warren dean

http://www.bomberblitz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=36884 Oops! Looks like I might have upset a few of our friends at Bomberblitz! Still, provided me with a few laughs and proved what morons most of them are - not you, Ash!

So they went through all of the above to simply promote the reserves coach! Ash, if you are reading this, what has Knights been like with the ressies?

Like redraft Molan, I too have been following the Demons since the days of Ditterich as coach. I agree with him that the Daniher years were hardly abject failures. In fact, in our attempts to woo Judd, I believe much has been made of the fact that we are the third most successful side (in terms of final appearances) in the past 10 years. Certainly, Daniher and Northey stand out as our best performed coaches in my time. However, and I have said this a number of times on this forum, I believe that CAC has done no more than a solid job with recruitment. Our best efforts have clearly been at the rookie draft (McDonald and Robertson both winning B&F coming off that list, Bassett was rookied by us before becoming an AA with Adelaide; Davey, Ward, Bishop, Walsh, Jolly, Jamar etc etc) I'd have to say that his best draft was 1999 (Green, Bruce, Whelan, Wheatley and also Godfrey in preseason) and that was after losing our first round pick (would have been pick 5) after salary cap breaches. Other than that I can see CAC has had a few draft shortcomings, mainly in KPP's. Despite this our list is hardly in horrible shape - I believe we have as much young potential as most sides and now that we have a few delistings and retirements, our list is beginning to look a little younger. Also, don't judge a list by the number of AA on it. There have been some shocking AA selections over the year - it is pretty much a wasted exercise which does nothing more than prop up a players ability to bargain at contract time.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E19742,00.html The Bummers have seriously lost the plot! Sacking Sheedy in the messiest way possible ("we're not; no comment; we are") 7 weeks before the end of the season made one think they had a readymade replacement (Voss?). Then when he says no, they try to steal Williams (still under contract) and distract Thompson. Then they overlook Bailey (he rings stride and doesn't get to first base). When they finally make a shortlist it is conditional upon whether or not Thompson might be approached after the Grand Final!! Then, another of their favourite sons is treated with great disrespect by finding out through the media that he is no longer in contention. What an amateurish organisation!! No chance with Judd now (if they ever really had one)!! How the mighty have fallen!

Well, Diablo, I feel you may be right! I just heard from somebody whose opinion I respect who is loosely connected to the Melbourne end of the WCE. He says that we are definitely the preferred option as as the Eagles are concerned and that they want 2 first rounders preferably, or will settle for pick 4, Chip Frawley and one of our mid-20's midfielders. Apparently they were very keen on Chip last year and rate him highly. Bruce, Green or Johnstone would be suitable. They are very keen on Morton and Palmer by all accounts, hence the desire to trade up in the first round.

You are correct. In 1997 both St Kilda and Adelaide had missed the previous years finals. In fact of the 4 prelim finalists, only North had been a finalist (premiers) the year before. The Bulldogs came from second last to miss the GF by 2 points. In years since there have been a few instances of one side making the GF after not playing finals the previous year (including us in 2000), but not both.

Yep, that was what promoted the discussion - I believe it was Mark Robinson who queried how much pace he would add; Eade spoke about "run" as opposed to pace. I think he'd go well on the big Subiaco ground.

Beama, did you read my post? The source was Eade on "Before the Bounce". He said he believed discussions had or were going to take place. Simple as that. By the way - I don't think it is such a ludicrous idea - the Dockers love recruiting mid-career players who are due for a change of environment. Might work out well for all parties.

Last night on "Before the Bounce" on Foxtel, there was a discussion about the Dockers and their need to get more midfield run. Rocket Eade said that the Dockers were after Johnstone ( or had spoken to - can't remember which). There was some discussion as to how much pace he would add, but Eade was definite that it was an avenue the Dockers were exploring. I wonder what Freo would be prepared to put up and how this might assist us with other possibilities?

It's not about what we are willing to give but what the Eagles might want. Would they want a midfield player - Kerr, Cousins, Embley, Priddis etc is still a very potent midfield and probably the best in the comp as a collective. Would they want a Johnstone? Their greatest need is a key forward - who do we have who could fit that bill? I think we might need to trade for another first round pick to add to pick 4 if we want to get over the line on this one.

You're spot on, BUB. North won last night because Laidley coached better than Clarkson and the North leaders were far more influential that their Hawthorn counterparts. The fact that the Hawks spent most of the night trying to belt the living suitcase out of the smallest guy on the field told as to what state of mind they were in. I have the utmost admiration for North - they are a club to be admired because they genuinely have spirit and for as long as I can remember have always punched above their division. Since 1992 only 5 times has the Cup been won by a Vic side - twice by Essendon (enormous wealth), once by Carlton (over the cap) and twice by North. A mighty effort by the Kangas!

You're sort of right, Jaded! They have some exceptional defenders (Scarlett, Milburn especially), but it is their defensive pressure right across the ground that makes the difference. Blokes like Chapman and Ling are great both ways, as is most of their line up. Even Ottens has improved his defensive work. Ablett, Bartel etc are absolute stars but they do it both defensively and offensively. When your stars play this way, everyone else follows - it's exactly the way the great Hawthorn teams used to play - Dunstall and Brereton, Platten etc had the ability to hurt both ways. It's hard to see anyone beating them now!

