Apparently we're trying to lure Brett ratten

OK apparently ratten has turned down our offer

16 hours ago, dees189227 said:

OK apparently ratten has turned down our offer

Thanks for the info! Just my opinion, but dodged a bullet there.

On 19/12/2025 at 13:30, Clintosaurus said:

Yeah free Mazdas for every player. No doubt Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner now has one.

This is often cited. It wouldn't surprise me. But is it proved?

17 hours ago, dees189227 said:

OK apparently ratten has turned down our offer

Quick update...

Have we looked at Daisy?

47 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Apparently we're trying to lure Brett ratten

But he has opted to remain at Hawthorn as reported by

37 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Have we looked at Daisy?

Daisy is contracted at West Coast, but I have no doubt she was approached.

On 29/12/2025 at 10:09, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

This is often cited. It wouldn't surprise me. But is it proved?

I was speaking with a Dealer Principal of a Mazda dealership at a function and he said that he had provided Nth AFLW players with cars. And I think the wording is important - "provided with". I am assuming from his comments that Mazda still owned them and not physically given to player - therefore not coming under TTP (or AFLW equivalent) rules. They must regularly turn them over as he also said that he hated getting them back as they were usually filthy.

On 17/12/2025 at 09:34, The Taciturn Demon said:

I'd love Nev Jetta to come back to Melbourne.

He did indeed coach Fitzroy, but not the amateur team - the Fitzroy Stars, who play in the NFNL. He coached them to their first flag in a very long time: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1448112/neville-jetta-nominated-for-coach-of-the-year-at-national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-sports-awards

He still has a role at Collingwood.

I'm 100% pro-Nifty, but it helps when you're coaching a Division 3 team and can wheel Eddie Betts in as a guest player during the year*

* not at all bitter that my local team lost the Grand Final to them.

3 hours ago, Supermercado said:

I'm 100% pro-Nifty, but it helps when you're coaching a Division 3 team and can wheel Eddie Betts in as a guest player during the year*

Yeah, that's fair. And Jetta himself came straight from playing pretty good footy in the VFL.

On 16/12/2025 at 16:35, Dee in a Kilt said:

Thanks so much @Dees_In_October and for all your great Dees women's program communication.

It would be respectful to the Dees women players, program staff and MFCW members to provide communication during the process for a new coach. For the men's program, we were informed by the club who the final five in consideration and the expectation of when the final head coach decision would be made.

As far as I'm aware, we've heard crickets 🦗🦗🦗

We have a brilliant team and player leadership. MFC administration, let's give them and members the respect they deserve.

couldn't agree more, couldn't agree more

On 30/12/2025 at 10:36, Redleg said:

Have we looked at Daisy?

that would be a mere $million lure based on the WCE reports to get Daisy.

On 31/12/2025 at 12:49, stephen247 said:

I was speaking with a Dealer Principal of a Mazda dealership at a function and he said that he had provided Nth AFLW players with cars. And I think the wording is important - "provided with". I am assuming from his comments that Mazda still owned them and not physically given to player - therefore not coming under TTP (or AFLW equivalent) rules. They must regularly turn them over as he also said that he hated getting them back as they were usually filthy.

that's a rumour and if Norf are cheating then AFL would have heard about this.

14 hours ago, Anti-Saint said:

couldn't agree more, couldn't agree more

Yep, still crickets / Cicadas.

Wonder if the team is even being informed of progress (if there is any I guess)

in the world of elite sport - The Coach is vital.

With pre-pre-season training a tenet of success, what are we doing?

Please, appoint someone.

that's my say!

AS

1 hour ago, Anti-Saint said:

in the world of elite sport - The Coach is vital.

With pre-pre-season training a tenet of success, what are we doing?

Please, appoint someone.

that's my say!

AS

The pre-season in 2025 began in the 2nd week of May. That might have had a 'pre-pre-season' occupying April, I guess. With no list decisions left to be made (I think?) that a coach might want a say in, a selection not until February/March wouldn't be unreasonable?

