Managing expectation at the start of an AFL season can be a delicate process.
Whilst a club may inwardly be extremely confident, it also knows that everything needs to go right in order to be there at the MCG on the last Saturday in September – or in 2015, the first Saturday in October.
The problem is that the fans are abuzz as well. They demand success. They live for their team and their players. They dream of a premiership.
So what happens if a club comes out at the start of a season saying it believes it can win the flag.
Well we are about to find out because on Wednesday night in Melbourne Collingwood President Eddie Mcguire suggested the club could snatch an unlikely premiership during the season launch.
Eddie stated: “The fabled 1990 premiership team had an average age of 23 when we won that flag and in 2015 our average age of players is 23. So it’s never too early and it’s never too late.
“Don’t think about tomorrow. Season 2015 is fair and square on the agenda for us to do the best we possibly can.”
You have to admire Eddie’s confidence, and the ability to say things without worrying what others think. Many of us could take a leaf out of his book.
I’m not saying that coaches should take this course of action. With all due respect to Melbourne, but the chances of them winning the flag this season is remote at best, so Paul Roos would only look foolish if he did the same as Eddie.
But why not be more open about your club’s chances and aspirations. Coaches and players are far too safe and defensive when it comes to the media.
As a media trainer for a number of years I have helped coaches and athletes prepare for a media interview. And it’s often a case of crafting grabs and sound bites that do not cause controversy.
But the more I think about it, the more I believe that big statements like Eddies, can work in your favour.
Sure, if the club fails to live up to their expectations then some may revisit Eddie’s remarks. But he wouldn’t care about that.
Today we are all talking about Collingwood. The club, the players, the fans and the sponsors would be loving it.
Boring bland statements are repeated constantly by sportspeople. But I’m coming around to the idea of being more bold, brave and even unpredictable.
The WWE does it brilliantly. One wrestler boasting he’s going to throw his opponent from one end of the ring to another.
I am not suggesting we go that far in the AFL but it has to be better than saying nothing.
“We are taking it one match at a time.”
“It was a great team effort.”
“We do not want to get too far ahead of ourselves.”
Please.
We can do better than that and if the players and coaches offer more, then the fans will be more engaged as well. That has to be a good thing.
James
Guest
Andy, Perth has the most delapidated run down ground in Australia. (great government foresight) The media are anti East Coast .Reminds me of the Kiwis infatuation with hating the Aussies, except Western Australia just Hates every other state. It has an inferiority complex.
Gecko
Guest
I think it depends on who's being interviewed. It's absolutely the CEO's or President's job to talk up the team. It's a bit like a politician making promises. We take it with a grain of salt. Mark, the players should stick to your advice about being low-key because too much media controversy can affect their game and/ or their relationship with team-mates. As an extreme example, Akermanis was constantly getting into trouble with his team-mates. Probably the coach should be realistic too because he's the one who most influences the players' expectations. I'm sure Roos and Buckley wouldn't be talking about a flag, though they should be telling the Dees and Pies to aim for a top-8 finish.
Mr Football
Roar Rookie
"We should all be more like Eddie and talk our teams up"Eddie is a media tyrant and gets bitter when things don't go his way or when no bandwagons with him .Maybe he needs to cut back on his LEMON in take.LOL.
TomC
Roar Guru
To be fair, very few people own dictionaries these days.
slane
Guest
That comment basically just proved to me that Don doesn't own a dictionary...
andyl12
Guest
Thanks Don, you didn't really need to tell me all that. I assume your answer to my question is 'No,' but I hope you've seen my point that many people in other states (including the media) have misconceptions about Melburnians and their football attitudes.
