How Mr. Thomas can say that the new leadership group was introduced with "little or no buy-in" defies belief. The very process of implementing the group took into account a VOTE from the players on who they wanted to lead the club. Players, staff and key administrators were all pivotal in the selection of that group. Therefore to say that it happened without any "buy-in" is an absolute absurdity.

Grant - get your facts straight mate!

wow...just wow. how we stuffed this up again. FML...i give up!

Completely ridiculous comment..unbelievable really ,.. what credibility does Grant Thomas have to even offer a comment..FFS

Thomas was such a great coach, hang on he was [censored]. And he had a great list.

How Mr. Thomas can say that the new leadership group was introduced with "little or no buy-in" defies belief. The very process of implementing the group took into account a VOTE from the players on who they wanted to lead the club. Players, staff and key administrators were all pivotal in the selection of that group. Therefore to say that it happened without any "buy-in" is an absolute absurdity.

Grant - get your facts straight mate!

I don't recall the players had a vote in this as such. Didn't Neeld come out and say that he spoke to each and every player and sought their thoughts on the club and the leadership group. But I am pretty certain he made the call from that point on. (Obviously discussing with key administrators and coaching staff)

How Mr. Thomas can say that the new leadership group was introduced with "little or no buy-in" defies belief. The very process of implementing the group took into account a VOTE from the players on who they wanted to lead the club. Players, staff and key administrators were all pivotal in the selection of that group. Therefore to say that it happened without any "buy-in" is an absolute absurdity.

Grant - get your facts straight mate!

Little or no buy-in from the players who are allegedly fighting it...

Sounds plausible, but hard to say.

His comment on the new Leadership Group is just Wrong.

The playing list voted.

It matters not that Ocean Grove football club don't play in an elite league, you don't win 4 premierships in a row at any level if the players don't respect you. The Collingwood players had tremendous regard for Neeld and Pendlebury told my Brother just last week that Neeld would be fantastic at Melbourne.

There are so many people trying to make a living out of football these days that they swarm to the latest newsworthy topic and right now it's the performance of Melbourne on the weekend. The result will be dissected to within an inch of its life. The emotional turmoil of the Stynes funeral is one theory and Neeld's hard-line approach is another.

In my opinion Neeld is exactly what this timid club needs. Neeld made observations about the club very early. "They're a little more conversationalist over here", "They say, how will he or she react to that, etc.", or words to that effect. Like most things in life when you know you have to drastically change something there is a tendency to push too hard at the beginning in order to get the message across, or have the desired impact before pulling back a bit and finding that middle ground. If Neeld has been a little hard on some players I suspect he's taken the aforesaid approach. For me, it was the only approach.

Coach who failed to turn a high-quality list into a premiership side comments on a coach who has coached only one game.

How is this news?

At least we lost first round...Now people can adjust there expectations accordingly.

Mark Neeld cannot work miracles. But by round 6 we should have some idea of what Neeld has done in his time at the club.

Grant Thomas is no better than Aker with his comments. Can't believe he is on tv. What a joke.

At least we lost first round...Now people can adjust there expectations accordingly.

Mark Neeld cannot work miracles. But by round 6 we should have some idea of what Neeld has done in his time at the club.

Grant Thomas is no better than Aker with his comments. Can't believe he is on tv. What a joke.

I actually like Thomas on FC which is why i find this article so astounding...he knew the MFC needed a shake up. I heard him say it last year...his comments tonight will be worth disecting.

He may very well be the first coach to lose his players before he started

In that case I'm happy to give him even more time to axe the rubbish he inherited and build his own list. I'd rather lose the fringe ex-'stars' than the current leadership group.

Fit in or, err, rack off.

I'm sorry, and I'll accept the ban if it comes, but...

What a [censored] rabble.

By now we've surely figured out Thomas' game plan here. Release an opinion on Sunday/Monday to try and get some traction going to into Footy Classified on Monday night...otherwise how does he remain relevant?

