The reason no other team is chasing Ratts is because he hasn't achieved anything....would we be looking at guys like McKenna, Hardwick, Hird etc.... If these guys were available and we were chasing a coach would we look at them or go for guys like Malthouse and co who have the runs on the board????....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

They certainly will be because i know for a fact that Brett Ratten will be sacked if we will lose to Essendon* in week 1 of the finals.

I was told this last night by a member of the 1987 premiership side.

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You heard it here first!

Elimination Final will show just how much the players not only like Ratten and want him to continue on as our coach but want to keep having input into our teams structure, game plan, etc.

Adrian Gleeson?

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

We couldn't possibly lose to the Bombers week one of the finals. If by some hideous bizarre piece of voodoo we lose, then there has to be a blood scarifice, possibly several. But don't worry it is the unloseable elimination final.

I think we have a fair show of getting to the GF this year. Easy elimination final, then last years wooden spooners and then either Geelong or Hawks who are eminently beatable. Lets not be satisfied with a brave loss to WCE in the second week. If we get to the GF Ratts will deserve a 3yr extension. If we only win one final ag a side who struggled today ag Port, then I think the season will have promised more than its delivered.

Ratts was given our senior job way to early in his career. He has identified weaknesses in his approach, which we should have identified in our rigorous selection process (if only we had one). Ratts came in with little experience and no experienced assistants which may have been his choice (intimidated by more exp assistants) or the clubs (cheaper). Now to his credit he has experience in the box and appears to have recognised his own strengths and weaknesses and addressed them with the coaching panel operating more as a collective (given his role on the bench rather than in the box). We don't seem innovative on the field but rather catching up with what innovative clubs are doing. We have improved and have got tougher. He has been lucky to be given Juddy and a host of high draft picks to work with, but we have made progress.

He needs to take responsibility for the recruitment of Warnock and McLean. Warnock has been okay, but he is not the future of ruckwork and its hard to get away from the idea that Ratts thought he would be a Justin MAdden, but instead he is a better version of the Cats Blake, a beanpole tap ruckman who can't mark or impose any physical strength on the contest. Gievn the amount of decent young ruckmen drafted over the last 5 years one wonders why we went so hard for Warnock. The decisioon to go for Warnock is not a bad decision but does suggest we didn't understand how the role of ruckmen was evolving and how just getting the tap is not enough.

McLean was yesterdays man and everyone at Melbourne except assistants Ratts and Reilly could see that. Now we are stuck with a player who si worth 3 or 4 games a year and still has another year of an expensive contract to go. These sort of decisions cannot be just ignored, bad decisions can cost premierships, and we have made our share at the Blues.

A coach can't turn a sows ear into a silk purse, all he can do is make the team greater than the sum of its parts. Of recent times Roos did that at the Swans, Lyon did that at the Saints and Clarkson did it at Hawthorn. I am not convinced Ratts had a clear vision for how to do that or new ideas. But this year we have been good. In the finals we need to show we can beat similarly talented sides like the Eagles and the Hawks. That is where the coaches do influence results. Getting more out of similar talent, with strategy and motivation.

Absolutely no point in offering contracts before seasons end, but if we lose to Essendon* then I'll expect heads on pikes surrounding Princes Park. if we lose to WCE - v. disapointing - one year extension stamped 'must do better'. If we get to the prelim - 2 years, GF 3 years, flag - job for life.

Good post agree with the last paragraph....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Shane Robertson? I saw him having lunch with Jeannie Pratt in Lygon Street the other day. Big Fev fan too - he had the 25 on his back.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

If we happen to beat Essendon*, I really think people are underestimating how difficult a win in Perth is going to be against WC. They embarrassed us here in MELBOURNE and they will be confident in doing it again. Quite frankly, I can't see us beating them in Perth.

Come on Surrey that's the sort of fatalism that holds us back. WCE were last year's wooden spooners. They travel to Melb every other week and will have travelled the week before we play them. They don't have a better collection of players than us. Both sides are comparable on talent. If we find it acceptable to lose to them, we are not going forward. This year our motto was "No Passengers", maybe we should have "no excuses" added to that. We have become way too good at explaining losses as though they were wins. The only side I would expect to beat us is the Pies (and who knows we might get them). The days of being satisfied with losses to Hawks, Cats and Eagles should be over. The finals are when coaches really earn their money. The quality of our coaching panel should elevate us to victories ag comparable sides. So Ratts extension of contract will take care of itself with the quality of our performances heading to the first Saturday in October.

Hey Gerry, I couldn't agree more and have said all along we are and deserve to be treated as a top 4 side, however I just don't feel confident again after watching us play over the last couple of months and literally put ourselves in this position.

I have it on good authority that Ratten will not be sacked even if we lose ...

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

I have it on good authority that one day, some time in the future, Ratten WILL be sacked provided he doesn't resign first.

You heard it here first folks. Bookmark it.

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The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

#DopeThenStash

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#DonTheStash

Were you walking down Royal Parade when you overheard Sticks saying this ?

I heard it from Snowy on the trams who heard it from a guy on his mobile talking to a bloke who barracks for Collingwood, who lives next door to an Essendon* supporter who hates Carlton for taking Glenn Manton.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

Really interesting, how we start the season, saying he has to win a final and just before Ratten has to produce we want to award him a contract ......Doesn't say much about a board's ability to be rational and stick to a plan in the interest of club success

Who replaces Ratten if we lose then?

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"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

You go hard and get Malthouse as senior coach and maybe keep ratten as match day coach..

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31-3-2015 - R.I.P AFL, corrupted lying pricks
12-5-2015 - Go WADA
18-8-2015 - Suffer Hird* u lying flower
12-1-2016 - CAS goes bang, happy new year.. Drugcheats forever..