I agree with your reference to Jim Stynes passing.. I noted at the time how the players seemed so affected emotionally at Jim's funeral etc., but came out the week after just as disinterested as they previously were .. I was totally shocked and puzzled at the seemingly lack of passion thereafter. I just feel that the MFC has lost all the desire it had shown in the years that made it one of the Great Clubs of the competition. The current breed of players do not (in my opinion) seem to possess the bond , desire or winning attitude of those from the past.

I agree with this, but ultimately it is the coaches responsibility to create an environment and a culture that in turn will deliver the mindset, the desire and self-belief required to regularly win games of AFL football.

The club is older than 16 years old mate, school holidays has started I assume?

yes they have . They may be older than 16 years but good luck to anybody trying to recruit new blood into supporting this team. You don't win, you don't get supporters. Everyone can talk about how dominant we were in the 50s but it doesn't matter to the new supporters now. I really worry about the financing future of this team.

I will simply wait and watch this sat. If nothing changes in terms of style and execution then Neeld will have signed his own warrant. If 1) the team tries 2) the team effects a more engaging type of footy and 3) we are competitive then im prepared to watch and wait. Maybe there is something stirring and it judt misfired.

If the same [censored] is served up then i cant really be bothered for the year. I find it sad i can even think let alone write that.

Im this far off having had enough. Got any Scotch left Old ??

I agree with this, but ultimately it is the coaches responsibility to create an environment and a culture that in turn will deliver the mindset, the desire and self-belief required to regularly win games of AFL football.

This post should be pinned to the top of Demonland this week.

Spot on.

I will simply wait and watch this sat. If nothing changes in terms of style and execution then Neeld will have signed his own warrant. If 1) the team tries 2) the team effects a more engaging type of footy and 3) we are competitive then im prepared to watch and wait. Maybe there is something stirring and it judt misfired.

If the same [censored] is served up then i cant really be bothered for the year. I find it sad i can even think let alone write that.

Im this far off having had enough. Got any Scotch left Old ??

Covers my thoughts fairly well BB

Need a new bottle mate.

I have seldom felt this bad in the last 48 years.

We have had some bad teams over that period but I can never remember thinking we were not trying.

That is the exact feeling I have at present.

haha this once great club?? Through my 16 years on this Earth they have never been great and I still don't know why I bother with them. All I will say is that if they don't show up this week, I'm done with them.

On recent history, you will be "done with them" after the Essendon game this week ?? At your age maybe you are planning on being drafted by some AFL Club and showing the Melbourne boys how to play the game ?? But don't give up as easily as you are prepared to give up your support for the Dees , will you ?? Maybe that's what's wrong with some of our current crop of players. They "give up" too easily.. The Cub doesn't need that type of individual.

yes they have . They may be older than 16 years but good luck to anybody trying to recruit new blood into supporting this team. You don't win, you don't get supporters. Everyone can talk about how dominant we were in the 50s but it doesn't matter to the new supporters now. I really worry about the financing future of this team.

Ive seen plenty of kids at the MCG younger than 16 supporting the dee's.

I will simply wait and watch this sat. If nothing changes in terms of style and execution then Neeld will have signed his own warrant. If 1) the team tries 2) the team effects a more engaging type of footy and 3) we are competitive then im prepared to watch and wait. Maybe there is something stirring and it judt misfired.

If the same [censored] is served up then i cant really be bothered for the year. I find it sad i can even think let alone write that.

Im this far off having had enough. Got any Scotch left Old ??

Very close to my sentiments. Sad, because I so love this Football Club and have never even thought about supporting any other AFL Team....Let's hope we rise again... I said HOPE ....

I have a bottle Old. On standby !! Lol

I hate the start of the season. I shouldnt.

Every year for yonks now we turn up to be vicerated !!

Neeld. You dont have three years any more. I reckon you have 3 weeks to show your mettle .

