and you think we do? ;-)

you think that's bad - i can't even remember my real name

you think that's bad - i can't even remember my real name

daisy suits you...

daisy suits you...

It doesn't cut with me!

It doesn't cut with me!

poppy?

This is slightly off topic, but found it an interesting analogy to the journey that Neeld (and Craig) are trying to take the players/club/members on.

Was watching some tv recently on the history of the St. Louis Rams (NFL) under coach Dick Vermeil and couldn't help but notice the similarities between the Rams and the MFC recent history. The Rams of the 90's were considered the worst team of the decade, with poor attitudes to training by the previous coaches and players.

Enter a new coach (Vermeil) in 1997 who changed the players mindset by training them harder than they thought possible. Vermeil wasn't interested in results during his first couple of years (and it showed with 2 very poor seasons), but in developing players who would give their all regardless of their ability. I see so many similarities here between what Craig and Neeld are trying to achieve. Vermeil went about recruiting players on attitude and competitiveness (with less emphasis on ability). He recruited 'recycled' players to change the culture of the club at the Rams. For example Kirk Warner (their quarterback in 1999 and the leagues MVP) was stacking shelves at a supermarket a couple of years earlier, having missed out on the draft yet decided to continue to puruse his dream by toiling away in a small indoor league.

Whilst the players attitudes towards training, each other and Vermeil himself took time to change, the turnaround was remarkable. I found it an interesting fact that when the Rams won the NFL championship in Vermeil's 3rd year (1999), there were only 8 players on the clubs list from when Vemeil took over in 1997.The recent changes (14 new players this year) at the MFC, the recruitment of experienced players based upon their attitude and character and who are willing to 'buy in' to Neeld's plan and set an example, thus helping mould their teammates attitudes to training and playing, resonates to me as a similar strategy to the one used so effectively by Vermeil.

Edited January 3, 201313 yr by The O

I heard a long interview with Chris Dawes on SEN with Tony Shebechi

He sounds a great bloke. I can understand why Neeldy went after him

Has nominated for the leadership group with the players backing.

I hope we don't need that second bad year.

This is slightly off topic, but found it an interesting analogy to the journey that Neeld (and Craig) are trying to take the players/club/members on.

Was watching some tv recently on the history of the St. Louis Rams (NFL) under coach Dick Vermeil and couldn't help but notice the similarities between the Rams and the MFC recent history. The Rams of the 90's were considered the worst team of the decade, with poor attitudes to training by the previous coaches and players.

Enter a new coach (Vermeil) in 1997 who changed the players mindset by training them harder than they thought possible. Vermeil wasn't interested in results during his first couple of years (and it showed with 2 very poor seasons), but in developing players who would give their all regardless of their ability. I see so many similarities here between what Craig and Neeld are trying to achieve. Vermeil went about recruiting players on attitude and competitiveness (with less emphasis on ability). He recruited 'recycled' players to change the culture of the club at the Rams. For example Kirk Warner (their quarterback in 1999 and the leagues MVP) was stacking shelves at a supermarket a couple of years earlier, having missed out on the draft yet decided to continue to puruse his dream by toiling away in a small indoor league.

Whilst the players attitudes towards training, each other and Vermeil himself took time to change, the turnaround was remarkable. I found it an interesting fact that when the Rams won the NFL championship in Vermeil's 3rd year (1999), there were only 8 players on the clubs list from when Vemeil took over in 1997.The recent changes (14 new players this year) at the MFC, the recruitment of experienced players based upon their attitude and character and who are willing to 'buy in' to Neeld's plan and set an example, thus helping mould their teammates attitudes to training and playing, resonates to me as a similar strategy to the one used so effectively by Vermeil.

I think that this deserves a post of its own O. Although hopeful that we can see results a year earlier than the Rams, it is worth everybody aborbing rather overlooking the strategy behind our player churn!

*KURT Warner

Anyone got handy access to the Dees list as of end of h&a 2011 ?

Anyone got handy access to the Dees list as of end of h&a 2011 ?

is this any help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Melbourne_Football_Club_season#Squad_for_2011_season

The end of 2011 list looked a reasonable list at the time. Guess it will all unfold when the results of Neeld's recruits and training seasons are tested at Round 1.

is this any help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Melbourne_Football_Club_season#Squad_for_2011_season'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Melbourne_Football_Club_season#Squad_for_2011_season

Yep.. Cheers

Now take that list and compare it to the current one . Whilst doing so have an eye to the post about the Rams !!

I think there's only 26 the same ( might be wrong was a quick count )

This is slightly off topic, but found it an interesting analogy to the journey that Neeld (and Craig) are trying to take the players/club/members on.

Was watching some tv recently on the history of the St. Louis Rams (NFL) under coach Dick Vermeil and couldn't help but notice the similarities between the Rams and the MFC recent history. The Rams of the 90's were considered the worst team of the decade, with poor attitudes to training by the previous coaches and players.

Enter a new coach (Vermeil) in 1997 who changed the players mindset by training them harder than they thought possible. Vermeil wasn't interested in results during his first couple of years (and it showed with 2 very poor seasons), but in developing players who would give their all regardless of their ability. I see so many similarities here between what Craig and Neeld are trying to achieve. Vermeil went about recruiting players on attitude and competitiveness (with less emphasis on ability). He recruited 'recycled' players to change the culture of the club at the Rams. For example Kirk Warner (their quarterback in 1999 and the leagues MVP) was stacking shelves at a supermarket a couple of years earlier, having missed out on the draft yet decided to continue to puruse his dream by toiling away in a small indoor league.

Whilst the players attitudes towards training, each other and Vermeil himself took time to change, the turnaround was remarkable. I found it an interesting fact that when the Rams won the NFL championship in Vermeil's 3rd year (1999), there were only 8 players on the clubs list from when Vemeil took over in 1997.The recent changes (14 new players this year) at the MFC, the recruitment of experienced players based upon their attitude and character and who are willing to 'buy in' to Neeld's plan and set an example, thus helping mould their teammates attitudes to training and playing, resonates to me as a similar strategy to the one used so effectively by Vermeil.

Americas Game is a great show.

We have similarities to a few of the Superbowl winning sides that I've seen.

Many stories of the crap side with a new coach who traded wisely that made good.