FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Herald Sun
AFL convinced Dees didn’t tank
By Mark Stevens, Grant Baker
AFL operations boss Adrian Anderson says he is convinced Melbourne did not tank for draft picks, despite ex-coach Dean Bailey's coming close to admitting exactly that. The league's operations boss hit the airwaves this morning to further clarify comments made by Bailey in his final Melbourne press conference yesterday. Anderson said the league would be concerned if presented with evidence of tanking, but said after speaking to Bailey yesterday he was convinced the Demons were not guilty of the practice. Bailey said yesterday: "I had no hesitation at all in the first two years in ensuring the club was well placed for draft picks," Bailey said. "I was asked to do the best thing by the Melbourne Football Club and I did it. I put players in different positions."
Dean Bailey was the fall guy
AFL operations boss Adrian Anderson says he is convinced Melbourne did not tank for draft picks, despite ex-coach Dean Bailey's coming close to admitting exactly that. The league's operations boss hit the airwaves this morning to further clarify comments made by Bailey in his final Melbourne press conference yesterday. Anderson said the league would be concerned if presented with evidence of tanking, but said after speaking to Bailey yesterday he was convinced the Demons were not guilty of the practice. Bailey said yesterday: "I had no hesitation at all in the first two years in ensuring the club was well placed for draft picks," Bailey said. "I was asked to do the best thing by the Melbourne Football Club and I did it. I put players in different positions."
Dean Bailey was the fall guy
By Mike Sheahan
DEAN Bailey has taken the fall for the most erratic player group in the AFL. Flaky might be an equally appropriate term. Melbourne's seven wins this year have come at an average margin of 52 points (second to Collingwood, 55). The average for the nine losses is 66 points. That's a 118-point range between wins and losses. Surely that can't be entirely the fault of the coach. Incidentally, the fledgling Gold Coast has contained its losses to an average 64 points. As predicted, Bailey lost his job on Sunday night - officially announced at noon yesterday - as a direct consequence of Saturday's 186-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium. In the most dignified of exits, Bailey told the media something had to give as a result of the Geelong trip, admitting his record of 22 wins in 83 games meant he had coached "poorly" in his four seasons.
Dees declare Malthouse fair game
DEAN Bailey has taken the fall for the most erratic player group in the AFL. Flaky might be an equally appropriate term. Melbourne's seven wins this year have come at an average margin of 52 points (second to Collingwood, 55). The average for the nine losses is 66 points. That's a 118-point range between wins and losses. Surely that can't be entirely the fault of the coach. Incidentally, the fledgling Gold Coast has contained its losses to an average 64 points. As predicted, Bailey lost his job on Sunday night - officially announced at noon yesterday - as a direct consequence of Saturday's 186-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium. In the most dignified of exits, Bailey told the media something had to give as a result of the Geelong trip, admitting his record of 22 wins in 83 games meant he had coached "poorly" in his four seasons.
Dees declare Malthouse fair game
By Jon Ralph, Mark Robinson
MELBOURNE will set its sights on Mick Malthouse as club legend Ron Barassi urged the Demons to pursue the triple premiership coach. Demons powerbroker Garry Lyon ruled himself out of the race to replace Dean Bailey, but senior figures Rodney Eade, Mark Williams and Dean Laidley - and caretaker coach Todd Viney - remained serious contenders. Melbourne president Jim Stynes said the club would seek the best candidate, with the Demons to look for an experienced coach. Vice-president Don McLardy confirmed the clubs would not be deterred from approach- ing Malthouse. "I don't think Eddie (McGuire) will let us (approach Malthouse). I don't think we are allowed to do that," he told SEN facetiously. "All I can say is we have got to find the best available coach in Australia. Well, if he's the best available, we will see what happens."
Lyon adamant he won’t be coach
MELBOURNE will set its sights on Mick Malthouse as club legend Ron Barassi urged the Demons to pursue the triple premiership coach. Demons powerbroker Garry Lyon ruled himself out of the race to replace Dean Bailey, but senior figures Rodney Eade, Mark Williams and Dean Laidley - and caretaker coach Todd Viney - remained serious contenders. Melbourne president Jim Stynes said the club would seek the best candidate, with the Demons to look for an experienced coach. Vice-president Don McLardy confirmed the clubs would not be deterred from approach- ing Malthouse. "I don't think Eddie (McGuire) will let us (approach Malthouse). I don't think we are allowed to do that," he told SEN facetiously. "All I can say is we have got to find the best available coach in Australia. Well, if he's the best available, we will see what happens."
