Quite a good read this .... Demons winners, just not yet

Very positive and worthwhile observation from inside. A nice repost to the rumour mongering, personality cultists that masquerade as sports journalists in this city of ours.

i liked it.

Very positive and worthwhile observation from inside. A nice repost to the rumour mongering, personality cultists that masquerade as sports journalists in this city of ours.

Agreed - it's reinforcing what we hear from other players. Also reinforces what an exhausting, hysterical football press we have.

Smart boy that one.

It's interesting to see it from the players perspective, it seems as if the players were physically, but not mentally prepared for the games.

Do we have a sports psychologist or are they no longer in vogue?

Good to hear hope he comes back fit and firing soon.

Good read. Thanks Chris. I really hope this guy burns at Melbourne.

We need guys like Dawes.

I wonder what all the naysayers who incidentally have NFI will have to say about the boys now.

Basically exactly what I and others have been saying all along. It's the players who are responsible for the good and bad performances we put in on the field.

"I think the thing we've taken a few weeks to grasp has been that just because we have done the work over summer, it doesn't mean results will happen for us. Rather, we are now capable of competing with sides because we have done the work. It's OK though, we needed to learn that lesson and we will get better."

Spot on Dawesy. This is the impression I was getting when all you hear about after losses is how well they trained. Hopefully every player realises this.

It's interesting to see it from the players perspective, it seems as if the players were physically, but not mentally prepared for the games.

Do we have a sports psychologist or are they no longer in vogue?

Fabulous heartfelt article, though I am sure some here will call it spin.

And RobbieF you have raised one of my hobby horses - it is largely in the head

An articulate and sincere message that gave us an all too rare but fascinating insight iinto the player's perspective.

Dawes will prove himself to be another good recruit IMO - on and off field. Good to hear his insight into what's happening 'inside' the club.

IMO it's clear that the focus of this football department is on nailing the underlying fundamentals. They've also consistently said it's a journey and that we started well behind the pack - but they are diligently putting in elite systems and processes, such that success will/should come. In time.

Some here wanted success within three weeks of the commencement of this season. It was never going to happen - nonetheless, several here have been religiously and, I think, wholly irrationally baying from Neeld's blood. Much of their patience seems to stem from the fact that we've been rebuilding for literally ages, but for most of this period Neeld wasn't even at the club.

That mentality is the very reason countries like Italy will never get back on their feet. They flip and flop around like feathers in the breeze. We need to stick to the program - it has clearly been well conceived, even if Neeld may not ultimately be the coach to take us to the ultimate glory - the systems he is introducing are clearly in the best interests of the club. Chopping and changing wreaks of incompetence and gutlessness IMO.

That said, I think everyone has been a bit surprised at how uncompetitive we were in those first three games - but I trust the football department's assessment of the list and the quality of the pre-season etc. After all, more than a few of them have come from elite AFL club environments. Relevantly, I think many people here (and in the media) also underestimated the quality of the midlfields of Port and the Dons, as against ours, in those first couple of games.

So glad this guy is on our list. In five years time I think Collingwood will rue the day.

So far injury prone. Needs to play some games.

Intelligent man

Enjoyed the article, think he will make a real structural difference to our make-up when he gets on the field

good show of faith from Dawes. The critics will say he was asked to write it etc, and maybe he was, but i'd prefer to see that article than see nothing from him

He may be a smart bloke, but remember in his last article he said that the coaching staff and the players told him that he should move on from Collingwood because he was not good enough. Like most Melbourne players, the more games they miss the higher Demonland rate them. Struggled at Collongwood, they got rid of him and recruited an old player in Lynch. I don't see how he will be any better at Melbourne.

He may be a smart bloke, but remember in his last article he said that the coaching staff and the players told him that he should move on from Collingwood because he was not good enough. Like most Melbourne players, the more games they miss the higher Demonland rate them. Struggled at Collongwood, they got rid of him and recruited an old player in Lynch. I don't see how he will be any better at Melbourne.

What a ridiculous statement, how can you possible say that about a bloke who has played one practice match for his new club?, I assume you would of said the exact same about Mitch Clark when we recruited him from Brisbane? Let him play out the season before you right the bloke off, He’s 25, 6’4, 100kg’s, quick and agile. They don’t just grow on tree’s.

In an off field capacity I am ecstatic to have him at the club. Now I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on the field.

Hopefully emulates Clark circa 2012...

What a ridiculous statement, how can you possible say that about a bloke who has played one practice match for his new club?, I assume you would of said the exact same about Mitch Clark when we recruited him from Brisbane? Let him play out the season before you right the bloke off, He’s 25, 6’4, 100kg’s, quick and agile. They don’t just grow on tree’s.

Brisbane wanted to keep Clark, Collingwood players told Dawes that he would struggle to get a game and should look elsewhere. Huge difference.

Brisbane wanted to keep Clark, Collingwood players told Dawes that he would struggle to get a game and should look elsewhere. Huge difference.

Collingwood were a top four team with a top line power forward and a set up that called for a forward/ruckman, not a 2nd key forward. Brisbane were a struggling side trying to keep their young guns together

Huge difference