Time to go Tim Lamb? Should we pursue Graham Wright?

[Supreme_Demon 3,244]

I think time is up for Melbourne List Manager Tim Lamb.

Unfortunately I think this is the best course of action and Tim Lamb should look for opportunities elsewhere.

If you asked me at the start of 2022 I would of said Tim Lamb has done a fantastic job and helped end our 57 year Premiership drought.

Sadly, since then, it has been mistake after mistake with our recruiting and trading. There were many failures that he has to take responsibility for as our List Manager.

That is why it is best he parts ways with the Melbourne Football Club. We can then look to heavily pursue Graham Wright. A man with a highly credentialled career as a List Manager with success at both Hawthorn and Collingwood. He is the man we want as our new List Manager. I hope that the Melbourne Demons look to try and recruit Graham Wright.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting what the outcomes will be after our external review of the Football Department is completed.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,307]

Yes to moving on Lamb.

Yes to pursuing Wright.

However I think Wright is looking for a role that's higher than list manager. Eg - Club CEO or senior AFL executive.

[alpha33 303]

The timing of this thread is impeccable (not).

We're going into a trade and draft period of enormous importance to the Melbourne Football Club and people are attacking our list manager.

Surely, this issue is best raised at the end of November when we can have a look at the results achieved in that time rather than cause more disruption on top of everything we've been put through these past few months?

Fair dinkum - we are our own worst enemies.

 

[Little Richard 6,212]

Just now, alpha33 said:

The timing of this thread is impeccable (not).

We're going into a trade and draft period of enormous importance to the Melbourne Football Club and people are attacking our list manager.

Surely, this issue is best raised at the end of November when we can have a look at the results achieved in that time rather than cause more disruption on top of everything we've been put through these past few months?

Fair dinkum - we are our own worst enemies.

 

The importance this year lies in maximising our draft position so that Lamb's impact is limited and Taylor has the best opportunity of unearthing more great youngsters.

I don't think this thread is going to cause any disruption within the club mate.

[Elwood 3184 1,290]

12 minutes ago, Little Richard said:

The importance this year lies in maximising our draft position so that Lamb's impact is limited and Taylor has the best opportunity of unearthing more great youngsters.

I don't think this thread is going to cause any disruption within the club mate.

Dan Houston might have a different point of view.

 

[waynewussell 4,842]

let's dredge the complete list of former MFC on-field/off-field leaders and decision makers to see if we can cough up someone to take over. We can find out if they are remotely interested or qualified in the position after we complete the character assassination of the current crew! 

[mo64 5,473]

21 minutes ago, alpha33 said:

The timing of this thread is impeccable (not).

We're going into a trade and draft period of enormous importance to the Melbourne Football Club and people are attacking our list manager.

Surely, this issue is best raised at the end of November when we can have a look at the results achieved in that time rather than cause more disruption on top of everything we've been put through these past few months?

Fair dinkum - we are our own worst enemies.

 

Our trading over the past 3 years has been our own worst enemy. Recruiting bargain basement players during trade week, who weren't the right fit, has hurt us badly. Giving Schache another year was mind boggling.

We have a good draft hand this year, and I don't want Tim Lamb anywhere near our picks. Fortunately the Houston trade has fallen through.

Jason Taylor is more than capable of handling any trades for pick swaps.

Edited Monday at 04:45 by mo64

[Ugottobekidding 1,045]

25 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Yes to moving on Lamb.

Yes to pursuing Wright.

However I think Wright is looking for a role that's higher than list manager. Eg - Club CEO or senior AFL executive.

Wright is going too Tasmania 

[Pinball Wizard 311]

13 minutes ago, Little Richard said:

The importance this year lies in maximising our draft position so that Lamb's impact is limited and Taylor has the best opportunity of unearthing more great youngsters.

I don't think this thread is going to cause any disruption within the club mate.

Oh sure. The perception of how the club's travelling off field is pretty low at the moment. I know that club supporting sites aren't necessarily good indicators but you look at Demonland and see Goody's got to go, Lamb's got to go, Pert's got to go, Roffey gawn, Joe having a whack and the next step is that Robbo, Warner and Caro will be sticking the boots in - I don't think it inspires our recruiting process. In fact it's counterproductive.  I agree we're our own worst enemy.

[Elwood 3184 1,290]

5 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Our trading over the past 3 years has been our own worst enemy. Recruiting bargain basement players during trade week, who weren't the right fit, has hurt us badly. Giving Schache another year was mind boggling.

We have a good draft hand this year, and I don't want Tim Lamb anywhere near our picks. Fortunately the Houston trade has fallen through.

Jason Taylor is more than capable of handling any trades for pick swaps.

Why did the Houston trade fall through?

[DeeSpencer 24,681]

Wright’s had enough of club land and wants to put his feet up at afl house for a while.

It’s hard to know how much blame to give our list manager.

It hasn’t been good, but we’ve had a heap of contacts on the books. We’ve also been very safe in not trading anyone out ahead of time. The guys who left were out of contract and getting big offers.

