THE HS view on Melbourne

[Satan 2,872]

Demons lost a coach and respect last year. It won't happen again

[Whispering_Jack 30,242]

Demons lost a coach and respect last year. It won't happen again

While the basic premise of the article is sound in that it explains in part what went wrong with Melbourne in 2007, it worries me that this sort of thing is being said about the club in terms of its prospects for 2008. The injuries and other excuses tend to become a convenient crutch to mask other areas that need to be improved upon massively for the club to prosper this year. Let's hope that Dean Bailey, the coaching panel and the players are on top of this because we've seen little evidence of anything new and dramatic so far in the pre season.

[TonyMelb 7]

While the basic premise of the article is sound in that it explains in part what went wrong with Melbourne in 2007, it worries me that this sort of thing is being said about the club in terms of its prospects for 2008. The injuries and other excuses tend to become a convenient crutch to mask other areas that need to be improved upon massively for the club to prosper this year. Let's hope that Dean Bailey, the coaching panel and the players are on top of this because we've seen little evidence of anything new and dramatic so far in the pre season.

Agree with both the Article and your observations WJ. Looking for some clear signs that approach and attitude have changed.

[beelzebub 23,380]

I dont think you need to be a genius, literary or otherwise to have come up with the reasonably sound observations as per article ( and sister video with ralph lane ) . It just repackages the basic elements as observed by most here.

Move along..nothig new as it were.

I will suggest that we have indeed seen evidence ofsomething different. Bailey is prepared to try a few blokes in unconventional roles to geta sense of what else they might have as strings to bows. He's put them out of comfort zones. Hes also beentesting the reflexing of other coaches.. This is so far removed from the Preacher's methods you can hardly put them on the same page.

We know the team isnt perfect, we know that some are stilll getting old, we still know that mask it, talk it up all you like that some have career damaging injuires.

The 'real' game hasnt started yet.. we'll see !! one way or another..lol

[mo64 5,875]

I dont think you need to be a genius, literary or otherwise to have come up with the reasonably sound observations as per article ( and sister video with ralph lane ) . It just repackages the basic elements as observed by most here.

Move along..nothig new as it were.

I will suggest that we have indeed seen evidence ofsomething different. Bailey is prepared to try a few blokes in unconventional roles to geta sense of what else they might have as strings to bows. He's put them out of comfort zones. Hes also beentesting the reflexing of other coaches.. This is so far removed from the Preacher's methods you can hardly put them on the same page.

We know the team isnt perfect, we know that some are stilll getting old, we still know that mask it, talk it up all you like that some have career damaging injuires.

The 'real' game hasnt started yet.. we'll see !! one way or another..lol

What? By playing a bunch of kids, he's really tested the opposition coaches! The point of the preseason is to get your own gameplan down pat. There has been little in the preseason to suggest that we will immediately turn things around.

[beelzebub 23,380]

He's ( Bailey ) been quite happy to play players in roles different to what both they ( the player ) and I can only imagine the opposing coach would expect them to be in. Whether they're kids or not is irrelevant to that. Its not always about testing to th e'linits' but occasionally abot throwoig somehtig different in and seeing whoreacts and how...and that includes the opposition players and coaches.

Anyone who thinks he's been trialling the new you beaut plan in total is kidding themselves.

I agree...preseason ( that includes for mine the NAB ) is about experimenting and practicing elements. Roos hits the nailonthe head though. You cant really use your game plan as the interchanges etc are too different, the rules etc are different. This all effects how you would do it 'for real' in the season. Its on that basis I summise that Bails is only trying to see how bits and pieces of the new game go...not the whole thing.

and Mo..with all respect...unless you ARE Dean Bailey...then how do you KNOW what he's taken away from those games ??...but I do concede...it could also be nothing that I think either

[Guest MFC4Life]

What? By playing a bunch of kids, he's really tested the opposition coaches! The point of the preseason is to get your own gameplan down pat. There has been little in the preseason to suggest that we will immediately turn things around.

I understand where you are coming from but to Sydney, Collingwood or West Coast have their gameplan's down pat? I must admit I do enjoy watching the kids play. I watched the Melbourne Geelong NAB Cup game for the first time last night on foxtel. Yes we got flogged and the skill errors were deplorable but everytime a kid did something good it was so exciting. Buckely I thought was awesome, some plays he did reminded me of Judd except he still can improve his kicking but at least we know he can break the lines. Meesen got a fair bit of the ball but looks very unganely. Didn't notice Maric (i fell asleep half way into the third quarter). Weetra kicked a nice goal in the first 5 minutes but.. I don't know...he looks out of place somehow, he's small, wiry and dosn't look like he'll be able to put on any muscle. Garland did some nice things and I think he needs good players around him to be able to develop. Didnl't notice Cheney. Don't know about the rest of you but McNamara looks BLOODY EXCITING. Got in there as soon as he came on, can kick, mark and appears to read the play really well. Valenti needs to work on his skill but he is a ball magnet. Austin Wonaemirri tried his hard out with great defensive pressure in the forward line. Newton sometimes seems a bit one-dimensional to me. Bode was really bad, don't know where his head was it but skills were awful. Stefan Martin did a lovely blind turn out of defense on the second quarter and looks like he can be a really good footballer in the next couple of years.

Thoroughly enjoy this time of year to see these rising stars and couldn't give a stuff if we win or lose or win the NAB Cup.

