DEE32

Sunday left an extremely sour taste in the mouths of many supporters but I have an around 1hr 40 min void in my week (the podcast at 1.2 speed) that I wish was filled! Miss the Podcast @Demonland @binman @george_on_the_outer

From reading the training reports, or what I have gleaned from this forum Binman, something that did come out of the review was that there has been a change in ‘25 to the train harder than you play or play through injury or pain philosophy of Burgess or maybe Selwyn. Possibly even off the back of Max telling Trac to toughen up and get back out there in that Collingwood game. But possibly also after two years arriving to the finals pretty cooked mentally and physically. Ironically just like the clubs thinking the game plan had to change, it’s the philosophy that actually got them a premiership and two top 4 finishes. I agree that for the players it’s shelf life might have come to an end, and there’s the latest premiers game plan to beat, but with this group, it’s what worked and was required to reach the pinnacle.

A letter to members after yesterdays circumstances and this morning was warranted, however not having any substance sets it up for people to make their own assumptions or “True meaning” of the nothing. Besides we all know big news won’t come from a special letter to all members it’ll be leaked well before they even think of making an AI generated statement.

Other than Gawny and Vin, who actually is in the leadership group. Not even AI can tell me. And of course there’s nothing on the website.

High Performance manager is his title. Does psychology fall under him too? I agree with you, between the ears is a major flaw in team post 2021 and getting worse.

Bump 🤭 The demons are collecting embarrassing records again.

I’d Like to add this guy to the pile. Fitness is a glaring problem. Rotations are a glaring problem. Leadership in this space is a glaring problem. Just look at premiership year with Burgess, and Adelaide now. These guys are quite possibly even more important than the head coach.

Interesting take. I’ve personally felt it’s a whole of club problem where in and probably shouldn’t land directly onto the coach. I dont (didn’t) think changing the head coach is going to turn everything around mainly because we dont have strong leadership in place at any level. However putting those problems aside you’ve presented some compelling reasons why maybe the Coach does need to move on. This weeks ins and outs for aints game is just so…. Meh! The teams gameplan is based on emotion now, including fear, love, anger, hope. Their arousal levels dictate performance. able to get up and compete against The Pies but not against the blues. This fluctuation happens even in games. That surely stems from a lack of or belief in a clear direction or identity. Which probably does land on Goodwin. I’ve said it in another thread but leading up to 2021 the club had a strong and bold 5 year plan. Add to that, the teams mantra was all about contest and defence and the hardest team to play against. Right now the team has no identity or direction and that’s on Goodwin. Off the field the club doesn’t have a plan or direction (that we know of anyway) and unfortunately that’s on a a good guy but fan boy in Green and that other guy ?? Til real leadership comes in. So I think I’m moving to the sack Goodwin side, but it’s much more complex than just that!

Some great content on the demons socials for the AFLW leaders. What a great bunch of girls with amazing respect amongst them and ‘real’ love and care for each other. If you want to get around something positive for the Dees the Woman’s program is definitely that. AFLW Season 10 will be something to look forward too.

Before anything can happen there needs to be a plan. This should have been in place once the last one finished, but I guess the next one waits until the heads are in place. This was the last one: The Melbourne Football Club's strategic plan, spanning from 2020 to 2023, aimed for consistent AFL and AFLW finals appearances, with the ambition of winning at least one premiership in each competition within that timeframe. Off the field, the plan focused on financial stability, aiming to eliminate debt, achieve a combined $4 million profit over four years, and accumulate over $30 million in income-producing assets. Additionally, the club aimed to grow its membership base to 75,000, average 50,000+ in home game crowds at the MCG, and complete its high-performance facility at Casey Fields while initiating construction of a new club headquarters near the MCG. Provides direction, purpose, and is measurable. It’s clear to all what the boards directives are and where they want to. It should have been refreshed after 2022 off the back of the premiership and in preparation for the last ones end. Without a direction or plan can you make any decisions on the clubs future or the people tasked with taking it there?

I trust that Rick Lever can get back to being a consistent performer and is the next best leader. I wonder how Mcvee could go as the vice. He’s straight as an arrow and disciplined to a T. A drop off this year but poor pre season impacts that. Lindsey down the track.

Does anyone really trust the club to make the right decisions at the present moment? I trust that once Guerra and Smith come in we will but now no. Our history is full of poor management and decisions, I hope one day we learn from them. In respect to Goodwin I think he is a good coach and leader, with some old dogs not able to learn new tricks, or regressing into bad habits. But what is evident is one man does not have all the answers and an equally strong team of people around the coach is critical. In 21 we had Goodwin, Yze, Chaplin, and Burgess. All very strong in their roles, and leaders in their own right. I Don’t quite know what Richo’s role is in that but his role has been stable. Each year we have lost one of these keys, and equal replacement just don’t grow on trees. Add to that the playing personnel we have lost, Brayshaw, Nibbler, Jackson, again with not for like replacements, proves for a decline. Add to this an aging leadership group. A team like Geelong have maintained a strong stable off field leadership group whilst attracting solid footballers, but more so great leaders. This off season we need to land a solid assistant, who will take over from Goodwin plus we need to move on probably Clarry with like player but with a lot more leadership (simple🫣) Maybe a Petty (Surely Adelaide’s offer is still there 🤣) In the most perfect world we kept Burgess or got him back, Brayshaw didn’t get Ko’d and Yze stayed on to be to next coach. Oh for a perfect world.

