We didn’t have a conga live of candidates knocking on the door so we had to accept what we could get CEO wise.

I hate to admit it but we are not an attractive proposition

Well, Caro is being Caro. The article is titled an OPINION piece, take it for what it is her opinion. The title "The fractured football club behind Melbourne’s eight seconds of madness" is full of statements, not verifiable facts, none of which explain why we stuffed up in the last 8 seconds, which is what the title implied.

That loss was poor coaching, poor on-field management and no composure under pressure, which has been there all year. Max admitted that we have lost 5 close games this year because we haven't managed the last 2 minutes. Why doesn't Caro mention that the midfield coach, Nathan Jones (who I don't like criticising), was appointed with no experience or coaching qualifications? Does anyone believe we have improved our midfield or adapted to a new game style? I think this is where a lot of the problems start

In my work history, twice I was acting in a vacant, very senior role, as was my director. I resent the implication that temporary or caretaker roles don't get the job done. We achieved more as acting seniors and introduced change without fear of favour. To imply that Chippendale or Green are lame ducks unable to manage because they are temporary is both insulting and bulltish.

It does help to know whose contracts are up for renewal, and on performance, I suspect some of those expiring contracts will not be renewed. Goodwin alone is not responsible for every malady this team has suffered. I would defy Caro on the morale bit. Anybody who has attended a player function or meet and greet would see the group are as tight as any team I have seen. They support each other and dare I say it, share the love. Again, a cheap shot from Caro with no supporting evidence.

That Steve Smith goes to the trouble of video conferencing in from Europe is a positive in my view. Guerra may not be in the chair, but I bet he is fed in on everything occurring while he he contractually bound to his old post. Keith Thomas shot himself in the foot, posting, and again, there is no evidence that he would be the best fit for the job.

Change is coming; that is inevitable. Do we stage the changes, see out contracts and manage the change over a 3-5 year period or throw all the toys out of the sand pit hoping we can change everything overnight? There is rarely ever a quick fix, especially sacking the coach.

Demons have gone from most professional club in the amateur era of VFL - 1965! To the most amateur club in the professional era 1965 onwards, and now AFL!

Hopefully Smith as President and Guerra as CEO can do something about this inbuilt mindset.

At present 2021 was an aberration, albeit a fantastic one!

Put link into archive.is to read paywalled things.

58 minutes ago, sue said:

I think it's more than a bit of nothing. By bringing up the runner-welfare duplication role Wilson show she enjoys putting the boot in regardless of relevance. In fact as I wrote above, you could well argue it is a good thing to combine the roles. But she implies the opposite just to sink the boot in.

That casts doubt on everything she says about anything, not just MFC. I'm not saying we are not in a mess etc, but as a general policy, I'd look at everything she says as liable to have been twisted or exaggerated to support whatever case she is making.

Nah, she's spot on with what she's saying.

The whole thing is a disgrace and it was rubber stamped by the members..

The idea that Caroline is sinking the boots in 8j that article is off the mark.

To be honest, if anything she went easy.

I mean she left a couple of easy wacks on the table.

Darren Shand was supposedly hired to lead cultural improvement and drive leadersip yet caro didn't make the obvious point that the efficacy of that work is at the very least in question.

And she mentions Pert and the home base, but gave him and the club a complete pass on the fact he was supposedly staying at the club to drive that project and 6 months lager we appear no closer to it being landed.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by binman

I have done a bit of personal hiring in my career and for management positions I always choose the candidate who won’t be available for 6 months!

it's basically a laundry list of issues without any actual thread to tie it together

it is a very, very long laundry list of issues tho, that's for sure

Rubbish article. Pretty sure our comms officer is Max.

2 hours ago, Older demon said:

Nathan Jones (who I don't like criticising), was appointed with no experience or coaching qualifications? Does anyone believe we have improved our midfield or adapted to a new game style? I think this is where a lot of the problems start

Jones was appointed because of his relationship with the players and midfield group. Perhaps not the smartest move in terms of football, but as an attempt to heal wounds and get people back on board, perhaps worth a try. Whether he stays on ... difficult to see, but none of us outside the club know.

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Things I learnt from the article

• Pettyfor, appointed as Comms Executive, is taking up a dual role as head of football for AFLW including list management. The previous incumbent in that role also took up a role in the AFL FD

• Williams and Griffiths are out of contract at end of season

• Our media boss was in charge of babysitting Clarry over 23/24 summer when he went off the rails. During that period Oliver was "undergoing direct and regular intervention from the AFL’s mental health team, league chiefs, AFLPA bosses and Pert."

• Richardson is contracted to end of next year

  Known

• Shand was at Monday's Board meeting

  Reported previously

• Williams is one of the highest paid development coaches in the league

  Line in the article says “probably” - she’s guessing

Standard Caro, throws a lot of mud to see what sticks. Don’t think as many pick up the phone when she calls now as used to be the case..

53 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Jones was appointed because of his relationship with the players and midfield group. Perhaps not the smartest move in terms of football, but as an attempt to heal wounds and get people back on board, perhaps worth a try. Whether he stays on ... difficult to see, but none of us outside the club know.

We couldn't create a seperate position for him? Friendship Coordinator?

It’s damning if true and when will our club ever learn from its history of poor decisions & lack of leadership! We just have so many issues across the footy dept & ceo level

8 hours ago, binman said:

Our runner is also our welfare officer creating a potential conflict of interest (my example - telling a young bloke he is being subbed).

