Future, not Finals on Demon's Agenda

[2 Dogs]

September is off the radar for Dean Bailey, with the new Melbourne coach declaring 2008 a development year for his young squad.
Before the season gets underway, just 11 Demons have played 65 or more games.
"Our focus is really trying to improve our players' development," Bailey said.
"Who knows how many games we're going to win? I don't know, neither do you.
"(Simon) Buckley, (Colin) Garland, (Lynden) Dunn, (Jace) Bode, (Daniel) Bell, there's a number of them, we're expecting them to go to an extra level this year.
"The senior players, we need them to perform and perform well, but it's the younger players that will give us the improvement."
Demons supporters will be hoping Bailey's optimism is not misguided after enduring a horror run last year.
After playing in the finals from 2004 to 2006, Melbourne lost their first nine games last season and slumped to 14th in a year cruelled by injury.
After a decade at the club, coach Neale Daniher's time was up from the moment they were belted by eventual wooden spooners Richmond in round 12.
Mark Riley filled in as senior coach for the remainder of 2007, only to be overlooked for former Port assistant Bailey, who also bigger names such as Kevin Sheedy, Chris Bond, Damien Hardwick and Guy McKenna to the top job.
Bailey said his coaching philosophy centres around an open communication channel with the players, his assistants Paul Williams, Sean Wellman and Josh Mahoney and other coaching staff.
"I believe that the sum of all the coaches and players is lots more than any one individual," he said.
"So you've got 42 to 44 players, you've got your coaching staff together, you should have a lot of knowledge in the room, you just need to ask questions and get it out in the open and hopefully come out with the right product."
Bailey said the players have embraced the concept, which is an extension of a leadership program instrumental to Sydney's drought-breaking premiership in 2005 and Geelong's historic flag last year.
As one of the first demonstrations of player empowerment under the Bailey plan, the leadership group suspended defender Nathan Carroll for two pre-season games for a "lack of professionalism" in the off-season.
"If the players have responsibility, then they'll buy-in and involvement is a lot stronger."
So it is not surprising Bailey rejected any suggestion Melbourne's on-field fortunes rest with their star six - midfielders James McDonald, Cameron Bruce, Brad Green, Brock McLean, ruckman Jeff White and captain David Neitz.
"You've only named six players. There are 16 others, I don't know what they're doing," Bailey said.
"You've got to have an even contribution. If you're relying on six blokes, it makes it easier for the opposition to shut you down."
But there is no question McDonald is key to the Demons' engine room.
He has been the club's leading clearance player in three of the past four years, with 400 clearances, 101 more than any other Demon.
And he laid the third most tackles (131) in the competition last year, behind Sydney's Brett Kirk (149) and Geelong's Joel Corey (134).
Bailey is expecting McLean, Bruce, Nathan Jones and Clint Bartram to lighten McDonald's load in the midfield.
In attack, Neitz will again be the kingpin, along with the high-flying Russell Robertson.
The pair kicked 112 goals between them in 2006 but could only manage 68 last year.
But Bailey says there is more to Melbourne's forward line than just Neitz and Robertson.
"And (Colin) Sylvia, and (Michael) Newton, (Aaron) Davey and (Austin) Wonaeamirri and Bruce up forward and Green up forward, Isaac Weetra.
"I think we've got enough firepower to kick a winning score, but you've got to get the ball inside your forward 50 so you give your forwards a chance to mark and compete, that'll be the challenge," he said.
Jared Rivers will bolster the Demons' defence after the dreaded osteitis pubis ended his 2007 season after three games, former Cat Brent Moloney is fully fit after groin troubles over the past two seasons, while Cale Morton, the club's top pick in last year's draft, is expected to play plenty of senior football.
Bailey said Melbourne have concentrated on game-based training over the pre-season, in a bid to improve on-field decisions and have worked hard on their skills.
The coach has also welcomed the input of former Fremantle coach Chris Connolly, the new football manager.
"He's been a great appointment by the club," he said.
"We're both passionate about getting this club out of where it is and moving it forward."
© 2008 AAP

As much as I hate the title, Deano makes some good points here. While we may not be pushing for the premiership, this year should be about setting up the foundations for a red hot crack in the next 2 years. Good to hear him mention Dunn and Garland too.

 

[CaptainDavey]

Cale Morton to play plenty of senior football this year...Sheesh, looking forward to that!

 

[saj_21]

For all those people who say we should go with the kids and rebuild we are doing that already not to the extermes of other teams i.e. hawthorn. Several 30+ players retired last year and has allowed a lot of young kids to come along.

As in the Herald Sun this week done by Mark Stevens we have an avg age of 23 with avg game experience of 60.

 

[Supermercado]

At last an article that tells the truth. Rebuilding year at best.

 

[ausde13]

As in the Herald Sun this week done by Mark Stevens we have an avg age of 23 with avg game experience of 60.

Hi Saj, yea but what does that mean? You're not measuring it against anything.. If you measure it against the rest of the clubs in the AFL then it would be a stat worth looking at. What are Geelongs stats or the Eagles.

23 is approx 5 years at a club and an ave 12 games a year

 

[stickman11]

Makes me wonder where the club is going. Bails seems to directionaless - his game plan looks to complicated where it should be direct footy and the players don't look very fired up. The whole club needs strong leadership. Wonder if gardener would quit. We need someone to really lay into the club and demand some professionalism.

 

[The Dr]

Makes me wonder where the club is going. Bails seems to directionaless - his game plan looks to complicated where it should be direct footy and the players don't look very fired up. The whole club needs strong leadership. Wonder if gardener would quit. We need someone to really lay into the club and demand some professionalism.

Agree and also disagree with you there SM...

I think you're a bit quick to jump the gun on Bailey and whether the boys are 'fired up' - we've played three praccy games. Admittedly it would be a lot better to have won 3 then lost them, but wait till we've seen the boys in the regular season. I have a feeling we'll improve significantly this year, as long as we don't have the injuries we did last year.

Re: Gardiner and the off field leadership, i agree with you. How come, in our 150th year, i have not seen or heard of anything in the press about such a big anniversary! Other clubs would be seen and heard all over the place. Not really good enough....IT's bad enough to be struggling on the field but surely we can do a whole lot better off it....

Anyway, a couple of wins to start the year and I'll soon have forgotten all that!

 

[demonfan9]

Makes me wonder where the club is going. Bails seems to directionaless - his game plan looks to complicated where it should be direct footy and the players don't look very fired up. The whole club needs strong leadership. Wonder if gardener would quit. We need someone to really lay into the club and demand some professionalism.

How can you judge our game plan when we've only played one game with a close-to-full team (and that was in Cairns - did you even see the match?)