Johnny Karate

I agree that the whole "woe is me, this club owes me" crowd do get very tedious. However, those that are the noisiest about their displeasure about poor performances probably are more passionate and will stick around. If the playing group don't perform that will drive people away more than anything else. If I may be indulgent - I am unemployed at this point in time & am no longer a student - needless to say, money is tight & I am dipping into savings - I forked out $310 for a membership (8 years consecutive). During the game I was wondering about getting a refund and felt irate at the same old crap going on again - very human emotions. I love the club but there is a financial & opportunity cost in myself being so emotionally invested. This isn't a sob story about how the club is ruining me etc but the fact is that if the current trends continue there is little point in me being a member because I don't derive much benefit from it & it takes 5 hours out of the day that could be better spent. From a financial POV there is currently more benefit in me forking out $34 more for 200% more games for an AFL membership where the club would only receive half of the money. There must be many other people who feel quite similarly.

Richmond are last in the competition for clearances and second last for contested possessions. Granted, they have played two v good sides but it is an area there to be exploited. If we can then back it up with a strong work ethic and attitude on the outside of the packs we can win. Richmond are a team that will drop their heads if they don't get a game like this on a platter (who does that sound like?). Let's do to them what Brisbane did to us - go Dees!

Agree bezle, It doesn't really matter what the 'gameplan' is/was, whether we should've tanked, who we should've drafted, who we shouldn't have offloaded, what our CEO & admin have been up to, how much the fans win - these are all side issues, we'll never be any good until 21 + 1 begin to commit to changing the onfield culture.

I started this thread not to bag out anyone's legacy be it Bailey, Daniher, Prendergast etc. There are plenty of other threads for that. Everyone is obviously free to their opinion and therefore the thread will run it's own course. What was suggesting is until the players start to work as a team at a very basic level, we will never win a premiership when we have some talent nor be anything more than embarrassing when we suck. Thanks for your contribution billy ;-)

I dont subscribe to the theory our recruiting has been terrible from 07 onwards. We've had our share of hits and misses just like any other club. Hindsight drafting is the easiest profession in the world and I don't particularly remember many of our picks getting slammed at the time we selected them. Most players have played less than 50 games, the media cycle is becoming more intense and they all have the attention spans of goldfish. Case in point - the media getting stuck into Guy McKenna because coaching a second year club that arent world beaters. FFS! Yes, some of our picks arent as advanced as we'd like but they were picked with an 8 to 10 year view. We are rubbish because our senior players are rubbish, the under 50 matches, under 22's cannot compete consistently yet. When we have shown moderate improvement in 2010 (& in small spurts in 09) - Davey & Green won B&F's, Mark Jamar was All Australian, James McDonald was James McDonald and Brent Moloney, Colin Sylvia & Cameron Bruce were playing pretty solid football. Zero of that form is being shown at the moment for various reasons and its telling on the scoreboard.

I should've been more specific. Since round 15 2006 121 games 31 wins, 88 losses and 3 draws 2006 R16 - Semi Final 9 matches - 3 wins 5 losses 1 draw 2007 22 - 5w - 17l 2008 22 - 3-19 2009 22 - 4-18 2010 22 - 8-13-1 2011 22 - 8-13-1 2012 2 - 0-2

