I thought Saturdays Granny was totally brilliant.

Hard & Tough as. Those who thought it was average do not understand when 2 sides are "on"

Since 2002 (excluding 2007) we have been blessed. All great games.

I thought Saturdays Granny was totally brilliant.

Hard & Tough as. Those who thought it was average do not understand when 2 sides are "on"

Since 2002 (excluding 2007) we have been blessed. All great games.

The 2011 GF beat it easily!

Now, to return to the thread.....!

I thought Saturdays Granny was totally brilliant.

Hard & Tough as. Those who thought it was average do not understand when 2 sides are "on"

Since 2002 (excluding 2007) we have been blessed. All great games.

Sunday's Granny was better.

2011 was great as well but was over with 15 minutes to go. 2009 & 2012 went down to the wire. All great though, jealous of the supporters who get to have heart attacks over these games, it's bad enough as a neutral!

The 2011 GF beat it easily!

Now, to return to the thread.....!

really, it was over2 minutes into the final term. The Filth ran out of juice.

Saturdays game went all the way...Much better.

Sydney's rebound footy was reminiscent of the style Bailey wanted Melbourne to play.

Sydney's rebound footy was reminiscent of the style Bailey wanted Melbourne to play.

I must confess that Bailey didnt enter my mind on Saturday arvo....apart from the obvious differences in player attitude I thought the Swans mostly stayed out of the corridor and didnt routinely cross to the fat side to mount attacks

He did on the previous Saturday though.

Edited October 1, 201212 yr by IRW

Back on topic:

I think what the game tells us is that Neeld is onto something in theory. But coaching isn't judged solely on theory. it's about making it work and that can only happen if the players buy in and put in. Honestly I think there was only one way Sydney could have won on the weekend and they pulled it off. That shows they followed through and worked hard. I've never seen a team tackle like they did on Saturday. There is 25 examples of extraordinary tackling.

We don't have a list of hard workers like the Swans. That team committed to competing at every opportunity. We showed all year that we didn't want to do that. Part of it was buy in - it was obvious that some players didn't want to do it Neeld's way (Beamer) and it only takes 1 to not do it before 4-5 don't do it and it breaks down massively. The other part is execution and I think we don't have the midfield numbers or experience yet. The unfortunate thing is that the club also lacks the leaders required to pull everyone up to that level. It's going to take extraordinary on and off field leadership for us to get to that level.

Part of it was buy in - it was obvious that some players didn't want to do it Neeld's way (Beamer) and it only takes 1 to not do it before 4-5 don't do it and it breaks down massively.

The incredible thing for me is, what is there to gain in not buying in to Neeld's way?

The players only have to look at this year's top 4 to see what's required. How can they fail to see that if they don't put in, the team will not be top 4 or anywhere near it? (Or on a personal level, they don't get a game?)

The sting in the tail for guys like Beamer is that other clubs are now casting their jaundiced eye over a player who seemingly doesn't want to put in. "Hi guys, I'm looking for a contract. But don't expect me to do the requisite work." Didn't that occur to him or his manager?

The incredible thing for me is, what is there to gain in not buying in to Neeld's way?

The players only have to look at this year's top 4 to see what's required. How can they fail to see that if they don't put in, the team will not be top 4 or anywhere near it? (Or on a personal level, they don't get a game?)

The sting in the tail for guys like Beamer is that other clubs are now casting their jaundiced eye over a player who seemingly doesn't want to put in. "Hi guys, I'm looking for a contract. But don't expect me to do the requisite work." Didn't that occur to him or his manager?

totally agree Ted. If Beamer wanted to leave on a high contract he needed to play his Butt off last year.

He just failed at that so badly.

Yes I've been thinking that. I imagine other prospective suitors for Moloney might be thinking 'why is this guy leaving Melbourne' when it's well known that Neeld is raising the bar at the club?

what happens if no one picks up Beamer? Delist him ......and find out why the AFL is keeping the tanking investigation open until someone cracks ..........the shhits ?

Yes I've been thinking that. I imagine other prospective suitors for Moloney might be thinking 'why is this guy leaving Melbourne' when it's well known that Neeld is raising the bar at the club?

Essendon supporters are drooling over him.

And we thought OUR midfield was pox.

In answer to the question posed in the topic, the Swans win in the Granf Final has very little to say to me about Mark Neeld's coaching.

He was not coaching a team on the day

Neither of the two coaches involved have been senior coaches to him as an assistant or mentors to him.

The Swans have a wonderful inner culture developed by Roos, now inherited and developed by Longmire. We deliberately tanked, pushed out long-serving leaders and went for youth which has not worked on any level. The inner health and status of the Swans comapred to us are poles apart.

Our team has not played one game remotely like the Swans or Hawks in Neeld's time.

Team performance is the best measure of a coach and at least 2013 will give us a clear idea if Neeld can coach. Two full preseasons and one failed home and away season have laid the foundation for Neeld to show us what he and his coaching group have.

Sydney has a mature list averaging over 100+ games. They’ve been playing this brand of football for at least 10 years. In Neelds first year he has been persistent that he wants to impart the defensive parts of football at MFC and play a style of footy that stands up in finals. “The toughest team in the comp to play against”, and all that.

I was glad to see both Fremantle do well in the finals and see Sydney win the flag out of concern that the boring defensive style of Neelds game would ultimately lack class. But both Freo and Sydney are seriously, seriously hard to play against. This convinces me that the "no hollywood" football that Neeld promotes i.e. making certain that the basics are done well, and that they’re hard and tough at the footy does win football games in finals.

