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The process itself seems quite robust with what I think is a successful outcome - in so far as due diligence and selecting a very strong applicant.

The era of the experienced senior coach mantra is fading as the game evolves rapidly. So many first time senior coaches feature now in the AFL - at top tier clubs no less.

I have nothing against Buckley or his personal process in applying but the club had it's own process and stuck to its guns. Furthermore they seem pretty stoked in getting King. As far as first time senior coaches go, King has top tier credentials.

I think some of the obsession with Buckley, stemmed from an irrational notion that the club somehow needed 'saving'. Reality is we didn't. We just needed a new senior coach along with a review of operations which usually happens in tandem with that hiring process. The club went about it respectfully and diligently.

I just wonder if Buckley liked the idea of coaching Melbourne more than actually committing. Not a criticism just a thought.

King, on the other hand comes across as not only a very high calibre football person but importantly focused on the job and club. This doesn't mean guaranteed success but it's a critical starting point.

Lastly, for S McClure to label the process as "shoddy" is not only petulant, but also insulting to the club and the high calibre people involved in the process. McClure continues to embarrass himself in his never ending quest for relevance.

4 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

From an article:

King’s appointment was “unanimously accepted” by the club’s board after a recommendation from the selection panel, which included former Essendon captain Jobe Watson and Melbourne Storm director of football Frank Ponissi

The club and board have handled themselves very well through this despite much hand wringing on here.

Kudos to them

Hopefully the media can stfu for 5 minutes as well.

16 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Not true. Look at other clubs who are playing rubbish football while simultaneously keeping or even growing their base.

Absolutely true.

Performing poorly and being unwatchable aren't necessarily the same thing. Our game day attendances have also dropped off significantly. We've played a frustrating, over defensive, counter-productive, energy sapping game style for too long and it has caught up with us. So much wasted effort for so little reward on the score board. Nobody wants to watch that [censored] anymore and I dare say the players have had enough of it too.

The age of the 'expected score' is hopefully over.

This is what happens when you become unwatchable.

Thank God the Goodwin era is over.

He conditioned this group into a lovey, huggy, learnings group of chokers.

Yet another loss decided by a kick - quite a fitting way to end the season.

No skills, system or composure under pressure or in red time. Every time it is close we just can't execute basic, logical football.

Unfortubately Goodwin did this. We can isolate players and moments here and there but this [censored] is synonymous with Melbourne and it has been for quite some time.

Every time Goodwin mentioned 'getting the game on our terms' he was basically telling the whole football world that we play in a comfort zone.

Football is about winning in all circumstances and conditions, not just in your dream scenario at strategy meetings.

New Coach

New Gameplan

New culture built on accountability & winning

The Goodwin gameplan based on control the game, territory, contest and defense (as if it was a guaranteed formula for winning) became, IMO, a subconscious crutch for the players - too inadequate to just play the game on its merits. Our team is completely unequipped to play clutch football and it's embarrassing.

My fear is that it will take at least two pre-seasons to truly get this [censored] out of our system.

Time will tell.

Williams certainly added to our coaching stocks over the journey, particularly with his own brand of guidance and experience.

All the best to him for the future.

3 minutes ago, Dees1911 said:

Not sure is recalibrate, we need to use ball better, cant do that with older players.

If u cant handball or kick, doesn't matter how many times you get it.

Turnovers kill you in AFL these days.

I use that as an all encompassing term.

Mindset

Strategy / gameplan

Emphasis on skills

Improve fitness etc.

Yet another loss by a goal or less.

The rest of the competition knows they're a chance against Melbourne no matter how far behind they are at 3/4 time.

Just apply pressure...

Some good things in this game but the team definitely needs to recalibrate this off season.

Thankyou for your amazing contribution to the MFC and it's history Goody. The elusive no. 13 brought so much happiness to so many long suffering supporters.

All the best for the future.

2 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

They already have 15k lost in 2 years

Yep, understood.

I would argue however, that a lot of those 15k members would have been 'hype add-ons' after the premiership year. Always the first to drop off.

Once we go sub 55k we start losing core members which would be a big signal to the club.

2 minutes ago, Pirlo said:

We've already lost 15k since 2021. 70k down to 55k. The club did nothing about it. Why would they start now?

There's a difference between a gradual decline and a revolt. Will be interesting to see how many members contact the club - if they have the energy...

If the club doesn't sack him, members will walk.

Like it or not, it's that simple.

Goodwin gameplan is Chinese water torture.

Our players are mentally and physically dead.

Goodwin has killed this team. Purely in a football context (not personally) I hate everything about him.

I wish the club would [censored] him off now but they won't. Maybe mid year.

We'll be batting to win a game.

Can't wait for the post match presser.

Learnings, territory, game on our terms with a little bit of love and healing.

If it is experience that we want then Longmire is the only option.

No to Simpson, no to Hinkley.

Just now, DubDee said:

Relax guys 

We won the inside 50’s

She’ll be right 

Goody loves territory.

Scoreboard not so much.

We have 6 months to find a coach, it starts now

Fitness is atrocious,  skills poor, transition between the arcs non existent.  No football nouse.

We'll be lucky to win 5 games this year.

The Goodwin gameplan is rubbish. It's a slow death with ageing players.

New coach and fresh start needed for 2026.

I think they got tunnel vision on that pick 9 trade. Gave Bombers way too many picks. Will probably come back to haunt us when/if trying to split pick 9.

Pick 9 is great but shocking negotiating on our end.

4 hours ago, bush demon said:

The bottom line out of all this may well be that any medium or smaller club (not under-written by head-office) by definition has a bad culture. 

Correct.

Yet if you have massive racism issues like Pies or Hawks, no culture issues to speak of.

Mainstream footy media is [censored] weak.

At some point the AFL will send out the memo to the media outlets to STFU about all this stuff as it is detracting from finals.

2 hours ago, BAMF said:

I know this will fall on deaf ears right now, but that was a cracking game. Both teams had so many missed opportunities. 

We had so many young players, we were always going to fade late. 

Disappointed with the result but proud of the team. Lots to work on though and a few clear gaps still in the list.

Vent away demonlanders!

Despite my rant with a few aspects there were genuinely some good things to take out of the game.

16 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

We have a lot of young and inexperienced players when the pressure rises many go into their shells and play the safe option. They stop taking risks

That may have been the intimation from Goodwin but surely he should have anticipated that and encouraged the group to keep going.

Positive mistakes are better than defensive/negative mistakes as long as you continue to pressure the opposition.

Given our defensive game style in general it's hard not to be sceptical.