FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Herald Sun
Lyon steps up to help Demons
By Mike Sheahan
GARRY Lyon expects to be taking charge of Melbourne's problematic football department when he starts his temporary role at his old club. "I'd be happy to tell you more, but I rang Jimmy (Stynes) as planned and he put me on to (vice-president) Don (McLardy), and I'm waiting to hear back from him," Lyon told the Herald Sun. He dismissed veiled suggestions he would relieve Stynes as president as a favour to his ailing friend. "I'll be working in the footy area and, I guess, overseeing that," he said. "First, I've got to understand all the issues. You hear so many different stories from so many people. "When I find out the real story, I'll roll the sleeves up and try to get things done."
Viney says it’s about pride, not him
By Sam Edmund
TODD Viney yesterday addressed the Melbourne players for the first time as caretaker coach before declaring he would turn his back on taking the job full-time. Viney will coach the Demons for the last five weeks of the season - starting against Carlton on Saturday - but was quick to say he had no intention of fighting to keep the position next year. "I'm going to be lucky to make it to next week, really," Viney said. "My tenure has been put to me by the board to help out over the next five games. I've never had the desire to be a career coach so I'll just tackle these five weeks, hopefully do a good job and steer the club in this difficult time. "I guess this is when we need all our good people to really stand up and take a leadership role." Viney, Melbourne's player development manager on Sunday, fronted the media for the first time as senior coach and admitted he was still stunned by the events of the past few days.
Demons in $1m fan plea
TODD Viney yesterday addressed the Melbourne players for the first time as caretaker coach before declaring he would turn his back on taking the job full-time. Viney will coach the Demons for the last five weeks of the season - starting against Carlton on Saturday - but was quick to say he had no intention of fighting to keep the position next year. "I'm going to be lucky to make it to next week, really," Viney said. "My tenure has been put to me by the board to help out over the next five games. I've never had the desire to be a career coach so I'll just tackle these five weeks, hopefully do a good job and steer the club in this difficult time. "I guess this is when we need all our good people to really stand up and take a leadership role." Viney, Melbourne's player development manager on Sunday, fronted the media for the first time as senior coach and admitted he was still stunned by the events of the past few days.
Demons in $1m fan plea
By Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE will ask its foundation heroes to ignore the present crisis and donate more than $1 million at a function to aid the retention of players including Tom Scully. The function next Wednesday falls at the worst possible time for the club, which has sacked its coach and backflipped over the future of chief executive Cameron Schwab. A key plank of the night will be the involvement of former captain Garry Lyon, who on Monday said it was time for him to step up to help the Demons. The same wealthy members who have cleared the club's $5 million debt in two years will be asked to stump up again. That group of "foundation heroes" has grown to more than 300 after three debt demolition nights. This time the aim is to allow the club to retain its stars by ensuring it has the resources to pay 100 per cent of the salary cap and marketing allowance every year.
The Age
Dees divided: Lyon called in
The Age
Dees divided: Lyon called in
By Caroline Wilson
NOW that Garry Lyon has begun the clean-up job he promised Melbourne president Jim Stynes he would carry out, it is quite clear the former Demon captain has two tasks and three wishes. The first two tasks match the first two wishes. Lyon will head an ambitious search for a new coach and he will work hard to lure Mick Malthouse, Ross Lyon, Paul Roos, Alastair Clarkson or any other man he believes would fit the bill. That, in a sense, is the easy part. The second task is to attempt to reinvent what has become a poisonous culture at Melbourne, although the right coaching appointee must assume that role. It is a pity Lyon cannot take over as president, but he insists he is a sworn enemy of football politics and, in the end, Melbourne supporters and the industry must accept that.
