He may or may not be a great coach at this level, but the way in which just about every softy on the list were eradicated in one hit and replaced with players who fill a clear need is still resonating with me. Whether we get there or not will be revealed in the fullness of time and I'm not making any bold predictions, but this group has a clear vision of where it is going and has plotted a path to get there; hopefully the group has the ability to deliver on that vision.

I'm happy with the players he axed. I'll wait Nd see whether I'm happy with the recruits. I've been excited about recruits before!

Edited February 18, 201312 yr by Roost It

I'm more concerned that if all the apparent improvement in the off-season is followed by disappointing performances in the real stuff, he may not have 2 years. If the apparent outcomes of the tanking issue are near the mark, after 5 disappointing years, we will need to show signs of major improvement in the first half of this season.

He won 1 game last year, and whilst I am happy to let him own his own team and give him some time, he will have to start getting some wins on the board this year.

one thing I would like to see is now we start playing some competitive matches, that our players don't start getting injured and dropping like flies.

Also specifically I wil be looking to see how he develops Tapscott, Strauss, Blease, Pederson, Spencer, Nicholson and even Gawn for this year. Barring injury they all have the ability to make it as consistently good players at AFL Level.

We can hope Viney, Hogan and Toumpas become Elite players but we need a core group of players to step up and do a role.

I think that's partly what it boils down to, is the fact we've been conned before. No many clubs have to endure two complete rebuilds back to back.

Putting that aside, as well as the abysmal performances of last season, he's brought in what appear to be the right mould of players to bring us out of the mire that we find ourselves in. Right now, even if he can make us no longer the laughing stock of the entire competition, I'll love him forever.

But he has the stock he wants now, and he's had time to instill confidence in the game plan. I accept we're not a finals side, but wins matter this year. They matter big time. If there isn't a fair degree of improvement on 2012 I'll be disappointed. If it's more of he same, I don't care how great a bloke he is, I'll walk him to his car myself. The days of being the team no-one takes seriously need to end as of now.

I should also say that IMHO we're more likely to get better as the season goes on, because the team will get more used to playing together & what to expect from one another, and the game plan may take time to gel.

On the other hand, sings of improvement will have to be there in the first half of the season. The pressure will pile on if not.

So it doesn't bother me if we lose to Port in R1, and it's not going to matter how well we might look against GWS or GCS.

But we have a bye round 12; the 4 games before that are against Pies (R11), Hawks (R10), Freo (R9) & Toigs (R8). MFC's future could well depend on how we do in these 4 games. Whatever the fallout is from the tanking inquiry, if we can't do any better than last year in these games, we'll all be in a deep deep hole. If we really take it up to these teams, win or lose, we'll be OK.

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Akum

Neeldy has balls and this will inevitably rub off onto the players. At least if we aren't the greatest team tactically, we are going to be damn tough - this is clear through the guys Neeld has axed and recruited.

Neeldy has balls and this will inevitably rub off onto the players.

Hmm that sounds a little weird.

So it doesn't bother me if we lose to Port in R1, and it's not going to matter how well we might look against GWS or GCS.

I see the Port game as the most important game of the season which many will dismiss as they have already counted it.

And if we do win it, it will seem that I worried over not much.

But it will be the first win in round one for many years.

It will show me we have turned a corner.

It will show if Neeld has played players to give them a run or picked the team most likely to win. Hard to judge if we win.

I am curious that not too many feel the same nervousness. But boy I hate being favorites for this match($1.65)

Mark Neeld must be feeling warm and fuzzy with all the unconditional support on display here......if anyone thinks they can do a better job, can you let the rest of know when you will be applying for a senior coaching role.............

Mark Neeld must be feeling warm and fuzzy with all the unconditional support on display here......if anyone thinks they can do a better job, can you let the rest of know when you will be applying for a senior coaching role.............

Stupid post. He has my full support and I've defended him tooth and nail to those who say unequivocally that he "can't coach". The fact is we're yet to see if he can, but will have a much clearer indication this season. This is obvious I would've thought, nothing to do with not supporting him.

I care about winning matches and looking half decent doing it. Until he does that, or indeed anything close to that, I'm not calling him the messiah, and I make no apologies for that.

