Dean Bailey has been sacked

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Had to be done

[Geddy Lee 582]

I really don't understand the hate for Bailey and smart-arse comments toward his future. Here is a bloke who walked into a rabble and built a list which we have today... a list that a lot of you talk about as '2014 premiers'. He had a set plan when he walked into the club, and stuck by it all the way up until yesterday. He didn't waiver from his commitment to build from the ground up, he has developed a list that should be a contender in a few seasons, he put the list ahead of himself. He could quite easily have kept list-cloggers and traded in quick-fixes, yet he didn't.

Argument unstuck.

It's amazing how many people here don't think it was up to Dean to get the players putting in effort every week and playing for him. It's a two way street - they have to play for him and he has to give them a method to 'play for him'.

He hasn't died, he was on 300K+ a year.

I was a huge Bailey fan until this year, but he wasn't fulfilling every criteria in his extremely important and high-paying job, so he no longer has it.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Thanks for the effort Dean and you seem like a decent bloke, but the only logical choice was made. Just hope that it doesn't stop there. I can't comment on Schwab and Connoly but I can comment that Green and the rest of the leadership group need to reveiwed heavily over the next couple of days. I will be furious if we simply roll into next week without doing so.

True, but i think whoever is coming in as a long term replacement, needs to go right through every aspect of the Footy Dept from the top down and turn it on it's head, re energize it and turn it into a serious heavyweight going forward. We need to ensure that we never ever go close to revisiting the record books on the negative side as we've done yet again.

Records must be broken, but the other way up from here.... win/loss, winning away from home, interstate, winning margins, winning the close ones etc. And ultimately, winning the ultimate prize within a reasonable time frame.

No more Mr Nice Guy anymore from the President, to the head Coach, the Captain down to every player who remains after the review going into our new 'post Bailey' era.

Thanks to many devoted years from DB where he sacrificed in order to get a very inexperienced list developed and up there over a long term plan to the risk of his tenure. He paid the ultimate price as a result of other deficiencies, in particular his inability to form a strategy/game plan etc that would worry or push the top eight teams on a consistent basis or at least shut them down to limit the damage when the going got ugly, which unfortunately was most of the time against teams at the upper end of the scale. People will blame yesterday and the players for his demise in many cases, however, it had been building pretty much since the West Coast capitulation, with yesterday the massive final catalyst.

Good luck to DB and to whoever takes over as caretaker from here.

[dees_rule_4eva 22]

Firstly, I want to make it clear that I think the right decision has been made. Dean Bailey is not the right man to coach this list going forward.

I think Dean has done a very good job of re-building the list from scratch, to the point where the current group of players has the potential and the opportunity to embark on a prolonged period of success - under the right tutelage.

What am I disappointed in however, is the way in which Dean has been relieved of his post. Hardly 24 hours after what was, admittedly, a horrendous on-field performance. The fact that 'crisis talks' were called so soon after the event disappoints me. Emotions are still charged, Melbourne people have fresh anger, and business decisions should never made when such emotion is involved. Look at the Adelaide situation. They played Friday night, had a shocking result, and mid-week the media were alerted to the change.

The Board should have waited a couple of days for the hysteria to die down, let themselves calm down, take a deep breath and speak about the current situation with clear heads. That is basic business principles, and lets not kid ourselves, this is a business. I would expect better from a group of highly educated figureheads.

While I think the right decision has been made, I am disappointed in the way in which it was done.

Needless to say, there are aspects of this club that I am disillusioned with at the moment.

Finally - thank you Dean Bailey for 4 years of tireless effort. While others might not appreciate what you did, I do. I hope you get another crack at coaching down the track somewhere.

[darkhorse72 1,925]

Even though many didn't agree with it he cut alot of dead weight (ie Junior*, Bruce, Miller etc) that the club was carrying, in order to develop a team that could at least contend for finals in the future. Dean probably cost himself alot in the win/loss ratio by playing so many 18/19/20 year olds.

Unfortunately for Dean his legacy will be marred by his win/loss and what has happened recently, and he will ultimately be forgotten when his hard work comes to fruition

*Not dead weight but needed to go

Spot on..similar to Barrasi when he returned to Melbourne. Not a great record during his tenure but laid the platform for success. WHile we'll never know if Bails had the stuff to go on the way. I agree with Schwarz and others, we need an experienced coach with mongrel to change the culture of the club. Also a clean slate puts a line from the losses we suffered just after daniher.

[Eth 4]

Even Mark from O'Brien couldn't fix the cracks in the club at the moment.

[mfcrox 143]

That list lost by 186 points. Someone has to be held accountable. If it's not the coach, why do we even have head coaches then?

The players should be held accountable!

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the back line that leaked 37 goals

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the midfield that had a 240 possession deficit

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the forward line that kicked only 7 goals

We could have had the reincarnate of Norm Smith coach us yesterday and we still would have lost by 186 points! There was no intensity from the opening bounce. Ox was saying on SEN yesterday that Port Melbourne (the best VFL side) wouldn't have lost by 186 points yesterday either! Our boys (with the exception of a rare few) showed stuff all yesterday! So much for showing the world how much Dean Bailey meant to them.