Lyon adamant he won’t be coach
By Jon Ralph
GARRY Lyon's decision to rebuff Melbourne football club's repeated overtures boils down to five words. "I don't want that life," he said recently. The former Melbourne captain does not want football to become his master to such a degree that he starts to hate the sport he has loved so long. And while Lyon last night again confirmed he would not coach Melbourne, he said he would consider another football role, if it helped sick president Jim Stynes. Lyon turned down the chance to become the Demons' football director mid-season. But the Melbourne great said watching his cancer-stricken friend at yesterday's press conference had changed his thinking. The pair will try to sort out a position in the football department today.
Viney a firm hand in charge
GARRY Lyon's decision to rebuff Melbourne football club's repeated overtures boils down to five words. "I don't want that life," he said recently. The former Melbourne captain does not want football to become his master to such a degree that he starts to hate the sport he has loved so long. And while Lyon last night again confirmed he would not coach Melbourne, he said he would consider another football role, if it helped sick president Jim Stynes. Lyon turned down the chance to become the Demons' football director mid-season. But the Melbourne great said watching his cancer-stricken friend at yesterday's press conference had changed his thinking. The pair will try to sort out a position in the football department today.
Viney a firm hand in charge
By Scott Gullan
THE Melbourne players who humiliated the club three days ago will quickly know where they stand under caretaker coach Todd Viney. His hardness on the field was legendary and those who have worked with the former Demon say it will transfer into the coach's box. Viney has held assistant coaching roles at Melbourne, Hawthorn and Adelaide, and this year returned to the Demons as player develop- ment manager. "He's pretty firm, he's certainly not a pushover," was how one Hawthorn insider yesterday described him. "But probably his greatest strength is what a good guy he is and the relationships he has with people. "He is the perfect man to be a caretaker coach as he will get a good response from the playing group, they really will love him."
Dees won’t give up on Scully
THE Melbourne players who humiliated the club three days ago will quickly know where they stand under caretaker coach Todd Viney. His hardness on the field was legendary and those who have worked with the former Demon say it will transfer into the coach's box. Viney has held assistant coaching roles at Melbourne, Hawthorn and Adelaide, and this year returned to the Demons as player develop- ment manager. "He's pretty firm, he's certainly not a pushover," was how one Hawthorn insider yesterday described him. "But probably his greatest strength is what a good guy he is and the relationships he has with people. "He is the perfect man to be a caretaker coach as he will get a good response from the playing group, they really will love him."
Dees won’t give up on Scully
By Jay Clark
MELBOURNE is trying to address the concerns which could drive Tom Scully to Greater Western Sydney. The Herald Sun last month revealed that some players, including Scully, were unhappy with aspects of the club's administration and football operations. It is understood Scully, who is sidelined with a knee injury, is leaning toward accepting the Giants' million-dollar-a-season offer. But, in a last-ditch bid to keep him at Melbourne, vice-president Don McLardy said the club was trying to placate the onballer.
Demons playing list just heavenly
MELBOURNE is trying to address the concerns which could drive Tom Scully to Greater Western Sydney. The Herald Sun last month revealed that some players, including Scully, were unhappy with aspects of the club's administration and football operations. It is understood Scully, who is sidelined with a knee injury, is leaning toward accepting the Giants' million-dollar-a-season offer. But, in a last-ditch bid to keep him at Melbourne, vice-president Don McLardy said the club was trying to placate the onballer.
Demons playing list just heavenly
By Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE'S playing list presents an unprecedented opportunity for a coach to inherit a team full of unharnessed talent. It is why the cream of the coaching crop will break down Melbourne's door, and why Rodney Eade and Alastair Clarkson might re-think their options. It is why Mick Malthouse said over summer that Melbourne was the list he would most like to inherit. It takes something extraordinary for a list full of talent to be vacated so suddenly. In the past decade, two examples come to mind: Chris Scott taking over at Geelong, and Ross Lyon inheriting Grant Thomas' list at St Kilda. On Saturday's feeble showing, Melbourne has a dozen or so players who do not tackle, do not chase, do not care, and throw up the white flag too soon. Yet those same players also have elite talent. And beneath them are another dozen kids in the one to three-year bracket who would have an elite coach licking his chops. As Dean Bailey said: "It will click. It just does. It's going to be a very exciting group."
Schwab avoids axe for a year
MELBOURNE'S playing list presents an unprecedented opportunity for a coach to inherit a team full of unharnessed talent. It is why the cream of the coaching crop will break down Melbourne's door, and why Rodney Eade and Alastair Clarkson might re-think their options. It is why Mick Malthouse said over summer that Melbourne was the list he would most like to inherit. It takes something extraordinary for a list full of talent to be vacated so suddenly. In the past decade, two examples come to mind: Chris Scott taking over at Geelong, and Ross Lyon inheriting Grant Thomas' list at St Kilda. On Saturday's feeble showing, Melbourne has a dozen or so players who do not tackle, do not chase, do not care, and throw up the white flag too soon. Yet those same players also have elite talent. And beneath them are another dozen kids in the one to three-year bracket who would have an elite coach licking his chops. As Dean Bailey said: "It will click. It just does. It's going to be a very exciting group."
