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He was part of Geelongs golden era and received rave reviews. Got shafted by a bunch of soft [censored] at the Dogs and seemingly looking at the same at the Demons. But by all means let’s keep up the search for a scape goat and avoid pointing the finger at the players pissweak performances.

We didn't ignore it. Tell me where Goodwin said we ignored it. This myth is starting to get just as tiresome as our performances on the field. They didn't do a normal review, but that doesn't mean they didn't review it. Not only that, Goodwin has said that they reviewed the Grand Final as well and took plenty away from what the Eagles did that day. Seriously. I know the performances have been well, well below par so far this season, but let's stop pedaling this rubbish about how we didn't review the Prelim. We did.

I know someone related to McCartney and I can find out a little more info around this on the weekend. It's really the only sort of inside info I'll ever have, but it's pretty solid, so I'll see what I can dig up around this. One thing I've heard in the past is we still had too many of the younger players who just didn't work hard enough. One in particular was Petracca. On the flip side, McCartney was always glowing with his praise of how hard Jesse Hogan worked on the track. I still think there are a few players who are relying on talent alone and not doing the hard yards. Again, I'll see what I can find out on the weekend.

Demonland becoming collectively homocidal/suicidal is usually a sure sign we’ll pluck a miracle out of nowhere. That’s about all I’ve got to cling to at the moment because all signs point to this being really bad.

Goodwin, from all quarters, is a dedicated student of the game. And of other sports. He traveled widely in the off season in search of one tiny gem from another sport we could import in order to get an edge. Perhaps he should have taken a chunk of time off like Buckley or gone and sat in Hawaii like his predecessor but that's another matter. To think he didn't personally review the prelim is ridiculous. And if he didn't dig deep into it with the team it would have been because he believed there was a psychological advantage in not doing so - which may have been an error but it's not a matter of arrogance. He has never displayed an attitude anywhere close to arrogance, despite having a huge record of personal achievement. Another error may have been to plan with the assumption of natural development and a better-drilled team around our plan. Most of us probably thought the same. We are a young team and you can't always plan for injury. We are getting exposed again for the high margin of error undermining the game-plan and its likely lack of sustainability. In our development toward the end of last season it's not unreasonable to think that the game-plan was beginning to show its worth. He is certainly stubborn - which can also be framed as persistent and having belief in his self and the programme. Other top coaches have been here before. See Buckley barely a year ago. And if he's not reactive to the opposition, he also learnt that from Paul Roos. Cast your minds back to the Roos era on here - endless complaints of poor game-day coaching, player selection and an inflexible style. For those citing the glory days of Roos' defensive structures please go and look at the facts. We switched to a forward territory plan. We get scored against more easily but not more heavily. In each of the years since Roos' departure we have conceded less and less. And scored a hell of a lot more. It's frustrating to watch us scored against so easily but the end result is less goals against. A whole lot of people couldn't bare the thought of Roos' dour style when he was incoming, and the game has certainly changed in favour of attack. Goodwin was ahead of the game. The balance isn't working this year for whatever reasons and scape-goat you which to blame. It occurred last year as well, and Goodwin made adjustments. He has always shown patience - whether you consider that a good trait or bad - and the results have been mixed - but if our club as a whole had acted with more patience throughout the years it would be in a much better state.

We needed to pinch the flag last year a la doggies 2016. We are well and truly headed down the same path minus the chocolates of a random unexpected flag. Classic Melbourne.

Hard to imagine any other organisation not reviewing a poor performance and then expecting the problems it highlighted will just go away. The Prelim final loss opened up such glaring and gaping hole sin our system.. as a club you would think that would be enough to go.. ok we can beat some sides but most now have unlocked the kryptonite.. lets address it and lets systematically go about making sure we prepare for it. But we decided to ignore it, publicly state that not a big review was done as that didnt represent the way we play. Its is absolutely astounding that this was the approach. Im just so over this clubs continual contempt for professionalism. Its got me, im a passionate supporter.. but i feel drained. and let downs are piling up. Last year was a great year, but im afraid, that is as close as we will get.. for how long im not sure... and thats now the worry.

