Immediate Actions

[Vandenberger With The Lot 238]

What do you think are some immediate, small or big, changes that can be made around the club to start pushing these boys to compete?

Listening to the Dermie SEN interview got me thinking about what we can do with the playing group.

-Drop the beards. Beards are for winners. If we lose a game, everyone rocks up to recovery clean shaven. Fresh face, fresh week.

-Make their life hell. Don't let them get away with anything. If they want to play like 16 year olds, then they get treated like it.

-Come out in the press conference and tell them the players are banned from going out drinking. The players know they'll end up on the news if they go out.

They may complain, but if you want to earn the big bucks, then you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

The coaching group;

-Bring in an experienced coach to do a review. I'm not saying we start cutting jobs, just bring in a succesful experienced coach to make recommendations on what can be improved.

-Be hard on the players, but go through the hard yards with them.

What are your thoughts?

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Look yeah I have to agree, the beards are a very casual look. Its great if your winning and on top of your game type thing, but its all a bit too laid back for me. Disipline is the basic aspect of nearly everything you do. If I was in that playing group I would expect it to come from all sides. Dont mind the review idea either and F the drinking.

[stuie 7,374]

They need confidence and clearer structures, not parents.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

....maybe both.

[bing181 9,330]

-Bring in an experienced coach to do a review.

We have an experienced coach doing reviews (and reporting directly to the Board).

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Interview each player and ask them if they want to play football for the Melbourne Football Club, and if they do, when do they intend to start.

[tonatopia 278]

Interview each player and ask them if they want to play football for the Melbourne Football Club, and if they do, when do they intend to start.

What happens if they say they want to play for MFC, but not under Neeld. Now we are getting closer to the mark.

[The Chazz 4,077]

What happens if they say they want to play for MFC, but not under Neeld. Now we are getting closer to the mark.

You find out why. If they have valid reasons, then you can look at further actions. If they think it's "too hard" under Neeld, then you show them the door.

[Satyriconhome 10,879]

Sorry I was wrong, this is the most humourous, I went off too early, and I thought the Comedy Festival had finished

[jazza 1,323]

What happens if they say they want to play for MFC, but not under Neeld. Now we are getting closer to the mark.

what happens if they all want to play under neeld but not for the mfc?????

[nutbean 8,838]

-Bring in an experienced coach to do a review. I'm not saying we start cutting jobs, just bring in a succesful experienced coach to make recommendations on what can be improved.

So basically you want Neil Craig out ? thats exactly what he is employed to do.

[Guest]

Let's not start this again.

Morale isn't exactly high at the moment, why risk lowering it by taking away other aspects of their lives such as going out.

Also, the beard crap has gone on too long... Who honestly cares! If anything, it means they're spending less time each day worrying about their appearance. Honestly could not give two shits about what Dermie has to say.

What's needs to be worried about is how they are around the club - training, recovery, games. They need to worry about playing football, facial hair does not impact their ability to do so

[rjay 25,120]

Appoint a CEO and they've done it. He has to review everything at the club and that's why he has been appointed, nothing will change (should change) until he has done this.

[jazza 1,323]

Appoint a CEO and they've done it. He has to review everything at the club and that's why he has been appointed, nothing will change (should change) until he has done this.

common sense , wow now wait for the knockers

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

I recomend that they do not visit this site. Coming to this site would only further erode their confidence and give players the impression that their supporters hate them, think they are rubbish and that the culture of the club is toxic. That cant be good for morale now can it?

I want then to play with confidence and to do the best with their abilities. They can grow beards (it provides some macho balance to the shaved legs) but I draw the line at excess nose an ear hair.

I dont mind if they switch off football when not required for recovery sessions, training or play as I think they need to have a life beyond football but be fully aware that they shouldnt bring the club into disrepute.

Bringing the club into disrepute is our job on this site and we dont want a demarcation dispute.

[CHAMP 347]

I blame Dunny and his dodgy mo' for the beard explosion

[dee-luded 2,959]

What do you think are some immediate, small or big, changes that can be made around the club to start pushing these boys to compete?

start contact match practice on Tuesdays,,, Every week.

Listening to the Dermie SEN interview got me thinking about what we can do with the playing group.

-Drop the beards. Beards are for winners. If we lose a game, everyone rocks up to recovery clean shaven. Fresh face, fresh week.

leave the personalities alone, expression.

-Make their life hell. Don't let them get away with anything. If they want to play like 16 year olds, then they get treated like it.

