Firstly let me say Im a huge fan of Craig and what he brings to the club. We're lucky we have him. He's an experienced elder that helps other people lead well and is a respected voice at the club. But, when I watched the Essendon v Hawthorn game on Friday Night I watched bomber Thompson out there getting stuck into the players at quarter time. Clearly he's an impassioned and active coaching voice and has a role that involves him fully. When I listen to Craig talk I hear him missing being a senior coach and it almost feels like he's semi retired... he's also said that that his role is quite limited on match days. Maybe there isn't the same ease or synergy between Neeld and Craig as ex teammates Hird and Thompson. To be expected. But in order to hang on to someone like Craig and get the best out of him I think we need to engage his passion not just his heart and brain. Plus somehow I don't think he'd be the one behind the planned preseason trip at the end of this year to Darwin over the altitude trip. Hope he's not getting marginalised?

I think Thompson is effectively coaching the bombers this year with Hird as a front man, while Craig takes a back seat to Neeld.

I'm sure Craig's influence is there but I would like to see him exert more of an influence on gameday without getting in the way of Neeld.

Although those guys like Thompson and Craig might seem to have a similar role/title, what they do at each club will be very different.

Just on the pre-season trip to Darwin, what is the point/benefit in this? Going to the top end at the hottest time of the year surely is going to have a detrimental effect on the players, especially those trying to bulk up like Watts, Gysberts, Cook etc. Seems like another cost-cutting exercise (compared to a high-altitude trip) which the admin of this club told us would not happen anymore.

In terms of bulking up - and dont get me wrong as Im a huge fan of this young bloke - but Gysberts looked as skinny at Casey the other day as he did two years ago.

FFS, try reading the article a month or so ago about Craig's role, where someone followed him around and gave an account of his typical day.

Think it was on the website.

Also, Craig has been named as one of the drivers behind the Darwin preseason camp.

Do a bit of research first.

FFS, try reading the article a month or so ago about Craig's role, where someone followed him around and gave an account of his typical day.

Think it was on the website.

Also, Craig has been named as one of the drivers behind the Darwin preseason camp.

Do a bit of research first.

Actually it was exactly that article that made me think this.

Actually it was exactly that article that made me think this.

Really?

Well... I just don't know what to say.

It's like everyone wants to find a NEW reason why we are so bad, because the old ones are getting boring.

It's a fair question, Craig has so much to offer and getting him to the club was obviously a great decision.

The best way of utilising his services however is not so obvious.

Thompson IS the Bummers' coach: Golden Boy is merely his puppet.

Our club is structured differently, for better or worse - Neeld IS our coach and Craig is his support. I think he does NOT want to be a senior coach, and using him to berate miscreants would be divisive.

Firstly let me say Im a huge fan of Craig and what he brings to the club. We're lucky we have him. He's an experienced elder that helps other people lead well and is a respected voice at the club. But, when I watched the Essendon v Hawthorn game on Friday Night I watched bomber Thompson out there getting stuck into the players at quarter time. Clearly he's an impassioned and active coaching voice and has a role that involves him fully. When I listen to Craig talk I hear him missing being a senior coach and it almost feels like he's semi retired... he's also said that that his role is quite limited on match days. Maybe there isn't the same ease or synergy between Neeld and Craig as ex teammates Hird and Thompson. To be expected. But in order to hang on to someone like Craig and get the best out of him I think we need to engage his passion not just his heart and brain. Plus somehow I don't think he'd be the one behind the planned preseason trip at the end of this year to Darwin over the altitude trip. Hope he's not getting marginalised?

I think your OP infers we are not using Craig in a proposed way you believe might be better.

Does this mean you are making an assumption there is no 'synergy' between MN and NC?

For what it's worth I think you are barking up the wrong tree on this.

But, when I watched the Essendon v Hawthorn game on Friday Night I watched bomber Thompson out there getting stuck into the players at quarter time.

I did see that and thought it was interesting. Absolutely gave it to them after an insipid first quarter and would not tolerate it. I was interested to see how they responded?

After that the bombers produced further insipid, soft pee hearted football and got absolutely smashed. Like Melbourne they won some contested footy and clearances and lost everywhere else.

It is very hard to turn this around with a spray. Give this coaching group some time. My pass mark for Neeld at the start of the year was not to get smashed in the second half of the year i.e avoid those 15 goal hidings. That was where we were at as a football club.

And with a second rate side with NO stars whatsoever, he is actually acheiving that.

This year was all about getting a hard mentality right. it could be al ot better but it could be worse.

I think your OP infers we are not using Craig in a proposed way you believe might be better.

Does this mean you are making an assumption there is no 'synergy' between MN and NC?

For what it's worth I think you are barking up the wrong tree on this.

Missing my point a little re MN and NC. Without knowing much about it, its not the synergy between them that Im wondering about. From what Ive heard and read NC seems like a brilliant influence over all that come into contact with him and Im sure MN feels the same. So its not that I think we're using him "badly" . Only that Ive also read between the lines in some of his interviews and heard him missing the involvement on match days. Perhaps its to be expected from an ex coach, except when I saw Thompson on Friday night it made me wonder if we couldn't give Neil more of a role on game day and get him involved.

Bay Riffen...you're also right. lol. Thompsons wind up at quarter time didnt exactly spur them into action did it.