Engorged Onion

Sometime I cheat and I can’t be bothered typing with my fat sausage fingers on my phone - so I voice upload my thoughts and here we are…

The “hard-[censored] coach = results” view is stuck in the 1950s. Performance is driven by connection, precision, and trust—not intimidation. To suggest losing comes down to a coach being “too soft” is reductionist at best. The evidence is clear: consistent outcomes come from psychological safety and clarity, not dogma. I look forward to the usual suspects crapping on in due course…

Maybe ‘we’ don’t leak after all…

Taking the pi$$??

and... 😙

What’s the rationale @Ted Lasso ? IP? Optics of conflict of interest? ‘Mind elsewhere’?

I am genuinely interested here in people’s opinions. I get a sense some think if you’re interested in another role, there is no possible way you’re committed to your current employer.

did this require its own thread?

Step one: preliminary meetings with Buckley in early 2025. Step two: politely turf Goodwin. Step three: instead of fighting off Carlton or Essendon, we actually get ahead of the AFL itself to line up Buckley. And then—because the AFL can’t help but meddle—they’re forced to offer up Caulfield as a home base, or other collateral or incentives, plus “mysteriously” help us land a fantastic coach (who, spoiler alert, isn’t even Buckley). That’s not just doing a Steven Bradbury. That’s Steven Bradbury winning the Olympic gold, then being handed a lifetime supply of ice skates, and a Netflix doco deal by the IOC. Maybe, just maybe… we actually know what we’re doing after all. 😆 here (for those that are too young ,or forgot...)

The whole “no one wants the Melbourne job” take is lazy. This isn’t rejection, it’s culture. MFC are smart enough to manage optics so that coaches bow out with respect rather than get publicly stamped as “not good enough.” That protects individuals, protects the brand, and is exactly how you handle a high-profile role in 2025. Further, It’s not just Buckley’s gig, and we’re definitely not a rabble. What you’re look long at is a club that’s stabilised, understands perception, and is running things like a professional organisation should. That’s what good culture looks like — and a few other clubs could take notes.

had to google that...

Oh, look, a negotiable fixture, rather than one based on fairness and equity. 😅 Looking forward to the Buckley appointment then.. the commercial reality is that Buckley (not MFC) versus his old club, is the best narrative to sell that opening match.

So kicking off the ground and out is fine?

On a Demonland forum, that’d typically be seen as disgraceful…

BT froths over Daicos like he’s watching Swan Lake because it’s not really about Nick — it’s anima projection as you said. He’s just spraying his own unmet need for beauty and creativity all over the commentary box. Daicos is the canvas, BT’s mid/late life psyche is the paint. And I’m not even joking.

Ahhh.... the Crows’ grand final “power stance”! A very funny moment in history of the sport -depending on the lens you have. Same crew behind that Adelaide camp saga. Honestly, it was less psychology, more “discount men’s retreat with bonus chanting.” Footy clubs get dazzled by hype all the time. The problem isn’t intent — it’s mistaking gimmicks for substance. A power pose might look tough, or 'conected' in theory, but it looked like Year 9 drama class warming up. Anyway good to see they have moved on last night...

It's a great narrative post match - and fundamentally flawed. If you're having to intellectualise doing it for someone, whilst you are out there, then you're not 'on task' and present to what's happening.

When you take a step back and really look at how the AFL operates, it’s clear it isn’t just about one journalist pushing a line or one club trying to protect itself. The whole thing functions as an ecosystem where media, governance, and legal frameworks overlap in ways that are often invisible to supporters. An AFL media accreditation is a licence to access players, coaches, and inner circles. With that comes subtle but very real pressure: play the game and the doors stay open, push too hard against the grain and access dries up. That dynamic alone explains why certain stories get told loudly while others barely see daylight. Then there’s the legal and governance layer, which is just as tightly interwoven. It’s not unusual to see the same lawyers or compliance people advising the AFL in one capacity and then appearing for clubs or players in another. Think back to the Essendon supplements saga or the Dees under Bailey with tanking...—AFL-appointed lawyers were simultaneously protecting the league’s broader integrity while working directly with the clubs under scrutiny. At board level, individuals often sit across multiple bodies: the AFL Commission, state leagues, even the AFLPA. None of this is hidden, but it does blur the lines of independence. The real purpose isn’t to create transparency—it’s to manage risk! So when Caro comes out with something that feels like an agenda, such as now... it’s worth remembering she isn’t operating in isolation. She’s moving within that ecosystem, one where narratives are constantly shaped, softened, or amplified depending on whose interests are being served. Understanding this doesn’t mean dismissing her or anyone else, but it does show why these stories land the way they do. They’re not just journalistic takes; they’re part of a system designed to protect itself. If we understand that, then our responses can change... The AFL is no longer sport in its purest sense; it’s an entertainment product built on sport. That doesn’t make what happens on the field any less real, but it does explain why the stories, the governance, and the decisions around the game so often feel stage-managed. If we can see it for what it is, we don’t have to be annoyed when agendas surface—we can simply recognise the system at work. For me that awareness probably makes following the game easier, not harder, probably a bit detached and cynical really.. TL/DR The AFL is an ecosystem. Media, governance, and legal structures are interconnected, shaping the way stories are told and decisions are made. Access matters. Journalists rely on accreditation to stay close to players and coaches. That reliance naturally affects which stories get airtime and which fade away. Legal crossover is common. The same advisers often work for the AFL, clubs, and players. It doesn’t mean corruption — it means risk is carefully managed, sometimes at the cost of independence. Narratives are carefully managed. Headlines don’t appear in isolation; they’re part of a bigger pattern where certain interests are protected and others minimised. It’s not the 1980s anymore. Back then, following footy felt more innocent and unfiltered — local clubs, raw stories, fewer layers of spin. Today the game has grown into a full entertainment product, and with that growth has come more orchestration and stage-management. (thanks CHATGPT)

I don’t think it’s really about being “sensitive” at all—it’s about recognising the weight that comes when Caro goes public with a view like this. She doesn’t just toss opinions into the ether; she actively reframes the conversation. If she keeps pressing the idea that Buckley belongs in Tasmania, that narrative takes on a sense of inevitability, almost like it’s the noble, legacy-defining path. And that does ripple outward—to boards, sponsors, and AFL decision-makers who are always conscious of how things will be perceived. But when it comes down to Buckley himself. He’s been around the fire long enough to know the noise never stops, and he’s appears to not be the type to be steered by someone else’s headlines... Caro can shape the theatre around the choice, but she doesn’t make the choice for him.... As for those close to Buckley advising him to tread carefully with Melbourne—of course that’s happening. I've made two massive decisions in my life this year and sought council... the future is still unclear. That’s the nature of any high-stakes decision. Friends and colleagues will caution against walking into a club that’s looked fractured for two years.. If not him then I think you’re right—someone like Brendan Lade makes sense. A steadying hand, exposure to different systems, no media storm before he even signs the contract. Sometimes the best choice is the one who arrives without a narrative already written for them... I dont care who we get really, as I dont have the optics on the best candidate thats a fit for where we are at, and the culture within - clearly change was required from an FD perspective, and as inevitable - the playing list too...

a few of these in me... 🍺 stream of consciousness and then constant rewording/reworking...

