Hats off to Mark Neeld

[Jonesbag 487]

How did Clarke, Grimes go this year? Don't reckon it was backwards...

Baileys plan was all based on youth which you can never count on. At least we are recruiting in known quantities....Neeld will have done everything possible to give us a chance to be competitive from a base we all acknowledge was lowest of low...

What more do you want from a guy in his first year at a club that was a basket case?

Throw Blease, Sylvia, Watts and Dunn into that group as well. Neeld has sorted out the committed from the lazy and has worked out what he needs. 2013 will be the year of progression and development with at least 6-10 wins.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I also think Neeld's been very astute in identifying and recruiting many of the assistant coaches. They too seem to have had a very positive impact on the culture of the club and the player list.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

My personal opinion is that Bailey could talk the talk but he set an already somewhat lazy team backwards a long way.

Think about it this way - recruiting wise - we came from a forward 50 inhabited by such names as Neitz, Vardy, Farmer, Schwartz, Robbo and Uze which Daniher then dumbed down to a few fails, Holland, Miller, Moorcroft and then Bailey came in and added such unfulfilled flakey talent as Wonna, Jurrah and well no one really...

Where we are at in 2012 is much less a reflection of Mark Neeld as a coach as it is a reflection of the culture of the players when Neeld started. cancelling time trials or the classic under Daniher of Byron Pickett smsing in that he wouldnt be at a game because he was too hung over. LOL.

its about much higher standards at training and at commitment to be elite - about players 'behaving their way in or out' - he has set high standards. Not all of the players I thought would respond have and some of the players that seem to have responded I am surprised by.

And lastly now in the trade and FA period all the holes I personally have assessed and seen myself are the targets of aggressive trade movements. Im impressed. neeld seems to be a realist rather than another blind faithmonger of potential that we have a history of squandering or spoiling with kids gloves.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Norm Smith's Curse

[RalphiusMaximus 6,052]

I think one point that hasn't been touched on regarding the way the club has worked this trade period is the fact that at the moment we don't have a head recruiter. Given this lack, we are far less likely to land quality players with our later picks, which could be part of the reason we are so willing to send them elsewhere and take known quantities in their place. We still have pick 4, which will land us a highly rated player with very little research required. No doubt it will be someone with a reputation for work ethic and attack on the ball. Other than that, we will use late picks on rookie upgrades and apparently be content to wait until next year when we have a fully functioning recruitment team once more.

Also of note is that the players we are targeting (with the exception of Pederson) have all played in grand finals. Obviously we are bringing them in for that experience as much as for what they will bring to the team on game day. If we land Ray that will be grand final players from three clubs with three very different styles who will all be bringing that experience and knowledge to the club to share with the rest of the team.

Edited October 21, 2012 by RalphiusMaximus

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

We in essense believe we have a solid list of young players who will take us to the next level. Clearly with the captaincy going to T and G its clear that there was a perception in the players and within the coaching staff that we lacked good leadership. Neeld's team seem to be making inroads into changing that.

While we have no proper recruiter, a few people have told me that we have been sending out feelers to local level recruiters all over the place for info.

[bing181 9,234]

I think one point that hasn't been touched on regarding the way the club has worked this trade period is the fact that at the moment we don't have a head recruiter. Given this lack, we are far less likely to land quality players with our later picks, which could be part of the reason we are so willing to send them elsewhere and take known quantities in their place.

Think you're drawing a long bow there. We still have a team of recruiters, and in one interview I read (sorry, can't remember where) Harrington said that because of the increased resources in the FD this year, we were better able to track and research younger players. The signing already of someone that no-one had ever heard of in Dom Barry alongside Hogan would tend to contradict your premise.

[Cards13 9,117]

Think you're drawing a long bow there. We still have a team of recruiters, and in one interview I read (sorry, can't remember where) Harrington said that because of the increased resources in the FD this year, we were better able to track and research younger players. The signing already of someone that no-one had ever heard of in Dom Barry alongside Hogan would tend to contradict your premise.

Not sure if it was on here but i recall something about a database we were using to track lower leagues potential now days.