[Dee-licious 1,954]

Just got an interesting email...

From my source Viney's been offered the caretaker but not confirmed if he said yes. Further Green is apparently taking it very personally.

[desertfox 9]

I think more heads will roll...I also think Brad Green would not be confident of holding his position either to be honest.

Let's just get behind the club and whoever takes over as coach in the interim.

Go Dees!

[Bhima 0]

Two weeks ago Chris Grant mentioned that the toughest six weeks he ever played at the Bulldogs was at the latter part of Peter Rohde's tenure as coach of the club. It was public news that Rohde was not going to be hired for the following season, but Rohde committed to finishing out the season as coach. Grant, then captain of the club, said he, and other players, found it nearly impossible to get fully motivated knowing that everything that they would be doing would have no bearing on the following season. Their results over this period were, not surprisingly, terrible.

After hearing Grant's comments I thought it would be interesting to see how the demons would perform over the last six rounds of the season, as it might give some insight into how confident they were that Bailey would be coaching at the club in 2012. I think after the display against the Cats we gained enough insight to believe that the players didn't believe Bailey would be at the club, regardless if they liked him or not.

I didn't mind Bailey, but neither was I a huge fan. It's a shame he couldn't stand down tomorrow in the same fashion as Neil Craig, but as he stated, he wanted to keep coaching the club, whereas Craig had given up.

I certainly feel sorry for him, it is a horrible way to finish, and I appreciate everything he has done for the club. As a supporter, I wanted talent through the draft, and I was happy he sacrificed wins by playing young blokes and doing what needed to be done to get early picks.

I think Connelly needs to go now and I don't know about Schwab - revelations today about a rift with the players are yet to be confirmed. All of the administrators have done a brilliant job at getting the club back on track financially, increasing membership and improving facilities, but it's time to get the best in the business in order to go to the next level as a club.

Perhaps its time to get some blokes who don't have a Melbourne background. Although I never liked watching the Swans, I always admired the way Roos was able to turn the Sydney FC into a great football club and have such a loyal and consistently hard at it playing group. We need a coach who can galvanise the club and inspire the playing group - Bailey certainly didn't have charisma.

Will be fascinating to see how we play against the Blues.

All the best Dean.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Firstly, I want to make it clear that I think the right decision has been made. Dean Bailey is not the right man to coach this list going forward.

I think Dean has done a very good job of re-building the list from scratch, to the point where the current group of players has the potential and the opportunity to embark on a prolonged period of success - under the right tutelage.

What am I disappointed in however, is the way in which Dean has been relieved of his post. Hardly 24 hours after what was, admittedly, a horrendous on-field performance. The fact that 'crisis talks' were called so soon after the event disappoints me. Emotions are still charged, Melbourne people have fresh anger, and business decisions should never made when such emotion is involved. Look at the Adelaide situation. They played Friday night, had a shocking result, and mid-week the media were alerted to the change.

The Board should have waited a couple of days for the hysteria to die down, let themselves calm down, take a deep breath and speak about the current situation with clear heads. That is basic business principles, and lets not kid ourselves, this is a business. I would expect better from a group of highly educated figureheads.

While I think the right decision has been made, I am disappointed in the way in which it was done.

Needless to say, there are aspects of this club that I am disillusioned with at the moment.

Finally - thank you Dean Bailey for 4 years of tireless effort. While others might not appreciate what you did, I do. I hope you get another crack at coaching down the track somewhere.

We are talking about the worst defeat (or close to it) in VFL/AFL history. 186 points is not going to look any better on Wednesday than what it does today.

The board acted swiftly and appropriately.

[Footynut 302]

Agree. Next step by MFC is "Scully - staying or going". Answer this week or [censored] off. Has done the team no end of harm.

Thought you said yesterday you are not supporting MFC anymore?

You're back....

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,234]

he had to go.the effort on saturday was a disgrace.they keep saying that melbourne is an up and coming team.how many times have i heard that before.its about time we got a coach with a bit of mongrel.an established coach who wont much around.someone like malthouse would be ideal at melbourne.

The right decision was made.Nothing would be gained from waiting until the end of the year. The players are accountable for their performance granted but the coach is responsible for getting the most out of the players on game day. I saw nothing leading into this week, prior to or during the game that lead me to believe Bailey could coach outside of his primary game plan which most have accepted will not win a premiership.

Dean made some tough decisions in his 4 years and although I cannot remember a more embarrassing day than yesterday he has left a playing list far improved than when he arrived and ripe for the right coach to take us through our next phase.For that he should be thanked.

I am amazed at people that assume to have the right fit we need an experienced coach. If anything I think someone from a strong club culture and of the younger brigade would better serve us. Someone who can tell a player how it is because he still remembers what its like. Preferably someone from a background that understands todays brand of football. Burns, Sanderson or Watters for mine with some A grade assistants as support not the also-rans we current employ.