Demons cannot just wither on the Viney
NOW that Garry Lyon has begun the clean-up job he promised Melbourne president Jim Stynes he would carry out, it is quite clear the former Demon captain has two tasks and three wishes. The first two tasks match the first two wishes. Lyon will head an ambitious search for a new coach and he will work hard to lure Mick Malthouse, Ross Lyon, Paul Roos, Alastair Clarkson or any other man he believes would fit the bill. That, in a sense, is the easy part. The second task is to attempt to reinvent what has become a poisonous culture at Melbourne, although the right coaching appointee must assume that role. It is a pity Lyon cannot take over as president, but he insists he is a sworn enemy of football politics and, in the end, Melbourne supporters and the industry must accept that.
Demons cannot just wither on the Viney
By Martin Boulton
TODD Viney's no-nonsense, straight-shooting style as Melbourne's caretaker coach should leave the players in no doubt what's required over the next five weeks, if his comments yesterday were any indication. The former Melbourne captain fronted a media conference for the first time since Dean Bailey was axed and quickly declared this week ''the most important in the history of the footy club for a long time''. The 45-year-old, who played 233 games for the Demons, won't seek the full-time senior coaching job, has called on the club's leaders to stand united through a difficult period and thrown his support behind besieged football manager Chris Connolly and chief executive Cameron Schwab.
Melbourne coaching job 'unusual', says Schwab
By Jake Niall
MELBOURNE chief executive Cameron Schwab has described the club's vacant coaching position as ''an unusual coaching job'' because the club has already bottomed out and much of the rebuilding work has been done for the incoming coach. Schwab, who refused to comment on his own precarious position at Melbourne - he survived a push to have him sacked before coach Dean Bailey - said last night the Demons' senior coaching position differed from most coaching jobs that become available. ''We'd like to think it's a very good coaching job. It's an unusual coaching job,'' he said. ''It's a team which has obviously had a heavy investment in youth, but it's starting to have done a few Ks [kilometres] now … there's been games now being invested in it, whereas coaching jobs generally of this nature are, you know, when the team's bottomed out. This club's come through that period. ''Most coaching jobs that become available are when clubs have absolutely bottomed out and the coach has to come in as part of that rebuild, whereas a lot of work [has] already happened [at Melbourne]. ''We'd still like to think the club's in a strong position, having rebuilt its balance sheet, it's got very good facilities, it's invested heavily in young players and their development, and it's at a good stage.''
Williams must be considered: Sheedy
TODD Viney's no-nonsense, straight-shooting style as Melbourne's caretaker coach should leave the players in no doubt what's required over the next five weeks, if his comments yesterday were any indication. The former Melbourne captain fronted a media conference for the first time since Dean Bailey was axed and quickly declared this week ''the most important in the history of the footy club for a long time''. The 45-year-old, who played 233 games for the Demons, won't seek the full-time senior coaching job, has called on the club's leaders to stand united through a difficult period and thrown his support behind besieged football manager Chris Connolly and chief executive Cameron Schwab.
Melbourne coaching job 'unusual', says Schwab
By Jake Niall
MELBOURNE chief executive Cameron Schwab has described the club's vacant coaching position as ''an unusual coaching job'' because the club has already bottomed out and much of the rebuilding work has been done for the incoming coach. Schwab, who refused to comment on his own precarious position at Melbourne - he survived a push to have him sacked before coach Dean Bailey - said last night the Demons' senior coaching position differed from most coaching jobs that become available. ''We'd like to think it's a very good coaching job. It's an unusual coaching job,'' he said. ''It's a team which has obviously had a heavy investment in youth, but it's starting to have done a few Ks [kilometres] now … there's been games now being invested in it, whereas coaching jobs generally of this nature are, you know, when the team's bottomed out. This club's come through that period. ''Most coaching jobs that become available are when clubs have absolutely bottomed out and the coach has to come in as part of that rebuild, whereas a lot of work [has] already happened [at Melbourne]. ''We'd still like to think the club's in a strong position, having rebuilt its balance sheet, it's got very good facilities, it's invested heavily in young players and their development, and it's at a good stage.''