I see the Port game as the most important game of the season which many will dismiss as they have already counted it.

And if we do win it, it will seem that I worried over not much.

But it will be the first win in round one for many years.

It will show me we have turned a corner.

It will show if Neeld has played players to give them a run or picked the team most likely to win. Hard to judge if we win.

I am curious that not too many feel the same nervousness. But boy I hate being favorites for this match($1.65)

I agree 110%.

Winning is a habit and we have to get off to a good start for the year. Another 0-4 start morphs into a 0-10 start so quickly these days.

It looks like we wont have Clark and Trengove but we should still have some goal kicking power and a reasonable defense. What I want to see in the NAB cup is a competitive effort across the ground particularly with midfielders winning the ball and some decent ball movement. If we can't display that then I don't see us beating Port and that would start the year on a very bad note.

Neeldy has balls and this will inevitably rub off onto the players. At least if we aren't the greatest team tactically, we are going to be damn tough - this is clear through the guys Neeld has axed and recruited.

Keep it PG django

Mark Neeld must be feeling warm and fuzzy with all the unconditional support on display here......if anyone thinks they can do a better job, can you let the rest of know when you will be applying for a senior coaching role.............

So what is that the "black mail" comment if we cannot coach an AFL team we cannot have an opinion.

It is a bit like saying If you have never played AFL you cannot comment on a player.

Please

I just get a bit bored with the constant "oh no what if this happens" "will we be any good" "players are soft".....I have the attitude I have never coached or played at AFL level so I don't know what is required....so I don't knock the players or coaches

This is footy....you go along to the game, if we win it is good and enjoy the next day or two, if we lose, p*****d off on the walk home, forgotten and look forward to the following week

If posters on here think that there is not going to be any improvement this year, quite simple, save your money and don't go and watch, that way I don't get the constant negativity shoved down my throat on this board.

The board is for all supporters, we may not necessarily agree with each other and not share the same opinions......my opinion I am bored with the negativity....but I want to continue to read and contribute to the board, so I am expressing how I feel

Neeldy has balls and this will inevitably rub off onto the players.

Hopefully, pheromones aren't on the banned substances list yet.

I just get a bit bored with the constant "oh no what if this happens" "will we be any good" "players are soft".....I have the attitude I have never coached or played at AFL level so I don't know what is required....so I don't knock the players or coaches

This is footy....you go along to the game, if we win it is good and enjoy the next day or two, if we lose, p*****d off on the walk home, forgotten and look forward to the following week

If posters on here think that there is not going to be any improvement this year, quite simple, save your money and don't go and watch, that way I don't get the constant negativity shoved down my throat on this board.

The board is for all supporters, we may not necessarily agree with each other and not share the same opinions......my opinion I am bored with the negativity....but I want to continue to read and contribute to the board, so I am expressing how I feel

Happy with that .

I think the we have had a very poor five years and need wins wins and a little respect badly.

It is getting to us all.

Not easy to keep the chin up mate.

My fingers are crossed for a better 2013

The board is for all supporters, we may not necessarily agree with each other and not share the same opinions......my opinion I am bored with the negativity....but I want to continue to read and contribute to the board, so I am expressing how I feel

As am I satyr, so we agree on each of us having the right to express our opinion in equal measure.

All I would say I don't confuse my perspective for negativity. I'm saying that the time for sitting on our hands is over. Expectations from last year must lift. What matters ultimately is results.

You are saying "go along to footy and if we lose, oh well, there's always next week", a mentality which our supporters have had to adopt through necessity.

Whose the negative one here?

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by P_Man

I just get a bit bored with the constant "oh no what if this happens" "will we be any good" "players are soft".....I have the attitude I have never coached or played at AFL level so I don't know what is required....so I don't knock the players or coaches

This is footy....you go along to the game, if we win it is good and enjoy the next day or two, if we lose, p*****d off on the walk home, forgotten and look forward to the following week

If posters on here think that there is not going to be any improvement this year, quite simple, save your money and don't go and watch, that way I don't get the constant negativity shoved down my throat on this board.

