Lack of Senior Players

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

It is clear that we have pushed Green towards the door. Knowing him personally I find it hard to believe that this was his decision. Retiring him is a massive mistake for a 30 year old who still clearly has the body and ability to go on at least 2 more years as a dominate forward. Expect to see him in different colours next season. Unfortunately both Bailey and Neeld in their overly aggressive attempts to rebuilt have forgotten the value of experience. Hell even if Green could not get a game he is worth a spot on the list as a mentor.

One of our problems has been a massive lack of senior players. Simply Bailey dismissed too many too quickly and there was practically no one left to be mentors and show leadership to our young players.

Don't underestimate this problem. It is very significant. Neeld has not learnt from Baileys mistakes.

Moloney falls into the same category in many ways. His poor form and body language is a direct result of mentally struggling under Neeld (with about half the team). He knows his time is coming, he has seen rookies get the captaincy over him, he has been dumped from the leadership group despite seeing himself as the next captain and winning Bluey. Simply the management of this situation as with all the other senior players has been appalling. No wonder he is looking for another club (despite being a life long Melbourne supporter). When you consider it is said 80% of our game is above the shoulders it is little surprise that he has struggled for form. Neeld has mentally destroyed him.

My friends, signing Neeld was the biggest mistake our club has made since sacking Norm Smith, primarily the job of the coach is to get the most out their players. Neeld has destroyed the self confidence and thus ability of at least half the team. Never before have I seen so many players at one time playing as a shadow of their ability. Worse still these players are mostly young. We are broken, it is Neelds fault.

It is my view that the list is a good developing list. We have underperformed primarily due to lack of self belief and confidence which is a direct result of the coach and lack of senior players. No disrespect to Grimes and Trengrove but having them as captains over Moloney and Green is a disgrace and a decision which will only have negative effects on the senior players. Rivers is another that should be talked about in this group and is likely to be seen in different colours next year.

Moloney should be offered a 1 -2 year contact and the contact of Neeld should be terminated. Like Gillard, he should resign in shame… but wont. Financially it is cheaper to dump him and pay him out than to lose the players, sponsors, and prime games and game times as a result of poor ladder position.

I ask the board for the immediate sacking of Neeld for the financial security of our club.

[H_T 3,047]

31yo. May want to fix that...

Edit: Actually I could go on, I disagree with most of it including the bit about half the list struggling mentally ...... .

Most out of touch POV I've read in one single post. NFI.

[rpfc 28,441]

Heavens above...

Another one. Cue the three amigos.

lol

The best part was when the point of the thread - our lack of senior players due to Bailey - pivoted to John "My Friends" McCain here blaming Neeld for form and confidence issues, possible delistings of players that haven't left yet, and desired his instant removal.

[rpfc 28,441]

Would a tough pre-season and frank assessments of a player be more demoralising than being beaten by 186 points?

If yes, you are doing football wrong.

[Jonesbag 487]

ErggghhhhMaaaaaaaaaaGEEERRRRRRRRDDDDHHHHHH, Mods please delete this dribble

[olisik 4,060]

Heavens above...

Another one. Cue the three amigos.

lol

The best part was when the point of the thread - our lack of senior players due to Bailey - pivoted to John "My Friends" McCain here blaming Neeld for form and confidence issues, possible delistings of players that haven't left yet, and desired his instant removal.

1 amigo 3 DL accounts

[Guest KingDingAling]

Regardless of whether some want Neeld sacked - and others love the bloke.

The fact is, we can't go changing coaches, its not healthy for the players, the fans, culture or future of the club.

Give Neeld a go, get off his back!

He comes highly recommended by the best coach in the past 20 years, he also has a more than competent Neil Craig by his side.

The fact we are retaining a lot of our talent suggests that Neeld is doing a good job.

[Deers 202]

I ask the board for the immediate sacking of Neeld for the financial security of our club.

Well go on, then. Closing time is 5 o'clock. Put your proposal in to AAMI Park. Let us know how you fare.

[hardtack 10,537]

KingDingAling... perhaps you should make the sporting gesture of offering your forum name to GNF... god knows he's earned it with that post!

[stinga81 210]

I ask the board for the immediate sacking of Neeld for the financial security of our club.

