This is out of control. I know we're one of the perennial offenders on sacking coaches, but Sando, McCartney, and McKenna are all coaches that have been given the flick with years left on their contracts and still fair to say that they are learning their craft as a coach.

Griffen has really stitched him up here, he gave him his support and then decided to request a trade to GWS on the back of what I would imagine is some good coin. When are clubs going to actually back their coaches in? And when are they going to stop letting the players have such a big say? I agree that there should be feedback from player to coach, but was he really given a chance to implement those changes?

The Dogs have been on a slow incline, what they've done will likely set them back as they will probably start again with a rookie coach who has to win his players (shouldn't it be the other way around?) and from what I can see there isn't a whole lot of upside that will propel them up the ladder like a Port Adelaide.

There was a recent report on it but how much money has been [censored] down the drain due to early termination of coaches? I also liked the comment from the Dogs CEO saying "Griffen is contracted and we expect him to honour that contract", well they went into their review saying why should we keep him rather than how can we help him and the club get better?

The state the comp is in now is just unbelievable.

To be fair, we should have sacked Neeld after his first season. Further, I can see the Bulldogs doing a mini-Brisbane-of-sorts here. They sack McCartney hoping their captain will stay and then he nicks off to GWS anyway.

The wrong people are doing the hiring or they are looking for the wrong type of person to be coach.

And you forgot to mention the importance those people placed upon Powerpoint presentation as a tool for judging coaching canditates

McCartney wont coach Dogs in 2015

wow, just heard the news. Pity, they need to change generations of struggle into winning.

don't know what went on, or wrong, but I suspect McCartney is a good one.

Can we fix the time please?

Can we fix the time please?

If only one could, ManDee.

If only one could...

Genuinely shocked that there is said to be communication problems with the players.

Last year he gave a speech at the Rising Star Awards and he came across as a man of genuine humility and compassion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcAS6r5zGHE

Obviously there were issues there, but I can't help but wonder how the embedded 'star' players at the bulldogs accepted frank feedback from someone who hadn't played at the highest level....

I'm waiting for the first club to appoint a 25 year old career coach who hasn't played at the highest level but can relate and communicate effectively with his or her players.

This had nothing to do with whether McCartney played or not.

Footscray seemed to fully buy into McCartney and his team. It's unclear what happened, but surely given the very recent belief the club should either fire him or refuse his resignation. If it was that bad he should be gone, if it wasn't you stay with the plan.

A coach who despite possessing admirable football qualities but cannot connect with players or master the local politics has Buckley's chance of being successful. That asks the question to who's next in line?

Heh.

Oh the irony. Gordon saying about Griffin that a contract is a contract and he expects him to honor it at a presser where he is announcing the sacking of their contracted coach.

And no one followed up with that observation or a related question (eg you don't see a contradiction????)

#clubs can't have it both ways

Except McCartney wasn't sack, he resigned. Gordon talked with his "lawyer's hat on", as he put it and said clearly that Griff is still contracted and that McCartney wasn't sacked, he resigned. Resigning also probably saved the Bullies a fair bit of money.

#getfactsright

Sign him up. His development of young players is genuinely close to the best in the game. Macrae, Stringer, Bontempelli, Dahlhaus, Hunter and Lin Jong who's coming on so well for those who watched the VFL grand final.

Bulldogs will regret this decision for a long time. They're not just losing Brendan, they will lose Mooney, Scarlett and Joel Corey who McCartney bought over with his Geelong attitude. This is their 186, and I don't know how they'll survive.

The most entertaining part of the whole press conference was the live streaming that began at least 15 minutes before anyone came out, leaving a room full of unseen bored journos to banter amongst one another, until 2 mins before beginning someone notified them that they were already live streaming, to which one replied "nobody's watching yet. I didn't say anything bad anyway."

When he was informed that 4,000 had logged in to watch already, some wag replied "that's more than the audience for fox sports news!"

A few conversations were going at once, but I managed to make out a pair having a conversation about faking their presence at pressers when a couple were sent. It seems someone hadn't bothered turning up figuring their boss would never know, with one replying "I did the same thing at the presser for Malcolm Blight's sacking, but Wardy covered for me..."

