Melbourne players celebrate after the AFL Round 18 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at the Gabba, Brisbane. Slattery Images
Having had their finals door shut on Sunday evening by a spirited Richmond comeback, Melbourne can now throw away any chance of mathematic possibilities and focus on what shapes as an important offseason for the Demons.
Coaching speculation has been written to death in these past weeks but it is important to remember that there is an entire football department which contributes to on-field success. Beyond the football department, the business operations of a club have a major impact on culture.
Fortunately for Melbourne, there is no shortage of finance at the club and they are operating more comfortably now than in the past courtesy of Jim Stynes, who has inspirationally led the club through debt demolition.
Having completed his third season at Melbourne as General Manager (List Management), Tim Harrington has been called upon to extend what began as a five year list management plan.
Harrington has returned excellent results, producing critical contract extensions from Max Gawn, Luke Tapscott and most importantly Jack Trengove. All are pivotal to the future of the Demons.
As impressive as Trengove’s four year extension is, it is Harrington’s commitment to his initial five-year plan that will see Tom Scully move to Greater Western Sydney. Scully is all but officially gone, partially due to Melbourne’s choice not to meet the offer off GWS.
Reportedly worth $1m a year, Harrington is the man who knows how much Melbourne value Scully.
Based on interim coach Todd Viney’s decision to only play Scully off half back rather than in the midfield, it could be assumed that Melbourne has conceded that Scully is not worth $1m per year and the money could be better spent within the salary cap.
As mentioned earlier, success doesn’t just come from the senior coach. Here are four things which should be addressed if Melbourne is serious about creating a winning culture capable of matching their potential.
1. Garry Lyon
Speculation has been rife with what he will do when his three month term ends and there are only two options. He must either stay away from the club or he must take on an official role.
It is his part time unofficial access to the Melbourne Football Club that contributed to the failure of Dean Bailey. When a new coach comes in, this cannot happen. By speaking with players at his convenience, it undermines the coaches within the club.
The other option of taking an official role at the club is more likely, because he is an integral member of the club who can articulate a vision for the future. Two options exist. He must either succeed Chris Connelly as General Manager of Football in a full time capacity or he must take control of the board and be appointed President of the club.
This would mean Jim Stynes standing aside to fight a more important cause. Lyon would perform the job on a part-time basis while still fulfilling but reducing his media commitments. James Brayshaw and Eddie McGuire do the exact same job at North Melbourne and Collingwood respectively.
2. Todd Viney
One of Gary Lyon and Jim Stynes’ best mates, Viney has done the club no harm as the caretaker coach. Having voiced his intentions not to apply for the senior job, Viney will still be at the club next year.
An astute thinker in the football community, Viney has built a reputation as one of the best assistants in the league following stints at Hawthorn and Adelaide.
Doubling up as General Manager (Player Development) as well as senior assistant coach, Viney is particularly close with the young players who are driving the club forward. He must continue this development role because he remains the key link following Dean Bailey’s departure.
Player development is often only watched on-field but he does plenty behind the scenes. Viney’s role sees him closely work with youngsters to produce professional mentalities intent of winning while promoting leadership.
This cannot be lost or changed. Whoever comes in as senior coach must keep Viney as his senior assistant.
3. The Captain
Brad Green will not captain the club to its next premiership but is too valuable of a leader to not have his playing contract renewed. Melbourne must not make the same mistake as they did with Cameron Bruce and James MacDonald.
Green does not need to kick bags every week to hold his spot in the team, but if he can chime in one or two goals a week, his leadership makes up for it.
It would be in the clubs interest for him to stand down at the end of the year to give a young captain an extra year of captaincy experience.
There are only two contenders and they are Jack Trengove, 19 and Jack Grimes, 22. Both are exceptional players and Grimes is currently in the leadership group but has only played a handful of games due to a season -ending foot injury.
Trengove has shown exceptional commitment to the club by resigning for four years, where a two or three year extension would have seen more money in his next contract.
On the field he is as courageous as any, and a genuine contested football winner. He will be 20 next year and the last player to be appointed so young was Wayne Carey at the tender age of 21.
4. Jack Watts
Watts is not the marking player he was expected to become. He has had what some would consider a successful year by accumulating possessions, but it may disappoint supporters that the possessions have been mostly won on the wing and in defence.
Although he is playing with more confidence than in his first two years, he continues to struggle with the expectations of him being a number one draft pick.
He made no effort to hide this on the weekend when he appeared on Before the Game. Opting to avoid any Nic Naitanui discussion, he was later asked how many goals he would kick against Richmond where he answered “I’ll kick two tomorrow.”
