At what point does this become unacceptable?

[Pirlo 519]

Nope, pass. I want a premiership coach, one who is not staring retirement in the face.

Soooo....your criteria fits nobody?

Clarkson is very unlikely, so is Worsfold.

Roos has already retired, and is only 6 years younger than Rocket.

Matthews/Mick are older than Eade by a margin.

[mjt 640]

Have to agree with the last 2 posters, if we don't do anything and we continue to lose games by this much we will bleed players at the end of the year and no one will want to play for us. We are going backwards, I think we are all shell shocked; we can't let this just drift along for the rest of the season Neeld has shown he has no answer. He simply doesn't know what to do, if he was an experienced coach it would perhaps be a little easier, if he was an experienced coach he would have a bit of authority but he's not.

I walked past the President on the way out and he looked shattered, had the 1000 yard stare; he surely knows we need change.

We need change RF, his name is Brett Ratten.

[rjay 23,922]

I don't know whether Neeld is a good coach or not but his decision making may well cripple this Club.

Jamar's 3 year contract beggers belief.

Recruiting players that were finished or couldn't get a game at other clubs and therefore using up all our ND and PSD draft picks. This meant that we lost Jack Hannath and some other young kids that we could be developing.

Dennis Cometti said on MMM yesterday that he believes we went backwards and ended up with negative result after trading and drafting.

G.Lyon didn't disagree and was himself critical of Byrnes and Pederson's games yesterday

Was thinking the same 'Theo', Roden, Byrnes, Pederson and Gillies have shown nothing to date. Some of the recruiting has been good but the ideal of bringing age, experience and games into the club is based on statistics but forgets about ability.

Roden and Byrnes seem like real good blokes, the type you like to have around a club but they no longer have the zip to play senior AFL football and are list cloggers. Being a good bloke just doesn't cut it.

I hope Dawes can really step up but I do have my doubts. I'm not convinced with Barry either, he doesn't like the contest at all, if he can turn this around then good, if he can't we may well have wasted 13 and 20.

[Melbournepotter 264]

I agree with you drdrake. The players we moved on such as Moloney, Gysberts, Morton, Bennell, Martin and Bate would never bring us the success as a team we all crave. I understand a lot of supporters are angry but I think Neeld is the right coach to move our team forward. It is impossible to change all the inadequacies at MFC in a 12 month period. With the new players that have come in I think we have actually found some real ball players. Viney, Matt Jones and Terlich have all impressed me and will be good for us going forward. Toumpas is finding his feet but is quality no doubt about that....Right now Neeld is trying to find the right team balance and this will probably take another 5-6 weeks. We have still 5-6 good players to come in and cement their positions and we still need to give Byrnes, Rodan and Pedersen a bit more time to settle into the team. I do not think all is lost for the year at all. The first half against WC was really really good and we just need to find that intensity for four quarters

I agree with most of the sentiment. Most of the previous players you mentioned didn't show much on a consistent basis and that's why (I believe) they were released. They were stuck in the region of being good VFL players, not showing enough at AFL level on a consistant level when given the chance. I would also put Dunn in that category, although he has improved. Moloney and Rivers had other issues. That begs the question....do we get rid of the average players that will keep us 5 or 6 places off the bottom or clear them out and try for better players ? We appear to have gone for the latter, brought in some good young players and topped up with some short term players that have tasted success at other clubs with apparently the hope they will help teach the younger players good habits. The reasons are ok, although I think the club would have hoped that Rodan and Byrnes would have had more impact in the short term ...but they haven't been able to do that yet. The main issue is that the beatings have been greater than anticipated which is not acceptable.

[rjay 23,922]

We need change RF, his name is Brett Ratten.

No, only as an assistant. Not good enough at senior level.

[mjt 640]

No, only as an assistant. Not good enough at senior level.

If hes not good enough at senior level where does Neeld sit, he had that blues side flying at one stage, we could do a lot worse.

[dees189227 10,779]

Im still in Neelds corner. Only because if we get in a new coach it means well another coach again and another game plan for the players to learn.

We would need to get a premiership coach and I dont think they are out there. Also we are a toxic club they probably wouldn't want to go near us. Forget about Roos he wouldnt so it.

Damien Hardwick has been coach of richmond since 2010. They havent played finals yet and they probably should have with there list. Brad Scott has been coach since 2010 and nth have only made the finals once last year and got smashed. Nth are with us near the bottom without a win either. These teams have had some thrashings to. I know not as bad as ours.

Calrton are 0-3. If it wasnt malthouse coaching then questions would be asked about them.

Im just saying instead of changing just stick with neeld now and let him finish what he is trying to do.