Lockhart direct replacement for Jetta. Bull and Weid forward. Tmac on Riewoldt, Frosty on Lynch. Hard tag Harmes on Dusty.

In summary you could say it is arrogant to only consider your performance and not that of the team that beat you. To simply say we didn't play our game, is to ignore what the other team did to cause that. That is what he is continually saying each week. It ignores what others are doing to you.

I don’t know how in depth our review was or wasn’t, but I do agree with @Lucifer's Hero on the point of the PF loss is very similar to our losses to Dons and Saints this year in the way the opposition has set-up against us. Watching the PF live at Optus all I can remember early from the game is seeing two of their quickest players in Rioli and Ryan setting up defensively on a flank each just outside our defensive 50 forcing our defenders trying to clear down the middle a lot where turnovers were created resulting in scores for them. The Dons hardly started Tippa and Fantasia inside 50 in Round 3 where you would have thought they would be most dangerous. It seemed they were used as high half forwards/wings at the time using their speed to block our rebounds and counter us quickly. Again on Saturday, Billings and Gresham were used the same way. Might be just coincidence, but simply from an observational point of view the similarities are striking.

If what Morris said about the players returning after Xmas in poor condition is true, I could imagine McCartney paying out on them. He would tell it as it is and maybe they don’t like hearing it.

Melbourne by 18.

Blew the cobwebs off - Should be lightning quick after a 4-day turnaround

I hate to say it, but Smith has never demonstrated AFL qualities to me. I thought Keilty was ahead of him at Casey. Can anyone elaborate on what Smith has done in the 2s this year?

A positive spin. We have lost to 4 of the top 7 sides. Form this year seems to be very different to last year. Compare the home & away end of season ladder to now. Richmond down 10 positions WCE down 6 Collingwood down 1 Hawthorn down 9 Melbourne down 12 Sydney down 11 GWS up 1 Geelong up 7 This is most unusual, and we are the worst but we are not alone. I don't know the answer but I am becoming clearer on what the question is. There are 9 teams on 3 wins, we are only 2 wins and % off being 3rd on the ladder! How's that for 1/2 full?

Yeah, I'll take these changes and happy to see Garlett get another crack. Although I don't have a lot of confidence in the inclusion of Tim Smith, but what's the alternative?... OMac? shudder Hopefully a 'competitive' Melbourne outfit turn up tomorrow night........ Feels like I've gone back in time 5 years.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't think we're that far away. We're getting the ball into attack more than enough times to kick a winning score but for whatever reason the forwards haven't 'clicked' just yet. From this point I think we're trying to put the pressure on, but if you go back and look, every time we try to hunt the opposition we end up with 2 or even 3 players trying to shut down 1, leaving too many free options for them to get out. Almost every single time this happens the opposition has scored the Chinese checkers goals. If we can clean up the defensive pressure to stop them getting out the over the back goals will dry up. Turn those moments into turnovers and we're good. That's our backup route to goal, but obviously if the forwards start to get it together we should be winning more than we are now. Don't get me wrong, I'm no 'company boy', I'm as disappointed/[censored] off as the next man, I just don't think we're that far off. In regards to the Tigers game though, I can't see how we can clean up these things in 4 days. Stranger things have happened I guess.

Or, perhaps, classic media smelling a soft target and piling on in hope of blood spilling? If that's all it is, as soon as we have fixed those few things, we'll be flying again.

So are you saying that fans are not allowed to analyse team performances, that they have no knowledge of footy and have no right to offer an opinion? Are you also saying that the club will publicly tell the truth about in house matters and that whatever it tells you is correct?

I find Cooney one of the least insightful special comments men in the media and just very irritating. He takes talking s..... to a whole new level. I find myself switching off or turning the dial when I hear his voice.