This is not what supporters want to be hearing and it illustrates the lack of confidence he has in himself to kick goals.
It may not have been realistic, but an answer of five or six would have been great just to show some energy in a rare public appearance from Watts.
Tall players take longer to develop but Watts now sits behind Nic Naitanui, Michael Hurley, Tyrone Vickery, Phil Davis, Jackson Trengove and Zac Clarke who were all drafted in the same year as him. Do not rule out Jack Watts being traded.
The only way Watts will establish confidence is if he can silence the critics by kicking goals. With inside 50 delivery set to drastically improve as the core of midfielders mature, Melbourne must make a call on the forward structure.
Melbourne players celebrate after the AFL Round 18 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at the Gabba, Brisbane. Slattery Images
Watts can either play as the key target or Melbourne must acquire a key marking forward. John Butcher is reportedly looking for a move back to Victoria but Melbourne has little trading currency and is too high on the ladder to land him in the pre-season draft.
A new senior coach appointment is inevitable but there are many other areas at the club which will take shape in the off-season. The time is approaching where Melbourne can be judged on their performance when early draft picks enter maturity.
Like him or not, Dean Bailey and Tim Harrington have positioned Melbourne beautifully for any incoming coach to take over and achieve success quickly.
DavidLetterman
Guest
Trade Jack Watts? Get stuffed! That's complete crap mate. He's shown enough to be put on par with NicNat and Hurley and is FAR ahead of the rest of those guys you named. The rest of your article is fair but nothing i haven't heard a thousand times before: Gary Lyon needs to become permanent or back right off, Brad Green's a rubbish captain and Scully's gone. VIney doesnt seem to have inspired this group a whole lot during his time as coach but i agree, as a tactician there's merit in the man and he should definitly stay on. WIth his knowledge of the group, he will be invaluable next year especially if new coach is a rookie.
Neon Light
Roar Rookie
The first three points were good. The last one though? Absolute shocker. Tyrone Vickery? Zac Clarke? Phil Davis? Jackson Trengove??????? You have got to be kidding me. Not that comparing him to others drafted in the same year will get you anywhere in terms of figuring out how good a player he is. It doesn't matter whether you were the first pick in the National or the last pick in the rookie draft, once you're in the AFL system you earn games on merit. I could give you plenty of reasons why Melbourne would be happy they took Jack Watts over Naitanui, but at the end of the day both clubs got fantastic, yet very different players. Watts has been arguably Melbourne's best on ground in at least three games this year, and has really elevated his game and come of age in 2011. When you're sitting at the ground watching him play, you realize just how classy and composed he is with the ball when others around him are turning it over on a regular basis. He very rarely makes a skill error by foot, and is getting caught in possession far less often than his first two years. In the Geelong game, he and Jordie McKenzie were the only Melbourne players who seemed to care. Watts is certainly becoming the player Melbourne supporters hoped he would be, and will only continue to improve as he puts on more muscle and becomes more experienced. As for your comment about Before the Game, well anyone who takes anything said on that program seriously loses all credibility in my books. When Sam Lane is your hard-hitting football analyst you know you're in trouble.
EveryDayMan
Guest
Yeah, have to agree with other commentators. Was enjoying the analysis until the Jack Watts part which is a very strange take on him and the year he is having. No way is Watts behind Davis, Trengove, Vickery and Clarke. And nor will he be traded. He's been one of the shining lights for the Dees this year and will probably finish Top 5 in the B&F. From your analysis, looks like you haven't watched too many of his games in 2011. The rest of it was good though. Green needs to stay on next year but shouldn't be Capt. I'd be concerned with going with Trengove this early in his career and would prefer to let him develop without the added pressure. Moloney for 2-3 years then would be my preference. And the Scully saga is wearing thin. Can't justify matching the GWS offer so if we lose him then so be it. But geez, there will be a lot of media people with egg on their face if it turns out he hasn't actually signed with them yet.
Amy
Guest
Is it just me.. or is that photo of Nathan Jones, James McDonald and Joel McDonald from LAST year's win over Brisbane? Also.. getting rid of Cameron Bruce was the best idea we had all last year. He didn't (and still doesn't) deserve a two year extension and now Hawthorn are lumped with an expensive benchwarmer. Getting rid of James McDonald was the worst thing we did in the same year. BUT it's time to move on. It's done, and there is no point continually dwelling on it; we need to move forward. And I agree with all the other commentors.. your analysis of Jack Watts is completely off. I am a little concerned that we'll continue to move him around the ground so he doesn't reach the full "key position" potential that he has. But he runs rings around the comparison players you named.
