Where the improvement will come from in 2013.

[Hardnut 327]

Still intrigued about 'our new midfield coach' NSC - who is it?

[IRW 1,386]

Now, don't take this as doubting either you or Robbie F, but how does being a foundation member equate to knowing the interactions between the club and player managers?

Ah, just shorthand to indicate that Robbie (who detests me and I imagine I'm on his ignore list) is a very committed supporter and does have conversations with blokes who are closer to the action than most on supporter chat groups.

His observations are unusually blunt,remarkably inflexible but usually not without substance when he's talking MFC footy matters

His primary interests in life appear to be his family,MFC and his business.

IMO Geez I hope I'm on his ignore list or I'll get a bollocking for being presumptuous.

More to the point I guess do you not think its credible? Imagine the conversation....Agent "ok xyz hows it going?"

Player " I hate the coach ,he wants me to play out of position and keeps making me the sub.I know I'm better than that"

Agent " fair enough I'll ask around and see who might be interested"

Player " great..only thing is no GWS and please no Demons,I want to play AFL not the f#ck up league, and even a Prelim before I retire would be good.'

Agent "ok I see your point..Beamer cant get out quick enough and Flash says the vibe out next to Punt Road is the worst he's ever seen,he's really depressed about it."

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,589]

Robbie F #44

Thanks for the clarification. Disappointing if true but its quite possible we will have to pay overs to attract anyone at this stage for obvious reasons.

neeld said recently that the only answer to our predicament was a harder preseason (which I took to mean for existing players). But then said today that the club had to be ruthless in relation to the list review.

[Carlos Danger 380]

Josh Caddy? If he becomes anything like his brother he will be a gun im telling ya.

3 posessions for the entire game yesterday, 1 of which was effective. Wasn't a sub and wasn't subbed off...

[thaipantsman 180]

If there is any improvement next year it will be reflected by an overall improvement from the entire list. There will not be a mass cull as some are demanding. The list is too young. Am also expecting a bombshell or two, i.e., a Cloke Goddard or a Boak.

Frawley, Watts, Clark, Jamar, Sylvia, Jones, Howe, Blease, Garlo, Gysberts, Trenners and Grimesy must all have a bumper year. Very possible given they will be into the second year of Neeld game style and more confident with this. (putting my faith in MN here)

[IRW 1,386]

Thanks for the clarification. Disappointing if true but its quite possible we will have to pay overs to attract anyone at this stage for obvious reasons.

neeld said recently that the only answer to our predicament was a harder preseason (which I took to mean for existing players). But then said today that the club had to be ruthless in relation to the list review.

geez creative sort of guy isnt he?

A couple of weeks ago we all had the wrong gogles on and everything was coming along ok.

Now having whipped them into exhaustion and given them the steely eye look for absolutely zero result he's going to go harder down what appears to be a dead end road..

It wouldnt kill him to mention the 4 or 5 guys who might be the basis of a good team and suggest that the plan was to build one around them.

It will be interesting to see how many free agents(restricted or not) want out and whether all his coaching team reckon things are tickety boo..

If I was Rivers I'd be heading down the Geelong Road as fast as I could go.

[DeeZee 7,361]

I expect to see a lot of Gawn and Fitzpatrick ,and another big preseason from Gysbets,trengove,Blease and Howe,should see more improvement. The key is whether we can get a couple of ready made mature midfielders . Also ready made young guys like Viney,Toumpas, and hopefully caddy,should see a much better 2013

[RalphiusMaximus 6,018]

Ah, just shorthand to indicate that Robbie (who detests me and I imagine I'm on his ignore list) is a very committed supporter and does have conversations with blokes who are closer to the action than most on supporter chat groups.

His observations are unusually blunt,remarkably inflexible but usually not without substance when he's talking MFC footy matters

His primary interests in life appear to be his family,MFC and his business.

IMO Geez I hope I'm on his ignore list or I'll get a bollocking for being presumptuous.

OK, I see the logic in that.

[angrydee 842]

IK've said this on another thread, but the 'fact' the MFC is on the nose with player agents is absolute bollocks. I know a few who would sue the arse off anyone that suggested they wouldn't deal with ANY club.

[deejammin' 2,367]

Improvement:

No distractions, no deaths of incredibly important club legends who mean the world to this club, its supporters, the football world in general and reach foundation. No racism allegations, no bombshells about Jurrah during the season. Just the MFC doing its very best. Also it wouldn't hurt if another Vic club could implode catastrophically and take the media heat off us for awhile. No BS leadership group or captaincy stories.

