Dean Bailey
Encyclopedia
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Essendon
, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club
, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide
.
and helped the club to their 2000 premiership.
He joined the Port Adelaide Football Club
in 2002 as an assistant coach, a position he held in their 2004 premiership season.
At the end of the 2007 season, he was appointed as the new senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club
for the 2008 season.
Season 2008 started badly for Bailey, the Demons losing their first six games by lopsided margins before winning its first match of the season against Fremantle
in round seven.
Things did not get better, as the Demons lost the next six games, however they won their second game in Round 14 against Brisbane
. Then they lost the next five games and won their third game in Round 20 against West Coast
. Melbourne Finished 16th (last) for the Wooden spoon at the end of the 2008 season with 3 wins and 19 losses.
The 2009 season started with three losses for the Demons before an inspiring and unexpected win by eight points against Richmond
in their round four clash at the MCG
. At the mid-way point of the 2009 season, the Demons sat last on the ladder with 1 win and 11 losses, but Bailey retained his commitment to youth and gaven many youngsters on Melbourne's list valuable experience over the first half of the year. Demons finished the 2009 season with 4 wins and 18 losses on the bottom of the ladder yet again.
The 2010 season began with a first round-loss to Hawthorn
by 56 points in which the playing group and Bailey were criticised in the media for their on-field performance. But the Demons bounced back in their second game of the season, losing to eventual premier Collingwood
by just one point. Round three saw the Demons chalk up their first victory of the season, a 16-point victory over the Adelaide Crows
. This was followed by big victories over Richmond and the Brisbane Lions
, the latter considered to be a major upset at that point of 2010, as the Lions were undefeated at the time, and fielded big name players including Brown and Fevola
.
Despite elevated expectations the Demons then went on to lose their next three games. A narrow victory over Port Adelaide in round 9 however gave fans something to celebrate. Again the club suffered several more losses following the win, as well as a nail biting draw to Collingwood in the annual Queens Birthday Clash. The club found some form again in the following weeks, beating Essendon in round 15, narrowly losing to Fremantle in round 16 (after a huge comeback) and winning again in round 17, thrashing 2005 premiers Sydney by 73 points. A 10-point win over struggling Brisbane
at the Gabba and then Richmond
at the MCG followed. Ultimately the Demons finished 12th on the ladder at season's end, a somewhat huge improvement from the past two seasons.
The 2011 season has seen the Demons experience great fluctuations in form. Starting the season with a draw against Sydney, the team was well beaten by Hawthorn in the second round, despite leading at half time. Consecutive victories followed, with a narrow win over the Brisbane Lions, and league newcomers Gold Coast by 90 points. Following a bye, the club suffered a 54 point defeat at the hands of West Coast, before bouncing back the following week, thrashing Adelaide by 96 points, recording their biggest ever victory against them. It was also their biggest win under Dean Bailey to date. Three losses followed, followed by a surprise victory over Essendon.
The traditional Queen's Birthday clash, which had been drawn the previous year, turned into a blow out with Collingwood winning by 88 points, the biggest margin in a Queen's Birthday clash to date. The Demons then went on to record another massive turnaround, recording their biggest ever victory over Fremantle, by 89 points the following week. This was followed up with a victory over . The next week saw Melbourne face the Western Bulldogs
at Etihad Stadium .It was a disappointing week for the demons as they lost by 64 points. Melbourne had the bye the following week, before yet another turnaround followed in a win over in Darwin. Unfortunately, a 54-point thrashing from followed.
Bailey has been credited for the way he rebuilt the club following the retirements of David Neitz
, Adem Yze
, Russell Robertson
, Jeff White
and Matthew Whelan
amongst others, and not condemned for his aforementioned dismal winning percentage during his tenure at Melbourne. Bailey had stated that he "did the right thing by the Melbourne Football Club" and took the club in a new direction by obtaining high draft picks used to recruit Jack Watts, Jack Trengove
and Tom Scully
. In addition it was revealed he deliberately played key players in different positions even if it meant that they "didn't try".
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player he became a development coach at the Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and helped the club to their 2000 premiership.
He joined the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in 2002 as an assistant coach, a position he held in their 2004 premiership season.
At the end of the 2007 season, he was appointed as the new senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
for the 2008 season.
Season 2008 started badly for Bailey, the Demons losing their first six games by lopsided margins before winning its first match of the season against Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in round seven.
Things did not get better, as the Demons lost the next six games, however they won their second game in Round 14 against Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. Then they lost the next five games and won their third game in Round 20 against West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. Melbourne Finished 16th (last) for the Wooden spoon at the end of the 2008 season with 3 wins and 19 losses.