Wowee

[Undeeterred 3,124]

Presumably you don't have a straight face.

Because, just quietly, it would be complete lunacy to advocate with a straight face that the board sack Neeld three weeks out before the end of the season, when we are about to head into trade and draft mode.

Will just repeat for everyone: lunacy.

[old55 23,593]

Like Gillard, he should resign in shame…

[Moonshadow 17,676]

"has the body and ability to go on at least 2 more years as a dominate forward"

This bit cracked me up! Yeah, right, to balance out the past two terrible years.

Please, go on....

[beelzebub 23,377]

nothing like having a barrow to push is there

[John Crow Batty 8,864]

I am still on the fence about Neeld. Came into the club at a difficult situation. What irks me now is the current incompetents that run the club have quite a few years up their sleeve to use the excuse our list is young and inexperienced to cover up the fatal errors they have already made.

Edited August 14, 2012 by america de cali

[Mgdee 322]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Big Ticket 94]

Someone needs to put a 'Don't feed the troll' image up.

[Pates 9,660]

You are very entitled to your opinion but if your looking for support from anyone it might help to put forth arguments that make sense. Your initial point of lack of senior players is one I agree with, but not with the way you presented it. Green could've gone one more year I think but he had a poor 2011 and his first half of the year was so bad he was dropped for the first time in years.

I wouldn't have been against him continuing but he has accepted it and has told everyone to buy into Neeld and what he's trying to do. Neeld ain't going anywhere for a long time, so take Brads advice and buy in.

[monoccular 17,431]

Yes, we lack senior players.

Yes, Gillard should resign in shame.

All else posted in the lead of this post is drivel.

Green has looked almost all the last two seasons to be on his last legs. He has the brain to want to bow out on his terms and not just fade away via the VFL, and good on him for making that call. There is absolutely nothing preventing him from remaining a mentor to the youth in our group, should he so wish, in an unofficial capacity if he sees fit.

As for Moloney's issues -- you may have summed up his issues with the phrase "....despite seeing himself as the next captain ...". Maybe he is playing for himself, and lacks the insight to see that he is part of a team?

Sack another coach within a year of appointing him -- a Board would be absolutely crazy to consider that short of him robbing the till or ..... Yeah, I know, some ready made successful Premiership coach must be out there just banging on the door to join us, a club that would sack a coach one year into a project.

The seniors were thin on the ground, certainly, and losing Green, Clark and Jamar to injuries hasn't helped.

[Range Rover 1,935]

You talk about Green and Moloney as though they are Hodge and Selwood.

They are so far from it it's not funny.

The only way forward for this club is to raise the bar, which Neeld is doing.

So ... buy in or bugger off.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Furthermore ... Brent Moloney's head drop does nothing but validate Neeld's decision to strip him of a leadership position.

Made of the wrong stuff unfortunately.

[beelzebub 23,377]

Yes, we lack senior players.

Yes, Gillard should resign in shame.

All else posted in the lead of this post is drivel.

that'll do !! says it all

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

To All,

I except that Neeld will be given his time to prove himself (as he should be). I except that the board can't realistically dump Neeld less than 12 months into a 3 year contact. However, the rest of my points stand firm.

We all agree that out team needed to learn greater defensive skills, we mostly agree that our team needed more aggression, pressure and hunger. However, this has not been achieved and worse the cost is our offensive flare. Players that were recruited for a offensive role of spread, run and carry are now smashed by this forum and the coach as they have failed to quickly add this skill to their discipline. Half our list is a shadow of their ability and previous performance.

The end result is the burning of their ability.

Our recruiters have not got it wrong. It must be remembered that all recruiters list the top 100 players in their opinion. Most of ours have been recruited with a draft pick that matches the general consensus of all recruiters.

Our problem is not the players. Our problem in my opinion is instaling confidence and self belief. This is the coaches responsibility.

My view is we are burning our talent and its Neelds fault.

[beelzebub 23,377]

GNF you greatly overstate our ability !!

[daisycutter 29,616]

You talk about Green and Moloney as though they are Hodge and Selwood.

They are so far from it it's not funny.

The only way forward for this club is to raise the bar, which Neeld is doing.

So ... buy in or bugger off.

I like that - "Buy in or Buggar off"

as long as it is followed by "Results or Rack off"