bing181

Yes, going to be some way back from here, regardless. But Merrett knew that when he agreed to the meeting.

Don't hold your breath.

I've also been saying the same thing. Though good line coaches are good line coaches, regardless of where they played.

You've just spelled out why the AFL want him for Tassie - and are doing all they can to make sure he gets there.

Caracella is Richmond's midfield coach. Their forwards coach is Chris Newman, who had a long career playing as (checks notes) a defender.

Well, there was a photo of Max, Ed Langdon and Melksham in bike-riding gear and tagged "NZ", so that's 3.

Seems to have worked out OK for the Suns when Steven May left. Admittedly, it has taken a while to turn it round, but salvation is possible.

"Thanks for the call Paul, we'll give your arguments consideration. BTW, how much do you need to get Caulfield off the ground, we might be able to work something out ..."

But surely there are alternatives ... Longmire for one? Then there's Goodwin, Hinkley, Simpson, surely the AFL can crank up their PR machine to sell whoever it is they end up with? Though when it comes to profile, Bucks is a long way in front - also perhaps why we want him.

Richardson is contracted for next year. Also on the selection panel, so make of that what you will.

One of the reasons Goodwin was moved on perhaps, they would have had insights as to what this looked like going forward. Also one of the reasons why Buckley could be the front runner: high profile, attractive to members and sponsors, yadda yadda.

They will. Buckley.

Great to see Clarrie in the top 10, he's not as far off as people think.

To be honest, not sure why people are surprised with any of this. Though once again, it shows the gulf between what professional AFL coaches see and what Jo Bloggs supporter sees.

No.

“The mail is he’s preparing a team ... as you would, you present to the board and go, if I’m your man, I’m gonna bring X, Y and Z,” Gullan explained. “One of the names mentioned has been Marcus Wagner, who he worked with at Collingwood, but interestingly he was at Melbourne until recently in the AFLW program (as the GM of footy) - but left in June I think it was.” Wagner worked closely with Buckley when the pair were at the Magpies.

"A competition source with knowledge of the situation, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Skipworth removed himself from the process as he wanted to continue his development in certain areas under Magpies coach Craig McRae, to whom he is a senior assistant. He is also focusing on his fourth finals campaign at the Magpies as they prepare for the preliminary final next week." (The Age). OK, but then why did he agree to be part of the process in the first place? He could have just declined, as others have done.

Hmm. It's too early for the only ex senior coaches who might have been candidates, then a couple of the leading assistants seem to feel that they have a better chance staying where they are (e.g. Danny Daly). Apart from that, most of the assistants-who-could-be-coaches are in the process or have been eliminated from it.

I do wonder what's going on behind the scenes here with Pert. Presumably Buckley has picked his brains, and Pert would know all there is to know about the club, list, board etc. etc. If Buckley is in it, you'd think that Pert has had some kind of role in that decision? But then outside of Buckley, would Pert have been in contact with other candidates as well, and if so ... ???

Perhaps he's heard something ... but who knows. Surely if Buckley wants it it's his, from what I've read Skipworth seemed to be the most highly rated of the other contenders. You also wonder how many of the current assistant candidates are using this as a dry run, knowing that they have little chance.

Coaches don't manage the list any more than they manage the draft.

Other list decisions, surely, can't imagine coach/no coach has much to do with it. Depends on who we manage to bring in, but we still need depth and cover.

"MELBOURNE has made five changes to its AFL list, informing Tom Fullarton, Kynan Brown, Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall and Marty Hore they will not be offered a contract for the 2026 season. " Surely more will follow, but not sure why they weren't already announced?

We have a list management department to ... manage the list. As always, the coach has input (as do others) but he isn't the last word, nor the first. It's not the coach who decides who comes and goes, though I realise that this another of those Demonland myths. In any case, a lot of these list management/delisting decisions would have been made some time ago, even as far back as last season. The players themselves would know who they are.

Tom Campbell has signed for another year.