 In 1999, at the end of a disappointing season (Geelong finished 11th) and following the Geelong board's refusal to offer him a contract extension beyond the 2000 AFL season, Ayres quit as Geelong coach to take the coaching position at Adelaide where Malcolm Blight had, again, just resigned.Ayres coached Adelaide from 2000 until 2004.When told he would not continue as coach for the 2005 season, Ayres quit midseason.