I'm a bit bored, so I thought I'd set up a poll to try to gauge general feelings across Demons supporters.

I've asked some broad questions just to see what people think. I'm sure I haven't provided all the options/answers people would want or think. I'm mainly just interested to see what the main perceptions are.

I've also included possible answers which I can't actually imagine anyone picking, but they're just there for a complete spectrum.

Edited May 22, 201213 yr by titan_uranus

Interesting poll titan...well done.

Is this one those psychological tests ?

My "other" for the most disappointing:

the lack of understanding of where we are as a list by many supporters, leading to overexaggerations of our ineptitude and a general tension and despair among the supporter group.

Most disappointing for me is the continuing run of bad luck when it comes to the health of our players. We lost Sylvia to a random pre-season injury again. Jurrah plays one game and goes for at least a month with an ankle. Jetta is out for a sustained period with an ankle injury. Gys breaks his jaw (and Viney). And if the on-field incidents aren't enough, Williams has encephalitis and nearly dies. Add to this Evans with a bad back, Gawn's knee and Strauss' ongoing leg problems. These are the guys who would normally be stepping up and showing something, but they've hardly been on the park since they got to the club due to the constant bloody injuries.

I have never so worried about the future as l do now and l've been supporting since the day l was born, l saw the terrible 70's and early 80's but l've never seen it so bad

I have never been so positive about the future as I am now because I am seeing something occur at the club that I have never seen before ... the complete gutting of our marshmallow soft underbelly and a serious attempt to transform us into what we must become if we are ever to seriously challenge for a flag - a formidable, fighting unit that plays tough, defensive footy.

It's high stakes poker time and Mark Neeld, with the board and the co-captains behind him, has gone all-in. Bravo!

My "other" for the most disappointing:

the lack of understanding of where we are as a list by many supporters, leading to overexaggerations of our ineptitude and a general tension and despair among the supporter group.

Jose, did you honestly believe we were this bad heading into the season? From the grab Gerard Whateley played of Schwab on AFL 360 from just before the season opener, Cam certainly thought our playing list was in a much better shape than it is. I think the general consensus amongst fans was that we were somewhere between 10-13, which is more than fair I think.

Edited May 22, 201213 yr by Forest Demon

Jose, did you honestly believe we were this bad heading into the season? From the grab Gerard Whateley played of Schwab on AFL 360 from just before the season opener, Cam certainly thought our playing list was in a much better shape than it is. I think the general consensus amongst fans was that we were somewhere between 10-13, which is more than fair I think.

That consensus was formed on the basis that players such as the bloke listed as your 'favourite' would actually turn up to play and have some pride in the jumper.

I still don't think our list is that bad. The talent that was there hasn't disappeared, what we are seeing is a bunch of under 25s trying to win without any senior leaders on field putting in. Even gold coast and GWS have better on field leaders than us.

That is my single biggest disappointment; that players I love don't seem to care and don't seem to run hard both ways. Until now I thought it may have been the coaching, or the game plans or the "buddy buddy" mentality of our last two coaches, and maybe that was the root of the problem originally, but now I think it's just players thinking they are better than they are, and not being willing to put in the hard yards to improve themselves.

Edits: fix auto corrects.

Edited May 22, 201213 yr by deanox

That consensus was formed on the basis that players such as the bloke listed as your 'favourite' would actually turn up to play and have some pride in the jumper.

That favourite was listed a long time ago...you have inspired to go change it make it more 'current', manchild all the way from here on in.

If I can explain my "other", it's realising this list has an average footy IQ of a rutabaga.

I'm a bit bored, so I thought I'd set up a poll to try to gauge general feelings across Demons supporters.

I've asked some broad questions just to see what people think. I'm sure I haven't provided all the options/answers people would want or think. I'm mainly just interested to see what the main perceptions are.

I've also included possible answers which I can't actually imagine anyone picking, but they're just there for a complete spectrum.

A sound survey does not simply provide leading questions designed to generate the results you want. Why are the choices so generally negative? I wouldn't waste my time with this.

At this point in time I'm super optimistic. Neeld is doing what has been needed for a long, long time. When he's finished and the dust has settled, we'll be left with a playing group that wants to play for the red and the blue and we'll have supporters who have been brave enough to stay the course instead of reacting to every jerking knee that twitches uncontrallably.

Jose, did you honestly believe we were this bad heading into the season? From the grab Gerard Whateley played of Schwab on AFL 360 from just before the season opener, Cam certainly thought our playing list was in a much better shape than it is. I think the general consensus amongst fans was that we were somewhere between 10-13, which is more than fair I think.

"This bad" is subjective, and while our results aren't great, I don't think they accurately reflectthe state of the list.

They do in some ways, such as the horrendous dearth of capable senior experienced players, but they also are deceiving about the potential in our abundant youth, and how long it will take them to turn it around.

I have never so worried about the future as l do now and l've been supporting since the day l was born, l saw the terrible 70's and early 80's but l've never seen it so bad

I think that just indicates that since those times the media has become much better at setting an agenda and then bashing the general AFL public over the head with it, until you'd think there was nothing else.

