pitmaster

It's the confirmation of what everyone has suspected that is important now - suspicion is one thing, this is something else altogether

All that's missing now is an admiring column from Mike Sheahan on the genius that is Gubby Allan - or maybe even mike will rethink that one

Nothing extra. Making himself available to the media for the purpose of promoting the club would be a condition of his contract - and all players' contracts I reckon. The fact that these interviews in competing newspapers came out the same day suggests that the initiative for them came from GWS rather than the reporters who did them. And HWSNBN had to go along with it. Same goes with Mark Neeld's media blitz this weekend. He's in both papers so someone at MFC has a media strategy working pretty nicely at the moment. Not much footy news around so pitch the papers access to the new hard man. It's got us talking.

Wow - my first post deletion. I wondered if I'd get away with it but it looks like the review panel got me. What I wanted to say is I find it extremely offensive to hear TS say that the MFC was "great" for him. What a duplicitous statement when he disrupted the joint, misled most associated with it, and let his teammates go out on a limb for him knowing he was probably, if not certainly, heading north at the end of the year. And then that two faced performance at the airport! Still I suspect we'll have the last laugh - that line of his about maybe he wouldn't have gone if we'd been playing finals...harumph...enjoy that prospect with your new "mates" Tomito. Their list is seriously unbalanced and they will be vulnerable to raids in a couple of years - the go home factor from Blacktown will be unprecedented.

I'm not so easily pleased. I want him flattened, no worries there, but I also want to see his pasty face go all slack-jawed as he watches his former teammates hoist the premiership cup while he watches on preparing for another Blacktown preseason in October.

Tiges are welcome.

What was that number again? 220 senior games, or something like that, a Bluey (Truscott) in the trophy cabinet, a team mate of Stynes, Lyon and the mighty Grinter...I can see why you might compare the Scully and Viney situations but really there is no comparison. One has a history of commitment, loyalty and achievement, the other has lunch.

As sad and distracting as this saga has been at times right now I am loving it. The old man shoving his snout into the trough has taken it to a new level. It reminds me of something I have long wondered about: HWMNBN was ordinary this year, with little eye catching about his game other than the number on his back, and he has a dicky knee. So, why has GWS paid so far over the odds to get him? This come to mind: Sheedy is nuts and hates our guts, post his coaching interview if not before, and saw in this the chance to hurt us some more. But a twist in the tale is that the deal was done and won in the late spring of 2010, so tightly that the Giants were snared with their prey. So the kid's maybe a dud, the Giants are stuck with him - and his dad.

I like the fact the afl have picked up on this. I reckon they see this for what it is - the whole Scully family has worked the system in a way no-one ever expected. It's clear from the Sun article that Scully senior sought the job from GWS - they did not approach him

The first thing - the only really important thing - to understand here is the workings of a mind like Kennett's. He wants always to be at the centre of events and he will distort reality to suit his purpose. It's clear from Denham's article that this approach Kennett speaks of was not by anyone with official standing. So what's happened then? It could be something as loose as an old Demon supporting mate of Jeff's saying: "you know we really could use someone like you at Melbourne". In Jeff's head this becomes an approach to head the club. He tells Denham, who everyone here seems not to know once worked at a paper that matters (The Age), and Denham turns it to his own devices. The story, like Seinfeld, is a tale about nothing. Incidentally, Denham's best contacts are with WA clubs. He is no authority on us.

Go easy on University. They weren't much chop but they got seriously sorted by World War One.

Bought a case months ago - yet to taste but Heathcote Shiraz from Tyrell's I bought 2010 was a knockout, which is why I went for the emblem series. this is likely to be similar. Terrrific big red area, Heathcote.

Not intending to have a dig at Bails DWA just pointing out the fact he predated the current regime.