The other replied "yeah, done it plenty of times. At the Essendon-Geelong match, I was supposed to be there, but just stayed at home and watched it on the couch. No one ever knew."

Except for those who read your game review and who you had in your best, mate.

It's bleedingly obvious that too many of these clowns mail in their reviews.

Bronx cheers were heard from the entire room when the door opened only to find it was triple M who had been running late.

A lot of referring to "Mr. Mark Stevens" with exaggerated faux importance.

I found it amusing to watch anyway. Shouldn't be wasting my time on this carp while I'm on holidays though.

Bloody trade period.

Except McCartney wasn't sack, he resigned. Gordon talked with his "lawyer's hat on", as he put it and said clearly that Griff is still contracted and that McCartney wasn't sacked, he resigned. Resigning also probably saved the Bullies a fair bit of money.

#getfactsright

doubt it saved any money. he would have only accepted the offer to resign for a good contract payout

Except McCartney wasn't sack, he resigned. Gordon talked with his "lawyer's hat on", as he put it and said clearly that Griff is still contracted and that McCartney wasn't sacked, he resigned. Resigning also probably saved the Bullies a fair bit of money.

#getfactsright

Ok fair enough. Griffen is also resigning. Forget the irony then (though seems more likje a sacking then resigning to me) however a coaches contract is not worth the paper it is printed on , just ask Sanderson, Bluey, Neeld, Harvey etc etc. So clubs shouldn't bleat when their players elect to break contracts.

#fair call on the irony comment but still reckon clubs can't have it both ways

Sign him up. His development of young players is genuinely close to the best in the game. Macrae, Stringer, Bontempelli, Dahlhaus, Hunter and Lin Jong who's coming on so well for those who watched the VFL grand final.

Bulldogs will regret this decision for a long time. They're not just losing Brendan, they will lose Mooney, Scarlett and Joel Corey who McCartney bought over with his Geelong attitude. This is their 186, and I don't know how they'll survive.

He's seemingly done well with the young players, but we have George Stone. I'd prefer George...

Roosy should talk to McCartney as another assistant.

He is a good man. Maybe just not head coach.

Compared to the horrible seasons we have had the Doggies,Suns and Crows didn't look so bad. I have never understood the reasoning for sacking a coach unless you have someone in mind to be the replacement. We got Roos. We knew who we wanted and PJ saved our backsides. It seems these clubs will now pull their pants down close their eyes and urinate into the wind. Clubs are run by people. People can be really stupid sometimes.

He's seemingly done well with the young players, but we have George Stone. I'd prefer George...

George is technically our midfield coach with an eye on strategy.

Brad Allison is our head of development. With all due respect to Brad, I'd much much prefer Brendan, and I think he's very deserving. Bulldogs hands are filthy.

George is technically our midfield coach with an eye on strategy.

Brad Allison is our head of development. With all due respect to Brad, I'd much much prefer Brendan, and I think he's very deserving. Bulldogs hands are filthy.

Hmm, I figured with Goodwin coming, he'd take the midfield and George would move into development. Look, if we can get him cheaply and we think he's the best candidate, by all means bring him in.

Goodwin might be stuck as opposition scout, like Malthouse did to Buckley...

Great apprenticeship, that one.

A coach who despite possessing admirable football qualities but cannot connect with players or master the local politics has Buckley's chance of being successful. That asks the question to who's next in line?

But Buckley has his 'godfather' running his club, so he will be safe as long as he wants the job.

Can we fix the time please?

Howzat

I wonder who the replacement will be? They should had let Girffin go and taken he draft pick/players. They could have done well out of it, as Griffen has only maybe 2 years of top line service left.

The question will be all ned year will Griffen go FA to GWS anyway?

Hmm, I figured with Goodwin coming, he'd take the midfield and George would move into development. Look, if we can get him cheaply and we think he's the best candidate, by all means bring him in.

Didn't think of that, good point.

There's pribably not a spot for him in our beefed up ranks, but I'm really gobsmacked how the WBs have let senior players sack a coach for being too hard on them. There's no wonder they haven't won a premiership in 60 years...

Many on the dogs list are not happy at all.

Seems a small group held a lot of sway.

Reminds me of the MFC 2-3 years back.

Senior players thinking they were better than the coach did