Besides this, Grimes, Trengove, Tapscott, Blease, T McDonald, Clark, Watts, Howe, Jones, Frawley, Mckensie, Garland, Rivers, Sylvia, Nicho, Jamar, Martin or Gawn to have full, injury free productive seasons where they show consistant form and some improvement.

Taggert, Tynan, Fitzy, Evans, hopefully Jurrah, maybe Gysberts, to have an injury free run at showing their wares for the seniors.

Make or break year for Davey, I would hope he could find a role in the side and play well. We sure as hell could use some leadership and his best form would be great to play as a small forward pinch hitting as an outside mid/half back flank. Or we could see him traded for something....

Viney and a few others to come in and bolster our midfield.

This is where I can see improvement coming from, also if it doesn't I would hope we have enough on our list to be able to continue to drop players to Casey who don't perform.

Edited September 2, 2012 by deejammin'

[bush demon 2,034]

IK've said this on another thread, but the 'fact' the MFC is on the nose with player agents is absolute bollocks. I know a few who would sue the arse off anyone that suggested they wouldn't deal with ANY club.

Overnight I listened to Southampton v Manchester United on the BBC World Service. Southampton has been promoted to the Premier League, whilst big money, Man United has spent 22 million pounds on a superstar called Van Persie. Van Persie won the match against a game underdog courtesy of two goals. In our salary-capped competition lower placed clubs can still bid for these game-changing players and Melbourne has every chance of picking up another gun player to help out Mitch and the boys. Go Dees in 2013!

My other 'where will improvement come from' thought is that Jack Fitzpatrick is going to surprise a lot of people next year. This guy is a natural leader, with a quick brain and a huge hoof. With some confidence he will be every bit as good as big Mitch next year.

Edited September 2, 2012 by bush demon

[IRW 1,386]

IK've said this on another thread, but the 'fact' the MFC is on the nose with player agents is absolute bollocks. I know a few who would sue the arse off anyone that suggested they wouldn't deal with ANY club.

. Gee if only MFC had known that it could have had Luke Ball in the midfield.. Obviously if two clubs are talking then the agents have to respond....if ONE club is putting out feelers during the season its easy for an agent to say he's just not interested

[Webber 10,454]

Where will the improvement come from?

By admitting we need the following delistings, somehow getting more out of the second group, and nurturing the hell out of the last group.....

DELIST :

Bartram ( knee liability)

Bate

Bennell

Morton

Petterd (all the above have had enough time and opportunity)

Cook (can't get a gig at Casey one's)

Moloney (sad)

Davey (too physically uncompetitive for the modern game)

Couch (de-rookie, just doesn't have it)

Williams ( harsh, but showed too little)

NEED GOOD PRESEASON/MATURITY:

Gysberts

Strauss

Evans

Martin (cruelled by injury, but has enormous upside with regular games)

Gawn

Jetta

Watts ( showed great and consistent signs)

Trengove (started to come good later in the year. Weird speed issues though)

Blease (will develop endurance with age, then lookout)

Jurrah ?????????????

Tapscott (see Blease)

Davis (competitive and stable)

Spencer (huge upside, well done Jake)

Taggart (write off year with injury)

Tynan ( good signs)

Fitzpatrick ( big, athletic, and starting to show)

Sheahan ( really like the look of him at Casey. Very smart footballer)

But real doubts over:

Frawley (slowness of decision making and disposal exposed him this year)

McKenzie ( REALLY needs to keep his feet more, lack of left foot, and turning circle of a truck. VFL skills, AFL heart)

Jamar ( the biggest worry, and we signed him back up too eagerly. Too slow, too predictable, bad contested mark. Will be an albatross around the neck if Spencer and Martin stay fit.)

Bail ( VFL skills, AFL physiology)

Magner (see Mckenzie)

PROVEN/ BREAKOUT CONSISTENCY:

Jones ( wow)

Clark (oh for a full season)

Dunn (finally found a niche)

Grimes (proof what consistent games can do)

Garland (reliable)

McDonald ( competitive beast)

Sellar (permanent backline please)

Howe ( wow)

Nicholson ( sorted out disposal , all good)

Rivers (consistent)

MacDonald (stopped getting the jitters, good)