Mal Michael Appreciation Thread

[xplo]

So you believe that all of last year he was simply planning to crap on the club? For what reason? Surely you should all want to know why? I can fully understand Brissy supporters being angry that he has left the club but I'm yet to hear any real reasons of why it all happened other than Mal's version of his desire to retire & then later change of heart. I'm interested to hear what Brissy supporters think actually happened if they don't believe Mal's story & also why they believe it.

You're absolutely right. I'd love to know the precise reasons behind it. I'm not here to stir Don's fans. Good luck to em.

I'm not sure how much you saw of him last year, but there are threads from back in June 2006 asking 'What's going on with Mal?' -- well before any talk of retirement had been broached. People were noting he was clearly distracted and plain grumpy about something or someone. At the time a few people questioned whether the whole Aka saga was wearing on him --if you remember he had a crack at Aka for being selfish after the 2004 GF.

It seems he's cranky with either Bowers or Matthews or Allen or someone but didn't have the character to stand there and say it. This 'I was cranky because I was up all night saving the poor' stuff just doesn't wash.

Neither does the 'I'm exhausted. They were training me too hard'. Cold hard facts. Last year West Coast have 12 players with a 15+ beep test. Brisbane had 3. Are they the figures of a club that's overtraining?

 

[Longy413]

I'm not sure how much you saw of him last year, but there are threads from back in June 2006 asking 'What's going on with Mal?' -- well before any talk of retirement had been broached. People were noting he was clearly distracted and plain grumpy about something or someone. At the time a few people questioned whether the whole Aka saga was wearing on him --if you remember he had a crack at Aka for being selfish after the 2004 GF.

How much of that also had to do with a key defender looking down on his game in a poor side?

How much of that had to do with Justin Leppitsch not being there, or the Scott's?

Full backs need a good structure around them, I'm not going to pretend he is going to get that at Essendon but perhaps the perceived loss in form had more to do with a lack of support more than anything else.

Mal still led Brisbane in 1%ers in 2006 and his numbers weren't a great deal down from previous years. That suggests to me he still wasn't having a heap of goals kicked on him.

I've very much wait and see on Mal Michael, but I did like what I saw on Friday night. I don't remember seeing him really get taken to the cleaners last season.

 

[xplo]

How much of that also had to do with a key defender looking down on his game in a poor side?

How much of that had to do with Justin Leppitsch not being there, or the Scott's?

No argument there. I think he was always pretty close to Leppa and enjoyed his football less when he went.

Full backs need a good structure around them, I'm not going to pretend he is going to get that at Essendon but perhaps the perceived loss in form had more to do with a lack of support more than anything else.

I was never that down on his form. It was his body language and general attitude that looked bad. I would imagine that won't be any issue at Essendon, so I'd expect him to be more than useful.

It's just a question of how you handle yourself when things aren't going peachy. Voss wouldn't do that. Hird wouldn't do that. Mal did.

 

[Longy413]

It's just a question of how you handle yourself when things aren't going peachy. Voss wouldn't do that. Hird wouldn't do that. Mal did.

Voss no, I'm not overly sure on Hird.
Hird's a brilliant leader but doesn't take failure well, bit like Glenn McGrath. I guess that's probably part of what makes the pair of them so good.

One thing I will say on Mal, is that his leadership at training has been outstanding. He really has taken the young guys under his wing.

 

[7zark7]

One thing I will say on Mal, is that his leadership at training has been outstanding. He really has taken the young guys under his wing.

Mal can fly?

 

[OB1]

You're absolutely right. I'd love to know the precise reasons behind it. I'm not here to stir Don's fans. Good luck to em.

I'm not sure how much you saw of him last year, but there are threads from back in June 2006 asking 'What's going on with Mal?' -- well before any talk of retirement had been broached. People were noting he was clearly distracted and plain grumpy about something or someone. At the time a few people questioned whether the whole Aka saga was wearing on him --if you remember he had a crack at Aka for being selfish after the 2004 GF.

