Dr. Gonzo

If it was an either/or, yeah I'd take Clarkson over Goodwin. We only pulled away from them in the final quarter a couple of weeks back and that was with us having basically a full list to choose from and them having a few first 22 players out. They also trounced us in round 2 when their younger players hadn't run out of legs late in the season. North will probably finish ahead of us next year. Clarkson may not be the coach he was but neither is Goodwin.

Putting any financial implications to the side, do you think he should be coach from a purely footy perspective. Because that is what we should be concerned about, the dollars will work themselves out.

I never got the appeal of the snow. It's cold, it's wet and it hurts when you fall. Give me the beach any day 😎

In previous years I believe some of our mid year performances were impacted by heavy training blocks, it's fair to assume other teams at the top of the ladder have similar midyear programs. Yes we played well in those games, doesn't take away from the fact our opponents weren't at their best. If we played Brisbane or Sydney today what do you think the result would be? Let's see how we go against Collingwood in the final round. We came out of the blocks against the Crows but from midway through the 2nd it was basically one way traffic with them kicking 8 of 9 goals. After that they held us at arms length for the rest of the match. I wouldn't be hanging my hat on that performance. We only lost to the Suns by 19 as well, doesn't make it a good performance.

Goodwin and Clarkson have different lists at different stages of their development. We also lost to the Cats by 100 points in 2016, was that because Roos/Goodwin were poor coaches?

Which is when you end up like West Coast.

I dunno, I see this point to a degree but in footy close can be deceiving (ie so close yet so far). Pies and Lions were likely in heavy training blocks when we played them so we got them at a good time. Swans we beat at our home ground, not theirs and also got them at their lowest point ie also at a good time. Play them this week and I think we lose. Crows started poorly then ran all over us and we could not stop them. Same as the Suns game, whenever we threatened they put the foot down and we couldn't keep up. The worst thing a club can do is incorrectly evaluate their list/where they are at. Thinking we are just one or two players away is I think foolish and will see us end up like West Coast in another year or two.

1st para - no-one should be a "lock". That's the problem 2nd para - different rules for different players, Petty is a lock but Jefferson is dropped for not performing. That's the problem. 3rd para - there's always an excuse

Maybe not but he needs to have a block of games so we can make a call. Do you think Jefferson will be cut this offseason? If not then we may as well keep playing him to see if he improves, I feel like his intensity has improved slightly (it was shocking in his first few appearances) and he is getting to the footy. He needs to start sticking marks and kicking goals both of which will come with confidence.

You're right, the whole FD needs a clean out. Stale as day old donuts.

Jefferson should be playing. Rivers should be playing midfield. We should be running others through there as well like McVee, Windsor, Langford, Lindsay etc Running with Oliver, Petracca and Viney at 85% of our centre bounces is ridiculous. I think Adams should be given a few games as well and even Kentfield if we are dropping Jefferson (if we were to play him the next 2 games would be ideal). We should be playing an actual 2nd ruck and letting JVR settle into the forward role. On Petty, nah I don't think he's our future, not up forward anyway. Shown enough to know he doesn't have the intensity or physical presence of a key forward. Maybe play him down back to replace May and give him another crack in defence, up forward no. Spargo is ok when he gets the footy but we know what we're getting with him (same for Sparrow really but I like his overhead marking across half forward). Would rather see another player at half forward and if not a newbie like Brown or someone then play Bowey, McVee or even Salem across half forward and see what they offer. Instead we'll just get more of the same old same old with the same players butchering the ball in the midfield, the same lack of co test up forward with Petty etc etc Do the same thing, expect the same results. When the "experts" have shown again and again how poor their decision making is why would you trust them?

If we are keeping a coach we know should be sacked solely because it will cost us payout dollars we may as well pack it in. The amount lost through memberships, attendances, merchandise etc will be worse than the payout figure. Perhaps the club will think about the ramifications of handing out bad contracts next time.

Loving your coach doesn't mean it's a healthy environment. They may love him for any number of reasons, it doesn't mean it will set you up for success in a professional environment. Barassi was hated by some of his players, he went alright. Pretty sure the players weren't enamoured with Norm either.

Yes, he wants to win games using the same players in the same positions who have shown they are not up to it for the last two seasons. Instead of trialling new things to set us up for 2026 he is trying to scrap wins or limit the damage against mediocre teams to keep the wolves at bay. We should be focused on 2026 and beyond now, not winning or minimising the damage in meaningless games vs the Saints or Eagles in the next two weeks.

What is there to be positive about with this club? Kozzie is about the extent of it.

More great work by Rhett Bartlett on Youtube👏👏👏

Melbourne under Goodwin

The selection for this game is an utter disgrace. I'm not Jefferson's biggest fan (not that I don't like him, I'm just not sold) but for Christ's sake you have to play him. At least he's getting to the footy! Play him now when we have nothing to lose to let him get settled, gain experience, build synergy etc Goodwin has lost the plot.

Bingo!! Disposal looks far better when putting the ball into space for your teammates to run onto. That's not skill, that's coaching.

Come on, guaranteed when we're 5 goals down with 10 minutes left he'll shift Turner to the forward line 🙄

Agree although I remember hearing we were after Amon, we just haven't identified the right players to bring in.

Great pod guys, Andy I agree with your sentiments wholeheartedly re the coaching situation. Binman makes some good points about stability, the high performance program and the culture if good governance but I don't think any of that can excuse the performances we've seen since round 2. Goodwin has been there long enough and the playing group is experienced enough to lead the team infield and ensure they front up each game. Is it high performance or poor governance that sees TMac dropped after being one of our best earlier this year? Is it high performance or good governance that sees Goodwin persist with the same mids and then bemoan our "lack of forward connection"? If we were losing while trying new things it would be easier to take but losing while trying the same thing over and over is insane.

Yep, he's still racking up touches for the most part (though more 25 than 35) but he's just not as damaging as he was. Looks like more of an accumulating plodder than a damaging top 5 in the comp mid.

After what he did to this club he should be barred from having anything to do with us! Why the hell do we engage him on our behalf, surely there are other options. Or was this one of the punishments from his tanking investigation?

100% it did! As did the fact he is not in Brownlow contention.