Edited July 31, 2011 by big_red_fire_engine

[BLWNBA 1,123]

FWIW and it is just my opinion (which I'm sure will be shouted down) I believe that Dean has created a list that will be good enough to challenge in years to come. Yes it will be a fair way off, but he has recruited some very good raw talent. What I believe was Deans problem however was his inability to get the team up on match day and inspire.

Clarkson would be a great fit for our club in my opinion.

[Guest Guy Rigoni]

My inside word is that the thugs in the scallop industry are behind this whole mess

[Nasher 33,617]

I am amazed at people that assume to have the right fit we need an experienced coach. If anything I think someone from a strong club culture and of the younger brigade would better serve us. Someone who can tell a player how it is because he still remembers what its like. Preferably someone from a background that understands todays brand of football. Burns, Sanderson or Watters for mine with some A grade assistants as support not the also-rans we current employ.

+1.

[Sir Why You Little 37,136]

A sad day indeed if the playing lists VFL and AFL both conspired to take Dean Bailey down...and then come out on TV and say they all back him.

Brad Green should step down from the Captaincy tonight.

Jack Trengove Jordie Mckezie & Jack Watts elevated to the Leadership group.

As for the rest of the MFC....sort it out this week and get behind our President FFS!

I feel for Dean Bailey, he was given a very tough job and stuck it out.

Good luck Dean i hope you are not lost to football...

To the MFC, Get an experienced hard edged coach please...and invest a larger % of our money into the football Department.

A very Black Day if Dean took the heat for CS or CC, but that will hopefully all come out soon.

[heartbeatstrue 57]

Very few coaches could have survived the humiliatingly large loss of Saturday, let alone DB.

But I feel sorry for Dean. Hopefully the 'leadership' group are feeling suitably chastened. There but for the grace of God go the lot of them.

[desertfox 9]

Hopefully the board will now sack Josh Mahoney and Brian Royal two duds this club could do without IMHO. Bails was not up to it but Royal and Mahoney should accept some of the blame too for our useless performances...

[Footynut 302]

Hopefully the board will now sack Josh Mahoney and Brian Royal two duds this club could do without IMHO. Bails was not up to it but Royal and Mahoney should accept some of the blame too for our useless performances...

Mate you left off S.West. Do you have any evidence he should also be spared given the mids also got slaughtered yesterday?

[Nasher 33,617]

Very few coaches could have survived the humiliatingly large loss of Saturday, let alone DB.

That's because very few coaches have had such a humiliatingly large loss. In fact, Carl Ditterich is the only other one

[heartbeatstrue 57]

And one last thing... please don't flirt with Malthouse. Can't stand his self-serving arrogance and don't want to support a team he's got anything to do with. Viney or Garry Lyon would do nicely.

[stranga 328]

The players should be held accountable!

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the back line that leaked 37 goals

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the midfield that had a 240 possession deficit

I didn't see 'D. Bailey' listed in the forward line that kicked only 7 goals

We could have had the reincarnate of Norm Smith coach us yesterday and we still would have lost by 186 points! There was no intensity from the opening bounce. Ox was saying on SEN yesterday that Port Melbourne (the best VFL side) wouldn't have lost by 186 points yesterday either! Our boys (with the exception of a rare few) showed stuff all yesterday! So much for showing the world how much Dean Bailey meant to them.

Norm smith would never have picked a group of players and developed them for three years in a way that would lead them to putting in a performance like that.

Deans time was well and truly up. Let's just hope some of these kids can develop and fulfill their potential under the right coach.

Edited July 31, 2011 by stranga

[BangkokDemon 96]

The right decision was made.Nothing would be gained from waiting until the end of the year. The players are accountable for their performance granted but the coach is responsible for getting the most out of the players on game day. I saw nothing leading into this week, prior to or during the game that lead me to believe Bailey could coach outside of his primary game plan which most have accepted will not win a premiership.

Dean made some tough decisions in his 4 years and although I cannot remember a more embarrassing day than yesterday he has left a playing list far improved than when he arrived and ripe for the right coach to take us through our next phase.For that he should be thanked.

I am amazed at people that assume to have the right fit we need an experienced coach. If anything I think someone from a strong club culture and of the younger brigade would better serve us. Someone who can tell a player how it is because he still remembers what its like. Preferably someone from a background that understands todays brand of football. Burns, Sanderson or Watters for mine with some A grade assistants as support not the also-rans we current employ.

All good comments, but the last one is spot on.

We don't need a "super coach", who will as much as anything, be out to prove something to themselves over enriching a club.

We need exactly what you suggest

[desertfox 9]

I have a lot more respect for S. West than Mahoney and especially Royal who was a throw back who we decided to give a second chance to help assist our backline good job he did indeed.

I'd keep S. West and Viney out of our coaching staff IMHO.