R.I.P. Dean. You are missed..

Terrific human being and a better coach than he had a chance to show.

I'm sure his legacy lives on on the many people who he influenced to be a better version of themselves.

Time flies. RIP Bails??

Rest easy Dean. Led the club admirably through a tough period.

A good servant of the club who deserved better. Hounded by the AFL. All the more disgraceful when compared to individuals who most definitely brought the game into disrepute but ended up being rewarded.

RIP Dean!

A better coach than he was ever given credit for and kept operating somehow  in a pretty toxic environment. Noble under pressure. RIP

Treated poorly by many and rarely had a harsh word to say about anyone

A very good coach at a train-wreck of a club. The attacking football we palyed in 2010/11 was breathtaking but we couldn't defend a soggy weetbix. And he was a wonderful human being. 

I felt sadness in Jim's passing, but the build-up was one that we all saw coming eventually.

Robbie's and Bails' passing were and still are more of a shock.

Part of me will always be unable to comprehend the passing of all 3 great blokes.

I wouldn't go as far to say that life can be cruel, as it is to be celebrated and enjoyed whilst we're living, but this is a constant reminder of just how delicate and precious life is.

May they continue to rest in peace.

Taken so fast and way too soon. 

RIP Dean. 

55 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I felt sadness in Jim's passing, but the build-up was one that we all saw coming eventually.

Robbie's and Bails' passing were and still are more of a shock.

Part of me will always be unable to comprehend the passing of all 3 great blokes.

I wouldn't go as far to say that life can be cruel, as it is to be celebrated and enjoyed whilst we're living, but this is a constant reminder of just how delicate and precious life is.

May they continue to rest in peace.

Well put DD. I'd add Sean Wight to that list as well. All wonderful people.

The degree to which Bailey could 'coach' will never be fully determined. One thing however that was evident at every club that he served was that the players played for him.  To have that young, talented, but ultimately flawed list play the exciting football that we saw is testament to a coach who was able to get the best out of his players.

 

Wow 3 yrs already, how time passes by so quickly. 

RIP Bails. 

186 was the darkest day in our club's recent history not just because of the scale of the margin.

How Bails was treated the day that the presser was held to announce his sacking was a disgrace. That treatment was a reflection of the state the club was in; that being a boys club.

That he refused to hold onto his bitterness was a testament to him and what a good bloke he was.

RIP Dean Bailey

11 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

186 was the darkest day in our club's recent history not just because of the scale of the margin.

How Bails was treated the day that the presser was held to announce his sacking was a disgrace. That treatment was a reflection of the state the club was in; that being a boys club.

That he refused to hold onto his bitterness was a testament to him and what a good bloke he was.

RIP Dean Bailey

Here Here...

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/when-dean-bailey-deeply-touched-a-family-20140313-hvia3.html

A football memory that will live with me forever was the last time I got to go to a game with my dad before he passed away (like many, my dad is the reason I follow the MFC).  The last game was the game vs Sydney at the MCG, Bails was coach.

I'm forever grateful of the way Bails had them playing that day - was one of the best games I've been to, and made even more special by it being the last I went to with my dad.

On 11/3/2017 at 11:12 PM, Moonshadow said:

Well put DD. I'd add Sean Wight to that list as well. All wonderful people.

As a side note, Moon, today would've been Sean's 53rd Birthday.  A great player, but an even better bloke.

I always thought we were on the right track with Bailey. We played some incredibly exciting football back in 2010-11. Although the period was marred with inconsistency, our list back then (like now) was incredibly young and inexperienced.

Today, think that it was a mistake to sack him. He worked so hard to rebuild the club, and then Neeld came in and undid everything he had done within his first six months as head coach.

Its hard to believe that its been three years already.

Rest in Peace Bails.

Had some great times under Bails and we certainly had a lot of hope around that time. Was unlucky with how it all panned out. From a distance he seemed like a great bloke too. Most of all, a real tragedy for someone that age to die - particularly someone with a family.  

Lots of great coaches change the way the game is played instead of copying others. I thought that's what Bails was trying to do during his time and can't help but wonder what could have been achieved if he had the chance to tinker with his all out attacking game plan and then add a stronger board and higher quality playing list. Maybe nothing, maybe something.

In hindsight jagging 8.5 wins in 2010 with the list we had was a bloody fine effort. He managed well to get the best out of a lot of players during his time which never showed much before or after in Petterd, Morton, Gysberts, Moloney and Jamar.