Pathway to the Premiership

[spirit of norm smith 13,525]

I’ve been doing some reflection on how our premiership success was achieved. The Who and the How our club has been rescued from the dark days, brought back into the light and finally delivered Premiership success. Ultimately the feeling of exhilaration for us Dees fanatics. 


1. Jack Viney - father son selection - heart and soul

2. Peter Jackson   Paul Roos   Jason Taylor  critical appointments 

3. Salem Petracca  Brayshaw Oliver  - getting it right in the top 10 draft picks 

4. Max Gawn - 2015 starting to show his coming of age to show he is ready to be the number 1 ruckman 

5. Appointment of Simon Goodwin 

6. (Josh Mahoney)  the trades to get - Hibberd Lever May Langdon Brown 

7. the successful 2nd round picks  ANB Petty Spargo Fritsch Sparrow Jordon Rivers, Bowey (on top of trading out 2nd rounders to get Melksham, Hibberd, Langdon, Brown). 

8. Progressive breaking of hoodoos and victories against Tigers, Hawks and Saints and Cats. Turning around to creating the winning culture. 

9. the appointment of Darren Burgess  

10. the drafting of young guns Jackson, Pickett,  Rivers, Bowey 

11. the appointment of Yze and Choco 

12. The team culture. Selflessness.  Doing the right thing for the Team. The culture of all being part of the success. 
 

It’s strange how the “curse of Norm Smith” actually contained the secret to unlock the curse.  Smith based his coaching on “ the team “ .  He had the team all aligned on key principles.  Whilst there are individuals with talent and brilliance, ultimately team success is achieved together and helping each other as part of your role.  Smith (also like Goodwin) had to instill the sense of belief into the players. Believing you can win it, is an equal part to having the players capable of winning it. 
 

Smith also knew that to achieve ongoing success, he had to keep refreshing the team, finding improvement from the existing team and also continuing to look to add new talent.  Let’s find the improvement, stay focussed and continue to achieve that premiership glory.    

[durango 1,984]

Norm Smith had Jim Cardwell as a recruiter and Checker Hughes as his mentor and Chairman of Selectors unfortunatley I cannot remember who were the coaches of the Reserves or U19 at the time but I remember watching the Reserves play before the main game.

Great coaches surround themselves with good assistants and good recruiters like great CEO's in industry because at the end of the day the head coach in the modern game needs more good/great assistants when the team is in trouble. 

[rufus 933]

A big thing for mine is that we didn't seem to fight too hard to convince guys who mighted have wanted to leave the club to stay. Players who are considering jumping ship for 'success' are exactly the kind of people you don't want at your club...especially our club which had a recent history of the tail wagging the dog.

We seem to have managed to find a group of players of good character who seem to be invested in the idea that the MFC is not simply a vehicle for their own fame, but rather an important organisation that means a lot to a lot of people, and that representing this club is a privilege moreso than a right.

[Wrecker46 2,733]

Norm Smith coaching Barassi, who coached Blight who coached Goodwin.

[Allus Monk 568]

32 minutes ago, Wrecker46 said:

Norm Smith coaching Barassi, who coached Blight who coached Goodwin.

I’ve been thinking about this. Not just coached, but each coached the next to a premiership. You could add Checker Hughes coached Norm Smith, who coached…

 

Also suggests there’s a future premiership coach currently in our playing group. Any suggestions?

Edited October 3, 2021 by Allus Monk

[Fritta and Turner 3,849]

Jimmy Stynes for restoring the relationship with the MCC

The AFL for realising that the MFC was a basket case, bad for the competition, and thus giving support

Previous board members for realising they could be the problem and stepping away

Ensuring Jonesy got the the 300 club (I knew we were something special then)

[spirit of norm smith 13,525]

1 hour ago, Allus Monk said:

I’ve been thinking about this. Not just coached, but each coached the next to a premiership. You could add Checker Hughes coached Norm Smith, who coached…

 

Also suggests there’s a future premiership coach currently in our playing group. Any suggestions?

I reckon Jake Lever has coaching capabilities post his playing days.   Leadership.  Intense type person but also connects well with others.  

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

1 hour ago, Wrecker46 said:

Norm Smith coaching Barassi, who coached Blight who coached Goodwin.

 

1 hour ago, Allus Monk said:

Also suggests there’s a future premiership coach currently in our playing group. Any suggestions?

Steven May is already coaching!

We are blessed to have both May and Lever -- two outstanding football brains and on-field coaches -- in the one team. Massive advantage and no co-incidence that we are the league's best defensive unit.

[Wrecker46 2,733]

4 hours ago, Allus Monk said:

I’ve been thinking about this. Not just coached, but each coached the next to a premiership. You could add Checker Hughes coached Norm Smith, who coached…

 

Also suggests there’s a future premiership coach currently in our playing group. Any suggestions?

Jake Bowie. The kid never loses.

[Demonstone 19,769]

1 hour ago, Wrecker46 said:

Jake Bowie.

* Bowey  

[Wrecker46 2,733]

28 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

* Bowey  

I can't spell Smyth or Lion correctly, so give me some lenience on Bowey.

Thank goodness Leocelli doesn't play for us anymore, I would have no hope.

I still can't get Trengrove right either.

Edited October 3, 2021 by Wrecker46
For fun

[Demonstone 19,769]

You must have been terrified of Austin Wonaeamirri!

[Jibroni 4,266]

Shout out to Gary Pert for maintaining the finances and staying the course during the COVID era in particular. 

[dee-tox 4,830]

You make enough good decisions in anything you'll eventually come out on top. Melbourne have made excellent decisions in three areas that has set them apart from the competition.

1. Fitness and conditioning. Superior fitness under Burgess is there for everyone to see.

2. Drafting and recruitment. Jason Taylor is batting at close to 100 percent which is unheard of.

3. Development. Our kids have developed better and quicker than any other club. Choco and the David Neitz Academy seems to be a great match.

[cookieboc 687]

reviewing the 2018 prelim final loss

[spirit of norm smith 13,525]

34 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

You make enough good decisions in anything you'll eventually come out on top. Melbourne have made excellent decisions in three areas that has set them apart from the competition.

1. Fitness and conditioning. Superior fitness under Burgess is there for everyone to see.

2. Drafting and recruitment. Jason Taylor is batting at close to 100 percent which is unheard of.

3. Development. Our kids have developed better and quicker than any other club. Choco and the David Neitz Academy seems to be a great match.

Agreed. Good points.  It takes a lot to get right to get to the top.  

[Jibroni 4,266]

The Blokes have all chipped in as well:

[monoccular 16,495]

4 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

I can't spell Smyth or Lion correctly, so give me some lenience on Bowey.

Thank goodness Leocelli doesn't play for us anymore, I would have no hope.

I still can't get Trengrove right either.

Ha ha.  I still remember some “sports journalist” in the Herald Sun writing about what a good game Leon Chelly played. 

[spirit of norm smith 13,525]

12 hours ago, Jibroni said:

The Blokes have all chipped in as well:

Agree. Point 6 from my starting post. Mahoney trades were pivotal to our success. Melksham probably unlucky not to be added as well but Spargo’s good form kept him out all year.  

[Engorged Onion 9,536]

I'd like to acknowledge BMAC. 

As a rule of thumb in the industry - it's known that it takes 7 years or so to build a team for a premiership.

Significant influence on the training standards and support for Brayshaw, Petracca, Viney and Harmes - lauded as one of the top midfield groups - who just happened to come up against another one of the top midfield groups in Bontempelli, Liberatore, MacCrae who he had a significant influence on.... and he also had significant influence on Ablett, Ling and Chapman.

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Engorged Onion