THE BELL TOLLED

[The Reverend 1,704]

This is my take!

We are the poorest performing Victorian club!

We have gone backwards dramatically from last season!

We have not had a successful coach in 50 years!

We have recruited very badly for years!

We cannot seem to recruit superstars...!!!

We always have long injury lists and dont have depth!!

This list is very poor given that previous half decent lists had less coaches, shyte facilties and so on!!!

As a club - we are irrelevant in AFL circles. Our list is simply bad. AND THE CLUB DRAINS IT SUPPORTERS OF ANY ENERGY LEFT TO SUPPORT YEAR IN YEAR OUT. IN A NUTSHELL - ABSOLUTE GUTSFULL OF LOSING!!

Man, you sound just like the dunce sitting behind me today. I had to move at half time; couldn't put up with the inane criticism and dumb suggestions as to how to improve our game-plan - "kick it down the guts" is not always the best option yet this was the one solution offered. Despite witnessing what was probably our best first quarter for the year he could not find a positive. Why can't we look at a game and take some positives from it? Yeah, it's frustrating but given the injuries today we did a commendable job against a team two to three years ahead of us in terms of development.

It's getting hard to turn up each week but not because we're losing; it's because of the mentality of some of our supporters. My mother always told me, "If you can't say something positive, shut the far cup."

[DEELIRIOUS 156]

Bannister is a joke of an umpire, no idea how he got a gig.

Oh MY GOD! Thank god someone else has the same view as me! He is a complete hack and seeing as though he is a former player you would think that he would have a bit more compassion on field and make smarter decisions but no! ONCE A HACK, ALWAYS A HACK!

[tonatopia 278]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. More bloody excuses. But don't worry, we will be good in 2 more years after we get more draft picks.

Just be patient. Neeld is our man, he told us so.

Don't worry about our performances, we are trying to re-invent the wheel. And if it all fails after 3 years, we can turn to Garry Lyon again to pick another untried coach so he can claim to the world that HE was the one that found the diond in the rough.

And most of you swallow it hook line and sinker.

The decisions made from the highest quarters of the MFC have led to this state of affairs.

My evidence lies in the fact that the power brokers had the audacity to ask Kevin sheedy for a psychiatric evaluation in 2007. Fcuk me. This is madness.

More than madness is that people think we are on the right track.

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

Oh, but we are on the right track. No wonder we are a laughing stock.

[stranga 328]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. More bloody excuses. But don't worry, we will be good in 2 more years after we get more draft picks.

Just be patient. Neeld is our man, he told us so.

Don't worry about our performances, we are trying to re-invent the wheel. And if it all fails after 3 years, we can turn to Garry Lyon again to pick another untried coach so he can claim to the world that HE was the one that found the diond in the rough.

And most of you swallow it hook line and sinker.

The decisions made from the highest quarters of the MFC have led to this state of affairs.

My evidence lies in the fact that the power brokers had the audacity to ask Kevin sheedy for a psychiatric evaluation in 2007. Fcuk me. This is madness.

More than madness is that people think we are on the right track.

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

Oh, but we are on the right track. No wonder we are a laughing stock.

You're about to get canned for this post, but for what it's worth I tend to agree with you.

[tonatopia 278]

Thanks stranga

[Bang Bang Bang 5,461]

Frustrating loss but unfortunately it was inevitable, wasn't it? I don't particularly like Mick Malthouse as a commentator but I value his opinions very highly (how couldn't you) and he had as written off as soon as Jamar had the red vest, canning the sub rule as unfair in situations like today. Bennell is no star but his injury put as down to 2 on the bench, curtains.

Some good things to come from today. Not sure what to make of Blease as a player but he kicked two great goals today. The second was probably the best goal of the season by a Melbourne player. So good. I don't get how he can have 30 odd touches against the Swans (and a couple of times last year) yet only gets 8 other weeks. Worth persisting with.

Also Nathan Jones is almost an elite kick nowadays. Amazing given it was a weakness not long ago.. lowers the eyes and delivers bullets.

Missing Mitch Clark in an enormous way.

