On 03/09/2012 at 09:08, tatu said:

What's the point of have a Trade period if players can just walk to the club they want anyway........[censored]!!!!!

They cant " just walk to the club they want " any club before the one they want can select the player. the situation here is unique in that he will refuse any club other than SA.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:00, dee-luded said:

I think I'd rather we look at a late winter Nth Queensland retreat. McKay/Cairns.

Townsville......much nicer place

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:01, PaulRB said:

I remember an interview Neeld gave earlier in the year, and he was saying how Liam had just told him he wasn't ready to play yet (despite being given the all clear). Neeld related this "news" with raised eyebrows as if to say it was not the way he'd expect a professional player to act.

fair enough... it could be said that LJ just couldnt go the extra yard to the professionalism required for AFL..

What does that story say about the coach?

I have my opinion.

  On 03/09/2012 at 08:56, IRW said:

I'm not blaming it on Neeld I'm saying each player has to be fitted into the club ethic in a way that is appropriate to their situation.

LJ, because he has a lot of unique issues, would seem to be in need of support and training regimes that would differ markedly from blokes like Jones (for example),or Watts. Its not really clear whether this has happened.In fact the public impression is that everyone at MFC is given the same treatment......despite the talk of tailored programs

I have noticed that in the past that Neeld has never addressed LJ's situation publicly.

This possibly may be appropriate though perhaps just one comment would have indicated he was treating each player in the way he felt was most likely to get 'results'.

I cant tell myself but his public performances dont make me warm to him and as I said thus far he's batting zero.

We'll see in due course.

In 5 years he may have the team of his liking and we'll all think he's a bit of a hard nut but he's doing the job.

I wonder how many of the list will be there.

5 years? I wonder if Neeld will be there...for the record I've said here and on Ology that I hope he has the total support of the Board and his coaching group.

I agree that it was pretty much a no win situation and that isnt Neelds fault. I noted that the Pies werent keen to take the risk even before the alleged attack. I wonder where Neeld was when that decision was made?

Everyone knows Liams situation and the difficulties he's had to deal with before and after the current matter. Do I have to include that in every post? I think its a given....obviously.

I am questioning Neelds judgement though.

So much speculation, guesswork and innuendo; you really don't have a clue do you?

Next time you post try to come up with facts as they are not as you think it is or how you would like it to be. How many times did you attend training and see him running around by himself?

  On 03/09/2012 at 06:07, MFC1858 said:

I wish him all the best. I wonder what impact Jim's departure has really had on the club.

This. A thousand times over.

It's been obvious all year that our club lacks a spiritual leader. We are bereft of true leadership and integrity at all levels. I think the club is reeling without the big bloke, which is not to say folks aren't trying just that we need someone with a certain gravitas to step up and lead us into the future.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:15, IRW said:

fair enough... it could be said that LJ just couldnt go the extra yard to the professionalism required for AFL..

What does that story say about the coach?

I have my opinion.

To me it says Neeld inherited a culture where certain players were given a lot of latitude without necessarily having earned it.

I'm happy Neeld expects AFL players to be professional, driven and hungry to play.

I'm happy that Neeld expects player to take the field when their recovery is complete...

Aren't you?

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:12, daisycutter said:

They cant " just walk to the club they want " any club before the one they want can select the player. the situation here is unique in that he will refuse any club other than SA.

Im still getting my head around all this but he cant just up and walk.....and go to another AFL club without a deal done with us...We can veto the whole thing.

Or he leaves the AFL for a year and then nominates for the draft

We ( the club ) need to acknowledge the uniqueness of the situation and really only so because its different whether we like it or not. AT hte same time its now bordering on a crock and that also needs acknowledging if only interanlly. The club needs to get on the front foot and say well...fair's fair.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:13, Ash said:

Townsville......much nicer place

I Never stopped anywhere mainland Nth of Brisbane, excepting an Island off McKay.

Townsville sounds great.

In retrospect, perhaps this is why Collingwood passed on Liam in the first place.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:12, daisycutter said:

They cant " just walk to the club they want " any club before the one they want can select the player. the situation here is unique in that he will refuse any club other than SA.

Sooooo.... he CAN walk to whatever club he wants then....

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:21, PaulRB said:

In retrospect, perhaps this is why Collingwood passed on Liam in the first place.

shhhhh !!!

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:15, picket fence said:

Very interesting indeed indeed your comment " You must earn respect before you gain it" certainly rings true!

Lets examine Mark Neelds "Gravitas" ?? coached a few surfies to flags, one of Collingwoods myriad of coaches and did a great job with an exceptional midfield unit, comes to Dees, weelds a big stick and puts a few offside! Rightly or wrongly this is how it appears!

I have heard a few of these "Movements" but let's get back to a few Salient pionts.

* Indigenous boys are different and need an understanding approach. Not sure Neelds my way or highway would suffice here!

