Pack your bags McCartney...

[Bornadog]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Instead of closing this thread, lets put it on hold till the last round of 2014 then make up our mind about the coach. I hate supporters calling for the coaches head in advance of their contract (unless its Peter Rhode )

[ledge]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Apparently last year our assistant coaches were asking macca why he wasn't making moves and flooding to help out the defence when we were getting smashed by 10 goals every week, his reply was how are they going to learn if you give them the easy way out, they will expect it all the time, he wanted them to learn how to combat it as a back line.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Apparently last year our assistant coaches were asking macca why he wasn't making moves and flooding to help out the defence when we were getting smashed by 10 goals every week, his reply was how are they going to learn if you give them the easy way out, they will expect it all the time, he wanted them to learn how to combat it as a back line.

That's exactly how Rocket developed (fast-tracked) our defense in 2007. Great stuff!

[LongWait]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Apparently last year our assistant coaches were asking macca why he wasn't making moves and flooding to help out the defence when we were getting smashed by 10 goals every week, his reply was how are they going to learn if you give them the easy way out, they will expect it all the time, he wanted them to learn how to combat it as a back line.

I've heard the same story almost word for word from a club insider.

[westdog54]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Apparently last year our assistant coaches were asking macca why he wasn't making moves and flooding to help out the defence when we were getting smashed by 10 goals every week, his reply was how are they going to learn if you give them the easy way out, they will expect it all the time, he wanted them to learn how to combat it as a back line.

Which goes some way to countering the argument about Macca not being a great match day coach during last year. A method to the madness of sorts.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Which goes some way to countering the argument about Macca not being a great match day coach during last year. A method to the madness of sorts.

That's probably the last argument haters have.

I think Macca has done a great job so far now he's got to take them that extra yard next year. That question being asked will be answered then.

[westdog54]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

It will be all about continuous improvement for the next 3 years or so.

Just as a side bar, a couple of guys I work with have a couple of bets going. A carlton supporter has bet a Doggies supporter:

$200 that the dogs won't make the finals before 2017 and $50 that Carlton will make the 8 this year.

I know who I'm hitting up for a beer in Septbember

[LostDoggy]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Don't forget, the Coach is learning too. I liked during the Gold coast game, he admitted he had a bad 5 minutes in the box. He's going to make mistakes and improve as the players do. Some of the criticism of his match day performance in the past may have been entirely warranted, at times.

Generally however, We are lucky to have this coach.

Why? He was at the 1997 Prelim ( I think, or one of the other narrow losses ) and he stated he had never seen supporters so upset, in tears. He seems to have such a strong connection with the identity of the club. That kind of commitment is reassuring to have. Perhaps it's just the way he expresses himself, but it's really encouraging. The players obviously love his style and have responded well.

It was the 2009 prelim, he was there for research as the winner played the Cats in the GF.

and how many teams are now worried that they have to play us? Agree Lantern that Sydney's loss may have partly been because we knackered them. Collingwood should slip us a few grand. Well done Dogs and Bmac.

Careful, mate. Eddie gets touchy on that one…

It will be all about continuous improvement for the next 3 years or so.

Just as a side bar, a couple of guys I work with have a couple of bets going. A carlton supporter has bet a Doggies supporter:

$200 that the dogs won't make the finals before 2017 and $50 that Carlton will make the 8 this year.

I know who I'm hitting up for a beer in Septbember

I've a bet with a mate, made in 2007, $1000 that Essendon will win a flag before Carlton. We're both safe for now.

[Maddog37]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

A mate of mine bet $1500 the saints would finish above us. He was looking pretty sick on Saturday night

[Ozza]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

I think discussions around Brendan's coaching have further confirmed for me - that there is just no patience amongst the bulk of footy supporters.

There was always going to be some short term pain - we were told this bluntly as supporters. But we look to be building something sustainable - and it is exciting to watch.

The most impressive aspect of the last few weeks is the way our blokes go about it. They care enough about their team mates to block, to share the footy, tackles, chase and go off their man to help out their team mate. Young players like Roughead, Young, Wallis, Libba, Stevens and Dahlhaus are some of the best examples of this team footy.

