warren dean

I don't think so - in our recent B and f 3 tall defenders finished in the top 6. Our ruckmen and 2 nd ruck finished 7th and 8th. We have McDonald (Tom) and Davis as young talls in development. Watts showed heaps this year. Cook is in development mode. We all know about Gawn. I'd say we're OK for talls, unless an absolute star presents. I think the midfield is the go.

Received a text today from someone I believe to be a very good source - picked the Neeld appointment a week before it happened and has a good track record over the last couple of years. He has contacts in the betting industry. Anyway, the word he passed on to me is this: Lyon is absolutely all over O'Meara. GWS are interested only in picks. Lyon believes that there is significant natural improvement in our list as it stands and believes that we could dispense with pick 12 and one of the scully picks to land O'meara. Gold Coast want to give up pick 4 only, but may be prepared to also offer up their own compo pick as well, putting them ahead of us. If this happens, Lyon has suggested we throw in both compo picks and pick 12. This would mean 3 first round draft picks which obviously nobody could trump short of offering up a superstar - Pendlebury etc. Now, to me 3 first round picks sounds excessive, but Hawthorn did trade 2 first rounders for Burgoyne, and Geelong the same for Ottens (part of the Moloney deal). Obviously Carlton gave up Kennedy, plus early first and second round picks for Judd. So that's the sort of value we would be placing on O'Meara. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Does that mean we shouldn't invest in any more non-indigenous players?? I could mount a case to say they have been equally if not more inconsistent than the indigenous players. How about we pick the best players we can irrespective of their background and back our systems to make them the best they can be.

We'd have to at least talk to Harvey. His record is just a bit over 40% but there has been no side more badly hurt by injuries than the Dockers over the past 18 months. Of all the recent coach sackings he is by far and away the most unfortunate. He is a hard bastard and could add real value to the Demons. He often talks in riddles (obviously spent too much time with Sheeds, but I think given the circumstances his record is good and he certainly put a bit of steel into the flaky Dockers.

He was a Melbourne supporter as a kid. He's not a bad bloke and would genuinely like to see us do well. He can from time to time go over the top with his comments and predictions (eg his stuff about Worsfold).

No, I don't watch it, but should I be worried that I am thinking along the same lines as Robbo? I've just read his article in the Hun this morning as well. I actually emailed Cameron Schwab about Matthews about a month ago. Cam usually replies promptly but hasn't to this one yet.

This is very interesting. Matthews has been out of coaching for 3 years. This is exactly the same amount of time he had between his Collingwood and Brisbane jobs. He is 59 - only a year older than Malthouse. We need a strong leader who can really grab hold of the place. Tactically, he is perhaps a little out of date, but that could be overcome with a decent contemporary coaching panel. I think $1mill a year for 3 years might get the job done. He is currently assisting the Crows with their selection process - maybe it'll get him thinking about getting involved again. Worth a thought!

Absolute rubbish! I heard the interview on SEN this morning and Bailey was fantastic about the Club and the fact that they did everything they could to keep Scully. He even spoke positively of Schwab's efforts!

Yeah, I saw it. Plough said he thought it had to be a mid first round and end of first round, same as for Ablett based on the criteria set by the AFL. They didn't ask Shifter as he is on the committee which decides. I think the best compensation we could get is 2 games against GWS next year. Looking forward to flogging them.

Absolutely nothing rose coloured about being the worst performed Victorian based club yet again. That's 3 of the last 4 years (including twice when we were clearly worst performed of everyone). These last 7 weeks in particular have been diabolical.

It'll be someone who has coached at senior level before - if not Lyon or Malthouse, then Eade, Williams or Laidley.

Still can't see what was positive about this. Under Viney we won one game - a fairly uninspiring effort against GC. We managed to lose to the worst team in the comp and get beaten by Richmond. We'd have been better off letting Bails see out the year and then making a considered judgement rather than the knee jerk stuff that went on after the Geelong debacle. I know most here won't agree with this but I am finding it hard to see what was gained over the past 5 weeks other than confirmation that Viney won't be the next coach.

Well done Swans!

Just mentioned on One Week At A Time that Lyon has been offered a 5 year contract. Apparently moving through the list of best as opposed to best available. Clarkson and Malthouse already declined.

Spot on, Robbie! That's why I think we should be asking Matthews about his availability. He has picked up teams in different eras and won flags in both. He has been out of the game exactly the same amount of time as between his stints at Collingwood and Brisbane. I think if he is going to coach again now is the time. He is only slightly older than Malthouse and has the aura about him that our players need. He would also attract quality contemporary assistant coaches.

Great work Robbie! I listened to Eade last night and there is no doubt he can provide the hard edge we need. He will get noses out of joint, but over a long period time he has had fairly average sides playing deep into September. I think he could be the one!

No it wasn't. He coached the Swans in 1985 and got the flick because he "lacked charisma".

Coaching records of Ayres, Laidley and Williams make interesting comparison. Ayres 223 games, 120 wins, 102 losses, 1 draw, 53.8% Laidley 149 games, 72 wins, 75 losses, 2 draws, 48.3% Williams, 274 games, 151 wins, 121 losses, 2 draws, 55.1% (Williams only won 21 games in his last 3 seasons out of 59 games coached) I'd say Ayres stacks up about as well as 2 of the blokes under serious consideration.

Correct. Check Kreuzer's stats - 4 kicks 7 handballs at just a touch over 70% effective. 4 marks for the game when plenty of ball was coming his way. Rivers held up very well, and although he is an easy bloke to criticize, he played a decent game yesterday.

So which of the more experienced players are you suggesting? Moloney, as I have said many times previously, is the biggest flat track bully in the competition; Jones suffers from a complete lack of footy nous, although he has a crack, Davey is not nearly hard enough; Rivers, a serviceable player but no leader and Green - enough said. Who does that leave - Jamar - maybe if he can get himself on the park more regularly; Sylvia - pass!; unfortunately we have run out of options from our more experienced players. The Club needs to be brave, and do what many other successful clubs have done and appoint a player from the group which is most likely to take us forward - that's the group which is currently between 19-21 and there is no doubt that of that group Jack Trengove demonstrates all the qualities required. Much as Worsfold stood out at the Eagles when he was 21, and Voss at Brisbanes when he was 21. There is no other option.

If Toddy is fair dinkum, Green won't be selected next week.

Spot on, Captain! Actually thought the back line held up pretty well given the weight of easy ball into Carlton's forward line. 14 individual goalkickers for the Blues tells you the backline wasn't to blame. Really like Garland on Betts and thought Rivers and Frawley more than held their own. Tappy had a crack as usual and Joel played a pretty reasonable game. Our midfield was gutted pretty much all day. Funny how Moloney (who apparently bleeds for the club!!) can't seem to get near it against decent opposition.

6.Wattsy 5. Col Garland (great game by Col after last week) 4. Trenners (great comeback after half time) 3. Rivers 2. Howe 1. Joel

I actually think it's an excellent article and Schwass raises a number of salient points. A man of Pagan's experience and qualifications should be an absolute must on a coaching selection panel, and his point about making Trengove Captain next year (and the reasoning for it)is not only interesting but valid.

Most of the great skippers got the job early - Paul Kelly, Voss, Hird, Carey, Spud Frawley, Garry Lyon, Kernahan, Ted Whitten were all in their early 20's when they were given the job. Naturals will do the job well irrespective of their age. Trengove is a natural!!