Schwab avoids axe for a year
By Mark Stevens
MELBOURNE chief executive Cameron Schwab survived "Bloody Sunday" and will lead the club into next season. Speculation was rife at the weekend that Schwab would be victim of off-field rumblings, but the board late on Sunday offered him a reprieve. Demons president Jim Stynes confirmed Schwab had agreed to a one-year extension. Schwab had a July 31 trigger-point to end a three-year contract and it came to a head on Sunday as the board discussed Dean Bailey's future. "Cameron's original contract with our club expires on 31st of October, 2011 ... there was an option to renew which fell yesterday and the board was required to tell Cameron at this time of our intentions," Stynes said. "This was coincidental in timing and unrelated to the weekend's game. "Yesterday, we offered Cameron an extension of his contract for one year, which he accepted."
The Age
Bailey made sure of draft picks
MELBOURNE chief executive Cameron Schwab survived "Bloody Sunday" and will lead the club into next season. Speculation was rife at the weekend that Schwab would be victim of off-field rumblings, but the board late on Sunday offered him a reprieve. Demons president Jim Stynes confirmed Schwab had agreed to a one-year extension. Schwab had a July 31 trigger-point to end a three-year contract and it came to a head on Sunday as the board discussed Dean Bailey's future. "Cameron's original contract with our club expires on 31st of October, 2011 ... there was an option to renew which fell yesterday and the board was required to tell Cameron at this time of our intentions," Stynes said. "This was coincidental in timing and unrelated to the weekend's game. "Yesterday, we offered Cameron an extension of his contract for one year, which he accepted."
The Age
Bailey made sure of draft picks
By Michael Gleeson
DEAN Bailey coached to ensure Melbourne had the best draft picks it could in the first years of his tenure, he admitted yesterday as he was sacked as coach of the club with a veiled admission he had "tanked" for draft picks. Bailey said that until the end he had enjoyed the support of the players and coaches but pointedly failed to mention chief executive Cameron Schwab or football manager Chris Connolly with whom he was understood to have fallen out. In the closest admission from a coach that he had sought to orchestrate loss in games for the greater good of securing valuable draft picks, Bailey said he had been asked by club figures to ''do the best thing'' by the club. ''I had no hesitation at all in the first two years of ensuring this club was well placed for draft picks,'' Bailey said.
How Demons killed the coach they loved, but saved a CEO
By Caroline Wilson
THIS is a story of two sackings. Of a coach who met his downfall swiftly thanks to a 31-goal defeat. And of his chief executive, as good as sacked on Friday, but who gained a last-minute reprieve courtesy of the loss. It is also the story of a group of footballers who played with off-field politics and got burnt. As they awoke early yesterday from their weekend nightmare, at least three Melbourne players broke down over the telephone in conversations with various assistants of the sacked Dean Bailey. One reportedly asked, devastated: ''What has happened to our football club?'' Another appropriate question might have been: ''What have we done?'' Perhaps Bailey's demise would have come in a month anyway. But, after the team's performance at Geelong, certainly one of Bailey and chief executive Cameron Schwab had to go.
Lyon offers short-term help to Demons
By AAP
Melbourne legend Garry Lyon says he is willing to get involved with the AFL club in a short-term role, concerned at the toll the Demons' woes are having on cancer-stricken president Jim Stynes. But Lyon has once more ruled out ever coaching the club, saying any involvement would be in a football administration capacity and only until the end of the season. Lyon, now a media commentator who captained the Demons during a 13-year career there, said he had not wanted to be involved in any structured role with the club. But watching the clearly struggling Stynes - a close friend of Lyon's - announce Dean Bailey's sacking as coach on Monday has changed his view. "What happened today when I sat down and watched that press conference was I felt enormously for Jim Stynes," Lyon told the Nine Network's Footy Classified.
Dog Dee afternoon
By Jon Pierik
MELBOURNE has been given an opening to pounce on Rodney Eade - should the Demons want an experienced coach. Eade, out of contract this season, and his manager Phil Mullen have yet to begin serious discussions with the Western Bulldogs. Eade is keen to remain at the Whitten Oval but Bulldogs president David Smorgon and chief executive Simon Garlick are adamant negotiations will not begin until the season is complete. The 12th-placed Bulldogs, with just seven wins, are almost certainly out of finals contention, and now have a month to determine whether Eade, in his seventh season, is handed a new deal. Mullen last night told The AgeViney right choice, says former boss he expected the Demons, having axed Dean Bailey, to make contact when they had organised their coaching subcommittee. ''You would expect they will make some contact, depending on what they are looking for, of course, if they want an experienced coach or someone who is untried,'' Mullen said. ''If that was to be the case, we would probably have to ask the Bulldogs where it's at. But we are comfortable with where it's at at the minute.''
