Would Dean 'Let The Boys Play' For Picks?

[Goobernutty]

Hearing all this talk about how Terry Wallace 'let his players go out' against St. Kilda a couple of years ago in order to grab Cotchin in the draft, it makes me wonder if our own Dean Bailey would be willing to do the same in order to get Scully & one other player. Terry maintains that it wasn't tanking because he didn't tell his players directly to lose the game, he simply 'let the boys play' for the last twelve minutes of the game, but that's really open to interpretation. Does taking your foot off the pedal constitute tanking? Or is it strategic play to get the best out of the drafting system?

So, should we expect to lose some winnable games against any of Richmond, North or Freo? Is Dean a strategic coach, or is he all for wins? I personally have always belived that one player does not make a team, regardless of how you get that player (tanking of legitimitly losing) & Richmond this year is my example, since they're still not any closer to making the finals two years later. Or is Tom Scully really that good?

This isn't anti/pro-tank propoganda, I just thought it'd be interesting to discuss whether Dean is all for wins, whether he's going to be strategic & 'let the boys play', & whether or not wrapping up before the match is over constitutes tanking.

 

[The Dr]

i would imagine the direction from the board would have a major impact as to what the coaches would do in this situation...

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

I don't think so. I think everyone involved with the team at Melbourne will want to win at all costs and see it as the most important thing right now for us, onfield and off, especially with Casey opening up.

No source or anything just the impression I get. Interesting couple of months ahead though.

 

[Dez!]

Why are people surprised about Wallace?

Besides moving Richo to the wing, it seemed all Wallace did was "let the boys play" not just that one game.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/81153/default.aspx

Well timed press released from Bails backing up my comment. Just depends on whether you believe him or not I suppose.

Speaking at Junction Oval on Wednesday, Bailey said the Demons would continue to develop players and build a winning culture, rather than get caught up in tanking talk.
He stressed that the Demons had always been honest and direct in relaying that message in a public forum

 

[Karl Pilkington]

One player doesn't make a team you reckon?

LOL bullshit!

Carey, Brereton, Buckley, Hird, Voss all made their teams what they were. Sure, those teams were good anyway, but they weren't THAT good without their stars. Look at what happened to Carlton in 2000 when Kouta went down with that knee injury (I maintain he is the best player I've ever seen, that season, until he ripped his ACL in half). One player CAN make a team!

 

[cannons]

One player may not make a team, but they can certainly have a big impact upon its performance.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

I didn't call Bailey's bluff looking at this weeks team!

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

I can't see how you'd say that - because Jamar, Green, Brock and Grimey all have LEGITIMATE injuries.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

tongue in cheek but it's still a little suss that they all occurred at once.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Maybe a bit... although it makes good sense to rest players who are carrying injuries towards the end of the season anyway, when we're obviously not going to be playing finals - as might be the case with Brock, Grimey & the big Russian (although Greeny's wrist injury concerns me more).

We want them all fit & firing next year, not still recovering from niggling injuries...

 

[Dez!]

I can't see how you'd say that - because Jamar, Green, Brock and Grimey all have LEGITIMATE injuries.

I think you'll find they pulled that out of their ass.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

You mean Greeny doesn't have a broken bone in his wrist?

Oh right... SARCASM! Now I see

 

[Crimson Azure]

I think you'll find they pulled that out of their ass.

Maybe thats how the injury occured.

 

[Goobernutty]

Maybe thats how the injury occured.

Must've been a big wrench since his season is over.