Interesting post Pello and you have made good points as has BzlB.

Of the candidates you have listed, there is a significant variance in terms of their experience and proven track record. You seem to cover a broad expanse here.

I would have thought a key criteria would be for the candidate to be able the ability to demonstrate and impart a strategic focus, not only for the game plan but in the inevitable remoulding of the playing list.

Based on this, this rules our Mark Williams, Nathan Buckley and Mark Harvey for mine. If Mark Harvey had the balls to coach at senior level, he would have done it by now.

Leigh Matthews in the only candidate I can see that has demonstrated he has the experience & skill set to accomplish what is needed at the Mfc. I dare say our chances of recruiting him are remote.

Call me conservative, but to punt on an untried recently retired player will not cut it. Going but Harvey's CV he is flaky and Mark Williams would know it is a big step to move from VFL to AFL. He may be keen but for the record i'm not.

I see your points Smithmee but I do think you're conservative. You may recall Sydney tried a recently retired player who not only coached the team he played for (and therefore his former teamates) he went on to win a premiership.

We in the outer can only judge people by the way they come across in the media. Clearly Buckley is a deep thinker and seems to have a strategic brain when you listen to him on the radio making special comments. Similarly Harvey comes across as having a good footy brain and has seems to have that touch of ruthlessness that is needed.

As far as Williams is concerned he deserves consideration simply because of his impeccable record.

IMO Matthews is the man to give us the best chance at winning the big one. I agree our chances are remote but we must throw all resources at him and who knows what will happen!

You have a very good point here Pello and no doubt you've thought this one through. I guess we've all had a bit of time to do this!!

We agree Matthews has the pedigree and yes Buckley is a deep thinker.

As we all know and recognise, Buckley has the ability to rise to a challenge. If recruited for the top job, I pose a question to you. Given his age, the unfamiliar surrounds of a nomadic Mfc, a foreign culture and extremely contrasting fortunes of clubs, would he rise to challenge and embrace the tough decisions needed to move our club forward. This for me remains an unknown. His powerbase would be limited given he may not have the armory to bring in assistants to weight his cause.

My concern with Williams would be his tentativeness to 'rock the boat'. He too, would have strong associations with many within the Mfc and may be faced with having to think twice berore making difficult decisions.

Harvey would be an unknown quantity. What exactly do we know of him. We know he has chosen to remain a bridesmaid for a long while now. Whats his problem?

You have a very good point here Pello and no doubt you've thought this one through. I guess we've all had a bit of time to do this!!

We agree Matthews has the pedigree and yes Buckley is a deep thinker.

As we all know and recognise, Buckley has the ability to rise to a challenge. If recruited for the top job, I pose a question to you. Given his age, the unfamiliar surrounds of a nomadic Mfc, a foreign culture and extremely contrasting fortunes of clubs, would he rise to challenge and embrace the tough decisions needed to move our club forward. This for me remains an unknown. His powerbase would be limited given he may not have the armory to bring in assistants to weight his cause.

My concern with Williams would be his tentativeness to 'rock the boat'. He too, would have strong associations with many within the Mfc and may be faced with having to think twice berore making difficult decisions.

Harvey would be an unknown quantity. What exactly do we know of him. We know he has chosen to remain a bridesmaid for a long while now. Whats his problem?

You raise some good points Smithee. Any new coach will be confronted with the issues you raise. I originally mentioned that the man for the job must be focussed and uncomprising. I think Buckley and Harvey have those qualities and would not accept the position unless they had a comfort level that they could control the environment in which they would be operating.

It's an interesting theoretical discussion but one thing is for certain. A change must occur.

You raise some good points Smithee. Any new coach will be confronted with the issues you raise.It's an interesting theoretical discussion but one thing is for certain. A change must occur.

Cheers Pello,

If we do go a bit lateral with the next incumbent, the club will need to be right behind the change. I would say it wouldn't be so much of an issue for me if they appointed a 'known'. I also feel that it would may sit far more comfortably with the current board if a proven replacement was found.

The only experince the current board has had with key personnel is pretty much supporting and maintaining the status quo.

They are definitely faced with the unenviable but necessary task of making difficult and hard decisons. Once the decision is make, they will need to committ for the long term to make it happen.

As for the members, the will have the opportunity to see in the coming months whether this board has the mettle to steer a club through a major 'fork in the road'.

anyone considered luring Straunie? he's not getting any game time at Collingwood perhaps a stint as our coach for a year might bring in some memberships. Surely he has sat in Malthouses coaching booth for years now perhaps somethings rubbed off on him too!!!