DEAN Bailey coached to ensure Melbourne had the best draft picks it could in the first years of his tenure, he admitted yesterday as he was sacked as coach of the club with a veiled admission he had "tanked" for draft picks. Bailey said that until the end he had enjoyed the support of the players and coaches but pointedly failed to mention chief executive Cameron Schwab or football manager Chris Connolly with whom he was understood to have fallen out. In the closest admission from a coach that he had sought to orchestrate loss in games for the greater good of securing valuable draft picks, Bailey said he had been asked by club figures to ''do the best thing'' by the club. ''I had no hesitation at all in the first two years of ensuring this club was well placed for draft picks,'' Bailey said.
How Demons killed the coach they loved, but saved a CEO
By Caroline Wilson
THIS is a story of two sackings. Of a coach who met his downfall swiftly thanks to a 31-goal defeat. And of his chief executive, as good as sacked on Friday, but who gained a last-minute reprieve courtesy of the loss. It is also the story of a group of footballers who played with off-field politics and got burnt. As they awoke early yesterday from their weekend nightmare, at least three Melbourne players broke down over the telephone in conversations with various assistants of the sacked Dean Bailey. One reportedly asked, devastated: ''What has happened to our football club?'' Another appropriate question might have been: ''What have we done?'' Perhaps Bailey's demise would have come in a month anyway. But, after the team's performance at Geelong, certainly one of Bailey and chief executive Cameron Schwab had to go.
Lyon offers short-term help to Demons
By AAP
Melbourne legend Garry Lyon says he is willing to get involved with the AFL club in a short-term role, concerned at the toll the Demons' woes are having on cancer-stricken president Jim Stynes. But Lyon has once more ruled out ever coaching the club, saying any involvement would be in a football administration capacity and only until the end of the season. Lyon, now a media commentator who captained the Demons during a 13-year career there, said he had not wanted to be involved in any structured role with the club. But watching the clearly struggling Stynes - a close friend of Lyon's - announce Dean Bailey's sacking as coach on Monday has changed his view. "What happened today when I sat down and watched that press conference was I felt enormously for Jim Stynes," Lyon told the Nine Network's Footy Classified.
Dog Dee afternoon
By Jon Pierik
MELBOURNE has been given an opening to pounce on Rodney Eade - should the Demons want an experienced coach. Eade, out of contract this season, and his manager Phil Mullen have yet to begin serious discussions with the Western Bulldogs. Eade is keen to remain at the Whitten Oval but Bulldogs president David Smorgon and chief executive Simon Garlick are adamant negotiations will not begin until the season is complete. The 12th-placed Bulldogs, with just seven wins, are almost certainly out of finals contention, and now have a month to determine whether Eade, in his seventh season, is handed a new deal. Mullen last night told The AgeViney right choice, says former boss he expected the Demons, having axed Dean Bailey, to make contact when they had organised their coaching subcommittee. ''You would expect they will make some contact, depending on what they are looking for, of course, if they want an experienced coach or someone who is untried,'' Mullen said. ''If that was to be the case, we would probably have to ask the Bulldogs where it's at. But we are comfortable with where it's at at the minute.''
By Jesse Hogan
UNTIL the weekend, Todd Viney was not a part of Melbourne's seven-man coaching panel nor its selection committee. Nevertheless, one of his former bosses insists Viney was the logical appointment as interim coach after Dean Bailey's sacking. One of John Reid's last major decisions during his 15-year reign at the helm of Adelaide's football department was to poach Viney from Hawthorn's coaching panel, immediately after the Hawks' 2008 premiership victory. He said the decision of the Demons, who lured Viney back to Victoria at the end of last season, to shift the 45-year-old from general manager of player development to become the club's interim coach was ''a pretty logical one''. ''He was an excellent acquisition [for Adelaide]. I think he's been quite a loss to the club since he's gone,'' Reid said yesterday. ''He's a quality bloke. He's got a good footy brain, good intelligence. How [a coach] puts it to players is important and he does a good job of that.''
Any Port in a storm
UNTIL the weekend, Todd Viney was not a part of Melbourne's seven-man coaching panel nor its selection committee. Nevertheless, one of his former bosses insists Viney was the logical appointment as interim coach after Dean Bailey's sacking. One of John Reid's last major decisions during his 15-year reign at the helm of Adelaide's football department was to poach Viney from Hawthorn's coaching panel, immediately after the Hawks' 2008 premiership victory. He said the decision of the Demons, who lured Viney back to Victoria at the end of last season, to shift the 45-year-old from general manager of player development to become the club's interim coach was ''a pretty logical one''. ''He was an excellent acquisition [for Adelaide]. I think he's been quite a loss to the club since he's gone,'' Reid said yesterday. ''He's a quality bloke. He's got a good footy brain, good intelligence. How [a coach] puts it to players is important and he does a good job of that.''
