I’ve watched 5 decades of failure!

[Sir Why You Little 37,031]

3 hours ago, Mydee said:

And what do you expect. The club has largely been a shambles since 1964 and probably a little before that. Melbourne were the first semi professional club who gained success on this basis and then rested on the laurels or should I say Caldwells until, inevitably, other clubs like Hawthorn and Carlton became thoroughly professional and we remained in a limbo between  a Saturday afternoon outing and a fair dinkum battle both on and off the field .  I'd refer anyone who doesn't believe this to read Brent Croswell's brilliant accounts of his time at Melbourne.

Whatever Melbourne did to overcome their pathetic status was always five years behind the AFL leaders'   benchmark. WE often improved but it was always not enough. In fact we have always been the NQRs. Many, like myself thought we had finally  started to get our act together until the 2019 crash. Of course we are angry.

Naturally football clubs, particularly professional clubs, and for this purpose I reluctantly include Melbourne in that category, don't like criticism especially a "crie de couer" from a long standing loyal supporter such as WYL. They would prefer us to yell loudly on the day and if beaten go home with a few consoling platitudes, such as better team won on the day or we would have won if Fred hadn't ruptured his heart muscle. I remember going to an after game wrap up at the SCG in the 1990s and the club members being told by an official that we did pretty well until we were overrun in the last quarter We were expected to swallow that.The fact is we dropped our bundle. 

I don't agree with everything WYL says but if it causes a few rankles among our more trusting and complacent supporters and even  perhaps among the paid officials, who all should bear some scrutiny for the 2019 debacle, so much the better.

More power to WYL's arm I say!

Spot on Mydee. This Club and a lot of it’s Supporters accept “Close enough is good enough” (Last Year) whereas I and other Supporters don’t.  Last year we were humiliated and punched out, and we were in shock all this year because of it. Meanwhile other Finalists from last year, picked themselves up and made it back to September Finals, it’s what you do....

Attitudes...

 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

Just to buck the trend I chose Melbourne because we were bottom and nobody at my school supported us. Whenever our team starts to eat me up emotionally I just look for a circuit breaker. A long swim or bike ride usually works or failing that just good coffee and conversation. If we're going to live long enough to see a flag people them we have to learn how to look after ourselves. 

[Ethan Tremblay 30,856]

On 9/21/2019 at 8:34 AM, bingers said:

Conversely, we lose players like Howe. Now All Australia (I think). 

Nope, never made AA. 

[Ugottobekidding 1,184]

Every season is a failure unless you win the premiership.

[TGR 1,367]

8 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Every season is a failure unless you win the premiership.

The mantra of a team that is home in the bottom 4.  What utter rubbish.

[old dee 23,787]

11 hours ago, dieter said:

When I racked my 3 remaining brain cells, I understand it was 1960 for me, so you still win...

Hardly a contest I would like to win dieter. My God I am old.

[Ugottobekidding 1,184]

7 hours ago, TGR said:

The mantra of a team that is home in the bottom 4.  What utter rubbish.

????ok. 

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

On 9/21/2019 at 5:40 PM, Demonsone said:

Is it bad to get shitty watching my brother enjoy tigers win?

Not at all Dsone ...there's always a solution at hand

[Demonsone 2,037]

People will think it’s negative to post this but as each decade goes by I get a hollow feeling of watching others celebrate their teams flag! Such a hollow feeling from what promised out of 2018 along with so many other false dawns!

[Ethan Tremblay 30,856]

Don’t worry, they’re overrated. 

[AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey 390]

1 minute ago, Demonsone said:

People will think it’s negative to post this but as each decade goes by I get a hollow feeling of watching others celebrate their teams flag! Such a hollow feeling from what promised out of 2018 along with so many other false dawns!

Out of all of them this one hurt the most

Edited September 28, 2019 by AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey

[Little Goffy 14,520]

It is so terrible, and it feels like it happens almost every year!

On the bright side, only nine clubs have seen a premiership this century, so it isn't as if we are alone.

[deebug 1,754]

10 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

It is so terrible, and it feels like it happens almost every year!

On the bright side, only nine clubs have seen a premiership this century, so it isn't as if we are alone.

The same one's,over and over again.

[Sorry kids 635]

We are as far away as the late sixties, early seventies and there were only 12 teams then. Look at the situation. Victorian Power Clubs, AFL investment in the Sydney Clubs, dominant and super professional WCE, a big Adelaide Club and then Brisbane. No room at the inn for us. 

[Demonsone 2,037]

4 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

We are as far away as the late sixties, early seventies and there were only 12 teams then. Look at the situation. Victorian Power Clubs, AFL investment in the Sydney Clubs, dominant and super professional WCE, a big Adelaide Club and then Brisbane. No room at the inn for us. 

It’s up to the club to push thru this & become successful.. tigers were a basket case for almost 4 decades due to poor choices at the draft players, to coaching & people running the club. They have shown that get the right people & make good decisions & success comes!

[Chook 15,012]

The thing about winning a flag is that it's not even like they're rare. They are won literally every year, like clockwork. Only we can't seem to manage it.

[Sorry kids 635]

1 minute ago, Demonsone said:

It’s up to the club to push thru this & become successful.. tigers were a basket case for almost 4 decades due to poor choices at the draft players, to coaching & people running the club. They have shown that get the right people & make good decisions & success comes!

                                       Tigers                         Demons

President                     Peggy O Neill             Battler Bartlett

CEO                             Brendan Gale              Pert

Coach                        Hardwick                     Goodwin

Captain                    Cotchin                           Jones/ Viney

Home Base             Punt Rd                          Goschs Paddock

Supporter  Base     Massive                         Moderate

Recruitment           Brave and clever           Conservative

Players                    Committed                    Good when winning

Culture                   Excellent                         What?    

