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Regrettably, some posters have decided to turn this sad news into an occasion to make unnecessary political comment. These have been either deleted or censored; their subject matter is for another place and time. Please remember and respect the solemnity of the occasion - a man who worked hard for this club has lost his life at far too young an age.

I just received this form the Melbourne Football Club and I think it sums it up well:- Vale Dean Bailey All at the Melbourne Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dean Bailey. The Players, Staff and Directors extend their deepest sympathies to Caron, Mitch and Darcy. Josh Mahoney who was coached by Dean at Port Adelaide and later worked with him at Melbourne said: "Dean's contribution to the game over his life was significant as a player and coach.” “From a personal perspective, Dean had an influence on a lot of the decisions I have made in my life. After first meeting him at Essendon in 2001, he was a major influence in me getting drafted by Port Adelaide, as well as entering coaching with the Melbourne Football Club. “I know I will always remember him as a close mentor and friend, as will all the staff and players who knew him at Melbourne. “His love for the game of AFL was infectious on everyone who came in contact with him. It took him across the country, chasing his dream of coaching and developing people and players. “Bails had a dry sense of humour, and even in the toughest times he was often the man who would break the ice with a quick one liner. “Dean was a committed and devoted family man to wife Caron and sons Mitch and Darcy; our thoughts are with them at this time. Dean was appointed coach of the Melbourne Football Club in 2007. He coached the Demons in 83 matches from 2008-11. Prior to his coaching career, Dean also played 53 matches for Essendon from 1986-92. He started his coaching career with Mt Gravatt in Queensland in 1998-99, before becoming a member of Essendon’s coaching staff in 2000-01. He was part of the Essendon coaching panel, which helped secure the 2000 premiership against Melbourne. Dean then moved to Port Adelaide, where he was involved in its inaugural premiership win over the Brisbane Lions in 2004. He was part of the Power’s coaching staff from 2002-07. More recently, Dean was innovation and strategy coach of Adelaide. Funeral details will be provided once confirmed.

Listening to the radio this morning, I felt sick to the pit of my gut hearing the news of Dean's passing. What really hurt was hearing how much the players loved him and the responsibility he felt parenting them in their football careers. Sorely missed and extremely highly regarded personably and professionally. A very sad day. RIP Dean Bailey. Melbourne will always love you.

I've liked what I've seen from Dunn so far this year, but honestly, if he goes, WGAF.

What awful news. His poor wife and kids. 47 - still so many years to spend with kids, grandkids, work, retire, travel... RIP

Had the fortune to meet him on several occasions while he was Coach of MFC. He was an absolutely terrific person, who cared very deeply about his players. From the little l saw they regarded him with real affection for his 'father-figure' role in attempting to 'grow them up' as young players and more importantly as men. He also seemed to have an excellent wry humour, which most of all showed that he did not take himself too seriously. He also seemed to understand the power of football in these (and other) young men's lives and the positive role it could play in society. He was a fine, humble and genuine man. A real loss to the footy community.

The only perspective one should approach this scandal from is that of every clean athlete who strives to achieve the pinnacle of his or her sport. That is what the world anti doping code is all about. It's about Raelene Boyle who was deprived of up to four Olympic Gold Medals because we had no power to stop drug cheats in the 60s and 70s. It's about the weighlifter who finished second to a 16 year old Bulgarian whose coach was solely responsible for administering prohibited substances to a teenager who was unaware of what she was receiving but still had to be stripped of her gold medal. It's about the purity of sport and about accepting responsibility which is exactly what Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell did when they tested positive last year and accepted with grace their two year suspensions without blaming their coach or (as Shane Warne once famously did) their mother. Australian sport would suffer a massive blow if players injected with illegal substances of the size and scope and in the manner suggested by the ASADA Interim Report walked away without penalty because the means of identifying what they took had been obliterated by employees or agents of their club. Unfortunately, our own club is implicated and also subject to investigation and although, it's clear that a programme (if that's what you would call it) was not sponsored by the club, we have to take the medicine if found to have offended against the WADA Code. There should be no way out for offenders for the sake of those who chose to stay clean and if it were any other way, our sport would quickly become at best a grubby and dirty form of entertainment only with little credibility like the WWE. That's my perspective.

