What if we have a bad year?

A few injuries and lose a few close games?

Who would coach us if we sacked Neeld?

Who would want too?

What would they do different?

He needs more than 2 years to change the sh!t that we have been for the last 6 years, there will be KPI's but it couldnt be win/lose. I think he is the right man for the job if he is given enough time. Dont get me wrong I'd love to see more wins than losses but I think when Neeld took over we all agreed to take a journey...

On the reality bus

The reality bus is that we have much more depth (i.e. try picking a best 22 and see how hard it is to decide between options) and once Dawes, Clark and Trengrove are back up, fewer injuries to date. There is no excuse for a bad year and no excuse for a start like 2012. Last year we had a good draw and this year is better (gate takings aside). If we can't get into the eight (i.e. by beating Port Adelaide in the first round) and then stay there with our draw, there is little that Neeld or any other coach can do. This is the make or break year!

To be bloody competitive over 4 quarters and run out games which we havent seen for the past six years would be a start.

I'd like the team to move the ball in a much faster and fluent way . More use of the corridor (not necessarily the middle of the ground, the corridor these days is quite wide) . When we've got the ball we need to play much more instinctive football and become pro-active rather than re-active . More teamwork and spread is required and we have to make better position . Gut running and creating space is a non-negotiable . Our smaller forwards and crumbers must be able to work with Dawes, Clark and Pedersen .

The team needs to continue on the path of 'accountable' footy with a big emphasis on the defensive skills of the game . We have to start winning the count in 'contested footy' , 'hard ball gets' and 'clearances' . Our list must be able to play the 'modern' game (the forward press and the defensive flood should start becoming 2nd nature) . Our kicking and general disposal skills has to improve quite a lot .

It's a lot to ask but we need to do all that and lots more if we're going to start getting into contention .

That's partly what I expect the whole football dept to have as their goal . It's not just about Neeld . Mark needs to have the coaching staff all on the same page and working as a cohesive unit .

it is amazing to think this club is so far behind and Bad at the spread & run and carry considering our home ground has always been the MCG!!

I agree with all you say.

it is amazing to think this club is so far behind and Bad at the spread & run and carry considering our home ground has always been the MCG!!

I agree with all you say.

Defence wins finals. If you want a coach that has run, spread, and carry at the top of its list go hire Dean Bailey, or Brett Ratten. Tough, accountable, defensive footy wins finals.

The best teams have a balance of the two. And it doesn't matter whether you play at Etihad, the MCG, or the tiny SCG (hmm). What matters is recruiting players with the right character and skillsets, developing them properly in all facets of the game, and implementing a game-plan that stands up in the red hot cauldron of a grand final. Imo, Sydney don't win the GF without Lewis Jetta, but more importantly they don't get to the GF without their brilliant contested ball winning midfield.

Defence wins finals. If you want a coach that has run, spread, and carry at the top of its list go hire Dean Bailey, or Brett Ratten. Tough, accountable, defensive footy wins finals.

The best teams have a balance of the two. And it doesn't matter whether you play at Etihad, the MCG, or the tiny SCG (hmm). What matters is recruiting players with the right character and skillsets, developing them properly in all facets of the game, and implementing a game-plan that stands up in the red hot cauldron of a grand final. Imo, Sydney don't win the GF without Lewis Jetta, but more importantly they don't get to the GF without their brilliant contested ball winning midfield.

not disputing that defense is the backbone.

But i am still amazed we have not played the Modern Game of spread & carry considering our womb is the MCG.

Look at Geelong. The style of their play between kardinia Park and the MCG was almost seamless.

not disputing that defense is the backbone.

But i am still amazed we have not played the Modern Game of spread & carry considering our womb is the MCG.

Look at Geelong. The style of their play between kardinia Park and the MCG was almost seamless.

You're not listening. Bailey's game was all run and carry. It got him the sack.

Neeld is trying re-balance the ledger. It takes time. You'll see far more spread this year.

A marked improvement in all areas of our game is what I'm looking for. If this doesn't happen I may join the jungle band, but if we show marked improvement and it doesn't translate into wins and the "wins by golly wins" band, start banging the drums... I'll reach for my earmuffs!

not disputing that defense is the backbone.

But i am still amazed we have not played the Modern Game of spread & carry considering our womb is the MCG.

Look at Geelong. The style of their play between kardinia Park and the MCG was almost seamless.

