FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Friday, August 19, 2011
Herald Sun
‘Flash’ Davey burning to fly
By Mike Sheahan
NOT for the first time this year, Aaron Davey had trouble keeping his head up at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. On top of another Melbourne loss, to West Coast this time, his returns were modest - 12 possessions from 84 per cent of game time, no impact on the scoreboard, just two tackles. Like everyone at Melbourne, supporters included, Davey doesn't seem to enjoy the Docklands experience. It was, remember, the venue for his clumsy attempt to mark against St Kilda back in Round 9, an incident that diminished his standing with teammates. In the short term, anyway. It has been that sort of a season for the man known as "Flash": 10 games, average disposals of 16, just five goals, 29 tackles. He is better than that. Much. There was a period in his early years, particularly 2005-06, when he was one of the most brilliant, exciting players in the competition.
The Age
The Clarkson five
By Caroline Wilson
HAWTHORN'S Alastair Clarkson has become a wanted man, with Melbourne understood to have offered a five-year contract to the premiership coach. While the Hawks last night declared they had no knowledge of a Melbourne offer, the club remains hopeful of announcing a new deal for Clarkson before the start of the 2011 finals series, and has already begun negotiations with the out-of-contract coach. While outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said he was not aware of a Melbourne move, he conceded: ''I would imagine that any club without coaches would be negligent if they did not approach Alastair or Mick Malthouse.'' The Age understands that despite Kennett's stand all season that the club would not move on its coach until the completion of Hawthorn's football year, senior management has begun detailed contract talks with the 2008 premiership coach. It is believed the club remains hopeful of an outcome within a fortnight and is looking at a contract extension of up to three years. When questioned on the reported Clarkson offer late yesterday, Melbourne's stand-in football director Garry Lyon told The Age: ''No comment.''
The Australian
Eade ticks Demons’ boxes: Viney
By Courtney Walsh
RODNEY Eade may be jobless but his future seems far from bleak given a stirring endorsement from Melbourne's caretaker coach Todd Viney. A day after Adelaide's interim coach Mark Bickley surprisingly advised the Crows to pursue an interview with Eade for a job he holds an interest in, Viney said the former Sydney and Western Bulldogs coach boasted many of the attributes the Demons need. "There's no doubt they'll be speaking to Rocket," Viney said. "He's been a successful coach over a long period of time and I'm sure he'd tick most of the boxes the club would be looking for. "Experience would be a fantastic attribute to have _ if you've had your team in the big games at the end of the year." While Bickley is yet to state publicly a desire to coach on at the Crows, Viney expressed from his first day in the role of caretaker that his time in charge of the Demons would be limited to the end of this season. "Ultimately, winning premierships is a really hard thing to do and Rocket has at least put himself in a position where he's been able to compete at the pointy end of the season, but it's a tough ask to win one," Viney said. "My charter has been (to coach) for the last five weeks and that's what I'm focusing on . . . giving the club the best opportunity to speak to all the right people."
