Coq au vin

10 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Have to bring in T Mac and Bennell...  will need all the talent we have on the park this week, as bad as T Mac has been he could pull something out of the hat.

At least one of them could act as a foil to draw a defender away while someone else leads and takes a mark.

15 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Development. We are poor at it. Fin.

Nonsense. Molly-coddling stars is unnecessary. Do you think Buddy Franklin needed ‘development’ or Wayne Carey? 

11 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

It's just another Goody Goody num num.  He finds a player's strengths, in fact sometimes he seems to find the team's strengths in terms of playing certain players in particular roles / positions that suit.  This might last for a week or two.  Maybe even three.  And yes there will be required changes for match ups or injuries depending on the week & the opponent.  But how many change ups can a player / team handle before the wheels start falling off?  And far too often we've seen far too many of these madding changes under this bloke.

I heard an interview with a Docker player after their win last night.  And one of the question was "what are you enjoying most about this year under Longmuir?" or something to that effect.  His response along the line of...   "being able to play the same position most weeks allowing me to settle in and learn the role.  That's given me alot of confidence when i run out each week".  How do you reckon our blokes are coping here under SG's constant change ups?

You are stating the opposite of what most demonlanders have been complaining about with Goodwin . The prevailing view is that he is too stubborn and never changes anything!

55 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

If I recall correctly Roos wanted to take Stuart Dew from Sydney to groom him for the head coach role before he decided on Goodwin. I often wonder where we’d be if he had arrived. I’ve watched the Gold Coast a few times this year. They compete hard for a young group, they’re organised, play for each other and have bags of talent (Tell me who’s a more exciting young player in the league than Izak Rankine). They are definitely on the right track.

Of course if he’s successful on the Gold Coast the AFL would never let him leave for another club.

And they’re 14th on the ladder despite all the draft picks they’ve been gifted over many years.

1 minute ago, BW511 said:

Nor was he hard-edged.

He would be a good compliment to a Clarko type, but doesn’t seem like he’s a stand alone leader

Agree

40 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I am not sold that Goodwin must go unless there is clearly an improved position for both development and list management. That to me is Clarkson or hold. If not then the club in a weird 17 x shortened game year played completely away from home would want to be certain that Goodwin cannot take us further under new normal circumstances. If that was the case under no circumstances would I want an untried coach. I would want someone who has learnt in a strong current system and who exhudes success and leadership. That to me would be Voss. 

Agree with all you say except Voss

51 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Came very close to getting the Adelaide job, and someone else mentioned here they heard he nearly got the Freo job.

Credited with greatly improving the kicking skills at the Hawks, worked his way up to being strategy coach.

Kicking skills and strategy would be pretty much the first things on the wish list for most of us I reckon.

Personally I don't think he's quite ready to be senior coach for us, but I can't imagine a better fit for an assistant coach, possibly with the view that he's the successor to an experienced coach we name.

Couldn't care less he's a former Demon.

He never seemed very bright.

1 hour ago, The Great Pretender said:

Essendon's Conor McKenna has retired, effective immediately.

 It was thanks to him that Melbourne’s fortunes started going off the rails in the early part of the season. We missed that game only one week after the resumption and we had a flat start the following week against Geelong. Perhaps, if McKenna hadn’t tested positive we might have had two extra wins plus a week’s respite by way of a bye around this time of year which might have made all the difference?

He should be condemned to the fires of hell forever. Our season’s failure is entirely due to him.

2 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Not sure what everyone else thinks, but with finals pretty much out of the picture, you've got to look towards next year.

So, give the kids like Pickett, Bedford, Baker etc another crack.  Get Lockhart in there.  As much as I love him, keep Jetta out of there and I'd keep Jones out as well, although you get the feeling his season is done.

I'd keep Gus out of the side for the year with the footy injury.  Even if he is close to full fitness, I'd keep Jackson out until next year.  No need to stick him in there for no reason.

So, going by the above I'd go... er....

