Brendan McCartney

[Redleg 41,443]

Met Brendan at the races yesterday and spoke to him about the Dees.

I think he will prove to be one of our best recruits behind PJ and Roos.

He is a nice guy, who was quite prepared to give of his time, about 15 minutes on this occasion, to a Melbourne fan. It started with my welcoming him to the club and he then asked about my involvement.

We discussed his role at the MFC and where he sees the club. He said that if we stay the course and don't get sidetracked we hopefully will be a good side in the next couple of years.

He is enthusiastic about our younger players and is looking forward to working with them and the other Coaches.

From the Freo game he thought Newton and Vandenberg showed they are ready to play for us.

I asked him about the rumour that his leaving was tied to Griffen and he assured me that is not true. Griffen received a great offer from GWS and with his age and fitness level he had to accept. IMO the Dog's President has done us a real favour by changing Coaches. I think Gordon panicked and wasn't prepared to stay the course. We now have Brendan and that is our good fortune.

I can assure you he is a modest man and highly knowledgable about footy. Many say that he is the best development coach in the AFL. Many on here would say his position was the most important to fill. I think we have done it with the best man available.

Good luck Brendan and Go Dees.

[What 18,810]

Met Brendan at the races yesterday and spoke to him about the Dees.

I think he will prove to be one of our best recruits behind PJ and Roos.

He is a nice guy, who was quite prepared to give of his time, about 15 minutes on this occasion, to a Melbourne fan. It started with my welcoming him to the club and he then asked about my involvement.

We discussed his role at the MFC and where he sees the club. He said that if we stay the course and don't get sidetracked we hopefully will be a good side in the next couple of years.

He is enthusiastic about our younger players and is looking forward to working with them and the other Coaches.

From the Freo game he thought Newton and Vandenberg showed they are ready to play for us.

I asked him about the rumour that his leaving was tied to Griffen and he assured me that is not true. Griffen received a great offer from GWS and with his age and fitness level he had to accept. IMO the Dog's President has done us a real favour by changing Coaches. I think Gordon panicked and wasn't prepared to stay the course. We now have Brendan and that is our good fortune.

I can assure you he is a modest man and highly knowledgable about footy. Many say that he is the best development coach in the AFL. Many on here would say his position was the most important to fill. I think we have done it with the best man available.

Good luck Brendan and Go Dees.

cheers Redleg.

B Mac was a fantastic addition to the MFC. Thank you, Bulldogs.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

He is a terrific bloke, will be a huge get, he was a big part of what has been built at Geelong

[dazzledavey36 55,358]

Cheers Doggies.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Best thing the Bulldogs have done in years, other than delisting Crossy.

[mo64 5,881]

Met Brendan at the races yesterday and spoke to him about the Dees.

I think he will prove to be one of our best recruits behind PJ and Roos.

He is a nice guy, who was quite prepared to give of his time, about 15 minutes on this occasion, to a Melbourne fan. It started with my welcoming him to the club and he then asked about my involvement.

We discussed his role at the MFC and where he sees the club. He said that if we stay the course and don't get sidetracked we hopefully will be a good side in the next couple of years.

He is enthusiastic about our younger players and is looking forward to working with them and the other Coaches.

From the Freo game he thought Newton and Vandenberg showed they are ready to play for us.

I asked him about the rumour that his leaving was tied to Griffen and he assured me that is not true. Griffen received a great offer from GWS and with his age and fitness level he had to accept. IMO the Dog's President has done us a real favour by changing Coaches. I think Gordon panicked and wasn't prepared to stay the course. We now have Brendan and that is our good fortune.

I can assure you he is a modest man and highly knowledgable about footy. Many say that he is the best development coach in the AFL. Many on here would say his position was the most important to fill. I think we have done it with the best man available.

Good luck Brendan and Go Dees.

What does this mean?

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

What does this mean?

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

[KingDingAling 3,758]

McCartney must be a top bloke to give Redleg the time of day.

[rpfc 28,779]

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

So if the club gets 'sidetracked' it is our fault? Demonland?

My god this place is getting eating from the inside out of late...

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

What does this mean?

Cheeky dig at his previous employers I think.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Met Brendan at the races yesterday and spoke to him about the Dees.

I think he will prove to be one of our best recruits behind PJ and Roos.

He is a nice guy, who was quite prepared to give of his time, about 15 minutes on this occasion, to a Melbourne fan. It started with my welcoming him to the club and he then asked about my involvement.

We discussed his role at the MFC and where he sees the club. He said that if we stay the course and don't get sidetracked we hopefully will be a good side in the next couple of years.

He is enthusiastic about our younger players and is looking forward to working with them and the other Coaches.

From the Freo game he thought Newton and Vandenberg showed they are ready to play for us.

I asked him about the rumour that his leaving was tied to Griffen and he assured me that is not true. Griffen received a great offer from GWS and with his age and fitness level he had to accept. IMO the Dog's President has done us a real favour by changing Coaches. I think Gordon panicked and wasn't prepared to stay the course. We now have Brendan and that is our good fortune.

