alias275

'Keep' was killing the race until his appearance on the footy show.

Can I just ask what you would have done under those circumstances though? I certainly don't mean this as a rhetorical smart aleck remark. I am actually quite interested on what coaching moves you think he should have done during those points of the game. Or in your opinion what would have been a typical Chocco move? I myself am still working out who is really in the best position to coach this mess we are in.

Please do D94 Any news is good news.

I was under the impression most coaches rest ruckmans to preserve their run and rest the on ballers in the pocket. Inside mids generally rotate off the bench, allowing a 3 way contingent between hard on ball running, outside mid support and 1-2 minute spells on the bench. But I am certainly not a coach, so I am probably way off. Fair to say in modern football, the more versatile ruckmans rest up forward and become that extra tall up front. But it really all depends on what players you have at your expense. Melbourne are certainly no Hawthorn or Sydney who each have multiple utilities. 2 extra men in defence was obviously a defensive scoring tactic Craigy decided on, but by that stage it was more to save the game blowing out further than anything else. The initial extra man in defence I thought was to gain more inside 50's and if we had managed to switch momentum, I am sure the next move was to put Watts back up front and get some points on the board. But the momentum never shifted, Watts practically spat the dummy with his role so what can Craig really do? We were outclassed, out skilled and outrun. What more could any coach do? I know it probably sounds like I am defending Neil Craig, but I do agree with UH in the fact that if you give Neil Craig at least a team of players with heart and fight. He can certainly fix the rest. I don't think any AFL coach can do much with a club full of ballerinas. They only know football, not ballet.

My money is on Paul Roo's to coach Brisbane. Especially if this new rumour of him resigning from the Swans Academy is true. He has definitely admitted the Brisbane coaching job has interested him, purely due to his ties with the Lions. He also stated he will not move till both his boys finish school (Tyler has exams in 2 months, then all finished) He did tell Malcolm Homes he was not comfortable discussing coaching roles while Voss was still in the position. Michael Voss gets stood down by the Brisbane Lions, for no major reason except 'change'. I am more a fan of Craig than Eade, though like most, I will support whoever the club decides on.

Definitely going to miss Flash. Aaron was always that dangerous small forward crumbing and snapping goals or zigging and zagging through the midfield to only pin point a pass off his left boot. Thanks for many years of service, though their is still a Davey left at the MFC who has a great winning record so far Glad I caught up with Aaron 2 weeks ago then. Man of very few words, but always has that cheeky grin on his face.

Well said rpfc. "As his strong, superbly drilled Crowbots stormed to a 11-2 record with a whopping percentage of 171, there is a growing impression the game's "Nutty Professor" has emerged from the laboratory with a foolproof formula for footballing success, his methods far too clinical and sophisticated for his dunderheaded opposition." Said about Neil Craig in 2006. SMH link to article here.

Spot on. Trade now while we have the currency still left in him. One more year of this and he won't even be worth pick 88.

Think your right there. The AFL site hasn't updated to Round 21 yet.

Finally

We don't need Watts. I don't agree with anyone who says we do. Clark, Dawes with Hogan to come (who is a 10 times better forward and not scared to get hurt like Watts)

Spot On. Joel MacDonald was always a solid defender. Made up in effort what he lacked in skills. All the best JoelMac. .

Best part is he is a qualified lawyer. I always felt the MFC were weak when it came to appealing anything as we had no one in power with legal qualifications.

