Exactly Redleg what would that have achieved - apart from embarrasing the Board and Cam. I think everyone is forgetting that we have put faith in the Board to get the Club back on track and that obviously includes dealing with whatever issues there were last year with Cam and FD. I personally want to believe that these issues have now been dealt with. If I know anything about Don is that he does not shirk the hard issues. Can we move on.

Who was asked not to ask questions about 2011. Our group certainly were not asked.

One question I would have liked to ask was what is happening with the medical department. (Thought of it after) I have subsequently learnt that the Club is in the middle of interviewing candidates.

I think Redleg had his sarcasm metre on high power.

I understand new doctors have been appointed.

My biggest question of the night is regarding an issue that no one has commented on which I find suprising, unless Ive misunderstood the explanation. THat is, Greg Healy's placement as CASUAL Football Director. Please correct me if im wrong but does this mean that the MFC, a club competing with sprting powerhouses for a premiership, has filled this absolutely critical postion with a Casual appointment. Why is this not bothering anyone.

Why is everyone over the moon about Healys appointment in a casual capacity. to me that is the biggest negative of the whole evening.

It has been brushed under the carpet. I am hoping i have misunderstood this and welcome any comments on this matter.

Could it be that he's filling a casual vacancy on the board?

Speaking of Healy, Im confused about the different roles and responsibilities that the following guys have?

Healey - Casual Football Director

Craig - Director of Sports Performance

Mahoney - football manager

Could it be that he's filling a casual vacancy on the board?

You have it third eye.

If there are vacancies the board has the right to fill them.

That is what happened.

Healey is not a "casual Director"

By the way with the resignation of big Jim last night there is still one vacancy on the board.

If Jim made a strong recovery the board could reappoint him not that I think that will happen.

I dont know, 3rd eye. hoping im mistaken with all this otherwise in my opinion its a half baked solution for a critical vacancy.

Totally agree- but as a member -one doesn't want to leave anAGM and feel as as flat as well. No inspiration at all and Neeld on the night was dismissive of his cororate responsibilities, didn't seem to take it seriously and was disappointing that he failed to be accountable by refusing to attribute broad goals to the clubs performance. I just hope the club has addressed this at inteview time.He let me feel as flat as a tack with his totally unprofessional conduct.I felt he actually degraded the club when he said he was given a list to reply to. I felt this was improper and not needed. He had the opportunity to sell us a worthwhile year ahead and FAILED DISMALLY.

Bailey always gave more inspiring speeches which were followed by us being rubbish. Couldn't care less how they present as long as they can coach - and that won't be clear until the season starts.

Speaking of Healy, Im confused about the different roles and responsibilities that the following guys have?

Healey - Casual Football Director

Craig - Director of Sports Performance

Mahoney - football manager

Craig is not a Board member

Healey is a board member he was elected as the result of there being an unfilled spot on the board through the "casual" process.

Bailey always gave more inspiring speeches which were followed by us being rubbish. Couldn't care less how they present as long as they can coach - and that won't be clear until the season starts.

I totally agree with that. i dont understand the fascination with Churchillian speeches and captains needing impeccable media skills. lets just win some ****ing games of footy first then we can worry about the fairy floss. this is the AFL , not X-Factor

I dont know, 3rd eye. hoping im mistaken with all this otherwise in my opinion its a half baked solution for a critical vacancy.

Munga check my other comments

Craig is not a Board member

Healey is a board member he was elected as the result of there being an unfilled spot on the board through the "casual" process.

Thanks for the explanation old dee.

I agree toptally that this AGM was the flatest, most dullest AGM I can remember as a member for many years.My father thought it was actually pathetic. Mark Neeld's presentation was the worst speech or personal introduction we had ever heard.He was not prepared,could not sell himself,just pathetic. Needs to able to sell himself better than this, if he is ever going to sell himself to future members. Did not give us any feeling of future success. A shambles.

Actions, forget the words we have heard enough of that in the past. Neeld told it as it was, 18 clubs all working to be elite level in everything they do. I don't need to hear any of the "best pre season ever" rubbish. Let's just play football and the actions will show from the first bounce whether we are on the right track.

Of course it is not a matter of just tossing out the incumbents ..... they had already resigned.We voted them back into office !!.

It's not particularly logical to vote first and assess later.

Actually we did not vote them back in at all. If there is no other challengers then no vote is held. Ample of opportunity to assess.

I'll move on from here. I'll let you work out the logic

Bailey always gave more inspiring speeches which were followed by us being rubbish. Couldn't care less how they present as long as they can coach - and that won't be clear until the season starts.

Bailey was many things but he was no inspiring orator. Normally delivered the same message in a flat unemotional manner. Never found him inspiring.

I didn't know Santana's name was George, I thought it was Carlos.

Twin brothers. It's a little known fact that George actually covered for Carlos at Woodstock. When his G string broke and he couldn't play his instrument because he didn't have a replacement, he was booed off the stage.

It wasn't the first time that George had suffered such a mishap and he subsequently came up with that well known saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".

Yes, it's important that we remember our past mistakes and do what is necessary to ensure that they're not repeated. At the same time it's also wrong to obsess over the past and the message from the meeting was clear that the club's focus is firmly set on the future and that seems to have been the case for the last six months - so let's move on.

