Harrisonrules

Our developomental coach is developing himself. Melbourne never handballed so much as it has until Bailey came. Club officials defended the new handball plan when speaking at functions often stating that when YOU fans used to cry out 'kick it', that was exactly what the opposition wanted. Our very modest list of players had grown up kicking the football. The excessive handball grew out of Bailey's game plan and his questionable ability to get his message over. With a growing team talent and experience and Bailey's confidence in the job and discovery that he really did believe you should kick more than handball he has developed a better understanding of his role. Sitting on the sideline and chatting to players is part of his development. I think it has more to do with the arm around the shoulder and pat on the bum than his incessant chatter in the heat of the battle. Rapport with the coach is really encouraging for young developing players. His low key ways seem good with this aspect of coaching. They all like him. His strategic abilities are best seen when we are behind the eight ball. On this level I am still wondering. But good luck to him he swill be waling on cloud nine this week as we all are.

A must for taping

The heading on the Web site suggests Bailey is going to spark up the demon starts. I'm glad after 55 games he's realised its in his job description

Difficulty with accepting others as they are, particularly if it rouses such an emotional reaction is what psychologists call Projection. It is speaking of a situation which acts like a mirror of oneself.I'd be awefully careful what one said on this topic on this forum.

Cann't be bothered getting the paper, but I thought Sylvia did

Yes the dash from half back to half forward was a really telling insight into Scully's skills. It was Gerard Healy commenting on his battle with Hill. Hill is certainly exciting and no doubt the dockers fans must love him. He probably does some things better than Scully and Scully some better than Hill. This example was in the third term when stamina was increasing in importance. Scully is full of it. Sensational. I love his creative handball

Slow starts have been a problem for a few years. From my perspective several factors contribute. 1. Personell - adequate skill...we are slowly improving. Champions are a big help here. We are just budding them. 2. Confidence - grows with belief in yourself in comparison to the the oposition. Again experience is necessary. 3. Game plan - we now play chess - the game plan consists of so many ingredients its hard to put a finger on which ingredient has the most impact. Maybe man on man would sometimes work. But this is the ultimate test of the good coach. That's what they are paid to do. That's why we listen to the so called experts on the radio wondering if any has that special edge in insight. 4. Attitude - at what level of passion does the team arrive on the park. Again, that's the job of the coach. IMO That's what is the problem at Essendon. I have a contact with personal insight into the bombers rooms and the problem is the low level of personal communication skills Knights has. He is articulate but can not elicite rapport with other people. Hence his personality is not such that rouses people to their optimum performance level. They are still struggling to articulate this so fight each other. I have not seen evidence to help understand Deans ability to arouse and create stimulation amongst others , but this may be an issue. Some like his calm disposition eg Ross Lyon, Paul Roos. But in some cases if the mix is not right it can lower the level of arousal instead of highten it. From reports the guys like Dean, but that is different from a persons ability to highten arousal.

If you are going to get into 'what if's' did you include the what if's of the opposition easy misses.

Nor 98% of long suffering demon fans. Spare the thought

Brian Dixon and Bob Carrol 50, 60 70's are regulars Spoke to Neita at a function recently and learnt he is primarily developing links between the club and business. Most importantly he is doing work with Jack Watts. We talked about his skills with hands, marking and handball but most importantly his basketball like awareness of everything going on around him. What did you think of that basketball interception on the bomber ( don't know who it was) on the boundary line last week. He's building up a repetoire of such one percenters, ( another eg the goal assist up at the Punt Rd end. What Neita wants him to do now is learn that while he has great awareness he has to learn to say to himself, that's my ball and I'm going to get it. Packmarks will come with confidence and body strength.

Has the great demon love in stopped!!! For two years we have been indulging in some of the most free spirited dreaming, flags coming out of our ears, love letters to every Jack, Jack, Jack and Jack ...etc. before during and after drafts. It was fun and indulgent but why not. We pick up every thread of info we can on the u 16 Jack and salivate. So why not for this Jack. Bailey says we need one more solid tall marking forward. Connolly says watch for the name of Jack Fitz (when he didn't need to say a thing. Personally having sifted through every bit of video footage I could find on the talls in last years draft to see who I thought would be a gem, I saw Fitzpatrick as one of the top few. At his height (many of the really good ones were about 195) I figured he would be really good. I was even hopeful they would even take him as early as pick 11. I was furious with our preoccupation with smalls in the first 4 picks until releived we got Gawn and Fitz. Just as our club was surprised to get him at 50, I was. I live over the road from an ex AFL player now coaching in the under 18 comp ( sorry no names ) and he was a big wrap for him (qualified by health CFS). He is potentially as good as any of our picks over the past few years, give or take a bit. Every player has some weaknesses as well as strengths but a tall marking forward with his size and strength is as hard to find as hens teeth. I started a thread on him earlier in the year saying in my opinion he was the most significant player on our list, not necessarikly the best, who knows yet, but one of the type it is so hard to find. Of course I was bagged but I still stand by my opinion So all you Nay sayers, pull your thumb out and start salivating over what we just might have in our pocket, forward or back.