However, are there any contracts still in the air that a coach uncertainty might be affecting?

Edited January 23Jan 23 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew
Added contracts question

With Port's coach stepping down, that's now three head coach vacancies (Richmond being the other). I doubt we'll hear much for a while, as this part of the industry is effectively shutdown at this time of year. Hopefully some unofficial workings in the background though...

From the article on Arnell stepping down:

"The next wave of coaches are likely to be drawn from the current pool of senior assistants, including Rhys Harwood (North Melbourne), Shae Sloane (Melbourne) and Glenn Strachan (Carlton), with current Power senior assistant Sam Virgo also a chance to take the next step if she opts."

5 hours ago, Dees_In_October said:

With Port's coach stepping down, that's now three head coach vacancies (Richmond being the other). I doubt we'll hear much for a while, as this part of the industry is effectively shutdown at this time of year. Hopefully some unofficial workings in the background though...

From the article on Arnell stepping down:

"The next wave of coaches are likely to be drawn from the current pool of senior assistants, including Rhys Harwood (North Melbourne), Shae Sloane (Melbourne) and Glenn Strachan (Carlton), with current Power senior assistant Sam Virgo also a chance to take the next step if she opts."

I can thelp that feels if Sloan was the one for us that would have been an easy and quick appointment to make and announce.

afl.com.au/aflw

Premiership assistant turns down rival approaches, lands...

Rhys Harwood will remain at the Roos despite interest from rival clubs

From the article: " ... Melbourne, as well as attempting to find a new AFLW coach and football boss, are also on the hunt for a list manager after Cody Baker was announced as Tasmania's first women's list boss last week."

So three vacancies to fill.

Not surprising our former head recruiter, Todd Patterson, now the inaugural Head of List Management and Strategy of the Tasmanian Devils, has headhunted Cody. Good luck to them both.

It's still anyone's guess who is going to coach the Demons AFLW team in 2026. Maybe we'll hear some news from the Coterie 2026 MFC Season Launch next Monday?

It's great that our AFLW program has been so highly regarded that our people have been sought after by other clubs, but the level of turnover over the past 18 months has been extraordinary.

Why are we not able to retain quality people in high level positions? Who are we bringing in to replace them and to ensure that the program is being properly resourced? Why is it taking so long to fill vacancies? Are we no longer considered a destination club for off field positions?

A little bit of movement at the station:

afl.com.au/aflw

Dees appoint interim head of women's footy as changes con...

Shae Sloane has been appointed as the Demons' interim head of women's football

"MELBOURNE has appointed Shae Sloane as an interim head of women's football, as the AFLW program continues to undergo a series of changes.

After the departure of Marcus Wagner in June last year, Clare Pettyfor was appointed the Demons' general manager of AFLW.

Pettyfor held the role in conjunction with her pre-existing duties as chief communications officer, and will now return to a full time focus on her media duties.

Sloane, a former player with Melbourne and ex-Australian volleyballer, has had a variety of roles with the Demons after her injury-enforced retirement at the end of 2021, primarily coaching and recruiting.

Most recently, she served as senior assistant coach to Mick Stinear, looking after the forward line, as well as head of development.

Melbourne is continuing its hunt for a new senior coach after the departure of Stinear, after chief of football and innovation Ned Guy started his role at the club earlier this month.

It's believed Sloane is unlikely to be in the running, despite having long been touted as a coach-in-waiting.

Fellow prospective senior coach Rhys Harwood also recently opted to move into program management as North Melbourne's head of women's football.

The Dees are also after a new list manager, with Cody Baker re-joining former mentor Todd Patterson at the Tasmania Devils.

AFLW pre-season will begin on May 11, with the season starting the week of August 10."

Not reported on the MFC website, but the above came through late in the day, so we'll see.

