RUMOURS

[Chook 14,988]

Everyone bitching on Jack Watts needs to remember his performance last week. Don't be the typical reactionary supporter, to whom only the last week's game is of any relevance. Jack Watts wasn't very good today, but he was good last week. Obviously there's potential there, and anyone hoping for a Watts delisting is clearly not worth listening to.

[saltbush13 1]

Everyone bitching on Jack Watts needs to remember his performance last week. Don't be the typical reactionary supporter, to whom only the last week's game is of any relevance. Jack Watts wasn't very good today, but he was good last week. Obviously there's potential there, and anyone hoping for a Watts delisting is clearly not worth listening to.

he is that lazy man, drop him for a few weeks and he might start to play like an AFL player.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

Everyone bitching on Jack Watts needs to remember his performance last week. Don't be the typical reactionary supporter, to whom only the last week's game is of any relevance. Jack Watts wasn't very good today, but he was good last week. Obviously there's potential there, and anyone hoping for a Watts delisting is clearly not worth listening to.

A number 1 draft pick who managed a 'benchmark' game that had no effect on the overall game other than a few passages of play. Im glad your satisfied with mediocrity but Ive had 34 years and after the last 6 years ive also had a gutfull... Honestly I think travis Johnstone had more impact on games while he was being derided.

I dont blame Watts - he has come into a side full of players used to getting games whether they perform or not, and no one who can hang their hat on success or the confidence of that success. Watts like most at melbourne has heard all the bad press and has let it become a self fulfilling prophecy in his mind.

Ive defended him for far too long as far as Im concerned. Number 1 draft picks usually show at least something occasionally to vindicate their selection. Im seeing players newer to the game and low selections breaking games open while Wattsie has a 'good game' by taking a mark or two.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Norm Smith's Curse

[Bobby McKenzie 2,321]

Melbourne demons.. wooden spoon 2012

Get real mate! No way.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

All i can think is that we need a hardnut player to come in and remind the other players that you can influence the culture of a club.

what would magner be feeling when he looks at most of our list? " Gee these blokes got drafted straight away and I didn't and look at the half hearted peanuts now" How embarassing that a 24 year old recruit is the nuts and bolts of our side already.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

who cares, we all know demons are a bunch of [censored]

how enlightening.

[Chook 14,988]

A number 1 draft pick who managed a 'benchmark' game that had no effect on the overall game other than a few passages of play. Im glad your satisfied with mediocrity but Ive had 34 years and after the last 6 years ive also had a gutfull...

Do you really think I'm satisfied with mediocrity? Four players played okay last week, and four this week. Jack Watts was one of them. Why consider delisting him when there's at least 26 players on our list who are performing worse than him.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Chook

[The D 0]

One last post for the night considering I am at a all time high on my post's count.....

What is our game plan?

(All I have seen is and please tell me I am wrong and lets be straight here all the players on the field have been working on this for the past 4 months)

Work on contested ball - yes

Use the boundary and not the corridor (assist with team not scoring against you freely should you lose the contest) - yes

Kick high and long into inside 50 to Mitch Clark (our only main target?) - yes

Thats it?

Spread and use that contested ball - no

Kick to a target - no

Kick outs effective to transfer play - no

Kick to a player inside 50 that has made a lead - no

Show some dare and run - no

Show some aggression to the ball and player - no and no (apart from mitch and james M at at times)A

Show some hunger for the contest - no

Get the ball into your inside 50 more than your opposition - no

Win one on one contests - no

Show pride in the MFC jumper - no

Have some fooking respect for its supporters/members and sponsors - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

D

[saltbush13 1]

Get real mate! No way.

yeah mate, they showed good promise today too....

[Chook 14,988]

who cares, we all know demons are a bunch of [censored]

I know of at least one demon who is a [censored].

Edited April 7, 2012 by Chook

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

I think Watts has a future but not on the wing and not in the forward 50.

[Dr. Gonzo 23,700]

Everyone bitching on Jack Watts needs to remember his performance last week. Don't be the typical reactionary supporter, to whom only the last week's game is of any relevance. Jack Watts wasn't very good today, but he was good last week. Obviously there's potential there, and anyone hoping for a Watts delisting is clearly not worth listening to.

He might have been "good" last week but it's all relative. The same deficiencies in his game last week (uncontested cheap possessions) are what led to him having a rubbish game today. Grow some balls Jack and put your head over the ball. I want to see him demand the footy instead of just hanging back for cheap touches and making himself second to the ball so he can lay a soft tackle (or more likely corral) the opposition instead of owning the ball himself and copping a whack. I don't hold much hope this will change he's a private schoolboy who was protected I the APS instead of playing TAC Cup.

[Biffen 12,812]

He might have been "good" last week but it's all relative. The same deficiencies in his game last week (uncontested cheap possessions) are what led to him having a rubbish game today. Grow some balls Jack and put your head over the ball. I want to see him demand the footy instead of just hanging back for cheap touches and making himself second to the ball so he can lay a soft tackle (or more likely corral) the opposition instead of owning the ball himself and copping a whack. I don't hold much hope this will change he's a private schoolboy who was protected I the APS instead of playing TAC Cup.