Any Port in a storm
By Ashley Porter
PORT Adelaide last night revealed it will ask Dean Bailey to return to the club as an assistant coach to Matthew Primus. Bailey has always been held in the highest regard at Alberton from his assistant role to Mark Williams from 2002-07, playing a significant role in taking the Power to two grand finals, including the 2004 premiership. Port football operations manager Peter Rohde said the club was already keen to talk to Bailey. ''We will talk to Dean at some stage, no doubt about that, but I think at the moment we will let him settle down a bit and see whether he has an interest or not,'' Rohde said. ''We are looking around for assistant coaches for next year, given that we are going to lose one or two of ours. ''Dean remains highly respected here. He was a very good planner, a good studier of the game, he had good relationships with the players and he was an all-round very good assistant coach. He coached the backline and our midfield, so he had variety there.''
Demons' best coaching option unlikely to include Malthouse, Clarkson
PORT Adelaide last night revealed it will ask Dean Bailey to return to the club as an assistant coach to Matthew Primus. Bailey has always been held in the highest regard at Alberton from his assistant role to Mark Williams from 2002-07, playing a significant role in taking the Power to two grand finals, including the 2004 premiership. Port football operations manager Peter Rohde said the club was already keen to talk to Bailey. ''We will talk to Dean at some stage, no doubt about that, but I think at the moment we will let him settle down a bit and see whether he has an interest or not,'' Rohde said. ''We are looking around for assistant coaches for next year, given that we are going to lose one or two of ours. ''Dean remains highly respected here. He was a very good planner, a good studier of the game, he had good relationships with the players and he was an all-round very good assistant coach. He coached the backline and our midfield, so he had variety there.''
Demons' best coaching option unlikely to include Malthouse, Clarkson
By Michael Gleeson
MICHAEL Malthouse will not take the vacant Melbourne coaching job next year. Malthouse's manager Peter Sidwell has reiterated that his client, employed by Collingwood, would not coach next year and would remain at Collingwood. The Demons vowed yesterday to get the best person possible for the position after sacking Dean Bailey but Malthouse has ruled himself out of the job. And Alastair Clarkson is expected to soon be offered a new contract by Hawthorn. Melbourne chief executive officer Cameron Schwab will draft the framework for finding a new coach over the next week, which will include putting together a selection subcommittee. The process of finding the new coach is expected to take five to six weeks. President Jim Stynes said the appointment of club champion Todd Viney, an experienced assistant and development coach, was an interim measure as the club sought a permanent replacement. "We will do everything we can and there will be no stone unturned to find the best possible coach because we reckon we have got a great group of players, we have a great future, and that hasn't changed and so we will be doing everything we can," he said.
Lyon denies he is Demons' puppet master
MICHAEL Malthouse will not take the vacant Melbourne coaching job next year. Malthouse's manager Peter Sidwell has reiterated that his client, employed by Collingwood, would not coach next year and would remain at Collingwood. The Demons vowed yesterday to get the best person possible for the position after sacking Dean Bailey but Malthouse has ruled himself out of the job. And Alastair Clarkson is expected to soon be offered a new contract by Hawthorn. Melbourne chief executive officer Cameron Schwab will draft the framework for finding a new coach over the next week, which will include putting together a selection subcommittee. The process of finding the new coach is expected to take five to six weeks. President Jim Stynes said the appointment of club champion Todd Viney, an experienced assistant and development coach, was an interim measure as the club sought a permanent replacement. "We will do everything we can and there will be no stone unturned to find the best possible coach because we reckon we have got a great group of players, we have a great future, and that hasn't changed and so we will be doing everything we can," he said.
Lyon denies he is Demons' puppet master
By Jon Pierik
MELBOURNE great Garry Lyon says he would be prepared to take on the key role of football director for the remainder of the year but has denied he is a ''puppet master'' at his former club. Demons president Jim Stynes said yesterday he would ask Lyon, his great friend, if he was interested in having a formal role with the club as it begins a search to replace dumped coach Dean Bailey. Lyon said last night that in an ''ideal world'' Mick Malthouse would be ''of unbelievable interest'' as Bailey's successor, but the veteran Collingwood coach and his manager have reiterated he will remain with the Magpies next year as director of coaching. In recent months, Lyon has encouraged the Demons to contact Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, out of contract this year, but yesterday stopped short of suggesting another candidate behind Malthouse. Lyon, a prominent media identity who has said repeatedly he has no interest in coaching, said he would reluctantly accept the role of football director if offered. Stynes moved himself into that position earlier this year. Former player Andrew Leoncelli quit the role in December. ''They don't have a footy director. They haven't had one for a long time. They need one,'' Lyon said.
