Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Caretakers Role

Guest wheres_jacka
Guest wheres_jacka
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

I beleive that the caretakers role is greatly undervalued. Look at neil Craig and Roos, they were caretakers who have gone onto bigger and much better things. Especially Roos. Why did we give the job to Riley? He is no chance to be there next year as he is part of the spuds currently running the show. My question is: Why not Mark Williams?

  • Quote
    •  

    Because Mark Williams will be coaching Sandy? He isn't officially an MFC coach, and I'm not even sure if he's technially a member of staff.

    Riley's probably the coach on our staff with the best credentialls, with senior experience and a few years behind him as an assistant. He's the logical choice.

  • Quote

    Perhaps a caretaker such as Riley fits into the club's development plans for the rest of the season.

    I can't imagine a coach on trial for the senior role in 08 wanting to play blokes like Buckley and Newton and risking potential heavy defeats. He would want to get wins on the board to put his name forward. This is not consistent with what's best for the club for the remainder of the year.

    Riley has no pressure. He can play young guys and look to the future without the consequences that a coach on trial would face.

  • Quote
    •  
    Because Mark Williams will be coaching Sandy? He isn't officially an MFC coach, and I'm not even sure if he's technially a member of staff.

    Riley's probably the coach on our staff with the best credentialls, with senior experience and a few years behind him as an assistant. He's the logical choice.

    Yep, Riley has been there the longest, knows our list well I would imagine and so is best for the job.

    I love how people just assume that Mark Williams will get up and leave Sandy to take over at Melbourne.

    He is already coaching and he has a duty of care to the Sandringham Football Club. To expect him to leave them mid-season just to take over at Melbourne for 10 weeks is moronic.

    He has a job, and while many will say "oh but it's only VFL", it is still his job and one which he takes very seriously.

    I'm sure he wants to win another flag this year, not try and clean up the mess at Melbourne.

  • Quote

    out of interest, the head coach at sandy, mark williams, would that be his full time job? like it would be if he was an mfc coach? because if it is a 2 trainings a weeks plus some other stuff type job well its a big step from vfl to afl. don't get me wrong, im not trying to diss mark, im just interested thats all...

  • Quote
    out of interest, the head coach at sandy, mark williams, would that be his full time job? like it would be if he was an mfc coach? because if it is a 2 trainings a weeks plus some other stuff type job well its a big step from vfl to afl. don't get me wrong, im not trying to diss mark, im just interested thats all...

    It's a full time job.

  • Quote
    Yep, Riley has been there the longest, knows our list well I would imagine and so is best for the job.

    I love how people just assume that Mark Williams will get up and leave Sandy to take over at Melbourne.

    He is already coaching and he has a duty of care to the Sandringham Football Club. To expect him to leave them mid-season just to take over at Melbourne for 10 weeks is moronic.

    He has a job, and while many will say "oh but it's only VFL", it is still his job and one which he takes very seriously.

    I'm sure he wants to win another flag this year, not try and clean up the mess at Melbourne.

    Anyway back to the topic, why cant he do both? He would have an assistant at Sandy He is MFC employed. I am not assuming he will be first choice, but surely he know the development of our players better than most and has a "winning culture" attitude with the players similar to Pagan had before he began at North.

  • Quote
    •  
    I beleive that the caretakers role is greatly undervalued. Look at neil Craig and Roos, they were caretakers who have gone onto bigger and much better things. Especially Roos. Why did we give the job to Riley? He is no chance to be there next year as he is part of the spuds currently running the show. My question is: Why not Mark Williams?

    Has Rile been given the role?? When?

  • Quote
    And if Melbourne and Sandy play on the same day.........

    Melb would be number 1 obviously. He will have Sandy job in Sept.

  • Quote

    It's a full time job.

    how does it get paid compared to an afl coach? and is the job similar?

  • Quote
    And if Melbourne and Sandy play on the same day.........

    He coaches one by video phone / carrier pigeon depending on what we can afford.

  • Quote
    I beleive that the caretakers role is greatly undervalued. Look at neil Craig and Roos, they were caretakers who have gone onto bigger and much better things. Especially Roos. Why did we give the job to Riley? He is no chance to be there next year as he is part of the spuds currently running the show. My question is: Why not Mark Williams?

    How the hell can you call Riley a "spud"......you would have no idea about his coaching credentials, his role within the footy dept, his relationship with players, or how much control Daniher had on decisions, and what input Riley had.

    They just had Brad Wirra who has played under Riley at Claremont on SEN earlier and he said he was a fantastic coach!

    Give the guy a break!

  • Quote
    Perhaps a caretaker such as Riley fits into the club's development plans for the rest of the season.

    I can't imagine a coach on trial for the senior role in 08 wanting to play blokes like Buckley and Newton and risking potential heavy defeats. He would want to get wins on the board to put his name forward. This is not consistent with what's best for the club for the remainder of the year.

    Riley has no pressure. He can play young guys and look to the future without the consequences that a coach on trial would face.

    Are we sure that Riley isn't a candidate for the job in 2007? If he thinks he is a chance, might he do the same as other potential coaches? hope not

    If i remember correctly, Greg Hutchison applied for the full-time role at season end. Didn't get it, and left the club

  • Quote
    and I'm not even sure if he's technially a member of staff.

    He is the MFC Junior Development Officer, or something of the like...

  • Quote

    • Archived

    This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: 2026 Opening Round

      Finally the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us. While Melbourne sits out Opening Round, there is still plenty of footy to enjoy with five non-MFC clashes to kick off the new season. It all begins on Thursday night with a blockbuster at the SCG as Sydney hosts Carlton in what should be a strong early test for both sides. On Friday night, Gold Coast gets its chance to open the season in front of a home crowd when the Suns and Christian Petracca take on Geelong at People First Stadium. Saturday features a double-header, starting in the afternoon with Greater Western Sydney and Clayton Oliver meeting the Hawks at Engie Stadium. That is followed on Saturday night by Brisbane Lions hosting the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, with the Lions embarking on their campaign to win the Threepeat. Opening Round wraps up on Sunday night at the MCG, where St Kilda takes on Collingwood in the only game in town in the first week of the season. There is no shortage of storylines across the round, so discuss all the action from the non-MFC games of Opening Round.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 38 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: St. Kilda

      With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG. What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 102 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      Mars is not usually a place known for lighting strikes but on Friday evening it happened twice in the vicinity of the stadium in Ballarat that carries the name and is a half completed building site with limited capacity for spectators.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Richmond

      The Dees ran another clinic for the second week in a row as they easily accounted for the Tigers in the lightning interrupted shortened match at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 118 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Richmond

      Kozzy Pickett was the man of the match last week and has a vote lead over backup ruck Max Heath who didn't play this week and 5 votes over former Saint Jack Steele. Who gets the votes in this weeks shortened match win over the Tigers? Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Like
      • 15 replies
      Demonland

    • GAMEDAY: Richmond

      It's Game Day and the 2026 AFL Premiership season is almost upon us as the Demons take to the field for their final practice match before the first ball is kicked in anger in 16 days time. What are you expecting to see from the Dees today as they take on the Tigers at Mars Stadium in Ballarat?

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 337 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.