[MH. 88]

No, only as an assistant. Not good enough at senior level.

That is my initial gut reaction, but it's probably unfair. My biggest concerns about Ratten were that his sides weren't defensive enough and that he lacked the charisma of the top coaches. I reckon he'd be a better coach second time around and a stint under Clarkson wouldn't have harmed him.

Most of all though I now fully understand that my gut reactions are in fact the opposite of what's true. My gut told me that Neeld and his defensive game-plan would work. I believed that his no nonsense approach would gel with the group. I fully accept I'm a moron.

I will not poor scorn on any suggestions from this point on, as the opposite is likely to be true.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

We need change RF, his name is Brett Ratten.

No thank you. If we're getting rid of Neeld, I want a coach that has premiership credentials. Ratten had a list that many people considered to be top 4 quality, and he failed to make the finals with them in 2012. I'm on Team Neeld until we have a suitable candidate to replace him.

[Guest]

This has been unacceptable since 2007. That's why ND was moved on.
It seems since 2002/2004, we have been setting our sights lower and lower and I don't necessarily blame Daniher for it. I think he did the best with what he had. Where it comes from, I'm not entirely sure. It seems at the start of the 21st century, we were happy if we made the finals. Under Bailey, we were happy to win about 9 odd games and just be competitive. Under Neeld, it seems like we are happy to just win a game.

I'm not rabid about Neeld leaving but I think he probably needs to. In the documentary 'Labor in Power' Robert Ray, the Labor Senator, spoke about 'the smell of death' when talking of Bob Hawke just before he was toppled by Keating. You just knew he was finished. The same is applying to MN. You know it merely is a matter of time.

I agree that sacking Neeld would mean an unnecessary change in game style. That's why, and I know others disagree, we should make Neil Craig the interim coach. The reasoning behind this is three fold. Firstly, since he has been there full time since the start of the Neeld era, the change won't be too drastic. The club will have some continuity on the playing front. Secondly, Craigy is an authoritative figure as opposed to Neeldy being an authoritarian figure. There is a big difference and I think that is key. Someone a bit more conciliatory would be a good change of pace (though MN seems to be finding a bit more of a compassionate side in his personality though it may be too late). Thirdly, he has experience. How long has it been since we have had an experienced coach? I'm not saying he is the bloke for the next ten years. For the rest of the year, if Neeld is a goner, I say we should go with Neil Craig. If he performs a minor miracle then keep him on but I doubt that will happen.

[T-34 409]

The cries for Neelds sacking, while understandable are becoming comical.

Unless you want to replace him with another untried assistant give it up.

Those saying just show Roos etc. a pile of cash until he says yes are delusional.

Where is this magical pile of cash, I'd have thought cash reserves may be dwindling.

Of the available experienced coaches only Williams would be a remote chance and I'm not sold on him.

The others are not going to be swayed simply by money, they have a brand to protect.

We need to think our way through this and terminating the coach, while satisfying the mob, may need to be closer to the end of the year than the start.

Perhaps the blood letting may continue in the Board room/administration in the interim period.

[Melbournepotter 264]

Im still in Neelds corner. Only because if we get in a new coach it means well another coach again and another game plan for the players to learn.

We would need to get a premiership coach and I dont think they are out there. Also we are a toxic club they probably wouldn't want to go near us. Forget about Roos he wouldnt so it.

Damien Hardwick has been coach of richmond since 2010. They havent played finals yet and they probably should have with there list. Brad Scott has been coach since 2010 and nth have only made the finals once last year and got smashed. Nth are with us near the bottom without a win either. These teams have had some thrashings to. I know not as bad as ours.

Calrton are 0-3. If it wasnt malthouse coaching then questions would be asked about them.

Im just saying instead of changing just stick with neeld now and let him finish what he is trying to do.

While Neeld has had a draft, we now have (from all accounts) a very good talent spotter in charge of selecting the draft picks. i would hope that we see players come into the club now that will progress and become good players. So many top pick players have come and gone at Melbourne, it makes it tough on coaches if the talent/desire in the players is not there. Other clubs that are currently enjoying success have done well in the draft, be it recycled players or young talent. For whatever reason we haven't been able to develop that talent that should be standing us in good stead at the moment (we know the list, it's been displayed on here before). Most other clubs can afford to develop their talent in the VFL, most of our top draft picks are already in the AFL side.

If we need to get rid of a coach for blood letting purposes....let's look at the midfield coach....very little system evident in that area, especially when stats say Jamar won a lot of taps.

