I sent an email to Steve Harris this morning regarding the process for the selection of the new coach. I congratulated them on their thoroughness and gave some of my own opinions, which I have outlined on this forum a few times. Within an hour, and much to my surprise, Steve sent me this reply:

"Thanks the note. Is a very important decision, both in terms of team and club. Issue for any candidate, be it Sheedy or anyone else, is to look at their record (and if KS record in recent years been ard 40pc win ratio, why that the case), communications and development of younger players, capacity to work in a team environment with "we" rather than "me" ethos, empathy for sports science and innovation, capacity to build a fresh spirit/energy within the team (big priority) and club. Also weighing up the relative cost-benefits, recognising we dont just need a head coach but more resources in developoment, recruiting, technology, sports science etc etc.

It's a challenge, but the process is designed to give us the best overall result.

Regards

Steve"

Steve Harris

Chief Executive Officer

MELBOURNEfc

Tel: 03 9652 1115

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au

I was really impressed that he took the time during this incredibly busy period. I am confident that the process is in good hands and that the right decision will be made.

Thanks for posting it here Warren :D !!!

It's wonderful to hear that they've recognised the need to not only get a good senior coach, but also to build a better equipped support system around him.

Our footy department has been under-resourced for years and it's nearly impossible to achieve success this way when you're competing against interstate sides and Essendon/Collingwood.

i like the fact that they arent simply jumping at sheedy bc he is a big name.

since 2001 he has had a 40% win/loss ratio...up until then his record had been extraordinary.

why have the last 5-6 years been so average for the bombers? Especially considering they have had champion players like Hird, Lloyd, Fletcher and Lucas playing during this period. MFC doesnt have 1 chamption, Essendon have 4 yet they have still not performed well of late.

i also think sheedy's drafting has been somewhat questionable of late. for example, why pick up heffernan, cole and camporeale? my worries about this aspect have been put to rest when looking at last years drafting however. The bombers were the best performed team at drafting last year in the afl. They picked up Gumbleton, Jetta, Hislop, Davey, Houli and Riemers all in the one draft. an unbelievable effort.

i personally think sheedy should be given a go.

from my perspective, every time we look for a coach in the future, someone of the calibre of Bailey, Hardwick and Connoley will be availabel. there are probably half a dozen assistant coaches who would make fantastic senior coaches. however a legend coach like sheedy becomes available to a team like MFC once in a life-time. If he fails, we will still have the opportunity to pick up a Bailey-esk coach in the future. If he succeeds, Sheedy has the potential to rebuild our club into a dominant club in the afl. he could revamp us and change our culture and bring us premierships.

id go for sheedy personally...if not, then id go for the opposite side of the spectrum. i young promising up n comer coach in Bailey.

i personally think sheedy should be given a go.

No thx.

"however a legend coach like sheedy becomes available to a team like MFC once in a life-time."

I seem to remember 1 Ronald Dale Barrassi who was "a legend coach like barassi who became available to a team like MFC once in a life-time". He had a five year plan and that was certainly in my life time.

I still believe Sheedy is the best person for the job, and I get the sense that they will go for him or Connolly. Sheeds record since 2001 really only had the one ordinary and one terrible year (05 and 06). They were finallists in 02,03 and 04 and look like having a 50% season this year, which isn't bad after coming off 3 wins last year. When they assess the reasons why his recent record hasn't been as good as previous, they will also see that Mick Malthouse's is pretty ordinary over that time period as well. Guess which Melbourne Club has been the most successful over that period - us!Finalists in 02,04,05,06! The Pies played finals in 02,03,and 06 but had shockers in 04 and 05. None of the other Vic teams have done better. What Sheeds has managed to do is quickly rebuild without super draft picks (except last year). That will be taken into account. Lloyd missing all of last season, plus injuries to other key players will be a consideration. The fact that they lost half a dozen games by a kick with a shocking injury list will be a consideration. Of the last 15 premierships, 10 have been won by non-Victorian sides. Of the five won by Vic clubs, Sheeds has 2 of them. Pagan has 2 and the long departed Parkin has the other one. I admire the thoroughness, but I think the club would be doing itself a massive diservice to appoint anyone but Sheedy!

"Issue for any candidate, be it Sheedy or anyone else, is to look at their record (and if KS record in recent years been ard 40pc win ratio...)

Statistics and damned lies. What's the ratio in recent years if we take out 2006 which was hobbled by injury? Or more particularly, take out 2006 after Matthew Lloyd was injured following Round 1 when he kicked 6 goals in the first quarter against the reigning premier?