In my opinion - If you step back from the noisethe Buckley discussion isn’t really about whether he ends up at Melbourne or Tasmania—it’s about what those choices represent in the AFL landscape, and what gets revealed when people like Caroline Wilson start publicly nudging him one way or another. Caroline has always played the role of provocateur and guardian of the game’s bigger picture, and when she makes a point of pushing Buckley towards Tasmania, you have to see the agenda sitting behind it. Tasmania is the AFL’s most fragile project—it’s a political, cultural, and financial gamble. To land someone with Bucley’s name and stature gives it instant credibility, the kind of legitimacy that no PR campaign could buy. She’s talking about Buckley the symbol. For her,its about protecting the long-term integrity of the AFL’s national expansion. Thats her agenda... But here’s the cost. Relationships in footy matter more than people like to admit. Publicly steering Buckley isn’t neutral. It risks friction with Melbourne, who have their own needs and narrative. I'd wager it risks friction with Buckley himself, who has always been fiercely independent (well looks to be) and unlikely to appreciate being typecast into someone else’s storyline, so the question is, is he his own person, or does he toe the industry line that he has been part of for 3 decades. For Buckley, the two choices couldn’t be more different. At Melbourne, he gets immediacy: a list that’s capable(??), a culture in need of repair, and the chance to walk straight back into finals. At Tasmania, he gets a blank canvas, patience, and the prospect of becoming something bigger than a coach—more like a founding father. Melbourne is safer, Tasmania is riskier, but only one offers the kind of immortality that comes from shaping a club and a state from scratch...but then I cant recall GWS or GC initial coaches of the top of my head...let alone in another 10-20years. The fact (hey @Gator , we love facts!) Wilson is advocating so openly tells you this isn’t just about Buckley, it’s about how the AFL wants to look in ten years. For mine, the conversation is really just a reflection of the industies own anxieties... nothing is ever afait acompli (assuming Buckley has historically said he is open to the Tassie gig...which kind of feels like this is why its all so pointed).

I admire your certainty — you drop “partly” like it’s etched in stone. But calling it “Fact” doesn’t make the conclusion factual. Sure, it’s true Langford was 19. What’s not a fact is that this caused his strong finish. If birthdays worked like that, every player would level up like a video game — hit 19 and instantly unlock +10 stamina. The reality is the modern AFL is faster, more congested, and played with fewer rotations than when Bont debuted. Langford’s growth was about adapting to that, not just a calendar tick-over. In my opinion, an alternative viewpoint is being simplistic and dismissive. Go Dees.

That’s a really shallow read on Langford. To chalk up his strong finish to “being 19, not 18” dismisses both his development and the reality of the modern AFL. First, age doesn’t determine performance. We’ve seen 18-year-olds excel from day one — Sam Walsh averaged 25 disposals in his debut season, Nick Daicos was All-Australian by his second, and Harry Sheezel won a best and fairest in year one. On the flip side, plenty of 19- and even 20-year-olds take years to find their feet. The difference is opportunity, role, and adaptabilit. Langford earned his impact by adjusting to the speed and physicality across the season. Second, comparing him to Marcus Bontempelli’s debut is misleading. Bont wasn’t a “normal” 18-year-old — he averaged 16 disposals and a goal a game in 2014, and by 2016 (at 20) he was already All-Australian. He’s a generational outlier, not the benchmark. And let’s not forget: when Bont was a first-year player, the game was slower and less physically taxing. In 2014, average game speed was significantly lower, rotations per team were 131 on average, and congestion hadn’t peaked. Now? Interchange caps have dropped to 75, ball-in-play time has increased, and GPS data shows players covering more ground at higher intensity than ever before. Simply put, it’s a much tougher environment for first- and second-year players to “run out” a season. So to say Langford finished strongly “because he was 19” ignores the bigger picture: he adapted, built resilience, and performed in a competition that’s never been more physically and mentally demanding. That’s not a calendar advantage — that’s development and talent. THE BONT Drafted: Pick 4, 2013 draft. Debut season (2014, aged 18): Played 16 games. Averaged 15.7 disposals, 3.7 marks, 3.1 tackles, and 1.0 goals per game. Won the AFL Rising Star nomination in Round 13 and finished runner-up overall. Second season (2015, aged 19–20): Played 20 games. Averaged 21 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, and 0.7 goals. Third season (2016, aged 20–21): Played 22 games. Averaged 23.7 disposals, 6.5 tackles. Named All-Australian at just 20 years old.

YKYWT...