http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/135722/default.aspx

I was flogged by some after the Geelong game for having a go at Watts for laughing in hysterics when his team was down by 10 goals. This isn't the first time its happened. Has happened quite a few times over the years.

Be interesting to know what Neeld thought of it and whether he had words with the players in question...

http://www.afl.com.a...22/default.aspx

I was flogged by some after the Geelong game for having a go at Watts for laughing in hysterics when his team was down by 10 goals. This isn't the first time its happened. Has happened quite a few times over the years.

It's still a non-issue.

The media are whipping it into one because people like yourself lap it up.

It's still a non-issue.

The media are whipping it into one because people like yourself lap it up.

+1

massive issue in my opinion, shows exactly where the clubs culture is at in a nutshell.

massive issue in my opinion, shows exactly where the clubs culture is at in a nutshell.

+1

massive issue in my opinion, shows exactly where the clubs culture is at in a nutshell.

It's funny: I don't recall Jim Stynes being roundly criticised when he would have a laugh and warmly chat to people in the crowd, when we were getting belted at times in '07, '08, '09, etc...

I don't believe for a second that the players don't abhor losing.

I also don't demand that their lives are lived in stony-faced misery because we're not where we want to be yet.

Too many people focus on the minutiae.

massive issue in my opinion, shows exactly where the clubs culture is at in a nutshell.

+2

Can you think of any other performance organisation in the world where laughing and having a good time whilst your organisation flounders is a good look?

+2

Can you think of any other performance organisation in the world where laughing and having a good time whilst your organisation flounders is a good look?

In a word No

massive issue in my opinion, shows exactly where the clubs culture is at in a nutshell.

For it to happen two weeks in a row is not a good look. I can guarantee if the camera was pointed at me at any stage during the game I would not be smiling or joking around.

If I were on the team I might even take a notebook to try and work out why we are so bloody terrible.

I don't think the majority of the players actually give a shyte to be honest and that's what really really annoys the c rap out of me. These guys are ruining the team (in the short and long term) before our very eyes every single week - it is not acceptable at all.

It is absolutely an issue worth talking about and I'm staggered at some on here brushing it aside like it's nothing. It is a statement about where the players' heads are at.

It is absolutely an issue worth talking about and I'm staggered at some on here brushing it aside like it's nothing. It is a statement about where the players' heads are at.

The players have given up on the club. It is almost unbelievable that a long standing professional side is playing liike us at the moment.

Luke Darcy: unoriginal lightweight.

Coming from the peanut who spent the entire game calling Trengove 'Trengrove' and once called for a torp goal to be worth 9 I refuse to take any notice of anything he says.

A bunch of blah, blah, blah. Must be a slow news day.

"This is one of my all-time pet hates," Darcy said.

Funny, one of mine is anything that comes out of Darcy's mouth.

I actually think what Darcy said was quite good. I'd love fot the players to be (or at least seem like they are) hurting as much as us supporters.

Maybe if they started paying for the club (like we do) instead of getting paid by the club then they'd be hurting a lot more/as much as us. Heheehe.

Two points:

1. Darcy is just looking for someone's opinion to repeat which he has done here.

2. Football is a passion sport. The members dont join for any reason other than emotional ones. So when they pay their hardearnmed for a side that is underperforming they want to see improvement, commitment or care.

Melbourne is regarded as a club that is soft and that lacks respect. That comes back to a lack of passion. And laughing and joking about or chatting with the opposition after a smashing kind of supports this view for mine.

Luke Darcy is the kind of commentator who says the kinds of things commentators say when they have nothing to say.

I have no real reaction to the 'Watts laughing crisis' (seriouly people) myself, but there is no doubting that some of the players feel like they don't have to do 100% of the things it means to be a top level footballer.

Having a few of those around undermines the will of others to give their share of 100%, in turn. People leave, or just go into the comfortable space.

It is fairly clear that what is going on with Neeld and the new panel is a demand for elite commitment, and that there is a psychological battle going on that, embarassingly, resembles a bunch of kids being told they have to clean their room or ea their vegetables, and going into a sulk about it. Pushing the greens around the plate. Which looks (and is) even less effective than the imperfect effort being put in beforehand.

Basicallly, Neeld is some kind of super-nanny character brought in to stare down the sooky problem children that are making the whole family miserable. We can only hope he delivers on that role.

Meanwhile, I think a lot of people aren't really convinced of the tactical plans being brought in. This is a separate issue but also a problematic one and th two interconnect. Any 'failure' by Neeld and the coaching panel gives the recalcitrant players a bit of space to say 'well, why should I do what he says'.

I do think we will see a few 'senior sooks' dumped at end of year. Hopefully for good trades under the mantra of 'they need a fresh start and a kick up the bum'. Which has the added benefit of being a true statement. Let's say we gain an extra second round and two extra third round picks in the process - we could be looking at as many as eight new kids coming in through the first three rounds of the draft. Never mind specific top picks, that 'charm' has worn off a bit for me.

And if we can grab a few 'high character + high performance' types in trade as well, it can really shift the club. Out with the sooks! (That might just be my new football mantra)

He only hates that it was shown on the telly.

Perhaps he should aim his barbs at the tv crew for picking it up. It's ridiculous to think that all players who don't play don't share in a joke during the good or bad times.

So the shots of the players laughing etc, is that shots that were taken hours earlier and are used for that moment, like a lot of the coaches going off their heads, Rocket and Bomber said on 360 that a lot of the time that is a shot of earlier and they play it after a mistake.

Can't trust the media.

Besides Darcy's opinion is worth less than skiddies on undies, the guy is a [censored].

Darcy would know a bit about losing.

I don't entirely disagree with what Darcy says, but by Christ I'm sick of the club being potted by everyone in the media constantly. Can't the wankers in the press find something else to write about? The other thing it does is cause keyboard warriors create endless threads on how [censored] we are on BigFooty. Yes we don't appear to be much good right now but what is the point of 100 journos each writing an article on it, other than feeling big and important by giving us another whack when we are already covered in bruises? Seriously, write about Essendon or Adelaide or whoever the latest team on the rise is.

I agree with Darcy.

It's the lingering pats'n'hugs and chatty-chat-chats with the opposition on the ground that sh1ts the supporters the most.

It's a bad look when you've just had your arze handed to you on a platter.

Anyone who saw it would it would realise it's a non-issue