Mega Thread The Western Bulldogs - The Sack Macca saga

[Leon]

The only time McCartney has shown any tactical nous was in the St Kilda game i.e throwing Murphy behind the ball and throwing Roughie up forward.

I'm reading now him saying "it's disappointing they took so long to play like that (i.e the last quarter)" - why were they not playing that way until the last quarter Brendan?

 

[Anja_Nees]

My growing fear is that at the end of this year Cooney will leave as Lake did. Why on earth would you stay when even McCartney said this is a 6 year rebuild(I knew from that second he was no good). The rumours are already circulating that he may move to Hawks with his best mate Lake.

The greter fear is that at the end of next year Griffen will leave to chase and flag and too be honest who would blame him? Playing under this coach must be heart breaking for the older guys and I would have no issue with any of them jumping ship while we have this useless coach.

I understand that sacking him now is not optimal BUT we can spend the next 4 months replanning next year and not wait til September

Griffen is contracted so no stress there. Cooney can go. At worst we will get band two compo. Still capable of great footy in bursts but in two years he will retire. Happy to see him chase a flag.

 

[cammo78]

And why is that mate??

Do we have to blindly love and support everything our club does? Sit in our hands like Melbourne fans have for a decades and accept completely uncompetitive footy?

I have been a member for 35 consecutive years and I used to go and watch the boys play at the Western Oval when we were rubbish. But at least they had a bloody crack and when the team walked off you knew they have all they had it simply wasnt good enough.

McCartney is NO GOOD. I still love my club and spend my cash everywhere which gives me the rite to complain.

Are you a member?

Not that I need to justify myself to you.

But yes - I spend $1k a year on memberships.

And used to walk through the Western Oval clubrooms watching Hawk, Choco, Peter Foster, **** Kennedy, Peter Foster, et al pat me on the head while sucking cans after another honorable loss.

So don't profess to tell me I don't know what I'm on about, pal. I've seen it all. And then some.

There is a side full of kids learning their way. Give them 50 games together.

 

[Anja_Nees]

As to the second bolded part, I agree. The end of the season is the best time to make a decision. The interesting part will be our performance until then, and how that plays out in a wider football sense - i.e. fan reaction, media reaction, club reaction to fan and media reaction. I know that isn't the way it should work, and the club should make a rational decision - but not all coach sackings are done rationally.

As to the first bolded part, I would only retract any comments to the poster you mentioned when he mentions a viable alternative other than just "sack the coach" or "anyone would be better". As I can't see him ever doing that, I will continue to either ignore or denigrate his comments, in much the same way as the majority of this board does.

I agree that you need a plan. You can't just sack the coach without further thought. At the same time, we aren't privy to the same info the board is. It's impossible to pick an alternative with any conviction. Williams won a flag but apparently burns bridges. How to we know why that is or if he's learned his lesson? We know Burns is a highly rated assistant, but why is he highly rated? What are his strengths?

On the available evidence it seems clear that McCartney is struggling badly. We shouldn't be reactionary. If we were to beat GWS, flog Melbourne in the last round and win another one or two unexpectedly he should at least start next year in charge. The reality is though that history is against him - few coaches come back from this sort of a start. I don't think it's up to posters on this board to select who should replace McCartney. They are entitled to simply say he's not good enough.

 

[Some Idiot]

The coaching staff got torn a new one by Craig, hard to argue against that.

 

[fred cook]

And used to walk through the Western Oval clubrooms watching Hawk, Choco, Peter Foster, **** Kennedy, Peter Foster, et al pat me on the head while sucking cans after another honorable loss.

So don't profess to tell me I don't know what I'm on about, pal. I've seen it all. And then some.

There is a side full of kids learning their way. Give them 50 games together ]

I do have done the above like you but cant you see the kids are going backwards ,Jones,Cordy Wallis etc

I want you to do me a favour please next time you go to the game sit behind the goals and look at our structure

Its woeful and for two years we get out run every week due to the fact that we are to slow

Your game plan can be of contested football when you play on small grounds around the surf coast it takes more to that to win AFL games

 

[Mattdougie]

Not that I need to justify myself to you.