1 hour ago, Dees_In_October said:

A little bit of movement at the station:

afl.com.au/aflw

Dees appoint interim head of women's footy as changes con...

Shae Sloane has been appointed as the Demons' interim head of women's football

"MELBOURNE has appointed Shae Sloane as an interim head of women's football, as the AFLW program continues to undergo a series of changes.

After the departure of Marcus Wagner in June last year, Clare Pettyfor was appointed the Demons' general manager of AFLW.

Pettyfor held the role in conjunction with her pre-existing duties as chief communications officer, and will now return to a full time focus on her media duties.

Sloane, a former player with Melbourne and ex-Australian volleyballer, has had a variety of roles with the Demons after her injury-enforced retirement at the end of 2021, primarily coaching and recruiting.

Most recently, she served as senior assistant coach to Mick Stinear, looking after the forward line, as well as head of development.

Melbourne is continuing its hunt for a new senior coach after the departure of Stinear, after chief of football and innovation Ned Guy started his role at the club earlier this month.

It's believed Sloane is unlikely to be in the running, despite having long been touted as a coach-in-waiting.

Fellow prospective senior coach Rhys Harwood also recently opted to move into program management as North Melbourne's head of women's football.

The Dees are also after a new list manager, with Cody Baker re-joining former mentor Todd Patterson at the Tasmania Devils.

AFLW pre-season will begin on May 11, with the season starting the week of August 10."

Not reported on the MFC website, but the above came through late in the day, so we'll see.

So... Interim.

Not adding much stability or confidence really.

Can't feel good for Shae either

This is just a theory because we don’t get a lot of inside information.

Clare Pettyfor was Melbourne media manager in 2021 who decided to give footy operations a go and was booted out of Collingwood’s footy department in 18 months.

“And I don’t think, in fact, Clare’s relationship with everyone in the footy department was as good and productive as it could have been,” said Wilson.

“Specifically, some coaches, and I think there’s a level of disappointment in the way that maybe Clare was not as encouraged as well as she could have been.”

Maybe she’s also not exactly set the world on fire as head of the women’s program given her limited football experience.

Sloane with coaching, recruiting and playing experience and respect of the group seems like a good fit to head the program. And hopefully carry over the values and practices as of the Stinear era.

They might have an easier time appointing a coach with Sloane in charge.

22 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Sloane with coaching, recruiting and playing experience and respect of the group seems like a good fit to head the program. And hopefully carry over the values and practices as of the Stinear era.

They might have an easier time appointing a coach with Sloane in charge.

I really hope this is the case.

My worry (and this is my own theory with no inside info) is the big decision makers have let us rest on our laurels with the women's team, assuming the brilliant punch-above-our-weight consistency just continues forever, without acknowledging it really came from the exceptional qualities of Stinear, Hore and for a long time (Daisy) Pearce and presumably several other quiet achievers like Sloane. This meant we were (and had a reputation for being) a great place to play footy and work. We could hold on to the very best players and bring in under-appreciated or out-of-favour guns like Maddie Gay, Liv Purcell and Tayla Harris.

I know there were very particular circumstances with Eden Zanker, but her departure makes me a little bit nervous.

The fact we don't have a coach three months after Stinear resigned makes me vervous.

And what really worries me is the fact that we very often play among the best and most enjoyable-to-watch footy in the league and get fairly low crowds. It might be all we can hope for - simply a function of our supporter base's non-interest - but I think it's at least partly to do with promotion and how seriously the women's team is taken within the club. The fact we haven't had an update from the club on the coach in months is exhibit A.

At my most pessimistic, I'm concerned we might have squandered all the good work we did from the time we instituted the exhibition matches all the way through to the Premiership.

17 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

but I think it's at least partly to do with promotion and how seriously the women's team is taken within the club.

This was an issue...not sure it's been addressed but we wait and see.

PJ was instrumental in having us at the forefront of women's footy.

I hope this is not another one of his initiatives we've dropped.