Demons appoint Tim Harrington

It's good to see we can afford to put more staff on to help the club improve. I thought he was still at the Roos. Hopefully he cna do some good work.

INteresting, he was the guy who was scouting us against the doggies a few weeks back, talking tactics with Adam Simpson

Like you said its great to see the club able to afford some assets like this.

Just one question what is connollys title and agenda?

I like it, were putting much more resources into the football side of things, recruiting, & player developement.

With further progress from the younger listed players, this will give more of a hopefullness feel to us dyed in the Red 'n' Blue Dee supporters, & then will create a financial return momentum.

Like you said its great to see the club able to afford some assets like this.

Just one question what is connollys title and agenda?

Chaps, whith the Gold Coast and laughably West Sydney coming on board in the next couple of years, we need someone to coordinate and look forward three or four years, Bailey, Connolly and their coaching team are now, Prendergast is next year, Harrington is where do we want to be in five years and who do we need to keep, get etc , all three will make sure they are on the same page, build brick by brick....somebody has had a good look at the American Football system, they plan like this and have the same backroom staff.........we are getting so right in so many departments

That is great news.

Being able to put more money into our off field football rescources is something we have all been waiting to see for a long time. Someone overseeing the "....list management decisions, including developing a five year football plan. He will also develop and manage long-term TPP/player-payment strategies, and facilitate sound decision making for the Club's recruiting strategies. National Recruiting Manager, Barry Prendergast will report to Tim, and will continue to be responsible for the Club's recruiting and decision making for the National Draft." (from http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...8/default.aspx).

All this means as well as the obvious, the new Young Players are going to go flat out as they can see the club building off field.

This Week example "Guys you are also now part of the M.C.C the M.C.G. is home."

Those guys would feel Great-really deep down Proud "Play well & this place will fill up"

Employing more Football dept staff is great, with these new 2 evil clubs on course, it only means we have to get better as a business.

He's a great bloke, one of the dad's at the school I work at.

Very exciting times!

"including developing a five year football plan"

The bar has been set even lower...

"including developing a five year football plan"

The bar has been set even lower...

The Chinese have 5 year plans, doesn't mean they are not going to grow by 10% next year though.

To me the "list management decisions, including developing a five year football plan" and the "develop(ing) and manage long-term TPP/player-payment strategies" means making sure that Bailey and Connolly make decisions on players with the long term health of the club at stake (ie. delete Wheatley before McNamara from the list) and the brilliant idea of front-loading contracts next year and the year after so we can have more wriggle room in 3 or 4 years time.

This stuff always brings tension, though.

But they all seem man enough to deal with it.

Great work MFC - a well known footy man who has plenty plenty of experience and has the respect of the footy world, as I said - great work MFC!!!!!

Onwards and upwards Demons!!!!

Like you said its great to see the club able to afford some assets like this.

Just one question what is connollys title and agenda?

Football Manager.

He's a great bloke, one of the dad's at the school I work at.

Very exciting times!

Small world.

"including developing a five year football plan"

The bar has been set even lower...

I thought that too. Thought of Plough at Richmond for a second. They had to have some plan for list management with a young list I suppose. Hopefully Tim keeps the TPP in perspective, and makes sure no-one gets to sign a three year contract like Yze's. No disrespect to Yze, good on him for getting such a deal. (I think Green's 3 yr deal will be fulfilled on the field).

Never heard of North getting themselves in a bind over the years unlike other clubs (including ours), granted - he may not have held othe position he does now, but I believe his head is well & truly screwed on right.

In the time he was at North (during the Pagan years), they were the best run footy club in the league - may not have had lots of cash, but was pretty bloody well run on and off the field.

Fellow supporters,

The appointment of Tim Harrington needs to be looked at as a sign that the Dees are expecting to be finishing bottom of the ladder. You will find that the introduction to Tim also coincides with the introduction of the GC17 team and their poaching ability that they have been provided. The Dees know that they will have strong negotiating power and may have the players that GC are looking for?

This is very much a strategic move and something that the club is worried about.

With the likes of guys such as Miller, Bail, Spencer and Petterd whom has already been targetted I believe the Dees see this as an exceptional time to get greater than market value for players we could possibly replace. Petterd must be resigned by us immediately. He will be great. However. I do believe that Gold Coast will want to make an immdeiate impact and hence will trade their priority pick for established players. The Dees would see this as the perfect time to capitalise and to further stock the shed with young guns. They will try to establish themselves not just for the next 5 years but for the next 10yrs and onwards. This is a very special step and one that has made the clubs intentions clear on what needs to be performed to be one of the strongest clubs in the AFL. They are starting to think like a business and not like a struggler

Your thoughts