A Message From Brendan McCartney - 22 May

[Doc26]

Re: A Message From Brendan McCartney - 22 May

The one thing I am enjoying with Macca is the calmness in the Coaching box, no throwing phones, or swearing etc. Also during the game he is often on the bench talking to players while the game is going on. No doubt he has delegated some decisions down to the assistants while he talks to a player.

With Neeld, he looks very frustrated and about to hit the roof, but then again his players aren't doing what they have been told to do.

I agree with you BD.

McCartney's ethos appears to be about 'building' trust and credibility through nurturing relationships rather than wielding a stick demanding everyone buy into it. He hones in on the strengths that individuals bring, not their weaknesses or baggage they may carry.

To listen to our playing group, including our senior players, to listen to his previous coaching colleagues and past players and having being fortunate enough to have had some dialogue with him a consistent theme comes across and that is of his ability to engage and get buy in to a common plan from a bottom up approach centered on teaching and mentoring.

He appears very centered and in control of where he wishes to lead the group and the Club for that matter. Wins on the board are a bonus rather than imperative, secondary to developing and implementing a sound culture, solid structure and a contested game plan that holds up when the chips are down.

Right now I believe we have something pretty special in Brendan and feel fortunate that he's found his way to our Club.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: A Message From Brendan McCartney - 22 May

You can't really compare, McCartney and Neeld are in different situations.

While I think Neeld had too bigger expectations this year which makes it all the more frustrating. Having no wins, having players wave, smile and laugh after a huge loss, getting very little output from your older players, being labelled a racist, facing plenty of media scrutiny and as you said players not doing what they been told to do. He's had a very rough year, I'd be pretty frustrated too.

Very happy with McCartney though, I thought we would struggle a lot more then what we have. Loving these letters too. It's not a very long message, but it does give us some insight into what he's trying to do.

Not to mention coming from a very successful club, to one that is going to struggle for sometime. A lot of added pressure.

[stefoid]

Re: A Message From Brendan McCartney - 22 May

Mac hasnt tried to drop an entire game blueprint from above in one pre-season. This pre-season was all about cracking in, working for your teammates and defensive pressure.

Players arent being measured by goals kicked or premiership points won, they are being measured by cracking in, working for their teammates and defensive pressure.

When mac has a press conference or a letter to the fans, he comments on how well or poorly we were cracking in, working for teammates or applying defensive pressure

No confusion, no angst - this is the target for this year and this is how your being measured, and players, fans and media all understand that.

Next year we will set different targets to build on this years targets, but they wont be based on win/loss rations or making the finals or posessions won, they will be based on whatever is the next highest priority that the team needs to be doing that it currently isnt doing.

I think players like Grant, Sherman and Higgins will benefit from this approach hugely.