[Scipio 5,868]

Im still in Neelds corner. Only because if we get in a new coach it means well another coach again and another game plan for the players to learn.

We would need to get a premiership coach and I dont think they are out there. Also we are a toxic club they probably wouldn't want to go near us. Forget about Roos he wouldnt so it.

Damien Hardwick has been coach of richmond since 2010. They havent played finals yet and they probably should have with there list. Brad Scott has been coach since 2010 and nth have only made the finals once last year and got smashed. Nth are with us near the bottom without a win either. These teams have had some thrashings to. I know not as bad as ours.

Calrton are 0-3. If it wasnt malthouse coaching then questions would be asked about them.

Im just saying instead of changing just stick with neeld now and let him finish what he is trying to do.

I am sort of of the same thinking however I am starting to believe that he can't do it and doesn't really know what to do.

It goes back to hiring an inexperienced coach again after Bailey, a terrible move for the club.

[dee-luded 2,958]

I totally agree with you. Neeld's recruiting has been a disaster. Why would you recruit this lot of has beens?

This is all part of the master plan....for F's sake it's clearly not going to work.

Maybe he felt sorry for Jarod River and co and let them go.

Neeld will be sacked. It's only a matter of time.

Viney Toumpas, Hogan, Kent, MJones, Terlich, Taggert, Tynan, & some mature aged players to add depth to a weak existing list.

Not to mention he wanted Mitch Clarke.

And he's gone about stripping out the poison.

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,889]

Neelds diamonds - Sellar, Byrnes, Pederson, Rodan. All absolute shockers in 2013

Neeld is smart enough to know where the above players are at. Obviously they are not part of his long term plan if he gets to stay that long. Sellar is a depth player at best, as previously stated a number of times when Dawes takes the field he won't be playing. Is that really that hard to understand. We have recruited two big established forwards in the last two years plus Hogan, please list players we should have recruited for depth. Byrnes and Roadan were largely recruited because they have come from successful clubs with the idea being leading by example at training. Anyone who thinks Neeld thought they are the answer should stop following football. The idea being if Sellar can try and play the role Dawes will it helps to maintain structure. Hogan will have time to find his feet unlike Watts who was thrown in the deep end. Having said that Watts problems is he is afraid of the contest, I was told he didn't play at all this weekend, if true it's a disgrace. He should not be recalled this week for GWS , he should be played in reserves until he develops a hunger for the contest, if it takes all year so be it. At years end if nothing has changed.........would be lucky to get a second round pick. The biggest problem we have is having to pay at least 92.5% of the salary cap. Meaning someone has to get the money. Neeld should at least see out the year, two and a half out of three games has been crap, if WC did rock up expecting an easy win why weren't they snapped out of it at quarter time. Carlton 0-3 ?? Yes they have had a crack, but they have the SUPERCOACH. Maybe it's not that easy, how much of Geelongs most recent flag was the newly appointed Scott brother(sorry can't remember which one) and how much was the players or maybe a bit of both. The players have to step up as well. Until Neeld , Craig and Misson arrived we were training like they were in the 80's.

[jnrmac 18,980]

The ironic thing is, the first half today was a typical Bailey style Melbourne, all attack and dash but no defence or accountability.

Thats not right. We played man on man football mostly. We abandoned it in the third quarter. Why??? I;ll never know.

[dees189227 10,779]

While Neeld has had a draft, we now have (from all accounts) a very good talent spotter in charge of selecting the draft picks. i would hope that we see players come into the club now that will progress and become good players. So many top pick players have come and gone at Melbourne, it makes it tough on coaches if the talent/desire in the players is not there. Other clubs that are currently enjoying success have done well in the draft, be it recycled players or young talent. For whatever reason we haven't been able to develop that talent that should be standing us in good stead at the moment (we know the list, it's been displayed on here before). Most other clubs can afford to develop their talent in the VFL, most of our top draft picks are already in the AFL side.

If we need to get rid of a coach for blood letting purposes....let's look at the midfield coach....very little system evident in that area, especially when stats say Jamar won a lot of taps.

I agree on that one. I have no idea why we got Royal back after he left once before. He had no solutions to priddis yesterday. It would be good if we could get someone who has just come out of the game. Brett Kirk would have been perfect or even Ling.

Also if we had a fit Dawes int he team at least we would have 2 tall targets. I guess im holding out for r1 next year when our forward line will be Clarke, Dawes Hogan.

