On 03/10/2025 at 12:01, dazzledavey36 said:

... as forwards coach.

Really need to hang onto Troy.

2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Really need to hang onto Troy.

Given he's contracted, I wonder whether this is about having flexibility for King - if he can bring in all the people he wants, we let him go but if not we hold on to him for a year?

Jeepers, Hamill? 😬

I spent 5 minutes looking for that grimacing meme, but anyway, that's the thinking.

Was at St Kilda through ordinary times and was defensive coach at Carlton, a team who couldn't defend.

56 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Makes sense to assemble a coaching staff of those that are follically challenged .Can’t tear their hair out over our disposal and forward entries. Chaplin out and Cam Bruce in. I myself could sue the Melbourne football club over hair loss.

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Dee Viney Intervention

5 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Jeepers, Hamill? 😬

I spent 5 minutes looking for that grimacing meme, but anyway, that's the thinking.

Was at St Kilda through ordinary times and was defensive coach at Carlton, a team who couldn't defend.

This is how I’m feeling about the whole situation we’re in.

I was hopeful that whoever was named as Head Coach would already have had at least their 2IC lined up.

Maybe King already has and they are waiting for the right time? Or still searching?

Names thrown up so far are Bartel, Scarlett and now Hamill.

25 minutes ago, Roy Boy said:

I was hopeful that whoever was named as Head Coach would already have had at least their 2IC lined up.

Maybe King already has and they are waiting for the right time? Or still searching?

Names thrown up so far are Bartel, Scarlett and now Hamill.

bartel is potentially footy dept / board conduit

scarlett would be part-time defensive coach

From AFL.com.au

DEMONS EYE FORMER BLUES, SAINTS ASSISTANT

MELBOURNE has expressed interest in adding experienced assistant coach Aaron Hamill to Steven King’s coaching panel for 2026. 

The Demons are currently looking for a backline coach to replace Nathan Bassett after he decided to return to South Australia after one season for family reasons. 

Hamill has been coaching since the end of 2011, spending the past four seasons at Carlton under Michael Voss. 

The former St Kilda captain coached team defence at the Blues, but was part of the widespread changes at Princes Park in the off-season. 

Before Hamill returned to Carlton, where he played 92 games before his high-profile trade to St Kilda in 2000, he spent 10 years as an assistant coach at the Saints, working as a line coach with Scott Watters, Alan Richardson and Brett Ratten. 

Hamill could now reunite with Richardson, who is now Melbourne’s GM of football.

The Demons loom as one of the most active players in this year’s trade period, but are also remodelling the football department after replacing Simon Goodwin with King. 

Collingwood has offered current forwards coach Troy Chaplin a role as forwards coach in Craig McRae’s coaching panel after the long-time assistant stepped in as Melbourne caretaker coach following Simon Goodwin’s departure. 

Chaplin is contracted for 2026 and the Demons don’t want to lose the highly rated assistant coach.

Hamill is not instilling much excitement or confidence, sorry.

2 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Hamill is not instilling much excitement or confidence, sorry.

Yep.

I barely remember the name so clearly he isn’t one of the big names.

What about any of the other people who got interviews?

3 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Yep.

I barely remember the name so clearly he isn’t one of the big names.

What about any of the other people who got interviews?

They want to be coaches or assistants at big successful clubs that will get them noticed.

1 minute ago, Lefty said:

They want to be coaches or assistants at big successful clubs that will get them noticed.

Sounds like we are going to get the worst coaches and players available this period.

I look at the other clubs and it’s obvious they’ll fly and it’s obvious we will be at the bottom again.

King has already stopped saying we will contending for finals and now says “we have to have that as a goal”

Maybe we just aren’t an attractive proposition as an assistant coach.

Can’t see James Kelly or Brendan Lade leaving their current roles after missing out.

2 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Sounds like we are going to get the worst coaches and players available this period.

I look at the other clubs and it’s obvious they’ll fly and it’s obvious we will be at the bottom again.

King has already stopped saying we will contending for finals and now says “we have to have that as a goal”

King is an unknown and could potentially turn us around but he does not have the gravitas to be able to polish this [censored] and sell it as fine dining.

Good news we are holding Troy to his contract. He’ll be gone next season but King needs some stability around him in his first year.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Nathan Bassett decided to return to South Australia after one season for family reasons.

Landing the gig as coach of West Adelaide is a family reason?

Gotta wonder why the AFL/MFC would choose to spin it like this.

I'm still holding out hope that King has someone senior up his sleeve to get on board... but that's looking less likely. I think externally we look like a risky proposition - a bit of a catch 22 position in that if we landed a big name then Bailey Humphrey might be more likely to push to come to us or if we land BH then a senior assistant might be prepared to get onboard.

There are clearly some assistants that are better than others... but I remember after 2021 the Cats changed over all their coaching assistants and none of the names seemed great on paper - they won the flag the next year.

I think the key thing is showing promise next year - an exicting game style, unified players and potential from young players. Then we will have players and coaches etc wanting to get on board. The media has been focused on our off field issues for a few years now. It's why Trac and Oliver are free to explore options as while they are at the club we won't get clear air.

I just hope they have some one to take choco's spot. Senior to high level coach involved in premierships to add experience and support in specialised areas, rather than a line coach. Hammil doesn't fit that.

1 minute ago, stinga said:

I just hope they have some one to take choco's spot. Senior to high level coach involved in premierships to add experience and support in specialised areas, rather than a line coach. Hammil doesn't fit that.

That position has already been filled.

Taylor Whitford

Confirmed that Chaplin has turned down Collingwood to remain at the club.

1 minute ago, Dannyz said:

Confirmed that Chaplin has turned down Collingwood to remain at the club.

There is at least some good news in this [censored] show.