http://footygoss.com/main/club_news/melbou...s_demons_coach/

I feel gutted Gardner and the board went for an uknown coach and just sick of our acceptance of mediocrity.

Now before you leap on me for being negative, I ask what the hell will the least known coach in the process offer the Melbourne Football Club to become a powerhouse again.

I am F$%king over the slow methodical big company like approach to select someone who I am sure can coach but will not build our brand. If no-one knew him till now, how will he help build Melbourne to the power it deserves.

We survive on dole payments from the AFL to show a decent balance sheet and a dwindling membership. Gardner spouts about profits artificially created by handouts.

I can see us in severe strife within 5 years.

Gardner is the least convincing leader whenever I see him interviewed and I have lost faith in him and the 'processes'.

If we don't shake up this list and actually think we can have a tilt at a premiership with this front running list I will screeaaammm.

Worse thing is - I can picture us having a good run next year from injuries and make top 6 with a mere top up of the list, only to fall again.

My god does anyone see the big picture? and see we as a club are looking down the barrell. How dare they overlook a man in sheedy who has built a powerhouse club, has a record so far better then Bailey its not funny, and the passion to prove he can still do it.

I am over it and gutted.

I love it how you talk about not thinking long term, yet want to appoint a coach (Sheedy) that will only last 3 years.

Interesting thoughts.

In some respects you are correct, but I do challenge a couple of points.

Yes, on one hand Sheedy is good for branding. But on the other hand, his brand is Essendon and Richmond. I mean, he spent 27 years at Essendon, and ppl still see him as half Tiger. He also hasn't done much in the past 5 years, and do we think their list is on the verge? Bc their board clearly doesn't.

In terms of the administration, I think they know what Dean Bailey offers better than we do. I don't think St Kilda has suffered by having Lyon, nor Hawthorn through Clarkson.

I reckon it's great that Riley wasn't given the job bc that was the easy out. I think Connolly would have been a disaster. I am open on bailey, and I think we all should be.

[Edit: Removed overly long quote to improve readability of the thread]

My prefernce was for Sheedy but Bailey isn't an unknown, he's been involved with some very good teams working under excellent coaches. Obviously the club has seen something special in him which we're obviously not privvy to, and at this stage that's good enough for me. However if he fails after three years then it will reflect very poorly on the club that they didn't go with Sheedy, he's under alot of pressure before he even starts.

Oh my god don't pine over Sheedy,

How do you know that Bailey is mediocre?

Interesting thoughts.

In some respects you are correct, but I do challenge a couple of points.

Yes, on one hand Sheedy is good for branding. But on the other hand, his brand is Essendon and Richmond. I mean, he spent 27 years at Essendon, and ppl still see him as half Tiger. He also hasn't done much in the past 5 years, and do we think their list is on the verge? Bc their board clearly doesn't.

In terms of the administration, I think they know what Dean Bailey offers better than we do. I don't think St Kilda has suffered by having Lyon, nor Hawthorn through Clarkson.

I reckon it's great that Riley wasn't given the job bc that was the easy out. I think Connolly would have been a disaster. I am open on bailey, and I think we all should be.

I understand what you're saying about Sheedy being a bombers or tigers man but I don't think that really matters. Barassi is a good example of that, when he went to Carlton he was a Melbourne man, he symbolised who we were, and he was very successfull regardless.

I wasn't too keen on Dean Bailey either but I trust in the decision.

Sheedy would have been my pick but I'm just an on-looker.

Let's not bag Bailey - Let's see what he can do first.

Who knows, could be the best coach of all time

I understand what you're saying about Sheedy being a bombers or tigers man but I don't think that really matters. Barassi is a good example of that, when he went to Carlton he was a Melbourne man, he symbolised who we were, and he was very successfull regardless.

But Malcolm Blight did St K more harm than good, so it works both ways.

In terms of the admin being spineless, gutless, I dispute that. They may be wrong, btu only time can tell that. It would have been much more "populist" to go for Sheeds.

I am over it and gutted.

I'm only interested in winning games of footy and appointing the best candidate for developing our list. The rest follows. Sponsors and supporters want winners. Two time premiership coach Dennis Pagan had supporters of that club in raptures 6 years ago. Look where it got them.

Like you, I've followed the Dees since the 1970's and I want success. I'm also rapt in Bailey's appointment.

Let's hope we recruit far better footballers than your namesake.

But Malcolm Blight did St K more harm than good, so it works both ways.

In terms of the admin being spineless, gutless, I dispute that. They may be wrong, btu only time can tell that. It would have been much more "populist" to go for Sheeds.

Blight was a completely different example, he's heart wasn't in coaching but the Saints chased him until he agreed. He was happy to work the media and play golf, Sheedy on the other hand is still very, very eager to continue coaching, and he hasn't been out of the game either.

I didn't say (nor do I beleive) that the admin are spineless, not sure were you got that from, or are you referring to someone else?

How do I know Bailey is mediocre?

Good question - he showed he can be a good assistant coach, so he ticks that box at Port. Was he assistant at Essendon in 2000?, here conflicting views on how big his role actually was, but anyway he seems to tick that box. Is he a better coach than Sheedy ?

