Leigh Brown to Melbourne

[dee-luded 2,959]

Paul Roos called Leigh Brown the worst AFL player to ever play 200 games and I don't disagree with him. Apart from being big he has next to no ability; is poor below his knees and doesn't specialise in any one area- he just roams all of them.

This is turn for me suggests 'no' as a coach.

Any player de-listed by the Kangaroos should not coach Melbourne Football Club.

Why confuse Skill or Elite talent with Effectiveness? He just seems to get things done?

[dee-luded 2,959]

So do I. Knows Neelds plan, knows how to get the best out of himself and plays a tough, hard and unsociable brand of football, which doesn't make him popular to the public but I think he's well regarded by his teammates. He's also done a bit of TAC coaching work. Also it's not like our backline are old, it's only really Rivers, Macdonald, Garland and Frawley who have probably played on him much. I'm sure he can earn the respect of those guys whilst working with our other defenders. Smart football brain, communication skills and work ethic are the important things, if he has them he'll probably do well.

Yep, and thats what I'd like to have over here @ Melbourne. Lose the sugar & spice.

[Lutz 76]

Paul Roos called Leigh Brown the worst AFL player to ever play 200 games and I don't disagree with him. Apart from being big he has next to no ability; is poor below his knees and doesn't specialise in any one area- he just roams all of them.

This is turn for me suggests 'no' as a coach.

Any player de-listed by the Kangaroos should not coach Melbourne Football Club.

Any player that can extract a 200 game career out of himself, along with a premiership medallion (or maybe even 2), all while having so many limitations and "next to no ability"... simply must have some sort of know-how and understanding of the game.

I recall the Collingwood game earlier this year when he threw himself at aerial contests in their forward line with abandon, and I swear his main intention was to injure Frawley.

Was reminiscent of blokes like the Scott brothers - uncompromising types willing to do what it takes to get the win.

They've made passable coaches.

I can't really think of a better candidate to be coach, based on that.

Better than a bloke like Judd, who excels because of his freakish athleticism and natural ability - you can't teach that to players.

[Nasher 33,617]

Any player that can extract a 200 game career out of himself, along with a premiership medallion (or maybe even 2), all while having so many limitations and "next to no ability"... simply must have some sort of know-how and understanding of the game. I recall the Collingwood game earlier this year when he threw himself at aerial contests in their forward line with abandon, and I swear his main intention was to injure Frawley. Was reminiscent of blokes like the Scott brothers - uncompromising types willing to do what it takes to get the win. They've made passable coaches. I can't really think of a better candidate to be coach, based on that. Better than a bloke like Judd, who excels because of his freakish athleticism and natural ability - you can't teach that to players.

Precisely. And anyway, if playing ability has any bearing on coaching ability then we'd better show Neeld the door after his forgettable 74 games at AFL level.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Precisely. And anyway, if playing ability has any bearing on coaching ability then we'd better show Neeld the door after his forgettable 74 games at AFL level.

There might be a slice of reason in this theory, why Melbourne hasn't won any flags since '64. Day. Lacking mongrel grit & guile. Jungle ways.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Hagdorn kiss of death - guaranteed not to happen now.

he actually was one adamant about TS going north...not nec the kiss of death at all.

[Nascent 9,320]

he actually was one adamant about TS going north...not nec the kiss of death at all.

He jumped on that bandwagon fairly late though. Here is an article from March.

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/03/04/scully-to-stay-put/

"In fact, it is believed that GWS recruiting and list management head honchos Graeme Allan and Stephen Silvagni are already resigned to having missed any chance of luring the brilliant Scully to the Giants for their debut AFL season next year."

[Supermercado 2,802]

he actually was one adamant about TS going north...not nec the kiss of death at all.

Wow, he got a 50/50 guess right. Hold the presses.

[Trengove the Magnifique 9 23]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/124548/default.aspx

Looks like we've locked up Leeroy boys. Thoughts?