Edited April 14, 2013 by dees189227

[Binmans PA 26,121]

Disagree jnrmac. We were still as loose as gooses in the first half. We took the game on with more attacking flair, but still failed to stop them from scoring. Our tackling was almost AFL standard in the first half. In the second half, our players "went into their shells" (to quote Grimes) and this further exposed our lack of accountability.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Neeld is smart enough to know where the above players are at. Obviously they are not part of his long term plan if he gets to stay that long. Sellar is a depth player at best, as previously stated a number of times when Dawes takes the field he won't be playing. Is that really that hard to understand. We have recruited two big established forwards in the last two years plus Hogan, please list players we should have recruited for depth. Byrnes and Roadan were largely recruited because they have come from successful clubs with the idea being leading by example at training. Anyone who thinks Neeld thought they are the answer should stop following football. The idea being if Sellar can try and play the role Dawes will it helps to maintain structure. Hogan will have time to find his feet unlike Watts who was thrown in the deep end. Having said that Watts problems is he is afraid of the contest, I was told he didn't play at all this weekend, if true it's a disgrace. He should not be recalled this week for GWS , he should be played in reserves until he develops a hunger for the contest, if it takes all year so be it. At years end if nothing has changed.........would be lucky to get a second round pick. The biggest problem we have is having to pay at least 92.5% of the salary cap. Meaning someone has to get the money. Neeld should at least see out the year, two and a half out of three games has been crap, if WC did rock up expecting an easy win why weren't they snapped out of it at quarter time. Carlton 0-3 ?? Yes they have had a crack, but they have the SUPERCOACH. Maybe it's not that easy, how much of Geelongs most recent flag was the newly appointed Scott brother(sorry can't remember which one) and how much was the players or maybe a bit of both. The players have to step up as well. Until Neeld , Craig and Misson arrived we were training like they were in the 80's.

a knowledgeable post.

[MH. 88]

Disagree jnrmac. We were still as loose as gooses in the first half. We took the game on with more attacking flair, but still failed to stop them from scoring. Our tackling was almost AFL standard in the first half. In the second half, our players "went into their shells" (to quote Grimes) and this further exposed our lack of accountability.

I couldn't believe how loose we were through the two forward 50 arcs. They had unmanned players running everywhere. We were lucky West Coast weren't on their game, as we could have been down by 5 goals very quickly. At quarter time we had 6 tackles to their 22. The first quarter was inches away from being another disaster.

Then there was a period - mainly the second quarter - where the players gained confidence and became desperate in their attack on the footy, but, as we know, it didn't last long.

[stuie 7,374]

Thats not right. We played man on man football mostly. We abandoned it in the third quarter. Why??? I;ll never know.

I was just talking about the effort on defence, not the setup.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Neeld is smart enough to know where the above players are at. Obviously they are not part of his long term plan if he gets to stay that long. Sellar is a depth player at best, as previously stated a number of times when Dawes takes the field he won't be playing. Is that really that hard to understand. We have recruited two big established forwards in the last two years plus Hogan, please list players we should have recruited for depth. Byrnes and Roadan were largely recruited because they have come from successful clubs with the idea being leading by example at training. Anyone who thinks Neeld thought they are the answer should stop following football. The idea being if Sellar can try and play the role Dawes will it helps to maintain structure. Hogan will have time to find his feet unlike Watts who was thrown in the deep end. Having said that Watts problems is he is afraid of the contest, I was told he didn't play at all this weekend, if true it's a disgrace. He should not be recalled this week for GWS , he should be played in reserves until he develops a hunger for the contest, if it takes all year so be it. At years end if nothing has changed.........would be lucky to get a second round pick. The biggest problem we have is having to pay at least 92.5% of the salary cap. Meaning someone has to get the money. Neeld should at least see out the year, two and a half out of three games has been crap, if WC did rock up expecting an easy win why weren't they snapped out of it at quarter time. Carlton 0-3 ?? Yes they have had a crack, but they have the SUPERCOACH. Maybe it's not that easy, how much of Geelongs most recent flag was the newly appointed Scott brother(sorry can't remember which one) and how much was the players or maybe a bit of both. The players have to step up as well. Until Neeld , Craig and Misson arrived we were training like they were in the 80's.

Welcome Al, are you sure you are on the right website/forum?

This post is far too sensible to be on here.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Not defending the recruiting decisions as ultimately they are judged on their on field performance, but one thing the mature recruits do is balance our list out in terms of age, meaning future list management might be a bit easier as we can move older guys on, give some of our kids more time to develop. Rather than a couple of years back where it seemed we were so chock full of 18-22 year olds, it is hard to justify delisting them when they haven't had long in the system..

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

I hope we show some courage and stick this out. Changing coaches every couple of years is ridiculous.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I hope we show some courage and stick this out. Changing coaches every couple of years is ridiculous.