FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Thursday, September 15, 2011

Herald Sun

Lethal ticks Dees’ boxes
By Mark Robinson

MELBOURNE has lost out on Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon, and is perhaps waiting for Mick Malthouse. While it waits, it should give Leigh Matthews a call. The AFL great has said he would never coach again, but they are only words, aren't they? The Demons reportedly have $1 million a year over three years - he is 59 after all - and surely that tickles the great man. So, what are the pros and cons? Tactically, Matthews would be accused of lacking modern-day strategies. He was accused of exactly that when his team pulverised the competition at the start of the decade. Matthews would not be hired for his tactics, four or five assistant coaches around him could handle that. It is the Sir Alex Ferguson theory. Matthews always has been and always will be a motivator.

Dees campaign a Scully-free zone
By Al Paton

TOM who? Melbourne has wasted no time moving on to life after Tom Scully, launching a 2012 membership campaign today that makes it easy to forget Scully was a key plank of the Demons' resurgence until three days ago. The campaign slogan is "Generation D" and lauds Melbourne's next wave of stars - a list Scully would have been at the top of until he jumped ship for Greater Western Sydney. Pointedly, the club says the campaign is "all about players and supporters who bleed red and blue". "The ‘Generation D’ campaign features many of the club’s emerging stars, such as Jack Watts, Liam Jurrah, James Frawley and Jack Trengove," the club announced.

The Age

McDonald reveling in Giant comeback
By AAP

FORMER Melbourne captain James McDonald is confident his body will hold up to the rigours of another AFL season when he returns to action in 2012 for Greater Western Sydney. McDonald will act as both a player and assistant coach for GWS in its maiden season. McDonald, who turns 35 next month, was keen to play on this year but didn't after being told he wasn't required at the Demons. GWS general manager of football Graeme Allan has convinced the 251-game veteran, who has been playing amateur football in Melbourne, to return to the highest level. ''I don't really know [how hard it will be],'' admitted McDonald. ''Fortunately, my body's pretty good. I didn't need any operations when I finished up at Melbourne and I don't carry much weight, so I think that will help.