[Watt and Howe? 16]

loving this.

[praha 11,253]

Beat me to it.

Not bad I guess. He has been in training as a coach for a while, right? Didn't he flag his interest in entering coaching a few years ago?

Anyway, I embrace the appointment of a proven and successful premiership players. Collingwood is the benchmark. We've nabbed two very influential individuals from a premiership-winning team of players and coaches. Good times!

[The Great One 99 125]

At first I thought that he was coming to play. No thanks. But I imagine that MN must have seen the way he relates with other players in regards to his coaching. Can only trust in MN, and assume he knows what he is doing.

[Lutz 76]

SEN just announces Leigh Brown as our new forward coach.

[Trengove the Magnifique 9 23]

Beat me to it.

Not bad I guess. He has been in training as a coach for a while, right? Didn't he flag his interest in entering coaching a few years ago?

Anyway, I embrace the appointment of a proven and successful premiership players. Collingwood is the benchmark. We've nabbed two very influential individuals from a premiership-winning team of players and coaches. Good times!

Thought I'd snaffle an exclusive! Saw it on the melbourne afl page of all places. I'm pretty stoked, he's a player that has made the absolute best of what he's got, a large amount of that would have to be reliant on a clever football mind. Chemistry with Neeldy as well, the 2011 off-season keeps producing!

[Dr. Gonzo 24,440]

Not unhappy with the appointment but thought he might have been one of the "assistant" line coaches rather than the forward line coach. The guy wasn't the most skilled or fittest player but eked out a very respectable career including a flag last year. You would expect this shows that he must have some level of footy IQ and no doubt Neeld will be well acquanted with him. Great also considering some posters indicating he was likely to head north (GWS? Brisbane?) meaning we may have pinched another of our FD from under the noses of another club.

Edited October 3, 2011 by Dr. Gonzo

[Striker475 696]

So all we need is a defensive development coach to work with Rawlings...

[Lutz 76]

Great acquisition.

If some of him can rub off on our talented players, they'll become champions.

Showed exactly the grunt and nous that many of our supporters long for.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,102]

Interesting choice, especially given that he is younger than a couple of our players. Still, if you could only say one thing about his game, you'd say he was hard. That's something our forwards need in spades (and the rest of the team). Is he the senior or junior forward coach?

[Deeoldfart 8,104]

Great pick-up IMO. Wouldn't be coming to Melbourne if Mark Neeld hadn't been impressed with what he's seen.

[Striker475 696]

Interesting choice, especially given that he is younger than a couple of our players. Still, if you could only say one thing about his game, you'd say he was hard. That's something our forwards need in spades (and the rest of the team). Is he the senior or junior forward coach?

He's younger than one, and if Brad Green can't man up and deal with it then he's got some serious problems.

[Slartibartfast 17,988]

Rather ironic really as Leigh was taken with pick 5 in 1999 by Freo, the pick we lost due to salary cap breaches.

[Deeoldfart 8,104]

..................................... Is he the senior or junior forward coach?

Senior Forward Coach with Slatterly as his deputy.

[Viney Vidi Vici 148]

read an interview after the grand final, and even then he was focussed on the breakdown of structures as the issue. He obviously recognises the importance of good structure, and has worked in a highly structured forward line. I'm confident he has his head screwed on tight and will do alright.

[JT9 104]

It seams that worse players always make the best coaches!!! But a few clubs were interested and clearly Neeld knows what hes like so overall very happy with this

[Old Man Rivers 326]

I heard Leeroy talk a few weeks back on SEN

I think it was "The Hour of Power" with Harf or something like that.

I started listening about 5 minutes in & didn't even know who it was speaking until the end of the interview.

He was very easy to listen too, was very well spoken & made alot of sense in evrything he discussed.

Seems very switched on & a great communicator.

Not to mention his hard arse attitude in Saturdays GF

This is another great appointment.