I'm surprised at how hard this hit me actually. I'm in shock, and feeling very sad for his family. I met Dean briefly back in 2008, his sons were young teenagers then, so are now about the same age I was when I lost my old man. My heart goes out to them and his wife.

But why should we have to compare Toumpas & Wines?? I am so sick of this statement. Toumpas shouldn't even be on the list.....He is. We should have picked up 2 Hard Nosed inside mids who knew each other as mates... There is no comparison anyway...One is leading the other is still in the play pen learning to walk.

I really cannot believe this, absolutely speechless. I dont understand how life works sometimes. its always the great people. I was a massive Bailey fan and thought for a bloke that had no support around except his beloved players he did a great job for this football club. Rip Bails gonna miss seeing that cheeky grin of yours.

It's ok 'Dan' you'll get it sorted. Viney will be ok, just needs a good run at it but Wines is really off to a flyer. The kid can play.

I'm not interested in the "legalities" of this case. The law is usually a dope unable to cope with the unlimited number of differing situations that can occur and this is one such time. I'm very concerned about the health of the injected players. What has been done to them is just dreadful and they are the clear victims. I hope the players get off. I hope anyone involved in administering the program, those who knew about it, those who sanctioned it, those that turned a blind eye never work in football again and are named and shamed. Little and Hird should never be allowed in an AFL ground again. I can't understand those people running around wanting to see players punished for their involvement. They have had their lives put at risk by dishonest incompetent fools in whom they understandably put their trust. And yet some want to see them punished further. It's time for some perspective.

I always have thought to myself, that in spite of the results and aftermath of his time at the club, if I were to bump into him I'd still make sure I shook his hand and thanked him for his time there. I'm saddened that I'll never get that chance.

Shocking news. I feel very sad. Terrible for his wife and boys. I hope they're always made welcome at the Melbourne Football Club. R.I.P Dean.

Sad news and condolences to his young family. The club has really suffered a belting from this illness in recent years.

Re-signing Jack Watts will turn out to be a bad move I believe ( hes just not a footballer), and I think its fair to say so was drafting Toumpas. At the time every club wouldve taken him at pick 4. Melbourne was not alone in their high opinion of him. It turns out every club was wrong on that one. Its just that MFC is left holding the baby and P.A. 'accidentally' ended up with a Gun. Drafting is an inexact science. Its clear that Toumpas will be more Grgic than Hodge but whats done is done. perhaps a late pick like JKH or Hunt may make up for it. We will have to wait and see.

"Because it is too late now"......I didn't miss it JVF. I saw it as well as your dig at them. Mate, I'm not here to argue who we should or shouldn't have picked, I just hate the fact that we eat our own. Please, if we are going to bag out our players, at least lets be factual and not listen to hearsay and flat out lies. That crap (not said by you) about Neeld and Viney arguing is all Bullshite. Why would Todd and Family invite Jimmy to live in their own home if Todd didn't want him at the Club? It just doesn't make sense. I'm all for discussion, but if you go through all of my posts, you will notice that not once have I bagged any one of our players. I'm sick of seeing Wannabes bagging everyone and everything about our Club. Lets ALL get behind this group and see where we go with it. Roosy is in charge now and even he said that we have to temper our expectations. You can't change a mess that was ten years in the making overnight. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I too have left family interstate when i was a teenager for work purposes, and it's bloody hard. Lets give the Toump and all our interstate boys time and our support. It can't be easy for them!