Civility and grace belie an unspoken tension
MELBOURNE great Garry Lyon says he would be prepared to take on the key role of football director for the remainder of the year but has denied he is a ''puppet master'' at his former club. Demons president Jim Stynes said yesterday he would ask Lyon, his great friend, if he was interested in having a formal role with the club as it begins a search to replace dumped coach Dean Bailey. Lyon said last night that in an ''ideal world'' Mick Malthouse would be ''of unbelievable interest'' as Bailey's successor, but the veteran Collingwood coach and his manager have reiterated he will remain with the Magpies next year as director of coaching. In recent months, Lyon has encouraged the Demons to contact Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, out of contract this year, but yesterday stopped short of suggesting another candidate behind Malthouse. Lyon, a prominent media identity who has said repeatedly he has no interest in coaching, said he would reluctantly accept the role of football director if offered. Stynes moved himself into that position earlier this year. Former player Andrew Leoncelli quit the role in December. ''They don't have a footy director. They haven't had one for a long time. They need one,'' Lyon said.
Civility and grace belie an unspoken tension
By Greg Baum
AT FIRST blush, this was a very new-age parting of the ways. Everyone dressed immaculately. President Jim Stynes spoke warmly of coach Dean Bailey, ''a great man, a man of great integrity''. Bailey spoke graciously of the club, ''always bigger than the individual'', and the players and coaches, ''always very supportive''. Some were at the back of the room, sunk low in their seats, chins in hands. It took fully an hour, a long time in football. It was frequently gruelling. Stynes was barely able to lift his head and spoke slowly, in a soft voice, with long pauses, partly because he is unwell and heavily medicated, partly - you suspect - because the words were catching in his throat anyway. It was he who had delivered the grim news to Bailey on Sunday night. The previous day, Melbourne had been massacred by Geelong. Stynes said it was not just about Saturday, and not only about one man. But it culminated on Saturday, and it devolved onto one man, because at a football club, it always does.
The Australian
Bailey exposes Dees' divisions
AT FIRST blush, this was a very new-age parting of the ways. Everyone dressed immaculately. President Jim Stynes spoke warmly of coach Dean Bailey, ''a great man, a man of great integrity''. Bailey spoke graciously of the club, ''always bigger than the individual'', and the players and coaches, ''always very supportive''. Some were at the back of the room, sunk low in their seats, chins in hands. It took fully an hour, a long time in football. It was frequently gruelling. Stynes was barely able to lift his head and spoke slowly, in a soft voice, with long pauses, partly because he is unwell and heavily medicated, partly - you suspect - because the words were catching in his throat anyway. It was he who had delivered the grim news to Bailey on Sunday night. The previous day, Melbourne had been massacred by Geelong. Stynes said it was not just about Saturday, and not only about one man. But it culminated on Saturday, and it devolved onto one man, because at a football club, it always does.
The Australian
Bailey exposes Dees' divisions
By Stephen Rielly
FORMER Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said his exit on Sunday evening was to be expected after the side's 186-point loss to Geelong the previous day but left no doubt that the Demons were a divided camp long before. While Bailey insisted yesterday that he enjoyed the support of his players and assistant coaches to the end, he conspicuously refused to speak of his relationship with key club figures, none of whom were present in the club theatrette where he spoke of his swift demise. Having first explained their decision, neither president Jim Stynes nor vice-president Don McLardy remained in the room when Bailey met the media just after noon. They were followed out by chief executive Cameron Schwab. Head of football Chris Connolly, nominally Bailey's boss for almost four years, was not to be seen. When asked about the nature of his relationship with the club's hierarchy, Bailey offered an opaque response. "I think I had incredible support from the players, no doubt," he replied.
Tanks for the memories
FORMER Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said his exit on Sunday evening was to be expected after the side's 186-point loss to Geelong the previous day but left no doubt that the Demons were a divided camp long before. While Bailey insisted yesterday that he enjoyed the support of his players and assistant coaches to the end, he conspicuously refused to speak of his relationship with key club figures, none of whom were present in the club theatrette where he spoke of his swift demise. Having first explained their decision, neither president Jim Stynes nor vice-president Don McLardy remained in the room when Bailey met the media just after noon. They were followed out by chief executive Cameron Schwab. Head of football Chris Connolly, nominally Bailey's boss for almost four years, was not to be seen. When asked about the nature of his relationship with the club's hierarchy, Bailey offered an opaque response. "I think I had incredible support from the players, no doubt," he replied.
