A devastating loss for our club yesterday. It's the morning after. The dust has now settled and we've had time to reflect and vent. Microwaved membership cards have cooled a little....i'd like to hear from anyone as to what the Demons (ie., Mark, the coaching crew and the players) can do to turn things around? No doubt many suggestions have already been put forward (some excellent and maybe others not so) on other threads here.

But i'd like this thread to focus on any contructive suggestions and ideas if you have them, even if you've put them forward in another thread and you think it's worth repeating.

Only putting this forward as it appeared MN has thrown his hands up (during the presser) and asked anyone if they know what to do! This to me is a veiled cry for help and digging the barrell. So lets dig!

I would never be so bold as to know exactly what is ultimately wrong with the player group etc. However to kick things off i'll give one suggestion from a recent premiership coach. One which i've always fully believed is a key aspect in any coaching mantra 101 manual and which i used during my short stint as a soccer coach at junior level for 3 seasons (1 runner up result, defeating the unbeaten top team along the way and a premiership the next season. Yes hit and giggle i realise but still enjoyable seasons and results for all involved!).

Even the second part might have some merrit to it after some of the attempted passes (by foot) i watched from our playing group yesterday!

http://www.michaelmalthouse.com.au/coaching-and-leadership-tips/1-keeping-it-basic

Find out why our players fail to run, guard space and opponents and provide options for thier team-mates. That should fix it.

Let the players run on instinct next week. Lift the structures from around their ankles.

Neeld needs to suck it up and learn.

Let the players run on instinct next week. Lift the structures from around their ankles.

Neeld needs to suck it up and learn.

Agree. Neeld needs to throw that big "Systems and Structures in AFL Footy Manual" out the window or the Bombers will slaughter us.

Neeld, do the club and everyone involved in it a favour and leave

Run a competition where a different die hard member gets to go into the room every week and deliver the pre-game talk and the after match spray if we play insipid football. I feel that would be certain to motivate the players!

Play jetta, terlich,kent and Davey, we need extra run.

We were supposed to be the hardest team to play against....start showing it.

Win the tackles, play man on man, play hard, play tough, constant pressure on the opposition.

It all starts with defence.

Look each other in the eye and demand 100%.

Demand blood!

The next two games are must wins, line in the stand stuff!

Play form players - Jetta, Terlich, Evans

Tell Jamar not to tap the ball only one metre away from his feet. Give it a belt wide of the congestion and let Toumpas, Sylvia etc.. to run on to it.

When we have the ball, run and be creative. Run, run, run, run, run.

Agree. Neeld needs to throw that big "Systems and Structures in AFL Footy Manual" out the window or the Bombers will slaughter us.

"Systems and Structures in AFL Footy" by Mick Malthouse

HTFU - that is all. Desperation to be first to the ball and tackle hard when you don't get it and run til you puke then keep running. Everything else is just icing.

Here is my take:

Ins: Dean Kent, Terlich, Magner if possible, Dom Barry, Jetta, Strauss, Blease, Taggart, Joel MacDonald, Fitzpatrick, Tynan, id even bloody include Michael Evans and Troy Davis

Outs: Tappscott (I do rate him but that was terrible), Byrnes, Frawley, Sellar, Dunn, Garland, Gillies, jamar, Watts, Spencer, Byrnes, McKenzie

So in other words - I dont rate our defensive area in any way and I think half our midfield is still ordinary and slow.

I like McKenzie but i dont know who he was tagging but it didnt work - Id prefer Barry and Blease spreading as outsiders with Jones and Viney as the insiders.

Taggart has clearly done enough - Fitzpatrick might offer a bit more in the forward 50 but to be honest I dont think this is our problerm - our problem is the midfield and the defensive 50.

Spencer is now clearly ahead of Jamar.

Edited April 1, 201312 yr by Norm Smith's Curse

We also need to get blokes to the club to speak to the boys and teach them, what you have to do to play like a man.

Guys like Tommy Hafey, Kevin Murray, Mick Martyn.

Even blokes like Billy Slater on how to be switched on come game day.

I'd keep Joel McDonald away from the side, there's enough spuds in the side atm as is.

Stuff the game plan. Just lead, lead, lead. Strong leading into space should be the main focus!

Have a mid week bender at Aami park

Simplify the game plan to man on man, beat your opponent etc

Let Neil Craig coach the team on match day

Bring in Kent, jetta and Terlich - guys who take the game on

I'd keep Joel McDonald away from the side, there's enough spuds in the side atm as is.

You know things are bad when MacDonald's name keeps popping up on the basis that he has a dip. He was the worst performed player in the NAB. The single worst. I'd have literally anyone ahead of him.

Have a mid week bender at Aami park

Simplify the game plan to man on man, beat your opponent etc

Let Neil Craig coach the team on match day

Bring in Kent, jetta and Terlich - guys who take the game on

I love all of these suggestions.

Mongrel in Jack Watts please?

That is your task Coach. Jack can play.

MAKE HIM WANT TO BEAT HIS OPPONENT.

Hire Rodney Eade as coach.

Fly Watts immediately to the jungles of africa where he is treated like a wounded dog until he gets a killer streak...

Play Colin Garland as a forward for the rest of what ever career he has left at the Melbourne Football Club. Can't play on talls, can't play on smalls, can't defend after looking like he could for 3 years from 08-10. Whatever hole he leaves in the defence can easily be covered or made up for as he is no big loss down there.

Play Colin Garland as a forward for the rest of what ever career he has left at the Melbourne Football Club. Can't play on talls, can't play on smalls, can't defend after looking like he could for 3 years from 08-10. Whatever hole he leaves in the defence can easily be covered or made up for as he is no big loss down there.

I don't mind this idea.

He has really struggled in the backline and needs to be freshened up.

I also like WJ's idea of putting Frawley forward.....the poor guy's probably suffering from depression after all the inside 50s that come his way.

Things to do:

- institute man on man football

- make a decision - not all four of Garland, Watts, Dunn and Frawley can play down back at once

- only one of Sellars or Pedersen too

- if McKenzie is a tagger, he must start next to his opponent at each bounce not out on the wing and coming into the contest - Boak won centre clearance after centre clearance whereas Kornes was next to Jones all day

- is Grimes a midfielder or a half back? He can't be both

- Jamar must clear the contest with his taps each week not simply tap it to his feet - belt the hell out of it and get the ball into space

- pray to every god known that Saturday night isn't as big a disaster as yesterday

Here is my take:

Ins: Dean Kent, Terlich, Magner if possible, Dom Barry, Jetta, Strauss, Blease, Taggart, Joel MacDonald, Fitzpatrick, Tynan, id even bloody include Michael Evans and Troy Davis

Outs: Tappscott (I do rate him but that was terrible), Byrnes, Frawley, Sellar, Dunn, Garland, Gillies, jamar, Watts, Spencer, Byrnes, McKenzie

So in other words - I dont rate our defensive area in any way and I think half our midfield is still ordinary and slow.

I like McKenzie but i dont know who he was tagging but it didnt work - Id prefer Barry and Blease spreading as outsiders with Jones and Viney as the insiders.

Taggart has clearly done enough - Fitzpatrick might offer a bit more in the forward 50 but to be honest I dont think this is our problerm - our problem is the midfield and the defensive 50.

Spencer is now clearly ahead of Jamar.

You would have to be joking with some of these suggestions such as Barry for Watts!

I didnt suggest Barry for Watts - I suggested terlich - i was suggesting bringing barry in to atleast give some spread with blease out of the midfield assuming our inside mids can get the ball...