do we have a cheer squad? not much of them these days.

No it is time for Neeld to go. He simply cannot get our list to play to an AFL level. Even the Cheer Squad have lost faith in him and I should know because I sit with them!

It's already unacceptable, but we need to realize that scapegoats don't work. This is a team game, and everyone in the team is one nth responsible for the deplorable state we're in.

You mean the coaching team I presume

It was unacceptable in ROUND ONE.

Spot on Diesel. I, like many, am starting to wonder whether Neeld has the right plan (let alone players) to make us competitive. But who would replace him? Roos is too happy on FoxFooty money; Clarkson wont move unless the Hawks flop; and we Cannot (capital C intended) risk another rookie coach.

Mark Williams, Kevin Sheedy, Rodney Eade,

Anyone you get rid of without giving them time to do what they're supposed to do is a scapegoat. If we're in this position in 12 months time, then sack Neeld and go after someone else. But to expect miracles after just one season is asking for too much.

We are getting worse, and by long way. Whatever Neeld is doing it's not working and the list he has called "his list" is worse now than it's been for a very long time. When the coach disposes of good players and hand picks their replacements they would want to be good; there not.

not having gone to the game - what was different about how we played in the first half?

Great determination in first half. Accurate kicking always helps. Some good run and carry, and good pressure at times. Eagles below par still, but got a fright at half time and ultimately pulled finger out. First 15 minutes of third quarter saw them rain goals and we were demoralised. Game over.

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by Harrisonrules

It became unacceptable quite a while ago.

About round 7, 2012 to be precise.

If we don't think it is already unacceptable we are all delusional. Yes we all cheered a few goals in the competitive first half but a game is 120 minutes of footy and to sit there again and watch that crap dished out after all the scrutiny makes be almost lost for words. The weird thing now is that the supporters have lost all faith. We sit there and laugh. We love the club but still laugh.

In some ways it is now stress free because we know the outcome. I have been supporting this team for 35 years and have never seen three consecutive weeks of such an insipid performance.

There is no semblance of a game plan and ALL our experienced recruits are a farce. Where do we start. Need will get another week ( I can't understand why) and if we manage to beat GWS does this mean anything?

Neelds got to go in the next 6 weeks if the performances don't improve. Craig to coach the season out and Don McLardy to go on the front foot for once and announce to the league that the club is going after, and is willing to pay big money for, a great experienced coach.

Throw the cat amongst the pidgeons. Make people really think about whether they want to have these director roles or TV roles or if they want to win games. Make the players want to stick around. If Neeld stays you can bet we'll watch 3-4 experienced players walk at the end of the year.

25 games isn't a lot of time, but it's enough to see that the players aren't getting better under him.

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.

Our second half aggregate is 6.8.44 to 39.31.265. It's unacceptable.

We won 7 out of Bailey's first 46 matches as coach then went 15-18-2 out of the next 35. We had a bad game against the Hawks & then were incinerated by Geelong during an inconsistent season amidst a backdrop of interference in the FD by key admin. Bailey copped it in the neck because our "talented youth" were underperforming.

We then hire a bloke who has come in with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. Surely he was hired to get the best out of Bailey's youth as well as teach them how to defend better while still being able to spread offensively (in the 30 games since Bailey was sacked we've passed 100 5 times & 3 of those were under flipping Viney!). Instead he's got rid of more senior players as well as underdeveloped youth, got nothing for Bate when he had the chance & replaced those players with cast offs/VFL players. The only players on the list to have markedly improved are N Jones, Clark & T McDonald while others' careers have gone down the gurgler.

We've won 5 out of 30 games since Bailey was sacked & four of those are against the expansion sides - Neeld has turned a mosquito bite into a festering sore. If he doesn't go & this garbage continues it will cost us millions of dollars in lapsed membership & sponsors. It will cost us our few good players on the list, it could cost us our club into the longer term. No individual is bigger than the club - seeya Mark!

Our second half aggregate is 6.8.44 to 39.31.265. It's unacceptable.

We won 7 out of Bailey's first 46 matches as coach then went 15-18-2 out of the next 35. We had a bad game against the Hawks & then were incinerated by Geelong during an inconsistent season amidst a backdrop of interference in the FD by key admin. Bailey copped it in the neck because our "talented youth" were underperforming.