Williams must be considered: Sheedy
By Martin Boulton
MARK Williams is ''probably a better coach than half the coaches in the AFL,'' according to Greater Western Sydney mentor Kevin Sheedy, who said he would not stop his assistant seeking the vacant job at Melbourne. In the wake of Dean Bailey being dumped on Sunday night, Williams has quickly come into the frame as a possible successor. Sheedy, who was in Melbourne yesterday at a book launch, has not spoken to Williams about the vacancy because ''it's happened so quickly'', but wants the former Port Adelaide coach to stay at GWS. ''I would like to keep Mark Williams because that's the reason I got him, but you should never stand in a coach's way,'' the four-time premiership coach said. ''He's a very, very, very good coach [and] he's got a record - two grand finals, one with an ordinary team and one that beat the Brisbane Lions that had won three [premierships] in a row, so its a damn good effort.'' Williams would not be drawn on the Melbourne speculation, saying only: ''I'm happy where I am.''
On reflection, Demons must look in the mirror
By Steve Harris
FOOTBALL'S oldest club started before Charles Darwin's ground-breaking work on the evolution of the human species, a key premise of which was not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the most adaptable. Now Melbourne faces the question of whether it has the capacity to re-invent itself, to adapt in order not just to survive as it has admirably done, but to thrive. Given the week of Melbourne, the ''one week at a time'' adage is frivolous. This wasn't a crisis of one week in the making, and its resolution won't be one week in the delivery. The club owes it to itself, and all its stakeholders, to take the proverbial good, hard look at itself. To ask simple but tough questions, swallow any straight but uncomfortable answers and unambiguously commit to better outcomes. If life is about trial and error, perhaps mostly error, then it is incumbent on those accountable to see and understand the errors, learn from them and avoid repetition. It goes deeper than profits and loss, win-loss ratios, or individual scalps. If people think sacking Dean Bailey was the answer, they have asked the wrong question, or not asked enough questions. If people think persuading Garry Lyon to gamble on a coaching or presidential career, or getting a scalp like Michael Malthouse is the answer, they are asking the wrong question, or not asking enough questions.
Stynes's commitment an infusion for the Demons and himself
By Greg Baum
AT FIRST, Jim Stynes was a well man rallying an unwell club. Then he was a sick man championing the cause of a recovering club. On Monday, he was a very sick man, fronting a club again at a critically low ebb. It was one thing for Stynes to be the face of the club in the good times, or at least the promise of good times. It was quite another to be there and leading the line as the club got down to the sort of grim and unpleasant business that all clubs must do, sooner or later. No one would have blamed Stynes for excusing himself, on health grounds, and because as the repository of hope and heart at Melbourne, he need not have been dragged into this mess. But that is not Stynes's idea of the way a football club should work, nor of how he works in any endeavour. He commits. The physical and mental strain of Saturday's debacle, Sunday's many meetings and Monday's announcement showed in his face, his voice and his bearing - it was harrowing to watch - and took its toll. Stynes was supposed to be leaving today for a short holiday in Bali, but that trip has been cancelled.
The Australian
Demons boss offered as a sacrifice
MARK Williams is ''probably a better coach than half the coaches in the AFL,'' according to Greater Western Sydney mentor Kevin Sheedy, who said he would not stop his assistant seeking the vacant job at Melbourne. In the wake of Dean Bailey being dumped on Sunday night, Williams has quickly come into the frame as a possible successor. Sheedy, who was in Melbourne yesterday at a book launch, has not spoken to Williams about the vacancy because ''it's happened so quickly'', but wants the former Port Adelaide coach to stay at GWS. ''I would like to keep Mark Williams because that's the reason I got him, but you should never stand in a coach's way,'' the four-time premiership coach said. ''He's a very, very, very good coach [and] he's got a record - two grand finals, one with an ordinary team and one that beat the Brisbane Lions that had won three [premierships] in a row, so its a damn good effort.'' Williams would not be drawn on the Melbourne speculation, saying only: ''I'm happy where I am.''
