Norm Smith's Curse

Will be interesting to see what Buckley does with our game plan. Does he try to transition us further toward a transition game? Try to continue to mold contest players into transition players? Or let them play to their strengths and dictate an older contested style?

A timeline of the bizarre three-year run of controversy leaving Melbourne's premiership window hanging by a thread 7NEWSMelbourne accused of ‘planting’ strange story into AFL media‘To me, this reeked of stage management.’Not to mention this article where thee leaders supposedly sat in a cafe in Fitzroy making audible character assessments according to Mark Robinson: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mark-robinson-weirdness-surrounds-christian-petraccas-future-but-will-he-actually-move/news-story/d0b804fcdc3c2bd8d1bcb5a72e01b508

Does every club have multiple articles published where the author claims that an attendee of a leadership meeting said the following was discussed?

Well obviously you can't compare what you don't know, but also how many other clubs had a player potentially being shopped who everyone in the footy world knew in intimate detail the personal issues going on at the time. How many clubs have players basically telling media people supposedly through third parties that they would love to be anywhere but Melbourne? How many clubs have a club representative go on live radio and state that she had not been in contact with the family of a seriously injured player without providing the context or explanation of why that might be that could have cleared that up? How many clubs shop a player and it gets back to the player within 24 hours and then he goes and checks out a farm near Geelong? How many clubs have articles written where a person at a leadership meeting gave the media person a blow-by-blow account?

The decision to part ways with Goodwin was made Monday night and then delivered to him in person that night, with the players to be informed Tuesday morning, yet Lever himself says that while the leadership group were in a zoom call discussing how it will be dealt with and the fall out, they became aware that Tom Morris was already reporting it publically. Therefore Lever says in his recent interview that he wants the leadership group to find out who was behind the leak.

The leaks have been continually and outrageous. Even the supposed leadership meeting last year in a restaurant where players were reported as making loud 'character assessments' of a certain team mate. Every step, every issue leaks. Everyone knew most of the detail of Clarry's issues which was also a great way of ensuring that - had we pursued a trade - the trade value was ruined.

Sam McClure reporting that Carlton made overtures to a number of people about their interest in their coaching job including a current coach (Chris Scott?)

There is literally no guarantee that Tassie will even happen at this stage and then the concessions might make it a West Coast or a Brisbane Bears

It's been suggested [on Demonland, where we all source our stories with our other eye on Big footy] that there have been unofficial conversations.

With all dew respect, he knocked us back for the Suns job and they were not singing his praises at the end. Buckleys chance I suspect.

I saw that and was actually pretty surprised because I read today that part of the reason Goodwin got moved on was for suggesting our current list was a year away from a premiership whereas the board believe the current window is closed and a slight backwards step for a reset may be required.

All I can say is that the last few years I've enjoyed his upbeat and very considered commentary on games, players and tactics that showed me he was still very much with his head in the game perhaps waiting for an opportunity. I didn't consider him as an option but I was happy when he was mentioned. He himself says he had a negative approach to other players and weaknesses that he changed at the end of his coaching to be more positive and to focus on what a player can bring rather than what they can't.

Well Copilot let you down there champ because Norm Smith coached the Dee's to the 1960 flag as one of his six.

If you know they know you are available yet you don't even hear a thing from the club and you have a cushy job already why would you put your hand up and potentially embarrass yourself?

The same could be said for MacRae's premiership - ordinary list, good draw, won every final by two millimetres and with overtime umpiring assistance. A failure would be to not make finals consistently after being there long enough to implement game plan and personnel.

In that case I am reading too much into it. Cheers.

I often read this and wonder how that could be true given he got them to a premiership and then a prelim in the later years of his time there.

Any one else think Oliver - whether by chance or plan - suddenly looked a lot better today?

I watch Bucks probably more than any other football commentator or talking head. I do so just because one night I listened to his carefully thought out, nuanced and tactical analysis of a game that surprised me. There was and is no sign of hubris, and he is always respectful of what he says about players - even ones that overtly make a mistake. He knows Freo's list very well and has made really good observations on their tactics that were born out in later games. BUT the other thing I noticed all season was how intimately he understood and had his head around our list, our players strengths and weaknesses and our tactical wins and mistakes as the season went on. Now this may be because he was actually just doing his job and investing more into his knowledge of teams than other commentators but it just gave me a feeling... Any one with doubt pls just watch him talk about a couple of games this season. He is fully invested in the current state of footy and tactics, he knows every list way better than nearly any other commentator and particularly he talks about our list and playing group like he has been carefully monitoring everyone in detail. Simpson seemed coy, Longmire seemed coy and maybe that was just because neither got a call or a sense of interest because we wanted someone specific. I would add that his Collingwood lost a grand final by a goal and lost a prelim by 4 points the next year. I would agree that Goodwin's record is probably slightly better than Bucks, that he has a premiership and the love of his players but I think Lomgmire and Buckley are better tacticians.

Failed to win a premiership by a goal...

Truth is we asked Petracca what he wanted to do and he said become a pie, so we thought the next best thing would be to bring in a legendary pie in as coach.

No one at any stage suggested we were even into Daly and Longmire seemed underwhelmed with the prospect. Word and all indications are that Buckley was the first option from the start, love it or not.

Nathan Buckley's coaching record: 218 games (117-99-2) John Lomgmire: 332 games (207-122-3) Simon Goodwin: 203 games (111-91-1) Michael Voss: 196 games (88-106-2) Adam Simpson: 243 games (122-119-1) That was fun!

...but until I hear it from Tom Morris I won't believe it.

Buckley's footy brain and tactical analysis is frankly some of the best and most detailed I've seen in recent years. Suggesting Buckley and Hinkley are in the same bracket of tried coaches who never made it is a stretch.