It seems he's cranky with either Bowers or Matthews or Allen or someone but didn't have the character to stand there and say it. This 'I was cranky because I was up all night saving the poor' stuff just doesn't wash.

Neither does the 'I'm exhausted. They were training me too hard'. Cold hard facts. Last year West Coast have 12 players with a 15+ beep test. Brisbane had 3. Are they the figures of a club that's overtraining?

Everything there seems to point to Mal's side of the story being correct. He had obvioulsy lost the passion to play at Brisbane for a number of reasons & therefore decided to retire. It would appear that only after he actually made the break from Brissy that he realised he still wanted to play & that he could in fact persue a career elsewhere because of the oversight in his contract. They say a change is as good as a holiday & in Mal's case that may be true.

Really I think more Brissy supporters should be asking the questions (like skilts) of their own administration as to why certain players have become dissilusioned with the club.

 

[sante]

Mal can fly?

Should've deleted this...but now it'll be here forever.


What an embarassment

 

[Snuka]

Do you think he was genuine then in his desire to retire?

Yes I do.

and this is how you supporters say your thanks, when Wanganeen left Essendon i was shattered but I still respect the bloke. Also when Caracella was stolen from Essendon as Essendon didn't have the extra cap to be able to afford him did i get angry with him no.

get over yourselves Mal Michael helped gain you a 3peat, A FARRKING 3PEAT, and now he's not on your list you all hate him.

pathetic

...get over ourselves? this thread was originally bumped by an E'don supporter for no other evident reason than to gloat.

And this along with other posts confused me as to the thoughts of Bombers posters. I've got nothing against E'don (for this), and while a little dissappointed in Mal, hold no real malice against him. What does rile me up though is somehow in the eyes of Don's supporters, Mal has been a saint who was tossed aside by the evil, selfish BLFC who didn't let him do his charity work. E'don have no reason to hold any grudge against the Lions as far as Mal is concerned.

So you believe that all of last year he was simply planning to crap on the club? For what reason? Surely you should all want to know why? I can fully understand Brissy supporters being angry that he has left the club but I'm yet to hear any real reasons of why it all happened other than Mal's version of his desire to retire & then later change of heart. I'm interested to hear what Brissy supporters think actually happened if they don't believe Mal's story & also why they believe it.

I for one don't believe that Mal masterminded anything or had any plan to screw over Brisbane. I've got no problem with Mal's version of events...although in that case we also have to give the benefit of the
doubt to Brisbane's statement (which all responding to this thread should read) on the issue. Change of heart is all well and good, but after the venom he directed at the club afterwards, you've got to understand the feeling of some Brisbane supporters. The fact that there are doubts over the seriousness of his charity organisation (as mentioned before hasn't yet visited PNG) and his demanding of 50k from the club after he voided his contract is not helping his cred either.

 

[windyhill]

Looked very average in the second half of last year.
I think Bomber fans will be mightly disappointed with Mal.

You take Kent, we`ll take Mal.
Fair ?

 

[windyhill]

When interviewed a couple of weeks ago he conceded that he still hasn't travelled to PNG since he retired as a Brisbane Lions player. I still wonder what he is actually on about. Certainly his integrity has been shot to pieces.

You take Acland, we`ll take Mal.
Fair ?

 

[7zark7]

Should've deleted this...but now it'll be here forever.


What an embarassment

You are embarrassed? Because you can't spell 'embarrassment'? Now this will be here forever.

What a moron

 

[wazzabp]

Yes I do.



...get over ourselves? this thread was originally bumped by an E'don supporter for no other evident reason than to gloat.

And this along with other posts confused me as to the thoughts of Bombers posters. I've got nothing against E'don (for this), and while a little dissappointed in Mal, hold no real malice against him. What does rile me up though is somehow in the eyes of Don's supporters, Mal has been a saint who was tossed aside by the evil, selfish BLFC who didn't let him do his charity work. E'don have no reason to hold any grudge against the Lions as far as Mal is concerned.



