Much has been written about the performance of our club and team over the last decade; mostly uncomplimentary.

At this juncture, I'm pleased with the imminent appointment of Mick Malthouse as our coach.

Historically, we have imported individuals to take us to the next step of a premiership. Whilst its true that we have occasionally gone for untried talent: Brighton Diggins and Ron Barassi, most other times we've gone for outside, experienced coaches: Ern Henfrey, David Parkin and Robert Walls to achieve success. Myself I don't count, as I was the first coach in the VFL/AFL.

One of the cultural aspects of our club I admire is the ruthless desire to win the flag. It doesn't mean we get decisions right all the time, but given we've won more Grand Finals than any other club in history, I think it gives a solid foundation for how we operate, and, more importantly, the culture of our club.

Many will be dissatisfied with the 'process' of appointing Mick Malthouse as coach of our club, and I understand the reservations. But sometimes risks need to be taken in order to achieve success. In this context, Malthouse represents reasonable risk. The man has a history of binding teams, whether talented to otherwise, and that is precisely what we need.

In the same breath, Travis Cloke represents a risk, but over the years, we have gone after the best talent in the land in order to achieve the ultimate prize, and I don't think anyone doubts that a leading power forward is something we lack at the moment, notwithstanding Levi Casboult's late season form. If Cloke had been playing for Glenelg instead of Collingwood, would we have hesitated to chase his signature?

Yes, I understand that we are not competing in the same competition as the pre-draft and pre-salary cap era, but we have an opportunity to snare a couple of proven performers to complement our current, talented list.

Since 1864/5 we have pursued success using every means possible, and occasionally we've blundered, but sixteen premierships down the track, I say "Go for it!".

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

Well said JW.........

Some good points JW but don't agree with you on Cloke
He is a good not great forward
The question is more his price than his talent
IF he was with Glenelg, we would have gone after him at got him for 300k a year not 800k
How many other good players is he going to cost us?
And he would be another player on our list who can not kick

..not after Cloke myself cos i think he costs too much.. ..however, he's an old school CHF whose field kicking is v.good.. ..but being a work-horse CHF, his goal kicking finishing skills aren't up to quality FF standard.. ..sometimes i think ppl these days seem to judge KPF goal kicking accuracy purely by FF standards.. ..when plenty of KPF's these days seem to be more CHf than FF..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

The club appears to have made the big call and appointed MM if he decides Cloke is the real thing then the club needs to support its new coach 100%.

I'm not a fan of Cloke but the club can't make him (MM) the answer to our prayers and then not support his vision.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

I'd rather the club be the smartest than be the most ruthless.

Being ruthless was good when you were able to get the chequebook out and go to South Australia...the times have changed and yet this club appears to be stuck in another era.

Why can't it look at what some of the other successful clubs are doing in the competition!

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

I'm just glad we don't have Jeff Kennett calling the shots.

Forever Carlton

I'll always support the club, and stand behind any decision they make. But my trust in their professionalism and ability to make smart business decisions has been shaken.

If they genuinely think Mick's the guy, and have a proper plan in place to make this club/team the best it can be, I'm all for it. But if they're going to Mick for "we don't have a @#$%&! clue what we're doing, can you figure it out?" reasons, then we're truly @#$%&! idiots who never learn. But I'll continue supporting them either way, just level of apathy may vary.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Hear, hear.

And well said as well Jack.

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Me too.

We do try to be like the other successful clubs, but always the one that won the last flag. The trouble is, it's always too late in the club's development to be like last years premiers.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

And I thought Jack Worrall was dead

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

I've wondered the same thing myself at times...

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

For our club to be successful in the long term and be able to be competitive with the newer and also the stronger clubs we need to select a tough young coach who is there for the long term and developour list accordingly.
I think MM will be good for the short term but very destructive for the long haul.