"… I'm really happy with the direction of where we're going at Melbourne and we've got some good young players who we think will really step up for us next year," - says Neale Daniher in DANIHER RELISHING DEMONS' STABILITY

All I can say is we'd better beat Carlton both times this year ... and beat them up badly!

[There's also an article on Cam Bruce in the Sunday Hun but I can't find it online]

Stability, indeed

What a crap feeling it is whren youre footy club is having boardroom wars, or if the coach is on a knifes edge etc...

Its great that the players and coaching staff can just concentrate on footy

Stability, indeed

What a crap feeling it is whren youre footy club is having boardroom wars, or if the coach is on a knifes edge etc...

Its great that the players and coaching staff can just concentrate on footy

I think the stability issue is a bit overrated. As long as the footballers are not themselves personally involved in internal club politics they should be professional enough to not let it worry them. It's a job for these blokes after all.

I think the stability issue is a bit overrated. As long as the footballers are not themselves personally involved in internal club politics they should be professional enough to not let it worry them. It's a job for these blokes after all.

Actually I think that without stability your team will suffer. I mean look at Brisbane lots of non football related issues that his caused there team to suffer.

I think the stability issue is a bit overrated. As long as the footballers are not themselves personally involved in internal club politics they should be professional enough to not let it worry them. It's a job for these blokes after all.

I agree.

What's happening behind the scenes shouldn't have anything to do with Neitz kick goals or White winning hit-outs.

I agree.

What's happening behind the scenes shouldn't have anything to do with Neitz kick goals or White winning hit-outs.

Unfortunately it does. It corrodes every aspect of the Club's operations.

A functional united Board is critical to the on and off field success of a Club.

Unfortunately it does. It corrodes every aspect of the Club's operations.

A functional united Board is critical to the on and off field success of a Club.

Absolutely. Anyone that has been around a footy club at an level with in fighting knows they can become very unpleasant places to be at. Instability permeates through every level of any club at any level, make no mistake.

Absolutely. Anyone that has been around a footy club at an level with in fighting knows they can become very unpleasant places to be at. Instability permeates through every level of any club at any level, make no mistake.

OK. Let's assume that political stability is important. Will it affect Carlton at all seeing that the first Nab Cup doesn't take place until about three weeks after their election? I reckon it will all have died down by then and it certainly won't affect them by Round 1.

I think the stability issue is a bit overrated.

Name me one successful team that DIDNT have solid leadership and Board direction, and I'll give you 50 that did.

Don't bother, there aren't any.

I plan to enjoy the ride this year knowing it must happen on the field - no excuses for a change.

Stability doesn't guarantee success, but it sure provides the environemnt necessary to succeed.

OK. Let's assume that political stability is important. Will it affect Carlton at all seeing that the first Nab Cup doesn't take place until about three weeks after their election? I reckon it will all have died down by then and it certainly won't affect them by Round 1.

Its already affecting them and has so for the past two years. Its left its imprint throughout the whole club.

The Carlton members, at least those who were eligable to vote, and did, certainly appreciate that instability in administration is a cancer that will permiate throughout the club. They saw that retaining Smorgon and Diggins no matter whatever good points they might have, if any, would only prolong the instability. They have taken the only step they could and turfed them out. That is the only way that Carlton was going to go forward. Pagan will be gone at the end of the year.

Does instability within a club (board, finances etc) result or contribute to poor form on the field or does poor form on the field result in instability within a club?

Does instability within a club (board, finances etc) result or contribute to poor form on the field or does poor form on the field result in instability within a club?

I would think that each one is equally guilty and that we long suffering demons are certainly in a very good position to judge that.

Does instability within a club (board, finances etc) result or contribute to poor form on the field or does poor form on the field result in instability within a club?

Poor form on the field is a consequence or an end result of potentially a myriad of issues including instability at Board Level. There is no doubt in the world that Board instability will seep down through the ranks into the playing group. It permeates every decision making role in the organisation.

Poor form on the field is a consequence or an end result of potentially a myriad of issues including instability at Board Level. There is no doubt in the world that Board instability will seep down through the ranks into the playing group. It permeates every decision making role in the organisation.