On March 5, the most recent archived snapshot of the page, McCartney is listed as Player Coach Performance Manager. https://web.archive.org/web/20190305052423/https://www.melbournefc.com.au/Team/players/coaches That means that between then and now he has been reassigned to Defensive coach, with nothing communicated to members. At this link he is still listed as the former: https://m.melbournefc.com.au/club/people/staff-members At the current version of the above archived link, he is "defensive coach". https://m.melbournefc.com.au/Team/players/coaches Why weren't members and stakeholders educated about the change? With all of these rumours coming out now and with McCartney seemingly snuck into a Defensive coaching role, this all seems like the perfect storm. Trust Melbourne to spend 6 years rebuilding itself and throwing millions at the best administrators and coaches in the game, only to regress back to the corporatised and political mess that it has been for 50 years. [censored] like this pisses me off more than anything. Why do I pay $1500 a year? We shouldn't be kept in the dark. Where is the accountability?

One thing that might help us is that Rich haven't worked out how to play effectively with two tall forwards. The two big losses were with Lynch and Riewoldt in. When Riewoldt went out they rediscovered their 'DNA' ie playing to one tall fwd. Re Smith he was doing ok until this game last year when Rance jumped late (supposedly) for a mark and rammed his knee into Smith's back fracturing his ribs and puncturing his lung. Shame Rance isn't playing but Smith can seek revenge by playing a top game for us.

Thank god we bought Garlett and Lockhart in. Now we have two guys who can crumb our bombs inside 50 instead of none. Calling it now - we will win this, ANB best on ground!

Like Spargo?

He may or may not be deluded, but if he is, he joins a significant number on this site who are similarly deluded. I was certainly deluded over summer over our prospects this year, given injuries, operations and all the other things mentioned to-date. I am not his defender but Saty is not a propagandist. If so, who is he spreading propaganda on behalf of? His communication style may rankle but he is a committed supporter, a loyalist and believer, not a bad thing when there is so much negativity.

There are plenty of key forwards who can take a pack mark. It's part of the job description for a 196cm kpp If Weideman keeps running under the ball, he will never take a grab

I am no Weid fan but if they continue to bomb it in then we might as well clear the kid to a team that will give him a chance with reasonable deliver. I feel sorry for him as we are killing what might be a good career. If I were him I would have my agent hot on the heels of offers from other sides he will never make it at the MFC with the current game plan.

Thanks Wiseblood and Redleg for your intelligent analysis and reason. Your comments make the site and this post worth visiting. I'm afraid bagging players and coach do nothing for me. One simple issue I have with Viney and Goodwins comments on game plan and contested ball is that all teams play hard contested footy. Some might do it better on any one day, but it has always been a prerequisite for AFL teams, probably always has been. Like kicking and marking the b..... thing. To suggest that this style of footy that MFC play is something different or special or that it gives us an advantage is strange. This year, we have teams that have been just as effective or even more effective than us, but they have a few more strings to their bow than we do. To be a successful coach you need to motivate players but you also need to be very creative and think outside the square. Just as a successful company does not succeed by doing the same thing every day. New ideas, innovation, and change is required from the top down. To stick to the same thing when it is failing is not going to bring rewards. The most successful coaches have always been creative and innovative. Coaches such as Chequer Hughes, Norm Smith, Barassi, Matthews, Clarkson etc all have this in common. And there are many others who seem to be full of ideas and willingness to adopt different game plans, methods, and tactics.

In my view, our backline would be looking a lot better if our forward line functioned properly. There is insufficient pressure in the forward half which allows the opposition to deliver the ball quickly and easily to their forwards. Playing Richmond's forwards is a tough ask, but if our forwards placed more pressure on their defenders, it would make the job of our defence a lot easier.

Please send that post through to the FD... Appreciate the succinct analysis @Dee Zephyr

We have a Gameplan that we cannot defend on the MCG Learn why it doesn’t work from the teams that beat it and Change it...