Neeld was handed a rabble, and that was all before the events of the last ~month.

Sadly I think the rubbish, such as this from Thomas, is set to continue throughout the the season. Particularly around gauging each week's performance with being able to suitably honour Jimmy's memory.

If Neeld can see his way through the next ~6 months, and he will, he will be able to see off anything. From here on he, and henceforth the club, will be stronger.

Whenever I read or listen to Grant Thomas' comments, I am only reminded of what a shithouse coach he was.

Irrelevant knobend.

St Bede's have De La Salle Brothers, not Christian Brothers, so Thomas has obviously not spent to much time with them.

I have no respect for Thomas after hearing how he leaked Blights list of players that were not going to be part of the club going forward to the players in order to take his job.

Has Grant paid back his gambling debts yet?

Wow. I have not heard that before.

What a low act.

I refuse to believe to anyone would organise individual interviews for each non-indigenous player on the list, and then only interview the indigenous boys as a group. Perhaps interview everyone individually (both indigenous and non-indigenous) and also a separate meeting with all the indigenous boys on top of that for whatever reason. I am calling absolute [censored] on Grant Thomas on that. Nothing but sensationalist [censored] aimed at getting his name and his show in people's mind. I for one won't be watching Footy Classified, but will rather tune into On The Couch to listen to what Neeld himself has to say.

The allegation has been removed from Thomas' blog. No doubt because it is false.

He should apologise to Neeld.

I thought Neeld, when at Collingwood, was well known for his excellent player relationships.

The allegation has been removed from Thomas' blog. No doubt because it is false.

He should apologise to Neeld.

That doesn't suprise me. Disgusting journalism and should be held accountable for putting that [censored] out there.

Coach who failed to turn a high-quality list into a premiership side comments on a coach who has coached only one game.

How is this news?

+1+1 there

What a dismal failure as a coach, trying to drum up interest in his TV show.

I thought Neeld, when at Collingwood, was well known for his excellent player relationships.

I once met a St.Kilda player in a bar before Christmas in the 90's who played under Stan Alves, said he loved Stan when he was an assistant coach but now he was senior coach he was an absolute (2 words starting with but not the same) football coach. He hated him.

I'm sure Neeld is dealing with the old Ron Barassi thing of keeping the players that hate him away from the ones who are not sure. Can't please everyone.

I refuse to believe to anyone would organise individual interviews for each non-indigenous player on the list, and then only interview the indigenous boys as a group. Perhaps interview everyone individually (both indigenous and non-indigenous) and also a separate meeting with all the indigenous boys on top of that for whatever reason. I am calling absolute [censored] on Grant Thomas on that. Nothing but sensationalist [censored] aimed at getting his name and his show in people's mind. I for one won't be watching Footy Classified, but will rather tune into On The Couch to listen to what Neeld himself has to say.

Speculative BS, Grant. Do you have one scrap of evidence that he did this?? Almost libelous crap.

The first coach who may have lost the players before's he started? Poor old Bailey, he never lost the players in four years but they sure lost for him often enough to lose his job.

The allegation has been removed from Thomas' blog. No doubt because it is false.

He should apologise to Neeld.

If it didn't result in publicity for the fat tool, he should be sued!! Disgusting sensationalist crap.

I sure as hell hope that the likes of Jurrah, Bennell, Jetta, Lawrence, etc, even Sulky Aaron come out and refute this rubbish.

I highly doubt it's true, but there is the potential to overreact to it and cry racism. MFC has had a strong indigenous group for years and it is precisely that, a group. It's no secret they support each other, relate to each other and socialise with each other (not exclusively). I doubt meeting with Neeld one-on-one is the purpose of the exercise, or indeed the priveledge afforded to the non-indigenous. Rather, perhaps he thought he would get more out of the meeting if they were together. I seem to think Jurrah is more communicative when he's next to Davey - he's shy! Just a thought, but i highly doubt this is true at all.