[mo64 5,875]

I understand where you are coming from but to Sydney, Collingwood or West Coast have their gameplan's down pat? I must admit I do enjoy watching the kids play. I watched the Melbourne Geelong NAB Cup game for the first time last night on foxtel. Yes we got flogged and the skill errors were deplorable but everytime a kid did something good it was so exciting. Buckely I thought was awesome, some plays he did reminded me of Judd except he still can improve his kicking but at least we know he can break the lines. Meesen got a fair bit of the ball but looks very unganely. Didn't notice Maric (i fell asleep half way into the third quarter). Weetra kicked a nice goal in the first 5 minutes but.. I don't know...he looks out of place somehow, he's small, wiry and dosn't look like he'll be able to put on any muscle. Garland did some nice things and I think he needs good players around him to be able to develop. Didnl't notice Cheney. Don't know about the rest of you but McNamara looks BLOODY EXCITING. Got in there as soon as he came on, can kick, mark and appears to read the play really well. Valenti needs to work on his skill but he is a ball magnet. Austin Wonaemirri tried his hard out with great defensive pressure in the forward line. Newton sometimes seems a bit one-dimensional to me. Bode was really bad, don't know where his head was it but skills were awful. Stefan Martin did a lovely blind turn out of defense on the second quarter and looks like he can be a really good footballer in the next couple of years.

Thoroughly enjoy this time of year to see these rising stars and couldn't give a stuff if we win or lose or win the NAB Cup.

Sydney, Collingwood and West Coast only need to fine-tune their gameplan. We need a massive overhaul.

I too enjoy watching the kids go round in the NAB cup, and I'm excited about the likes of Morton, McNamara, Maric and Grimes. But the core group of players from last season have done nothing to suggest that we'll immediately turn things around.

With the proposed 2 new teams, the club can't afford 2 years of short term pain.

[Guest Schtacker]

While the basic premise of the article is sound in that it explains in part what went wrong with Melbourne in 2007, it worries me that this sort of thing is being said about the club in terms of its prospects for 2008. The injuries and other excuses tend to become a convenient crutch to mask other areas that need to be improved upon massively for the club to prosper this year. Let's hope that Dean Bailey, the coaching panel and the players are on top of this because we've seen little evidence of anything new and dramatic so far in the pre season.

'Satan' that article is not 'spot on'. It looks like something a supreme optimist from Demonland would write. It's very thin.

What Whispering Jack has written is in fact, spot on

[The Emblem 1]

'Satan' that article is not 'spot on'. It looks like something a supreme optimist from Demonland would write. It's very thin.

What Whispering Jack has written is in fact, spot on

I was surprised how upbeat the article was considering the pre-season form.

Our best 22 is pretty good, but not yet premiership material...the KPP set up isn't right yet, and we need a tad more zip in the midfield.

[demons007 1]

Didn't even mention Nathan Jones

[Deeoldfart 8,035]

I will suggest that we have indeed seen evidence ofsomething different. Bailey is prepared to try a few blokes in unconventional roles to geta sense of what else they might have as strings to bows. He's put them out of comfort zones. Hes also beentesting the reflexing of other coaches.. This is so far removed from the Preacher's methods you can hardly put them on the same page.

Yep ...... and Bails has also shown that he intends to instill a bit of much needed discipline around the place.

He's also said that 'names' won't matter when it comes to team selection. I reckon he'll be true to his word on this one as well.

[Choko 493]

Yep ...... and Bails has also shown that he intends to instill a bit of much needed discipline around the place.

He's also said that 'names' won't matter when it comes to team selection. I reckon he'll be true to his word on this one as well.

If anything, I think Stevens has been a bit generous with his assessment of our list and our possibilities in '08.

[QueenC 74]

If anything, I think Stevens has been a bit generous with his assessment of our list and our possibilities in '08.

Yeah, he has been a bit generous, but not completely misguided.......

We and the press really have no idea of what the realities of this year will be for us.

There is an unknown quality to this season and we will just have to wait (suffering a little along the way) and see !!!

[w00dy 146]

i think the written assessment is about right...

then you watch the video on the herald sun website, and he doesn't seem as generous... thinks we will finish bottom 4, but at the same time says we could easily win 8-12 games...

i don't think he's really formed an opinion about us at all... he seems to think like everyone else we'll finish bottom 4, but when he analyses our list says he could see us doing quite well... it seems like he has to talk himself into the fact we won't do that well...

[Dee man 303]

The best 22 looks almost spot on except for Miller, who is no longer out answer at CHF. Bate is.

[gOLLy 401]

'Satan' that article is not 'spot on'. It looks like something a supreme optimist from Demonland would write. It's very thin.

What Whispering Jack has written is in fact, spot on

Disagree HS is spot on

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

Mark Stevens fancies the Dees I am sure. He often writes fluffy positive pieces about the dees and is the only journo around that really communicates how much we were cruelled by inury last year. While I dont agree with everything he says he makes some good points.

If Rivers, Mclean & Sylvia reach the potential we saw them to have 2 years ago together this season we will be very competitive. However I fancied all 3 of them to be AA type players and they have a long way to go to reach that lofty status from what we have seen so far, injuries and fitness excepted.

[Guest unstable punt]

While the basic premise of the article is sound in that it explains in part what went wrong with Melbourne in 2007, it worries me that this sort of thing is being said about the club in terms of its prospects for 2008. The injuries and other excuses tend to become a convenient crutch to mask other areas that need to be improved upon massively for the club to prosper this year. Let's hope that Dean Bailey, the coaching panel and the players are on top of this because we've seen little evidence of anything new and dramatic so far in the pre season.

l agree, l think the article is very generous to the demons

[praha 11,240]

Optimistic view. I disagree. We will fulfil everyone's expectations this year and finish in the bottom 5.

[flashdance36 2]

i missed the HS yesterday so would someone be kind enough to post the team that mark stevens did?

cheers.