If I was coach

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I'm with you on Lucas Cook. Let's just throw him in (as we did with Watts when he began) and see how he goes. He's not injured, I've seen him in the VFL and he would add another tall target. If he's no good, sub him out and drop him but he might surprise with one or two goals. Plus getting games into him earlier will only help his reputation. Maybe Trengove out (but perhaps only for a week to revitalise) but Grimes stays in. Trengove's been well down on form but I still think Grimes is playing alright

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

-taggert to back flank, using him and watts as our outlets out of the backline, I just don't like grimes being one of our main rebound 50 players, I want him in the midfield! And if not taggert, move tapscott back there, he played well as a forward but the most important thing for a forward to do is hit the scoreboard and he didn't! I can see more value of him picking targets out of our back 50.

-trengove out of the guts into the forward line, play him so he runs up and back using his tank, also will give him more structure as he looks a little overwhelmed at the moment!

-Sylvia back in, I don't care he has been out of form, we aren't winning, and if we were to win he needs to play, so get games into his legs!

[Nasher 33,607]

Just out of pure boredom I thought I might give you some feedback as to why these ideas are absurd:

-Bring in Lucas Cook: I don't care what his form is like. We need something to look forward to and he can't be any worse than Watts

He's barely played, and struggled when he has. I know beating up on Watts is fashionable and he's got issues with the contest, but you're kidding if you think Cook can't be worse. He can, and would be worse.

- Petterd to half back

You're messing with an area of the ground that is working just to squeeze in a personal favourite. I've said a few times now that when our defenders are dealing with a reasonable level of pressure (as opposed to the outrageously unreasonable level we've seen recently), they'll look just fine. Lo and behold, this week the midfield worked hard for three quarters, and suddenly Rivers, Frawley, McDonald, Grimes and even the bog ordinary Dan Nicholson had good to excellent games.

As for Petterd - there's definitely a spot in the side for him: Lynden Dunn's. Come on, that's setting the bar ridiculously low and he's not meeting it as it is. If he can't oust Dunn for a spot in the side then he's not worth a cracker and should both will be on the heap at the end of the year. I want Petterd to make it, but he has a hell of a lot of work to do before he waltzes in to the side.

-Tapscott to forward pocket

To what end? He's not getting near it as it is, so push him further deep where he's even less exposed to the footy. I love his hardness but at the moment he's not offering much else, I really can't see him offering salvation to our small forward problems.

-Drop both captains to find form at vfl. (sure it will create a media stir but Trenners can't find the footy and Grimes can find it but needs to work on his foot skills. He still butchers it)

Grimes has been, is, and will be fine. He occasionally butchers the ball, but he adds so much more that he's easily a net positive. As for Trengove - if he's labouring then he needs to be rested. I can't see his current issues being solved by time in the VFL.

-Stef Martin to play midfield

There's a spot in the midfield for a tall like Martin, it's called "the ruck". We've seen he can effectively play as a true midfielder with the ruck responsibilities. If he was playing well in his time in the ruck, there's no reason why he couldn't be afforded more time in the middle, but to date he's been crap and crap up forward as well. He's no worse an option than Sellar though.

And admit to the football public that we have a serious problem and will be making big time player delistings at the end of the year. This would at least create some interest for the rest of the year. See who plays for their careers and who doesnt.

This is just hot air and won't accomplish anything other than give the bottom feeding journos more stuff to talk about. The players who are struggling should be aware that they are and it doesn't take a lot to join the dots and see where your career is going. It might make you feel better if Neeld did that, but it carries all sorts of risks and adds nothing to the process.

[daisycutter 29,317]

Just out of pure boredom I thought I might give you some feedback as to why these ideas are absurd:

He's barely played, and struggled when he has. I know beating up on Watts is fashionable and he's got issues with the contest, but you're kidding if you think Cook can't be worse. He can, and would be worse.

You're messing with an area of the ground that is working just to squeeze in a personal favourite. I've said a few times now that when our defenders are dealing with a reasonable level of pressure (as opposed to the outrageously unreasonable level we've seen recently), they'll look just fine. Lo and behold, this week the midfield worked hard for three quarters, and suddenly Rivers, Frawley, McDonald, Grimes and even the bog ordinary Dan Nicholson had good to excellent games.