Kelly O’Donnell is listed as pro scout on our ancient website. If that’s still the case he has to go. We haven’t found a good state leaguer since Hannan and Vanders and his job is also to scout players from other state league and sides.

We got sucked in to Billings and Hunter. They were low risk, but very low reward.

Got absolutely sucked in to extending Laurie this year and extending Schache last year.

I still think McAdam was worth a go, but giving a valuable pick was stupid.

Rucks…Grundy was kind of worth a try? No harm now foul, wasn’t the list managers fault that neither Max nor Grundy ultimately committed to making it work.

Fullarton was pretty much a delisted free agent. Thinking anyone tall can ruck was a mistake, he’s so awful there. But he might have something to offer as a forward. I’d have gone hard for Jordon Sweet but I get he wanted to go home.

We are really just crying out for a couple of bargain bin finds (both recycled players and with great late picks in the draft).
 

I think the fundamental change I’d be making is to stop hanging on to so many of our own players and stop trying to fill the list in Oct and Nov. Get comfortable with more list turnover and bringing guys in through preseason. 

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,482]

Forgive me for asking, but WHY?!?! Also, it sure ain't gonna happen NOW right ahead of draft and trade periods!!!

Sure, he is definitely not as highly regarded as JT, but he is responsible for some excellent trades, especially draft related trades that set-up our list incredibly well. He is not responsible for lack of us being able to lure players, that is down to a plethora of things and for me most of all CASEY being the biggest issue right now...

Unless Daniel Hoyne became available, or maybe 2-3 current AFL List Managers whom are firmly entrenched in their roles, there is no reason whatsoever to take as big a risk as this.. If Gus doesn't get knocked out in opening 10m of Pies final, we likely win a flag -- Are you even considering such a thing? If AFL doesn't screw us on Mac Andrew we'd have another HUGE piece to be excited about and arguably changed things this year as well.. Smith making his poor decision, Clarry and Trac issues... ALL more to do with our year than Lamby.

I think were all rightly upset, but don't think throwing baby out with bath water is necessary just yet and I still think McAdam has a role to play next year, and Billings has added decent depth and finished year strong most of all injury free so another pre-season into him wont hurt either. We got him for nothing! Hunter is washed, but we still have a BIG recruitment drive ahead inc chasing pick 14 or other top 20 picks and a key fwd, mid depth etc so lets see what he does and judge it all in 10mths time. 

[Ouch! 2,205]

1 hour ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Wright is going too Tasmania 

Yup, I've heard whispers that Wright is coming in to head up the football dept down here in Tas. Likely to be one of Brendan Gale's first appointments when he comes on board in the next few months. 

[spirit of norm smith 15,057]

Yes to moving on Lamb.

Yes to pursuing Wright … but I think he is going to the installed in the new Tassie FC structure 

Edited Monday at 05:59 by spirit of norm smith
Xxxx

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,482]

Yes, Wright was appointed a while ago and it was announced 5wks ago. 

You don't remove Lamb unless you have a superior option, and even if you do it is still a move that doesn't make a lot of sense for me, list is NOT our problem whatsoever, but many on here have become a little spoiled and hurt which is fine, understandable! I'm certain I'd of been the same 5, maybe 10 years ago!

No list manager could have foreseen the current challenges we face, In fact I cannot think of one contract outside of Clarry's right now (which I think will subside by round 4 next year when he is fit and healthy) that is an issue, whereas most other clubs have a multitude of those poor contracts. I also cannot think of a club that has more young talent signed up than we do!!!!

 

All players ppl take issue with cost us Zilch, McAdam is a deal that is still to be determined, atm we paid slight overs, (Nibs) but again that is still redeemable 100%.. I'd love to hear some actual reasons, genuinely curious I am missing something!

 

[mo64 5,473]

1 hour ago, Elwood 3184 said:

Why did the Houston trade fall through?

He no longer has any interest in joining us. Has spoken to 4 clubs, and we are not one of them.

[deelusions from afar 1,686]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Wright’s had enough of club land and wants to put his feet up at afl house for a while.

It’s hard to know how much blame to give our list manager.

It hasn’t been good, but we’ve had a heap of contacts on the books. We’ve also been very safe in not trading anyone out ahead of time. The guys who left were out of contract and getting big offers.

Kelly O’Donnell is listed as pro scout on our ancient website. If that’s still the case he has to go. We haven’t found a good state leaguer since Hannan and Vanders and his job is also to scout players from other state league and sides.

We got sucked in to Billings and Hunter. They were low risk, but very low reward.

Got absolutely sucked in to extending Laurie this year and extending Schache last year.

I still think McAdam was worth a go, but giving a valuable pick was stupid.

Rucks…Grundy was kind of worth a try? No harm now foul, wasn’t the list managers fault that neither Max nor Grundy ultimately committed to making it work.

Fullarton was pretty much a delisted free agent. Thinking anyone tall can ruck was a mistake, he’s so awful there. But he might have something to offer as a forward. I’d have gone hard for Jordon Sweet but I get he wanted to go home.