I for one don't believe that Mal masterminded anything or had any plan to screw over Brisbane. I've got no problem with Mal's version of events...although in that case we also have to give the benefit of the
doubt to Brisbane's statement (which all responding to this thread should read) on the issue. Change of heart is all well and good, but after the venom he directed at the club afterwards, you've got to understand the feeling of some Brisbane supporters. The fact that there are doubts over the seriousness of his charity organisation (as mentioned before hasn't yet visited PNG) and his demanding of 50k from the club after he voided his contract is not helping his cred either.

I reckon you've summed it up pretty well.

 

[mediumsizered]

You take Acland, we`ll take Mal.
Fair ?

Fine by me. We get a full time footballer, you get a part timer who won't commit to doing the work that other players have to do. Look for him to decide he needs a few trips to PNG when Melbourne is in the depths of winter. It is appropriate that his 'charity' be called the Mal Michael Foundation, because so far it has been all about Mal Michael.

 

[dave_27]

Fine by me. We get a full time footballer, you get a part timer who won't commit to doing the work that other players have to do. Look for him to decide he needs a few trips to PNG when Melbourne is in the depths of winter. It is appropriate that his 'charity' be called the Mal Michael Foundation, because so far it has been all about Mal Michael.

Doesnt bother me, you keep the lemon in the ruck

 

[mediumsizered]

Doesnt bother me, you keep the lemon in the ruck

Michael can follow in the tradition of other recent Sheedy success stories ie Allan, Murphy, Campo, Zantuck, Bullen, Alvey. Our coach has had it made clear to him that recruiting players who don't offer long term prospects is no longer an option. We have accepted that band-aid solutions are no longer the way to go. Our club is bigger than our coach, not the other way around.

 

[windyhill]

Fine by me. We get a full time footballer, you get a part timer who won't commit to doing the work that other players have to do. Look for him to decide he needs a few trips to PNG when Melbourne is in the depths of winter. It is appropriate that his 'charity' be called the Mal Michael Foundation, because so far it has been all about Mal Michael.

One game from Mal, should cover a season of anything Acland could throw up

 

[Longy413]

Fine by me. We get a full time footballer, you get a part timer who won't commit to doing the work that other players have to do. Look for him to decide he needs a few trips to PNG when Melbourne is in the depths of winter. It is appropriate that his 'charity' be called the Mal Michael Foundation, because so far it has been all about Mal Michael.

I think you have worded things a bit incorrectly there -

Carlton got a bloke who can't play football and have him for three years. Full time.

Essendon got a bloke who can play football, hasn't missed a session, have him for two years and is at a football club that allows him to make football his number one priority by allowing him to have a life outside that. I'll just repeat that, Mal Michael is training full-time at Essendon and hasn't missed a session.

 

[Longy413]

Michael can follow in the tradition of other recent Sheedy success stories ie Allan, Murphy, Campo, Zantuck, Bullen, Alvey. Our coach has had it made clear to him that recruiting players who don't offer long term prospects is no longer an option. We have accepted that band-aid solutions are no longer the way to go. Our club is bigger than our coach, not the other way around.

Bullen was drafted as an 18 year old straight out of the TAC Cup.

Zantuck and Alvey drafted as 22 year-olds. Younger than Ackland.

You're terrible at this.

At least our coach calls the shots and gets to live and die by the decisions he makes, not the decisions others make for him.

 

[Snuka]

Maybe the thread title should be changed to Ackland vs Michael...

 

[mediumsizered]

I think you have worded things a bit incorrectly there -

Carlton got a bloke who can't play football and have him for three years. Full time.

Essendon got a bloke who can play football, hasn't missed a session, have him for two years and is at a football club that allows him to make football his number one priority by allowing him to have a life outside that. I'll just repeat that, Mal Michael is training full-time at Essendon and hasn't missed a session.