Never seen a bigger reach. We won a flag with the same set up.

Ahhhhh Caro, never anything to write about a club except when they are going bad.

Her, Damo and Hutchy are a stain on the earth, ambulance chasers who don’t care about the game, just the next worst story they can write. No wonder she always looks like a sour person, never has anything good to say.

8 hours ago, binman said:

The breakdown in on field leadership in the last seconds was symbolic of our club wide lleadership problems.

We are a rabble off field.

We appoint a CEO in April who can't start until September.

Our comms director is covering 2 non related roles, including AFLW.

Our runner is also our welfare officer creating a potential conflict of interest (my example - telling a young bloke he is being subbed).

The acting CEO went for the job and didn't get it. Not ideal given he is an acting role for 5 months, particularly given our poor onfield performance.

Despite green pushing back on the idea he is an interim president, it is widely assumed he is keeping the seat warm for Smith, who is tipped to assume the seat. In September.

Its been left to Goody and Maxy to carry the can all season, just as it was post match on Sunday.

Spot on binman you have been saying similar for a while. In some ways I feel a little sorry for The coach. It appears no back up from above HO.

7 hours ago, sue said:

Yes the club is in a mess - I'd say that even if the CEO/Board etc were perfect - playing badly is what matters most and that's what we've been doing.

But typical C Wilson. She looks to put the boot in from every angle, however absurd. For example:

"An even stranger double-up was the move to use player development manager Reece Conca as a runner on match days, a clear conflict given he was delivering instructions to players at the same time as he was also responsible for their welfare."

Even stranger?? You could argue that the welfare manager(with footy experience) is the perfect person to be the runner. A person without current experience in that role is more liable to cause damage than one who knows the welfare situation of each player.

C. Wilson has been contacted for comment. (Actually she hasn't, but what a slimey line she repeatedly uses.)

Agre. Filled wot

1 hour ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

• Richardson is contracted to end of next year

  Known

• Shand was at Monday's Board meeting

  Reported previously

• Williams is one of the highest paid development coaches in the league

  Line in the article says “probably” - she’s guessing

Standard Caro, throws a lot of mud to see what sticks. Don’t think as many pick up the phone when she calls now as used to be the case..

Agree. This is tired, tendentious gossip/opinion from a very tired journalist long past her use- by date. She may be one of the better football journalists. Doesn't say much...they're a bunch of mediocrities, and not just the tabloid mob. The Age journos are C graders. All of them.

Caro likes pushing the extremes. I like Lethals analogy better, nothing is ever as bad or as good as it seems.

In fairness to Caro though it is clear the club needs to clean up some on a and off field issues.

But winning cures everything.

19 minutes ago, Golden fist said:

Caro likes pushing the extremes. I like Lethals analogy better, nothing is ever as bad or as good as it seems.

In fairness to Caro though it is clear the club needs to clean up some on a and off field issues.

But winning cures everything.

since time immemorial

agree with everything you said

6 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Things I learnt from the article

• Richardson is contracted to end of next year

• Shand was at Monday's Board meeting

• Pettyfor, appointed as Comms Executive, is taking up a dual role as head of football for AFLW including list management. The previous incumbent in that role also took up a role in the AFL FD

• Williams is one of the highest paid development coaches in the league

• Williams and Griffiths are out of contract at end of season

• Our media boss was in charge of babysitting Clarry over 23/24 summer when he went off the rails. During that period Oliver was "undergoing direct and regular intervention from the AFL’s mental health team, league chiefs, AFLPA bosses and Pert."

Yep, earth shattering stuff

Hopefully this article puts to bed any [censored] assumptions that I often see that Geelong are only good because of their home ground advantage. If it was that easy, how come they went 11 years between Chris Scott flags?

They are a destination club because they are a well run club. “Lifestyle” is merely a bonus.

Many don’t like to admit it, but I envy Geelong a lot. Should look to bring in more of their people into the club. Tom Hawkins is one person I would look to as a part time goal kicking coach. His expert analysis on Fox is first class, particularly when it comes to the nuances in forward craft. Steve Johnson is another who had done a lot of good with the Sydney coaching ranks.

Bartel is the other we shouldn’t give up on. Director of footy would be ideal.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by VNightCityLegend

9 hours ago, binman said:

Our runner is also our welfare officer creating a potential conflict of interest (my example - telling a young bloke he is being subbed).

I rarely disagree with much you say Binman, but as I've argued, the best person to tell a young bloke he is being subbed is the welfare office since he should know all about that players's circumstances and how to best deliver the news.

2 minutes ago, sue said:

I rarely disagree with much you say Binman, but as I've argued, the best person to tell a young bloke he is being subbed is the welfare office since he should know all about that players's circumstances and how to best deliver the news.

Not even weighing in on if it is/isn’t a good call, what’s the problem with a runner being a welfare officer?

I don’t understand what the issue is and any explanation would be appreciated

1 minute ago, BoBo said:

Not even weighing in on if it is/isn’t a good call, what’s the problem with a runner being a welfare officer?

I don’t understand what the issue is and any explanation would be appreciated

No problem. Just C Wilson was so keen to put the boot in she kicked an own goal IMO by raising this.

The day that melbourne FC do anything right (without Wilson's approval) should go down in history. She has rarely if ever made anything positive re the MFC. So should be ignored.