Why McLean Left

[SnowCool]

From the herald sun- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/stevo-career-doubt/story-e6frf8w6-1225778906982

He is understood to have become increasingly frustrated with the negative roles assigned him this year by coach Dean Bailey.

While there is a major query on his pace, he is strong and brave, and will make life much more comfortable for Chris Judd at stoppages.

McLean's exit from Melbourne ends a deteriorating relationship between club and player.

He is understood to have been hurt and disappointed recently when asked to take a pay cut after spending $15,000 at a Demons auction night and, last year, donating $10,000 to the club's Debt Demolition program.

He was also unimpressed with assessments by Melbourne officials that the club was as long as 4-6 years away from success.

McLean formally told Melbourne he wanted out on Monday.

Demons general manager list management Tim Harrington said: "It is very disappointing to lose a player of Brock's calibre."

So asking a 23 year old to take a pay cut for no reason, I think we can gather Melbourne pushed him out. I'm sure his comments are just so it doesn't seem all about money.

Weather it was a good call or not by Melbourne FC, well, we will have to wait 2-5 years and see how our pick 11 develops.

The Travis Johnston - Jack Grimes gamble worked, lets hope this does too.

 

[Bartram_Class]

The stints down forward wouldn't have impressed him no doubt.

We often remarked how he looked unfit, perhaps he was just lacking desire?

 

[On the bench]

If the Herald Sun said it,it must be right!

 

[Surkin]

He was playing like shit anyway. Of course he is going to have to play some different roles when that is the case.

 

[Future Star]

I think a few of his reason are valid, telling someone to go and play forward because were not trying to win games would really annoy someone passionate about winning.

I cant also work out why he needs to take a pay cut, must have been on a large contract up to this year.

Also i think the the club relying on the last 2 years of drafting as well as this draft, in order to get to the finals instead of going forward with older players to make the finals earlier. Really following the Hawthorn Model.

 

[bighughie]

I think a few of his reason are valid, telling someone to go and play forward because were not trying to win games would really annoy someone passionate about winning.

I cant also work out why he needs to take a pay cut, must have been on a large contract up to this year.

Also i think the the club relying on the last 2 years of drafting as well as this draft, in order to get to the finals instead of going forward with older players to make the finals earlier. Really following the Hawthorn Model.

The point was made in another thread that the club may have been offereing him a contract for less money because he hadn't earned a pay rise or even a contract on parity with the one was currently on.

I think I also heard that he was on a massive contract because the club needed to fill up it's total player payments to qualify for AFL assistance. What I'm taking from that is that he had been given a bigger contract than the club thought he was worth and now that he was up for a new one the club offered a contract which was more in line with how much he was actually worth. Which given the last two years he's put in doesnt really warrant a pay rise.

No surprises that the club has modeled itself on the Hawks; we want to be challenging for finals, really really challenging for finals for 5, 6 or 7 years. not filling up with old guys and having a go for one year.

 

[Stylus]

I don't blame the club for offering him a pay-cut. He hasn't performed to a level that would justify a pay increase.

 

[WattsGoodForYou]

I wonder what Jimmeh thinks about all this?

I think McLean should of been given a performance based contract, that could of given him motivation to show he was worth what he wanted.

 

[dee64]

No surprises that the club has modeled itself on the Hawks; we want to be challenging for finals, really really challenging for finals for 5, 6 or 7 years. not filling up with old guys and having a go for one year.

I'll quote Paul Roos, "There is no formula to winning a premiership". His belief is that you coach for today, with an eye for the future, and see what eventuates.

That fact that the Hawthorn model brought them an unexpected flag, doesn't mean that the same model will work for another team.

If the article is correct, and club officials believe that we are 4-6 years away from success, there are no guarantees that we'll be in any different position than where we were in 2004. A young team with finals experience challenging for a top 4 position.

And if the club holds this belief, I wouldn't be surprised if other talented players over 23 yo, decide to walk. Players play football for the enjoyment of winning, not being a whipping boy until the club's masterplan comes to fruition.

 

[Dez!]

So basically had Bailey put him on ice for the latter stages of the season like most of us here wanted, we'd still have Brock?

 

[melbournemartin]

I'd have been pissed off if I were a gun midfielder and forced to play in the forward pocket for whole games.

 

[bighughie]

I'd have been pissed off if I were a gun midfielder and forced to play in the forward pocket for whole games.

I'd be pissed off if i was a coach of a gun midfielder who kept doing stupid things like coming back from the offseason over weight, getting into punch ups and not working hard enough at training.

 

[Dez!]

I'd be pissed off if i was a coach of a gun midfielder who kept doing stupid things like coming back from the offseason over weight, getting into punch ups and not working hard enough at training.

No. Just no.

 

[Davide_117]

Jeez all the time we were saying brock is a good player and all other BF members said too slow can't kick, bad player. All of a sudden Carlton get him and wat a superstar, best 23 year old in country. IMO moloney, sylvia are ahead of him and with grimes, jones, scully coming in...mclean may have been struggling soon to get a game lol.

 

[bighughie]

No. Just no.

Ahh but two out of three are hard to dispute though and I think the third was a more general dig at his attitude. He switches off or at the very least severely loses focus during the offseason and has to come from along way back when preseason starts.

 

[transmed_999]

Jeez all the time we were saying brock is a good player and all other BF members said too slow can't kick, bad player. All of a sudden Carlton get him and wat a superstar, best 23 year old in country. IMO moloney, sylvia are ahead of him and with grimes, jones, scully coming in...mclean may have been struggling soon to get a game lol.

absolutely - McClean for pick 11 is highway robbery - sounds like we should of offered our second round pick and the Dees would of still done the deal - and dees fans will still be happy. IMO McClean is a dud.

 

[Dez!]

absolutely - McClean for pick 11 is highway robbery - sounds like we should of offered our second round pick and the Dees would of still done the deal - and dees fans will still be happy. IMO McClean is a dud.

Well then your opinion is wrong, he's far from a dud.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Jeez all the time we were saying brock is a good player and all other BF members said too slow can't kick, bad player. All of a sudden Carlton get him and wat a superstar, best 23 year old in country. IMO moloney, sylvia are ahead of him and with grimes, jones, scully coming in...mclean may have been struggling soon to get a game

Yeah, I've got to agree with that... as to the opposition posters around the place who started pumping up McLean as soon as he signed for Carlton, they have no credibility at all.