I hope and think we will go ok today (based on absolutely nothing really) just in case im going to watch the game in black and white, if they are losing ill then pretend they are are collingwood and it will be less depressing.

But would you have said the same about Port 5 weeks ago. They were widely tipped to finish 17-18th.

It is Hinkley who has got them believing in their own ability again.

Neeld MUST do the same. It is his fundamental job.

What I'm saying is that we don't have players such as Boak & Hartlett in our midfield if we did we would be playing better footy. Hartlett is playing his first consistent stint of AFL footy & is regarded as their best player within their club. He's made a big difference to their side along with Hinkleys coaching & other players standing up. Neeld has had the opportunity to strengthen the midfield & has chosen to top up with kids & draft in Talls via trades. Perhaps this strategy was factoring in potential improvement over time from our current players & hoping that our kids could be competitive through short term development. Neeld's coaching is definitely an issue but not the only one.

Davey is the sub. Confirmed.

Would have preffered him to start, we need a good start and he is one of our leading goal kickers this season.

Why even bother having a coach then if he seemingly bears no responsibility?! It's the coach's job to prepare them to do to all those things and keep them accountable in doing it.

I never said that he bears no responsibility, but some people on here make it out as if it is only he and some members of the admin that are responsible for our on field performances. The players are there to PLAY. They didn't do that in the first 2 weeks of the season; I don't think Mark Neeld was entirely at fault for that.

Would have preffered him to start, we need a good start and he is one of our leading goal kickers this season.

I think he earned a start after his game last week. He is much more effective when he's fresh and the other 35 guys on the field have played 3 quarters, though.

I never said that he bears no responsibility, but some people on here make it out as if it is only he and some members of the admin that are responsible for our on field performances. The players are there to PLAY. They didn't do that in the first 2 weeks of the season; I don't think Mark Neeld was entirely at fault for that.

Agree that he's not entirely at fault for that, but there seems to be some here who think he has no blame at all.

They also had good midfielders when they finished 14th and 16th the last two years... Wonder what changed?

I didn't say Hinkleys arrival wasn't a factor I'm just saying he has more to work with. This is still Neeld's responsibility however.

What I'm saying is that we don't have players such as Boak & Hartlett in our midfield if we did we would be playing better footy. Hartlett is playing his first consistent stint of AFL footy & is regarded as their best player within their club. He's made a big difference to their side along with Hinkleys coaching & other players standing up. Neeld has had the opportunity to strengthen the midfield & has chosen to top up with kids & draft in Talls via trades. Perhaps this strategy was factoring in potential improvement over time from our current players & hoping that our kids could be competitive through short term development. Neeld's coaching is definitely an issue but not the only one.

Boak and Hartlett were both there the last two years when they finished 14th and 16th though... You're trying too hard to get Neeld off the hook if you think Hinkley has had nothing to do with their turn around.

What I'm saying is that we don't have players such as Boak & Hartlett in our midfield if we did we would be playing better footy. Hartlett is playing his first consistent stint of AFL footy & is regarded as their best player within their club. He's made a big difference to their side along with Hinkleys coaching & other players standing up. Neeld has had the opportunity to strengthen the midfield & has chosen to top up with kids & draft in Talls via trades. Perhaps this strategy was factoring in potential improvement over time from our current players & hoping that our kids could be competitive through short term development. Neeld's coaching is definitely an issue but not the only one.

well then the coach has got to wear it if it fails.

Not taking Ollie Wines last year to work in tandem with Viney is looking pretty dam stupid.

Toumpas may be great. He is not ready, But we need players now.

We did not learn from the Gysberts/Cook fiasco.

It's time for MN to sink or swim...I hope he swims strongly.

I didn't say Hinkleys arrival wasn't a factor I'm just saying he has more to work with. This is still Neeld's responsibility however.

No one was calling Port's midfield "A grade" before Hinkley came in though. Revisionism of the highest order.

Agree that he's not entirely at fault for that, but there seems to be some here who think he has no blame at all.

He definitely deserves some of the blame, but the players (except a select few such as Watts, Toumpas, Jamar) get away with a lot of crappy performances.

Just like the good the new captains, leadership group, and raft of new players have done us?

Think it's a bit naive to say the players just decided by themselves to be good all of a sudden, it's no coincidence it's all happened since a new coach came in.

I'm not sure what our captains have to do with Port's captains.

Think it's a bit naive to say the coach just decided by himself to make the players be good all of a sudden, it's no coincidence it's all happened since a new captain, leadership group, administration, draftees, etc, etc, etc. came in.

I don't know what's made them so much better. Neither do you. Maybe they're not even that much better. Melbourne, GWS and Gold Coast are not exactly top-tier opponents, but that's neither here nor there.

