Dean Bailey article re: Future/Jamar

[2 Dogs]

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey is happy to let speculation about his job security drag on until the end of the season.

The Demons are again under fire this week after a poor showing that resulted in an 88-point loss to Collingwood yesterday.

But Bailey said he is unconcerned about talk surrounding his future.

"I'll get judged by the rest of the year and the board will make a decision when it's appropriate,'' Bailey said today.

"It's in their (the board's) hands.''

Asked when that time would be, Bailey said: "We'll just wait until the end of the year.

"My future at the club is in the hands of the board.''

On a positive note for the club, Bailey said ruckman Mark Jamar was almost ready to resume from a knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines since Round 7.

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Bailey said the 2010 All-Australian would likely come straight back in to the senior side, rather than the VFL.

"If he's available to play this week I think he'd be more likely to play with us,'' he said.

"Hopefully he can get through the week at training. He's that bigger type of player in the goalsquare as a long target for us, which we're sort of missing at the moment.

"The last couple of weeks he's been training reasonably well, he's been jumping, his lateral movement has been good, his agility training has been good.

"So he's showing all the signs that if he can get through his training and get through without any sore spots in the recovery I'm sure he'll be a chance to play this week.

"But we've still got a main session to get through.''
Bailey said last night one positive to come from the Demons' recent slump was the development of Jack Watts - who he said he would grow into the go-to forward the club drafted him as.

"I think Jack’s really progressing," he told Fox Sports' On the Couch.

"He’s a 27, 28-game player now. He’s a very good decision maker. Eventually inside 50, close to goal, he’ll start to put a few goals together.

"But he reads the play particularly well and you see the speed (he’s got) and he has got a very good motor as well, so they’re going to be two important attributes for him.

"I’m convinced with the way that he’s developing that he can still be a guy that can come out of the goal square.

"He’s certainly got the aerobic (capacity) and speed and smarts of that lead-up sort of player and certainly get behind the ball if we need him because he does read the play particularly well.

"But we drafted him to be a forward goal kicker and I think, given time, he’ll be able to do that."

Don't see the point of sacking him before the end of the year. We ran into a very good side yesterday minus a solid chunk of our best 22. How we finish off the year will be indicative of whether Bailey stays or goes.

On the plus side, JAMAR!!!!

 

[Tempy Tiger]

Bailey's right regarding us needing a big go to forward at the moment. It would take some heat off Jurrah and create some crumbing chances. Full forward might be a great permanent spot for the Russian now Martin has stepped up so well. It's definitely a good way to bring him back in from injury, pretty sure he hurt himself from a clash of knees at a centre bounce, doesn't need to be doing that at the moment.