The last time Melbourne’s win-loss ratio was in the positive after round 22 was at the end of the 2006 season. In what had become a typical scenario under Neale Daniher, the club limped into the finals, blowing a top four chance with a generally pathetic last seven games for the third season in succession. The season had started poorly with the Dees sitting winless after three rounds, but they recovered after a gutsy win over reigning premier Sydney to sit 3rd on the ladder at round 15 before the aforementioned slump. In 121 matches since, the club; has won just 31 matches had 5 senior coaches 3 Presidents 4 CEO’s 75 players represent the club 37 debutants Needless to say, there has been mass upheaval at the MFC and ultimately failure has been the outcome. The performance of the team and the misery heaped on the club by the AFL’s 24 hour news circle jerk media has been a major source of pain for all Demons’ fans. This has lead to a lot of revisionist history in the media and on fan forums. Melbourne’s drafting, list management, player development, coaching, culture, sponsorship and administration have all been pawed over. A lot of blame has been pointed at past leaders, boards, recruiters, coaches, and their management strategies. Melbourne fans are right to be angry with the lack of competitiveness of the team and the media do have every right to criticise the club where fit. However, it is ultimately up to the playing group on match day to represent the club and therefore how it is perceived. It is understandable that a team which has had virtually 3 teams worth of players (1 and a half worth of debutants) in the past five and a bit years has lost more than it has won. However, what would infuriate fans en masse (no matter their expectations of the team) is that there hasn’t appeared to be a set of team non negotiable behaviours at the club. How many times under a high ball will two or more Melbourne players jump all over one another whilst the staying down, unopposed opposition player sharks it? How many times do Melbourne players get caught or turn over the ball because their team mates are flat footed, not shepherding/blocking, not running to be an option? How many times do Melbourne players stand with their hands on their hips, heads bowed after the opposition gets a run on? Negative body language, a lack of communication and lack of care for each other have been hallmarks of Melbourne’s game for far too long. It is the reason Daniher’s teams didn’t cause damage in September and it is why there are blowouts such as last weekend. While the team will surely improve with more experience and the cyclical nature will drag other teams down, Melbourne will never be much more than mediocre and the fan base never ultimately satisfied if the playing group doesn’t zealously adopt a team first intensity and attitude. The game plan, coaching, recruiting, player development, administration and past actions taken by the club are all essentially moot points until a future MFC playing group commits to some very basic non negotiables: CHIN UP – No negative body language, hands on hips etc CARE & COMMIT – protect and support your team mates, shepherd, block, tackle, chase, honour leads, never back down. DEMAND THE FOOTBALL – whether committing to a contest or running to be an option TRY, TRY AGAIN – if the opposition gets a run on lift your workrate RINSE AND REPEAT – week after week, season after season. Thoughts? Flames?

My 2c: We need to bolster our midfield, a key forward would be handy and unless some absolute quality is available I'd hang on to our first rounder & compo picks. I think the most realistic option for this trade period is to look at one or two guys who could fill a role, a somewhat 'moneyball' approach that won't cost the earth. Midfield targets: John McCarthy Xavier Ellis Clinton Young Ben Ross Sam Reid (WB) KPF Daniel Stewart Brent Macaffer Lachie Hansen I do not see us having to give up a huge amount for any of these players and believe they could fill a role in our best 22.

Would rather Macaffer tbh.

it's in alphabetical order.

Extremely angry with the decision. This issue has divided us as a supporter group let's hope the outcome unites us. Go Dees!

I don't want to lose Scully and I take him at his word. However, if he leaves the sky won't fall in and without being disrespectful to his ability I don't think it will have a dramatic impact on the team. If we aspire to be a great team we have to be greater than the sum of the individual parts. Geelong lost Ablett last year and Mumford the year before that; one is arguably the best player in the game, the other is arguably the best in his position. They still have a real chance of claiming the flag. Watts, Trengove and Frawley have elite capabilities. Gysberts, Bennell, Morton, Grimes, Jurrah, Tapscott, Gawn, Howe, McDonald, Nicholson, Evans Blease and Strauss are all talented youngsters who could push into the elite bracket. Jones, Bartram, Petterd, Martin Garland and Bail are all strong foot soldiers Jamar, Moloney, Sylvia, Green and Davey are all better than how they have performed in 2011. Add to this Jack Viney waiting in the wings. An attitude change in the playing group as well as a good pre-season (or two) will see Melbourne pushing up the ladder with or without Tom Scully.

If we don't get Malthouse or Ross Lyon, I'd be happy with Viney. He's as well credentialled as any other assistant coaches out there, has shown some tactical nous and can now add a senior coaching stint (albeit 5 games) to his CV. I feel he has that nasty streak in him to demand more from the group.

Disagree Fyfe was the logical choice for number 1.

+1

I don't really think cashed up is a big thing for Gumbleton he isn't really a proven AFL quantity so I wouldn't be surprised if GWS and GC were more 'hungry' for him than we would be. I personally believe Clark will stay, whatever the outcome though his manager was recently quoted as saying he wouldn't be going to GWS. He could possibly end up at Freo being a WA boy. P.S. Scrap my 'operation Walker' he's just signed with the Crows!

The guy is a walking bandaid IMHO not worth the trade punt as Rhino said I would take him in the PSD. If we were to trade for a big man I'd be trying to tempt big Taylor Walker from Adelaide to cross to the red and blue.

Wouldn't surprise me if true. However, $2m is not be sneezed at. I'm just glad it wasn't a gambling agency.

Ricky Petterd isn't untradable however I wouldn't trade him right now. At this stage I believe his value to us is greater than his open market value. Some may scream at me but I feel similarly about Morton. I don't really feel we need to trade at this stage of our development either, however; I'd look at trading Sylvia to get something decent in the short term. Players I wouldn't mind at the right price would be one or two of: Josh Toy, Xavier Ellis, Kane Cornes, Steve Salopek, Nathan Foley or Shane Tuck.

