from MFC website

Bailey turns focus to Collingwood

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has already refocused his attention on the Queens Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood on Monday week after Saturday night’s 37-point loss to St Kilda at Gold Coast Stadium.

Bailey says the team will quickly review the loss to the Saints and start the buildup to the annual showdown against the Magpies at the MCG.

“The Queen’s Birthday one is really important on our calendar and we need to get back to Melbourne, play on the MCG, and give something to our supporters who have stuck by us,” Bailey said.

He lamented two consecutive weeks of football, against Hawthorn and St Kilda, where the Demons have been competitive for large chunks of the game, but fell away at critical times.

Melbourne failed to register a goal in the second half against the Saints and went scoreless in the third term.

“I think if we can turn a half of good football against the two best teams into four quarters against Collingwood, I like to think we can be competitive and in the game for longer,” Bailey said.

He was pleased with the effort of his players but disappointed with their delivery, particularly by hand.

“I think our ball use was really poor in the second half, we had too many handballs, which really put us under enormous pressure,” Bailey said.

“They counter-attacked on our turnovers pretty well and you can’t turn the ball over against the good teams, they make you pay.”

But it was the Demons’ inability to score which was most troubling. They only registered six goals for the game, and just couldn’t find a marking target up forward.

Bailey was asked about the development of number-one pick in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft Jack Watts, but he is adamant the 18-year-old will keep playing in the VFL until the match committee believes he is ready.

“We are managing him I think in the correct way, I’ve got no shadow of a doubt at all that we are doing the right thing by a player who I think is going to be an important player for us,” Bailey said.

“The ability for him to play in the VFL against men has been a real advantage for him so when the time is right we’ll pick him.”

Bailey said there is also no guarantee that veteran forward Russell Robertson will return after being dropped to the VFL during the week.

“We will evaluate his game on everything, not just whether he kicks goals or not, but his pressure and chasing,” he said.

from MFC website

Bailey turns focus to Collingwood

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has already refocused his attention on the Queens Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood on Monday week after Saturday night’s 37-point loss to St Kilda at Gold Coast Stadium.

Bailey says the team will quickly review the loss to the Saints and start the buildup to the annual showdown against the Magpies at the MCG.

“The Queen’s Birthday one is really important on our calendar and we need to get back to Melbourne, play on the MCG, and give something to our supporters who have stuck by us,” Bailey said.

He lamented two consecutive weeks of football, against Hawthorn and St Kilda, where the Demons have been competitive for large chunks of the game, but fell away at critical times.

Melbourne failed to register a goal in the second half against the Saints and went scoreless in the third term.

“I think if we can turn a half of good football against the two best teams into four quarters against Collingwood, I like to think we can be competitive and in the game for longer,” Bailey said.

He was pleased with the effort of his players but disappointed with their delivery, particularly by hand.

“I think our ball use was really poor in the second half, we had too many handballs, which really put us under enormous pressure,” Bailey said.

“They counter-attacked on our turnovers pretty well and you can’t turn the ball over against the good teams, they make you pay.”

But it was the Demons’ inability to score which was most troubling. They only registered six goals for the game, and just couldn’t find a marking target up forward.

Bailey was asked about the development of number-one pick in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft Jack Watts, but he is adamant the 18-year-old will keep playing in the VFL until the match committee believes he is ready.

“We are managing him I think in the correct way, I’ve got no shadow of a doubt at all that we are doing the right thing by a player who I think is going to be an important player for us,” Bailey said.

“The ability for him to play in the VFL against men has been a real advantage for him so when the time is right we’ll pick him.”

Bailey said there is also no guarantee that veteran forward Russell Robertson will return after being dropped to the VFL during the week.

“We will evaluate his game on everything, not just whether he kicks goals or not, but his pressure and chasing,” he said.

Im really happy with the way Bailey is going about things, he and Coaching staff have a plan and are sticking to it.

Putting Watts in Next week isnt the answer. Stick to your guns Dean, it will benefit us in the long run and lets face it, its going to be the next 4yrs which will count not last year or this year.