On reflection, Demons must look in the mirror
By Steve Harris
FOOTBALL'S oldest club started before Charles Darwin's ground-breaking work on the evolution of the human species, a key premise of which was not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the most adaptable. Now Melbourne faces the question of whether it has the capacity to re-invent itself, to adapt in order not just to survive as it has admirably done, but to thrive. Given the week of Melbourne, the ''one week at a time'' adage is frivolous. This wasn't a crisis of one week in the making, and its resolution won't be one week in the delivery. The club owes it to itself, and all its stakeholders, to take the proverbial good, hard look at itself. To ask simple but tough questions, swallow any straight but uncomfortable answers and unambiguously commit to better outcomes. If life is about trial and error, perhaps mostly error, then it is incumbent on those accountable to see and understand the errors, learn from them and avoid repetition. It goes deeper than profits and loss, win-loss ratios, or individual scalps. If people think sacking Dean Bailey was the answer, they have asked the wrong question, or not asked enough questions. If people think persuading Garry Lyon to gamble on a coaching or presidential career, or getting a scalp like Michael Malthouse is the answer, they are asking the wrong question, or not asking enough questions.
Stynes's commitment an infusion for the Demons and himself
By Greg Baum
AT FIRST, Jim Stynes was a well man rallying an unwell club. Then he was a sick man championing the cause of a recovering club. On Monday, he was a very sick man, fronting a club again at a critically low ebb. It was one thing for Stynes to be the face of the club in the good times, or at least the promise of good times. It was quite another to be there and leading the line as the club got down to the sort of grim and unpleasant business that all clubs must do, sooner or later. No one would have blamed Stynes for excusing himself, on health grounds, and because as the repository of hope and heart at Melbourne, he need not have been dragged into this mess. But that is not Stynes's idea of the way a football club should work, nor of how he works in any endeavour. He commits. The physical and mental strain of Saturday's debacle, Sunday's many meetings and Monday's announcement showed in his face, his voice and his bearing - it was harrowing to watch - and took its toll. Stynes was supposed to be leaving today for a short holiday in Bali, but that trip has been cancelled.
The Australian
Demons boss offered as a sacrifice
By Greg Denham
TOM Scully is believed to have been offered a last-minute incentive to remain at Melbourne when he was told on Friday chief executive Cameron Schwab would not have his contract renewed. That decision by the club's board was rescinded on Sunday when Schwab was offered a one-year extension, with coach Dean Bailey taking the rap for the club's 186-point loss to Geelong on Saturday and being axed the following night. The carrot offered to the out-of-contract Scully to keep him out of the clutches of Greater Western Sydney was understood to have been made despite the knowledge by some at Melbourne he probably has already agreed to move on a lucrative long-term deal. It was viewed as a peacemaking deal, not only to Scully, but to a number of his teammates, who had voiced their objections to club directors concerning Schwab and his football manager Chris Connolly. Scully confided this year to a mentor that a decision on his future at Melbourne would depend on several factors, including club unity and a confidence in the administration. Schwab, in an earlier role with the Demons, recruited Garry Lyon and Todd Viney as players and developed friendships with Connolly and Jim Stynes.
Stand-in Todd Viney out to exorcise the demons
TOM Scully is believed to have been offered a last-minute incentive to remain at Melbourne when he was told on Friday chief executive Cameron Schwab would not have his contract renewed. That decision by the club's board was rescinded on Sunday when Schwab was offered a one-year extension, with coach Dean Bailey taking the rap for the club's 186-point loss to Geelong on Saturday and being axed the following night. The carrot offered to the out-of-contract Scully to keep him out of the clutches of Greater Western Sydney was understood to have been made despite the knowledge by some at Melbourne he probably has already agreed to move on a lucrative long-term deal. It was viewed as a peacemaking deal, not only to Scully, but to a number of his teammates, who had voiced their objections to club directors concerning Schwab and his football manager Chris Connolly. Scully confided this year to a mentor that a decision on his future at Melbourne would depend on several factors, including club unity and a confidence in the administration. Schwab, in an earlier role with the Demons, recruited Garry Lyon and Todd Viney as players and developed friendships with Connolly and Jim Stynes.