But yes - I spend $1k a year on memberships.

And used to walk through the Western Oval clubrooms watching Hawk, Choco, Peter Foster, **** Kennedy, Peter Foster, et al pat me on the head while sucking cans after another honorable loss.

So don't profess to tell me I don't know what I'm on about, pal. I've seen it all. And then some.

There is a side full of kids learning their way. Give them 50 games together.

And you think they are learning!?

You think there has been progression since MACCA started?

You think Cooney is a hbf? Murphy not 100% more useful up forward? Disgusting picken gets dropped?

I never professed to tell anyone what they do or don't know but if you think that we are improving then we greatly disagree. I don't hold the team of kids theory that's simply and excuse that he is using to defer from his complete lack of in game tactics and lack of plan b.

But please answer me this? How is it possibly that Boyd, Murphy, Griffen, Cooney and co can't hit a target 20 mts away? Is that the kids fault or lack of coaching

 

[ivan rassmussen]

On the available evidence it seems clear that McCartney is struggling badly. We shouldn't be reactionary. If we were to beat GWS, flog Melbourne in the last round and win another one or two unexpectedly he should at least start next year in charge. The reality is though that history is against him - few coaches come back from this sort of a start. I don't think it's up to posters on this board to select who should replace McCartney. They are entitled to simply say he's not good enough.

Agree, if that is how it pans out, he stays. But have doubts we will go that well for this year tbh, but am happy to be proved wrong.
I'm not asking anyone to select the coach, just explain their thoughts. Most people put some effort into their reason for being pro or anti the coach. Makes for a more interesting and stimulating discussion. Even saying he's not good enough - a simple reason is something, but often even that is not forthcoming. We'll have to disagree on that one .

 

[Nath09]

Some people on this board are an absolute disgrace.

Shit loss but seriously, get some perspective. Also think before you post. So much extreme, overly emotional nonsense.

This shit also drives all the good posters away and instead of an inclusive informative community makes this place an absolute shithole be around.

 

[fred cook]

But please answer me this? How is it possibly that Boyd, Murphy, Griffen, Cooney and co can't hit a target 20 mts away? Is that the kids fault or lack of coaching

They dont have to hit targets just play tight and contested football and everything will fall into place

Oh and be a QUALITY person

 

[BRWB]

People maybe underrating Melbourne. After listening to the interviews from Melb players prior to game you could tell Craig has changed the culture and mindset of that team. Yes they have been poor but they may well be a better team now that Neeldy is gone.

On to Brendan, the biggest error I can see is his not recruiting quick and good ball users. They are killing Jones. Recruiting Goodes and Lower has added strength but resulted in Picken and Cross not playing for team balance, add Cross and Picken in for Lower and Goodes and not much changes. So he may well have got team balance wrong. But then this might address itself as Boyd and Cross retire.

We probably should have gone a lot harder at Gumbleton in hindsight (still a question on fitness).

Cordy's lack of development is a real worry. As is Wallis and Grant and this puts a question over Macartney. But we simply aren't going to win many games in modern footy with so many slow ball butchers.

Hopefully this will begin to address itself. Its a real shame for I think he has the makings of an excellent coach, but Macartney will need to show real improvement by mid season next year or he probably will go.

 

[fred cook]

Some people on this board are an absolute disgrace.

Shit loss but seriously, get some perspective. Also think before you post. So much extreme, overly emotional nonsense.

This shit also drives all the good posters away and instead of an inclusive informative community makes this place an absolute shithole be around.

Perspective

We got beat by a team that is a rabble and have only just beat one team all year that hasnt won a game all year

WE have every right to put this loss in PERSPECTIVE

It was disgusting

 

[Butane]

I'm a little worried that our younger players are already learning the losing spirit. I'm not normally one to talk in wishy-washy ways but if you play in a team as unorganised and inept for too long that tends to sink in.