Tanks for the memories
By Stephen Rielly
ST KILDA captain Nick Riewoldt kicked six goals in a comfortable win over Melbourne in the final round of the 2009 season. He left the MCG that afternoon, though, wondering about what he and his team had really achieved. It wasn't so much that Melbourne's resistance to three-quarter time vanished in the last term, so that the 16-point margin at the last change blew out to 47. In all matches something gives and the Saints, against lowly opposition, were on their way to the grand final. It was actually before the final quarter began that Riewoldt became suspicious. His opponent in the first quarter, James Frawley, who had kept him well under control, was strangely moved in the second term and replaced by Lynden Dunn, no one's idea of a centre half-back. Riewoldt duly cut loose and kicked three of his six goals in the quarter. And then there was the curious decision to remove Liam Jurrah, Melbourne's most potent forward in the match, from the attack after he kicked his fourth goal. It was as if Melbourne was its own opponent. Riewoldt, happy though he was, said later: "some strange things went on out there". Almost two years on, and we now know with a certainty that ought to lead Andrew Demetriou to reconsider his denialist view of tanking that Melbourne had absolutely no interest in winning the match. Dean Bailey, the coach who was sacked on Sunday night, all but said as much yesterday when he admitted to chasing draft picks in his first two seasons in control, 2008 and 2009. "I had no hesitation at all in the first two years of ensuring this club was well placed for draft picks," Bailey said.
Stynes admits he will struggle
ST KILDA captain Nick Riewoldt kicked six goals in a comfortable win over Melbourne in the final round of the 2009 season. He left the MCG that afternoon, though, wondering about what he and his team had really achieved. It wasn't so much that Melbourne's resistance to three-quarter time vanished in the last term, so that the 16-point margin at the last change blew out to 47. In all matches something gives and the Saints, against lowly opposition, were on their way to the grand final. It was actually before the final quarter began that Riewoldt became suspicious. His opponent in the first quarter, James Frawley, who had kept him well under control, was strangely moved in the second term and replaced by Lynden Dunn, no one's idea of a centre half-back. Riewoldt duly cut loose and kicked three of his six goals in the quarter. And then there was the curious decision to remove Liam Jurrah, Melbourne's most potent forward in the match, from the attack after he kicked his fourth goal. It was as if Melbourne was its own opponent. Riewoldt, happy though he was, said later: "some strange things went on out there". Almost two years on, and we now know with a certainty that ought to lead Andrew Demetriou to reconsider his denialist view of tanking that Melbourne had absolutely no interest in winning the match. Dean Bailey, the coach who was sacked on Sunday night, all but said as much yesterday when he admitted to chasing draft picks in his first two seasons in control, 2008 and 2009. "I had no hesitation at all in the first two years of ensuring this club was well placed for draft picks," Bailey said.
Stynes admits he will struggle
By Courtney Walsh
ON a galling day for the Melbourne Football Club, it was a closing admission from president Jim Stynes that underlines the challenge facing the Demons. The ailing Stynes, supported by Melbourne's vice-president Don McLardy, had spoken of the need for every Demon, be it player or official, to accept responsibility for the debacle that has cost coach Dean Bailey his job. It was a time to pull together, to go the extra yard, Stynes declared. But obviously distressed and unwell, it was only when Stynes said he and McLardy would be fully accessible through coming weeks to discuss the path ahead for Melbourne -- the hiring of a new senior coach the most crucial task -- that he baulked. From tomorrow, Stynes, who has battled cancer for the past two years, will be unavailable and it is his inability to rule as well as he had hoped when assuming the presidency in 2008 that is clearly hurting him. "I haven't been that well," Stynes said. "I haven't been able to carry the load I should have been carrying. When you are not well, it is hard to carry the load. I wish I could be doing more, but I just can't."
Viney jumps queue as hunt begins
ON a galling day for the Melbourne Football Club, it was a closing admission from president Jim Stynes that underlines the challenge facing the Demons. The ailing Stynes, supported by Melbourne's vice-president Don McLardy, had spoken of the need for every Demon, be it player or official, to accept responsibility for the debacle that has cost coach Dean Bailey his job. It was a time to pull together, to go the extra yard, Stynes declared. But obviously distressed and unwell, it was only when Stynes said he and McLardy would be fully accessible through coming weeks to discuss the path ahead for Melbourne -- the hiring of a new senior coach the most crucial task -- that he baulked. From tomorrow, Stynes, who has battled cancer for the past two years, will be unavailable and it is his inability to rule as well as he had hoped when assuming the presidency in 2008 that is clearly hurting him. "I haven't been that well," Stynes said. "I haven't been able to carry the load I should have been carrying. When you are not well, it is hard to carry the load. I wish I could be doing more, but I just can't."