Geoff Carter
Guest
Dear sirs, Please do not let Brad Green go we all love Greene and we want to see him run out for the first match next year he inspires the players. Kind Regards Geoff Carter Melbourne follower since 1959
patricia
Guest
The last part about Jack Watts really spoiled your otherwise mediocre analysis of Melbourne deficiencies. Phil Davis has played 3 games this year and you say he's ahead of watts? How many Melbourne games have you watched this year?
I don't even...
Guest
Yeh, I guess. That's part of the parcel of being a number 1 pick, if he's good enough (which I personally think he is) his quality will come through. Just like Goddard being compared to Wells, just like Hodge barely firing a shot for four years while Judd and Ball hit the competition by storm.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Appreciate the feedback. Something Watts is forever going to have to deal with is being selected before NicNat. It is clearly something which should fall on the Melbourne Football department but the Australian media is ruthless when it comes to draft blunders (I'm not saying Watts is one). 'Before the Game' is no hard hitting program and obviously a show which revolves around humor, but simple small things like Mick Malloy parading around in that NicNat wig do little for Watts' confidence. He may brushed it aside but if I were him, I'd be thinking "Geez, can I come on a show without NicNat being raised?" We're not going to know how much of an affect this kind of media association will have on him but if history is anything to go by, it somewhat ruined Richard Tambling's career.
Johnno
Guest
Gary Lyon.
EricBloom
Roar Rookie
No chance Watts will be traded. That's a guarantee. Watts moving up the ground has been beneficial for him. Although he has not kicked goals or taken contested marks, he has been using the ball really well when he pushes up the ground. If the new coach pushes the Matthew Richardson model of a tall winger capable of running the game out like Watts can, he will still be able to prove his worth as a number one pick. Richo almost won a Brownlow doing it. Watts is not an issue. It's whats around him that is. Liam Jurrah is too small to hold the key forward post and you cannot expect him to go for hangers every time the ball gets pumped inside 50. I would really like to see Stefan Martin moved forward and play Max Gawn as the second ruckman. As Handles O Love said, good to see you not recommend Garry Lyon or Viney take over. The Dees need some successful experience and I don't think Garry has coached anything higher than his sons under 16 team.
I don't even...
Guest
Look, good on you for getting your opinion out there but some of that really needs to be given a second glance. Especially that stuff about Watts. Davis, Trengove, Vickery and Clarke are in no way, shape or form ahead of Watts. And to think Melbourne would consider trading him is quite a strange take on the matter. Watts has played at CHF for the majority of the year, his best games have been there ... as a marking forward. Now he doesn't have the size to be a Cloke yet but he has taken more contested marks this year than Josh Kennedy did last year... 2 years younger than Kennedy was as well. As for 'Before the game', why should he engage in comparisons with another player? Especially one who doesn't play the same position.. as for goals kicked compare him currently (20 years old) to Nick Reiwoldt as a 20 year old... the stats favor Watts in most areas. (2011 for Watts and 2002 for Reiwoldt, because as you should know Watts was taken a year young in the draft and was barely a part time AFL footballer in 2009) You really sound as though you have barely watched him all year to be brutally honest. I do like your opinion on Viney though, some good points made there and about Lyon. Some good points about Green, although I think Jones and Moloney should be the main contenders... Trengove is still a bit young.
oracle
Guest
Viney won't be going to Adelaide,as his son has been picked up by Melbourne under the father/son rule.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Mid way through the season, the AFL said Melbourne would receive the same compensation for Scully as Geelong did Gary Ablett. This would be a first round pick in the middle of the first round and another one directly after thier normal first round selection. This does not take into account Scully's form slump and inablility to overcome his knee injury. Right now, That compensation for Scully looks pretty good.
Handles O Love
Guest
Thanks Alfred. What is the status of the draft pick compensation if Scully goes? That will be a key for the future. I don't know where the best spot for Garry is, but am pleased you didn't suggest coaching! Ross Lyon maybe, but not Garry.
West Lakes Rick
Guest
Todd Viney to Adelaide? He spent two years there in a development role, knows the players and also had significant experience beyond Adelaide. Reports have said he did not make the shortlist but Neil Craig gave him a glowing endorsement. When Viney left the Crows, he still had one year left on his contract and Craig was apparently fuming that Melbourne poached him. It may just be a coincidence but the departure of Viney from Adelaide did coincide with the downfall of Craig.
Shaft
Guest
Tracking ok, until the Jack Watts madness - unintentionally hilarious! Seriously kid, do some research and even watch the bloke play before commenting. The ignorance was sublime.