Find out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Friday, May 27, 2011
Herald Sun
I’m the man at the Dees
By Mike Sheahan
DEAN Bailey will continue to coach Melbourne in the long-term best interests of the club and, if that's not good enough, then his future is beyond his control. Bailey, who is under mounting pressure as the Demons continue to struggle, told the Herald Sun yesterday: "The only thing I can control is preparing for this week (against Carlton at the MCG tonight) and then next week (against Essendon)."That's the nature of the business. It keeps everyone focused on what the job is right now, rather than concentrating on what might be and taking your eye off the ball." Asked if he had been tempted to seek support from the Jim Stynes administration as speculation mounted, Bailey poked his chin out and said: "I don't seek reassurance, I don't seek support, I don't get on my knees and go cap in hand to anyone. No one. "I know what we're doing is the right thing for the Melbourne footy club and I know what we're doing right now is going to be best for the footy club. I intend to do everything I can to still be a part of it, but I don't go seeking reassurance."
Bailey wrestling his Demons
By Mike Shehan
DEAN Bailey has a simple philosophy on distractions - don't let them distract you. Yes, easier said than done when your team is trailing expectations and you are a coach in the final year of a contract, yet Bailey's demeanour suggests he absolutely believes what he says. His priorities, he says, remain Melbourne's next opponent (Carlton tomorrow) and the construction of the best strategy to exploit any perceived weakness in the opposition, as well as having his men at their best. That's largely his personality, a style endorsed by his footy chum of 15 months, Collingwood and Brisbane Lions premiership coach Leigh Matthews. Bailey and Matthews chat regularly, roughly on a monthly basis. Bailey grew up a Hawthorn supporter, Matthews, naturally, a hero. At the start of the 2010 season, Bailey spoke with Melbourne vice-president Don McLardy about finding a suitable sounding board, a mentor of sorts, a confidant on football matters. "There are a lot of issues that go on all the time when you're a senior coach and one person doesn't always fit the bill," Bailey told the Herald Sun this week.
Rookie’s debut off pool table
By Michael Horan
MELBOURNE activated rookie Daniel Nicholson and thrust him into the senior side for tonight's clash against Carlton at the MCG. The 20-year-old defender-midfielder, described by coach Dean Bailey as "very quick, with a big engine", was a rookie playing pool one minute and a senior list player fronting his first media conference the next. It had been a dizzying morning at training. Nicholson was summoned to Bailey's office, told the news and, after a call to his parents, joined Bailey at his press conference. "Mum was a bit hysterical, so I'll give her a call back after this to see if she's all right," the 183cm Nicholson said. He spent two years starring for University Blues in the amateurs before Melbourne picked him up with its first choice in last year's national draft.
Diluted Dees to take on Blues
By Matt Windley
CARLTON captain Chris Judd will play, but Melbourne made three changes for its only Friday night home game of the season. The Demons will take on the Blues at the MCG without injured Aaron Davey (knee), Clint Bartram (hip) and Luke Tapscott (hamstring). Cale Morton and Jamie Bennell have been recalled and rookie Daniel Nicholson will make his debut. Meanwhile, the Blues have made only one change - Shaun Hampson comes in to replace fellow ruckman Robbie Warnock, who is feeling the effects of concussion sustained in last Friday night's loss to Geelong.
The Age
Demon rookie gets the call all youngsters dream of
By Martin Blake
DANIEL Nicholson was playing a friendly game of pool with teammates at Melbourne's Swan Street headquarters yesterday morning when he got the call to go to coach Dean Bailey's office. Did he think he was in trouble? "I'd like to think I hadn't done anything wrong lately. I had a hunch, but I wasn't sure.'' Nicholson need not have worried. Bailey delivered the news that he called "one of the good parts of the job'', that the 20-year-old rookie would not only be elevated to the primary list, he would play against Carlton tonight at the MCG. This time last year Nicholson, who grew up in the small town of Derrinallum in Victoria's Western District (also the home town of Richmond premiership player John Northey), was playing in the VAFA for University Blues.
Demons celebrate $6m boost
By Martin Blake
MELBOURNE Football Club has absorbed the Bentleigh Club, the bayside function centre and poker machine venue it has been partnered with since 1997. The decision was ratified at a vote of Bentleigh Club members on Monday night, with a favourable vote of 98 per cent. The Demons estimate it will add $9 million to the club's balance sheet, with president Jim Stynes calling it "the first real asset the football club has ever owned''. The position is offset by $1.8 million of debt taken over and $1.2 million in gaming obligations, giving a $6 million net boost to the MFC balance sheet.