Now that we have a coach and a footy manager, our next greatest need is a development coach in the mould of Alan Richardson at Collingwood - somebody who can fast track the young blokes and maybe bring them forward 6 to 12 months. Possibly somebody currently working in the U18's. Richardson has done agreat job at Collingwood - wonder if we could pinch him!

According to Hutchie's column in the Sunday Age, prospective coaches were asked if they would trade Trapper! An interesting question from our selection panel! I hope the answer from all candidates was only if a suitable trade could be arranged. He would have to be worth a first round pick - surely. A very good record in finals, a club B&F winner and usually wonderful skills. On the other hand, perceived to have wasted his natural ability, seen as lazy and hasn't played many "full" seasons. I'd be reluctant to let him go but I guess all avenues need to be explored.

A very astute coach, an exceptional recruiting team and a stable administration. They have an uncanny knack of being able to turn fair to middling players at other clubs into very important players at PA. Good luck to them!

You may well be right. Danny Hughes won the B&F in his second season (1985), but he did have senior experience with Port Adelaide in the SANFL; and Steven Stretch also won the award in his second season (1987), but once again had played some senior footy with the then West Torrens Football Club. Sugar Healy won the award in his third season (1986) after coming up through the U19's. Would have to go back to well before the '80's to find anyone else who might have. I still think Belly will be leading up to his injury against the Bombers, and Bruce will also poll well in the first half of the season, but the Jones boy should storm home. Only competition likely to be Junior and Whitey (based purely on his being out there each week)!

Connolly is a ife member because he spent 10 years on the senior list between 1982 and 1991. Unfortunately he suffered two major knee injuries whch seriously impacted on his final games tally.

Welcome home, Chris! I've still got the old duffle coat with the big red 22 on the back circa 1984. A bit tight nowadays! It's good to have you back!

The AA selectors have done a good job, unusually! I find it hard to argue with any of their top 40 list. Heath Shaw would be a bit unlucky but other than that I reckon they are on the money! The best Demons this year have been Jones and JMac and neither would be ahead of the midfield list selected.

Agree entirely, Fan! Just clearing up what type of supporter I am, for the record!

That would be the type of supporter who wants both sustainable success and long term viability. The type of supporter who will continue to support the club even if it makes decisions he doesn't always agree with. The type of supporter who voted "No" to the merger because he wants to see the Melbourne Demons win a flag, not some hybrid club and the type of supporter who wants his kids to have the feeling of belonging to a club that they know is theirs. I rarely agree with the decisions of footy administrations (league or club) because I think to some degree thay have forgotten about the fan. I will, however, always pay my membership each year, because it is this action which I believe justifies my right to express an opinion. I do not accept mediocrity, but I do accept that I am Melbourne through and through, as are my kids who probably know no better. I am 100% behind Dean Bailey and I hope he can help us as supporters to fulfill our dreams, but he cannot do it by himself, and if the club whithers on the vine, then he will have no chance of winning anything and then we have no one to follow. Go Demons!!

Good on you, Haydo! I mustadmit you raised my hpes a fair bit over the past fortnight, but well done for putting it on the line!

They didn't want Bailey, either! Apparently his Victorian profile isn't big enough in their opinion. Does this mean we have made a mistake? I hope not. I think he'll be a good coach, as Sheeds would have been.

Well thanks for clearing that up! I'm sorry your support of the Demons for the past, what 30 or so years, has been so unfulfilling. I have 30 years of great memories of afternoons spent with my Dad and brothers, visiting the old suburban grounds and talking about the feats of Flower, Wells, Lyon etc with my two kids who happen to be of similar age to yours. Sure, I really want a flag, but I love the Melbourne footy club. Oh and I don't ski, Idrive a Falcon and I vote Labor. We are a broad church - conditional or unconditional love for the club. See you at the game tomorrow night!

And there it is - proof positive of your lack of vision and understanding. We all want a premiership; but ask Fitzroy supporters which is more important - the Club or the Flag? We need visionaries to grow the brand. Success helps that but it can't sustain an organisation on its own. Your diatribe and insinuation that I am a simpleton because I can clearly articulate a view which is different to your own says much about you Hannabal. Our club is at the cross roads. If we cannot build a sustainable support base then we are in trouble longer term! We'll see if we can get that flag before then! Your generational support argument is an interesting one. Is our poor membership in comparison to other clubs due to our poor performance or our poor marketing? We have played finals in 4 of the past 6 years, the best record of any Vic club yet lag behind many poor poorer performers over that period. Surely as the oldest club we should be generationally predisposed to higher levels of support! You know what I want even more than a flag - respect for this club and to be able to guarantee my kids that their team will still be around when they are my age. I'd love a flag too, but for many footy is about more than winning; it's a way of life - many supporters have been lost to the game because their administrations didn't do enough early enough.