10 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I don’t agree with any of this.

You only had to look on here to see how many didn’t understand why we traded Oliver, or are upset about him/Trac, or still think it should have been “no Humphrey, no Trac”.

And regardless, it’s absolutely the right thing to do for the club to acknowledge that we’ve just traded two future MFC hall of famers.

The point of the letter wasn’t to tell us something we didn’t already know. It was to acknowledge something meaningful happened, and to put a full stop behind it.

It's not about the acknowledgement of their departures that I'm frustrated with, that was necessary.

It's the constant silver linings and reaching for positives that I and many others I've spoken to are getting a bit tired of. Do we need a spiel on the calibre of new players we attracted as like it's a St Kilda haul? Two guys are in their twilight, one has played 4 games and one is injured all the time.

Do we need to highlight what we received in the Petracca trade when it was a win for both clubs and what you would expect from a club doing their job? Are we really going to play this angle up and then go radio silent on what we received for Oliver?

This is nothing against Paul Guerra and I've been very impressed with his start. However after receiving all kinds of letters and communication for 2+ years now the talk is getting cheap. After a lot of mismanagement I'm not going to give the club a biscuit every time they do something right.

Glad that they addressed it but now let's move forward into a new era where we act like a successful club should and not be focused on individuals. The club trumps all.

10 hours ago, Nietaphart said:

Whilst I appreciate the sentiment and positivity The fact we have lost two players who should have, could have been one club premier players, still hurts.

But I understand Guerra is not responsible for the past. Too early to take on the reality of this and not see this with a grain of salt 😪

This is not incorrect, however these two players also must shoulder a bit of the responsibility too for why we didn't achieve sustained success either.
We get the premiership, they got very lucrative long term deals (deservedly so) but I wouldnt' say that they went on with their careers from that point. Traccs kicking was always iffy, Clayton with his difficulties set his career back 2 years, and had to rebuild again, and both had off field distractions, and I wish them well, they were mighty for our club, but not without flaws either.

Note: Not saying the club handled things fantastically thru that period either.

Edited Wednesday at 22:151 day by Ouch!

7 hours ago, hardtack said:

The part of the letter that I find a bit dodgy, is the bit I’ve quoted, regarding Clarrie… requested? Really?

Takes me back to the old Bellbird days…Charlie Cousins, did he fall, or was he pushed?

(oh, and Andy, you may want to consider a minor change to the post’s title 😉)

New coach wanted him to be able to play multiple roles, I think Clarrie spat the dummy when he heard that, so lets not kid ourselves that he also has not contributed to this as well.

8 hours ago, BoBo said:

Is every supporter, on here, though? It felt like it was just his official bookend to an era to me 🤷‍♂️

Exactly this.

Yes we're all tragics in here but there's a lot more out there... This was in a fashion a pure meat and 3 veg statement. Nothing earth shatteringly new but for some it might be comforting reading motherhood mutterings from time to time.

He's just crossing and ticking.

And it's done.

Now about that temp training ground idea.....

Edited Wednesday at 22:151 day by beelzebub
sp

11 hours ago, DutchDemons said:

Fresh start on the field and off the field. I’m excited about 2026. Even if it ends up being a full on rebuild at least we won’t have that banging the head against the wall making the same mistakes over and over again feeling.

I feel exactly the same. 24/25 it was clear 2021 strategy and players declining wasn't going to turn around

Demonland =/= all Melbourne supporters.

CEO letter is a weird thing to nit pick

Edited Wednesday at 23:341 day by JTR

Just watched his new video. Great messaging and respectful throughout. Were onto a winner

Never thought id see the day where transparency and clear communication was criticised.

Our corporate leadership has been far too timid and uncommunicative for too long.

We should all be very pleased with how Guerra has started especially given the trainwreck our front office has been for the last couple of years.

If this guy can even walk just 10% of his talk, then we’re going places.

Onto solving our home base Paul 👊

spoke very well, was respectful to trac & Oliver, like how he said can’t win 21 again & looking to next flag…perhaps the 1st time of heard our CEO speak so well since Jackson

46 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Death knell for Richo, surely. Why don't we have the head of footy discussing list management? The CEO shouldn't be anywhere near this.