Sydney’s internal indicators were through the roof on Saturday according to Longmire. It’s possible that Melbourne’s internal indicators probably have a similar focus to Longmires; 1%’s, tackles, pressure, hard contests etc. It’s taken me all year to come round and accept we can’t watch exciting ‘downhill skiing’, but I’m sold on the Mark Neeld philosophy to football, even if it’s as boring as all hell to watch it just won the 2012 GF.

Edited October 2, 201212 yr by _H_

Sydney has a mature list averaging over 100+ games. They’ve been playing this brand of football for at least 10 years. In Neelds first year he has been persistent that he wants to impart the defensive parts of football at MFC and play a style of footy that stands up in finals. “The toughest team in the comp to play against”, and all that.

I was glad to see both Fremantle do well in the finals and see Sydney win the flag out of concern that the boring defensive style of Neelds game would ultimately lack class. But both Freo and Sydney are seriously, seriously hard to play against. This convinces me that the "no hollywood" football that Neeld promotes i.e. making certain that the basics are done well, and that they’re hard and tough at the footy does win football games in finals.

Sydney’s internal indicators were through the roof on Saturday according to Longmire. It’s possible that Melbourne’s internal indicators probably have a similar focus to Longmires; 1%’s, tackles, pressure, hard contests etc. It’s taken me all year to come round and accept we can’t watch exciting ‘downhill skiing’, but I’m sold on the Mark Neeld philosophy to football, even if it’s as boring as all hell to watch it just won the 2012 GF.

I'll tell you what it tells me.. That we are light years away from anything Sydney are able to do. I'll give you some more reasons, Sydney oozes Class, Grunt, Poise and that word again "Culture" I'm glad you are sold on Neeld's footy philosophy because I for one am a long way from being sold!

Edited October 2, 201212 yr by picket fence

Essendon supporters are drooling over him.

And we thought OUR midfield was pox.

you're one season out of date I think....WERE drooling over him more like it.

Same as Bate and Footscray.

Sydney’s internal indicators were through the roof on Saturday according to Longmire. It’s possible that Melbourne’s internal indicators probably have a similar focus to Longmires; 1%’s, tackles, pressure, hard contests etc. It’s taken me all year to come round and accept we can’t watch exciting ‘downhill skiing’, but I’m sold on the Mark Neeld philosophy to football, even if it’s as boring as all hell to watch it just won the 2012 GF.

It's not boring to watch when you're winning.

It's not boring to watch when you're winning.

Like most supporters, I'll take a win, whatever it takes and however it's achieved.

However, taking a broader look at the future of the game, we don't want boring football - why not focus on winning by playing exciting football? Geelong's style is the closest successful example I can think of in recent times.

Like most supporters, I'll take a win, whatever it takes and however it's achieved.

However, taking a broader look at the future of the game, we don't want boring football - why not focus on winning by playing exciting football? Geelong's style is the closest successful example I can think of in recent times.

you found the 2012 Grand Final boring?

It's not boring to watch when you're winning.

Exactly...and I must say I didn't find SS at all boring on Saturday. The late 1950s weren't at all boring despite one side dominating.

you found the 2012 Grand Final boring?

Yes. (It was ugly football.)

2011 was better.

Any MFC winning GF would be better.

I'm looking forward to Bathurst on Sunday (and the next F1 race - that's much closer to living on the edge with the best in the world)!

Sorry WYL, but there is at least one thing better than football!

Yes. (It was ugly football.)

2011 was better.

Any MFC winning GF would be better.

I'm looking forward to Bathurst on Sunday (and the next F1 race - that's much closer to living on the edge with the best in the world)!

Sorry WYL, but there is at least one thing better than football!

Bathurst on tv is without a doubt the most boring sporting event in the world. Actually motor car racing is the most boring 'sport' in the world.

Bathurst on tv is without a doubt the most boring sporting event in the world. Actually motor car racing is the most boring 'sport' in the world.

I was wondering when someone would say that IRW.

I understand where you are coming from, but if you ever get the chance to put a car around a track with 'centimetre perfect' precision, I suspect you may change your mind. On the other hand, in fairness to your opinion, many stars in other sports have emerged as passengers from 'hot laps' with top drivers feeling 'pretty seedy'!

Only having some fun - footy's a great sport.

Haha was about to post the same thing. Stating you found the 2012 GF boring and then saying you were looking forward to the "excitement" of car racing is hilarious. Nothing more boring than watching a man sit in a car and race against another man sitting in a car. If you didn't like Saturday's game then you don't really like football. Good football isn't just watching someone kick a ball with silky skills. It's guts and determination and what the Americans call "smashmouth" football. Saturdays GF was brilliant as was 2011, 2010, 2009 especially and 2008. The old Swabs under Roos was boring at times as they would try and slow the game down at all costs. This Sydney team is different they hit the packs hard to open it up not just to lock it in.

Yes. (It was ugly football.)

2011 was better.

Any MFC winning GF would be better.

I'm looking forward to Bathurst on Sunday (and the next F1 race - that's much closer to living on the edge with the best in the world)!

Sorry WYL, but there is at least one thing better than football!

i have been to the Ferrari Factory mate. Don't worry cars are in the blood.

Mt. Paranoia will be watched this week from 7 am.

Last weeks GF was a cracking game!