Its hard to play the modern game when we had a 90s style coach in Bailey, people dont understand how far his regime set the club back, i went to the GWS game at the G last year and never forgot when Moloney refused to spread in the 2nd quarter, old dogs refuse to learn new tricks, hence why he was traded, i think Neeld and company will suprise a few in the AFL world this season, he now has a list that will follow instructions to the letter, just like Malthouse did, i think that 10 wins is well within our reach now that the bad eggs have been tossed aside. PS i like the thread Stuie.

You're not listening. Bailey's game was all run and carry. It got him the sack.

Neeld is trying re-balance the ledger. It takes time. You'll see far more spread this year.

I am listening. I am a Gemini. I know a bit about balance.

Yes Neeld is toughening up the list. Sure he is.

But run and carry should still be part of the routine.

The MFC has been deplorable at all of it.

Yes Bails got the sack because he had no defensive game, but i also blame the club for not giving him nearly enough resources.

Neeld now has these so in his second year i am expecting a Quantum leap.

You can only do so much learning...At some stage the team has to do it. Hopefully instinctively.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by why you little

I have been reading these posts with great interest, and to WYL with due respect you seem to have have huge expectations and some lack of understanding where this club and side has come from, so I go back to when Misson first started and the fitness was way behind the data that he had, he has also stated (correct me if i'm wrong that this year has been ramped up around another 30%) so we are still behind the two sides that he has been in control of.

Neeld and co have now set the club up after his first year the way a football club is supposed to be (i.e. the pies, geelong etc) and it will take a little more time before they become a constant football club but the building blocks are there, remember how long the cats took and the pies to reach it.

The game plan will will incorporate run and carry tight defence and hard running but until the elite fitness kicks in core strengths become stronger and strong work ethics become the norm we will still have moments of going uhhhhhhhh but they will become less and less.

We are on the right track and for the first time in a long time and you can smell it so be patient grasshopper.

I have been reading these posts with great interest, and to WYL with due respect you seem to have have huge expectations and some lack of understanding where this club and side has come from, so I go back to when Misson first started and the fitness was way behind the data that he had, he has also stated (correct me if i'm wrong that this year has been ramped up around another 30%) so we are still behind the two sides that he has been in control of.

Neeld and co have now set the club up after his first year the way a football club is supposed to be (i.e. the pies, geelong etc) and it will take a little more time before they become a constant football club but the building blocks are there, remember how long the cats took and the pies to reach it.

The game plan will will incorporate run and carry tight defence and hard running but until the elite fitness kicks in core strengths become stronger and strong work ethics become the norm we will still have moments of going uhhhhhhhh but they will become less and less.

We are on the right track and for the first time in a long time and you can smell it so be patient grasshopper.

i know exactly where this club has come from 3165.

I have been on the ride for many years.

Maybe i just believe it is time the club took that Quantum Leap into the unknown so to speak quicker than others on here.

I know where we have been & i know of the changes in philosophy since 186.

As long as i can remember the MFC has always pooped itself at critical moments against the heavyweights.

Always found an excuse.

That's why i like Neeld. I don't think he wants to hear any of them.

No reason why we shouldn't aim for the 8 this year.

When the opposition have the ball we man-up and fill the holes.

When we have the ball we run and spread to create space.

Ben Hur was right earlier stating that we should expect more run and carry this year. Due to last years hard lessons and non-negotiables set by the coaching group the team will be much better at winning the pill this year.

Footy is a simple game. Just some teams are better at it than others.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by McQueen

Another boring pointless post from stuie, your arrogance is getting boring mate. Do everyone a favor a shut it if u dont have anything of worth to add.

So much irony....

So much irony....

seriously stuie, 90% of your posts you criticise people or name call, its very boring

There's a subtle difference between the run and carry as espoused by DB and the speed and movement of the 'Spread' as deployed by the more assertive and capable sides.

In the former it was the End , in the latter it's only a means to an end !!!

seriously stuie, 90% of your posts you criticise people or name call, its very boring

Oh man, double irony...

Oh man, double irony...

You can apply that to just about every post you make. Im sure it wont be long till Rhino has to warn you yet again.

You can apply that to just about every post you make. Im sure it wont be long till Rhino has to warn you yet again.

That's 3 posts now where all you've done is have a crack at me. Who do you think is deserving of a warning?

I really don't think you understand irony at all.

i know exactly where this club has come from 3165.

I have been on the ride for many years.

Maybe i just believe it is time the club took that Quantum Leap into the unknown so to speak quicker than others on here.

I know where we have been & i know of the changes in philosophy since 186.

