Dee*ceiving

The Hawks are flying at the moment. Our effort was good, they are just fitter, cleaner and better organised than we are at the moment. Hawks have won 4 of their last 5, with the only loss during that time being to Adelaide away (14 points), despite leading by 8 at 3QT. The only teams in better form are Adelaide and Geelong. Pies are battling and missing some key personnel. If we bring a similar effort to what we did against the Hawks and Dogs we'll run them very late. A lift from Pickett and a fair shake from the fluroscents would see us with a chance (IMV)

I like it JJJ. Lever as the third tall back with Petty and Turner in the key posts makes sense to me. I like the fleetness of the other backs you've named. Riv-dog I think we need in the middle. He was excellent there late 24, has a step or two and a long boot. I've been of the view we should have tried Salem in the forward line since the end of 23. He's too slow transitioning back to defend the goals these days. Realistically though he would only fit in the role that's Melk's ATM.

Sparrow had 23 disposals at 80% efficiency, plus 4 tackles and jumped at the ball to bring it to ground vs bigger opponents a few times. Hasn't had a great year but he was good v Hawks. If we're selecting on form... Outs Sharp, May In Tholstrup, Kentfield Petty can be moved back in case of emergency.

Agree with the observations of Clayton. Clayton would get so much of the ball because he made it to more contests than any other player of his type and still had the endurance, power and burst to get the ball and get it out. Now he doesn't get to as many contests because he doens't have the endurance and doesn't get the ball out as much because he has less burst. He could get some of it back though & still be a big contributor. Maybe not at a B&F/top 5 Brownlow level though I think.

I'd like to think he'd try to further improve the positive aspects of the current gameplan as opposed to starting again from scratch. If you believe the talking heads on the tube we're top 4 in ball movement. If we retain than and get to top 4 in defending transition we'd be back in the hunt I'd have thought?

One cap, two ledgers. One compliant, one less-compliant.

Serious question. Is it Meahan or Meaghan?

Agree with all those that said no one should have been surprised by the board reaching this decision. The timing is somewhat of a surprise but it isn't difficult to understand if you work backwards from when the FA/trade period starts (October 3). Waiting until the end of the season to make the call and start the process makes it virtually impossible to have someone in the chair unless it was a promotion for Chaplin (or someone else within) and even then we'd need ot do that without properly testing the market. The current timeline laid out sees someone start before the GF.

I noticed that too. What an outrageous opinon for a so call journalist to put into print. Vindictive, nasty & degrading at worst. Immeasurable ignorance at best.

Did Norm coach a club that wasn't Mebourne to a flag, Tiger?

Agree on Moore PF. He's a repeat offender, seemingly has no remorse and comes under very little to zero scrutiny. I did like that Garry Lyon called out his knee drop to the back of the Freo player in the dying moments a couple of weeks back though,

Lethal Leigh? 1990 @ Pies then Lions 3-peat? MS Copilot Only a few AFL head coaches have won premierships with multiple clubs, which is a rare and impressive achievement. Based on historical records, here are the confirmed examples: 🏆 Coaches Who Have Won Premierships at Two Different AFL ClubsRon Barassi Melbourne: 1960 (as player-coach) Carlton: 1968, 1970 North Melbourne: 1975, 1977 David Parkin Hawthorn: 1978 Carlton: 1981, 1982, 1995 Allan Jeans St Kilda: 1966 Hawthorn: 1983, 1986, 1989 Tom Hafey Richmond: 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974 Collingwood: Took them to multiple Grand Finals but did not win a premiership there Mick Malthouse West Coast: 1992, 1994 Collingwood: 2010 Leigh Matthews Collingwood: 1990 Brisbane Lions: 2001, 2002, 2003 Malcolm Blight Adelaide: 1997, 1998 (No premierships with other clubs as head coach) Denis Pagan North Melbourne: 1996, 1999 (No premierships with Carlton) From this list, the coaches who actually won premierships with two different clubs are: Ron Barassi David Parkin Allan Jeans Mick Malthouse Leigh Matthews

Absolutely nailed it Redleg. I legitimately feel like an untried assistant isn't an option for us considering the pounding we've copped from headquarters, the media and even Parliament over the last several years (noting a lot of that was driven by own goals). We need a coach that comes with industry wide respect and credibility. Horse and Bucks both tick that box. Personally I have flip flopped over the last 2 days regarding which I'd prefer but feel like both have a very good chance at succeeding.

It's ruthless though, we could use some (any) of that

I know how to ensure a dees win, slap a fitty on the Eagles...

It's easy in hindsight but it was evident last year and obvious now that the review was grossly insufficient. The scope was too narrow and those in control to close to the issues and their causal factors. It was perhaps, or could now be defined as a final shot at making it work with what we already had. Sadly it has failed, more sadly many could see it was destined to fail. Maybe there was no way it could have succeeded in the absence of new CEO to carry out the actions?

I think the Pies seek Silvagni as a ready made replacement for Howe who is a critical part of their structure and just turned 35. $700k does feel overs for Jack, but generally it takes overs to get players attention to move. Especially a popular father/son with a famous name at Carlton.

Spot on, the drop off has been remarkable. 2021 1st after H&A, dominant September, Premiers 2022 Scrape top 4, many players limping into finals, drop 2 finals that were close-ish but never really looking like wins 2023 Scrape top 4, look really good in the last month of H&A despite ballsing up Gawndy and losing Petty and Melksham and then go to water losing 2 finals despite dominating 2024 Cue in the rack after rd 8 2025 Forgot to pull the cue out of the rack until rd 6, dropped the cue in rd 11 and watched it shatter into a million pieces between 5.30 and 6.00 pm last Sunday

Agree great article. Makes me think this is Brad Greens other letter published via major masthead. Also agree with nearly all of your off field changes. Goodwin, Richardson, Selwyn first in that order, followed by Chocco and Chaplin. On field leadership needs a freshen up too. Relieve Max of the captaincy but retain him as VC and add two or three younger players (Bowey, Pickett, Chandler, Rivers maybe?) to round out the leadership group under a new captain. The new captain is tricky (sadly) it was only 2 years ago it felt like we had 5 blokes that could be captain the only realistic options in my mind (and in this order): Petracca, his actions last year would have dented trust and damaged his rep with the fans but it showed he can be a disruptor and was genuinely worried we ballsing it all up Lever, confident, smart leader but can he get on the park and will he be in red and blue next year Melksham, left field considering his age but he's a steady hand and smarter than all of then. Could be a good Tim Paine esque stop gap for a year Lots of questions and challenges. First challenge though is to insitgate change and it's clearly not a little bit like they tried to convince us was needed last November.

Sadly, I think many are coming to the realisation that Clarry will be going and we'll be paying some of his salary.... Even more sadly we'll probably be better for it...Maybe if we carry enough of his contract we can negotiate a first rounder? 😞

In my view... Irrespective of talent the club has sustained way to many body blows over the last several years, most of which were self infliceted. This has completely eroded the confidence, unity, trust and commitment that existed in 2021. Sadly this it feels like this erosion started almost immediately after the jubiliation of the premiership (or it had already started but it hadn't created sizable cracks just yet).

Mark Neeld never coached a team to an 8 goal lead

Tragic Insipid Inexplicable Inevitable Out.

I wouldn't read to much into Max's answer regarding next captain. He genuinely came across as having never thought about it, ummed and ahhd and spat out an obvious answer. He'd also been peppered with 27 nonsense questions in a row.

2 times out of 6 🙂 I jest, positive signs from Luker. It would be good to see him play for Melbourne before the end of the season but also appreciate the argument to leave him be until 2026