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Did you have to yell that?! Spooked the cat.

Obviously, our heads are at the some place. Look, I want a flag, and I am willing to wait a few years and put up with some more losses. I don't want Miller to play ahead of Watts, if that's the choice. If we are playing NM in Rd 10 and we are 1 and 8 and Watts is competing with Miller, I want some surety that Bailey picks the bloke we need to put games into (Watts) rather than the bloke that might creep up his W/L record (Miller). And that the MFC thanks him for it. And we are playing a non-zero-sum game in a zero-sum competition - the list he has helped assemble will be far better when/if he leaves than when he started. This isn't Frawley getting Tim Fleming or Wallace trading for McMahon. In fact, outside of top 15 picks that we have 'earned' - Bailey and Co. have also added Grimes and Pick 11 this year to make sure that the MFC is much better placed years after his 3 years is up. As for concrete KPIs - how would we measure? If it is opinion, well that is subjective and hardly scientific, and unlikely to change inside 6 months. If it is a hard and fast '6 wins' measurement, does that not paint us into a corner? And, finally, flippantly saying that all I care about is 'how the media/'footy world' sees us' and then stipulating that any extension should involve the opinion of said 'footy world' or AFL Industry Experts (whoever the hell they are - hello, Robert Walls) is flagrant hypocrisy.

Just give them 50, I would very surprised if we used that pick anyway.

It would be best for both parties if we could find him a club.

Our recruiters told some journos that Scully was Judd-like in the internal rating system. Got no idea what it all means, but it does tell you that in any draft, let alone this one or last years, Scully is going high.

A great leader, and worthy of a decent pick. I just don't want to give up a pick for him. Maybe 18. PSD1 seems to be an anti-climax for tempting good OOC players but I am hopeful that we can get a decent player south of 25. Good hunting, boys.

Nah, he's OK with it. He cooled a bit on Morabito when Freak warmed to him. God knows I did...

It won't be a 1 year extension if he gets a contract half way through next year; it will be 2 or 3 years. Think about it - you cannot give another 12 months when you are 3 months away from expiry. It will be 24 months or 36 months. We have spring cleaned the list, got Trengove, and now we have to give Bailey more than the first half of 2010 to get us back up the ladder. I can't believe that people don't credit this idea as a compromise between getting rid of him too early and giving him a long contract on little evidence. I'm wary of him, but it looks like I have unlimited faith in him. Therein lies the cunning beauty of my plan... We agreed? Good. Thread done.

That's 'Correct'?! Some of you set a low bar for posters to be 'Correct.' Make no mistake, my desire to give him 1 year now is to avoid giving him another 2, most likely 3, years on very little evidence. Whether you extend half way through 2010 or at the end (you are naive if you think they will wait until the end of the season), the fact remains that he will get his 5th or 6th season. I want to give him his 4th season now to better assess whether he is the coach to take us to a flag. I have got little idea whether he can coach, but I tell you one thing, we won't have a much better idea in 6-8 months time.

They can take their pick of Johnson, Batram, Newton, and Bell. Dunn and Miller would be worth a teeny bit more but I think the deal will be done. Pick 34 would be useful for upgrades with other clubs so I would prefer they keep it.

Good point.

Very droll. Playing Miller - looking for wins. Playing Watts - looking for a flag at the expense of wins. I know where I want Bailey's head to be...

Frawley & Warnock, Davey & Sylvia, Jurrah & Bate if we are decent. Rivers & Bruce, Davey & Moloney, Bate & Green if we don't improve.

We would not have to if we started well. But, let's be honest, push comes to shove when you don't start well. The groundswell would be for removal. And I'm pretty sure there is a mathematical equation (there are equations for everything) that measures the increased pressure on a decision as we get nearer to the expiry date on a contract. And another equation on the likelihood of a renewal the closer we get to the expiry date. As I said, you don't have to renew mid-year, but the lack of faith in the coach would be evident and plain to see. I can't measure the effect that would have on the playing group, maybe it would be a plus, but I know it would an unwelcome distraction. Especially considering the Bring Back Garry Brigade.

I really hope he can come back and play the role that Grimes was playing. Good luck to him and the physios.

I am well aware of the limitations of Rivers. But I am also aware of the limitations of our list. If we don't improve and he stays healthy he will be in our top 6 due to the sheer amount of footy he would see. If a few of our young players come on, then his role will diminish and he will be not be in our top 6.

More like the pressure from fans that are staring down the barrell of another Wooden Spoon. That is where their head would be at if we started poorly next season. There would be little push for a contract renewal and the club would explore its options, this would be the end for Bailey. On half a year's evidence.

He can go in there for half an hour every now and then, but we need to put time into Scully, Trengove, Blease, Strauss, Maric, Bennell, Morton, Grimes, and Petterd. Added to this list are regular mids in the prime - Davey, Moloney, Sylvia, and Jones. The older players need to realise that they will have to play a periphery role. Macca in a BP, Bruce off a HBF, and Green in at FP. Besides, if he has a role in a flag tilt it will be as a 32/33 year old Brad Johnson-type FP.

We, as MFC supporters, have got to stop being such self-loathing, pathetic, and neurotic people. Constantly reflecting on how 'other clubs do it differently,' how 'we were morally questionable' and how 'the media will see our actions.' I honestly wonder if MFC supporters would prefer to finish 2nd and be morally clean, than deal with a bit of controversy and win a flag. Is Jack Trengove worth it? I don't know. But I will tell you this - winning one more game was not worth losing Trengove... And BTW, we 'won' our PP with a kick after the siren. Carlton had to take Fev off the ground against Ess, put him into surgery earlier than necessary, retire Matty Lappin in Rd21 (Rd 21 FCS!), and not go near TJ in that infamous mtach. Do you think Carlton could give a Flying Unicorn Called Kirk?

However, if we get a draw similar to this year and start badly then all bets are off and... The 1 and 10 Demons have fired their coach just 30 months after he was brought in reinvigorate the list. Sean Wellman has been appointed caretaker for the remainder of the season. - Sandy Roberts As for the 1 year extension at the end of next season - talk about a lack of faith. Dean, we gave you three years but we have great reservations on you and we will only offer a 1 year deal. We realise this shows the playing group that we have no faith in you but we've been hurt in the past, you know? - Cameron Schwab

You're assuming that they will wait. We will see...

How irresponsibe?! You are going to give Bailey, who has yet to convince he can coach on matchdays, 5 years in charge on the eividence of half a season?! OR How irresponsible?! You are going to sack a coach on the evidence of half a season with a difficult draw. This is where you are going to end up, with one of these options, and it is not prudent.

I would prefer Davey get the cash rather than inflate the already inflated wages of our kids. And 4 years? Maybe a year too many, but I would back the bloke to go alright in 2013. It will be a contract year after all...

I mentioned this a few times, most recently in the Knights thread. I believe the compromise step, the prudent step, with regard to Dean Bailey's position is to give him a one year extension right now to give him a year and a half to get us back up the ladder. If we go into next year as is, and reassess after Rd 11-15 we will have fired the coach or given him another three years based on 11-15 rounds of evidence. That isn't how you run a successful footy club. Let's hedge our bets and take the prudent step. Give him 2011 right now.

Now, that's a 3-word analysis that Joeboy would be proud of...