I get that you ascribe more influence to the coach than I do. I have had enough of looking for a single man to save us every few years. The players need to take this club by the scruff of the neck every weekend for twenty-eight weeks. Coaches can help, but the players ultimately have to decide what they are willing to give this footy club.

It's the coach's job to weed out the ones who aren't willing or able to give us what we want. I feel like Neeld is doing this. Time will certainly tell if his recruiting approach is the right one, but Shannon Byrnes, Matt Jones, Dean Terlich, Jack Viney, Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes are enough to persuade me that he knows what he's doing.

David Misson has an impeccable record as a fitness coach, and the manner in which he's reduced our injury list to almost nil is a great testament to the fact that we are on the right track from a training perspective.

No one was calling Port's midfield "A grade" before Hinkley came in though. Revisionism of the highest order.

Why would they? The A Grade midfield was either injured, disenfranchised or not even at the club yet. I bet Hinkley's had a profound impact on the club, but unless you can tell me what he would have done at Melbourne if he had the opportunity, his performance at Port Adelaide is irrelevant.

I'm not sure what our captains have to do with Port's captains.

You implied that Port's turnaround was to do with new captains, new leadership group, and new recruits, and I pointed out Melbourne has had the same things but with different results, so I don't really think that's that much of an influence.

I don't know what's made them so much better. Neither do you.

Same players, different coach.... Hmmmmm.... I'm not Sherlock Holmes, but.....

No one was calling Port's midfield "A grade" before Hinkley came in though. Revisionism of the highest order.

Call it what you like. Do you think they have a better group of midfielders than the MFC yes or no? Because on evidence of what I see from our midfield every week they aren't good enough whether Neeld can coach or not. Hinkley would still be struggling to get this group into winning form IMO. All I have stated is that the issue is not just Neeld's coaching, I don't see how you can argue against that.

You implied that Port's turnaround was to do with new captains, new leadership group, and new recruits, and I pointed out Melbourne has had the same things but with different results, so I don't really think that's that much of an influence.

Same players, different coach.... Hmmmmm.... I'm not Sherlock Holmes, but.....

...it might be the players' attitudes. Maybe we should ask Tim Watson.

What I meant by my question about each club's captains was to say that you can't use what happens at some other club to argue for the right or wrong of the same decisions at our club. The variables are just way to big to create meaningful parallels.

But if you want my opinion, I think Jacks Trengove and Grimes have had a fantastic effect on our club. They are of course very young, so you can't expect them to have the same impact as the more mature (and in Kane Cornes' case PREMIERSHIP WINNING) leaders at Port Adelaide.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game today and I hope that the PLAYERS pull out something great.

Why would they? The A Grade midfield was either injured, disenfranchised or not even at the club yet. I bet Hinkley's had a profound impact on the club, but unless you can tell me what he would have done at Melbourne if he had the opportunity, his performance at Port Adelaide is irrelevant.

Who knows? But he MAY have had us putting in 4 quarter efforts, running into space, tackling and putting pressure on, and had us playing with a clue of what we're meant to be doing... I'm not saying Hinkley is the greatest coach ever, he's only a few games in, but the difference he's made to Port has been instantly noticeable, unlike Neeld.

Ok so now certain people have had there whinge and taken us slightly of the topic.......whos going to win and by how much....im thinking Lions by 3 goals

Who knows? But he MAY have had us putting in 4 quarter efforts, running into space, tackling and putting pressure on, and had us playing with a clue of what we're meant to be doing... I'm not saying Hinkley is the greatest coach ever, he's only a few games in, but the difference he's made to Port has been instantly noticeable, unlike Neeld.

The shite we have been in for the last 6 years has made it impossible for Neeld to have an instantly noticeable impact Stuie. We have had far more to deal with than Port. I doubt even Norm Smith could come in and turn this club around immediately.

I frustrate myself saying this but it will take time, no matter who we have at the helm. No instant gratification for MFC supporters.

Dees will win by 32 pts!

Davey and Docherty are subs.

Melbourne 5.00

Brisbane 1.19

Get on board..

Davey sub two weeks running??

$5.00 wow. The Bears are not that good!!

The shite we have been in for the last 6 years has made it impossible for Neeld to have an instantly noticeable impact Stuie. We have had far more to deal with than Port. I doubt even Norm Smith could come in and turn this club around immediately.

I frustrate myself saying this but it will take time, no matter who we have at the helm. No instant gratification for MFC supporters.

As I've said before, the thing that disappoints me is that we always miss out on the coaches that can work miracles, because a miracle is what we need.

Not sure if it's the pie I had for lunch, but I've got a bad feeling in my stomach. Hopefully it's the pie.

Been waiting for this bounce since last Sunday arvo