The Taciturn Demon

This is it. It's not just that we finished fifth last, which is bad. It's how wildly unpredictable we became. A fantastic win against Geelong, followed by a now-familiar Carlton loss, followed by being pantsed by a West Coast side that won just 4 other games (and ended up with a percentage in the 60s), then cruising past St Kilda, then putting in easily one of the worst performances I've ever seen from a Melbourne team (pound for pound) against Fremantle, then completely failing to "bounce back" against Collingwood, then returning from a bye to barely scrape home against North... ...all over the shop. And if the answer is "injuries", a pretty reasonable response would be "where was the depth to at least stem the bleeding"? We lost to Fremantle by 15 goals and I think most observers thought it could have been a LOT more. That was with Gawn, May, Viney, Petracca, Oliver, Pickett, Rivers and Fritsch. Why would you predict us to have a good season... unless you desperately wanted it? Because our best players will play unhindered? We all hope so. Is that enough a full three years after a flag? The '21 Premiership was unexpected because we'd had so little finals experience, but not from an age profile. Because our kids are particularly good? Fans of every club are excited about their under 23s - it's what fans do... and rightly so. (I'm genuinely delighted that the draft fell in such a way that we got Harvey Langford.) But this can become myopic. Is the evidence strong that our kids are WAY better than everyone else's? It's possible. Not sure if it's probable. Because the game plan will change? It HAS to, but it can take a long time to iron out wrinkles in a new way of playing. To be honest, I don't really care what supposed experts think our chances are. But I'm not shocked that very few think we'll make the eight. PS: On a completely unrelated note I was absolutely certain the player in the OP's profile pic was Andrew Obst until I saw the incongruous Zurich sponsor logo.

But isn't this almost as unusual as player-for-player exchanges?

It's atrocious. Can someone explain why people talk about "restraint of trade" relating to individuals (and so making free agency essential) but not clubs?

They had to sneak it in before they murdered Fitzroy.

My disdain for Fremantle is near Carlton levels.

I was sitting behind a set shot goal he kicked against Essendon in maybe 2022 - 45 to 50 out on a tricky angle. The noise it made off the boot was pornographic.

So true. I often ask myself "Do I really think Sparrow can make it or am I just wishfully thinking because of THAT goal?"

Possibly the worst stat among a huge field of contenders. Zach Merrett is comfortably one of the best 10 kicks I've seen in the last 20 years. Ed Langdon is easily one of the 10 worst. Their disposal efficiency stats are almost identical.

Hang on - what? According to the stats you mentioned as reflective of an above average team, we were below average or bottom five in every one in the season just gone.

These are stats from 2023.

I strongly agree with this. Soccer seems to have a culture of sacking coaches after absurdly small periods of time. I'd argue Australian rules, at least at the top level, has the opposite culture. Exactly as Dr Gonzo said, after several years, the idea that a coach is being held back by their list is a very difficult excuse to swallow. That's their list. They're not wholly responsible for the recruiting decisions, but they have enormous influence in how the players develop. I always find it strange when people in the media and some supporters lament the sacking of a coach after 150 or 200 games in charge. Less than ten percent of players make it to 150 and less than five to 200.

Do you feel the Football Department looked at 2018 and said "That was great, but it won't win us a flag?"

That's definitely what concerns me. It seems almost as if we're trying something entirely new without changing the coach. I don't hate that option, but at first glance it seems like a two or three year project - if we do lots right.

Good summary. Sorry - here's the interview where Goodwin says this: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1705825/agm-afl-football-update-goodwin?videoId=1705825&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1734497092001

Goodwin.

On the one hand, when you finish fifth last, that's kind of obvious. On the other - yikes. Is everyone expecting something very new next year, style wise?

The welcome dance was adorable.

It was like watching LinkedIn: The Musical. I didn't get past 15 minutes, but I have to assume someone gave a 35-minute presentation on sun flares causing climate change and several speakers promoted their life coach credentials.

If it's brown, it's training town. If it's yellow, rest, dear fellow.

Ha! When you present it like this, the absurd size of the lists becomes really stark.

I really hope so. Excellent season.

Lynch's contract obviously started low and got higher - what do they call it? Backloading? Did we do the opposite with Oliver and Petracca?

Sounds like a good year to be a Victorian club with a high pick as the draft goes national.... in theory. But I do wonder how difficult it will be to retain interstate players.

Hope they can bring in a tall defender to help her during the draft. Grace Hill just got delisted and Colvin is 33. Chaplin is brilliant and Saraid Taylor looks promising, but I think we need another.

To be honest, this shocked me. Goodwin is generally cautious in press conferences. His comments weren't direct - he didn't say Fullarton's name - but his meaning was very clear. I was quite excited to get him at the start of last year, simply because I thought we needed someone capable of playing forward and at least breaking even in the ruck. I thought he would be a solid upgrade on Schache. Goodwin made it sound like he was nothing of the sort. And by that stage of the season, and with our injuries the way we were, nobody would have cared that we were experimenting. It was damning that he didn't get a game.