The Taciturn Demon

He was really good again. I think the "he's from the real world" stuff is a bit much, but from everything I've heard so far he sounds like a good choice as CEO. Interesting in that conversation how strong he was on the return to finals and how positive all candidates were about our list. I reckon finals next year would be verging on a football department miracle. This was an awful season, but the list is middling at absolute best. Also interesting the sneaky little mention of "second or third" on Buckley. A couple of people have mentioned in this forum that Buckley actually wasn't (as became received wisdom) a fait accompli until he couldn't commit; instead, the process was legit and ultimately he was not even in the top two. That might not be true, but I wonder if when Guerra said they got it down to two and then said "second or third" about Buckley, he was hinting that that was the case.

I was thinking about this recently. Specifically, what is the daily work of an assistant coach, and does it change over time? Coaching sounds like a consuming job. But, as you say @Unqualified opinion , if you're doing it well, there comes a point where some of the most important stuff is deeply ensconsed. Game-day observations and tactics seem like a vital component, but what about the rest of the week? I imagine there is a lot of discussion - a lot of 'checking in' with players in your 'line', others players and fellow coaches. And of course training. What else? The thought came from a probably naive question: would King have time in the week to turn his mind to his new job. Or would he be flat out doing Geelong stuff?

"A midfielder squeezed out..." is a repeated theme in this thread. Would he look at Melbourne's list as it stands and think "Well, I can easily get CBA minutes in that team"? Oliver can't play anywhere else and Viney as a pressure forward seems possible but not a certain success, Pickett was up to 90% CBA in some games this season, presumably Langford will be in there more and more, Rivers arguably plays his best footy in the middle. Or is he happy to play at half back?

Really good summary. I thought Port were hungrier, as you said, and just more solid with the fundamentals - better by hand and foot and more likely to take a mark when needed. Matilda Scholz is an absolute gun, so no shame to be beaten by her, but I think this may be Pearce's last season. We're going well, but I do worry about how badly we rely on Hanks, Hore and Chaplin.

Hore Hanks Chaplin Fitzsimon Harris McNamara

The football itself gets significantly better every year - everything around it gets worse. The clock can't just tick down as the ball rolls around a car park.

That was poor. Need to get Gillard and Goldrick back as soon as they can. Backline very ordinary.

D-grade comedian.

Backline is really struggling. Forward line is really struggling. Kate Hore or bust at the moment.

Geeze. Not how we want it. As Harford said, we want to be putting handball chains together, not getting into an endless arm wrestle.

GRAND FINAL TIME! I actually laughed out loud when I read this. Either a complete fabrication or outrageous arrogance from Buckley.

Well put. I'm not sure if it's five years, but I think a sudden rebound is extremely unlikely. Sustained competitiveness is all I ask for.

If there were leaks they were pretty good red herrings.

Hope nobody took the $1.05.

If ancestral memory is a thing, Kalani White's face is suddenly tingling.

Oh my.

Spot on. I reckon they're doing a decent job of getting balance into their list. Spargo makes sense.

God, Barrett is an insufferable [censored]. (By the way, the "If..." "Then..." format has been incomprehensible for ages, but he seems to have taken it to a newly idiotic level in this case.)

I remember saying a while ago in defence of Salem that what many posters see as his weaknesses are quite possibly things the Goodwin regime asked for and applauded. Now, Salem may be incapable of playing any other way and so much of the criticism could still be valid. But I'm keen to see how he goes under a different coach.

Good call. And we have numerous players who might or might not become passable second or third talls.

Even the uncanny valley is less disconcerting when there's navy blue and red involved.

I would argue Essendon played the game in the stupidest, most over-the-top way possible and are still paying for it 12 or 13 years later.

That would be amazing. Isn't $520,000 pretty unspectacular remuneration for a senior player these days?

Second would be fab. I doubt it would be that high, but they're talking top of the first round for Draper, so anything is possible.

Me neither. But they HAD to go big. Their list is a shambles.