Someone will write the real story of the post 2021 Premiership shambles one day.

It will be a riveting read

7 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Death knell for Richo, surely. Why don't we have the head of footy discussing list management? The CEO shouldn't be anywhere near this.

Jeez I hope so

But also appreciate Paul’s willingness to be open and communicative with members

11 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Death knell for Richo, surely. Why don't we have the head of footy discussing list management? The CEO shouldn't be anywhere near this.

Cam Schwab vibes.

19 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No he shouldn't have.

Its been well communicated already right from the very start from Steven King to Tim Lamb. Every supporter on here knew the plan all along and why they were being traded.

Guerra said nothing that we already didnt know.

It's really fine for him to communicate club strategy. Even if he is just reiterating stuff we know it's good to have every level of the club singing from the same hymn book.

16 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Death knell for Richo, surely. Why don't we have the head of footy discussing list management? The CEO shouldn't be anywhere near this.

Head of football isn't a forward-facing job. CEO is the face of the club, and given the scope of the changes it's understandable that he should front up. Remembering also that the mail-out was only to members. This is aimed at the GP and wider supporter base - at a time when memberships are due to be renewed.

14 minutes ago, Davos said:

Cam Schwab vibes.

Nothing like that.

13 minutes ago, KozzyCan said:

Nothing like that.

Counting down to the revival of Whiteboard Wednesdays.

Yes he should have communicated, no he shouldn’t.

I think that covers everything.

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Head of football isn't a forward-facing job. CEO is the face of the club, and given the scope of the changes it's understandable that he should front up. Remembering also that the mail-out was only to members. This is aimed at the GP and wider supporter base - at a time when memberships are due to be renewed.

I can't recall a CEO discussing list management except Cameron Schwab.

Usually it's Tim Lamb, Josh Mahoney or Alan Richardson.

How many times has it been said now that Guerra has no footy experience?

I know Greeny is a poor media performer, but I assume Guerra has taken over his spot for media appearances.

I don't really care what Guerra thinks. He's not a football guy and he's doing a hard sell in this video anyway. I do care what Tim Lamb thinks. I'd much rather content from him directed to a Melbourne audience, rather than just trade radio appearances and pressers.

6 hours ago, Adam The God said:

I can't recall a CEO discussing list management except Cameron Schwab.

Essendon, Swans and St Kilda CEO's have been discussing list management/the trade period in the last 24 hours.

8 hours ago, Adam The God said:

I can't recall a CEO discussing list management except Cameron Schwab.

Usually it's Tim Lamb, Josh Mahoney or Alan Richardson.

How many times has it been said now that Guerra has no footy experience?

I know Greeny is a poor media performer, but I assume Guerra has taken over his spot for media appearances.

I don't really care what Guerra thinks. He's not a football guy and he's doing a hard sell in this video anyway. I do care what Tim Lamb thinks. I'd much rather content from him directed to a Melbourne audience, rather than just trade radio appearances and pressers.

So the CEO of a footy club shouldn't talk about footy

He doesn't have any experience securing home bases so i guess he shouldn't talk about Caulfield either

He wouldn't be involved in actual list decisions other than as part of board ratification. He's a good communicator though. And we have not had good communicators for a while. I think his role here is delivering the message to the membership. which is perfectly fine for the CEO to do imo.

21 hours ago, Ouch! said:

New coach wanted him to be able to play multiple roles, I think Clarrie spat the dummy when he heard that, so lets not kid ourselves that he also has not contributed to this as well.

No one here actually believes that right? As if Oliver would storm out and get all fired up and say he likes Collingwood more than us if his coach simply asked him to work on multiple roles. This is the guy who reportedly put his own hand up to play a few tagging roles in 2025 and spent a decent amount of time starting on the flanks in the first half of the year.

He was 100% pushed for reasons most of us won’t fully understand despite what the formal comms says. The club can’t exactly come out and say anything about off field stuff.

I hope this guy does a remarkable job for us but I just don’t like him.