Hi guys,

Long time reader and newly formed member here.

Lots of doom and gloom atm about our lack of class mids and etc etc but in my opinion we will soon be talking about Neeld as a top-line coach. He has said all the right things, given our team a game plan and was genuinely peeved in his presser after Hawthorn.

I liked it.

Have faith in the game plan. Last year we would have been bottom 5 in contested ball. Although only early days we can all see the style we will play & from memory are in the top 1 or 2 for contested ball in the preseason.

Whilst we lack some classy outside mids, our gameplan revolves around getting our hands on the ball first and pressure around the stoppage with the likes of Moloney, McKenzie, Sylvia, Jones etc.

Only 2 weeks ago in Q1 v the pies it was our second string mids v Jolly, Pendles, Swan, Ball & Thomas. At qtr time the clearances were 11-5 our way.

If we can be in the top 5 for contested ball we will have a great year. It's easy to forget that all throughout the summer we have been trained and drilled into kicking long down the line, at worst create a stoppage/boundary throw in in order to reset & reload.

Do you think Mark Neeld cares that throughout the whole NAB series it's been an opposition free kick? We forget this quickly. Come the season proper we will see our gameplan thrive.

Lets give it time, but lets be excited about this year. I certainly am!

Agree with the post, retched at the title.

#tweetlikeademon

Hi guys,

Long time reader and newly formed member here.

Lots of doom and gloom atm about our lack of class mids and etc etc but in my opinion we will soon be talking about Neeld as a top-line coach. He has said all the right things, given our team a game plan and was genuinely peeved in his presser after Hawthorn.

I liked it.

Have faith in the game plan. Last year we would have been bottom 5 in contested ball. Although only early days we can all see the style we will play & from memory are in the top 1 or 2 for contested ball in the preseason.

Whilst we lack some classy outside mids, our gameplan revolves around getting our hands on the ball first and pressure around the stoppage with the likes of Moloney, McKenzie, Sylvia, Jones etc.

Only 2 weeks ago in Q1 v the pies it was our second string mids v Jolly, Pendles, Swan, Ball & Thomas. At qtr time the clearances were 11-5 our way.

If we can be in the top 5 for contested ball we will have a great year. It's easy to forget that all throughout the summer we have been trained and drilled into kicking long down the line, at worst create a stoppage/boundary throw in in order to reset & reload.

Do you think Mark Neeld cares that throughout the whole NAB series it's been an opposition free kick? We forget this quickly. Come the season proper we will see our gameplan thrive.

Lets give it time, but lets be excited about this year. I certainly am!

I hope your right, But, I would like to think he will be a Top Head Coach, more than a top-Line coach...

Happy St Pats day to all on Saturday...

Hi guys,

Long time reader and newly formed member here.

Lots of doom and gloom atm about our lack of class mids and etc etc but in my opinion we will soon be talking about Neeld as a top-line coach. He has said all the right things, given our team a game plan and was genuinely peeved in his presser after Hawthorn.

I liked it.

Have faith in the game plan. Last year we would have been bottom 5 in contested ball. Although only early days we can all see the style we will play & from memory are in the top 1 or 2 for contested ball in the preseason.

Whilst we lack some classy outside mids, our gameplan revolves around getting our hands on the ball first and pressure around the stoppage with the likes of Moloney, McKenzie, Sylvia, Jones etc.

Only 2 weeks ago in Q1 v the pies it was our second string mids v Jolly, Pendles, Swan, Ball & Thomas. At qtr time the clearances were 11-5 our way.

If we can be in the top 5 for contested ball we will have a great year. It's easy to forget that all throughout the summer we have been trained and drilled into kicking long down the line, at worst create a stoppage/boundary throw in in order to reset & reload.

Do you think Mark Neeld cares that throughout the whole NAB series it's been an opposition free kick? We forget this quickly. Come the season proper we will see our gameplan thrive.

Lets give it time, but lets be excited about this year. I certainly am!

Great stuff. Welcome to Demonland hope you can help change the negativity round here. You sound like the glass is half full type of person. Keep posting.

haha welcome,

i have honestly been turned off a number of topics by the overwhelming negativity prior to round 1!!!!!!

its is nice when some fresh air rolls in

to further emphasize my point...

In 2011 Melbourne were ranked 17th in contested ball.

It's no coincidence that the top 6 (Sydney, Collingwood, West Coast, Geelong, Carlton, Essendon) all went on to play finals.

Neeld has a direction and a plan.

I'm hoping and looking forward to seeing us win more of the contested ball, and I think that Magner will be a key part of this. That being said, many of our other players need to change their attitudes towards putting their heads over the ball if we want to play finals footy.

Positiveness of youth, good to see