A $1M offer to Cloke shows MM is also responsible for the state of the list.

The club are experts at paying out contracts before they expire - it could have been done with Joseph, Davies etc.

He has to take some responsibility for the shape of the list, as well as poor team selection - Rowe-Waite-Henderson. Rowe slow, Waite no VFL work. The 3 rucks against St Kilda.

Not blooding Graham when so many on this site say the midfield is screwed; we have a promising youngster in the VFL who has done more than enough to warrant a game. An attacking midfielder who makes good decisions and is a pretty good kick.

_________________
"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

To think we had the opportunity of drafting Cotchin, Selwood and Pendlebury. That's the modern competition for you, the drafting table is so important.

Realistically we haven't had the list in the last 5 years to take us to the top. It's looked good on paper at times, but the balance of mid-20's A Graders, top line veterans and solid kids just hasn't been here. That's why I'm happy with the result this year. Forces us into significant changes as opposed to finishing in the 3 to 6 range and thinking we are close.

Been said before but we have too many one dimensional midfielders, too many guys that that meet the dictionary definition of half-hearted (Jamo, Gibbs and Yarran for starters) and too many A Graders that are struggling for different reasons (Judd, Murphy and Betts).

What kills me is that our forwards rarely get separation going forward, whereas our backs struggle to keep close to their opponents. It is a classic Carlton trait of the last 10 years.

All we can hope for now is a significant rebuild and that we can contend in the couple of years after Gold Coast and GWS have been to the well.

OK, how about I play devils advocate as well.

We have a board that appointed a coach 5 years ago based upon the fact he was a Carlton person. No process other than appoint our mate.

5 years later we have a board under pressure who appoint a big name coach to take the pressure off themselves. No process again. (Remind you of Carlton circa 2002?) Synbad talks about Rattens coaching philosophy being about "give it to the champ". Well., the board's just done the same thing. Handballed the club to Malthouse and hoped like hell he will drag them out of the shit.
Unfortunately, Mick isnt in it for the right reasons. His motivation was to prove Collingwood wrong. He didnt give a rats arse about coaching us.
Even he knows his heart isnt in it.

The funny part is, Collingwood werent wrong. Buckley has given opportunities to many more kids than Mick was doing (Which apparently Mick was good at)
Collingwood took control from Mick because they could see the autocratic role is insufficient in successful clubs. They could see that progressive and successful clubs like Sydney and Geelong are moving away from our archaic recently introduced structure. (Give total control of an AFL club to 1 person!) And what's worse, Collingwood talked us into giving him the exact same role they'd sacked him from 12 months earlier.

You argument is laughable. Bring in a 60 year old man to try to implement an outdated game style and when the players cant make it a success, you get rid of all the players.
Your constant remarks about the players being weak and soft doesnt hold water. This team has been one of the best contested ball sides in the AFL for years.
Thats not an assumption like your rantings, its fact.
If the change in coaching has made that fall away, perhaps its the change in coaching that should take responsibility.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I am not shocked.

It was clear this mix of players was not going to achieve anything a long time ago. The whole football world knew it but Malthouse.
He thought he could turn it around. Ego or just plain blind?? All it would take was "stars aligning".

Wasted last off season by not changing the mix. He will make the changes we all would have made last year this year.

A telling quote from McCartney

Sounds to me like someone who's been told to HTFU by his coach, and instead of sooking tried to get the most out of himself.

_________________
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

Did he announce it to the world 18 months ago that he needed topullhis finger out or was it done privately?

The MM discussion is ludicrous. I have disagreed with his team selection but he has achieved alot this year. He has shown us that Judd made this list overachieve a few years back and injuries last year were no excuse. The list is not good enough.


Now the question that will define him, is what can he do about it. He must get every trade and every draft pick right this year and next year. This will be difficult.

He could be further advanced if he made some decisions last year. But the club and MM sat on their hands. Hence every decision he makes from now on is critical to his tenure at the club and us being a finals force within 2-3 years in the post-Judd era.

I think he will battle and the club's tolerance will be stretched. We will know a little bit more next year. A bottom four finish is likely, but if we have developing players that have shown glimpses in key positions then we are on the way.

If I were MM, I would target Thomas and the number 1 pick to get Boyd. I would also think about Watts as a HF flanker/wingman, but would not sell the house to get him.

The rest of the list decisions will take care if themselves after that

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

He's been mentioned in public forums quite a number of times if I recall.

_________________
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

You lost me at malthouse has achieved alot this year

_________________
Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Mentioned in forums and berated by your coach in public is a fare way separated on different sides of the spectrum I would have thought.

I think we differ on our take on what "berated in public" means

_________________
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

Mick is an idiot for coming into the club and backing everyone in by not making mass changes to the list, but he is now also an idiot for suggesting publically that changes will be made which in turn has destroyed the morale.

I cant keep up any more.

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

No he's not. Tell me a coach who has taken over and made massive changes to the list they've inherited up front?

Everyone gets an opportunity to see if they are capable of playing his type of football. Now he has seen what we have in the reality of home and away games he has a baseline to make the appropriate changes.

Some people on this forum moan about MM publicly criticising players, yet another part of management change is not to come in and make sweeping changes immediately. See what the strengths and weaknesses are, then make the changes as required.

What chance did we have with Cachia, Curnow, McLean, Judd, an unfit Murphy in the midfield. Shocked at that, we got slaughtered in the midfield and not one change for the whole game.. How is that good for development. Development would have been graham, bell, yarran, menzel etc through the midfield.

We had an unbalance team last night. Walker, Jammu, Simmo, Murphy, Gibbs - we got nothing from them.

Could have a least tried something different in the last quarter to try and win the game. Ie Gibbs in the midfield, or walker, or Simmo, or even touhy.

C'mon enough is enough...... Not happy.........

nice try but no cigar (X 2)...Rex Hunt would have been disappointed
A bit like Carlton's list, I overrated your argumentative acumen

_________________
If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

You missed my sarcasm KK.

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

Emoticons Blueboy

Can someone explain why for the second straight week, our oldest player I repeat our oldest player had the most disposals for the game?

The pressure is on & the players are failing just as they have in the past when up against a top 4 team or crunch game etc etc

Prima donnas!

He sets the agenda, by how he plays. Hard at every contest, chases every opponent, doesn't shirk contact, doesn't stop trying no matter the score. He plays finals footy every game, winning or losing. And he does this from the very first bounce, he shelters and blocks for his mids, he taps the ball into space, his intensity shows the way. Agree or disagree with MM, he was right when he said krooz has nothing to prove, one of a few on our list you go to war with, next year will be in leadership group

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