Otherwise Ill personally order the timber for the gallows.

How was it so totally bad ......all day ??

Ive a Pauline Hanson on the line. Shed like to ask you something !!

Ive seen plenty of kids at the MCG younger than 16 supporting the dee's.

Maybe it's a family tradition ?? let's hope we are attracting supporters of the younger brigade from families outside of those whom have traditionally supported the Dees in the past.

i'm all for giving him the season, but come season end and nothings changed he must go. My issue is when will the club realise that copy cats don't succeed. Dean Bailey tried to copy geelong,Neeld needs to forget collingwood and come up with fresh ideas. The game changes every year and the successful teams are the innovative ones who come up with their own way of playing. We always look to try and emulate the best rather then beat the best. I want a proven coach but if its not possible just a coach who wont copy and isn't afraid to try something new.

It all makes sense to me now, for the past 6 years we try to copy the successful game plans while the rest of the league has already figured out how to beat it.

I may be completely wrong and tell me if so. But this is to me is how it looks.

I have a bottle Old. On standby !! Lol

I hate the start of the season. I shouldnt.

Every year for yonks now we turn up to be vicerated !!

Neeld. You dont have three years any more. I reckon you have 3 weeks to show your mettle .

Otherwise Ill personally order the timber for the gallows.

How was it so totally bad ......all day ??

Ive a Pauline Hanson on the line. Shed like to ask you something !!

Please Explain !!! lol God we still have a sense of humour (some of us at least)

Maybe it's a family tradition ?? let's hope we are attracting supporters of the younger brigade from families outside of those whom have traditionally supported the Dees in the past.

Isnt that how all supporters start?

i'm all for giving him the season, but come season end and nothings changed he must go. My issue is when will the club realise that copy cats don't succeed. Dean Bailey tried to copy geelong,Neeld needs to forget collingwood and come up with fresh ideas. The game changes every year and the successful teams are the innovative ones who come up with their own way of playing. We always look to try and emulate the best rather then beat the best. I want a proven coach but if its not possible just a coach who wont copy and isn't afraid to try something new.

It all makes sense to me now, for the past 6 years we try to copy the successful game plans while the rest of the league has already figured out how to beat it.

I may be completely wrong and tell me if so. But this is to me is how it looks.

If Mark Neeld only has to offer what he is copying from his Collingwood experience then we are doomed as this would mean he has no ability as a coach in his own right ???? Think about that people !!!Sounds ominous doesn't it ???? Help !!!

Bailey = poor coach

Neeld = poor coach

We should have moved Bailey on early. We didn't and Neeld inherited a poorly developed list devoid of any real talent and experience.

Trouble is, Neeld could be as bad as Bailey (albeit in a completely different way)

Our current crop of players can't think for themselves.

The team has no confidence.

Has no dash and daring.

Has very little teamwork.

We don't run to position.

We don't kick to position

We don't shepherd.

We don't back each other up.

We play from behind.

We're constantly 2nd to the ball.

Gut running isn't part of our game plan.

Our disposal skills are woeful.

We hang our heads too much.

We don't use the corridor anywhere near enough.

Our 2nd and 3rd efforts are generally poor

We play an outdated game style.

We don't talk out on the ground.

Give and go handballing - rarely see it.

The players don't care enough when we lose.

Our players are lazy.

We don't man up.

We give up too easily.

We don't chase or tackle with any intent.

Our forwards get caught from behind too much.

Our clearance work and system out of the middle is virtually non existent.

We don't know how to win.

We're generally soft and have been since the start of the 2008 season.

Like it or not, all the above areas are in the coaches domain.

What an absolute shambles.

There is something sick at Melbourne in the playing group. Dean Bailey's son used to always tell us when we taught him that the Melbourne players ignored the game plan and directives from the coach. Those players who were there under Bailey are a major part of the problem, with the exception of professionals like Nathan Jones.