[Sedat]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

I think discussions around Brendan's coaching have further confirmed for me - that there is just no patience amongst the bulk of footy supporters.

There was always going to be some short term pain - we were told this bluntly as supporters. But we look to be building something sustainable - and it is exciting to watch.

The most impressive aspect of the last few weeks is the way our blokes go about it. They care enough about their team mates to block, to share the footy, tackles, chase and go off their man to help out their team mate. Young players like Roughead, Young, Wallis, Libba, Stevens and Dahlhaus are some of the best examples of this team footy.

I can only speak for myself, but my concerns were based on our slow and stagnant ball movement, which made us predicable to play against and deadest boring to watch. We were almost completely non-competitive for over a full season (from mid 2012 to the GWS game this year) with no discernible improvement in key areas of deficiency, so I understand why some people (myself included) were having their patience stretched. Clearly there has been a tonne of work done in the background on ball movement and quick transition, and it has now clicked into gear on the field over the last 5 weeks. Like I said before, I'm delighted to be wrong about BMac if the quality of our football continues to develop in the same trajectory as it has done in the last 5 weeks.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

It's hard to know how much credit you give a coach, or if it's just timing/maturity etc.

But the coming of age of Minson and Griffen bodes well for McCartney as well.

Will has really matured. He is playing with a discipline and focus he lacked in the past.
Gone are the brain fades and ill directed aggression. AA ruckman for sure, and not many would have predicted that.

Griffen now plays like he relishes the responsibility and pressure of being the 'MAN'.

He throws himself into everything with a passion and fire that wasn't there before.

We all knew we had an absolute jet on our hands with Ryan, but now he plays with the authority and insatiability of a true on field leader and champion, in the truest sense of the word.

This observation isn't just over the last few 'golden weeks' either. It's been sustained over the entire season.

If the resurrection of J. Grant continues and lasts, that's 3 big ticks on a player management, nurturing front from me.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

I can only speak for myself, but my concerns were based on our slow and stagnant ball movement, which made us predicable to play against and deadest boring to watch. We were almost completely non-competitive for over a full season (from mid 2012 to the GWS game this year) with no discernible improvement in key areas of deficiency, so I understand why some people (myself included) were having their patience stretched. Clearly there has been a tonne of work done in the background on ball movement and quick transition, and it has now clicked into gear on the field over the last 5 weeks. Like I said before, I'm delighted to be wrong about BMac if the quality of our football continues to develop in the same trajectory as it has done in the last 5 weeks.

Ditto. I personally didnt question my faith over a few weeks, it was 12 full and long months. I'm very happy things are getting good, quite quickly, but a few good games is only the beginning. Lets not get too head of ourselves, the ladder says we have plenty of room for improvement, and our player potential says we can. BMac has my complete and undivided attention again that's for sure.

[Scraggers]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

I think discussions around Brendan's coaching have further confirmed for me - that there is just no patience amongst the bulk of footy supporters.

There was always going to be some short term pain - we were told this bluntly as supporters. But we look to be building something sustainable - and it is exciting to watch.

The most impressive aspect of the last few weeks is the way our blokes go about it. They care enough about their team mates to block, to share the footy, tackles, chase and go off their man to help out their team mate. Young players like Roughead, Young, Wallis, Libba, Stevens and Dahlhaus are some of the best examples of this team footy.

I don't expect to play finals footy in 2014 ... I do expect to be there abouts (9th to 12th) Unless of course a lot of things go our way. (another Essendon drugs scandal etc).

The loss to Melbourne hurt the most ... The way we played in the last quarter proved it was a very winnable game.

I am extremely pleased with the way we are playing footy right now. Regardless of the score we play hard, uncompromising footy ... this is what pleases me the most.

Talk of extending Macca's contract are premature ... we need to see how 2014 plays out before doing so.

[Mofra]

Re: Pack your bags McCartney...

Talk of extending Macca's contract are premature ... we need to see how 2014 plays out before doing so.

Look at North Melbourne, 3 year deal to Brad Scott before the start of the season. Pulled the trigger far too early and a lot seems to be riding on their imporvement in 2014.