Back then, it was a lot easier for supporters to maintain an interest and some perspective at the same time.

I'm not trying to insult you, but I think youve been sucked in by the media fear-mongers to an extent.

As many are.

Most disappointing for me is the continuing run of bad luck when it comes to the health of our players. We lost Sylvia to a random pre-season injury again. Jurrah plays one game and goes for at least a month with an ankle. Jetta is out for a sustained period with an ankle injury. Gys breaks his jaw (and Viney). And if the on-field incidents aren't enough, Williams has encephalitis and nearly dies. Add to this Evans with a bad back, Gawn's knee and Strauss' ongoing leg problems. These are the guys who would normally be stepping up and showing something, but they've hardly been on the park since they got to the club due to the constant bloody injuries.

Careful, you have actually given the subject some thought, we can't have that, I agree, we have certainly been having 'annus horribilis........there has been a myriad of reasons why we are where we are at the moment, fix them one at a time and we will go forward......

even if you pick one from above, Nev Jetta had not only built himself up and was feeling the benefits of another solid pre season, he was actually improving (coaching staff words not mine) and was looking at a change of role, then the ankle goes......

For some reason I think back to the Richmond team of 2010, people couldn't believe how bad they were for the first half of the season (so bad in fact I think one betting agency paid out on them winning the wooden spoon) but they rallied to win 4 on the trot at one stage and end up with 6 wins. Now I know it's not the greatest thing to look at but by the end of the season most "experts" were saying stuff like, "wow this Richmond team is amazing."

My point is we're enduring a very tough first half of the year but we may be surprised at where we end up at years end.

A sound survey does not simply provide leading questions designed to generate the results you want. Why are the choices so generally negative? I wouldn't waste my time with this.

At this point in time I'm super optimistic. Neeld is doing what has been needed for a long, long time. When he's finished and the dust has settled, we'll be left with a playing group that wants to play for the red and the blue and we'll have supporters who have been brave enough to stay the course instead of reacting to every jerking knee that twitches uncontrallably.

I'm not trying to generate scientific, statistically sound results. I'm trying to gauge feelings.

I tried not to write leading answers, I tried to provide possible positive answers, and I think I've done that. If you feel optimistic about the future, the option is there. There are options there to say either things aren't as bad as people think, or that we might actually be doing OK at the end of year. And I've got an entire question about positives.

If you don't like it, fine. But I disagree entirely with why you don't like it. So there. Hah.

I have never been so positive about the future as I am now because I am seeing something occur at the club that I have never seen before ... the complete gutting of our marshmallow soft underbelly and a serious attempt to transform us into what we must become if we are ever to seriously challenge for a flag - a formidable, fighting unit that plays tough, defensive footy.

It's high stakes poker time and Mark Neeld, with the board and the co-captains behind him, has gone all-in. Bravo!

So often in cases like this it's not the dismantler that reaps the benefit it's the one that follows after him. I hope if Neeld does instil a new culture/attitude in the club that he gets the reward for doing so.

So often in cases like this it's not the dismantler that reaps the benefit it's the one that follows after him. I hope if Neeld does instil a new culture/attitude in the club that he gets the reward for doing so.

I think he will. The turnaround can be quickened if we can secure some more suitable leaders, and if Misson can fatten some thighs and get the boys to become men.

I think he will. The turnaround can be quickened if we can secure some more suitable leaders, and if Misson can fatten some thighs and get the boys to become men.

I do not disagree with you rpfc

But there are a couple of big "if's" there.

I think he will. The turnaround can be quickened if we can secure some more suitable leaders, and if Misson can fatten some thighs and get the boys to become men.

The suitable leaders will be men who are up for the challenge of dragging this club out of the doldrums -salaries aside. The MFC has got to attract senior players with a thirst for the tough gig. They are few and far between but not all of them are the guns we think we need.

I'm quietly confident that some very delicate work is underway in the background to identify these men and that Neeld is over it like a rash.

The suitable leaders will be men who are up for the challenge of dragging this club out of the doldrums -salaries aside. The MFC has got to attract senior players with a thirst for the tough gig. They are few and far between but not all of them are the guns we think we need.

I'm quietly confident that some very delicate work is underway in the background to identify these men and that Neeld is over it like a rash.

I think he was over it back in October

Just look at the recruits since he came on board

With the exception of a couple of early draft picks they are all older seasoned bodies.

And may there be more of it.

Nev Jetta had not only built himself up and was feeling the benefits of another solid pre season, he was actually improving (coaching staff words not mine) and was looking at a change of role, then the ankle goes......

Oddly enough I really like Nev as a player. I think he suits Neelds style perfectly. He's got a real competitive side to his game and loves contested ball, and he can kick a running goal from 50. He lacks a little pace admittedly, but I could see him slotting into the team under Neeld and doing well switching through the middle and half forward. The ankle was a real blow to his chances to step up and cement a spot in the side.

I think he will. The turnaround can be quickened if we can secure some more suitable leaders, and if Misson can fatten some thighs and get the boys to become men.

If Misson can implement as much change for the positive as the "weapon" has extracted and transformed players at Essendon, I'll be very pleased.

That's why they're on the big bucks...