As long as i can remember the MFC has always pooped itself at critical moments against the heavyweights.

Always found an excuse.

That's why i like Neeld. I don't think he wants to hear any of them.

No reason why we shouldn't aim for the 8 this year.

I understand where you come from and your right Neeld does not want to live in the past but set it up for a long reign at the top 4 year after year, but lets realise we have gone from crawling to walking and the next step is running, but he will get there.

You can apply that to just about every post you make. Im sure it wont be long till Rhino has to warn you yet again.

Save your breath Neeter. Stuie doesn't get it !

I have been reading these posts with great interest, and to WYL with due respect you seem to have have huge expectations and some lack of understanding where this club and side has come from, so I go back to when Misson first started and the fitness was way behind the data that he had, he has also stated (correct me if i'm wrong that this year has been ramped up around another 30%) so we are still behind the two sides that he has been in control of.

Neeld and co have now set the club up after his first year the way a football club is supposed to be (i.e. the pies, geelong etc) and it will take a little more time before they become a constant football club but the building blocks are there, remember how long the cats took and the pies to reach it.

The game plan will will incorporate run and carry tight defence and hard running but until the elite fitness kicks in core strengths become stronger and strong work ethics become the norm we will still have moments of going uhhhhhhhh but they will become less and less.

We are on the right track and for the first time in a long time and you can smell it so be patient grasshopper.

Well written and as much as I would like to see us in the 8 it is unlikely as the whole competition will evolve and improve further, not just us.

Craig has said we will not reach the required fitness level until mid 2014 according to someone here who had a conversation with him. This is not Neeld's make or break year, this is part of a well structured plan and it won't hinge on wins or loses just yet.

It was always fun listening to the Essendon people bagging Knights the Carlton crew Ratten, watch the golden boy (Hird) cop it this year if they have another fade out. I don't want to be one of those clubs. Yes they were successful and still believe their own spin about being winners but it's been a while now, like Richmond and our club, the in fighting has done a lot of damage.

Having said all that I would hope to see the difference between our best and worst narrow substantially this year though.

I understand where you come from and your right Neeld does not want to live in the past but set it up for a long reign at the top 4 year after year, but lets realise we have gone from crawling to walking and the next step is running, but he will get there.

its all belief.

I think Neeld will thrive under pressure. It's what he needs.

I just hope he really expects this list that he and the FD have now built to go out there believing the can take 4 points each week.

We have not had that pressure on us for years.

WYL I suppose its best described like this, have you ever worked for a company that lacks leadership from the top, the workers get lazy and the care factor will always be low, mistakes get passed over, excuses become the norm, then a new leadership comes in with a different direction, but the workers still think that the old way is best, there will always be hesitance from the workers not believing that what the leadership team are doing will lead to better work ethics, higher output etc. When they realise that the new team care about what they are doing how there going about it and then giving them the tools to improve themselves that is when the company takes itself to another level and gives itself a real chance to compete with the big boys.

This is now happening Neeld and co are doing this but again don't reach for the stars only for them to burn out, l want to see as many wins as every supporter does, but remember every other club is trying to do the same, but we came from a long way back, but by hell Neeld and co won't die wondering.

GO DEES!!!!

3165 in 1988 i first worked in the ABC Newsroom. At that stage the ratings were about 7-9% the room just meandered along.

In came a new manager when Mary Deahunty was first seen on the side of Trams.

The manager waas a tough bastard i assure you. The room was computerized staff were sacked where possible and the union went into meltdown.

Within a year we were rating 24%

7.30 Report was winning awards and John Jost was doing so well that The Goanna bought out his contract and within 6 months he was off the TV.

So to answer your question...Yes.

And things can change quickly.

The MFC has already wasted the past 6 years in a lot of ways.

I do not wish 2013 to be another like that.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by why you little

3165 in 1988 i first worked in the ABC Newsroom. At that stage the ratings were about 7-9% the room just meandered along.

In came a new manager when Mary Deahunty was first seen on the side of Trams.

The manager waas a tough bastard i assure you. The room was computerized staff were sacked where possible and the union went into meltdown.

Within a year we were rating 24%

7.30 Report was winning awards and John Jost was doing so well that The Goanna bought out his contract and within 6 months he was off the TV.

So to answer your question...Yes.

And things can change quickly.

The MFC has already wasted the past 6 years in a lot of ways.

I do not wish 2013 to be another like that.

You work for the left wing ABC ?

No, I won't have it.