* I believe Melbournes previous Player resource manager or whatever its called was moved on and I remember Liam was not too happy about it!

* Having said that who authorised ( if it was authorised) Liam going home when it was known inter tribal problems were developing?

Seems like a hidden agenda will emerge and if Port make a play I reckon some discussions must have been going on there!

Conspiracy theory anyone??

Whatever eventuates, Dees have again been found wanting in player relations !!!!

So far I like the changes that are blowing in the Wind. and the potential changes/benefits.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:22, stuie said:

Sooooo.... he CAN walk to whatever club he wants then....

I cant see how

I don't blame the guy for wanting to be with family and deal with his unique situation, but if MFC get nothing in return for him leaving because of the way he chooses to leave it's a massive knife in the back to a club that has done everything it can for him and stood by him during this tough time.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:23, belzebub59 said:

I cant see how

Just how Daisy said... He's walked out on MFC and will refuse to play for anyone but an SA club, so no one else would waste a pick on him then would they?

Get's exactly what he wants by holding clubs to ransom.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:20, belzebub59 said:

Im still getting my head around all this but he cant just up and walk.....and go to another AFL club without a deal done with us...We can veto the whole thing.

Or he leaves the AFL for a year and then nominates for the draft

We ( the club ) need to acknowledge the uniqueness of the situation and really only so because its different whether we like it or not. AT hte same time its now bordering on a crock and that also needs acknowledging if only interanlly. The club needs to get on the front foot and say well...fair's fair.

it may not be fair but that is my understanding of how the draft works for OOC players if they go that way

another club (non SA) could draft him, he could refuse then he would have to stand down for a year. But what club is going to risk a pick for that to happen?

You probably ment to say "...Coached an "A" Grade midfield to win an AFL premiership". Worked for 20 odd years (after he finished playing) to accumulate the skills and credentials to be appointed the coach of the MFC...

So clueless! Picket

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:23, belzebub59 said:

I cant see how

He's currently on our list, & when contract finish he could go into the draft, or pre season draft.

Has Sheeds been in his shell like?

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:15, picket fence said:

Very interesting indeed indeed your comment " You must earn respect before you gain it" certainly rings true!

Lets examine Mark Neelds "Gravitas" ?? coached a few surfies to flags, one of Collingwoods myriad of coaches and did a great job with an exceptional midfield unit, comes to Dees, weelds a big stick and puts a few offside! Rightly or wrongly this is how it appears!

I have heard a few of these "Movements" but let's get back to a few Salient pionts.

* Indigenous boys are different and need an understanding approach. Not sure Neelds my way or highway would suffice here!

* I believe Melbournes previous Player resource manager or whatever its called was moved on and I remember Liam was not too happy about it!

* Having said that who authorised ( if it was authorised) Liam going home when it was known inter tribal problems were developing?

Seems like a hidden agenda will emerge and if Port make a play I reckon some discussions must have been going on there!

Conspiracy theory anyone??

Whatever eventuates, Dees have again been found wanting in player relations !!!!

I think your murking the facts. Certainly unded the Daniher years our club was used as an example of how to manage the cultural aspects of having indigenous players come down to Melbourne in the cold and play in the AFL. So we have good history on this point. That being said Daniher didnt let dead weights stay at the club unless they were trav Jonstone or Brad Miller LOL. So I doubt at that time players who didnt really want to be at the club would have stayed.

How many chances and how much special treatment do you give anyone who doesnt seem interested in changing the way they train or play?

Im inclined to think that since Dean Bailey our relationships with indigenous players have been a failure. But not because Neeld has suddenly lifted the expectations on these players, but because perhaps these players were mollycoddled to the nth degree. You have Wonnamerri up at Darwin airport telling a group of strangers in 2005-06 that he didnt want to play for MFC. You have Aaron Davey allegedly telling Misfid that Neeld is a racist and then denying it. You have Liam getting in trouble and then either through distraction or stress or for whatever reason putting in a half-arsed effort at training all year and then asking three times not to play (despite the coaches believing he was ready).

Im inclined to think that rather than Neeld being at fault, perhaps things under the Bailey years have created this situation. if your getting a pretty cruisy deal and then things suddenly change some may not take kindly.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:22, stuie said:

Sooooo.... he CAN walk to whatever club he wants then....

yes, but you said any player

The coach decides.

The coach is sacked if he makes the wrong decision.

  On 03/09/2012 at 09:28, daisycutter said:

yes, but you said any player

Huh?? Think you're thinking of another poster mate, I didn't say anything of the sort.

Loved the man. He reminded me so much of a young Farmer when he just took the game on and jumped for his marks. In the last few years he didn't seem to be enjoying the game as much (having to play to team structure I guess). Regardless, I now love Jeremy Howe. I think in the long run Jeremy will become a more complete and widely more respected AFL player. Thanks for the memories LJ.

Jurrah is going to jail hes not going to Port or the Crows