Brian Royal returns to MFC

[Sir Why You Little 37,308]

Better call the Herald Sun or Sandra Sully and let them know.

Sandra Sully did her last news gig on 10 last night....i was inconsolable. B)

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

I think some have been over rating Wellman as a defensive coach. Despite some serious good talent down back we conceded far too many goals from stoppages all season and late in the season our defence wilted often under sustained forward pressure. Even Richmond gave our backs(sans Frawley) a good caning before they tired.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I think some have been over rating Wellman as a defensive coach. Despite some serious good talent down back we conceded far too many goals from stoppages all season and late in the season our defence wilted often under sustained forward pressure. Even Richmond gave our backs(sans Frawley) a good caning before they tired.

And our kick ins are still deplorable.

[Inner Demon 1]

If I said I spoke to a current and a past player who both think Royal is a terrific appointment and that Chris Connolly is doing a great job do I win the thread??

[Inner Demon 1]

I have just had a very interesting conversation with a respected past player of the club. He is not 100% happy about the Brian Royal appoinment as well. However for different reasons. He has no worries with Royal as a coach. What he said was that Chris Connolly stuffed up the situation. He said he was told half way through the season that Knights would be sacked and Hird appointed the new coach of Essendon. Connolly should have known that and that Wellman and Hird are good friends. So therefore as he said Connolly should have nailed Wellman down with a water tight contract with very short time to sign to see if he wanted to stay at Melbourne towards the end of the season. The other reason is that the timing was bad for the football department. He thought the appointment of Royal was OK in the situation. But he is worried with the coaching at both ends of the ground. As he said we are well covered in the midfield with the having Todd Viney at the club. He thought Todd would be vital in improving play around the ball-up and boundary situations with stoppages of play.

The other comment was that he thought 2011 will be the real test for Bailey. He saw signs in 2010 that Dean Bailey could be a very good coach.

He also said that he expects all Melbourne people to yes support the club but make sure that the right decisions are made. As he said we have had the head in the sand period that could have sunk the club. The past players he speaks to are now more concerned with what is happening at the club. He said we have a very healthy situation at the club and we all should make sure it stays that way.

Out of interest, why do you put so much stock in the 20/20 hindsight opinions of this highly respected past player who floats around the periphery of the club but have decidedly little faith in the decisions of the highly respected past player who is living and breathing the club 24/7?? Doesn't really add up.