Bimbo

The defence has, with the addition this year of Blease and T McDonald (and perhaps Tapscott although he may not remain there), a very solid base. What they need is the return of Sean Wellman or similar quality backline coach. The forwards are extremely immature but growing physically and mentally. Next year there will be a bigger Watts together with the potential of Cook and resting big men. A new and better forward coach might also assist. What though is really needed is a highly competitive midfield to take the pressure off the defence and provide better and more opportunities for the forward line. Notwithstanding useful rucks and a young and improving group of smaller players, it is in this area that Melbourne has been smashed by the better teams in the competition. Until they are able to compete with the competitions best, they will continue to be beaten by harder bodied, harder running and better drilled midfield players. Perhaps Brett Ratten, who had the midfield purring while at Melbourne, may become available tomorrow and resume this position under a new senior coach.

If a good coach (or even an adequate one) is important to TS, he certainly would not look at GWS

He adds Don Williams used to have a [censored] resting on the canvas at 3/4 time

Near neighbour who claims he was there says it is Don Williams. He, like me, loved the replay

players with leadership skills

There is simply no way the football club with the weakest senior (and indeed middle) playing group in the league, who collectively provide effectively no leadership to a talented group of young players, would ever consider drafting a player who would be the second oldest player in the club, provides no leadership skills and has an ordinary behavioural history. The only consideration might be if he could bring with him a (admitedly far lesser) replacement for Pia Miller, sadly lost in the preseason draft to Richmond, but there is even doubt about that.

Quite probably the deciding factor in choice 1 or 2 was the home town consideration. West Coast would have probably chosen Nic Nat if given first choice on that same criteria. Nic Nat will always have the better highlights reel but we have made the correct choice.

At least if Matthews is appointed then it will be easier to find the players he wants to delist at the end of the season. After all he has already expressed more than once to the effect that Jack Watts is only a moderate footballer. Perhaps he could go to make room on the list for Matthews favourites. It is important to consider that Melbourne will not be a premiership contender next year and extremely unlikely the following year no matter who coaches. I would prefer a current assistant coach with good general grounding and an excellent panel of assistants. The loss of Wellman for example showed how important a defencive coach he was and how much better the defence worked when he was mentoring them. Part of Baillys problem I think stems from the failures of his assistants and I dont believe their importance can be overestimated. There are a number of current assistant coaches who could well take over the head coach reins.

Might be the run with player we need. fitness unquestioned and foot skills no worse than Bartram

Schwab renewed - Decision had been made before Saturday

Is it a backflip because the Board didnt take Caroline's advice?

Yes

I have real problems in understanding why there may exist such divisions between a list as young and inexperienced as ours and the senior management. Certainly there is no sign of there being enough leadership shown by any player to actually consolidate a particular view amongst the team.

Leadership group to be stood down. The lack of senior leaders has been high on our list of weaknesses over the past decade. With the exception of Grimes they just do not have leadership capacities. I do not excuse Davey who didnt play. He does apparently a good mentoring the indiginous players but does not have on-field leadership qualities. I do not excuse Moloney despite apparently effectively not playing either. He is however perhaps the only one who might make a revamped squad next year. Todd Viney NOT be appointed caretaker coach. Next years coach will be given a free hand and should (must) change all the assistant coaches. Viney chould not be in a position where he might be removed. Tom Scully either to either drag himself, his buggered knee and his interfering management up to GWS or commit. If however he remains, it cannot be on the basis of a paypacket that is going to create division amongst the other players.

I chose Trengove who has improved enormously this year on and off the field. If Scully had not missed so much football at the start of the season my decision may have been different. However, that is not the question asked.