The board is for all supporters, we may not necessarily agree with each other and not share the same opinions......my opinion I am bored with the negativity....but I want to continue to read and contribute to the board, so I am expressing how I feel

What you're really saying is that you have no football related opinions, because you've never played, or coached and don't want to hear others'.

Glad we cleared that up.

Last year I saw Blease buying in as a big turning point. It seemed most the players were either in or out but it seemed to me that Blease was one who did not buy in instantly and after seeing all the work the guys were putting in he eventually bought in and it showed evidently what Neeld could do.

Last year I saw Blease buying in as a big turning point. It seemed most the players were either in or out but it seemed to me that Blease was one who did not buy in instantly and after seeing all the work the guys were putting in he eventually bought in and it showed evidently what Neeld could do.

Ok, that's put us over the quota for using the "buy in" tautology. Please no more.

What I am saying is I go along and watch a Footy game, if we lose, nobody dies,, we may win the next week....it doesn't rule my life, it doesn't set my mood for the next couple of weeks or so, it is footy....

.I have played footy and I have coached...but not at AFL level.....

.I support the coaches and players.....yes I will groan like the next person when we turn it over with a bad decision or kick..

....but hey it's a game.....that is part of the enjoyment....it plays with your emotions for two hours...it is entertainment..........

....I have posted before I am constantly amazed why somebody would willingly put themselves through something that they obviously don't enjoy....I go because I enjoy the game and everything it brings

An opinion needs to be backed up, we have posters on here who will present and argument or opinion and back it up with good reasoning, I may not agree with it but I will read it.........

..but the constant "we are s**t and always will be" becomes tedious....

.it would be nice to actually read a topic where each post presents a reasoned argument.....there are no personal attackes "Stupid post" being an example.......or a topice being hijacked.......but I can't ever see that happening

edit for some appalling spelling...somebody wanted to talk work whilst I was typing this, how inconsiderate

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Satyriconhome

..but the constant "we are s**t and always will be" becomes tedious....

.it would be nice to actually read a topic where each post presents a reasoned argument.....there are no personal attackes "Stupid post" being an example.......or a topice being hijacked.......but I can't ever see that happening

I have never nor would I ever abide by "we are [censored] and alway will be". We aren't Richmond.

To infer that my refraining from showering Neeld with praise demonstrates a lack of support, is a stupid notion in my view. I agree the personal nature of posts becomes a bit much but I couldn't let that one slide because I do support Neeld, I just refuse to label someone with his win/loss record as "the one" just yet. Let's not forget that he received heavy criticism last year for not just the losses, but the nature of them. The scope for improvement on last year is enormous.

He's done everything right this off-season. Now let's see how much it translates onto the field.

I cannot disagree with any thing you say Ron.

For reasons I find difficult to explain MN just leaves me feeling less than great.

Just out of curiosity, did Dean get your blood pumping?

I believe that our fitness(or lack of it) last year had a lot to do with the results ....I think the coaching dept stated that up until July we were doing a whole lot more fitness work,trying to catch up with other teams thereby fading out in a lot of games

Looking for improvement in a lot of areas this year....

What I am saying is I go along and watch a Footy game, if we lose, nobody dies,, we may win the next week....it doesn't rule my life, it doesn't set my mood for the next couple of weeks or so, it is footy....

.I have played footy and I have coached...but not at AFL level.....

.I support the coaches and players.....yes I will groan like the next person when we turn it over with a bad decision or kick..

....but hey it's a game.....that is part of the enjoyment....it plays with your emotions for two hours...it is entertainment..........

....I have posted before I am constantly amazed why somebody would willingly put themselves through something that they obviously don't enjoy....I go because I enjoy the game and everything it brings

An opinion needs to be backed up, we have posters on here who will present and argument or opinion and back it up with good reasoning, I may not agree with it but I will read it.........

..but the constant "we are s**t and always will be" becomes tedious....

.it would be nice to actually read a topic where each post presents a reasoned argument.....there are no personal attackes "Stupid post" being an example.......or a topice being hijacked.......but I can't ever see that happening

edit for some appalling spelling...somebody wanted to talk work whilst I was typing this, how inconsiderate

I wish I could be so relaxed about our performance as a footy club. Sadly I'm too emotionally invested and it's not in my DNA.

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Ben-Hur