The Matthew Knights Saga ends with the sack

[Dee Dee 1,108]

That club is the biggest joke since Travis Cloke.

Of all the Victorian clubs Essendon is (I think) the only one to have stayed out of financial trouble over the past 20 or so years. They have been successful on and off the field.

However yes, in this particular instance they have been quite silly and right now they are a bit of a joke. But it does happen to all clubs eventually - It's even happened to us in the past!

But schadenfreude is pleasant isn't it!

[GOLF 13]

I'm betting on them giving Richardson a one year contract to coach, in the knowledge that a whole raft of senior coaches (including Mark Harvey) will be coming free at end 2011. This should thouroughly destabilise Richardson and continue the downward spiral.

Only alternative is to give Chocco a 5 year deal and find out at the end of year 1 that he has lost interest in coaching.

[H_T 3,047]

I know it is still early days, but I think the Bombers would do well to at least look at Brenton Sanderson from Geelong. He should put his hand up.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I'm betting on them giving Richardson a one year contract to coach, in the knowledge that a whole raft of senior coaches (including Mark Harvey) will be coming free at end 2011. This should thouroughly destabilise Richardson and continue the downward spiral.

Only alternative is to give Chocco a 5 year deal and find out at the end of year 1 that he has lost interest in coaching.

And Richardson would happily taken on a project with an effective gun to his head. Think again.

A sensible approach would be to identify the best candidate and offer them a 3 year term.

Mark Harvey's contract is up this year. And why he would leave a flowering list at Freo with a strong financial base beggars belief. He will resign for a further term on good bucks with Freo.

Regardless, Essendon is hardly the employer of choice for aspiring coaches given they sacked the incumbent one year into a 3 year stint. They would be harly inundated with applications.

[Dr. Mubutu 853]

And now there paying for not going into a rebuild,,, & young Knights is being made the scapegoat.

It's a bloody business,,, & I for one is starting to question & get sick of it.

What is it that Essendon and there board do not understand

"YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CATTLE"

I have no idea if Knights is a good or poor coach!

But Jesus Christ could not do any better with their list!

But the issue is that, according to all reports, Knights was happy with the state of the list and believed it could deliver a premiership. IMO this has been shown to be patently false, and therefore Knights was on the chopping block! All I can say is good luck, EFC. Couldn't care less if you fold (although the AFL will never let that happen).

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

Along with Richardson & Williams, Dean Laidley has also been thrown in the mix.

[biggestred 5,088]

all i have to say is..........hahahahahahahahaha!

[dee-luded 2,959]

But the issue is that, according to all reports, Knights was happy with the state of the list and believed it could deliver a premiership. IMO this has been shown to be patently false, and therefore Knights was on the chopping block! All I can say is good luck, EFC. Couldn't care less if you fold (although the AFL will never let that happen).

If that were to be true, that would be a problem. There problem is the in between players, the teasers which have talent but but are NQR.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

I was just furious that the arrogant Essendon FC had their press confrence during Melbourne's match meaning that several of the radio stations didn't start covering the match until the 2nd half. Just like Essendon to think they're more important then anyone else even though they haven't been relevant since 2005.

I hope they stay down the bottom for several more years and we can inflict a lot of pain on them for years to come.

[Cards13 9,117]

Of all the Victorian clubs Essendon is (I think) the only one to have stayed out of financial trouble over the past 20 or so years. They have been successful on and off the field.

However yes, in this particular instance they have been quite silly and right now they are a bit of a joke. But it does happen to all clubs eventually - It's even happened to us in the past!

But schadenfreude is pleasant isn't it!

I recall hearing on radio recently whne they were debating about the Dons leaving Windy Hill they had plenty in the bank. Not sure if it was $20mil or $40mil. Minus $1mil for Knights contract plus expenses searching for a new coach and press conferences... hahaha love it. I hope the Essendon bowls club tells them to get lost and they move somewhere else costing them all of the savings.

[Sir Why You Little 37,036]

Regardless, Essendon is hardly the employer of choice for aspiring coaches given they sacked the incumbent one year into a 3 year stint. They would be harly inundated with applications.

I was thinking this exact point this morning. Quite a few candidates would be thinking twice about any deals with essendon after this Business Fiasco, or Maybe not "Lets make 3 years wage in 1 year-Cool" This contract is going to haunt the Bummers for a while yet.

[biggestred 5,088]

i just dont know what essendon expected. lose lloyd and lucas in one go and of course you are going to come out 3-4 games worse than you did the year before...

[TonyMelb 7]

I was just furious that the arrogant Essendon FC had their press confrence during Melbourne's match meaning that several of the radio stations didn't start covering the match until the 2nd half. Just like Essendon to think they're more important then anyone else even though they haven't been relevant since 2005.

I hope they stay down the bottom for several more years and we can inflict a lot of pain on them for years to come.

spot on!

[H_T 3,047]

i just dont know what essendon expected. lose lloyd and lucas in one go and of course you are going to come out 3-4 games worse than you did the year before...

They have a relatively young list. I'm not sure their list is an absolute basket case by any stretch. They will improve. Clearly some work needs done down back, they leak too many goals, but that also has much to do with how many times they are turning the ball over and finding the ball coming back with interest. Clearly the midfield and forward line are work in progress. What they have though is youth. Losing Gumbleton & Pears hasn't helped the finish to the season. What they do need is a good coach and direction. I find it hard to believe the board appointed Knights on the back of his stint at Bendigo where he I thought struggled. Then they extended his contract....

I reckon McVeigh is lucky to sign on for 2 years just prior to Knights' sacking. Where McVeigh is at, I thought a 1 year contract would have been good for player and club.

Fwiw, the Bombers finished just a game & a half behind the Dees.

[Sir Why You Little 37,036]

They have a relatively young list. I'm not sure their list is an absolute basket case by any stretch. They will improve. Clearly some work needs done down back, they leak too many goals, but that also has much to do with how many times they are turning the ball over and finding the ball coming back with interest. Clearly the midfield and forward line are work in progress. What they have though is youth. Losing Gumbleton & Pears hasn't helped the finish to the season. What they do need is a good coach and direction. I find it hard to believe the board appointed Knights on the back of his stint at Bendigo where he I thought struggled. Then they extended his contract....

I reckon McVeigh is lucky to sign on for 2 years just prior to Knights' sacking. Where McVeigh is at, I thought a 1 year contract would have been good for player and club.

Fwiw, the Bombers finished just a game & a half behind the Dees.

I think what killed knights was the fact that the team was able to beat a couple of Top Teams (st.kilda twice) but would then lose badly. Essendon supporters have no patience!!

I don't think knights was too bad at the job, his crime was that he followed Sheedy. That said Lloyd should have played 2010, after his beautiful suspension of course!

[old dee 23,791]

I'm not sure they don't have the cattle or at least the makings of a good side , like us they are young and inexperienced . I think the problem is the board doesn't know how to handle a born to rule membership that expects to be on top of the ladder 100% of the time . Still hope they spend the next 20 years in the wilderness. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch .

You are correct there is definately a large element of the "born to rule" at Essendon.

I live in the North, have numerous friends who are supporters and they just don,t understand they are not a power any longer.

By the way I still think their list is ordinary. When Fletcher retires they will have no backline to speak of.

Edited August 30, 2010 by old dee

[H_T 3,047]

When Fletcher retires they will have no backline to speak of.

It is hard to argue that given the statistics that support you. However, my belief is the likes of Pears, Hurley, and a couple of young green guys who's names escape me at present- that have been getting a few games of late, will come on sooner than you think.

I hope I'm wrong.