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A senior AFL coach a control freak? Well I never....

Very tight-lipped when Scully, Frawley, Rivers, Howe, Moloney, Sylvia and Hogan left...

Knock back offers from Carlton and Hawthorn and stay at GW$. Gil has to resign. Destroyed the game.

A perfect example of confirmation bias.

I'm a fan of recruiting Langdon, he's the right age profile and he offers us pace, endurance and field position in metres gained. There's some concern about his kicking but I think this may be overblown. I think most here will rate Salem as one of our best field kicks and they stack up reasonably similarly in the data below: Average Disposals: https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2019&rt=LA&st=DI Average metres gained: https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2019&rt=LA&st=MG Need to leaven this with average turnovers though: https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_rankings?year=2019&rt=LA&st=TO Isaac Smith 74th for disposals, 17th for metres gained, but 10th for turnovers Brad Hill 51st for disposals, 11th for metres gained, 22nd for turnovers Ed Langdon 54th for disposals, 39th for metres gained, 78th for turnovers Salem 50th for disposals, 34th for metres gained, 76th for turnovers - very similar numbers to Langdon I like Isaac Smith and Brad Hill too but Smith is a lot older (30yo) and based on these number turns it over a surprising amount. Brad Hill (26yo) will be a lot more expensive in trade and salary than Langdon (23yo) and he too turns it over a surprising amount. I'd be happy to add any of those three, but those numbers make Langdon look attractive.

I heard him on 3aw last night. Caro went after him on gambling sponsorship. The AFL deal with betting is up this year. He used the if we don't take the money it will be lost to the AFL community. He would be using the same argument if cigarette advertising was still around. The AFL are all about the money it is first, last and in the middle. On top of that he is a poor communicator. She also tackled him about his time off to go to Hawaii earlier in the year. He just avoided the question. We need a new CEO who is not from the old boys club. Won't happen of course.

Surely the precedence set by Collingwood and Richmond shows that all senior coaches need time in the chair and exposing them and the players to new assistant coaches with new ideas is nothing but a good thing.

I just shook my head when i read that. surely he knows it's not his place to get involved. but then, he's treated the competition like his play thing since day one. i really hope Coniglio goes now just to spite him.

“I think they’re paying massive money to Lever and May and Frost is their best defender,” Riewoldt told SEN. “I’m more confident in Frost at the moment than the other two to beat a man. “If I was playing tomorrow and the three of them lined up I reckon I’d find it harder to get a kick on Frost than the other two. “I know Frost can stuff it up from time to time, but he gives great effort.” (https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-nick-riewoldt-garry-lyon-unpack-issues-at-melbourne/news-story/c4d626fff76702fe3ad9cb27ffc7ad87) 100% effort and speed. No wonder most of you wanted him delisted from the club earlier this year. Like the club, it's in our DNA not to value what we lack. David King was too smart for his own good with the kryptonite comment. As far as our supporters go, probably the other end of the spectrum. Stick it up them Frosty.

In my opinion an example of the dreadful double standard of the AFL. They talk down long established clubs that are struggling whilst propping up the clubs they "need" to succeed. GWS (like the Gold Coast) have no natural fan base and are struggling in the West here. The average home crowd is reported as 12000 per match and has been declining in the last two years despite the wealth of talent that has gifted to them.

I actually think the reverse might accomplish more. For 55 years we have kept attending despite the rubbish we have been dished up. If no one turns up that might finally get the message over that we are tiring of what the MFC delivers.

I find it extraordinary that McLachlan is encouraging a specific player to play with a specific club. That's a completely improper statement for the person who is meant to be in charge of the competition. If he truly believes that a player shouldn't leave, why does he oversee a system which allows trading, free agency and a system of employment by contract? I've been concerned for some time that McLachlan is not an appropriate CEO. This statement, while perhaps not quite confirming my opinion, certainly strengthens it.