Memo to the AFL. Short turn-around times aren't just difficult for players to cope with. Supporters, too, can struggle to get enthusiastic after a loss. I expect a relatively low turn out partly because insufficient time has passed since Saturday's loss. (I realise there's not much the AFL can do about it because of ANZAC Eve falling on a Wednesday. I just wanted an excuse to criticise the AFL because it makes me feel better).

The point is.. Not enough was done and i dont think anyone can argue we ignored the changes and the adaptation required to improve. Its from the coach down.

I'm surprised at how often we choose to believe what anyone working in the AFL actually says. I believe most coaches tell the truth most, but not all, of the time. Some more than others. But I don't believe any coach tells the truth 100% of the time. So, if Goodwin says he didn't review the preliminary final, I, for one, assume that this comment may or may not be true. That's just the way the AFL, and I suspect every professional sport (and life in general), works.

Goodwin said just before the round 1 game on Fox that we didn't review the Pre-lim, he also said just after that loss we wouldn't look too far into it, on radio during summer and last night on On The couch? One of them said Goodwin told them he didn't review it. He also did similar last year after one of our poorer games, maybe Hawks that he wouldn't spend time reviewing it and said he knew the way we want to play. Not having a go at you WB, but I thought it was pretty common knowledge and Goody has been very stubborn as a coach especially on game day tactics. By the way, in that same interview before round 1 Goody was asked if we'd changed anything with the new rules, he said no and that we have a clear understanding of how we want to play - so stubborn. I also think injuries have cruelled us and we don't have any decent depth. We really need to recruit players who have foot skills, I've said it for years, hawks built the era of greatness around drafting those players and building a gameplan around them.

We did ignore it, we are still playing the same way 7 months later. Wake up...

What worries me about BM no longer in the 'coach development' role is who is 'mentoring' Goodwin? Last year I raised the issue of not having what I call a 'Football Mentor/Overseer' position ie Neil Balme (for Scott/Hardwick), George Stone (Dew), Chris Fagan (Clarkson) to mentor Goodwin and to hold him and Mahoney accountable. Nor do we have a Football Director (Greg Healy was the last one). To me these omissions were and still are weaknesses in our management structure. We have hit very turbulent waters on and off the field. Mahoney and Goodwin are still very inexperienced in their roles and have not had to perform when things go backwards. Roos or PJ were there to take the heat. imv, now more than ever that we need a Neil Balme type; someone who knows how to steady, then right the ship and how to avoid rookie errors. Someone who monitors, challenges, supports and helps find solutions when issues arise before they become problems. Without that 'overseeing' role it may be very tempting for Pert to become overly involved in football and coaching matters which by various reports was his downfall at the Pies. To me the last thing we need is the CEO trying to run the football side of things. Hope Mahoney and Goodwin get on top of it all very quickly.

Imagine if all bosses in the world were like this. Bad 5 weeks? Sack a bunch of key people. Sounds brutal and shortsighted at best. Not saying these 3 aren't part of the problem right now, but I'm failing to see any reasoned logic behind such a significant restructure so early in the season. Say we did sack these 3 effective immediately, and went on to lose the next 5 games with new guys, do we do the same again? Do we even have the funds to breach contracts like these so indiscriminately? 2019 is obviously a write off, and honestly that's not the worst thing in the world. Our linear improvement had to come to a halt at some point. The remainder of the season should be focused on developing young kids and giving game time to those who we think may contribute to the senior team over the next few years, getting some continuity wherever possible into our best 22 without taking any risks and giving the coaching staff the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of 2019 so far and correct them. I would support sacking Chaplin and McCartney at season end if we finish bottom 4, because frankly even though a step backward for us right now statistically is pretty normal, that's a too far of a step. But we may as well use the rest of this wasted season to see if they are capable of correcting the ships course. I am worried about the arrival of Pert and the decline in many elements of culture. Players calling each other out, leaking of information ... its really concerning. I wish Jackson stayed on, Pert is making me incredibly nervous.

but encouraging JLT form — without being dominant — showed enough to reinstall confidence in the coaching panel. Tom Morris lost me at this above. I thought our JLT Series was alarm bells and we're getting exactly what was previewed in the pre season games.

