? | https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-04-04/im-a-fair-way-off-the-mark-at-the-moment-admits-big-dee-mcdonald

well yeah, not telling the fans anything knew but at least he's honest with himself. mcdonald has been pretty awful. 

Simple but true!  Get on the bike, do what is expected of this team.

At least he tells it honestly. He is not playing well and nor is the rest of the team.

Takes plenty of fortitude to be honest with yourself and others like this. Further evidence of his leadership credentials

Sometimes, in fact more often than not, it would be advisable if clubs and players (perhaps everyone bar the coach) did not speak to the media. Who speaks to the media seems disjointed and random. And rarely does a player say anything of substance. 

It would be preferable if footy comments came from the coach or general manager (Mahoney). The players should concentrate on their footy and not feel that they have to fly the flag in the media. 

When a player or team is down, I'm not a big fan of them being on media street.

I prefer them to get on with the job.

I guess this is my personal reaction to the Neeld years where every week players would come out and say they would turn it around, this week we will....etc, etc..

At least Tommy didn't make any big calls, just said he needed to keep working at it and it will come.

...but still I would prefer him just getting on with it.

2 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Sometimes, in fact more often than not, it would be advisable if clubs and players (perhaps everyone bar the coach) did not speak to the media. Who speaks to the media seems disjointed and random. And rarely does a player say anything of substance. 

It would be preferable if footy comments came from the coach or general manager (Mahoney). The players should concentrate on their footy and not feel that they have to fly the flag in the media. 

Beat me to it...

no it's not

players must speak to media and get messaging out there

anyone who thinks the cone of silence is a preferred method of operation in this age of over-information is living in the distant past

Talky talky talky.

Meh....a player speaks.....blah blah.

Only action talks a language worth noting.

This is why I don't listen to ANYONE from a club as such. Is all just lip service in the end.

Football is a game of action not words.

Just play well and win games.

Don't want to hear a player talk ever again, they aren't even worth hearing from.   I just want to win a flag.

 

He, Hibberd, Jones and Jetta have been the 4 big disappointments of the season so far.

Senior A graders (on their day) that are all horribly out of form at the same time.

Edited April 4, 20196 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Footballers are paid to play football.

I don't care if they never talk. I do care if they are not playing good footy.

To twist Allan Jean's words,   don't say, DO!

Edit: John Kennedy's words - thanks loges

Edited April 4, 20196 yr by ManDee

1 hour ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

no it's not

players must speak to media and get messaging out there

anyone who thinks the cone of silence is a preferred method of operation in this age of over-information is living in the distant past

Exactly. It is a requirement for players to talk to the media. Tmac is the right person to represent the Melbourne Football club to the media. Speaks clearly and passionately and doesn’t sugar coat anything.

Just get on with it

The Season began 2 weeks ago

35 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Footballers are paid to play football.

I don't care if they never talk. I do care if they are not playing good footy.

To twist Allan Jean's words,   don't say, DO!

Always thought it was John Kennedy

Tommy really needs to get much more involved. It was last year when he returned from injury that we hit form.

I'm all for players doing media work but this week Jones, Viney, McD, Jetta and Gawn have had podcasts, tv shows and other media stuff.  Surely that is distracting to a certain extent.  

This is a week when the sole focus of our co-capts and vice-capts should be on a critical game and preparing the team for it and not risk the distraction of media work (except for Reach).  We have bigger fish to fry.

I notice no interviews from Ess players this week.   

 

Edit: Just saw these stories:

I wonder which clubs are 'stonewalling' media access to players: Player Access

Jamie Elliot says I can't be bothered when asked for an interview.

Maybe clubs are trying to keep the players focused and avoid saying silly things that just create headlines.  I have to wonder if Toms lack of confidence in our ability to turn things around gives Ess a bit of a mental edge.

Edited April 4, 20196 yr by Lucifer's Hero

23 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I'm all for players doing media work but this week Jones, Viney, McD, Jetta and Gawn have had podcasts, tv shows and other media stuff.  Surely that is distracting to a certain extent.  

This is a week when the sole focus of our co-capts and vice-capts should be on a critical game and preparing the team for it and not risk the distraction of media work (except for Reach).  We have bigger fish to fry.

I notice no interviews from Ess players this week.   

 

Edit: I wonder which clubs are 'stonewalling' media access to players: Player Access

Jamie Elliot says I can't be bothered when asked for an interview

So you’re happy for players to only be interviewed if the team is winning? No offence but life doesn’t stop due to losing a footy game.

Get ready for almighty backlash this week from every corner if we lose.  Now time for the club to make a statement on game day.  Handle the pressure and get the job done.

It may be a requirement but that does not mean its a good thing unless you are addicted to social media and want to watch or listen to anything associated with the club. And I can't imagine too many players enjoy the media circuit. 

I assume players are allowed by the club to talk about themselves, injuries or general themes but there are no go zones such as criticism of club, coach, teammates, disclosure of specific game plans etc.

They probably can't win, because if they are told what to say in broad terms, the message comes across as a scripted message and players get criticised for not being honest. On the other hand, if they said what they really thought all hell would break loose, the media would have a field day and clubs would have to go into damage control. 

So what we are left with is a pretty bland melange that pleases no-one.

Ho-hum. 

1 minute ago, Demons11 said:

So you’re happy for players to only be interviewed if the team is winning? No offence but life doesn’t stop due to losing a footy game.

Not sure how you draw that conclusion. 

My point was having our entire leadership team (plus a recent member) on the airways this week; a week I see as critical to our season. 

we're playing friday night football, desperately trying to resurrect ourselves as a club that can draw big crowds, and people don't want us to promote ourselves

that would be a backwards way of going forwards

i'm all for the promo that they've done this week in the lead-up to a very important game

elliott got door-stopped and said 'nah' which happens ALL the time...but cos it was blown up by the media it BECAME the story, and a joking one at that

guaranteed the spin on, say, melksham doing the same would've been very different - "dee refuses interview"

cue garry lyon saying the players and clubs need to be more accessible, blah, blah, blah

I have no problems with players being in the media, what pisses me off is when statements are made during the week and then backed up by a totally insipid performance 3-4 days later...