Mel Bourne

Right? Bizarre thread.

Lol. Well you might want to inform the club and our new coach of this, because they seem unaware of it.

I wasn’t being literal. Of course there’s a pre-season, and much to do before pre-season training begins. But our players are not currently hanging around the doors of the club wondering where the new coach is. They’ve clocked off. It’s a professional organisation. Anyone alluding to stuff akin to “where does his heart lie?” is being, too put it as kindly as possible, a bit romantic.

Am I missing something here? He’s starting a new job next year, and seeing out his current job. It’s not a big deal.

If May is still at the club next year then I’ll know we’re not being serious about addressing our cultural issues.

“Pulled one over”? Care to explain what you mean by this?

I’ll add to this that any supporters who think there’s nothing in this are being wilfully-ignorant to one of the club’s biggest areas of concern (up there with facilities/forward line). This is of course just my opinion, but I think May has been one of our biggest contributors to culture-death these past few seasons. Off-field stuff aside, he’s always had a vibe of “I was a captain once too, y’know”, and it’s pretty plain to see here.

Yeah but unfortunately it’s Steven May. A dude who basically puts Occam’s Razor right in your palm.

You’re going to shift the blame to our captain for making an “unnecessary” one-minute address to his players at the end of the final match of the year? Any other weird deflections or excuses for a [censored]-poor attitude you wanna make, or are you done?

It’s just relentless with May. Coming down from the Gold Coast with a beer gut, Entrecôte, the constant on-field sprays of his teammates, Dion Prestia, getting in the face of Max to a degree that made headlines… I’m sorry but I don’t want this guy getting in the ears of our young and impressionable players any further. Great player when he’s on, but that’s an ever-diminishing return now. It’s time “Culture” is the most elusive factor for the average supporter to fully understand. We know it’s important, but we don’t have the kind of access to the club to truly know where its thriving and where it’s festering. So maybe I’m being hyper-vigilant in my efforts to identify problems. But I’m pretty sure we’ve been staring right at one for a while now.

The footage circulating of Steven May’s conduct during Max’s post-match/season address in the club rooms is deeply concerning. https://www.reddit.com/r/melbournefc/s/D5mhp4CFsC Absolutely juvenile and disrespectful to our captain (again). I want him gone. Thanks for your contribution buddy, but you can sod off now.

Thought that was a pretty entertaining match considering it was one team who is currently rudderless vs another who were firm flag favourites a few weeks ago. Our skills were way down though. So many errors made at the most basic level that resulted in scores to the opposition. Lever’s intercept marking would’ve been vey handy tonight. Our defence felt monstered all night. Hopefully next year brings success, but I’m ok if it doesn’t. Supporting a footy club is a zen exercise, and there’s no logic in thinking the club you support should be the best club. It’s all about - as people seem more and more inclined to say these days - the [censored] journey.

Hey at least Koz will be playing round one next year.

Hoping you’re right. I feel like Riv’s best footy is still ahead of him.

Who do we suspect we may not see either playing for the Dees, or playing at all next year? The obviously contentious ones are Trac/Oliver, but Salem, May, McVee, Sparrow, Rivers (and more) don’t exactly feel like sure bets heading into the long break.

Have to say, Gerard Whatley’s summation of events is incredibly accurate and hard-hitting…. https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/s/DIfD6vPpbn

“Buckley looks like the favourite to coach the Dees in 26. I wonder since he was a midfielder , will that mean we won't need a mid. coach?“ It’s an interesting question regardless of who gets the gig. How have we rated Jonesy’s performance? It’s hard to make a definitive judgement, given some of our midfield issues have stemmed from factors beyond his control (essentially wavering form from Viney, Trac and more notably, Clarry). Regardless, he is the most inexperienced coach in the squad and the temptation to draw a correlation between any sort of underperformance is there, right or wrong But relieving a club legend from the role after one season could be seen as a further blow to a playing group already adjusting to losing their head coach. (Apologies, forgot to use the original quote/post from Cool X)

Fagan never played AFL either. The importance of being a former player is increasingly overstated.

Could be wrong, but it was my understanding that he’d completed his Level 4 Coaching Program while at the Dees, and then chose to depart in search of a role beyond analysis (which is what he was doing with us and his previous clubs).

Agreed, Daly is worth a good look at as well. But it feels like the winds are blowing in the “safe choice” direction. If I’m being honest, I don’t think we’re in GF contention for at least three more years. Too many other sides’ lists in bloom while ours has some pretty gaping holes (forward line and a currently-lacklustre midfield). Do Bucks/Longmire have that kind of patience (particularly in the face of what will considerable media scrutiny)? And in the case of Longmire, I have an aversion to a coach that walks around with his own personal Grand Final-hoodoo.

One more bump for Craig Jennings… https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16hHaeLz6n/?mibextid=wwXIfr Tactical genius, who has explicitly expressed his desire to prove it in the big chair. Currently midfield/transition coach at GWS (Mr. Orange Tsunami). Strong ties to the Dees, and heavily-rated by his peers. If not for the main job, then let’s get him back to his home state as assistant. But I’d have him as head coach. Can’t say I’m excited by either Bucks or Longmire. Both bad luck charms.

Craig Jennings has always intrigued me. Currently the GWS midfield coach, but has worked under Pagan, Sheedy/Hird, Beveridge and spent four years at the MFC. Never played seniors (and Fagan has shown this isn’t crucial) but is highly regarded as one of the sharpest football minds in the business (he’d occasionally appear on Whatley’s SEN show with some of the best game-analysis I’ve heard). He’s an eccentric guy. Currently living in a van near the GWS training facilities (his family are back here in VIC) and recently built a shelter for the stray cats around there. He was contracted for 9 months up there, but Kingsley has held onto him for three years now. He’s probably pretty keen to sleep in a house again.

Pretty certain there are no bed-makers here when it comes to the club’s decisions.

Across the course of Goodwin’s tenure I’ve watched countless pressers, interviews and behind-the-scenes clips of him. I cannot say that I have ever been impressed or inspired by his use of language or his ability to convey any kind of message beyond the realms of cliche. I’m not suggesting our club - or any club - requires a master of eloquence instructing the players. In fact such a thing would be a quiet disaster. But a club does need a coach to convey complex thoughts with simple and effective messaging. This requires a coach who has a strong grasp of language at both ends of the spectrum. Our players have looked bereft of inspiration for some time now. I am convinced that Goodwin, for all his absolutely well-meaning and valiant efforts does not have the skill-set required to turn this around. It’s my observation (and I acknowledge that’s all this is) that he has chosen “camaraderie” as a means of psychology. All good and well when a team is young, fit and firing but not much help when a team is in the collective doldrums. In fact it creates something far more insidious- the feeling of safety.

I’m not being condescending. I’m actually giving you some credit by saying “you don’t need it explained” that any kind of physical threat can’t be excused as “dark humour”. Whether it was his car or not is irrelevant.