I thought i would copy and paste an interesting thread i found on demonology from a user called socrates.

I found it very interesting and just proves we have to be patient , it takes time.

Just highlighting some interesting similarities between Melbourne and Hawthorn during the past few years.

During the 2004 pre-season Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab declared that the Hawks would be aiming to win the premiership - Hawks managed just 4 wins and mid-season coach Peter Schwab was sacked.

During the 2007 pre-season Neil Daniher declared the Dees will be aiming for top 4 finish – Dees managed just 5 wins and mid-season coach Neil Daniher was sacked/resigned.

Port Adelaide assintant coach Alastair Clarkson was appointed coach before the conclusion of the 2004 season and delisted players who were either underperforming or not fitting in with his policy to rebuild the club.

Port Adelaide assintant coach Dean Bailey was appointed coach before the conclusion of the 2007 season and delisted players who were either underperforming or not fitting in with his policy to rebuild the club.

During Clarkson’s first year he instituted a culture of discipline at the club. The Hawks won only 5 games and played a widely criticized high-possession game plan and finished in 14th position. Average losing margin was 6 goals including a 117 point loss.

So far during Baileys first year he has instituted a culture of discipline at the club and so far his game plan and the performance of the team has been widely criticized.

At the end of Clarkson’s first year the Hawks were busy in the off-season, trading players for draft picks. The Hawks ended Trade Week with 5 top 20 draft picks.

I suspect this is what Melbourne and Dean Bailey will be hoping to do at the end of this year.

In clarksons's 2nd year (2006) Hawthorn ended 11th with 9 wins.

In Clarksons' 3rd year (2007) - Hawthorn ended 5th with 13 wins.

I thought i would copy and paste an interesting thread i found on demonology from a user called socrates.

I found it very interesting and just proves we have to be patient , it takes time.

Very interesting and encouraging article. Thanks 'mousey'.

We have not been too successful recently in copying other clubs and hoping for the best. Hawthorn have done what they've done because they had the facilities staff and culture to make the whole plan come together. We can HOPE to do the same but certainly don't EXPECT it.

I can name one difference between Hawthorn and Melbourne, though.

Hawthorn - Great recruiting team.

Melbourne - idiotic recruiting team.

The similarities end there.

I can name one difference between Hawthorn and Melbourne, though.

Hawthorn - Great recruiting team.

Melbourne - idiotic recruiting team.

The similarities end there.

One of the first things Clarko did at the Hawks was get rid of their games room and install a boxing ring which got used every week until the players learned the level of aggressiveness required to compete at the AFL level. A second difference I believe!

I can name one difference between Hawthorn and Melbourne, though.

Hawthorn - Great recruiting team.

Melbourne - idiotic recruiting team.

The similarities end there.

Not sure we have had an idiotic recruiting team, but I think highlighting the fact that the Hawks made changes to their recruiting department when they decided to rebuild the list is worth noting.

Without wanting to be unfair to Barry Prendergast, have we gone for the best recruiter we can get, or taken the easy option and promoted from within?

Good post Mousey,

We are between a rock and hard place at the moment because we don't have much too trading stock in the cupboard.

The dorks made some bold trades: Nathan Thompson, Johnathan Hay which would have taken both guts and patience. Even then it has been a 3 year wait to see any real benefits come through.

Who have we got the other clubs could really use right now?

Only a club knocking on the door of the top four would be interested in Bruce and/or Green [2 to 3 years of AFL left in them].

I can't see clubs being interested in Miller anymore, Robbo has one year left on his contract and then his time is probably up.

That leaves the likes of McLean, Sylvia, Moloney as trade bait...and there's only 1 player there that I would not trade without considerable angst.

Its going to be a long haul I fear, a 3 maybe 4 year process at which point the new brigade will be getting into full stride.

We are between a rock and hard place at the moment because we don't have much too trading stock in the cupboard.

The dorks made some bold trades: Nathan Thompson, Johnathan Hay which would have taken both guts and patience. Even then it has been a 3 year wait to see any real benefits come through.

Who have we got the other clubs could really use right now?

That's a key difference right there, DeeReaming. Even though those Hawthorn trades were only a short time ago, clubs aren't as willing to give up top draft picks for average players any more. The Hawks made the very best of their situation. We couldn't pull those trades off if we tried now.

That's a key difference right there, DeeReaming. Even though those Hawthorn trades were only a short time ago, clubs aren't as willing to give up top draft picks for average players any more. The Hawks made the very best of their situation. We couldn't pull those trades off if we tried now.

Correct.

The Hawks did the right thing and traded players who were plateauing or were culture cancers like Everett, Thompson and Hay and retired off Nick Holland.

The Jono Hay was almost the deal of the century and I dont think any Club will be that dumb again. The Kangas must absolutely curse that deal now.

Great deals, Bottom rung finishes and priority picks.

MFC are only assured one of these outcomes at the moment.

Another point of difference is that Hawthorn were honest with their supporters, and admitted that they were rebuilding. In turn their membership didn't suffer.

At Melbourne, it's all about spin doctoring, which in turn disenfranchises supporters and sponsors.

Whenever Paul Gardner steps aside, let's hope the leadership of a new president, McNamee and Connolly will leave the cloak and daggers aside, and be upfront and honest with our supporters.

Another point of difference is that Hawthorn were honest with their supporters, and admitted that they were rebuilding. In turn their membership didn't suffer.

Pull the other one! Their membership did suffer. The difference being that they have a larger group of core supporters to draw upon than numbers sensitive clubs like Kangas, Dogs and us

Hawthorn had no choice be to say they were rebuilding after a horror couple of years. They also made an absolute meal of the coaching appointment of Clarkson at inception. At the time they sacked the CEO, the outgoing President dipped into his own pocket to aviod a whitewash and Brereton was ushered off the Board for alleged conflicts of interests. Spare me the honesty bit.

The situation that MFC finds itself would be a significant shock to most people including some inside the Club with the possible exception outside the coaching group. After 2006 and the return of many injured players there was reasonable expectation that we could have had a better year. A new coach getting a chance to actually assess the list. Hardly a rebuild environment The worst pessisimists expected a tough year but not this tough.

Its clear that the after first two devestating rounds and a less than satisfactory pre season that MFC are looking at a rebuild and that will be underway at seasons end.