 

[Butane]

It's also very difficult to argue that we're young and learning when we were flogged(don't let the score fool you) by a team that's in the same/worse boat than we are.

I mean, they don't even have a ****ing coach and they out coached us!

 

[timtamWB]

Reaction after St. Kilda game: MACCA IS A GOD! We have to sign him up for AT LEAST 3 more years, he's going to lead us to our next flag!

Reaction after Melbourne game: BURN EVERYTHING! Macca is absolute shit as a coach! Has nothing going for him at all!

Perspective guys. That was a horrible, horrible game both tactically, and in how our players played. Macca is on thin ice now. If we play similar to that against GWS, questions WILL be asked about whether he is the right fit.

 

[Mattdougie]

But please answer me this? How is it possibly that Boyd, Murphy, Griffen, Cooney and co can't hit a target 20 mts away? Is that the kids fault or lack of coaching

They dont have to hit targets just play tight and contested football and everything will fall into place

Oh and be a QUALITY person

Fred you obviously of the older ilk like myself but right contested footy isn't the be all and end all in this years footy.
We don't really have an issue with that but we have NO outside run so when we get the ball out we don't have anyone to move the ball.

Look how many clearance Libba had tonite and that didnt help us.

And well quality people help build a club but you still need a bit of mongrel

 

[ivan rassmussen]

Some people on this board are an absolute disgrace.

Shit loss but seriously, get some perspective. Also think before you post. So much extreme, overly emotional nonsense.

This shit also drives all the good posters away and instead of an inclusive informative community makes this place an absolute shithole be around.

Yes, so much extreme, overly emotional nonsense.

 

[Mattdougie]

It's NOT ABOUT WINNING THIS YEAR

It's about developing the kids AND a game plan and maybe I'm wrong but I see neither of those happwning

 

[fred cook]

Fred you obviously of the older ilk like myself but right contested footy isn't the be all and end all in this years footy.
We don't really have an issue with that but we have NO outside run so when we get the ball out we don't have anyone to move the ball.

Look how many clearance Libba had tonite and that didnt help us.

And well quality people help build a club but you still need a bit of mongrel

I was taking the piss with my post

If I hear cheap as cheaps 2 talk about quality people any more I will spew up

 

[timtamWB]

It's NOT ABOUT WINNING THIS YEAR

It's about developing the kids AND a game plan and maybe I'm wrong but I see neither of those happwning

Developing the kids has been going very well, let's ignore that game for the moment.

Although agree about the game plan, there were glimpses in the Port and Saints games, but nothing that really resembles a game plan.

 

[Mattdougie]

Yes, so much extreme, overly emotional nonsense.

We got smacked by Melbourne

David Rodan and Jack Watts destroyed us

If anyone thinks that is acceptable at any stage of development then they are happy to accept mediocrity because that is a joke

 

[Butane]

Developing the kids has been going very well, let's ignore that game for the moment.

Is it? Every team is developing good young kids at the moment except for Melbourne...wait a minute.

 

[Mattdougie]

Developing the kids has been going very well????!!

Please explain?

Libba and johannson are probably the only ones that have gone forward

Cordy jones grant Howard wallis roughy
Markovic Austin Dalhouse have all gone nowhere and most backwards

 

[ivan rassmussen]

We got smacked by Melbourne

David Rodan and Jack Watts destroyed us

If anyone thinks that is acceptable at any stage of development then they are happy to accept mediocrity because that is a joke

Sorry? I'm accepting medoicrity because I pointed out the irony of a poster talking about extreme emotional nonsense in tones of extreme emotional nonsense??!! Ah-ha, I see...

I don't really understand why you're quoting my post, as to a large degree we are on a similar side of the fence, or then again, maybe we aren't.

Fare thee well, minstrel...

 

[timtamWB]

Is it? Every team is developing good young kids at the moment except for Melbourne...wait a minute.

I do see a lot of promise and development in a lot of these kids. The problem is the one area where we don't really have the kids that show promise is the forward line, which is where we need a lot of kids developing well.