Statistics and damned lies. What's the ratio in recent years if we take out 2006 which was hobbled by injury? Or more particularly, take out 2006 after Matthew Lloyd was injured following Round 1 when he kicked 6 goals in the first quarter against the reigning premier?

statistics may not tell the full story, but the bombers have been average for 6 years now, and they have had 4 out-n-out champions in their side (hird,lucas,lloyd,fletcher). most clubs dream for one champion.

the question remains...y has EFC been so average over the last few years? some would justifiably argue it is because sheedy has lost his edge as a coach.

statistics may not tell the full story, but the bombers have been average for 6 years now, and they have had 4 out-n-out champions in their side (hird,lucas,lloyd,fletcher). most clubs dream for one champion.

the question remains...y has EFC been so average over the last few years? some would justifiably argue it is because sheedy has lost his edge as a coach.

The question for me is how the list is going to cope with Hird, Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher and co. moving on. None of them are spring chickens.

Statistics and damned lies. What's the ratio in recent years if we take out 2006 which was hobbled by injury? Or more particularly, take out 2006 after Matthew Lloyd was injured following Round 1 when he kicked 6 goals in the first quarter against the reigning premier?

Jack the same as he will have at Melbourne where we don't have stars like Lloyd, Hird, Fletcher or Lucas to win us games.

look at the essendon youth or lack of....

they recruited campo for crying out loud!

their early draft picks were mark bolton, kepler bradley, slattery.

our youth has much more up but we do not have the champions!

Statistics and damned lies. What's the ratio in recent years if we take out 2006 which was hobbled by injury? Or more particularly, take out 2006 after Matthew Lloyd was injured following Round 1 when he kicked 6 goals in the first quarter against the reigning premier?

You are right Jack. From the beginning of the 2002 season until this round the Bombers have played 136 games for 61 wins, 73 losses and 2 draws. If you take out the 2006 season, they have played 114 games for 58 wins, 55 losses and 1 draw. In that season Lloyd played 2 full games (for 13 goals), Fletcher missed 6 with injury, Hird missed 9 and didn't complete 2 others. Now I think it could be reasonably argued that these 3 are certainly amongst the top 4 players at Essendon (along with Lucas). I would defy any club to cope with the loss of those quality players for that period of time to do a lot better!

What Sheedy should be judged on is his ability to quickly rebound - the Dons would now be in the 8 if they hadn't blown the game against Carlton earlier in the year by 3 points. That is a significant turnaround - bettered only by Geelong this year in terms of number of wins this year compared to last. He is the most influential football person of the last 30 years and has the presence to make an immediate and positive impact for us!

why have the last 5-6 years been so average for the bombers? Especially considering they have had champion players like Hird, Lloyd, Fletcher and Lucas playing during this period. MFC doesnt have 1 chamption, Essendon have 4 yet they have still not performed well of late.

Hmm, would our captain not count as a champion player?

Hmm, would our captain not count as a champion player?

Well if Lucas is considered a champion, then Neita should definitely be listed as a champion.

Hmm, would our captain not count as a champion player?

No. A champion to Melbourne supporters maybe. But in the scheme of things, he certainly isn't a champion of the game.

No. A champion to Melbourne supporters maybe. But in the scheme of things, he certainly isn't a champion of the game.

WHAT?!?! two time all australian, coleman medalist, captain of over 150 games, grand final captain, leading goal kicker SEVEN times, twice international rules representative, Stage of Origin, not to mention an amazing role model for the game of AFL

If Lucas and Fletcher are champions, then there can be no argument against the fact that David Neitz is also.

Fletcher - star

Lucas - very good player

Neitz - very good player

Neitz is a champion of the club, but not a star of the game. Lucas is not a champion of his club.

Lloyd, Hird and Fletcher are all stars.

Maybe we should ask ourselves who made Hird, LLyod, Fletcher and lucas Champions. Then employ that person to make the likes of Green, Bruce, Davey and Jones into Champions.

Nearly all Players in the AFL have Talent but so few become champions.

Lloyd, Hird and Fletcher are all stars.

herein lies the question regarding Sheedy.

At a success rate of 40% over the last 5 years, with an out and out champion in Hird carrying the team ( even this year he has won them 3 games on his own), what does this really mean about Sheedy's ability with, dare I say it, an ordinary team.

I'm not convinced he's the answer .

Hird is a Super star the rest are champions, fletcher possibly more so than the other 2.

herein lies the question regarding Sheedy.

At a success rate of 40% over the last 5 years, with an out and out champion in Hird carrying the team ( even this year he has won them 3 games on his own), what does this really mean about Sheedy's ability with, dare I say it, an ordinary team.

I'm not convinced he's the answer .

Thanks Warren for the insightful email from Steve Harris