Is this benefit available to all Essendon listed players? During the season will they all be allowed to miss training to pursue outside interests? Or is this reserved for 'special' cases only? 5 months since the Brisbane Lions season ended & Michael is still yet to visit PNG. Why didn't he just be upfront like Aker & say he didn't want to be there anymore? Why make up this story about charity work? Thank goodness the Shane Warne Foundation doesn't operate under the tutelage of Mal Michael. Otherwise there would be a lot of sick & underprivileged kids feeling very let down.

 

[Longy413]

Is this benefit available to all Essendon listed players? During the season will they all be allowed to miss training to pursue outside interests?

I don't know anything about his foundation, I haven't looked into it and nor do I care to. It all seems to be speculation.

He won't have to miss training sessions, that was one of the reasons he came to Essendon. Essendon's schedule is completely different to that at Brisbane, we don't train every day. Re-hab is done the night of a game and there is a complete day off during the week (as per AFLPA regulations). That allows him to explore his extra interests.

He'll do the training he needs to do to play at his best. There has never been the intentions that he will miss training sessions, it's about time management.

He is on record as saying he may miss one or two sessions during the season. I'd go out on a limb and say that would happen to most players for uni exams, work commitments, family, births and the like. One player missed the whole trip to Darwin for a family wedding, no one blinked an eye but I guess that comes with the territory when you have the profile Michael has.

5 months since the Brisbane Lions season ended & Michael is still yet to visit PNG.

Doesn't this point contradict what you've said previously?

If you are speculating that Mal won't go to PNG, he won't be missing anything...

Make your mind up.

 

[mediumsizered]

Bullen was drafted as an 18 year old straight out of the TAC Cup.

Zantuck and Alvey drafted as 22 year-olds. Younger than Ackland.
You're terrible at this.

At least our coach calls the shots and gets to live and die by the decisions he makes, not the decisions others make for him.

Where are they now? Zantuck was a bad egg, that is why Richmond got rid of him. That is why Essendon got rid of him. That is why he did not find his way onto the Carlton list.

We all know that Sheedy calls the shots & has done for many a year now & will continue to do so as long as the club allows him to. Kevin Sheedy has been looking after Kevin Sheedy for the last 3-4 years. Most recruiting decisions over that period of time have not been about the long term interests of the Essendon Football Club, but more about ensuring Sheedy's tenure. Finally, though, it would appear he is going to bring himself unstuck, with a 3rd year near the lower end of the ladder just about guaranteeing his demise.

I'm more than happy to see the football department make the decisions about playing personnel & then let the coach do the coaching. That is the job of the coach, to coach the players, not recruit them.

 

[7zark7]

Where are they now? Zantuck was a bad egg, that is why Richmond got rid of him. That is why Essendon got rid of him. That is why he did not find his way onto the Carlton list.

Thats why the Carlton coach and players wanted him to be picked up in the PSD

 

[Longy413]

Where are they now? Zantuck was a bad egg, that is why Richmond got rid of him. That is why Essendon got rid of him. That is why he did not find his way onto the Carlton list.

Richmond didn't get rid of him. He was contracted to Richmond when he left.

Carlton were still interested enough to have him train at the club.

We all know that Sheedy calls the shots & has done for many a year now & will continue to do so as long as the club allows him to. Kevin Sheedy has been looking after Kevin Sheedy for the last 3-4 years.

Crap, we have drafted as many kids as anyone else.
In the last 3 National Draft, only Hawthorn has drafted more first year players.

Kevin Sheedy has conistently tried to blend youth and experience throughout his career.

I'm more than happy to see the football department make the decisions about playing personnel & then let the coach do the coaching.

Football department yes, board no.

That is the job of the coach, to coach the players, not recruit them.

Crap. Any coach that doesn't have an involvement the trading/drafting and list management process isn't doing his job properly.

 

[mediumsizered]

Thats why the Carlton coach and players wanted him to be picked up in the PSD

But they didn't pick him up, though. Wiser heads prevailed. That is why coaches should not be involved in choosing the players to be listed. Many coaches (Pagan included) are more inclined to choose a player with their own interests in mind rather than the overall best interests of the club. It is often more about survival than satisfying the club's needs.