiership winning coach for the club. Originally fromGlen Iris , Joyce played in the ruck for Hawthorn and gained life membership in 1996.In 1988 when incumbent coach
Allan Jeans became ill due to abrain tumour , Alan Joyce replaced Jeans for the season. Hawthorn dominated the entire season finishing on top of the ladder, disposing of Carlton in the Semi-Final and then demolishing Melbourne by a then record margin of 96 points. Allan Jeans would return to coach in 1989, before retiring after Hawthorn's defeat by Melbourne in the 1990 Elimination Final.Alan Joyce returned for the 1991 season to coach Hawthorn to another premiership, this time over the
West Coast Eagles , who during the home and away season, had lost only three games, plus an additional loss to Hawthorn in the first week of the finals.In 1992 Hawthorn was eliminated by West Coast in week 1 of the finals. Similarly in 1993, Hawthorn was beaten by the
Adelaide Crows in week 1 of the 1993 finals series. Joyce was soon sacked and replaced by Hawthorn club legendPeter Knights .After two rounds of the 1994 season, Footscray sacked then-coach
Terry Wheeler following a heavy loss to Geelong. Joyce replaced Wheeler and coached Footscray into 5th spot at the completion of the home and away round. Footscray would lose the Qualifying Final to Geelong due to an after-the-siren goal by William Brownless.
Footscray would meet Melbourne during week two. Due to an injuries as well as an in-form Melbourne, Footscray were beaten comprehensively.In 1995, Joyce coached Footscray into 7th position at the completion of the home and away season. Footscray once again met the Geelong at night at the
MCG . This time however, Footscray were convincingly beaten and eliminated from the finals.Footscray tumbled severely in 1996 and after many heavy losses and few wins, Joyce was replaced by his assistant,
Terry Wallace . Wallace would retain this position until after round 21 of the 2002 season.Joyce has not since coached an AFL club, although he sent a video of himself to major news stations stating his interest in the available Fremantle coaching role due to
Gerard Neesham 's departure in 1998.External links
*AflRleague|ref=A/Allan_Joyce.html
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