[praha 10,279]

Sometimes you're unlucky. Freo probably would have run over us anyway, but losing a couple of players made it pretty much impossible to stop them. We were running on the spot at the end.

Showed some good signs, but unfortunately we :

- Lacked spread

- Lacked Clark up forward (especially when Martin had to ruck).

Definitely getting better, though.

No chance. If just one of Watts, Clark, Jurrah, Jamar were playing and played the full game, we might have won. Lacked poise at the end.

[praha 10,279]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. More bloody excuses. But don't worry, we will be good in 2 more years after we get more draft picks.

Just be patient. Neeld is our man, he told us so.

Don't worry about our performances, we are trying to re-invent the wheel. And if it all fails after 3 years, we can turn to Garry Lyon again to pick another untried coach so he can claim to the world that HE was the one that found the diond in the rough.

And most of you swallow it hook line and sinker.

The decisions made from the highest quarters of the MFC have led to this state of affairs.

My evidence lies in the fact that the power brokers had the audacity to ask Kevin sheedy for a psychiatric evaluation in 2007. Fcuk me. This is madness.

More than madness is that people think we are on the right track.

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

Oh, but we are on the right track. No wonder we are a laughing stock.

I totally agree, but I'm beyond being angry about it and at least want to see a dip. I'm seeing it now, and can look forward to next season.

[McQueen 17,863]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. More bloody excuses. But don't worry, we will be good in 2 more years after we get more draft picks.

Just be patient. Neeld is our man, he told us so.

Don't worry about our performances, we are trying to re-invent the wheel. And if it all fails after 3 years, we can turn to Garry Lyon again to pick another untried coach so he can claim to the world that HE was the one that found the diond in the rough.

And most of you swallow it hook line and sinker.

The decisions made from the highest quarters of the MFC have led to this state of affairs.

My evidence lies in the fact that the power brokers had the audacity to ask Kevin sheedy for a psychiatric evaluation in 2007. Fcuk me. This is madness.

More than madness is that people think we are on the right track.

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

Oh, but we are on the right track. No wonder we are a laughing stock.

The whole club, on every level is being stripped back bare. I don't consider there to be too many supporters with half an idea that would not agree that club culture has been the major hindrance to list development and on-field success. The hard edge that Neeld spruiked so much when he got the job is under construction. I can see that.

Massive change does not, and will not result in immediate success. There has to be some short term pain for long term gain.

But yeah, there's some tough diggin ahead...

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I was sitting just behind the cheer squad today, really made for a brilliant atmosphere despite the venue and poor crowd- well for 3 quarters at least. Very disappointing, I didn't think the dockers played THAT well but rather our problems resurfaced such as horrid kicking to the half forward flanks. The worst part was seeing our lead evaporate and such momentum shut down in the last quarter- injuries and inexperience and umpiring weren't excuses either, just poor disposal and run

[tonatopia 278]

Today was a F....ing Disgrace..MFC supporters do not demand enough...Years of eroding hope does this

I see it in Asia each day right now.

Being hard is easy. Being successful is a different story.

Mind, body and spirit.

All 3 facets must be developed.

Edited July 14, 2012 by tonatopia

[Dr. Gonzo 22,415]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. More bloody excuses. But don't worry, we will be good in 2 more years after we get more draft picks.

Just be patient. Neeld is our man, he told us so.

Don't worry about our performances, we are trying to re-invent the wheel. And if it all fails after 3 years, we can turn to Garry Lyon again to pick another untried coach so he can claim to the world that HE was the one that found the diond in the rough.

And most of you swallow it hook line and sinker.

The decisions made from the highest quarters of the MFC have led to this state of affairs.

My evidence lies in the fact that the power brokers had the audacity to ask Kevin sheedy for a psychiatric evaluation in 2007. Fcuk me. This is madness.

More than madness is that people think we are on the right track.

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

Oh, but we are on the right track. No wonder we are a laughing stock.