Glen Bartlett (born 10 June 1964) Post VFL Background Glen Bartlett practices in all aspects of workplace relations and employment law having more than 25 years' relevant experience. Glen joined Clayton Utz as a partner in 2000 in Perth and relocated to Melbourne in January 2009. He has represented clients from a range of industries including transport, energy and resources, retail, secondary and tertiary education, emergency services, power supply, postal, security and rural industries, as well as local, state and Commonwealth government employers. Glen has extensive experience in advising and representing a wide range of corporations on issues arising out of sales, mergers and liquidations. Glen also has significant experience in advising government and corporations with respect to outsourcing, insourcing and associated implications under the Fair Work Act 2009. Glen provides tailored and general client training courses regarding Managing Employees' Performance and Conduct; Investigator Officer training and Enterprise Bargaining training. VFL Background Glen Bartlett (born 10 June 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and East Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Bartlett was used most as a key forward at East Perth. He joined West Coast for their inaugural VFL season in 1987 and won their 'Best Clubman' award after playing four games for the year. Despite this he was delisted and returned to East Perth with whom he kicked 69 goals in the 1990 WAFL season to win the Bernie Naylor Medal. He received another chance to play in the VFL when he was recruited by the Brisbane Bears but he did not move from Perth. A trade was considered with Melbourne Football Club for a full forward however Melbourne went for Alan Jackovich instead. Bartlett spent 4 years as Captain of East Perth before retiring after achieving life membership at the age of 26. Bartlett represented his state in an interstate match against South Australia in 1990, kicking three goals from full-forward in the first half. Bartlett retired to concentrate on his law studies becoming a lawyer in 1996, a partner in the workplace relations team of Clayton Utz in 2000 founding the Perth practice. In 2008 Bartlett moved to Melbourne and was appointed Managing Partner of Clayton Utz Melbourne in late 2010. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-08-16/bartlett-announced-as-president Sources: http://www.claytonutz.com.au http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Bartlett

100% on trade at the moment

Well the MFC website hasn't relayed the story like they normally do. I know with all AFL articles that Melbourne players are involved in, they usually have that on the MFC website as well. That's unless they are not happy or very proud of the article.

That's on the 'consider it already done' list

Spot on Unleash. They lost all intensity in those games because they were simply outclassed and outrun. Main focus of last pre-season was to get fitter. We were famously dropping off in 3rd and 4th quarters and we have managed to eliminate that this year (we just get flogged all 4 quarters lol). But Dave Misson said himself it's not going to happen in one pre-season. We have to get up to a 70-80% intensity level in order to train skills that are more effective in a game. It's one thing to look silky and smooth when your coasting, but it's completely different under pressure and when everything is happening so quickly. Definitely an important pre-season. More important than last.

Yeah I guess it was, though they are the media. Much easier to sell 'Ablett was mistreated' then 'Melbourne done good for once'

I had a fairly long chat to Neil Craig out at Skoda Stadium on the Friday before the GWS game. With the right assistants and an off-season (with drafts and trades), I feel Craig can certainly get the job done as much as the others. He has a plan already in place for the MFC, though it just comes down to the MFC deciding on whether to trust in NC and his plan, or to go down a completely different path. As Craig has always said, until the MFC state exactly what they are looking for in regards to the senior coaching position, he won't even consider himself a candidate. He feels there is one way, and one way only to make it work. It's almost impossible not to buy into it yourself when that man speaks, as he has such a strong convincing personality. But he seemed very serious and quite happy to talk to a member about it. One question from the media conference on the weekend I did quite like was "How were you able to keep Ablett to only 19 touches, which every other team has failed to do this year?"

Article on the AFL website even suggests maintaining Neil Craig as senior coach for 2014 (as he has 1 year left on his contract) and having Adam Simpson or Scotty Burns come in as assistant to then take over. "That will be up to the club. I am contracted until the end of next year, but if there is not a position there - a worthwhile position - I am sure we will come to an arrangement," Craig said.

Who knows as Dylan did miss out. He was in the same Sydney Swans Academy as Brandon Jack (currently playing for the Swans on the senior list - pick 58 Rookie Draft)

"The financially-stricken Lions have already asked the AFL for additional funding, and Johnson said if granted, that would go "exclusively" towards football operations." source: AFL.com

CEO Malcolm Holmes said he called Roos six weeks ago – with Voss's knowledge – to assess his interest. "It was the same conversation he would have had with Melbourne. He wasn't comfortable talking about any opportunities (while Voss was still coaching)." He said it would be unfair to hide the decision from Voss for the remaining three weeks of the season. Michael Voss is sacked as Brisbane's Head Coach. Sounds very Paul Roos to me.

What is wrong with Leigh Brown? I don't think we have a problem with our forward line. It's more keeping the forwards on the paddock and delivering some decent inside 50's. Fair enough he may not be there next year with a new head coach picking his assistants, but you can't knock the bloke. Whereas with Royal, he just can't seem to find a way to tune that midfield right. Is it old age? is the game to fast for him now? Yes he was an absolute gun midfielder for Footscray back in the day. But I just think we need a fresh perspective after 4 years of Royal.