Come out in the press conference and tell them the players are banned from going out drinking. The players know they'll end up on the news if they go out.hey may complain, but if you want to earn the big bucks, then you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

bring in contact boxing for all those who can't join in the Tuesday contact match practice sessions.

The coaching group;

-Bring in an experienced coach to do a review. I'm not saying we start cutting jobs, just bring in a succesful experienced coach to make recommendations on what can be improved.

let the footy dept settle, unless Neil Craig thinks changes are a must, I trust Craig to be ontop of it.

-Be hard on the players, but go through the hard yards with them.

agreed...

What are your thoughts?

stop applauding the players at the End of the quarters... applause says we're satisfied with the performance...

Keep it for the end of the Match...

stand & cheer the players during the match, & at the end of quarters IF Its deserved.

If a player doesn't go hard enough at a contest, as we should expect, give out a boo, & then move on...

applause causes the players to lose some intensity after the accolades. leave it until the game ends.

cheering helps keep their red blood pumping & they're dander Up.

we want the players to keep their intensity up & be hard at the contests...

[monoccular 17,590]

Appoint a CEO and they've done it. He has to review everything at the club and that's why he has been appointed, nothing will change (should change) until he has done this.

common sense , wow now wait for the knockers

Clearly some here will not be happy unless and until PJ sacks Neeld, the President, half the plating list, and all the coaching staff and appoints some big name who would have no intention of coaching again let alone our 'basket case'.......if he doesn't they will be calling for him to be sacked too.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

• Drill Drill Drill hand and foot skills into every player from the ruckman down, including marking practice, until their effective disposal % during a match (in an average team sense) is at least equal to the benchmark (Geelong/2nd Quartile) of approx 72%. We are presently running at 69% (3rd Quartile).

• Drill Drill Drill tackling skills into every player as above versus some sort of par/standard benchmark. Bring in Melbourne Storm expertise if needed to make this happen (or more of it if we've already done a little previously). Our tackling methods and effectiveness has to be some of the weakest i've seen of any Melbourne team in the last 4 decades. Bottom quartile (17th) versus the rest of the comp with only Richmond sitting below us. However, Richmond don't have to tackle as often as they're one of the best effective disposal teams in the AFL over the first 3 rounds, sitting 2nd only to St Kilda. The Toiges are also much quicker across the ground and in their general ball movement. Who knows, it may be a lack of burst speed as well but our turnovers/clangers are certainly confidence sapping for us....and a confidence turbo boost for our opponents! IMO the key here is technique during training and don't overtrain them in terms of heavy bag work as they'll have little left in the tank for match day. Offer a reward or something to incentivise the playing group.... eg., who gets the most tackles gets something. Maybe a day off laps/tackle training the next week or a bag of Wizz Fizz!

• Recruit at least 2 ready made AFL (or near to it) inside Mid Field players from the VFL, SANFL and/or WAFL that also have great ball skills (also adept at SHUFFLING/FLICKING the ball quickly to our players or out to their advantage in a tight contested stoppage), a quick change of direction and solid burst speed. There has to be more undiscovered Pridduses, Kerr's and Blacks around in the West that are waiting for a chance. Some of whom may have been overlooked in recent drafts. Maybe even a few mature age ones around the 21/22 mark.

• As above except 1 outside Mid with silky skills that can run both ways all day and is prepared to lay a tackle that sticks and knows where to run and position himself around the stoppages and isn't a "ooo look...there's the ball, lets get it along with my other 2 inside mids". Ie. football smarts. This could be Kent but we'll have to wait and see. Has a burst of intiial speed/laterall movement who can break lines, generally taking the opposition on and able to hit a lead up forward having a decent knowledge of when /where to release taking advantage of the forwards running patterns and favoured side.

• Recruit some speed and more skilllfull players by hand and foot to play off half back who are willing/able to QUICKLY find a man/or close one down and run with him when we don't have the ball but who also run laterall and forward of the ball quickly once we obtain (or look like getting) possession, playing on at all costs when we do, breaking lines, generally taking the opposition on and able to hit a lead up target with speed.

• Find 1 or 2 goal kicking dangerous smalls who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and get in the face of their opponents. Ie., white line fever but extremely talented a la Milne, Betts or Rioli (sorry to bring up that name)

• A high leaping ruckman like Nic Nat/Ryder to take advantage of the new "1 meter no contact" rule in the ruck contests (ie., tapping more often than not to our preferred drop zones) as well as being reasonably quick/mobile (for a ruckman) and a decent overhead mark.

Edited April 18, 2013 by Rusty Nails