That must be the reason then. Jimmy living with Todd and Family was an order by Neeld. MN "Toumpas must live in your house so you know who is boss". TV "Ok Neeldy, if that's what you want. I'll have a kid live with me so I can keep telling him how much I didn't want him". How you jokers come up with this shite as fact completely bewilders me! He said she said!! What sad miserable lives you must lead. If any of you knew as much as you thought you did, you would know that TV was our National Recruiting Manager in 2012. The way it works is a Coach will outline to the Recruiting Team what style of footy he wants to foster and then the sort of player he needs to play that style. The Recruiting Team then goes out and finds those players. They also then take into account the 4 pillars as explained previously. TV, as National Recruiting Mgr, then oversees a list of players ranked from 1 down. There was only one club that didn't have Toumpas rated 2nd best player in 2012 draft pool. This was the same Club that rated 5 other players better than Wingard! Toumpas would have gone to any other Club if they had pick 4. Ask them.

I saw enough in the Richmond and Geelong games to be quietly enthused. One bad game against the best team in it doesn't evaporate the other two performances. I'm very much looking forward to the year, but it's a real downer about our key forwards. It definitely makes a big difference to our playing style/performance.

For years now I've read that "we've failed to develop our players". I've been one that's said it. Our youth just doesn't seem to improve in our system and in fact some seem to deteriorate. I know that "development" means "improvement' and going from being a promising junior to a competent AFL player but what is the process and what does "development" entail? I fail to believe we've haven't committed the resources to player development. In Bailey's time we had Viney and Kelly O'Donnell in charge of development. In Neeld's time we had head coach, line coach and assistant line coaches. We've had player welfare managers and sports psychologists. We've had specialist running coaches and kicking coaches. We've spent the money but haven't developed our players. Why? Is there anyone on this site who has experience in "player development" that can tell me what it involves. And can you give any insight into why, despite committing the resources, we appear to have failed so badly at this aspect of football. And further, have we got it in place now? Like everyone I trust Roos knows what it looks like and how to do it but I reckon the term is thrown around without any real understanding of what is involved. I'd like to hear more from those that know.

Dunn is hitting his prime. Almost always wins his 1 on 1 contests and has been a highlight in defence this pre-season. Would be a big blow to lose a tough defender and probably the best kick of our back 6.

This is terrible news and terrible policy; it should be average salary over the life of each players current contract. This hurts the clubs that couldn't pay the salary floor because there was no decent players to pay - front load contracts to reach the floor and be hurt when they come out of contract. We should appeal this, if in fact, it is a decision by AFL house that has been reflected by the website.

He goes he goes.. such is life. I rank him BEHIND Garland anyway in terms of importance to this team. We lose one we go find another...throw some money or whatever.. Am sure Roos and co can find a suitable replacement Im simply not going to let players dictate my concerns. Its the 'new' way of the landscape. So be it.

Its not Chip I am worried about as we ll get nice compo for him. I am concerned more about Dunn who is in career best form and may leave for a lesser amount then Frawley.

excuse me. NONE OF THE ABOVE concerns me. It came out of your head.

Top 5 draft picks are hard though because it's not just about expectation of performance it's about expectation of how they play as well. I think Roos knows that which is why he was happy to drop back to pick 9 with Salem. Hogan takes a fair bit of the heat off but already their is less hurry with Salem. The other problem is Toumpas even when playing poorly can be a justified selection because of how little midfield/forward depth there is in the team. I'm going to try to keep my expectations of Toumpas similar to my expectations on Salem, Kent and JKH.

That's fine, but what says Toumpas won't because he was quiet in his first year? sure if in 3 years he's done nothing then we have this convo for now we really have no idea the only consistant knock i am hearing is that he's apparently abit soft, i remember hearing the same knocks on Gary ablett jr in his first two years

Thanks for the photos put up earlier.

Like to all the posts. Some perspective needed. To the family and associates of Dean, my sincerest condolences - the journey forward is tough. Hang in there. RIP Dean.

Dean Bailey performed with great dignity and good humour despite the difficult positions in which he found himself, including being the MFC coach from 2008-11. He will be remembered fondly & with gratitude by this Adelaide-based Demon fan. I send my condolences to his family.