He played TAC cup and won the grand final off his own boot. Edited April 7, 2012 by Biffen

[Dr. Gonzo 23,700]

No that was the u18 state carnival TAC Cup is the under 18 comp (northern knights, eastern ranges, dandenong stingrays etc)

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

That is true (TAC Cup) But I cant see where that potential went. He honestly looked like he was crying as he left the field today. I think he is just lost - he doesnt seem to know where he fits in the game plan or what he is supposed to be doing - primarily because there is no leadership guiding him.

I dont think he will respond to more 'home truths' - send him on a holiday with Dermie overseas for a month to change his whole mind set. Remind him of how to be a champion.

[Guest Jackie]

I can guarantee that there are 20 or so suburban/ammo footballers running around right now in Victoria who would have it over half the players on our list for skill, toughness and heart. Jimmy Magner, BOG for us two weeks running, is proof of this.

I don't think there has ever been as big an assignment in football as the one Neeld faces right now.

I wish softness of the brain was a recognised diagnosable injury. The we could put quite a few on the LTIL and get some of these journrymen in who would die for the chance to play AFL.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Jackie

[Chook 14,988]

He might have been "good" last week but it's all relative. The same deficiencies in his game last week (uncontested cheap possessions) are what led to him having a rubbish game today. Grow some balls Jack and put your head over the ball. I want to see him demand the footy instead of just hanging back for cheap touches and making himself second to the ball so he can lay a soft tackle (or more likely corral) the opposition instead of owning the ball himself and copping a whack. I don't hold much hope this will change he's a private schoolboy who was protected I the APS instead of playing TAC Cup.

Look, I agree. But we have bigger concerns than Jack Watts at the moment. I suppose he has the most upside, so he's copping the most criticism. I understand that, but we need to focus on identifying the players who have no future at Melbourne. Jack Watts is not one of those players.

[Carlos Danger 380]

23-1 free kick count minutes into the 2nd half is unbalanced to say the least, enough to break most teams' backs. A few high tackles and obvious ones in the 23 but a lot of grey area decisions getting paid one way but not the other.

That's what annoys me a lot about the way this game has become, the grey area is bigger than ever and the umpires are more active than ever. I'd love to see the whistles get put away as much as possible and let the players control the outcome.

It's not an excuse for the result but I feel it did contribute to killing the contest early.

[Dr. Gonzo 23,700]

Look, I agree. But we have bigger concerns than Jack Watts at the moment. I suppose he has the most upside, so he's copping the most criticism. I understand that, but we need to focus on identifying the players who have no future at Melbourne. Jack Watts is not one of those players.

Yeah that's true it's just frustrating to see so much potential go to waste - I mean why waste our time on guys like Joel Mac or Green we know they're finished.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

goood mate, you should be promoted to head coach

There where many games under Daniher when there was no plan B where I thought I could have made a few decisions but neeld should get paid 'stress money' like danger money for taking on the hardest position in the AFL. Watch him go grey or bald in two seasons...

[daisycutter 29,312]

I've seen this a few times now and I call BS on this - how can you lose the players after one pre-season? If it is true then it is an indictment on the players and not the coach - the players have to go not the coach. What right do they think they have to complain or whinge about the coach when most of them have been rubbish their entire careers? The mindset that would require that train of thought is just astounding.

Or it could be the players are just soft lazy and rubbish. They were last year and it looks like nothing's changed.

I wasn't blaming Neeld necessarily, but it does seem the players aren't prepared to play for him

Why? I have no f...ing idea

the players just can't be that bad fcs

on form you would have to drop 3/4 of the list, but you just can't do that and recover

its crisis time and something has to be done

I am very worried for this club

[Maldonboy38 6,379]

Where do I start?

First, this is not about recruiting, development, coach appointments etc... Most of these things have been OK , with the exception of a few errors here and there.

Second, at the moment our boys are playing so similarly to Fitzroy mid 90's it is very scary. They had Roos, Pert, Lynch and a host of other great footballers but their confidence was shot, their enjoyment of the game was being sapped away, and they were no longer playing as a team. We have good players and some of them will be great players (Trengove, Howe, Frawley) but we play with no heart, no stand out leader, no confidence.

Third, at this stage it appears that Mark Neeld has a game plan that he believes in, but he cannot adapt during the game. Our midfield and forwards are playing without discipline, creativity or flair, let alone any defensive intent.

I feel horrible tonight. I am starting to use the "Fitzroy of the 90's" language for my beleoved Dees.

And to make it worse the older of my young boys was talking about Carlton tonight!!!!

Edited April 7, 2012 by Maldonboy38

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

Like I was saying - if the players think they can influence the coaching decisions and the club through putting in crappy performances then they arent the right players to stay at the club. if that is part of the culture, its the part that has to change.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

You know watching today it was almost like the Daniher years of kick it to Neitz no matter what mentality has returned. Just bomb it in and see what happens.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

Id love to sit down with Neale Daniher and Neil Craig right now with a six pack each to analyse where we are at.