The idea responds to my concern The club has done a great deal to strategically plan and professionalise the club. I had the privilege of listening to Ian Flack, the director of the player welfare development arm of the club and was so impressed with what the club is doing in this area. It surely is second to none. I have followed with interest Swabbies Whitebord presentations. I am left with the impression that he knows exactly what he is doing. It is not just intuitive development ( as valuable as this component is). The club is doing everything it can to build successfully --- save for one thing. In Swabbies diagrams there is no reference to coaching. This is still left up to its own self management. Our coaching staff may be wonderful. I don't know, but the reality is they are all highly inexperienced. Mahoney, West, Wellman. Bailey more experience as an assistant but still very young and inexperienced as a Senior Coach. They are a work in progress. I believe it is not a criticism to say that a professional approach would be enhanced by an evaluation/mentoring/welfare role clearly mapped out for our coaches and hence included in Swabbies schemas. If Bails is around to oversea our flags he will surely have developed significantly. He believes young players need to be taught to play if they are to develop to there full potential. Why would you not believe it of coaching. I and a mate have taken our chance to question our club leaders including Dean on this issue and it is apparent nothing is seriously being done that makes all accountable. Conversations in a car full of coaches travelling to Casey can produce some value, but it is hardly an adequate plan for development. It seems coaching is untouchable. I believe this is for a past era. We need to move forward to keep us at the forefront of the conpetition. Choco Williams ? I don't know about him, that is for the club to decide, but I fully support the idea.

They've been coming for at least 60 years as far as I know. I love em

What happens when the seagulls have gone and the falcon gets hungry. When he sees the scraps will he bring his mates. Leave the gulls there. I'd prefer them than a flock of hungry falcons. Not only will the losing team leave half way through the last quarter so will the supporters of the leading team. Whose going to sing the song.

Bail will be in I'm sure, Morton probably for his run on the big ground, Bennel certainly will stay and maybe Jetta for sentiment.

I think your just frustrated as everyone is when listening on the radio. After the game my bomber friends (Yes I confess I have some - sorry team ) were equally scathing. They hate walls and know he hates them. I listened to AW as I watched and enjoyed it Tony Shaw was almost over the top as he praised Melbourne and its depth of players (which he listed) still playing at Casey or injured. He was suggesting we'd be at the top way before I expect it.

Just want to confirm what has already been noted. Stuie Spencer another Taswegian (I think) was truly a beautiful left foot kick in the days they kicked the drop kick and torpedo. As equally fluid in style.

Sorry I forgot to add Hughes, Maric and Bail. So that makes (8) Bail, Wonna, Bennell, Jetta, Blease, Tapscott, Hughes, Maric fighting for one spots on the forward line, and 2 if you include the centre line. Depending on where Morton and Grimes end up that will tighten the competition. I think there is still a couple places up for grabs on the back line where Bartram is holding sway. They would have to leapfrog, Cheney and Strauss. In a word we over stocked with smalls and left ourselves short of talls.

The competition is tough. Green, Watts, Jurrah, Sylvia, Petterd, Bate have all staked their claim.... Wonna, Bennell, Jetta, Blease, Tapscott, all fighting for one spot.

Its all so simple and humane. They are more intelligent than most. They come in at the conclusion of every game seeking the scraps of food left by the careless humans who drop the overpriced food on the ground. It costs them nothing. Save the bullets and don't drop rubbish.

Our team is full of relatively poor disposal, but Bruce has been scape goated. In latter years he's been given tagging roles which is not playing to his strengths. Yet he is one of the best defensive taggers in the team. He was given more latitude today and we saw his strengths. He is such a creative player that I admit the contemporary obsession with handballs gets him into strife at times. I would assess kicking at only 60% efficiency. Marking is 90% effecdtive in a team of modest marking skills. He's been a great servant of the club, but now is being used for experience on the backline.

I'm interested in the degree of praise for him. Personally I think he'd never play in a top four team, maybe and 6 to 10 positioned team. But everyone to their opinion.