I might be by myself on this but i hope we debut another player on queens birthday to add to the excitement of our most exciting home/away game of the year. I want to win next week!

I might be by myself on this but i hope we debut another player on queens birthday to add to the excitement of our most exciting home/away game of the year. I want to win next week!

Nah mate your not alone, im hoping for exactly the same another debut and a win. Hopefully his is another one of our wins.

Nah mate your not alone, im hoping for exactly the same another debut and a win. Hopefully his is another one of our wins.

As we speak the Pies look likely things to complete a big victory over Port Adelaide. This result should be worth a fortune to the MFC because it should ensure a good crowd on Queen's Birthday. Hopefully, the Melbourne faithful will turn out in their numbers as well because we must be a chance against that team.

As we speak the Pies look likely things to complete a big victory over Port Adelaide. This result should be worth a fortune to the MFC because it should ensure a good crowd on Queen's Birthday. Hopefully, the Melbourne faithful will turn out in their numbers as well because we must be a chance against that team.

Hey WJ thanks for the updates on the gold coast dinner on friday night. was a great read.

I was trying to find out who you were last night at the emerald lakes club, i asked random people who was whispering jack? haha, had a pretty big night...and we were the last ones to get picked up by cabsl... probably took an hour and half to get picked up by a cab outside in the freezing cold lol

I would not mind seeing LJ selected but maybe this is the sort of game that could freak him out?? or he could shine under the pressure? Who knows will be interesting and cant wait!!!!

Hey WJ thanks for the updates on the gold coast dinner on friday night. was a great read.

I was trying to find out who you were last night at the emerald lakes club, i asked random people who was whispering jack? haha, had a pretty big night...and we were the last ones to get picked up by cabsl... probably took an hour and half to get picked up by a cab outside in the freezing cold lol

I would not mind seeing LJ selected but maybe this is the sort of game that could freak him out?? or he could shine under the pressure? Who knows will be interesting and cant wait!!!!

mousey after todays effort would not be surprised to see LJ get a run did enjoy the crowd parsies in the last qtr at casey

i was looking for you tez too. There was quite a few dees supporters back at that emerald lakes golf club.

Everyone should of had name badges haha

Hey WJ thanks for the updates on the gold coast dinner on friday night. was a great read.

I was trying to find out who you were last night at the emerald lakes club, i asked random people who was whispering jack? haha, had a pretty big night...and we were the last ones to get picked up by cabsl... probably took an hour and half to get picked up by a cab outside in the freezing cold lol

I would not mind seeing LJ selected but maybe this is the sort of game that could freak him out?? or he could shine under the pressure? Who knows will be interesting and cant wait!!!!

Since Liam played a few games with Collingwoods' VFL side last year he may be a bit more at ease against them, so this may be a good game to play him in.

Alternatively I would like to see Hughes promoted. I little faith in Newton.

KC from Casey may have some exact info. But Jurrah is still finding his feet in the VFL so if Bailey suggests that Watts will only be selected from AFL when the footy dept think he is ready then Jurrah would be a loooong way off at this point.

KC from Casey may have some exact info. But Jurrah is still finding his feet in the VFL so if Bailey suggests that Watts will only be selected from AFL when the footy dept think he is ready then Jurrah would be a loooong way off at this point.

yeah I must say, have seen Jurrah a few times this year (not today how ever) and as excited as I am by him ( and i really really am) I would say hes a bit off yet.

Personally, I am more excited to see him play than Watts.

It sounds like Newton will get a game then. From the threads I've read on the Scorpions today, I'd say Robbo won't play next week. I think it'd send a bad message to Robbo if we play him next week, being that he didn't dominate today. It's basically saying we're no chop without you (which is probably true), but we have already told him, to get a game in the side he has to do all the team things. Doesn't sound like he did them today.

Newton didn't have trouble getting the ball when he was playing earlier in the season and if he'd finished those (admittedly) extremely easy shots on goal, we'd probably be very excited by him. If he can fix up his kicking, give him a game!