Don Freo
Guest
If the comments on The Roar are any indication, Perthites are the most informed fans and the most conversant about football issues. We even have TV!!! We are able to find out about Melbourne issues on the same day it happens...even earlier than you do. You find it out at 11am...we hear it at 9am. We are so advanced... We do sadly, however, have those who stumble with 'tall poppy' syndrome just like those over east who mindlessly target those whose profile makes them jealous...Eddy, James Brayshaw, James Hird, Michael Clarke... I can't stand the tall poppy stuff so I always look straight to what those people do that makes them so high profile. The answer is always that they are promoting their sport or their cause. If the knockers were anywhere near as creative, we would have an even better society. That's why I like to knock the knockers.
TomC
Roar Guru
Are you saying you don't want to get too far ahead of yourself, and you just want to take it one article at a time?
andyl12
Guest
Interesting Don. This may not be a Perth story, but in 2002 (when Collingwood had just reached a Grand Final and Hawthorn had had an underachieving season) I met an Adelaide Crows fan (on a flight from Perth to Adelaide) who learnt I was from Melbourne and asked who my footy team was. When I said Hawthorn he replied "Oh right, they're not so bad," and the way he said it made me think that Adelaiders just assumed all Melburnians were Collingwood fans and Eddie worshippers. Do many Perthites have these assumptions about Melburnians?
Mark Aiston
Roar Guru
Tom great to catch up. I actually thought my first seven words were really good. mate thanks for the reply .. I love forums because you get so many differing views and opinions .. My goal now is to write an article and to get you to read at least 8 words .. I'm on to it.
TomC
Roar Guru
'We just have a gentle, humble, non-parochial media. ' ...I see.
Josh
Expert
Would hate to be a player or coach at Collingwood and hear that Eddie is talking us up as a Premiership threat in 2015. It's just not a realistic suggestion and puts undue pressure and media scrutiny on the side.
Radelaide
Guest
Kochie says hello.
Don Freo
Guest
Have a look over West. Some wonderful administrators there. Two clubs never in the red, exploding membership and always developing facilities. We just have a gentle, humble, non-parochial media. BTW, I like and respect Eddie. He is a blessing to football and represents what the best supporters are all about.
Michael
Roar Rookie
I love how quickly people jump on the Eddie-bashing bandwagon. Every club wishes it had an Eddie McGuire. I think he is undoubtedly the most effective club president in the AFL. I agree with this article. Statements like his build hope, which sells memberships, generates advertising dollars, and gets his team into headlines. All of that directly feeds back into the club's bottom line, and eventually on-field success. Tired boring statements keep teams tired and boring. Presidents need to get excited about their teams. Though there are others who do it well - notably Kochie - Eddie is unquestionably the king.
AR
Guest
haha - indeed.
andyl12
Guest
I have heard some people argue that if other club presidents were as loud as Eddie, they might get their way as often as Eddie does. A dubious claim, of course. Ie. If the Western Bulldogs president cried out for an MCG fixture on Anzac Day, would he get it? And anyway, do all other presidents have such easy access to the media? On the other hand, there are times when Eddie says what most smart people are already thinking, such as his calls for Sydney's COLA to be abolished. Hopefully he also calls for the Swans' new rent assistance plan to be wound back- how any footballer can be on $299K a year and need help paying their rent is beyond me.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Oh Please, One Eddie McGuire is too much! Please lets not have an army of them running around.
TomC
Roar Guru
Sometimes on this site I get to a certain point in an article and then give up on it. In this case, I made it seven words into the headline.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Geez, if you hadn't noticed most pundits on this site only do that, talk their teams up. As far as players and coaches talking their teams up - it just opens them up to ridicule or labeling as arrogant. Everyone knows Eddie is an arrogant twerp, just like Jeff Kennett, John Elliott and other such CEO's / Presidents. It takes a lot of gumption to happily talk rubbish, especially when you don't have to step out onto the field to back up your words. Can you imagine a bloke going out to play just after he talked up his chances. Gives ammo to the opposition. As far as CEO's go - well they are there to be the showmen for their teams. Big mouths to ensure that their brand is on the back page of whatever rag is required. What I'd like is the opposite. Not the talking up of your team, but the realistic and honest commentary that sees a personality shine through. Anyone want to take the role of the Honeybadger in the AFL?