bing181

Kevin Bartlett: The 403-gamer admitted it’s been a disappointing start to 2025 for the Demons, but doesn’t think Goodwin is solely to blame. “All the talk about Simon Goodwin surprises me,” Bartlett said on Wide World of Sports. “There’s a lot of things happening at Melbourne, but I don’t think it’s the coach,” he said. “You’ve got a good coach, support him.” https://www.3aw.com.au/why-the-talk-on-simon-goodwins-future-surprises-kevin-bartlett/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJu6sxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhbyY3e_20noS8MgqBz9kB_uDCAvTF0a949Y8cRRche6Gss9NTc7EWpQZlHa_aem_qpteSh45qGd29OueuagKCQ

It doesn't matter whether you buy it not, it's a fact. Go back and watch the Simpson interview, where he went through trying to change the way WCE players - and admitted that it failed. And it failed because he didn't have the players who could play the way they were trying. Plenty of other examples as well.

It's not all that revolving. Jefferson was injured, Johnson got himself suspended, and when he came back didn't show much/enough. Turner's the only one who's been in/out, though he's a bit of an enigma in that he clearly can deliver but then doesn't - not on a consistent basis. The coaches have backed Fritsch and JVR to find form, but this week's axing is just an acknowledgment that there's a limit to that kind of patience.

Not helped by injuries and setbacks to at least some of those who would have helped drive it, and a whole slew of consequences that flowed on from that (e.g., Rivers back to the backline). Yes, all teams have injuries, yadda yadda, but in terms of getting a new, faster ball movement approach off and running we desperately needed the 4 amigos (Linsday, Windsor, Langford, Tholstrup) playing every match. It may not have made much of a difference in the short term, but would have put us further along the path.

"Simon has achieved a lot at the Demons and they'll evolve and come again," Beveridge said. "They're going through a period of change, but he's an outstanding coach and he's an outstanding person." https://www.afl.com.au/news/1300996/totally-invested-here-luke-beveridge-distances-himself-from-melbourne-demons-move

If anyone's interested, an article on the Simpson/Longmire AFL360 discussion re changing game style, players etc. Fox Sports‘We got it wrong’: AFL great’s warning to Dees on ‘priori...‘We got it wrong’: AFL great’s warning to Dees on ‘priority they need to address’ now

Not in comparison to what's going on up forward. In spite of everything we are getting it in there, but we're about the worst in the league for scores from I50's. Sure, delivery isn't ideal, but even back in our heyday there was a LOT of bombing it in. It's just that we were then much much better at locking it in, either through marking or bringing the ball to ground and forcing a contest.

Watch AFL360 with Simpson and Langmuir and get back to us. Simpson especially talks about trying to change the WCE approach at the end of 2021, even bringing in assistant coaches who were more across what they were trying to do - and how it failed because he didn't have the players who could play the way they wanted. When talking about the Dees he says it outright: "the biggest thing is going to be does the personnel fit the change (in game style)?" He elaborated a bit on his WCE experience: "we tried to press behind with our ball movement, but our players weren't built for that, so that's what I got wrong." (As an aside, gutsy of him to admit his mistakes so publicly, he didn't need to.) Longmuir is also very big on the need for the playing style and personnel to mesh (uses the word frequently in this context).

We're desperate.

Everybody outside the club seems to be an expert on what's going on inside the club.

If anyone's looking to Jefferson (2 games ...) and Fullarton (6 goals over 3 seasons at the Lions) to save us, we're in trouble. We desperately needed JVR to step up, Turner to consolidate his position up forward, Johnson to be that niggling 1 - 2 goals a game journeyman forward, even Jefferson to show he's ready for the big time. But so far, none of that has happened. I don't know what the answer is as I don't believe that we currently have one. Tom McD or Petty forward? At least they'd make a contest.

The pair of them offer great, in-depth but measured insights, whatever the subject. Whole sequence is worth watching, including the first segment about changing game plans and what that entails. Simpson is candid in admitting that the kind of style WCE tried to bring in in 2021 didn't work with the players they had. Lots of talk about how the game plan and the players/list have to mesh, that it's as much as anything about personnel.

This. Worth remembering that we kicked 18.9 in the practice match against the Roos, and 11.24 (accuracy!) against Fremantle. Not too many problems with scoring in either of those games.

When you read the article, the headline is misleading (understatement). They didn't meet "to discuss the disaster at the Dees" at all. "But the club was at pains to clarify the pair did not meet to discuss the current coaching situation or Goodwin’s methods. Instead, the club said Smith arranged the meeting so the pair could speak for the first time and get to know each other better. Smith made clear his strong support for Gawn and his leadership in light of the extraordinary burden he has shouldered in recent years which has included a searing spotlight on the club. Goodwin continues to have the unwavering support of the Demons’ captain and his playing group despite their scoring woes."

Interesting indeed, but perhaps the sample size is still a bit too small to be making real generalisations? e.g., we did better with clearances against Essendon after a few catastrophic weeks. For me though, all these stats, including the more positive ones, point to a real breakdown up forward. If only Ben Brown hadn't broken down, he's not all that old and should have been good for a couple more seasons. We have no KPF at the moment, not one who can reliably either mark or bring the ball to ground/a contest.

Firstly, selection is done by a committee, not just Goodwin. Secondly, when you look at stats like Pressure Acts Spargo was 6th against Essendon. Not all that hard to see why the selectors want him in the team. If you look.

I wonder how much of this Petracca news is related to his move from Connors Sports to Anna Scullie. She seems to have her head screwed on.

Because it messes up the feed as it has already been quoted.

Perhaps true, though events of the last 6 months could have matured him. Or not. Time will tell.

Because you need players with the appropriate skillset.

I don't know that we have, for me it's more about losing the ability to execute it. Which is why we're seeing so many turnovers. Also, you need players to get into that space to be the receivers - which needs more urgency, intensity and plain old gut-running around the ball than what we're currently seeing most of the time.

Ah yes, my mistake. I'd delete my post, but not possible on Demonland. Will have to settle for being publicly shamed for my ignorance.

Not enough time. And there's a limit to what you can do with changing a game plan without there being a real change in the people who have to implement it, i.e., the list. You want more outside run? You don't try and turn your inside bulls into outside runners, you bring outside runners into the club. The draftees we've got in will help accelerate the process, but it's going to be a rough year.

Other way round, Buckley was responding to Lewis. Brown then added his comments about the difference between clearance under pressure or not, and that it's the latter that counts.

Not so sure. I accidentally watched the last quarter of the 21 GF when it came up on a feed, and there's a LOT of get ball bomb ball I50 from the usual suspects. Huge difference is what happened after that, with Brown and McDonald being able to either mark or make a contest of it, letting the others get to work. From what I can see, the Yze approach added another string to the bow, I don't think it was a whole new bow. Could be wrong.