For coaches clock is ticking
By Rohan Connolly
There are two clocks quietly ticking away in the background as each AFL senior coach toils through the season. The first is Mick Malthouse's premiership clock, where a team can be primed to win a flag, rebuilding, coming into the "sweet spot" or moving out of it. Then there's the countdown to when it's time to go. Professional sporting coaches rarely leave of their own free will and it's a particularly volatile situation when nearly half of them in a league are about to come out of contract. On Dean Bailey: Unless the Demons made a flying start to the year, Bailey was always going to be among those under the most pressure. After two wooden spoons and a 12th placing under Bailey, there's an expectation that Melbourne must show significant improvement on the back of a swag of high draft picks.
Don’t mention GWS with Scully
By AAP
Melbourne coach Dean Bailey says Greater Western Sydney remains a taboo topic in his conversations with Demons star youngster Tom Scully. The 20-year-old could play his first AFL game of the season as early as round 11 against Essendon, depending on how he copes when he returns from a knee injury through the VFL this weekend. While that will help ease the Demons' long list of injury worries, they will still have to contend all year with the speculation over the midfielder's future. Scully, the 2009 No.1 draft pick, has delayed contract talks until the end of the season and been unable to shake speculation he could join the AFL's 18th club when they enter the competition next year. Before the season began, Scully publicly denied he had already reached agreement with GWS. But Bailey said he had never broached the topic with his star charge. "I've never spoken to Tom about (GWS)," the Demons coach said. "I've only ever spoken to Tom, and I talk to Tom regularly, about his future at the Melbourne Football Club and how important he is now and for the future. I don't get drawn into the speculation, I don't get drawn into the three letters, GWS, at all. “My focus is making sure he becomes a Melbourne player for as long as he can."It's pretty simple how I approach him and talk to him, absolutely. He's a very, very loyal person, Tommy."
The Australian
Demons give Morton another shot to shine
By Courtney Walsh
CALE Morton is the type of talented youngster expected to drive the Demons' development from straggler to powerhouse but his performance, like that of his club, has stagnated. Morton, along with Jamie Bennell and Daniel Nicholson, was last night selected to replace the injured trio of Aaron Davey, Clint Bartram and Luke Tapscott in a critical match tonight against Carlton at the MCG. The third sibling from Lake Grace in Western Australia to be drafted on to an AFL list when selected fourth in 2007 - another top draftee who spent significant time in Western Australia, Chris Judd was taken at three by West Coast at the turn of the decade - Morton lived up to early expectations when he played 40 of a possible 44 games in his first two seasons, earning Brownlow votes and a Rising Star nomination. But the midfielder has struggled since he injured a knee in last year's pre-season and managed only 10 games last season.
Herald Sun
I’m the man at the Dees
By Mike Sheahan
DEAN Bailey will continue to coach Melbourne in the long-term best interests of the club and, if that's not good enough, then his future is beyond his control. Bailey, who is under mounting pressure as the Demons continue to struggle, told the Herald Sun yesterday: "The only thing I can control is preparing for this week (against Carlton at the MCG tonight) and then next week (against Essendon)."That's the nature of the business. It keeps everyone focused on what the job is right now, rather than concentrating on what might be and taking your eye off the ball." Asked if he had been tempted to seek support from the Jim Stynes administration as speculation mounted, Bailey poked his chin out and said: "I don't seek reassurance, I don't seek support, I don't get on my knees and go cap in hand to anyone. No one. "I know what we're doing is the right thing for the Melbourne footy club and I know what we're doing right now is going to be best for the footy club. I intend to do everything I can to still be a part of it, but I don't go seeking reassurance."
Bailey wrestling his Demons
By Mike Shehan
DEAN Bailey has a simple philosophy on distractions - don't let them distract you. Yes, easier said than done when your team is trailing expectations and you are a coach in the final year of a contract, yet Bailey's demeanour suggests he absolutely believes what he says. His priorities, he says, remain Melbourne's next opponent (Carlton tomorrow) and the construction of the best strategy to exploit any perceived weakness in the opposition, as well as having his men at their best. That's largely his personality, a style endorsed by his footy chum of 15 months, Collingwood and Brisbane Lions premiership coach Leigh Matthews. Bailey and Matthews chat regularly, roughly on a monthly basis. Bailey grew up a Hawthorn supporter, Matthews, naturally, a hero. At the start of the 2010 season, Bailey spoke with Melbourne vice-president Don McLardy about finding a suitable sounding board, a mentor of sorts, a confidant on football matters. "There are a lot of issues that go on all the time when you're a senior coach and one person doesn't always fit the bill," Bailey told the Herald Sun this week.
Rookie’s debut off pool table
By Michael Horan
MELBOURNE activated rookie Daniel Nicholson and thrust him into the senior side for tonight's clash against Carlton at the MCG. The 20-year-old defender-midfielder, described by coach Dean Bailey as "very quick, with a big engine", was a rookie playing pool one minute and a senior list player fronting his first media conference the next. It had been a dizzying morning at training. Nicholson was summoned to Bailey's office, told the news and, after a call to his parents, joined Bailey at his press conference. "Mum was a bit hysterical, so I'll give her a call back after this to see if she's all right," the 183cm Nicholson said. He spent two years starring for University Blues in the amateurs before Melbourne picked him up with its first choice in last year's national draft.
