I like Scott West because he's prepared to speak his mind. But it's only a part-time role. Does that mean that he's not in the coach's box during the game?

Can't remember which article I read it in but there was a direct quote that said he WILL be in the coaches' box on game day.

Which is something.

And yes, I believe that Bailey's game day coaching needs improvement.

In addition to that, I see what you're saying about Bailey's gameday coaching, but i think his agenda is different to yours, or rather what you think his should be.

Instead of losing confidence in a player & making a change to win the match right then & there, he will stick with a player & encourage them to instead make the adjustment to their game then & there.

I see him as a coach that will persevere with a player and weather the mistakes, regardless of the short-term outcome.

This to me, seems to be what Nathan Burke was talking about when he said he wished he played for Bailey.

When the time comes & the team is competing for a finals spot, I believe he is capable & will change tact, making the correct adjustments to the team.

... of course I could just have a lot of misguided faith in Bailey. But I prefer to be positive.

Do I detect a hint of scepticism WJ? You're not sure that this will work?

I'm sure that it's scepticism, but we all should be a little wary until he's shown something. As with any player who's untired as a coach, you have no idea whether he'll sucessfully make the switch from great player to great coach.

I think WJ was simply making the point that while it's good to get a champion player on board, he still has to prove himself as a coach. Smart sentiment

I'm sure that it's scepticism, but we all should be a little wary until he's shown something. As with any player who's untired as a coach, you have no idea whether he'll sucessfully make the switch from great player to great coach.

I think WJ was simply making the point that while it's good to get a champion player on board, he still has to prove himself as a coach. Smart sentiment

Yes, I agree. But I'm confident that he'll improve our midfield.

Do I detect a hint of scepticism WJ? You're not sure that this will work?

No scepticism, I'm only stating that the fact that someone was a top flight player doesn't necessarily make him a good coach. I'm hoping that West does help turn things around because our record with player development over the past 5 -10 years has not been good.

Not only that. It's one thing to be able to win the ball and weave magic with it when you're a player, its another thing altogether to be able to impart that knowledge and teach others anything when you've retired.

Indeed. Will be interesting to see the immediate impact he has in the first few rounds.

I must be the only one who's underwhelmed by the appointment.

Nothing against Scotty West, who speaks really well about the game, but he's a part-time assistant coach, not the f#cking messiah.

Nobody can quantify the impact of an assistant coach, let alone one with no coaching background. Great players don't necessarily make great teachers.

Interesting angle. He might not be the f#cking messiah. But the influence he has had on the younger players at the Bulldogs has been paramount and the likes of Cooney and in particular Cross & Boyd have benefited greatly. Anyone who has played 324 games with 7 best & fairests and reads the game better than anyone deserves a little respect regardless of whether or not they're part time.

West had spent alot of time on the sideline this year due to his knee. He also spent much time in the box game day, and hands on roles at training helping the younger guys. Don't under sell him just yet.

No scepticism, I'm only stating that the fact that someone was a top flight player doesn't necessarily make him a good coach.

That's my major concern too... I rated Williams very highly, and his time at the club was largely completely ineffective. Just saying how good a player was doesn't equate to practical success... I reckon a lot of the time it comes down to how a player expresses himself, how he gets his point across, whether it's fear (Matthews), wit (Sheedy), Intelligence (Eade) or just a reputation that preceeds them (Pagan) they get their point to the players, and educate, since they can't be the ones to go out and show how it's done.

West never struck me as being very verbose, or even being good when talking to a group. So it'll be interesting to see what effect he has, if any. The plus here is that he doesn't shoulder any responsibility.

Have you ever considered that having someone just out of the game that has played the position at the highest level not worthy ?

Or is your Anti Bailey thinking clouding your judgement STILL

Granted your assement of coaching and playing ability is correct but we need to start having some faith

I understand why mo and Jack are circumspect in this case. Mo's absolutely right in that it's impossible to quantify the role of assistant coaches from the outside. We're never going to know whether West is actually any good in this role or not. Especially since he's only on part time.

However the reason I am excited about his appointment is two-fold. Firstly, we know for a fact that West knows his stuff. He was one of the best in the business, and he's got some decent praise from people who would know about his abilities as a teacher. It's no guarantee that he'll be of any use, but it's a very promising start. Secondly, our theme for this year has been having high profile footy people tell us to get stuffed when we've tried to pull them in. Something must've attracted West to us over anyone else. That's pretty good news in itself I think.

However the reason I am excited about his appointment is two-fold. Firstly, we know for a fact that West knows his stuff. He was one of the best in the business, and he's got some decent praise from people who would know about his abilities as a teacher. It's no guarantee that he'll be of any use, but it's a very promising start. Secondly, our theme for this year has been having high profile footy people tell us to get stuffed when we've tried to pull them in. Something must've attracted West to us over anyone else. That's pretty good news in itself I think.

After being in hospital for the past few days I come home to this great news......

My feelings have been very well summed up by Nasher here, but beyond that I hope that West will prove to be a fantastic appointment both now and into the future. His knowledge, undertanding (hopefully he will have the ability to impart this on our kids as a teacher) and application to the game over such a long peiod of time is invaluable to our young up and comers, who we can only hope will learn enormously as they grow.

And it is also nice for a true champion of the game to chose us, and be "excited" about coming to work with our kids and with our coaching staff.

That's a pretty big change from recent times !!!

Agree. Scott West could really teach our guys a few things.

