CHANGES 2009: PART ONE by The Oracle

"The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark

Swings through a hollow of haze,

A race around the stars, a journey through

The universe ablaze with changes."

From Changes by Phil Ochs

The world simply doesn't stand still and the landscape will always change over time. It was only a handful of days ago that we welcomed in another summer with the promise of sunny days and warmer weather. Let's enjoy the beaches and the sunshine because before we know it, we'll be into autumn and we know what that brings. Another footy season, some more hope, a fair number of dreams of revival, some of which will be realised and others will be shattered.

We've recently seen a number of changes to the Melbourne Football Club playing list with the departures of retirees and delisted players and more lately with the introduction of six new names at November's national Draft. One more senior player will be added at the Pre Season Draft on 16 December along with three more youngsters at the Rookie Draft to be held on the same day. The circle will then be completed and the real changes at the club will begin to take place as a new look list begins to take shape.

The list of players that Dean Bailey takes into AFL season 2009 will be significantly different to that which he inherited from the Daniher/Reilly regime. Last year the club introduced eleven new faces through trading, the national, pre season and rookie drafts. Another ten new faces will have been added to the mix by the end of this year.

Although this represents a substantial change to the club's list and presents Bailey and his coaching group with more raw materials with which to fashion the new look Melbourne Football Club, the mere fact that change is taking place is a start but is it enough to ensure significant improvement in the coming seasons?

I've commented previously how former Carlton and Hawthorn premiership coach David Parkin always would aim to have at least five fresh faces in his team at the start of every new season - even with his premiership sides. He knew that changes must happen for teams to advance from year to year - whether the fans liked it or not!

However, changing the personnel at a club is not the only factor in bringing about improvement in performance levels at a football club. New methods of training and physical conditioning will often have a significant effect on results while a change in attitude or focus on the part of the group will make a difference.

Geelong's 2006 season could only be described as a disaster. The Cats were installed as flag favourites after winning the pre season NAB Cup and handing out some thrashings in the opening rounds. From there however, they struggled under the weight of injuries, a training regime that was highly criticised in a number of quarters and amid concerns at the attitude and off field conduct of some key players.

What was supposed to be a highly talented list of individuals produced several disappointing performances and the Cats finished in 10th place. The club realised that change was required but, in its situation, it was not so much a change in personnel - either coaching or playing - that was required but a change in attitude and focus.

These changes were reflected in a number of ways but in the main they involved a review of the club's operation that brought about changes in several areas. On the football side, there was change in the players' fitness and conditioning training and a new focus on commitment that reflected in both on and off field behaviour. The team that was at times a rabble in 2006 became a well-oiled destructive machine in 2007.

A year after failing dismally and finishing in tenth place after a final round flogging at the hands of Richmond, virtually the same Geelong list of players was able to bring the premiership cup home to Corio Bay for the first time in 44 years after a record breaking 119 point win over Port Adelaide in the 2007 grand final.

This year's premier team, Hawthorn, did things differently but with the same effect by building a team from the ground up and winning a flag in four years under Alastair Clarkson who adopted a policy of targeting specific young players in its recruiting.

Dean Bailey is taking a similar path to that of the Hawks and he has a considerable list of talented youngsters at his disposal to work with. With many of the old guard now retired, the responsibility of leading the club falls on the experienced group led by the likes of James McDonald, Cameron Bruce and Brad Green with others like Brock McLean, Jared Rivers and Colin Sylvia becoming the "middle aged" players of the club. It's clear that this group will have the responsibility of helping the club find new focus, a hardened attitude and a resultant improvement in performance from our young group.

Next week, I will conclude this year's look at changes by listing the new faces at the club for 2009 including next Tuesday's draftees.

Here's a demonstration of how much change happens at AFL clubs.

This is the of players Neale Daniher had at his disposal during 2003 -

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST (SEASON 2003):

SENIOR LIST Steven Armstrong Daniel Bell Clint Bizzell Daniel Breese Troy Broadbridge Nathan Brown Cameron Bruce Craig Ellis Ryan Ferguson Simon Godfrey Brad Green Chris Heffernan Cameron Hunter Mark Jamar Travis Johnstone Darren Jolly Chris Lamb Andrew Leoncelli James McDonald Brad Miller Luke Molan Gary Moorcroft David Neitz Alistair Nicholson Guy Rigoni Jared Rivers Russell Robertson Aaron Rogers Nick Smith Scott Thompson Peter Vardy Peter Walsh Daniel Ward Paul Wheatley Matthew Whelan Jeff White Luke Williams Adem Yze

VETERAN LIST (nil)

ROOKIE LIST Nathan Carroll * Dale Carson Michael Clark Adam Fisher Ezra Poyas Nicholas Walsh

* upgraded from the rookie list to senior list during the 2003 season

At the end of 2003, the following players departed - Daniel Breese (delisted), Craig Ellis (retired), Andrew Leoncelli (retired), Gary Moorcroft (delisted), Aaron Rogers (delisted) and Luke Molan was also delisted by drafted again as a rookie in December. Michael Clark, Ezra Poyas and Nicholas Walsh were the delisted rookies.

This was the list that Bailey worked with in his first season at the club -

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST (SEASON 2008):

SENIOR LIST Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Daniel Bell Jace Bode Cameron Bruce Simon Buckley Nathan Carroll Kyle Cheney Aaron Davey Lynden Dunn James Frawley Colin Garland Brad Green Jack Grimes Ben Holland Mark Jamar Chris Johnson Paul Johnson Nathan Jones James McDonald Brock McLean Tom McNamara Addam Maric Stefan Martin John Meesen Brad Miller Brent Moloney Cale Morton Michael Newton Ricky Petterd Jared Rivers Russell Robertson Colin Sylvia Matthew Warnock Isaac Weetra Paul Wheatley Matthew Whelan Jeff White

VETERAN LIST David Neitz Adem Yze

ROOKIE LIST Jake Spencer Shane Valenti* Austin Wonaeamirri* Trent Zomer

* upgraded from the rookie list to senior list during the 2008 season

By Tuesday at around 10.30am it will have changed some more.