We then hire a bloke who has come in with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. Surely he was hired to get the best out of Bailey's youth as well as teach them how to defend better while still being able to spread offensively (in the 30 games since Bailey was sacked we've passed 100 5 times & 3 of those were under flipping Viney!). Instead he's got rid of more senior players as well as underdeveloped youth, got nothing for Bate when he had the chance & replaced those players with cast offs/VFL players. The only players on the list to have markedly improved are N Jones, Clark & T McDonald while others' careers have gone down the gurgler.

We've won 5 out of 30 games since Bailey was sacked & four of those are against the expansion sides - Neeld has turned a mosquito bite into a festering sore. If he doesn't go & this garbage continues it will cost us millions of dollars in lapsed membership & sponsors. It will cost us our few good players on the list, it could cost us our club into the longer term. No individual is bigger than the club - seeya Mark!

I tend to agree - I completely understand those who say Neeld needs to be given time but the fact is we may not have the time to give. As much as it pains me we can't afford to put a 5 year plan in place to build towards a premiership we need to focus on just winning a few games and being competitive in every game we play. Then we can focus on finals, top 4 and flags.

Anyone you get rid of without giving them time to do what they're supposed to do is a scapegoat. If we're in this position in 12 months time, then sack Neeld and go after someone else. But to expect miracles after just one season is asking for too much.

"miracles"?

Just give the man another year to turn over the list a little more and bring in players who will do what they're told for an entire game. Players who won't run out of steam and drop their heads the moment things go bad.

ye gods!!

Miracles are not expected. Something resembling competitiveness is.

The old man has been following the Dees since the 60s. He is of the opinion that last year was THE worst season he has witnessed - and now is shaking his head in disbelief.

Neeld had nothing to do with Jack Viney coming to Melbourne

So Neelds recruiting has been a disaster, Mitch Clark, Jack Viney, Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan ok the last two we havent seen but i pretty excited about our forward line next year with Clark, Dawes and Hogan. M Jones has been good and would sit in our top 3 in our b&f Terlich looks ok. The recycled players we gave up nothing, the only player that cost us a decent pick was Dawes. Our midfield needs addressing but you cant fix all our flaws with 2 drafts.

The first game Bailey coached was when it became unacceptable and nothing much has changed since. The idea of bottoming out to build a team has left us right up the creek.

I'll tell you exactly the moment when it becomes unacceptable. When the siren goes next week and we've lost to GWS.

100% and anyone who says otherwise can get stuffed. I just got home after watching the Saints massacre GWS. If we lose to them, Neeld has to go.

We need to throw a mountain of cash at an experienced coach. We keep upping the price til they say yes. If we're equally as terrible (highly unlikely) then we clean out the scrap..again..

A true professional gets twice as much from this group than what we're seeing. I believe that.

We need to throw a mountain of cash at an experienced coach. We keep upping the price til they say yes. If we're equally as terrible (highly unlikely) then we clean out the scrap..again..

A true professional gets twice as much from this group than what we're seeing. I believe that.

I agree - thing is, pretty sure we tried that last time and none would come which is why we ended up with Neeld. If we sacked Neeld anytime soon I'd want to be certain we'd get one of Eade, Ratten or Roos (though don't think there's a chance Roos would come). Possibly Choco Williams but I think the games passed him as a head coach.

Anyone you get rid of without giving them time to do what they're supposed to do is a scapegoat. If we're in this position in 12 months time, then sack Neeld and go after someone else. But to expect miracles after just one season is asking for too much.

Losing by less than 100 points on average is a [censored] miracle?

Well [censored] me!

I doubt any experienced coach would want to have anything to do with our list - I doubt any aspiring coach would want to ruin his career with our list. Neeld will see out the season and probably next year. After that who knows.

One man has about 10 years of energy left, and nothing to lose.

if we manage to beat GWS does this mean anything?

It's gotten to the point where I almost(!) don't want to win it.

One man has about 10 years of energy left, and nothing to lose.

No, thanks. His teams have always faltered at the last hurdle. We need successful people.

No, thanks. His teams have always faltered at the last hurdle. We need successful people.

Leaves them in decent shape.