Good to Know Westy has the "Rhino" Seal of approval. I always read your posts with interest RR. There will be a marked improvement in our midfield in 2009

I'm certainly not looking at West as the messiah, but the fact that other clubs were after him and we were the ones that snagged him is nothing but a positive for us. He has a mountain of experience and will no doubt a good source of knowlege for our very young midfield brigade.

Now the only coach i have ever seen come to our club and leave his mark is Ratten, he single handedly changed the way our mids went about their game. He was probably the biggest loss of a coach ever.

I just heard that Scott West will be appearing on Fox Sports News - New and Views tonight.

That is on between 9pm and 10pm on Channel 513.

Nice to see our former champ and skipper G Lyon down at Casey today for the announcement!

Their is a nice feel about our club at the moment!

G. lyon is always around when their cutting ribbons, not so easy to find when its time to get your hands dirty :angry:

G. lyon is always around when their cutting ribbons, not so easy to find when its time to get your hands dirty :angry:

Mate thats a good point ive mentioned it to mates aswell.

When were doin good hes on board but last year on the footy show he never mentioned anythingg about him being

involved with the dees. Quite disapointing.

Good to Know Westy has the "Rhino" Seal of approval.

G. lyon is always around when their cutting ribbons, not so easy to find when its time to get your hands dirty :angry:

You guys are kidding yourself, just another case of Tall poppy i think. Garry is a great supporter of the club, i find it really disrespectful to challenge his support for the club he bled for. What really annoys me is that some people cannot seperate someone's professional life from other things. To many people want an eddie or now even James Brayshaw involvement for Garry.. get over it, and just reflect on what he gave the club before you start having a cheap unqualified shot at one of our greats!

I'm certainly not looking at West as the messiah, but the fact that other clubs were after him and we were the ones that snagged him is nothing but a positive for us. He has a mountain of experience and will no doubt a good source of knowlege for our very young midfield brigade.

Now the only coach i have ever seen come to our club and leave his mark is Ratten, he single handedly changed the way our mids went about their game. He was probably the biggest loss of a coach ever.

+1 for ratts being the best coach we have lost in recent times. He took a lazy midfield that didn't chase to become one rated as the top 2 or 3 in the land within a year if memory serves me. Hopefully west can do similar and if he does, hopefully we can hold on to him after that.

Mate thats a good point ive mentioned it to mates aswell.

When were doin good hes on board but last year on the footy show he never mentioned anythingg about him being

involved with the dees. Quite disapointing.

You wouldn't have the slightest clue what he does behind the scenes. He doesn't have to proove to anyone what he is doing. If he says he's involved with the club then he's involved with the club.

You wouldn't have the slightest clue what he does behind the scenes. He doesn't have to proove to anyone what he is doing. If he says he's involved with the club then he's involved with the club.

Agreed.

G.Lyon has insisted that he will put his hand up, for whenever Jim seeks his help for the benefit of the club. Jim has the people for the board and in various positions at the club, to do the required work.

To take the view that he's there to "cut the ribbon" or doesn't get his "hands dirty" is nothing short of being disrespectful to G.Lyon. He is someone who devotes his time and effort to the club in his best capacity, when our club is in dire need.

edit: -

Has it ever occurred to some people that G.Lyon may have played his part in securing S.West as a part time coach in some capacity?!

Has it ever occurred to some people that G.Lyon may have played his part in securing S.West as a part time coach in some capacity?!

Brilliant point.

It made me laugh to read Lyon 'is not there to get his hands dirty'.

-- What exactly does getting your hands dirty entail??

& is he expected to drop everything else that's going on in his life to come to the rescue of MFC every time there is a hiccup?

Does this mean Todd Viney is just as culpable because he's off in Adelaide coaching another team?

What about David Neitz, I've not seen him out there with a shovel?

Those Febey brothers better have a good excuse!

If you think none of the above makes any sense, you'd be right.

Not sure that if this means anything or not, but I have a friend of a friend (seriously) who was involved with the medical team at WB last season. They told me that most of the guys in the side were good blokes to all the staff, even Aka was OK to deal with and good fun. But the one bloke in the side who made sure everyone around the place knew who he was and how good he was, was West.

G. lyon is always around when their cutting ribbons, not so easy to find when its time to get your hands dirty :angry:

Stop Bagging on G. Lyon. He gave his all to our club & his bad back will remind him of that each day until he dies. Garry is Red & Blue. Now Quit it!!

I agree. G Lyon is true Melbourne man. What Bailey and Connolly have done is to bring back some ex-players to the club, from our recent successful past.

Lyon, the Febeys, Hoppy and many others are in and around the club and have put their hands in their pockets.

With all the doom and gloom spoken about lately, I reckon while we won't set the world on fire in 2009, we will be a lot better. Beyond that the improvement curve will be fast and steep.

These guys coming back to the club have instilled a new spirit for the young guys.

A lot of the ex-players have done more than we will ever know and G Lyon leads the pack.

Let's be a little bit more positive shall we?

Anybody going to the Mates of Melbourne meeting tomorrow night?

If so, you might just see the affect these guys have had on the club.

Go you Demons!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody going to the Mates of Melbourne meeting tomorrow night?

If so, you might just see the affect these guys have had on the club.

I am going.

What do you mean by the phrase "you might just see the affect these guys have had on the club?"

I mean you might feel the new positive atmosphere and spirit. A sense of optimism that we all seem to need at the moment.