Definitive List 12: The most stupid decisions....

[piesaregreat]

1 Carlton recruiting Stephan O' Reilly
2 Carlton salary Cap cheating
3 Brisbane Crazy Vossy and Fev
4 Richmond Terry Wallets five year plan
5 Freo's recruiting and trading policies
6 Essendon keeping Sheedy as coach for the last three years
7 Carlton appointing criminals as Presidents
8 AFL pretending tanking doesn't occur
9 Richmond most administrations decisions over past 30 years
10 St Kilda most administrations decisions over past 30 years

 

[GhostofJimJess]

The player they took before him has hardly proven to be a mug.

In fact, he was their best and most consistent performer in those three finals series.

It's no secret that the key missing ingredient for the Bulldogs over the last 8 years has been a key forward. Hell, they had to drag Hall from beyond retirement just to try something. Anyone who saw their two losing preliminary finals will testify that they would take the big imposing frame of Franklin as a forward target ahead of the outside running of Griffin any September day.

 

[lihei]

So? It is close to the City and public transport, had good amenities. It could have been used for matches involving lesser light interstate teams.

I guess if the exclusive Kardina Park can still operate then Princess Park shoud as well.

 

[lihei]

1 Carlton recruiting Stephan O' Reilly
2 Carlton salary Cap cheating
3 Brisbane Crazy Vossy and Fev
4 Richmond Terry Wallets five year plan
5 Freo's recruiting and trading policies
6 Essendon keeping Sheedy as coach for the last three years
7 Carlton appointing criminals as Presidents
8 AFL pretending tanking doesn't occur
9 Richmond most administrations decisions over past 30 years
10 St Kilda most administrations decisions over past 30 years

I would call points 2 & 7 deliberate acts.

 

[Scodog10]

12. Melb tanking the Scully Cup vs Richmond, had they won would of ended up with Trengove and Martin.

How

Had they won that match they'd have won 5 matches for the season and finished 15th. Because the PP were awarded for consecutive seasons of 4 wins or less they would have finished up with just pick 2 and taken Trengove.

So in other words they'd be in the same position as they are now except without the Scully compensation picks.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

So? It is close to the City and public transport, had good amenities. It could have been used for matches involving lesser light interstate teams.

Is a good half an hour walk from the nearest train station (not including parkville which never seems to run) has one team line which is overcrowded at the best of times

Little-to-no parking, went to hawthorn vs wce PRE-season and there was no room for parking

Average amenities

Horrible seating (the northern side you have to be 20ft tall to see over the person infront, and city side you need a safety harness and oxygen mask)

 

[Topper Harley]

I guess if the exclusive Kardina Park can still operate then Princess Park shoud as well.

Not a great comparison, because Geelong is not simply a suburb of Melbourne.

 

[Dan26]

I have number 1.

Melbourne's decision to sack Norm Smith.
Norm Smith was named as coach of the century in the VFL/AFL's hundred year celebratory year of 1996. He had coached Melbourne to 6 premierships in his previous 10 completed seasons as coach, with the last of those premierships coming in 1964. He was sacked in 1965 after winning their first 8 games of 1965.

After sacking him, Melbourne realised the monumental mistake it had made and reinstated him, but the damage was done. Melbourne was never the same.

Up until his sacking, Melbourne was the second most popular club in the AFL behind Collingwood. It had won 12 premierships (one behind the Pies) were the one tenant at the MCG and one of the "big" clubs in the VFL.

Melbourne went 8-0 in the first 8 games of 1965 before his sacking. After his sacking, the following happened:

- The Demons won only one more game for the rest of 1965 and missed the finals for the first time in eleven years.

- The Demons wouldn't even make the finals again until 1987.

- Melbourne still hasn't won another premiership, the drought extending to 48 years in 2012 and showing no sings of ending.

- Melbourne has won 7 wooden spoons since 1964

- Melbourne's status as the only MCG team has been eroded. In fact, Richmond moved to the MCG in 1965.

- Melbourne's supporter base is now the smallest of the 10 Victorian based clubs, with hardly any young fans.

Melbourne's decison to sack Norm Smith seemed to culturally ruin the club, preventing them from having the initiative, drive and belief to go back to what made them great.

Quite simply, the worst decision a club has made in Australian Football history.