What I like about the events post-season so far is the rebuild of the football department has proceeded without fanfare. Piece by piece we have put together a new coach, fitness coach, coaching director comprising highly regarded individuals who have seen success at their former clubs. There's been no big statements from Schwab, Connolly or Lyon. They've just put the pieces in place. Considering Bails was inherited from the Harris-Gardner regime, and that what has been done over the past month could not have been achieved without Jimmy's debt reduction and club stabilization program, what we are getting to now is Jimmy's real legacy. More than compensatory draft picks or short term fixes to the game plans, the football department reform we are now seeing is what will shape the medium term future of this club. I for one am getting seriously upbeat about the future. This could be one wild ride.

I too thought with Misson on board we did not need Craig but clearly his job is bigger than fitness. In a sentence, we are fair dinkum now. Craig is a huge win for us since several clubs were after him. That we're able to afford this set up is a credit to the board for its work over the past three years. This could be seriously exciting.

Your Dad is right. I reckon I am a terrific fella - smart, friendly, supportive, good fun to be around, but some people think I'm and out and out CX@#! Work that out!

I've often been puzzled by the bagging Rivers gets from some on this forum. Some mea culpas are (over)due since Friday night's B&F result. Anyone want to 'fess up to having no idea about how good this bloke has been?

It's about showing people respect.

That's just Caro's little twist on things - not part of his job description to act as mediator- it'll be the board's job to clear his way if need be.

Many things wrong with this post. Disrespected Sheedy? The guy, frankly, is nuts. He had an interview and was unsuccessful. So what? The Jimmy Mac thing is Sheedy trying to wind us up Ok like last time we have essentially an untried coach but MM was not available (I for one did not want him - where's the hunger?) and Lyon evidently was not interested in our list, or preferred Freo's. Clarkson woulda been great but that was not possible. The Age today says we went off Lyon about Tuesday, and focussed on Neeld. What do we know about him - not much except this, he has been the first mentioned all year of the next generation coaches. Every time these conversations came up Neeld was mentioned. He has Malthouses' endorsement if that counts. I was keen on Burns and they seem to be equally well regarded. The things that are being said about Neeld, I can remember Melbourne saying about Clarkson when he went to Hawthorn.

Melbourne can't be said to have missed out on Lyon by being too casual or doing the honorable thing of talking to his management. Bailey was sacked with five weeks to go and it was no secret that we were interested in an experienced coach - namely clarkson, malthouse or lyon. It is weeks since clarkson signed up for an extra term so Lyon knew he was strongly in the frame for the Ds IF he left St Kilda. While all this is playing out he begins talks with Freo, keeping his management in the dark. Plainly, he was not interested in us or he would have tipped his management (which was out of the loop on the Freo question because it also had M Harvey on its books) to talk to G Lyon. Just keep sweating on Scott Burns, people.

Fair point but I'd add Malthouse to the re-hires since Eagles picked him up when he left Bulldogs

A nice thought - the deal was done last year. GWS would like to get out of it now they know the kid has a crook knee, but can't because a committment - note, not a contract - was settled during GWS' approach window in 2010. And yes, that would make TS a consummate liar.

The most telling thing for me is how the assistants we have picked up have not coached again after failing with us. Northey had been a senior coach at Sydney but was dumped for not being flamboyant enough for Geoffrey Edelsten's liking. After seven seasons with us (and five finals campaigns) Northey was gone but coached again (the Tigers?). Then we picked up Balme (one finals campaign in four seasons), then Daniher who could not string two seasons together, and finally Bailey. Balme had coached senior football in SA but not at our level and is now a football manager. Despite the media defending Daniher, and bagging us for dumping him after he stayed a couple of years too long, no-one's been knocking on his door and I suspect the same will happen with Bailey. We either choose badly or we burn them so badly they don't get another gig. I could hack Lyon and last night's result gives us as good a chance as we're going to get. Otherwise I'd be happy with Burns - someone who is going to give us some mongrel.

1964: Melbourne 8.16. 64 def Collingwood 8.12 60. No problem at all with that.