I'm just not clear on what people were expecting or wanting? A grilling at the AGM would have served what exactly? Maybe people could have got some things off their chests, but even if there had been a robust question/answer session, the most it would have shown was how good McLardy and co. were at dealing with a robust question/answer session.

If there'd been much sitting-on-hands since 186, maybe, but given the momentous and comprehensive changes that have taken place over the last months, you would have to say that the Board and club well and truly got the message. As the CEO put it, 2011 was a wake-up call.

BTW, the people criticising Neeld ... I wasn't there, but watched it on Video. There's a problem? He continues to impress me off-field.

All I can say to that is that a man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest. My views on looking forward and the past are in my post above.

I personally would be horrified if the board of my club was predominantly interested in looking back instead of forward. I think the club went from being a power to one of the competition's weak links in the first place by resting on its laurels and looking back at the triumphs of the 50s-60s. Now, of all times, we need to look forward and do so aggressively (subject to the George Santayana principle).

Maybe we should have done that nearly 50 years ago.It is 50 years in 2014 since we won a premiership and with the mickey mouse meeting, they called the AGM last night, we will have to wait another 50 years.

Why would the club want to delve into sensitive matters regarding the current CEO, and other widely reported issues between the FD and admin, with a strong media contingent present ? Why give them any more fodder to interpret past proceedings any way they see fit ? What happened happened. It's been dealt with extensively and we move on. The finances are solid and those that have been at the helm of poor on-field results have been shown the door.

As for Neeld ? If you're a supporter that needs to be cajoled, motivated, or appeased by stirring prognostications about the year ahead from someone that has just stepped through the door then you need your emotions tempered.

The list is in pretty good shape. If some genuine A graders and a star or two emerge then the future is bright. Even Neeld can't provide those certainties right now.

Didn't get there. But I am surprised some posters here seem to have expected some sort of Pentacostalist revial meeting. With the fire and brimstone, promise of salvation, hallelujah's, crowd whipped up into ecstasy and praise the lord etc. I always thought AGM's were supposed to be boring and a bit of a yawn. More to do with nuts and bolts issues and rubber stamping.

Maybe we should have done that nearly 50 years ago.It is 50 years in 2014 since we won a premiership and with the mickey mouse meeting, they called the AGM last night, we will have to wait another 50 years.

Seriously SavoyDee get over yourself, if you are feeling the club has no future because of the performance at the AGM then you need to reevaluate. In previous years we have talked ourselves up and done nothing on the field.

I think the club ethos since 186 is no more small talk we let our on field performances speak for the club. The changes since the end of the season give me greater expectation and faith in the club and the board then people leaving the AGM feeling flat. Anyone can talk BS and make the patrons walk out feeling warm and fuzzy but salesman are not what this clubs needs anymore we are no longer desperate, we are now financial, good facilities, young promising list, future young supporters in Caset catchment and now a footy department similar to that of other clubs. Our new members will now come from our on field improvement not from shallow words of a salesman with no substance.

By the way if you felt negative after last night we are not the finished article and there are still some ups and downs ahead before we become regular contenders. Have faith and enjoy the ride ahead on the dee-train

Yes, it's important that we remember our past mistakes and do what is necessary to ensure that they're not repeated. At the same time it's also wrong to obsess over the past and the message from the meeting was clear that the club's focus is firmly set on the future and that seems to have been the case for the last six months - so let's move on.

Ah yes - the reknowned Goldilocks Gambit!

I think Redleg had his sarcasm metre on high power.

I understand new doctors have been appointed.

My apologies I was reporting what I was told by someone in the FD.

Why would the club want to delve into sensitive matters regarding the current CEO, and other widely reported issues between the FD and admin, with a strong media contingent present ? Why give them any more fodder to interpret past proceedings any way they see fit ? What happened happened. It's been dealt with extensively and we move on. The finances are solid and those that have been at the helm of poor on-field results have been shown the door.

The club wouldn't want to delve into these things but some want a public bloodletting and think that sort of thing would be in the interests of the club.

What I read into Neelds speech was, "our actions will do the talking" and if that's correct, I'm comfortable and dare I say, a tad excited with where we're at.

Just watched Neeld's speech at the AGM on MFC.com and can't for the life of me understand some of the criticisms. I like the cut of his jib.

Just watched Neeld's speech at the AGM on MFC.com and can't for the life of me understand some of the criticisms. I like the cut of his jib.

Yeah I agree , Neeld was fine . Confident , straight forward , down to earth and got a few laughs . It's an AGM not the launch of Apollo 11 ! Plus of course , Jimmy Stynes had stepped down so obviously the mood may not be buoyant .

We'll find out soon enough whether Mark is a good coach or not . Performances in games is how Mark will be judged . So far he simply cannot be judged . Mark's biggest task will be motivating the players . I'm confident and hopeful that he will do so .

Cheers

What I read into Neelds speech was, "our actions will do the talking" and if that's correct, I'm comfortable and dare I say, a tad excited with where we're at.

And CS finished by saying "It heralds the next phase for the Melbourne Footy Club. And we also recognise that it is the stage where we want the scoreboard to be our judge."