Chicken Deelicious

Agree. We need to use the pre-season wisely: Build bodies where we need to, build skills where we need to. Get the structures and attitudes right and start selecting players that can get the job done.

As they said - and did you see Jones' 'block' on No-nuts (otherwise known as NikNat) - loved the intensity to hip ans shoulder him square on.

I dont know what 'General soreness' looks like. Wish I could write this ona certificate and get a week off work! He wasnt limping or anything...

Confidence in themselves and their team-mates makes such a difference. Seems they have no confidence ATM.

However, some of the primary school level skill errors out there today was enough to drive Dees supporters to tears. Just unacceptable at this level.

Better to come ninth? Why? The supporters have the same amount of killer instinct as the players currently. Grow some stones .. Make the 8, face a good team and expose these guys to where they need to get to. Sure they lose, but they need to play finals FFS.

Take a leaf out of essendon, Carlton and collingwoods book (the historically successful clubs) and demand success.

This is such a Melbourne football club supporters attitude.

Sick of it.

What...get 8th, and have everyone think it was a SUCCESSFUL season? Rather we miss and we take true stock of where we are than somehow has a sunshine shot up our ass from a mathematical aberration.

My stones are in fine nick, thanks. I dont want this rabble in the finals - I want them working on what will make then successful in next years finals. Extra weeks in the finals (even 1) means a later preseason start. They do NOT need to play finals, they need to play football, ffs.

"General Soreness" was the official line. Saw him walking to the coaches box with Todd from the rooms at the start of the game - seemed a comfortable conversation, so didnt look like an issue between these guys.

We would be making up the numbers. Better to come 9th and get a proper pre-season, and get on with appointing the new coach. On the last two weeks do you see us realistically beating Carlscum or Soggy Toast?

I'm all for him, we lose nothing over recruiting him. I'd love to have someone that guaranteed not to stream down the ground.

LOL!

He will either be a list clogger stopping the development of up and comers at Casey, or kicking goals for the Dees and stopping the development of up and coming players in the seniors!

Why do we have to recycle? We want to find and select the best (that we can afford) for all positions. I trust the board (sorry, that should read 'hope the board'...) find the right candidates looking forward, without their eyes fixed on the rear view mirror.

Sentiment will create more sediment. Time for something that looks like success.

I imagine that, although he is sacked, he has an exit clause in his contract. I couldn't imagine he would say anything negative about the place (even if he was very negative) with 5 weeks salary or more on the line. However, sounds like he has genuinely positive feelings with such statements, because it would be possible for him to avoid, dodge or minimally answer such questions if he felt like it.

As they say, it is not what happens to you but how you choose to respond to it. Congratulations to DB for the stance he has chosen to take on this one

Chocko and Sheeds are already living at the Breakfast Point community. Sometimes seen at the local pub (but rarely recognised).. Nice enough inside the compound, but its in the middle of nowhere re Sydney and its lifestyle attractions. The idea of housing all of the players together to me seems psychologically unhealthy (probably suits Chocko...).

It is an absolute disgrace - but completely in line with the AFL making up the rules as they go along to suit themselves.

"Gawn was confident Scully, No.1 draft pick in 2009 to Trengove's No.2, would stay.

He said the midfielder widely seen as destined for Greater Western Sydney wouldn't go anywhere without teammate Sam Blease for company, and there was no reported interest from GWS in Blease."

After suggesting other clubs couldn't afford him. big Max was reported in the Sun with this quote!

Comedy Gold!!

Hey WJ, thanks! Anything important bolt for the dunnies!

Look forward to whatever you report, and enjoy your evening!

Tappy is apparently OK (no concussion), so he is in.

No way will Green be sub. If he remains captain, he gets to start.

Strauss and Bate out.

How about Blease and Fitzy in??

Lets see if Jamar is OK< then he would come in for Gawn

I would think the director of football would need to 'direct' the football department and be responsible to the board (or the CEO, depending on the structure). I would want someone who knew footy enough to support and protect the football department turf, and at the same time be biz-savvy enough to represent it to the business side of the organisation.

I have not seen any other 'suggestions' of what type of person we should have in this role. Given that the chances of getting a strong, experienced coach look slim, how do we strengthen the football dept director role with someone who can 'direct' and lead the coaches and the whole footy department?

If 'meddling' means "unwanted interference" the question is who didn't want it, the coach, or the board who may have directed it?? This is one we could only ever guess at from the outside....

With all this talk of a new coach, I wonder about the 'director of football' role.