Stand-in Todd Viney out to exorcise the demons
By Stephen Rielly
TODD Viney will coach Melbourne for no more than five weeks, says he can't be expected to "reinvent the wheel" as Dean Bailey's interim successor and would like people to be realistic about what is possible for a team that lost by 186 points last weekend and has been routinely beaten by 11 goals. What he believes is possible, though, and fully expects to see evidence of this weekend against Carlton, is sterner resistance when the game flows against the Demons and a fundamental commitment to be more robust. "Our intent will be on show this week," he said, not long after addressing the Melbourne players at length for the first time yesterday morning. "It certainly wasn't last week. One of the major focuses will be defensive intent. We won't win every contested ball going, but when the opposition do, we'll be trying to get the ball back as quick as we can." Viney, a wrecking ball type of player during his distinguished Melbourne career, declined to make any more of the claims by a couple of Carlton players after the sides last met that the Demons play "bruise-free" football. The Blues held Melbourne to just six goals in round 10 and won by 47 points. And yet he disputes the perception that there are not enough warriors in the Melbourne side. Those with a liking for contact, he said, just need to be let loose.
Schwab benefits from revolving doors
TODD Viney will coach Melbourne for no more than five weeks, says he can't be expected to "reinvent the wheel" as Dean Bailey's interim successor and would like people to be realistic about what is possible for a team that lost by 186 points last weekend and has been routinely beaten by 11 goals. What he believes is possible, though, and fully expects to see evidence of this weekend against Carlton, is sterner resistance when the game flows against the Demons and a fundamental commitment to be more robust. "Our intent will be on show this week," he said, not long after addressing the Melbourne players at length for the first time yesterday morning. "It certainly wasn't last week. One of the major focuses will be defensive intent. We won't win every contested ball going, but when the opposition do, we'll be trying to get the ball back as quick as we can." Viney, a wrecking ball type of player during his distinguished Melbourne career, declined to make any more of the claims by a couple of Carlton players after the sides last met that the Demons play "bruise-free" football. The Blues held Melbourne to just six goals in round 10 and won by 47 points. And yet he disputes the perception that there are not enough warriors in the Melbourne side. Those with a liking for contact, he said, just need to be let loose.
Schwab benefits from revolving doors
By Patrick Smith
SACKED coaches are thick on the ground. It doesn't matter what the sport, coaches are the first to fall. And not necessarily on their own swords. It is the easy, uncomplicated way for boards to look like a collection of can-do individuals. Members and sponsors are reassured that a problem has been identified and the culprit removed. The launch of AFL legend Kevin Bartlett's book yesterday about his footy life was sweet timing. For starters, the man who delivered the news to Bartlett at the end of the 1991 season that he was no longer coach of Richmond was none other than Cameron Schwab. Now Schwab is the man of the moment in 2011. Last Saturday morning he was told he was no longer chief executive of the Melbourne Football Club, but by Sunday night was back in control of the club for the next year. Meanwhile, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, who was buoyed by suggestions that an extension of his contract was in the offing last week, was sacked as coach by 8pm Sunday.
SACKED coaches are thick on the ground. It doesn't matter what the sport, coaches are the first to fall. And not necessarily on their own swords. It is the easy, uncomplicated way for boards to look like a collection of can-do individuals. Members and sponsors are reassured that a problem has been identified and the culprit removed. The launch of AFL legend Kevin Bartlett's book yesterday about his footy life was sweet timing. For starters, the man who delivered the news to Bartlett at the end of the 1991 season that he was no longer coach of Richmond was none other than Cameron Schwab. Now Schwab is the man of the moment in 2011. Last Saturday morning he was told he was no longer chief executive of the Melbourne Football Club, but by Sunday night was back in control of the club for the next year. Meanwhile, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, who was buoyed by suggestions that an extension of his contract was in the offing last week, was sacked as coach by 8pm Sunday.