We are really just crying out for a couple of bargain bin finds (both recycled players and with great late picks in the draft).
 

I think the fundamental change I’d be making is to stop hanging on to so many of our own players and stop trying to fill the list in Oct and Nov. Get comfortable with more list turnover and bringing guys in through preseason. 

I reckon this is pretty on the money.

How can any of us really know how well / poor Tim Lamb has done?  I've definitely been disappointed with the output but it's hard to know where the blame lies.

As you say many of the busts were low cost.

I feel like some of the other things that have gone wrong are beyond Lamb's control:
* trading out Harmes after Jordon left and then on the eve of the Season we lose Brayshaw.

* getting Grundy and then the  match committee not getting creative with the use of two rucks (one behind play and following the ball etc) as neither are reliable forward targets.  Now which ruckman would want to come play with Max (who is the best in the game and can't play any other position)?

* how much of the decisions are based on direction from others eg last few years (we need the best wing / half forward we can get for a bag of chips who is a good kick  = Billings / Hunter)

* what key forward has been available when we have had the salary cap and trading capital?  If you were a key forward, would playing for melbourne be a great career move with our widely known issue of forward connection.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,099]

It might be time to merge all of the it's time for so and so to go threads into one so the rest of us have less to scroll past. 

[mo64 5,473]

12 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Yes, Wright was appointed a while ago and it was announced 5wks ago. 

You don't remove Lamb unless you have a superior option, and even if you do it is still a move that doesn't make a lot of sense for me, list is NOT our problem whatsoever, but many on here have become a little spoiled and hurt which is fine, understandable! I'm certain I'd of been the same 5, maybe 10 years ago!

No list manager could have foreseen the current challenges we face, In fact I cannot think of one contract outside of Clarry's right now (which I think will subside by round 4 next year when he is fit and healthy) that is an issue, whereas most other clubs have a multitude of those poor contracts. I also cannot think of a club that has more young talent signed up than we do!!!!

 

All players ppl take issue with cost us Zilch, McAdam is a deal that is still to be determined, atm we paid slight overs, (Nibs) but again that is still redeemable 100%.. I'd love to hear some actual reasons, genuinely curious I am missing something!

 

To say we have the best young talent is laughable.

And to say the failed recruits cost us zilch is incorrect. We spent all of 2023 trying to see if the Gawn/Grundy experiment would work. It didn't.  Acquiring Hunter diminished JJ's playing time and ultimately led to his departute.

Every list spot is valuable. Acquiring failed recruits like Grundy, Hunter, Schache and Billings has left us with little to no depth, or emerging talent at Casey.

[Diamond_Jim 12,345]

No way can Lamb be blamed for Grundy. That had to be an 80% Goodwin decision as the playing abilities of both Grundy and Gawn were well known to everyone and easily discoverable by game tapes and intelligence from other clubs/players.

The others are clearly in Lamb's bailiwick.

 

[Deeko2 775]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

I still think McAdam was worth a go, but giving a valuable pick was stupid.

 

I agree with all your post DeeSpencer.

Just on the McAdam pick, I don't think any of us expected our team to slide so far this year and expected a top 4 finish at the time the trade was completed.

Achieving this would have seen the capital dished out around the mid to high 30's (following compo picks) which is where the value really reflects.

I remember when our interested in him was mentioned that I had a lurk around the Crows pages.  The general vibe was they all seemed pretty upbeat on him as a player and not super keen on him going.  

On Lamb, I think this offseason will be seen as a failure already by most.  I can't see any talent really wanting to come to our club in the short term until a few well documented challenges are cleaned up.

I can see another period of delisting a few NQRs and maybe picking up a couple more NQRs.  

[The Jackson FIX 2,675]

2 hours ago, Little Richard said:

The importance this year lies in maximising our draft position so that Lamb's impact is limited and Taylor has the best opportunity of unearthing more great youngsters

This might be your priority but I think you’ll find it isn’t the clubs 

[Cranky Franky 1,814]

58 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

 

All players ppl take issue with cost us Zilch, McAdam is a deal that is still to be determined, atm we paid slight overs, (Nibs) but again that is still redeemable 100%.. I'd love to hear some actual reasons, genuinely curious I am missing something!

 

It's not about cost. It's about list management to improve player depth. We used to be good at it with Cross, Vince,Hibberd & Melksham.

The last 3 years of trading have been a train wreck & made our list worse. 

Look at Hawthorn who brought in Meek, Ginnivan, Amon & D'ambrosio for very little cost just clever trading.

Lamb should go now - don't need an enquiry.

 

[Storm Boy 339]

I'm tipping that Todd Patterson will be promoted replace Tim Lamb after the trade period is finished. 

[Adam The God 29,292]

17 minutes ago, Storm Boy said:

I'm tipping that Todd Patterson will be promoted replace Tim Lamb after the trade period is finished. 

Taking the P or real? And why after trade period?

And can you please include a riddle with your post.

Edited Monday at 08:08 by Adam The God