So what you're saying is we stuffed up in not getting Sheedy in 2007 but stuffed up again by canning Bailey last year because we won 8 games? Bailey was obviously a brilliant coach as evidenced by the fact that all of the other clubs (Freo, Saints, Adel, Dogs) who were looking for new coaches last year threw millions at him to get him at their clubs.

Bailey was a dud breeding a generation of frontrunners at the club continuing on from Daniher before him. We now have a coach trying to implement some accountability, defensiveness and 21st century tactics and you are crying because he hasn't done it in his first few months at the club who has been a cellar dweller for 5 seasons? Your continual sniping at Neeld and the club is tiresome and pathetic. By all means hold them to account, they are not infallible, but don't be a fundamentalist about it.

[jnrmac 18,975]

i didn't watch the footy today due to playing footy myself but bate must have sizzled with those 6 disposals he had for the whole game? :-S

His fwd pressure was actually very good.

[bing181 8,166]

2011 - 8 wins

2012 - 2 wins

I'd rather have 2 wins under Neeld (and co.), than 8 wins under Bailey.

[jimcor 212]

Quite a few good things, I thought.

- Martin stepping up when needed. Certainly an athlete and seems to be kicking better.

- Tom Mc did very well and was on the unlucky side of a decision or two

- Joel Mac adding to the legend. Plays a blinder then leaves us all with the glowing memory of the dropped mark in the middle. Can't help but love him.

- thought Strauss did OK given his recent absences. Can play a bit.

Overall, we're back on the improving curve and it will be interesting to see what happens in Darwin. My day was considerably brightened by the news from Cairns. The fans will be Schadenfreude? Surely not.

[daisycutter 28,531]

And in more worrying news the fact that Jamar reinjured the same calf which was rehabed must be a concern for the conditioning people. Bottom line they are the guys that are the experts and so really should Jamar have played today would be my question? Reoccuring soft tissue injuries are almost the exclusive domain of amateur sport not professional AFL I would have thought. Interesting if the HARDER Etihad abomination of a surface had anything to do with the reoccurance!

One other thing hardnut or anyone else who might know exactly what are Dave Missons sports qualifications and I'm not talking about his reputation, what are his academic quals? anyone know?

buddy says Hi, fence

[tonatopia 278]

I am not saying that we should have kept Bailey. Actually, I think we should have got malthouse.

Anyway, the reason my posts may seem a bit fundamentalist is because I am trying to add a bit of reality to the people who seem to blindly follow the coach while slagging off our players.

People must understand that the coach is ultimately responsible.

Apart from hardnut, neeld has escaped scrutiny. It's ridiculous.

[jumbo returns 6,488]

I'm not into Neeld bashing, but I was disappointed in one aspect of his coaching.

Freo collected the huddle for the kick - outs and our players are so player - centric at the moment, that they followed their opponent into the middle, allowing many easy breakaways.

I think it happened 3 times, yet it took a while to rectify.....I mean, the huddle is like, 80s?

[Buzzy 931]

Frustrating loss but unfortunately it was inevitable, wasn't it? I don't particularly like Mick Malthouse as a commentator but I value his opinions very highly (how couldn't you) and he had as written off as soon as Jamar had the red vest, canning the sub rule as unfair in situations like today. Bennell is no star but his injury put as down to 2 on the bench, curtains.

Some good things to come from today. Not sure what to make of Blease as a player but he kicked two great goals today. The second was probably the best goal of the season by a Melbourne player. So good. I don't get how he can have 30 odd touches against the Swans (and a couple of times last year) yet only gets 8 other weeks. Worth persisting with.

Also Nathan Jones is almost an elite kick nowadays. Amazing given it was a weakness not long ago.. lowers the eyes and delivers bullets.

Missing Mitch Clark in an enormous way.

Re the Sub rule... I'm not sure Malthouse talks a lot of sense in this area.

If you lose one player for the day, then having a sub means you can still match the opposition with 3 vs 3 on the bench.

Sure, if you lose another player, then it is 2 vs 3 on the bench. In the old system it would have been 2 vs 4 would it not?

So I don't get what he is saying. Gerard Healy argued this with him 'On the Couch' last year but Mick refuses to accept logic on this issue.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,184]

I am not saying that we should have kept Bailey. Actually, I think we should have got malthouse.