What a terrible thread, it serves no real purpose and can only harm the club. Of all the clubs that have suffered from this accusation Melbourne has possibly fared the worst and largely through the flippancy of one of its paid officials. I had hoped that we were all a little bit more mature these days and yes, that does include the supporters. I don't mind our members and supporters being frustrated with our performance this year and expressing their feelings in the strongest terms. I can understand long suffering members dropping their membership, after all 55 years of failure is very hard to take. But raising this sort of nonsense is absolutely illconsidered, pathetic and contrary to the club's interests.. Firstly would the person that raised this explain exactly what they mean by tanking, for example does risking our players' health constitute by playing them with niggles constitute tanking,? Does playing inexperienced kids with potential rather than experienced players who have continually dissapointed constitute tanking? And does selecting players in positions where they have not played before constitute tanking? Or does he really mean that the players aren't trying? Olisik, I have read a lot of your posts and I usually refrain from commenting because others here usually do a good job in rebutting your histrionics, as interesting as they are, but in this case I feel obliged to comment because they serve absolutely no useful purpose and as others have pointed out for a number of reasons that we really have dissapointed this year because of genuine on and off field short comings. There is a word that rhymes with tanking that comes to mind but I will leave that one aside.

No we are this bad.

He is 49 yrs old

It's easy to forget how dominant Viney has been in big games over the past few seasons. Our big win over WCE where TMac kicked winning goal right before siren and even the finals last year. He will be better for this year and I reckon he will dominate next year.

Insert “not sure if serious” gif here.

Well Doc , I’ve just spent a month in your part of our great country. [censored] if I’m going to venture out on a miserable night to celebrate the [censored] that’s been dished up to us supporters this season

Grass roots footy, gambling everywhere you look, umpires department directionless, pointless & misguided rules changes. Cheaper pies and chips but! Well done Gil.

remember when wayne jackson, as ceo of the afl, sang along with gusto in the freo team huddle after one of their victories? this is same thing - gil's barracking moment for his pet project i certainly don't remember anyone urging any of our wantaway players when we were deplorable to 'stick fat with the dees'

On so many levels, especially at the grass roots.

Is Goodwin in charge of coaching appointments? Or does that rest with the head of football? You'd probably have been on the sack Bomber (2006) and sack Hardwick (2016) bandwagons too. Clearing out the assistants and restructuring does not necessarily reflect on the future prospects of the senior coach.

Even if Goodwin were only contracted for 1 more year we would not be moving him on.

There was a post on here only a week or so ago saying that Frost turnovers resulted in twice as many scores against us as the next player He does some good things and is pretty good 1 on 1 but his brainfades are unacceptable. He is not the answer and if we are relying on him to be a long term answer we're going nowhere.

Passed away after a battle with Alzheimers disease. Condolences to his family. A player who re-defined what a ruckman was. One of the all-time greats. Rest in peace big fella.

Yes, Sunday is a very important day in our nations military history and I am very proud to have served our country.It is also the 2nd anniversary of the passing of one of my closest friends after a 10 year battle with leukemia

Has anyone thought to consult with Gil....see what the preferred outcome is ?

Langdon is one of the better wingman/outside runners in the game. He’s headed for his second consecutive top 5 in a BnF. He’ll be a big asset to us for the next 7-8 seasons. He’s worth pick 20 and that should be the trade. It’s one of the simplest trades in recent memory. What we have available is pretty much his exact value.

Got any proposals? It's a problem invented by you. I don't see the problem. I've reasoned above that he's worth pick 20.

out the door.. I got later mail than earlier thoughts based upon. Still..Simon isn't much chop eh. You really dont have much of a life do you . Must be cozy under the bridge.

Go to Bigfooty then. I frequent Bomber Blitz and other football forums, when it comes to analysis and rational discussion, Demonland is actually on the reasonable side. Your description is more suitable for the Melbourne Facebook groups. I've had to leave most of them because during matches it's a combination of "Drop Petracca" or "Drop Omac" or "Sack Goodwin" with no rational or reasonable insight. We're very lucky to have Demonland.

Wow. There are some people who really just believe the world ought to be arranged to suit them. I really hate the smug expression 'check your privilege', but geezus, there's a man who needs to check his privilege. This is even more inappropriate than the dancing in the Freo changerooms moment, that was at least just a tasteless celebration of a 'good commercial outcome'. Gil is actually putting pressure on a player regarding a significant personal decision.

I think Hibberd, Melksham and Langdon offered similar levels of quality when they joined us. Or in Langdon's case when he joins us. Hibberd was 27, Melksham was 25 and Langdon is 23. Therefore that's the order of increasing cost because you get the quality for longer and that's what happened with Hibberd and Melksham. Hibberd is starting to look near the end. So paying more for Langdon makes sense - our current 2nd rounder.

