An even keel - strong stuff

[Mono 455]

Link

This appears on the MFC club web site (and only there I think). Pretty strong stuff and presumably with Neeld's backing.

[Whispering_Jack 30,136]

I think there might be some changes for next week.

[old dee 23,791]

I think there might be some changes for next week.

Who could object?

But WJ what would expect them to say, they are one game into a 3 year contract.

I wonder what will be said on June 12 if we are zero and 10?

[Biffen 12,943]

I'm going to have to resign this one to Jimmys funeral draining the former leaders of energy.

Either that or there is a player revolt happening in the old LG .

Sorry to use the Stynes excuse for yesterday but it's all I can do to get to next week and stop knocking them .

[Arrow 1,257]

It's all well and good to write that stuff but for the last 3/4 of a decade this is all I've got. Words. The last sentence is the thig that frustrates me. How many times have I heard it'll take time but it's worth it. If we don't have the cattle make a gameplan that'll suit us not the one everyone else uses. I wasn't expecting the 8 this year but that performance is unacceptable.

[PartyTimeJohnny 537]

at least nobody is talking about Watts

[Bitter but optimistic 22,241]

It's all well and good to write that stuff but for the last 3/4 of a decade this is all I've got. Words. The last sentence is the thig that frustrates me. How many times have I heard it'll take time but it's worth it. If we don't have the cattle make a gameplan that'll suit us not the one everyone else uses. I wasn't expecting the 8 this year but that performance is unacceptable.

Correct we have heard this [censored] before. I especially like the " long journey" or ,it will take time, or, be patient, or, get games into the players. It's not "strong stuff" it is [censored]!

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

Exactly - words. Actions seem a lot harder.

[Waltham33 475]

I would have simply preferred a statement of – if you do not put your head over the ball and you do not defend, you do not play.

That is the bottom line for this squad – everything else will follow.

[Face Your Demons 175]

Love the bottom line

"The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL."

[Guest gidon]

Agree it's time for actions. Demon supporters have endured enough. Stop the PR crap and start showing us what tough, straight talking and elite means!! It begins this Thursday with selection!! If that is all is shown this coming week at least I can sleep knowing the coaches are backing up their words and up coming pain maybe worth it long term.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

I just want to see some passion and some effort. The rest will follow. But when you see blokes putting in half arsed efforts you wonder why you bother buying membership when they can bother playing with conviction.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,219]

The problem is you can drop players but who do you bring in? Just more under performers who then get a game without having to earn a senior spot. Rinse and repeat in a fortnight or months time.

The only players who really could come in to the side and make a difference are Petterd (deserves a spot), Sylvia (on his last chance and needs to earn it - not an automatic selection) & Jurrah (who knows if he'll ever play again).

It just feels like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic - the problem with our team is there is no competition for spots in the senior side. Players get games on reputation or just for the fact that there is nobody else - how can you expect there to be a competitive fire under them when they know all they have to do to get a game is turn up?

Edited April 1, 2012 by Dr. Gonzo

[Chook 15,013]

Who could object.

But WJ what would expect them to say, they are one game into a 3 year contract

I wonder what will be said on June 12 if we are zero and 10?

Happy birthday Chook?

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

The problem is you can drop players but who do you bring in? Just more under performers who then get a game without having to earn a senior spot. Rinse and repeat in a fortnight or months time.

The only players who really could come in to the side and make a difference are Petterd (deserves a spot), Sylvia (on his last chance and needs to earn it - not an automatic selection) & Jurrah (who knows if he'll ever play again).

It just feels like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic - the problem with our team is there is no competition for spots in the senior side. Players get games on reputation or just for the fact that there is nobody else - how can you expect there to be a competitive fire under them when they know all they have to do to get a game is turn up?

Let's just wait to see the "outs" next week first. Hopefully this earning a game because of reputation (lol) business is a thing of the past.

[Guest oldman emubitter]

i think it's a damning statement on baileys 4 year tenure.

where the f**k is nathan bourke these days, he needs a smack in the mouth

Edited April 1, 2012 by oldman emubitter

[Bluelegs 36]

It's on the main AFL website, I think it was taken from there.