The 2009 season started with three losses for the Demons before an inspiring and unexpected win by eight points against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in their round four clash at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. At the mid-way point of the 2009 season, the Demons sat last on the ladder with 1 win and 11 losses, but Bailey retained his commitment to youth and gaven many youngsters on Melbourne's list valuable experience over the first half of the year. Demons finished the 2009 season with 4 wins and 18 losses on the bottom of the ladder yet again.
The 2010 season began with a first round-loss to Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
by 56 points in which the playing group and Bailey were criticised in the media for their on-field performance. But the Demons bounced back in their second game of the season, losing to eventual premier Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
by just one point. Round three saw the Demons chalk up their first victory of the season, a 16-point victory over the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
. This was followed by big victories over Richmond and the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
, the latter considered to be a major upset at that point of 2010, as the Lions were undefeated at the time, and fielded big name players including Brown and Fevola
Brendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
.
Despite elevated expectations the Demons then went on to lose their next three games. A narrow victory over Port Adelaide in round 9 however gave fans something to celebrate. Again the club suffered several more losses following the win, as well as a nail biting draw to Collingwood in the annual Queens Birthday Clash. The club found some form again in the following weeks, beating Essendon in round 15, narrowly losing to Fremantle in round 16 (after a huge comeback) and winning again in round 17, thrashing 2005 premiers Sydney by 73 points. A 10-point win over struggling Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
at the Gabba and then Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
at the MCG followed. Ultimately the Demons finished 12th on the ladder at season's end, a somewhat huge improvement from the past two seasons.
The 2011 season has seen the Demons experience great fluctuations in form. Starting the season with a draw against Sydney, the team was well beaten by Hawthorn in the second round, despite leading at half time. Consecutive victories followed, with a narrow win over the Brisbane Lions, and league newcomers Gold Coast by 90 points. Following a bye, the club suffered a 54 point defeat at the hands of West Coast, before bouncing back the following week, thrashing Adelaide by 96 points, recording their biggest ever victory against them. It was also their biggest win under Dean Bailey to date. Three losses followed, followed by a surprise victory over Essendon.
The traditional Queen's Birthday clash, which had been drawn the previous year, turned into a blow out with Collingwood winning by 88 points, the biggest margin in a Queen's Birthday clash to date. The Demons then went on to record another massive turnaround, recording their biggest ever victory over Fremantle, by 89 points the following week. This was followed up with a victory over . The next week saw Melbourne face the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
at Etihad Stadium .It was a disappointing week for the demons as they lost by 64 points. Melbourne had the bye the following week, before yet another turnaround followed in a win over in Darwin. Unfortunately, a 54-point thrashing from followed.
Sacking
But the biggest blemish in his coaching career came in Round 19 against Geelong at Skilled Stadium. Melbourne were thrashed by Geelong by 186 points, the second greatest losing margin in VFL/AFL history. Geelong kicked 37.11 (233) to Melbourne's 7.5 (47). Bailey was sacked the day after the match against Geelong following a board meeting scheduled 24 hours after the final siren blew on one of the darkest days in Melbourne's recent history. He leaves the club with only 22 wins from 83 matches; a winning percentage of just over 25%.Bailey has been credited for the way he rebuilt the club following the retirements of David Neitz
David Neitz
David Neitz , nicknamed Neita, is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne player to achieve the 300-game milestone.Neitz was born in...
, Adem Yze
Adem Yze
Adem Yze is an Australian rules footballer of Albanian descent. He was educated at Galvin Park Secondary College in Werribee, Victoria...
, Russell Robertson
Russell Robertson
Russell "Robbo" Robertson is a professional Australian rules footballer, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club....
, Jeff White
Jeff White
Jeffrey Newman "Jeff" White is an Australian rules footballer who had a distinguished career in the Australian Football League spanning 14 years. He played most recently and notably for the Melbourne Football Club, following a move from the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 1997...
and Matthew Whelan
Matthew Whelan
Matthew Whelan is a former professional Australian rules football player.Wearing the number 45 jersey, Whelan was reliable defender/back pocket known by Demons fans simply as the "Wheels". He also earned the nickname "Wrecker" for his big hits and tough and uncompromisingly defensive style of...
amongst others, and not condemned for his aforementioned dismal winning percentage during his tenure at Melbourne. Bailey had stated that he "did the right thing by the Melbourne Football Club" and took the club in a new direction by obtaining high draft picks used to recruit Jack Watts, Jack Trengove
Jack Trengove
Jack Trengove is an Australian rules footballer for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and Tom Scully
Tom Scully
Thomas "Tom" Scully is an Australian rules footballer, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League . He previously played for ....
. In addition it was revealed he deliberately played key players in different positions even if it meant that they "didn't try".