He was sacked from Fitzroy in 1970 as he was recovering in hospital from pneumonia and resigned from his final VFL coaching appointment at the end of the 1980 season, after coaching the Lions into the finals in 1979 for the first time since 1960.
He was dismissed from Fitzroy in 1970 due to health issues while recovering from pneumonia, and subsequently stepped down from his last VFL coaching position at the end of the 1980 season, after guiding the Lions into the finals for the first time since 1960.