Diluted Dees to take on Blues
By Matt Windley
CARLTON captain Chris Judd will play, but Melbourne made three changes for its only Friday night home game of the season. The Demons will take on the Blues at the MCG without injured Aaron Davey (knee), Clint Bartram (hip) and Luke Tapscott (hamstring). Cale Morton and Jamie Bennell have been recalled and rookie Daniel Nicholson will make his debut. Meanwhile, the Blues have made only one change - Shaun Hampson comes in to replace fellow ruckman Robbie Warnock, who is feeling the effects of concussion sustained in last Friday night's loss to Geelong.
The Age
Demon rookie gets the call all youngsters dream of
By Martin Blake
DANIEL Nicholson was playing a friendly game of pool with teammates at Melbourne's Swan Street headquarters yesterday morning when he got the call to go to coach Dean Bailey's office. Did he think he was in trouble? "I'd like to think I hadn't done anything wrong lately. I had a hunch, but I wasn't sure.'' Nicholson need not have worried. Bailey delivered the news that he called "one of the good parts of the job'', that the 20-year-old rookie would not only be elevated to the primary list, he would play against Carlton tonight at the MCG. This time last year Nicholson, who grew up in the small town of Derrinallum in Victoria's Western District (also the home town of Richmond premiership player John Northey), was playing in the VAFA for University Blues.
Demons celebrate $6m boost
By Martin Blake
MELBOURNE Football Club has absorbed the Bentleigh Club, the bayside function centre and poker machine venue it has been partnered with since 1997. The decision was ratified at a vote of Bentleigh Club members on Monday night, with a favourable vote of 98 per cent. The Demons estimate it will add $9 million to the club's balance sheet, with president Jim Stynes calling it "the first real asset the football club has ever owned''. The position is offset by $1.8 million of debt taken over and $1.2 million in gaming obligations, giving a $6 million net boost to the MFC balance sheet.
For coaches clock is ticking
By Rohan Connolly
There are two clocks quietly ticking away in the background as each AFL senior coach toils through the season. The first is Mick Malthouse's premiership clock, where a team can be primed to win a flag, rebuilding, coming into the "sweet spot" or moving out of it. Then there's the countdown to when it's time to go. Professional sporting coaches rarely leave of their own free will and it's a particularly volatile situation when nearly half of them in a league are about to come out of contract. On Dean Bailey: Unless the Demons made a flying start to the year, Bailey was always going to be among those under the most pressure. After two wooden spoons and a 12th placing under Bailey, there's an expectation that Melbourne must show significant improvement on the back of a swag of high draft picks.
Don’t mention GWS with Scully
By AAP
Melbourne coach Dean Bailey says Greater Western Sydney remains a taboo topic in his conversations with Demons star youngster Tom Scully. The 20-year-old could play his first AFL game of the season as early as round 11 against Essendon, depending on how he copes when he returns from a knee injury through the VFL this weekend. While that will help ease the Demons' long list of injury worries, they will still have to contend all year with the speculation over the midfielder's future. Scully, the 2009 No.1 draft pick, has delayed contract talks until the end of the season and been unable to shake speculation he could join the AFL's 18th club when they enter the competition next year. Before the season began, Scully publicly denied he had already reached agreement with GWS. But Bailey said he had never broached the topic with his star charge. "I've never spoken to Tom about (GWS)," the Demons coach said. "I've only ever spoken to Tom, and I talk to Tom regularly, about his future at the Melbourne Football Club and how important he is now and for the future. I don't get drawn into the speculation, I don't get drawn into the three letters, GWS, at all. “My focus is making sure he becomes a Melbourne player for as long as he can."It's pretty simple how I approach him and talk to him, absolutely. He's a very, very loyal person, Tommy."
The Australian
Demons give Morton another shot to shine
By Courtney Walsh
CALE Morton is the type of talented youngster expected to drive the Demons' development from straggler to powerhouse but his performance, like that of his club, has stagnated. Morton, along with Jamie Bennell and Daniel Nicholson, was last night selected to replace the injured trio of Aaron Davey, Clint Bartram and Luke Tapscott in a critical match tonight against Carlton at the MCG. The third sibling from Lake Grace in Western Australia to be drafted on to an AFL list when selected fourth in 2007 - another top draftee who spent significant time in Western Australia, Chris Judd was taken at three by West Coast at the turn of the decade - Morton lived up to early expectations when he played 40 of a possible 44 games in his first two seasons, earning Brownlow votes and a Rising Star nomination. But the midfielder has struggled since he injured a knee in last year's pre-season and managed only 10 games last season.
