Happy with Greaves appointment, the Falcons have been churning out quality player after quality player for years, let's get some of that!

Plus would have already worked with the likes of McKenzie, Davis, Cam Johnston (doubt he was there for Moloney) and Bartram (from Leopold), should make it easier to buy in.

To continue the teaching analogy, let's remember that the assistant coaches are working to a curriculum, but they're not writing the curriculum. Neeld is doing that. Royal was implementing Bailey's defensive vision last season and next season he'll be working out of Neeld's lesson book.

Of course top line assistants (like Neeld was) can contribute greatly to the development of a game plan but in Melbourne's present situation, where they'll largely be learning a new playing style, having an assistant who is a good teacher and communicator should suffice.

A salient poit that might be missed by some.. Neeld wil have his idea of how he wants us to play. The assistants are there to assist in this, not invent their own manifesto.

Happy with Greaves appointment, the Falcons have been churning out quality player after quality player for years, let's get some of that!

Plus would have already worked with the likes of McKenzie, Davis, Cam Johnston (doubt he was there for Moloney) and Bartram (from Leopold), should make it easier to buy in.

Greaves is a name synonymous with success in local footy in the Geelong area, but he has only been with the falcons for 2 years.

This means he'd be familiar with only guys like Taylor Adams and Devon Smith (to be drafted this year) or from last year Billie Smedts, Jayden Pitt, Jeremy Taylor and our own Troy Davis & Cam

Johnston.

Bartram is from Ocean Grove, and is too old, as is McKenzie.

Before that he was at Leopold, and encouraged Jai Bolton, who nominated for the draft & was taken by Collingwood as a massive smoky.

He played VFL with Geelong earlier in his career, and wouldve shared the field with Geelong's now star players.

He played in their VFL premiership sides that directly preceded their AFL success.

Edited September 21, 201113 yr by Lutz

Royal worked with the midfield 2001 - 2003. Our midfield then wasn't too bad. He couldn't do a worse job than West, or than what he did as defensive coach. I'm not happy with the situation, but if they really wanted him out they would have sacked him - the payout wouldn't have been that much.

Royal is contracted for another 2 years...payout not that much, hey ?

And 2003 for the record, was a very poor performing year.

We've got more coaches than the Greyhound Bus company . Everyone happy now?

More to come ?

To continue the teaching analogy, let's remember that the assistant coaches are working to a curriculum, but they're not writing the curriculum. Neeld is doing that. Royal was implementing Bailey's defensive vision last season and next season he'll be working out of Neeld's lesson book.

Of course top line assistants (like Neeld was) can contribute greatly to the development of a game plan but in Melbourne's present situation, where they'll largely be learning a new playing style, having an assistant who is a good teacher and communicator should suffice.

With Neeld and his expertise as midfield coach at Collingwood, overseeing Royal & Greaves, the midfield should be well looked after.

th Neeld and his expertise as midfield coach at Collingwood, overseeing Royal & Greaves, the midfield should be well looked after.

Agreed. Neeld will set the midfield strategy/agenda and Royal and Greaves job will just to execute it

Bartram is from Ocean Grove, and is too old, as is McKenzie.

Thanks for the insight, I was only a little off But I know he knew Bartram at Leopold.

I attended a Before the Bounce event that Royal spoke at and he left me nothing but unenthused. He stated that a key principle he had with our backs was to never leave them in a one on one contest, a player should always go and help out. That puzzled me considering I would back Frawley and Garland one out against most opponents. I then witnessed us give up 4 goals that day from having too many players up at the contest.

Interesting this, although reading all the other posts, it is fair to say that he will largely just be employing the midfield vision that Neeld has. That also may have something to do with the backline troubles this year, as it is fair to assume that he was just employing the backline vision that Bailey had, although probably with a little bit more leeway than I'd imagine Neeld will allow in his first years.

Given that Neeld was a midfield coach at Collingwood, I would expect Royal to be working to a pretty detailed outline provided by MN. I don't think too much could go wrong with that, no matter how hopeless a coach Royal is or is not.