I woldn't mind seeing either or both of them push up the ground. Grimes to the guts and Tappy to impersonate Chappy through the midfield and forward line.

Callers on SEN are more often than not, idiots. Lets leave it at that.

In: Nicholson, Tapscott, Jetta Out: Sylvia, Davey, Scully B: Macdonald - Frawley - Garland HB: Blease - Rivers - Green C: Morton - McKenzie - Nicholson HF: Petterd - Watts - Jones F: Tapscott - Martin - Jurrah R: Jamar - Moloney - Trengove I: Bartram - Howe - Jetta - Bennell

My run down of candidates; FIVE STAR CANDIDATES 1) Malthouse - obvious reasons is a possibility but not highly likely. 2) Clarkson - highly unlikely seems happy at Hawthorn. 3) Roos - probably won't coach again. I would prefer any of these three candidates to just about anybody else. All are premiership coaches, all are leaders of men who've proven to be tactically adept. Even when they struggle with form and injury their sides have nearly always been competitive due to impeccable planning and player buy in. Any of these candidates would do well with our talented youngsters IMO. However, Clarkson & Roos pretty much won't and Malthouse has a deal with Collingwood. In short these three candidates are highly unlikely to be leading the red and blue charge next year. THE NEXT CROP 1)Brendan McCartney - highly rated senior assistant heavily involved in the Geelong era, now with Essendon's beefed up coaching panel. 2) Mark Neeld - Malthouse's right hand man at Collingwood. 3) Ken Hinkley - Gold Coast assistant, previously with Geelong and Saints has also coached senior country footy. Diverse background has been around for some time story has shades of Ross Lyon. 4) Alan Richardson - experienced assistant who has been at the Bulldogs, Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton. 5) Brenton Sanderson - another highly rated assistant from the Geelong programme. In the likely event that the club could not land a five star experienced coach any of these selections should be welcomed. All of these coaches have had many years of experience as assistants with highly successful clubs - I have faith that any of them could come in and make their mark with our group. THEY MAY BE INTERESTED BUT I'M NOT 1) Mark Choco Williams - (as opposed to ours) premiership coach but on balance somewhat under achieved in the early 00's. Too much of an ego for mine, his last few years at Port descended into a three ring circus that would've made Sheedy blush. Seems happy at GWS anyway. 2) Gary Ayres - would personally prefer the Danihers, the Northeys or even the Neil Balmes another September underachiever who probably never got the best out of his playing groups 3) Dean Laidley - wouldn't mind as an assistant if we went for an inexperienced coach. Just seemed to be lacking as the main man. 4) Rodney Eade - again wouldn't mind as an assistant but after two stints at senior level there are probably just too many question marks. A lot of his problems at the Bulldogs have been to do with a lack of on field leadership and development as well as a bit of a boys club mentality - just seems too familiar! 5) Neil Craig - another that would be ok as an assistant. See Laidley or Eade. While these candidates do have experience it probably translates to baggage for differing yet obvious reasons. FROM LEFT FIELD 1) John Worsfold - I believe he is out of contract, however IMO would be highly unlikely given his long standing ties to the Eagles. 2) Todd Viney - has said that he doesn't want the job but were he to have a change of heart his pedigree is as good as any other assistants going around. 3) Nathan Bassett - highly rated SANFL coach who has turned Norwood from a basketcase to a competitive unit in a very short space of time. Is said to be adept at modern tactical analysis and is often praised by former players as a great communicator. 4) Adam Simpson - assistant at Hawthorn, is light on for experience but is highly regarded by Hawks players 5) Scott Burns - assistant at West Coast similar background to Simpson. Worsfold and Viney are highly unlikely, however would prefer any of the other three to experienced coaches with little success and a lot of baggage. Bassett, Burns or Simpson with an Eade, Laidley or Craig as assistant could also be a palatable outcome.

There were a couples of morons near where I was sitting booing Scully everytime he touched the ball. Hope these scum never show up to a Melbourne game again.

Agreed. Any halfwitted BigFooty troll would've done a better job of writing an article. What biased drivel - Murphy on a pedestal with Hodge and Riewoldt when MM wins something of the equivalent to a Norm Smith or continual AA selection that would be valid but at this stage he's a dime a dozen midfielder who's in career best form. The other tish was priceless - go for the money son ( how Carlton). Outside midfielder? Ha. No wonder he was such a [censored] coach imagine turning up to play for this buffoon. And our last board had him sit in on the coach process :embarrassing: