It's glib to say it's all about trends but the problem is that it's so hard to discern the trends.

I'm now trending towards a change whereas 6-7 weeks ago I was content to judge on the trend for the first half of next season.

That last quarter has changed the background in a very big way.

I particularly like this part in the article.

“The dissatisfaction and resignation of members and sponsors is not lightly dismissed”.

Will like to c us actually make the tuff decision on the coach and fd but time will tell if it’s all talk. God I hope it’s not.

If changes are made including the coach my enthusiasm for 26 season will be reinvigorated.

3 minutes ago, SFebes said:

For some reason you want to continue the player theory on the coach thread

So there's no connection between the players form and the tenure of the coach?

And players jump ship when they get found out. In other words, they can no longer bludge and get away with it with a new coach

And jumping ship means they won't cop the wrath as opposed to staying with the focus suddenly changed from the coach to the players. Rats deserting the ship

Back in 2012, Mark Neeld* was exceptionally well protected in his first year on this site

Why? Because the punters here had turned on the players after they laid down against the Cats (186)

Bailey copped it but then it was the players turn. And not many of the players back then survived

Roos cut a swathe through the list over 3 off seasons. 30+ players went

*Neeld also got us Taylor so silver linings

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Macca

I have always found the debate around responsibility of coach versus the players an interesting one. I remember having the same discussion with Kevin Sheedy some time ago when he came to address us as a guest speaker before a Grand Final. He response went a bit of both ways, suggesting AFL players are well paid professionals and needed to be accountable, yet conceded the buck stops with the Senior Coach.

We have a recent history of knee-[censored] changes to quell the public blowtorch.

I just hope if they sack Goodwin it is for the right and considered reasons and not another such knee-[censored] reaction.

Goodwin is part of a problem. The whole problem? I doubt it!

The Board needs to look at itself in what has happened and not just look for a scapegoat to deflect the heat, again.

btw, what happened to that Board 2024 review... crickets.

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Lucifers Hero

The 'hard edge' to the club's decision making is still all talk though, let's see what action they actually take. Simply getting rid of Richardson will not be enough (he should have gone last year anyway, after the Petracca situation).

1 hour ago, SFebes said:

Richardson will be a scapegoat

Scapegoat? What does he actually do to justify his huge salary?

The FD & the list needs an overhaul & a cleanout

We actually need a PJ type so it remains to be seen what Guerra can do

Probably worth noting the club is leaking again, given the “senior Melbourne” sources Gleeson cites in the article.

In this instance I doubt any of us mins though.

12 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I just hope they don't sack Goodwin as a knee-[censored] reaction to the blowtorch from media, fans and sponsors

But it's those three elements by which Board success is measured. Their job is to put in place a framework where a football department (including players) can thrive.

If an element of the football department impacts upon the structure then change must be considered. You cannot ignore large drops in membership and a disappointed sponsor cohort who demand prime time TV exposure.

The events of the day are eerily similar to early 2013. But this time without AFL intervention

We have to trust the Board to get it right but are they capable?

If we get a new coach at seasons end, my preference would be for an experienced one, otherwise the players might walk all over a rookie

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

A lot to unpack from that article.

Its probably the first time ever under Goodwins tenure that we are now hearing of serious discussions about his future being in serious doubt.

One line that stuck out to me that wouldnt please Smith at all was this..

"The dissatisfaction and resignation of members and sponsors is not lightly dismissed."

Sponsors especially

16 hours ago, Demonsone said:

Why was he extended in 23 after an extension in 22 which would have finished in 24???

The club has history of knee [censored] re-signings both at coach and player level that are oft too early and oft based on short-term upticks in performance.

Too easily impressed / satisfied with mediocre and / or promise / hope vs patience / reality.

And they too often sign overly lengthy unjustifiable contracts.

They should have waited to see what transpired in 2024 after the twin straight sets exits.

This is a very poorly managed / run club, not necessarily in all aspects but far too many, that STILL has no home base after 40 years.

The rot starts from the head.

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Demon Dynasty

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

We have a recent history of knee-[censored] changes to quell the public blowtorch.

I just hope if they sack Goodwin it is for the right and considered reasons and not another such knee-[censored] reaction.

Goodwin is part of a problem. The whole problem? I doubt it!

The Board needs to look at itself in what has happened and not just look for a scapegoat to deflect the heat, again.

btw, what happened to that Board 2024 review... crickets.

I think if it happened two years ago it would be a knee [censored] reaction, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that if he were to go, there has been a big build up to this point.

15 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Sponsors especially

It all smacks of a jobs for the boys scenario right now (boys club)

Many getting their nice fat pay cheques but no accountability

The Board stepping in right now is a tad too late ... as early as midway through last season when the Eagles & Freo embarrassed us might have been more appropriate

Where's the foresight? Us supporters can only watch on

And this is not with a focus on Goodwin per se. On everyone

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I just hope if they sack Goodwin it is for the right and considered reasons and not another such knee-[censored] reaction.

I understand what you’re saying but any decision around Goodwin is hardly a knee-j reaction… the side has grossly underperformed for 3.5 seasons now and we’re having this discussion on a forum thread dedicated to debating his ongoing tenure which has now notched up 225 pages!

On 29/07/2025 at 11:51, Macca said:

JVR doesn't lead or present

He does, he's just often overlooked. I saw it on the weekend there was a strong lead he presented up the wing towards the bench area another in the forward 50. Teammates don't honour the leads.

Our gameplan is to kick long to contests and so he has been coached to sit back and wrestle with his opponent or try and get out the back. He's not the only one, all our forwards do it and it is clear they are being coached to play this way. The evidence is that they keep doing it without any adjustments or ramifications.

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Dr. Gonzo

1 minute ago, The Jackson FIX said:

I understand what you’re saying but any decision around Goodwin is hardly a knee-j reaction… the side has grossly underperformed for 3.5 seasons now and we’re having this discussion on a forum thread dedicated to debating his ongoing tenure which has now notched up 225 pages!

I say knee-[censored] because as recently as a few weeks ago there was no apparent public threat to his position.

It is only after Sunday's embarrassing capitualation that the Board suddenly says the FD and his position are to be reviewed, again. That looks like a knee-[censored]/scapegoat reaction rather than a considered one. They should have been monitoring it during the season.

I'm not saying he shouldn't go. I just hope it is for the right reasons and not to take the heat off everyone else. Then everyone goes 'Phew' the heat is off but nothing fundamentally changes.

18 hours ago, Young Angus said:

I hope we’re stuck with both of them to be honest, it would be shocking to see them go for not much and then they find form somewhere else tha would hurt a lot.

What would be worse is if they stayed and continued to deliver the output of this year (especially Oliver).

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Dr. Gonzo

8 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

He does, he's just often overlooked. I saw it on the weekend there was a strong lead he presented up the wing towards the bench

Yeah I noticed that too (leading)

But what about overall?

In the last 2 years all I've seen JVR do most of the time is wave his arms around like a traffic cop

One swallow does not make a summer

Perhaps he was read the riot act and has finally responded. But again, his body of work says otherwise

I'd trade him if we got some value for him. But he's not Robinson Crusoe

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Macca

Just want to bring to light the arrogance of Simon Goodwin that has been ingrained in my mind which even bothered me at the time.

Round 2, 2022 vs Gold Coast. Goalless last quarter which was met with an arrogant smirk by Goodwin in the presser with the exact lines of “We didn’t need to score, we just needed to defend well”

Being only 22 up, it was a disgraceful quote at the time and even more disgraceful over 3 years later knowing what we have become. If it was anyone apart from Gold Coast or North Melbourne, we lose that game.

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by VNightCityLegend

8 minutes ago, Macca said:

Yeah I noticed that too (leading)

But what about overall?

In the last 2 years all I've seen JVR do most of the time is wave his arms around like a traffic cop

One swallow does not make a summer

Perhaps he was read the riot act and has finally responded. But again, his body of work says otherwise

I'd trade him if we got some value for him. But he's not Robinson Crusoe

I think he's a young players being poorly coached and played out of position (backup ruck). He's not the finished product at 21/22 but he has talent to work with, he needs to be properly coached up to get the best out of that talent and a gameplan that exploits his strengths.

1 minute ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Just want to bring to light the arrogance of Simon Goodwin that has been ingrained in my mind and even bothered me at the time.

Round 2, 2022 vs Gold Coast. Goalless last quarter which was met with an arrogant smirk by Goodwin in the presser with the exact lines of “We didn’t need to score, we just needed to defend well”

Being only 22 up, it was a disgraceful quote at the time and even more disgraceful over 3 years later knowing what we have become. If it was anyone apart from Gold Coast or North Melbourne, we lose that game.

On Sunday, I immediately thought of that comment from Goodwin.

Once a team gets used to thinking we are in front 'we don't need to score' its a slippery slope.

That mentality isn't ingraining a winning culture to play the game for 120min. The slippery slope landed us at the the bottom on Sunday.

Edited July 30, 2025Jul 30 by Lucifers Hero

2 hours ago, Macca said:

The events of the day are eerily similar to early 2013. But this time without AFL intervention

We have to trust the Board to get it right but are they capable?

If we get a new coach at seasons end, my preference would be for an experienced one, otherwise the players might walk all over a rookie

To quote the sainted P. Jackson:
Q: "Do you need a premiership coach"
PJ Answer: "No, but we need a very good one!"

I wish we could get him back...

4 minutes ago, frankie_d said:

To quote the sainted P. Jackson:
Q: "Do you need a premiership coach"
PJ Answer: "No, but we need a very good one!"

I wish we could get him back...

Yep, but that ship has sailed, Frankie

Let's hope that Guerra is up for the task. He's got a huge job ahead of him as many will want tangible outcomes immediately

PJ's first 6 months was utterly brilliant so there's a lot to live up to for Guerra

I think we need to get used to the fact that Peter Jackson is Peter Jackson, Guerra won’t even come close, we’ve just got to hope he’s better than serviceable. We have major “football” issues and he doesn’t have any experience with AFL. Going to be interesting.