I can assure you he is a modest man and highly knowledgable about footy. Many say that he is the best development coach in the AFL. Many on here would say his position was the most important to fill. I think we have done it with the best man available.

Good luck Brendan and Go Dees.

That's all very well but did you give him a winner?

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

Better keep them away from the no TS no BS thread if that's the case, can't have some weird banana fiasco break out at the club.

On a serious note though I think you think forums such as these have more relevance in the real world then they actual do. They certainly don't shape the directin of the club.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,246]

Better keep them away from the no TS no BS thread if that's the case, can't have some weird banana fiasco break out at the club.

On a serious note though I think you think forums such as these have more relevance in the real world then they actual do. They certainly don't shape the directin of the club.

I'm sure your words of wisdom are always given due consideration sweet!!!!

[beelzebub 23,383]

He is a terrific bloke, will be a huge get, he was a big part of what has been built at Geelong

sometimes forgotten

[beelzebub 23,383]

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

what does this mean ?

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

What does this mean?

Sticking with the Roos to Goodwin handover would be a start.

Making sure we keep good assistant coaches and support staff.

Focus on the core of young players coming together. Don't make mega trades for some short term benefit that wont deliver long term. Don't panic in to landing some saviour free agent if it's not the right player at the right price.

Maybe don't try to move on the current CEO in the hope of landing another well credentialed CEO.

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

I asked him about the rumour that his leaving was tied to Griffen and he assured me that is not true. Griffen received a great offer from GWS and with his age and fitness level he had to accept. IMO the Dog's President has done us a real favour by changing Coaches. I think Gordon panicked and wasn't prepared to stay the course. We now have Brendan and that is our good fortune.

He might not see it that way but I'm sure it was. When the season finished he was set to coach the dogs the next year. Any review carried out of his performance would've had him staying. If there was significant doubt they would've reviewed his performance in September and had him in or out by trade week.

As far as I can tell McCartney's biggest error was appointing Griffen captain. One of the elite players of the comp (at the time of his appointment) who at his best was an inspirational on field leader. If Griffen refused the captaincy and McCartney forced him in to it then that is a Neeld style error from a man trying to be a leader of a football club. If Griffen accepted the job and then later couldn't handle the pressure then he made the mistake and should be very apologetic to McCartney.

Either way, most fail at senior coaching in the AFL. The expectations are just too high. Better to have tried and failed than never tried at all.

[Cards13 9,117]

So if the club gets 'sidetracked' it is our fault? Demonland?

My god this place is getting eating from the inside out of late...

Again?

[mo64 5,881]

Sticking with the Roos to Goodwin handover would be a start.

Making sure we keep good assistant coaches and support staff.

Focus on the core of young players coming together. Don't make mega trades for some short term benefit that wont deliver long term. Don't panic in to landing some saviour free agent if it's not the right player at the right price.

Maybe don't try to move on the current CEO in the hope of landing another well credentialed CEO.

That was my initial take, which is why I was taken aback. But as Sweet and Sour Dee said, I think it was more of a dig at his former club.

Personally, assistant coaches shouldn't concern themselves with club politics at a new club. The reality of sport is that coaches get sacked, and all of them will tell you that the club panicked.

[Nasher 33,617]

Personally, assistant coaches shouldn't concern themselves with club politics at a new club. The reality of sport is that coaches get sacked, and all of them will tell you that the club panicked.

To be fair, he offered his opinion when asked for it by Redleg. I don't see these comments as concerning himself with club politics.

[Hampton 22 519]

Thanks very much for sharing the conversation Redleg. It's insights like this that make reading Demonland worthwhile.

[BAMF 4,385]

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

When was the last time this happened?

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

It means that if one of the rubbish journalists reads a topic on here and blows it up into something it isn't and it grows legs causing the Board and CEO to overreact and it impacts on the footy dept, sound familiar?

You seem to have very little confidence in the judgement of our Board and CEO. This team seem to be very considered in their dealings with the media. Barking up the wrong tree this time Saty.

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

Adelaide and Western Bulldogs made massive coaching choice blunders (possibly Gold Coast also but Eade has a very good track record) at the end of season 2014. Look at what was developing - albeit a bit slowly - and both these clubs and they will soon regret responding to team performance by abruptly changing their coaches. McCartney's comment about "staying the course" appear to be a clear reference to how the Bulldogs handled his tenure when player disgruntlement rose to the surface.

Although I have no internal knowledge, only a footy tragic's opinion, it feels like McCartney was implementing a long, slow build to sustained success based on a powerful midfield, and some players and too many supporters couldn't stay the course on his values and standards.

I agree with you Redleg - this will prove to be a master-stroke of an appointment.

[chook fowler 19,551]

I think Brendan McCartney was very hard done by but I wouldn't be surprised if Luke Beveridge turns out to be a great coach.

delighted to have Macca at the Dees though.