In:  Lockhart, Brown (goes against everything in terms of looking to the future, but a bloke with no arms could do better than Preuss in the forward line.)

Out:  Hibberd (give the ankle a rest), Preuss.

But, really, it's a bit 'meh' this week.

We should select the best side available. All of the boys have a crack. They use it every day unless constipated which a lot of them look like they are. Tom McDonald should come back . Brown should be played if fit. Otherwise why was he recruited at his age? Jetta should be played. He’s a great player. VandenBerg should play. Don’t play the VFL fringe players. Delist them instead.

TMac needs to work on his fitness and lose weight. Whoever told him to bulk up is a fool. This is not Rugby League. Players who bulk up too much go backwards in AFL. 

8 hours ago, rolling fog said:

I didn't say anything about the players we have. I said Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney and maybe Richmond have been able to achieve, to varying degrees, sustainable success without consistently high picks or massive trades.

Now of course there's exceptions to everything - Dangerfield, Franklin, Lynch etc. 

But they've developed the players they have or strategically targeted players they think they can develop. 

Case in point: take the Hawthorn sides of the three-peat years, a cursory look through their squad confirms, give or take, seven players that were top 20 picks by Hawthorn, and most of those were the players from the 'super-draft' years in the mid-2000's namely Hodge, Roughead, Lewis, Rioli etc. and all developed over a period of time by Clarkson and the support structures around them. The rest are picks +30 that they've nurtured to their potential or players they've secured from other clubs and rejuvenated - McEvoy, Hale, Burgoyne, Gibson, Lake, *cough* Frawley.

That's moneyball.  

We seem unwilling and/or unable to do this.

Absolute nonsense. They had high draft picks galore and elite players galore. Players wanted to go there. Did Buddy need “development” or Ablett or Dangerfield or Selwood or Lewis or any of the other elites. Of course not. They were naturally talented and motivated. Stop taking away personal responsibility from players for their own ‘development’ and behaviours. The coaches can try and tell them what to do but they are ultimately responsible for their own actions.

He’s too small. Reminds me of JKH. Goal-kicking atrocious. Fumbles the ball. Taps inappropriately. Will be delisted in a couple of years.

3 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

Fascinating I am sure.

What’s the point of that comment? Just to be unpleasant? Thanks sweetie!

12 minutes ago, SFebes said:

Does anyone remember Tom Hawkins back injury at a guess 5 or so years ago, couldn't jump, bend down or move. This is what I think TMAC has got, I could be wrong but considering he's one of the fittest going around, doesn't make sense. Unless he's had a barney with the coach?

Apparently he was told to gain 10kg to be able to play full forward and bust packs apart. Big mistake. Now he can’t run!

8 minutes ago, SFebes said:

Does anyone remember Tom Hawkins back injury at a guess 5 or so years ago, couldn't jump, bend down or move. This is what I think TMAC has got, I could be wrong but considering he's one of the fittest going around, doesn't make sense. Unless he's had a barney with the coach?

Apparently he was told to gain 10kg to be able to play full forward and bust packs apart. Big mistake. Now he can’t run!

40 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

So what was the point of what you said.

 

It was a description of what happened that some may not have seen.

1 hour ago, Half forward flank said:

Yeah, different. Hogan had a go at him for fumbling the ball in th goalsquare that resulted in a goal. That is not leadership, its just heated words.

I didn’t mention leadership.

2 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

Worrying sign at three quarter time. Max and Viney find themselves along side each other walking to the huddle, no sign of conversation between Captain and VC. To break the awkwardness Max moves to his right to acknowlege another player. No leadership 

Max and Hogan exchanged a few heated words at one stage.

5 minutes ago, rolling fog said:

I didn't say anything about the players we have. I said Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney and maybe Richmond have been able to achieve, to varying degrees, sustainable success without consistently high picks or massive trades.

Now of course there's exceptions to everything - Dangerfield, Franklin, Lynch etc. 

But they've developed the players they have or strategically targeted players they think they can develop. 