I am strongly of the view that lack of leadership has been a major factor placing Melbourne behind the leading clubs, really since Gary Lyon was captain. It appears that leadership qualities have been an important part of the selection criteria of the recruiting staff in recent years and hopefully that will shine through in the next couple of years. While as thrilled as anyone with Jack Watt's recent form, what has equally pleased me as I hadn't expected it, is his showing signs of leadership on the field. This has been both vocally and physically and I first noticed it, perhaps not coincidentally, in the West Coast game. This suggests a place in the leadership group in 2 - 3 years. However, the most likely leader, if he can keep his body together, appears to be Jack Grimes. He seems to have that ability to lift his own game and take other players with him.

When it is Chris Judd it is the umpires fault

Would be grateful for regular updates Stuck in Sydney waiting for Melbourne plane

Just reality

Mick Malthouse was caught by a speed camera. "I'll do anything for 4 points," he said... Q: What has thirty-six legs and can't climb a ladder? A: Collingwood Q: What goes black and white, black and white, black and white, boom? A: Collingwood falling down the ladder. Did you hear about the MP who was found dead wearing a Collingwood jumper? They had to dress him in women's underwear to save his family from embarrassment. Q: Which Pie is likely to win this year's Copeland Trophy? A: Four 'n' Twenty Q: What is Eddie McGuire's best chance at a new flag? A: When Australia becomes a republic. Q: What do you call two Collingwood supporters driving their car off a cliff? A: A tragedy...at least 5 could fit in the car. Q: What have you got when a Collingwood supporter is buried up to its neck in sand? A: Not enough sand. Q: What is the difference between a Collingwood supporter and a park bench/family pizza? A: The park bench/family pizza can support/feed a family. Christmas time among collingwood fans was a sad time, they were going to do a nativity scene at a collingwood fan day. sadly, they couldnt find 3 wise men or a virgin. Q: Whats the problem with having the faces collingwood footy players on stamps? A: People wont know what side to spit on

Q. Two Collingwood supporters jump off a cliff. Who wins A. Society. Q. What does a Collingwood supporter use as protection during sex? A. Bus shelter. Q. What does a Collingwood supporter use as a contraceptive? A. His personality. Q. What do you call a 30 year old female Collingwood supporter? A. Granny. Q. What do you call a Collingwood supporter in a suit? A. The defendant. Q. Why did the Collingwood supporter cross the road? A. To start a fight with a complete stranger, for no reason what so ever. Q. What do you call a female Collingwood supporter in a white tracksuit? A. The bride. Q. If you are driving and you see a Collingwood supporter on a bike, why should you try not to hit him? A. It might be your bike. Q. What's the first question during a Collingwood supporter quiz night? A.. What you looking at? Q. Two Collingwood supporters in a car without any music - who is driving? A. The policeman! Q. Why is three Collingwood supporters going over a cliff in Lexus a shame? A. Because a Lexus has four seats. Q. What do you say to a Collingwood supporter with a job? A. Big Mac please.

Baldish blondes are like that

Viney must be immediately appointed coach. He would have no trouble in turning a team missing between 8 and 10 first 22 players into an immediate premiership prospect. He has a great AFL coaching record - well at least he was involved in a team that once won a premiership. Of course if He isnt massively successful he can be given the flick - or at least not ratified at the end of the year. And of course his son will be delighted to give his all for the team that sacked his old man.

There was once an Australian Rules football team that had not won a premiership since the 1960's. They were coached by a decent media savvy ex-Essendon player. Their results were so ordinary they even received the first two draft picks one year. The fans were revolting. There came available a massively successful former coach. He had dragged a fairly ordinary team into a couple of losing grand finals and when given the players, actually won the premiership. The fans demanded his appointment and the football club acquiesced. After only 15 rounds the fans were again revolting, the said super coach was sacked and a member of the committee thought he could do the job better. It would appear St Kilda has missed their "premiership window". I do not suggest St Kilda would have been more successful if Tim Watson had remained coach. I do not say Dean Bailey ought not be replaced at the end of the season. I do however suggest the club should hasten slowly in making changes to the football department as massive as changing coaches, particularly during the season. And just because Malthouse has had some success, and some ordinary failures, in the past, it does not mean he is automatically the "answer".