 

[The Passenger]

must admit i never knew he was sacked on the back of such a succesful period. why??

EDIT: just reading on wiki, the move off Barass to Carlton had a bit about it. seems to me smith blamed the board, while they blamed him...

 

[Jentleman Geff]

Idiot toffs running the MFC. Smith wasn't their kind.

 

[The Passenger]

Idiot toffs running the MFC. Smith wasn't their kind.

that doesn't make sense given he had been there for so long prior.

i can't imagine after 15 years they decided one day he wasn't their kind.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

At least they had the initiative to play there in the first place. What has the Bulldogs administration done of note other than something stupid like killing off the clubs traditional name?

They tried to do a big week with games in Darwin on consecutive weekends, with the idea of running plenty of clinics, etc, a few years back. The AFL knocked it on the head and would not schedule the games that way. That could have been a great thing for the NT to have every year, and for the Bulldogs, had it been allowed to go ahead.

 

[Glenno23]

Fremantle's 10 stupid decisions
1. Going in the AFL with very limited and restrict player recruiting rules.
2. Only six months to start up a team
3. WA Commission putting in little resources
4. Selecting Neesham over Matthews
5. Neesham made coach and recruiting manager
6. Selecting 4 colors for the jumper
7. Trading History - too many to mention
8. Recruiting History - only lately we have been ok
9. Selecting Connelly over Worsfold
10. Giving Connelly another two years

Can't squeeze in trading Andy McLeod for Chris Groom?

 

[Jentleman Geff]

that doesn't make sense given he had been there for so long prior.

i can't imagine after 15 years they decided one day he wasn't their kind.

He'd initially applied for the job as coach in the 40s. Was told no and went and captain/coached Fitzroy.

Melbourne was the club of old money and he was the son of iron monger from the northern suburbs (then pretty down trodden areas). The relationship between him and the board was never easy.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

At the time the Hawk board here and elsewhere went into meltdown that we'd passed up Tambling. Some even called for Buckenara's sacking.

Richmond weren't the only club(recruiters and supporters) fooled.

A guy who is a substitute teacher at my former school and played two games for the Hawks, Brendon McFaull, was one of the Hawks WA recruiters and told them not to get buddy, haha not surprisingly he was released fromt eh club and is a substitute sport teacher now...

 

[Ron The Bear]

Collingwood axing Malthouse for Buckley. Too early?

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Fremantle passing up Matthew Lloyd.

 

[Andrew Mc]

Buckley's decision to leave Brisbane for a better chance at a flag would have to rate up there.

 

[Sttew]

I have number 1.

Melbourne's decision to sack Norm Smith.
Norm Smith was named as coach of the century in the VFL/AFL's hundred year celebratory year of 1996. He had coached Melbourne to 6 premierships in his previous 10 completed seasons as coach, with the last of those premierships coming in 1964. He was sacked in 1965 after winning their first 8 games of 1965.

After sacking him, Melbourne realised the monumental mistake it had made and reinstated him, but the damage was done. Melbourne was never the same.

Up until his sacking, Melbourne was the second most popular club in the AFL behind Collingwood. It had won 12 premierships (one behind the Pies) were the one tenant at the MCG and one of the "big" clubs in the VFL.

Melbourne went 8-0 in the first 8 games of 1965 before his sacking. After his sacking, the following happened:

- The Demons won only one more game for the rest of 1965 and missed the finals for the first time in eleven years.

- The Demons wouldn't even make the finals again until 1987.

- Melbourne still hasn't won another premiership, the drought extending to 48 years in 2012 and showing no sings of ending.

- Melbourne has won 7 wooden spoons since 1964

- Melbourne's status as the only MCG team has been eroded. In fact, Richmond moved to the MCG in 1965.

- Melbourne's supporter base is now the smallest of the 10 Victorian based clubs, with hardly any young fans.

Melbourne's decison to sack Norm Smith seemed to culturally ruin the club, preventing them from having the initiative, drive and belief to go back to what made them great.

Quite simply, the worst decision a club has made in Australian Football history.

This maybe a No.1 of all time, but not the modern era. I bet you're one of those guys who failed an exam at school because you didn't read the question? The thread is about stupid decisions since the AFL was established in 1990....