I think we need someone, tough, experienced, that will do things in a no-nonsense way, and support the coach.

I would opt for a senior football director, and a developing coach (rather than the other way around!)

Suggestion: Leigh Matthews or Malthouse as football director, with Viney/Clarkson/Laidley as coach??

What do you think about the importance of this position and who would you want?

It takes 22 to make a team. If we had other parts of the team firing, then the 'third forward' role (LJ) or 'small forward' (Aussie/Flash) would be much easier, and we would be crowing about the sublime skills these guys exhibit. I think in the current context it is difficult to make such an assessment. Better to ask "when the team around them is working, can they add real value"? LJ - as third forward, absolutely. Aussie or Flash - in form, both would. Jetta - midfield dash? Needs to get a bit more authority and trust his skills. Bennell?? Maybe, but where? Half back? Half forward??

It is a great question - but I think we need another pre-season and the rest of the team doing their bit to fairly judge these guys. Bennell would be the closest to the edge in my humble opinion.

Just do a lottery with PP only determined by the commission if a club falls in a heap.

Done.

This sounds about right. An idea might be Lottery for teams 9-17 (next year 18) for top 10 (exciting telly, too! Just like the Masterchef final...only interesting!)then lottery for top 8. Then draft order as per reverse ladder place from 2nd round onward.

Priority Pick is only what Vlad does in the car to his nose when he thinks no one is looking.

Perhaps the AFL could make an extra 2nd round pick available for teams in the bottom 4 for three years (upgrade of their 4th round pick, for example).

Yep - Judd, Murphy et al run just to the side of a teammate with opponent in hot pursuit, teammate just has to lean sideways the moment they pass, opponent has to change direction just slightly to avoid them, loses that fraction of a second and voila ... quality clearance. So easy but so effective.

In other word, the midfield works as a UNIT, a combination. Ours is just however-many individuals each trying to get the ball out by themselves.

Bailey's coaching philosophy was to deliberately not coach for team plays, in the name of "development", and West (to my chagrin, one of my favourite non-Dees players) seemed to follow blindly. The most important on-field job of the next coach will be to get our midfield (with or without Scully, but hopefully with) to work as a unit, a team-within-a-team - would be well within the capability of most coaches.

This is so true. The way they block for each other was starkly different from the way we played. Judd's goal from the forward pocket came as a direct result of a block from Walker. It is easy to look great when the team help you (and you are simply a sublime player!). Clearly part of their clearance set-up.

Why the hell dont we do that? Not only were we SMASHED in the clearances, but the quality of the clearance was also so different. When we have the bodies, and the clearance structures, we may not have to win games off the half backline, but out of the middle. Maybe that will be the difference.

Leadership and culture are closely linked. If the players accept a culture of 'Oh well, we tried OK' and that is good enough, the leaders will lead to that cultural standard. We need to get rid of this leadership group self serving rubbish and get back to simple 'chiefs and indians' model. One chief, who has earned his stripes, and sets the standard. A lot of indians who do what they know they need to. Get rid of this rubbish 'soviet' leadership system and get back to being a football team.

Garry is saying as it is, as it should be, and hopefully as it will be. Thank god for a really passionate reality check from this bloke. A great than 10 goal loss is a shellacking, and is not acceptable.

Any news?? Assume he has already had a plate and screws fitted??

It was lucky that it wasn't compound. Poor Bugger, thought he has looked alright up until then. Get well soon.

Good:

Watts.

First Quarter effort.

Die hard supporters who turn up regardless*

Bad:

Bad delviery by hand and foot

Inability to stop Carlton delivering at will by hand and foot

Clearances

Inside 50 scrapping

Kicking at goal

Not having my Redlegs seat or the Hassett Bar (I hate away games!)

Being second to the ball far too often.

Ugly:

Scoreboard

Strauss' leg

Decision making

* Was commenting that I used to watch losses like this 30 odd years ago!

Had some 'good ones' around me today - a few very funny ones, and a few who expressed the same thing - knew what it was like to be down, but wishing us luck on the way up. It is easy to be gracious when you are over 10 goals up.

Drop by the crew in Alexandria. Nice pub and good bunch. Pretty close to town, as well.

Its hilarious!!!

Eddie says Lyon has conflict of interest (get a mirror, fat-boy!)

The three coaches who commented all have potential coaches that Melb could pursue - Hawks, Dogs and Magpies.

Self interest screaming off the page.

SO much BS and crap journalism, I hope the team can hang tough and play tougher!!