Viney jumps queue as hunt begins
By Greg Denham
IN 1996, Todd Viney sent Melbourne into a spin when he left the Demons mid-contract to join Mark Philippoussis as his fitness coach on the world professional tennis circuit. Yesterday, Viney was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season in an attempt to arrest Melbourne's freefall following its 186-point loss to Geelong on Saturday which led to the axing of coach Dean Bailey the following night. Fortunately for the Demons, Viney's stint with Philippoussis was shortlived and he returned to Melbourne mid-season. The former South Australian junior tennis star played 233 games for the Demons through to the end of 1999, captaining the club in his final two years and winning his second best-and-fairest award in 1998. Viney, 45, who was recruited from SANFL club Sturt, is not a traditional selection as interim coach, having leapfrogged four assistant coaches from his position as general manager of player development. He is a member of Melbourne's team of the century, and his teenage son Jack will be taken by the Demons as a father-son selection in next year's draft.
The curse of Norm Smith hits the Dees
IN 1996, Todd Viney sent Melbourne into a spin when he left the Demons mid-contract to join Mark Philippoussis as his fitness coach on the world professional tennis circuit. Yesterday, Viney was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season in an attempt to arrest Melbourne's freefall following its 186-point loss to Geelong on Saturday which led to the axing of coach Dean Bailey the following night. Fortunately for the Demons, Viney's stint with Philippoussis was shortlived and he returned to Melbourne mid-season. The former South Australian junior tennis star played 233 games for the Demons through to the end of 1999, captaining the club in his final two years and winning his second best-and-fairest award in 1998. Viney, 45, who was recruited from SANFL club Sturt, is not a traditional selection as interim coach, having leapfrogged four assistant coaches from his position as general manager of player development. He is a member of Melbourne's team of the century, and his teenage son Jack will be taken by the Demons as a father-son selection in next year's draft.
The curse of Norm Smith hits the Dees
By Courtney Walsh
LEGENDARY Melbourne figure Ron Barassi yesterday said the club had never recovered from the sacking of iconic coach Norm Smith almost half a century ago. As ghastly as the atmosphere was at AAMI Park yesterday, Barassi hinted at a more supernatural reason for the club's recent form when discussing the mythical "curse of Norm Smith". It is now 46 years since Melbourne sacked Smith, and Barassi, who starred as a player under him before leaving the Demons for Carlton at the end of 1964, said the club had never been the same. "I don't know that Melbourne has fully recovered from the Smith thing," he said. "They have done nothing to really get their pride back as one of the great teams of the VFL/AFL."
Dignity intact for sacrificial offering
By Patrick Smith
DEAN Bailey farewelled his career as a senior coach not in a matter of fact way. That would mean he was not hurting, maybe even not feeling just a little betrayed. Nonetheless he did speak about his sacking with a calm that could be confused with resignation. It was not possible, no matter the manner or the direction from which anyone looked at Melbourne's loss to Geelong last Saturday, to find a way for Bailey to continue in his job. A defeat by 186 points is an ugly thing; a result hard to sell. They are Bailey's words. He described his departure at the hands and feet of Geelong more brutally than either club president Jim Stynes or his sidekick Don McLardy. That horrible phrase - best thing for the club going forward - was the mantra from club heavies. Bailey is gone, a sacrificial offering as much as a victim. In the three seasons before this he had won 15 of 66 games. After the Geelong decapitation Bailey had taken the Demons to seven and half wins and a drubbing from 17 matches this season. Deep into your fourth year as coach they are not good figures. Bailey freely offered that observation yesterday.
LEGENDARY Melbourne figure Ron Barassi yesterday said the club had never recovered from the sacking of iconic coach Norm Smith almost half a century ago. As ghastly as the atmosphere was at AAMI Park yesterday, Barassi hinted at a more supernatural reason for the club's recent form when discussing the mythical "curse of Norm Smith". It is now 46 years since Melbourne sacked Smith, and Barassi, who starred as a player under him before leaving the Demons for Carlton at the end of 1964, said the club had never been the same. "I don't know that Melbourne has fully recovered from the Smith thing," he said. "They have done nothing to really get their pride back as one of the great teams of the VFL/AFL."
Dignity intact for sacrificial offering
By Patrick Smith
DEAN Bailey farewelled his career as a senior coach not in a matter of fact way. That would mean he was not hurting, maybe even not feeling just a little betrayed. Nonetheless he did speak about his sacking with a calm that could be confused with resignation. It was not possible, no matter the manner or the direction from which anyone looked at Melbourne's loss to Geelong last Saturday, to find a way for Bailey to continue in his job. A defeat by 186 points is an ugly thing; a result hard to sell. They are Bailey's words. He described his departure at the hands and feet of Geelong more brutally than either club president Jim Stynes or his sidekick Don McLardy. That horrible phrase - best thing for the club going forward - was the mantra from club heavies. Bailey is gone, a sacrificial offering as much as a victim. In the three seasons before this he had won 15 of 66 games. After the Geelong decapitation Bailey had taken the Demons to seven and half wins and a drubbing from 17 matches this season. Deep into your fourth year as coach they are not good figures. Bailey freely offered that observation yesterday.