[rjay 24,917]

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

People will think it’s negative to post this but as each decade goes by I get a hollow feeling of watching others celebrate their teams flag! Such a hollow feeling from what promised out of 2018 along with so many other false dawns!

Yes it is negative but I feel exactly the same way.

I'm thoroughly sick of it...

Todays garbage game ended a similarly garbage year.

[Supreme_Demon 3,833]

Today was depressing as a Demons supporter.

Watching the Tigers win their 2nd Flag in 3 years.

 

They are now equal to us with 12 Premierships.

 

However, instead of whinging and whining we need to discuss solutions.

 

How are we going to change our current solution?

 

This constant verbal wrist-slashing is toxic.

 

The only way we are going to change our situation is by dealing with our fundamental problems as a club.

We need the following problems solved...

1) More money.

Whether it be fundraising like the "Debt Demolition" a few years ago or through generous benefactors. We need money and lots of it.

2) Obtaining good quality football people.

Those who know and understand success and can change our culture. I suggested chasing Mark "Choco" Williams a few weeks ago and I am still keen on that strategy. Alan Richardson is a start...but we need more than him.

3) Good drafting and recruiting.

We have started that...although need to get better. Plus we still need more good quality players. We also need to develop our own players. Especially, those with good leadership potential. But especially those players that can kick and are excellent decision makers under pressure.

4) A better and stronger culture.

This will happen with better quality people involved with the club. I also think we need more former players at the club. As well as players from other clubs with Premiership success who want to help the Melbourne Football Club. Another strategy would be to employ experts who are skilled in initiating fundamental culture change in organisations.

5) A proper home base.

This is probably the most difficult challenge. Is the MCG really our spiritual home any more? Do we build at Gosch's Paddock? Or do we have to build something in Elsternwick or South Yarra or Caulfield? Nevertheless, this specific problem needs to be discussed another time and there are other discussion threads on this topic.

 

 

Anyway....that's my 2 cents.

Edited September 28, 2019 by Supreme_Demon

[Gooner 9]

Although this season was a disaster, I'm optimistic about the coming years, probably more than any time in the last 30 years.  

 

We've got a good group of players but due to a combination of injuries, lack of pre-season and lack of motivation after our poor start, we had a shocker of a season.  I'm sure that the fitness staff will be working on getting everyone ready for pre-season.  

 

We've recruited well over the past few years.  Yes, not every pick is perfect, but we're not making recruiting mistakes like we did previously.  

 

The biggest question for me is Goodwin's ability.  He hasn't shown his ability to turn a game around, but remember that both a few years ago it was questioned whether Hardwick would remain at Richmond and a few years before that there were questions whether Thompson was the right coach for Geelong.  

[Demonsone 2,037]

13 hours ago, Sorry kids said:

                                       Tigers                         Demons

President                     Peggy O Neill             Battler Bartlett

CEO                             Brendan Gale              Pert

Coach                        Hardwick                     Goodwin

Captain                    Cotchin                           Jones/ Viney

Home Base             Punt Rd                          Goschs Paddock

Supporter  Base     Massive                         Moderate

Recruitment           Brave and clever           Conservative

Players                    Committed                    Good when winning

Culture                   Excellent                         What?    

It’s never one thing .. it’s about bringing in good people , our recruiting is still questionable with paying overs on lever/may, not convinced on Pert either. Balme has done wonders in every club he’s gone to. Are our players selfless? Our leadership on field is poor!

Edited September 28, 2019 by Demonsone

[Supreme_Demon 3,833]

As I mentioned previously, I think we can all identify the massive issues the Melbourne Football Club need to fix.

 

The challenge is how do we implement solutions?

 

I want to fix these problems so that the Demons can win Premierships again.

 

[Jara 1,153]

3 hours ago, Demonsone said:

It’s never one thing .. it’s about bringing in good people , our recruiting is still questionable with paying overs on lever/may, not convinced on Pert either. Balme has done wonders in every club he’s gone to. Are our players selfless? Our leadership on field is poor!

I'm with you on Pert. Dunno why, but something in me died a little when i saw we recruited him. 

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

16 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

 

4) A better and stronger culture.

This will happen with better quality people involved with the club. I also think we need more former players at the club. 

Be careful suggesting this. I’ve done it in the past (specifically referring to Adem Yze) and some of the more supposedly-learned people around these parts were very quick to tell me that having former players at the club is a foolish thing to want for. 

I guess Neil Balme and Brendon Gale are just freakish anomalies. 

[Supreme_Demon 3,833]

20 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Be careful suggesting this. I’ve done it in the past (specifically referring to Adem Yze) and some of the more supposedly-learned people around these parts were very quick to tell me that having former players at the club is a foolish thing to want for. 

I guess Neil Balme and Brendon Gale are just freakish anomalies. 

Well it's all about balance.

They don't all have to be former players.

Although I think Adem Yze is worth pursuing.

I don't mind where they are from as long as they have passion while at the Melbourne Football Club and want to help it win Premierships.

I want people who are determined to be successful and demand that from those around them.

 

I am not against recruiting Alan Richardson. But we need more quality people involved with winning Premierships.

People who know how it is done and know how to win.

 

Successful people breed more success. That is why we need to chase people from clubs who know how to do this and are keen for the ultimate challenge. Mark "Choco" Williams is one of those people but there are many more at Hawthorn, Geelong, Richmond and Collingwood.

 

All that matters is if they genuinely wish to help the Demons end their Premiership drought.