What comes first, a rebuild of a list or a game plan. What is the goal? Does a new coach change either direction? Who needs to be making these decisions? Can these be made without a ceo or president? Can’t sit idle but can’t make rash immature decisions either. We’ve done that before.

At the game It was as though Geelong were able to create a spare in nearly every area of the ground. Even deep in their forward line. I’m guessing sparrows positional apponent just follows the ball around, especially once they got the ball past centre. Also Max for instance would run back to defence rather than forward, especially the first quarter. And with Trac, I think people are hoping he bleeds red and blue, and his frustrations are for the team. My take is for most of last year he wanted out, I can’t see that changing so why wouldn’t his frustrations be “Why wouldn’t they let me leave, this situation is ducked”

Has he ever been tried as a defender? He is the same size as May, and being a competitor sounds ideal as a May backup. He’s had 1 season at VFL with 1 pre season and played well enough to make an AFL list. His footy growth should still be going up. Good luck to him!

I agree with most of what is said here George, but not the boring part. The girls were intense and went to work at the contest with a full team buy in. It took courage and commitment and is a lot better to watch than the dumb stuff they were dishing up 2 weeks ago. Every time Adelaide got out it got shut down. Of course goals are great and flow in the game, but that was a fight to the death. And Marks win games that’s for sure! It’s good to see players in their preferred positions thriving. Goldie is a good example of this. Certainly a game that made me proud to belong!

Maybe Tim Lamb reads demonland and seeing a thread with “Should Tim Lamb go?” Has him questioning are the dees his destination club? 😏

For Sydney to lose like this again tells me it’s an MCG thing. They can clog up their home ground and then keep contesting it forward. Sydney in this game clogged up the middle but left a Brisbane player or two last on defensive line and also offensive line. Same as Geelong and GWS last few weeks just kept kicking it to Starcevic. No numbers running forward all getting ready to defend midfield.

Please don’t put up the picture of the scoreboard for those that don’t get the link to this number 😔

The Dees do have a ruck coach position available and from what I have seen Jeff Whites analysis looks pretty spot on. From a business point of view, being in Victoria would be beneficial as well. Then I suppose Khalani might like to come too.

I agree we are way too nice and intimidated by opposition. That could be said about the supporter base as well. In 21 we did have an edge but I believe it was created from selflessness and parking of Ego’s. The Nibblers hard defensive running allowed tracc to cheat forward offensively, Petty holding a monster along with May allowed Lever to play free. Ben Brown took the no1 backman allowing Fritta space and opportunity. Who helped who this year? Every player has a weapon, but is usually reliant on a team mate.

Maybe the media department can put something out like “there’s only one Wizard” or “we had the real wizard” or “Anything you can do he did better” you get what I mean and just show off his highlights reels all day especially when the hawks do for their phony. The Wiz is still the best. I don’t even have to say his name, you just know. 😏

Brisbane worked hard to our number our girls and It looked like they brought their own umpires today. I thought it last week too, but it looks like they play to defend first, and score second. Defensive set up is ok but when we have the ball they don’t run forward and constantly get outnumbered in the forward 50. Easy turnover and run out. It’s a territory game and we just guard the centre of the ground. well done Banno on 50 games, but the ultimate down hill skiier. Zanker gets so down on her self she struggles to keep her head in the game. Kate can’t do it all on her own. Paxy still one of the better players, but maybe a little loose to be played in defence. B Mackin another good game as well as Goldy. A few too many injuries now makes for a potentially sour year.

Part of Burgo’s philosophy was resilience and playing through duress and injury. I wonder if part of the disconnect between the playing group is there is a split in belief. Max clearly for the model playing through injury half the year, Trac post incident certainly not, but also playing Spargo game one or Petty all year, surely created doubt in its effectiveness for some of the team. Even May might be thinking twice. Maybe this forms part of the grievances and a fresh approach needs to be sort out. At least a model that is universally trusted.

Reading the book “Between the flags” by Ian Munro, a tough read in places, our club seems to have a knack of f ing it up. But there’s a paragraph that really hits rights now: it talking about country zoning and how alone it can’t be used at why we didn’t have any success. ‘A lot has to do with culture and leadership’ Greg Miller says. Zoning alone does not equate to success, and the most important one is the impregnability of the top people at a footy club. Those people set the tone and the culture. The President, the coach, the football manager, and cheif executive. Development through good culture is more important than recruiting. ‘You have to have an impregnable force at the top, even more so now because the media will try to break you up. It’s the Chairman, it’s the coach, it’s the Cheif executive and it’s the footy manager. None can have and ego and none can let the others down. people, the media, look at recruiting because it’s measurable. You can’t measure leadership. ‘ Ian’s Munro’s book should be on the desk of any power broker in our club. A book on an awful history which many learnings should stem. Thankfully the book has a happy ending. But Our club has a talent for cocking it all up! I hope it doesn’t again.