This thread is several months old and covers nearly 150 pages in which I have dealt many times with the issue of the health of the players and their reliance on "professional" advice which needs to take into account that these players signed waiver agreements that mentioned the taking of drugs that were, with a few exceptions, not vitamin supplements. That issue is certainly an important one in the context of the debate and one which raises obvious concern for the participants (willing or unwilling, informed or uninformed) but it does not absolve the players from responsibility and sanction which is what I've been addressing in the posts immediately above and which you think is "sad". It was you who stated in your first post today that you "hope the players get off". I believe that would achieve exactly what the spin doctors operating on Essendon's behalf are seeking to achieve by playing the sympathy card and they've managed to get a lot of people, including yourself, hook line and sinker. That's sad.

This is the first time I have read this post because I knew it would be full of manic depressive people lamenting the Dees taking Toumpas over Wines. I am not dissapponted. For what its worth I thought Toumpas was every bit as good as Wines has been in the Richmond and Geelong games. If I recall correctly Neeld was at pains to point out that the Melbourne were well aware Toumpas was recovering from surgery that was likely to negatively impact on his firs season. I think it may have been an error to play him last year but if he was not played I can only imagine what would have been said on here. Give the kid a break, he has not played with a decent preseason behind him.

What is irrational about punishing a person who takes illegal drugs in sport and blames it on another's poor advice or judgment? I don't want more punishment I want clean sport.

Denial?

Why should the players get off? Professional sports people from other sports seem to get it. You use, you lose.

What the Fark is Pedersen even doing on an AFL list. We keep talking about him like its worth something to name him. It shits me that the club still has to pay him and Byrnes

Agree. That is a nice way to remember him, as a top bloke. Condolences to his family and friends.

Terribly sad...im in total shock....copped a triple raw deal when sacked by us, then suspendeed by afl, and then cancer.

Dont think the mental health was a issue for the EFC when they were using the players like pin cushions

Top bloke, deserved better than how the AFL treated him. R.I.P Bails.

What can one say? Vale Dean.

Sounds like a season at Casey to me.

Its all academic anyway.....Wines is a port Adelaide player....move on. I still believe Jimmy can be a great player, we will see but give it time. The difference is also that Wines was in a very good team last year, and did his bit. Toumpas has been in a terrible team, that is scarred and has no confidence.

just between you me and the walls, id have thought that Essendon should be looking after the players mental health and not ASADA or the AFL or the AFLPA or anyone else

We played three finalists from last year in our preseason. I think thats a great introduction to realities for our list this year. Our Rnd 1 opponents have played the Dogs, GWS and Port and still not won a thing.

the hird mentality

It's so much more than bad drafting.

Unfortunately I too don't have the experience you're seeking. I suspect it's a mixture of treatment, expectations on individual players, selection decisions, understanding a players strengths and weaknesses, and crucially the leadership group. It probably includes the whole fabric and culture of a club. It's intangible, but I reckon Roos and co know how to do it. A youngster that joins the Sydney Swans goes through an induction process. This may be the same at most/all clubs, but it's driven by the LG. Sydney's LG virtually runs the club with the imprimatur of the coach. Tom Mitchell is going to be a genuine star. Yes, he had injury issues in his first season, but he also played plenty of footy at their lower level. He didn't play a senior game in his first year. Scully, Watts, Morton and Trengove come to the club and there's much fanfare. The Kids get talked up a lot. They're anointed as the ones that are going to drive the club up the ladder. Rather than just settle in, learn from the senior group, play most of the year at Casey, they're given exalted status. The psyche of the whole club is wrong. They players feel expectation that they shouldn't and senior players probably get their noses out of joint, especially when they see their teammates pensioned off or leave for other clubs. There's probably not one easy answer, but there's been a culmination of poor decisions adversely effect young players drafted to this club.

I don't want Watts forward - he is trying to become a midfielder, throwing him forward in his first game after gearing up to be a midfielder would be defeating that aim. And while the 4 points are important - a forward line can be constructed around Howe and Fitzpatrick. The key is for the mids/flanks to not bomb the ball in and that will be a key whether Watts is down there or not. Toumpas, Byrnes, Kennedy-Harris, Bail, Blease, and Trengove can all provide small/medium size options through the forward line. Having Dawes/Hogan there would have been great (let alone both or the other one aswell) but how the mids deliver will be the key.