Demon Loyalty and Woosha's Interview circa 2011

[Sleeve 67]

You can't measure our development on other sides, it's polar opposites to most sides,

What seems to be overlooked by all and sundry is the fact , We are so devoid of midfield

talent in comparison that it'd like comparing top level sport to state league.

West Coast still had Kerr, Priddis and Embley, consistent proven AFL midfielders , we've got

Jones, and he's still " young ".

Start comparing apples with apples, we are along way from par, the sooner we realise that,

the less let down from expectation we 'll have.

We have a comparatively rubbish midfield to almost every side in the competition. Fact.

[What 18,810]

Worsfold is out of contract at years end

Throw him a massive contract and get him to Melbrourne

[Harrisonrules 273]

I have been reading a lot about the Demons lately - as most of us probably are - and have been trying to formulate my own unbiased opinion about which way the club is headed: up or down.

Personally I think we are headed up - and have come a long way - it's just that we started from so far down, to the rest of the world we still look disorganised, uncontrolled, demotivated and below standard...

But in the back of my head I recall an interview with Woosha about the rise of the West Coast in 2011. (For some background information, West Coast's end of season positions since 2006 have been 1st, 3rd, 15th, 11th, 16th, 4th, 5th.)

I cannot remember where I saw the interview, and if anyone can find it that would be great, but I think it was probably during On The Couch or something similar because I recall hearing the question as well as the answer (why can't reporters be mic'd at press conferences???)...

The question went along the lines of: "For the last three years you have been pretty terrible - last year you even won the wooden spoon. Now you are in the top four. What have you done different? What changes have you made?"

The answer: "Nothing. We have been working on this training plan and gameplan for a few years, and the players have finally caught up with how we want them to play."

I think this is exactly where the Demons are at. 12 goals in one quarter is an accomplishment - even considering the opposition. In our 150+ year history, this surely isn't the first new team we have played against.

A lot of people seem to be sick of the rebuild of the rebuild of the rebuild. I concur. But not for the same reasons.I don't see this as a rebuild at all. Quite simply, its a build.

Build our club; build our momentum; build our supporter base; build our profitability; build our professionalism; build our player list. But build it right. Stuff the media - it's their job to whinge and whine - but be nice to them, they cant help it, they are like politicians - all about "What's in it for me?" The attitude you get from selfish people that have no concept of bonding teamwork. And stuff the critics. They are probably all Collingwood supporters anyway and who wants to listen to them?

I have been supporting the Demons for as long as I can remember. My father is English and supports Liverpool and my mother can recognise the Demons Guernsey and knows if we are doing well or not, so not so sure how I got this passionate for them - but the one thing that being a Demons supporter has absolutely taught me is loyalty.

Whether we win 1 game in a year, or every game in a year, I will still wear my Demons guernseys/shirts/jumpers/sweaters at every opportunity and I will always look forward to the next match.

I do hope that the Demons win a premiership* - hell, I hope they win them all - but just like I wouldn't kick my kids out for underperforming, I will never turn my back on the Demons because I believe that, just like Neeld, Craigy and the entire club keeps saying, the players are doing what is required of them and just like Woosha said, at some point everything will fall into place, and the Demons will return to the top of the ladder where they will see the success we are all waiting for.

* I would prefer the Demons premiership winning run to wait until I can afford annual trips down from Brisbane to the MCG with my family of five... but understand if they aren't willing to wait that long.

What do you mean we came from so far down. I thought it was 8 wins.

[Lifelong Demon 75]

What do you mean we came from so far down. I thought it was 8 wins.

In 2007, the Demons finished 14th.

In 2008, the Demons finished 16th. (Bailey's first year)

In 2009, the Demons finished 16th. (Bailey's second year)

In 2010, the Demons finished 12th. (Bailey's third year)

In 2011, the Demons finished 13th. (Bailey's fourth year)

You can call that 8 wins if you like - which, of course is what the record shows, but I call it undermining the Demons future. Two years of Tanking by a coach who thought he "was doing the best thing for the club" is what is killing us now.

Now that we actually have a coach that IS doing the best thing by the club, we discover the real problems:

1. We weren't at an elite training level.

2. We accepted mediocrity at best, nothing at worst.

3. We don't have a solid midfield.

If I were Neeld, I would have recruited the same way in my first year too. It's very hard to win games if you have an elite midfield, but nobody to kick goals or stop the opposition from kicking goals. And yes, I can hear everyone highlighting that line in your replies, but even though it isn't fully functional yet, doesn't make it any less true.

In my opinion, Mark Neeld should at least be given the decency of seeing out until the end of next year.

The first year was a clean out. We all get that.

The second year was recruit, train and give match time to goal kickers and goal defenders. How does anyone expect team unity and cohesion by round 5 when there are 14 new players involved out of 40. Think of your own workplaces. Do you think that with a 35% staff turnover you will be producing the same quantity and quality of output after 15 hours of 'actual' work time?

Next year, with the forwards and defenders functioning, the recruiting will be focused on the Mids. It has to be, this is the only area of the club that is so far below par, and the only area not heavily recruited for.

If you throw Mark Neeld out now, half way through the set down plan that had the backing of everyone involved, and when you take the blinding passion and heart out and look at the facts and figures you can only see that you will either doom the club to a rebuild of this rebuild, or someone else will walk in and have success on this method of doing what is best for the club.

All I am saying is that the supporters follow this method as well. Support. Don't be a mindless mob performing the dirty work of the media.

*Edit -Spelling

Edited April 28, 2013 by Lifelong Demon