Anyway, the reason my posts may seem a bit fundamentalist is because I am trying to add a bit of reality to the people who seem to blindly follow the coach while slagging off our players.

People must understand that the coach is ultimately responsible.

Apart from hardnut, neeld has escaped scrutiny. It's ridiculous.

Of course Neeld should come under criticism but for mine there are too many limiting factors that he has not had enough control over at this time to effectively critique or lay the blame primarily at him.

He did not draft the majority of the list.

He did not ignore the defensive aspects of football for the last 5 years

He did not leave mature players who are not up to it on the list for 6-8 years

He did not develop a list with poor endurance and general conditioning

We are coming from a long way back and his attempts at righting the above factors I think has been the right approach.

The trading for Clark was a fantastic move, Taggert and Tynan both with limited view appear to be good mid range picks and Sellar as a cheap mature key defensive post has served well when played there.

He has given the mature players no favouritism and has allowed the mature NQR's every opportunity to show what they have. I am sure most will be gone next year.

By all reports the squad has been thrashed on the track maybe to the detriment of their actual performances and injury to improve their conditioning as quickly as possible in preparation for anoth bigger pre season next year.

Neeld has not been perfect, our poor starts to games and a lack of moving to a plan B when in trouble is of concern however most find it hard to charge because of the other factors. I am sure the focus will move more firmly onto him next year when he has had 12 months to further influence these factors.

Edited July 15, 2012 by big_red_fire_engine

[tonatopia 278]

How about our refusal to use the corridor? Dosnt this seem a bit one-dimensional.

[DeeMfc 621]

I am not saying that we should have kept Bailey. Actually, I think we should have got malthouse.

Anyway, the reason my posts may seem a bit fundamentalist is because I am trying to add a bit of reality to the people who seem to blindly follow the coach while slagging off our players.

People must understand that the coach is ultimately responsible.

Apart from hardnut, neeld has escaped scrutiny. It's ridiculous.

We all need to collectively take a deep breath.

Neeld is not playing to lose, but he is certainly not playing to 'win at all costs' either.

He is sorting the wheat from the chaff at the moment and to do that you have to make strategic decisions that may not have the best outcome/s on game day.

This is the hard road that will eventually (hopefully) be the basis of a team that will not just challenge for the finals but the ultimate piece of silverware that we all desire.

The question needs to be asked - Do you want the club to seriously challenge for the flag? Or do you want a middling team that has no chance for the ultimate prize?

I'll take the first option every time thanks!

Scrutinise Neeld & Co. all you like but please wait until at least next year to do it.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

We all need to collectively take a deep breath.

Neeld is not playing to lose, but he is certainly not playing to 'win at all costs' either.

He is sorting the wheat from the chaff at the moment and to do that you have to make strategic decisions that may not have the best outcome/s on game day.

This is the hard road that will eventually (hopefully) be the basis of a team that will not just challenge for the finals but the ultimate piece of silverware that we all desire.

The question needs to be asked - Do you want the club to seriously challenge for the flag? Or do you want a middling team that has no chance for the ultimate prize?

I'll take the first option every time thanks!

Scrutinise Neeld & Co. all you like but please wait until at least next year to do it.

Agree. With the heavy pre season trying to gain elite fitness and total over haul of gameplans,leadership,coaching staff and probably at the end of the year players Neeld and co are attempting to have a tilt at flags not finishing in the middle of the road every year. The bloke has balls I'll give him that. Especially in the first half of the year he was copping criticism from all corners and is sticking to his guns.

[Range Rover 1,935]

How about our refusal to use the corridor? Dosnt this seem a bit one-dimensional.

No, but your ability to critique football does.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,184]

How about our refusal to use the corridor? Dosnt this seem a bit one-dimensional.

We have a side who cant dispose of the ball and has limited entrenched defensive capabilities yet you want to us to play through the middle? Dont we already get scored against too easily?

I note Collingwood is flag favourite and are still the number 1 team for playing around the boundary .