Let me answer with another question - would you accept a premiership within 7 years right now? Because Sheedy's average suggest he would deliver a premiership.

Now on building the club - convince me Bailey will take this club to the next level? Because if he doesn't we will slide further back than the Kangas shortly. This is a key criteria established when they pushed Daniher to spruke more about the club. Sheedy would have been perfect for that.

Can't but feel we have outsmarted ourselves with the 100 hour process.

I am kind of disappointed by Sheeds not getting the job but at the same time would have been very nervous had he got the job. I know little of Bailey but I actually believe that the best applicant probably got the job and am thanking god that Chris Connolly wasnt chosen because that to me would have been the easiest option and shown that the club isnt serious about trying to turn itself into a power again.

I feel gutted Gardner and the board went for an unknown coach and just sick of our acceptance of mediocrity.

I am over it and gutted.

Oh, FFS. What indication in the slightest is there that Bailey is "mediocre"? He was the panel's recommendation after an exhaustive process, and he knocked off two well-known coaches for the position, one a 'legend' of the game. His presentations and game analyses were supposed to have been exceptional.

If you don't want to now throw your support behind Bailey, as far as I'm concerned you can go and get gutted ... somewhere else!

I love it how you talk about not thinking long term, yet want to appoint a coach (Sheedy) that will only last 3 years.

Bob, he could coach for 2 - 4 seasons & hand over the reins to his 2-IC for the onfield duties & sheeds could oversee the football operations & market & spruik the club @ the same time. :angry:

Your display picture is priceless!

The whispers surrounding Bailey with all those he was involved in were unanimously positive and supportive. He has had an extremely solid grounding, and Port contrary to popular belief are far from flush with money, but what they do have they use very well and they have probably an even stronger culture and identity than Essendon.

The whispers surrounding Sheeds, were very mixed (some were downright scary). He isn't a Messiah, and as the Paul Gardner Squad alluded to earlier, it isn't desirable to appoint people based on unrealistic expectation and past glory... let's see what they have to offer for the future.

All five short listed candidates had an equal chance to stake their claim in a rigourous process. If Sheeds was overlooked then we can't cry a river because we didn't get what we thought was best for the club (and quite frankly how would I or anyone else on this forum know anyway!)

Oh my god don't pine over Sheedy,

How do you know that Bailey is mediocre?

I don't think bif is complaining about Baileys coaching abilities, but rather the marketing of the club.

Your display picture is priceless!

I don't think bif is complaining about Baileys coaching abilities, but rather the marketing of the club.

You appoint a coach to coach, let's get someone else to market the club!

The whispers surrounding Bailey with all those he was involved in were unanimously positive and supportive. He has had an extremely solid grounding, and Port contrary to popular belief are far from flush with money, but what they do have they use very well and they have probably an even stronger culture and identity than Essendon.

The whispers surrounding Sheeds, were very mixed (some were downright scary). He isn't a Messiah, and as the Paul Gardner Squad alluded to earlier, it isn't desirable to appoint people based on unrealistic expectation and past glory... let's see what they have to offer for the future.

I agree with that entirely.

On Sheedy, there were some very interesting things coming out of Essendon in the negative.

I am over it and gutted.

I'm over you.

Why be so negative?

Atleast give him a year.

Atleast give him that...

I agree with you Biff! Let's just say Bailey turns out to be a great coach - so what so is Sheedy already! What Sheedy would have also brought to the table is a high profile which would have equated to more sponsporship dollars and members. Sheedy would have found innovative ways to promote the MFC and build a strong culture within the club. It is fair to say even at this very early stage that it is unlikely Bailey will be able to match all that.

As for the future Sheedy has got at least 5 years left in him and he could have spent his time mentoring his coaching panel to replace him when the time was right.

I have been a Paul Gardner supporter but this decision is the first time now that I have had doubts about his leadership and decision making abilities.

Sheedy a missed opportunity

Close, but more likely:

"Sheedy missed an opportunity" to coach us.

With his record he would clearly have started front-runner in the quest and was my preferred candidate. My take is that he just didn't present as well as the other candidates and this confirms the fears of those against Sheedy's appointment that - while he was once a great coach - HE is now over it.

Oh, FFS. What indication in the slightest is there that Bailey is "mediocre"? He was the panel's recommendation after an exhaustive process, and he knocked off two well-known coaches for the position, one a 'legend' of the game. His presentations and game analyses were supposed to have been exceptional.

What he said.

Clearly to have got the job against that calibre of opposition (and to have overcome the initial complete lack of knowledge amongst Melbourne supporters and the Victorian public/media in general) must say something about how impressive his understanding of the game and what is required as a senior coach is.

He wasn't my first choice and we probably won't know whether he's any good until at least mid 2009, but if he gets Melbourne to play the way Port Adelaide do, I'll be bloody happy.

Let's hope we recruit far better footballers than your namesake.

You are joking I hope. Biff was a great Demon who played full forward and full back and several other positions and always gave 100% for the club and his team mates. He was tough as nails and had many scalps. Many opposition players were plain scared of him. If Biff was playing when Long did the dog act on Simmonds in the 2000 GF Long would have ended up unconscious. He was one of my favourites in an ordinary side. Please don't knock Biff he deserves better.