At least his movements are unpredictable.

I’ve got the familiar dread that I used to have in the Neeld years before Roos came on board. I’m going, but will if it’s a 60 + game and contest over at half time I’m not staying. It’s an emotionally helpful habit I picked up in 2013. This may be the game that really sits the club on its [censored] on the big stage and brings the Hard spotlight our way. We deserve it. I’m an interstater these days, so the saints was the first time I’ve seen them live this year and I could tell half way thru 1st qtr that something was just wrong. No spark, no real emotion, no system, no flair. Just like when Neeld came in everyone is blaming the players and not enough heat coming onto Goodwin and the coaches. Seems like there’s questions of fitness, off season application .......and coaches. Reports now of Disharmony between McCartney and some players ( he’s got history here) and I suspect, in Chaplin’s case, he just doesn’t have the players trust. It’s u12 stuff back there at the moment. Mission leaving at years end after a pre season where he didnt get the group ( not suffering from post season operations) to required fitness and several careless and tragically bad calls on injuries. He Might have stopped caring even by 5% once he chose to move on..it’s all it takes. so He can’t leave fast enough for mine. I still think Goodwin is , or was ....and still can be, a good coach, but Ive lost confidence in those that surround him right now. Can feel a coaching clean out on its way. Something is needed to reunite the pack.

Finger pointing and tears going on all over the place. We don’t need all this panic. All l want to know is who is going to stand up and put the train back on the rails? Surely has to be a cold hearted approach by the appointed leaders both on and off the field. They are the ones who really understand the underlying issues ( we are just guessing) and they need to make changes to address these problems effective immediately. lf they can’t do it, then we need people who can, l can’t imagine for a second PJ wouldn’t be up to his armpits in resolving the current situation.

I imagine Maca doesn't mince his words. with other coaches or with players. I sense, a real strait shooter is Maca. Some people do not like hearing the truth, of what others think of them, and about how they go about things.

Always go to this game (and home games), but this year thinking about it. Just can't face those feral Richmond supporters again, because every year they surround you and give you grief. They don't let you barrack for your team in peace. They always have to throw smart comments your way and pick you out of the crowd if you so much as applaud your players. They are arrogant bullies and getting even worse every year, especially now they have tasted success. Might give it a miss, now that I have heard about the lack of effort put in by the players during the off season. Pardon my lack of effort in showing up if they can't be bothered. Yours Sincerely, Disillusioned.

I can add to this story. For the last few years, a mates son Charlie Allen has been the club "Load Manager". What that meant was, he monitored all the players training and health needs, in particular, the GPS units on their backs. He organised blood tests, fitness assessments and whether they were actually doing the work Mission set them. Some stories I cannot tell but Charlie was keeping them honest and kept a keen eye on their activity on and off the field. After the season Charlie was offered fewer hours and eventually let go. He was headhunted by the firm that imports and manages those GPS units as he is one of the few people in Australia with so much experience with the units, their data handling and what it all meant. It was good for Charles as it meant a much better job, greater prospects and more money. He was also good enough to give me all his MFC merchandise, pity we changed sponsors. I have no idea if the club replaced him but his C.V. is impressive and he worked in Canberra with the A.I.S before he came to us and with his number of degrees etc I doubt someone of his expertise would just walk in off the street. It may just be a coincidence but there is enough FUGAZI to suggest some players had a good long Christmas and I ask who was monitoring them as the club no longer lists a "Load Manager" position.

Regularly eating fish n chips never stopped me from a high performance output. Some of my best games for Ashburton were after a big feed from the High Street chippers.

Re Jetta - it happened when a saints player dived across his knee. Was a missed free kick and I thought the whole point of bringing in the rule to begin with.