I understand that, but can instability come about in the first place because a team is performing badly on the field?

the chicken or the egg?

i think both are products of each other. and either can come first. poor performance can result in trouble off field, and likewise it can filter through if off field is shakey...

I understand that, but can instability come about in the first place because a team is performing badly on the field?

Poor form on the field is a consequence or an end result of potentially a myriad of issues including instability at Board Level.

You have to ask why poor on field performance occurs? Poor on field performance is an outcome not a cause.

the chicken or the egg?

i think both are products of each other. and either can come first. poor performance can result in trouble off field, and likewise it can filter through if off field is shakey...

My point exactly.

Surely poor on-field performances can bring about instability off the field in the first place.

Surely poor on-field performances can bring about instability off the field in the first place.

The issues that create the poor on field performance bring about the instability. You are focussing on an outcome and using it be a blanket cause of what creates the instability. Its a good excuse for a low level Herald Sun write up but it is a simple mask for the real matters that fester away and cause the instability.

The issues that create the poor on field performance bring about the instability. You are focussing on an outcome and using it be a blanket cause of what creates the instability. Its a good excuse for a low level Herald Sun write up but it is a simple mask for the real matters that fester away and cause the instability.

Ultimately, I find it frustrating that off-field matters do affect teams on match day. As someone mentioned earlier, these are paid professionals who all know how to play good football and that shouldn't change.

Ultimately, I find it frustrating that off-field matters do affect teams on match day. As someone mentioned earlier, these are paid professionals who all know how to play good football and that shouldn't change.

Its amazing what does affect young men in their 20's. Footballers may be paid professionals but they are no different to the general cross section of society. Unfortunately they do not perform at the flick of a switch.

That's ulitimately what separates the good coaches/leaders from the chaff. The ability to encourage players to take mental control of the situation and to play to the extent of their abilities. AFL clubs are subject to ruthless media scrutiny. Unfortunately off field matters are played out/exaggerated in the media and they become just ome more distraction that potentially gets into the head of a 20 something male.

Not only footballers are professional, all key operational and footy dept positions are likewise professional. When one part drags the chain it drags the rest of the outfit with it. Carlton being just one example.

We now have 2 clubs ( before the season starts ) with serious off-field problems.

North has largely gone under the journo's radar, with a board member sending solicitors letters to the coach etc....

So we will have evidence to either prove or disprove the various theories by season end (or earlier )

We now have 2 clubs ( before the season starts ) with serious off-field problems.

North has largely gone under the journo's radar, with a board member sending solicitors letters to the coach etc....

So we will have evidence to either prove or disprove the various theories by season end (or earlier )

The only problem is that both clubs have fairly average playing lists...

If Sydney or West Coast started having off-field problems then we could draw some conclusions, but not when both sides are already predicted to finish in the bottom half of the ladder.

The only problem is that both clubs have fairly average playing lists...

If Sydney or West Coast started having off-field problems then we could draw some conclusions, but not when both sides are already predicted to finish in the bottom half of the ladder.

The fairly average playing lists are a function of poor recruiting, inability to attract key players and the capacity of the coaching panel to extract the best from their men. All the people directly charged with this responsibility are appointed by the Board.

If you want a prime example of the benefit of strong, united and professional Boards then look no further than WCE.

12 months ago their captain and marquee player currently holding the B'low effectively destroys his reputation, his character and drags the club through the mud in the media by running from a booze bus. In addition, they have a bonehead ex- 1st ruckman caught drunk driving after smashing his car eight weeks out from the finals.

Both incidents had the capacity to derail the on field performance dramatically and create instability in the ranks. Neither incident did that.

WCE management successfully handled both difficuly issues in a seamless manner that minimised the impact on the playing group who went onto win the flag.

They are very good team on the ground.....They are sensational off field in te way they manager and operate their club. Other Clubs could learn heaps from them.

...

All I'm saying is that at the moment, no matter how strong or weak Carlton and the Kangaroos are off the field, on the field they will both struggle.

For whatever reason they have weak lists etc.