Case in point: take the Hawthorn sides of the three-peat years, a cursory look through their squad confirms, give or take, seven players that were top 20 picks by Hawthorn, and most of those were the players from the 'super-draft' years in the mid-2000's namely Hodge, Roughead, Lewis, Rioli etc. and all developed over a period of time by Clarkson and the support structures around them. The rest are picks +30 that they've nurtured to their potential or players they've secured from other clubs and rejuvenated - McEvoy, Hale, Burgoyne, Gibson, Lake, *cough* Frawley.

That's moneyball.  

We seem unwilling and/or unable to do this.

The draft is a lottery and Hawthorn won it. They had Mitchell, Lewis, Hodge, Franklin, Rioli, Roughead. They would have won premierships with those players with no coach or any coach.

David Parkin was a premiership coach at two clubs as was Leigh Matthews.

9 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

 

Really like this suggestion. However, I still think we must get an experienced senior coach in Alistair Clarkson.

Adem Yze can come across as an assistant as well as coach of of our VFL side the Casey Demons. This is because I still believe Adem Yze needs to coach a team of his own to have more experience.

 

We definitely need good football people to help with our leadership and culture. Those who are winners and know what it takes to win Premierships.

I would also look at getting Luke Hodge involved in a part-time role.

Basically, any former AFL players with Premiership experience and wish to be coaches should be considered.

Another priority is player development and that is why we need the best in the business in Mark "Choco" Williams. He is very keen to be involved with an AFL club again and would definitely jump at the chance of being involved with improving the Demons.

I also like the idea of of keeping Alan Richardson as director of coaching and to assist in a more consultative role. Let him have more of an opportunity to have an impact on the club seeing as Alan Richardson has only been here 1 season so far.

Finally we should look at Brad Scott as Football General Manager to take over from Josh Mahoney as he has had long enough and we need a fresh start.

I also want Garry Lyon and/or David Schwarz to be more involved with the Melbourne Football Club again. Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton have balanced club involvement with media roles. Why can't Garry Lyon or David Schwarz?

Basically, I want ruthless people involved at the club who demand high standards from all the players and want to constantly drive for success. 

In the end the Melbourne Football Club board needs to drive these changes and if they don't then we as members will replace them.

Neeld was ruthless. And useless.

12 minutes ago, rolling fog said:

It's all well and good to say that we need better players, not sub par/VFL standard etc. players. 

This doesn't just happen through high draft picks and expensive trades. There simply isn't the supply of players that are both quality and available, not to mention you generally need to pay over the odds to prise players from another club. 

So the key is to develop what you have and/or draft strategically and place elite development resources and support structures around the players. 

The great sides of the last 20-ish have all done this in a sustainable way - Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney, Richmond (?)

That's true moneyball, and I don't see us doing this. 

Goodwin's game plan relies on the individual brilliance of some highly touted players - Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, May.

So when they stink it up or are well held there isn't the depth or game structure to adapt.  

You don’t really believe we have the talented players that Hawthorn, Geelong, Richmond or Sydney have had over the past 10-15 years? Tell me you’re not serious?

8 hours ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

There is still plenty of talent on the list, coming into the right age to compete and play consistent finals... BUT 

there is now a serious question mark on if we have the right bloke to maximize that talent and get us where we need to go. 

No there isn’t. Not enough talent. We need about six elite players, especially a couple of forwards and a couple of outside mids. Look at Geelong. Look at WC. They have WAY better lists. The coach can’t make a silk purse out of a dingo’s scrotum.

The podcast says that the Melbourne members voted by a slim margin for the merger. My memory is that many members were locked out of the meeting and there were questions about the validity and number of the proxy votes by mail. The podcast touches on this but doesn’t make it all clear. Also many dyed-in-the-wool supporters were members of the MCC but didn’t join the MFC because there was little advantage  to them to join: so no voting rights. I believe it’s a myth that MFC members voted for the merger and this myth is another reason other clubs’ supporters think we’re weak.

57 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

 Nobody said we were a top team

We can be and we should be.