So we're down 500k for Tanking

Sacking Neeld and paying him out would cost another 1.2M

Bringing in another coach would cost 5-600K

Hmmm,are the members up for another 5 years of DEBT DEEMOLITION?

Put every player on our list on $200 per disposal and $300 per tackle and see how desperate they become.

Nathan Bassett .... Lock it in

i'm all for giving him the season, but come season end and nothings changed he must go. My issue is when will the club realise that copy cats don't succeed. Dean Bailey tried to copy geelong,Neeld needs to forget collingwood and come up with fresh ideas. The game changes every year and the successful teams are the innovative ones who come up with their own way of playing. We always look to try and emulate the best rather then beat the best. I want a proven coach but if its not possible just a coach who wont copy and isn't afraid to try something new.

It all makes sense to me now, for the past 6 years we try to copy the successful game plans while the rest of the league has already figured out how to beat it.

I may be completely wrong and tell me if so. But this is to me is how it looks.

Thanks Timmy, this is another major point. Good coaches don't simply copy a previous successful game plan. By the time you copy it, teams know how to defeat it.... its old and useless. A good coach comes in and develops a game plan that exagerates the streagths and minimises the weakness of your list. I still don't know what Neeld was doing trying to implement the old Collingwood game plan from their 2010 premiership, a game plan that required many stong big marking forwards, and big bodied midfielders when Melbourne had a team of highly talented but light under developed kids? What the????? This was a major grip of mine last season with Neeld. We need a new game plan that matches our strengths and weaknesses.

Isnt that how all supporters start?

What I am trying to say is I hope we recruit kids supporting us who come from families with parents who don't support Melbourne as a tradition, otherwise we will eventually run out of supporters/members as in my experience many kids these days support teams diffferently from their dads and mums and many times , brothers and sisters. Hope this is not too confusing ? sorry if it is. cheers

If Mark Neeld only has to offer what he is copying from his Collingwood experience then we are doomed as this would mean he has no ability as a coach in his own right ???? Think about that people !!!Sounds ominous doesn't it ???? Help !!!

he can bring everything he wants from collingwood; except the game plan, unfortunately he has done this.

No mate, not confusing at all. I understand what your saying with winning games, if we dont start winning games then our supporter base will fritter away and we will be the last of a dying breed

Ive seen plenty of kids at the MCG younger than 16 supporting the dee's.

I've seen plenty of kids complain to their parents about not winning, wanting to leave at half time at Melbourne Games. What is your point?

Bailey = poor coach

Neeld = poor coach

We should have moved Bailey on early. We didn't and Neeld inherited a poorly developed list devoid of any real talent and experience.

Trouble is, Neeld could be as bad as Bailey (albeit in a completely different way)

Our current crop of players can't think for themselves.

The team has no confidence.

Has no dash and daring.

Has very little teamwork.

We don't run to position.

We don't shepherd.

We don't back each other up.

We play from behind.

We're constantly 2nd to the ball.

Our disposal skills are woeful.

We hang our heads too much.

We don't use the corridor anywhere near enough.

We play an outdated game style.

We don't talk out on the ground.

The players don't care enough when we lose.

Our players are lazy.

We don't man up.

We give up too easily.

We don't chase or tackle with any intent.

Our forwards get caught from behind too much.

Our clearance work and system out of the middle is virtually non existent.

We don't know how to win.

We're generally soft and have been since the start of the 2008 season.

Like it or not, all the above areas are in the coaches domain.

What an absolute shambles.

Very sad, but you have accurately described the Dees performance assessment to a tee. All those online should read your post and try and find some points you have made that they consider are not correct. I would love to hear of those points which may be seen by some as inaccurate . Let's go for it everybody.

I've seen plenty of kids complain to their parents about not winning, wanting to leave at half time at Melbourne Games. What is your point?

Point being they are still melbourne supporters, unfortunately they cant drive so they have to put up with it like the rest of us. It builds good character.