[beelzebub 23,376]

Think Ill refrain from either castignation of resignation until I see the direction of retribution exercised on the team this coming week.

Im still numb..

[Knuckles 73]

"And Neeld is going to use those opportunities to assess performance with rigour. There is, he said, no way he will keep going down a similar path and putting blind faith in players."

Yet we are asked to put blind faith in the footy club.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,219]

Let's just wait to see the "outs" next week first. Hopefully this earning a game because of reputation (lol) business is a thing of the past.

I'm more interested in who the "ins" are.

You can drop whoever you want but what does it matter if you just replace them with the same guys who have been under-performing for years and haven't earnt their spot? If they bring Bennell or Dunn back in what is that going to prove? They were obviously left out this week for a reason will that suddenly change after one game?

[Mono 455]

It's on the main AFL website, I think it was taken from there.

Yes. it is now, but wasn't when I put the OP. You'd have to think the MFC bought into it.

As regards who do you bring in? Anybody who is fit and hasn't been tried yet this year - Pittard, Tapscott, Gysberts, Dunn, Couch, Fitzpatrick, Morton, Sellar, Bennell etc

Easy.

[praha 11,240]

I remember similar PR fluff around the time of Geelong 186.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I really hope people on here get a bit of a wake up call and realise that we have a really average list and have has an average FD over the past few years.

Neeld knows it. So do the rest of the coaches. If Neeld and Misson pretty much imply that we are light years away from becoming a strong and difficult team to play against, what do you think it says about Bailey and co?

If Neeld and Misson said our fitness levels weren't up to standard when they arrived, and that our training and attitude wasn't at an elite AFL level, what does that say about Bailey and co?

Does it mean that they simply had no idea about how a professional AFL football club should be run?

Does it mean that players, and especially our 25 yo + players have developed bad habits at training which leads to on-field performance?

Neeld has come from arguably the most professional and elite sporting club within the AFL. Misson has come from Sydney and St Kilda and has helped take both to Grand Finals.

Both would know. Both would know how far behind our players are. Both would know exactly where they need to get to. Wouldn't they?

I can't help but smell yet another clean out over the next two years with the possible recruitment of a few more recycled/mature age players along with some quality draft picks.

A top class recruiter with an outstanding history is what we need next.

Sorry demonlanders. We are in for a few more years of pain I reckon.

Edited April 1, 2012 by stevethemanjordan

[Choko 493]

I really hope people on here get a bit of a wake up call and realise that we have a really average list and have has an average FD over the past few years.

Neeld knows it. So do the rest of the coaches. If Neeld and Misson pretty much imply that we are light years away from becoming a strong and difficult team to play against, what do you think it says about Bailey and co?

If Neeld and Misson said our fitness levels weren't up to standard when they arrived, and that our training and attitude wasn't at an elite AFL level, what does that say about Bailey and co?

Does it mean that they simply had no idea about how a professional AFL football club should be run?

Does it mean that players, and especially our 25 yo + players have developed bad habits at training which leads to on-field performance?

Neeld has come from arguably the most professional and elite sporting club within the AFL. Misson has come from Sydney and St Kilda and has helped take both to Grand Finals.

Both would know. Both would know how far behind our players are. Both would know exactly where they need to get to. Wouldn't they?

I can't help but smell yet another clean out over the next two years with the possible recruitment of a few more recycled/mature age players along with some quality draft picks.

A top class recruiter with an outstanding history is what we need next.

Sorry demonlanders. We are in for a few more years of pain I reckon.

Excellent and accurate post. Sad.

[rjay 24,928]

I really hope people on here get a bit of a wake up call and realise that we have a really average list and have has an average FD over the past few years.

A top class recruiter with an outstanding history is what we need next.

My thought exactly, the up coming draft is vital to our future and if we don't get something sorted in the next couple of weeks then the admin are not doing their job. It doesn't matter who we run over, upset, p off, steam roll to get one...and Eddie we will look to get another team to play on Queens Birthday, sick of your condesending BS.