He gives 110%, which is great. and his core skill of being able to bolt out of the backline to clear it along with being a pretty good 1-on-1 defender adds to it. But those massive gallops often result in turnovers and once that happens and he's past the centre circle, the ball sails back and we're out-manned. Lever and May are much smarter players. They intercept, set up plays and generally hit targets. Much like Salem. Frost is better because of them, not in spite of them When ex-players like Roo-boy say Frost is better that just demonstrates that they don't watch enough of our games. Unfortunately that is nothing new, most commentators don't. With regards to our team I would wager all a lot do is look at a few stats their ghost-writers and support people give them and draw what they think is a well-informed opinion. It's no surprise that they will say Frost is the best player, to me that just highlights this process. Putting it out there, we are the best team to have ever finished 17th. We stopped going for finals before the bye, that seemed obvious to me, the rest of the year has been Goodwin putting on some diplomacy after a loss on camera all the while we're setting up for a full-on assault next year. The cleanouts in the coaching department and new appointments are all part of this. Keep the faith, next year will be good

We are not tanking! Tanking does not exist. I prefer to call it "playing the long game" We are allowing players to play their best albeit sometimes at Casey, sometimes out of position and sometimes they are told to keep away from certain players presumably for their own good. (Sidebottom may have an infectious disease, caused by leather poisoning) No we are not tanking, but if our current selections and coaching is a guide I can understand why you think so. If we are not engaged in "playing the long game" we are in deep poo! But in all seriousness I believe we are "playing the long game".

Mahoney, Viney and Taylor???? What have they done. Oh that’s right brought in quality players, Shame on them.

So many rule changes and changes in general yet they can't even get the umpiring or look of the game right, Gil must go, the current standard is the worst I've ever seen. This will just make it more uneven IMO.

If our players had the endeavour as Frosty has we would be in a better place than we are at the moment. Absolutely! Remember the chase that caught Petruccelle the fleet footed WCE player that tried to take Frosty on, Chased him down caught him and from the back of the jumper and dragged him like a rag doll, literally. Frosty is one of a few players that l feel comfortable about when he is picked to play.

Don't trade pick 2 Anderson will be a gun

I challenge your assertion that Goodwin is stubborn and out of his depth. Unless you are in the club you have no idea what he is like.

You don't reckon the person responsible for strategy for one of the best strategical teams in the comp run by one of the best strategical coaches of all time isn't a good fit for our current vacancy in strategy?

Im not generally in favour of players voting for a captain. Becomes a weird popularity/logies fiasco. That said the recent appointment from above have all been shizen. Melbourne probably doesn't need a captain anyway. We've been coasting along fine without leadership for years now.

Early season trade period My cynical read of this 'The AFL is mindful of the enormous interest generated when players move clubs – web traffic is enormous in the major media outlets and on the AFL’s website during the trading period – and has clearly been keen to open this up further, as happens in American sports' is that the AFL wants to generate 'click bait' and copy yet another element of US sports. All under the guise of more player movement! My practical view is: not much changes from the usual trade period in October to this proposed presason trade period in February. no games played so no exposed form. there will be no draft picks to trade just players. there is more than enough happening in February to keep fans engaged: Preseason, draftee progress, JLT games etc etc. another daft idea that diverts attention from the AFLW. What's more clubs have until mid March to top up their lists with 'rookie drafts' if they have list spots, with players who were previously on a list or a previous draft. As we did with Sparrow Lockhart. Ridiculous idea!!

Time to pack the office up Gil.

Captain??

If someone could compile it, it would be the best highlight & blooper package ever.

I’ve been sticking it up the Frost bashers for over 12 months. Great to be Proven correct.

If you were a fish you would be carp

There's no doubt that Gus rolled the dice and started to leave the contest early. Some stay that's cheating some say that's summing up the situation and reading of the play. Unfortunately for Gus the out numbers lost the contest and Pendles was left to receive an easy ball. Who knows if Gus was actually on Pendles at the time or just closest to him at the start of the clip. You could say Pendles should have gone with Gus as Melb had the numbers or even gone to the contest to even the numbers up. Or was he just lazy or did he roll the dice hoping the pies would win the contest even when out numbered. Anyone who runs forward and gets the ball its great reading of the play. Anyone who runs forwards and doesn't get the ball its cheating and lazy.