As for Petterd - there's definitely a spot in the side for him: Lynden Dunn's. Come on, that's setting the bar ridiculously low and he's not meeting it as it is. If he can't oust Dunn for a spot in the side then he's not worth a cracker and should both will be on the heap at the end of the year. I want Petterd to make it, but he has a hell of a lot of work to do before he waltzes in to the side.

To what end? He's not getting near it as it is, so push him further deep where he's even less exposed to the footy. I love his hardness but at the moment he's not offering much else, I really can't see him offering salvation to our small forward problems.

Grimes has been, is, and will be fine. He occasionally butchers the ball, but he adds so much more that he's easily a net positive. As for Trengove - if he's labouring then he needs to be rested. I can't see his current issues being solved by time in the VFL.

There's a spot in the midfield for a tall like Martin, it's called "the ruck". We've seen he can effectively play as a true midfielder with the ruck responsibilities. If he was playing well in his time in the ruck, there's no reason why he couldn't be afforded more time in the middle, but to date he's been crap and crap up forward as well. He's no worse an option than Sellar though.

This is just hot air and won't accomplish anything other than give the bottom feeding journos more stuff to talk about. The players who are struggling should be aware that they are and it doesn't take a lot to join the dots and see where your career is going. It might make you feel better if Neeld did that, but it carries all sorts of risks and adds nothing to the process.

I know it was "out of boredom" Nasher, but you are wasting your time on the freak show

[Nasher 33,607]

I know it was "out of boredom" Nasher, but you are wasting your time on the freak show

It kept me amused for five minutes; time well spent I think.

[H_T 3,032]

Okay, now this is not reactionary todays lost but more so to the 2 months of thrashings. Now you might disagree with some of my points but change needs to happen.

If I was coach I would try some new stuff:

-Bring in Lucas Cook: I don't care what his form is like. We need something to look forward to and he can't be any worse than Watts

- Petterd to half back

-Tapscott to forward pocket

-Drop both captains to find form at vfl. (sure it will create a media stir but Trenners can't find the footy and Grimes can find it but needs to work on his foot skills. He still butchers it)

-Stef Martin to play midfield

- And admit to the football public that we have a serious problem and will be making big time player delistings at the end of the year. This would at least create some interest for the rest of the year. See who plays for their careers and who doesnt.

With the exceptions of Petterd and Tapscott, these are pretty much coach killer moves. I think the football public already know we have a serious problem.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I'm with you on Lucas Cook. Let's just throw him in (as we did with Watts when he began) and see how he goes. He's not injured, I've seen him in the VFL and he would add another tall target. If he's no good, sub him out and drop him but he might surprise with one or two goals. Plus getting games into him earlier will only help his reputation. Maybe Trengove out (but perhaps only for a week to revitalise) but Grimes stays in. Trengove's been well down on form but I still think Grimes is playing alright

To me, this post looks like you took a handful of sensible thoughts and posted the opposite.

Please tell me there was a healthy dose of sarcasm that I missed...

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,423]

[On Tapscott} To what end? He's not getting near it as it is, so push him further deep where he's even less exposed to the footy. I love his hardness but at the moment he's not offering much else, I really can't see him offering salvation to our small forward problems.

Dont agree Nasher, he was good Sunday evening - had things gone slightly differently he could have had two goals. He always moved to space and to the right location so he reads it well.

[fredblackham 17]

I would give Brian royal the flick during the bye. He seems to to put the development of the line he is coaching backwards. Understand that he does not have the best talent in the midfield but week in week out our structures at the stoppages are breaking down and ineffective. Does not seem to have the acumen or technical capacity to break down the oppositions structures. Is sticking with him doing more harm than good?

[GRUN DEE 69]

Everybody would shoot me for saying this and I have said this before.

Try Garland forward!!! This is the year to give it a go....

Sylvia too play half-back and take kick outs if he can get a game!!!

[McQueen 17,864]

I would give Brian royal the flick during the bye. He seems to to put the development of the line he is coaching backwards. Understand that he does not have the best talent in the midfield but week in week out our structures at the stoppages are breaking down and ineffective. Does not seem to have the acumen or technical capacity to break down the oppositions structures. Is sticking with him doing more harm than good?

I don't think this is accurate and indicative of the midfield problem.

Neeld is the senior coach and listens to ideas from Royal but ultimately is the one who instructs Royal to coach to the game plan. If Royal was doing such a shite job, Neeld would have either sorted it by now, or given him the arse.