I don't think there's any point sacking Neeld now, give him till the end of the year and then decide. The simple fact is, who is going to replace him? All the coaches there are talking the same stuff as Neeld and no-one from the outside will come in now and coach. We need an experienced coach and at the moment I can't see anyone going anywhere near us.

Wasn't it Matthew who said,'if it bleeds it can be killed.'

We are bleeding.......badly. Stop the bleeding or we will be dead by the end of the year.

i used to think there was no point sacking Neeld. Now, i dont see the point keeping him on....

The way this team is playing is sad. I'm no longer angry, i feel sorry for the players.

why because they could only lay 31 tackles and as Neeld mention couldn't stick 51 tackle attempts. To me that smacks of lazy selfinterested footballers.

i used to think there was no point sacking Neeld. Now, i dont see the point keeping him on....

The way this team is playing is sad. I'm no longer angry, i feel sorry for the players.

i used to think there was no point sacking Neeld. Now, i dont see the point keeping him on....

The way this team is playing is sad. I'm no longer angry, i feel sorry for the players.

Why feel sorry for the players. Their actions on the field of play are of their choosing. Regardless of the coach's strengths or weaknesses the players choose whether to chase and tackle. These guys are simply not playing like AFL footballers. I have no sympathy for these coach-killers.

why because they could only lay 31 tackles and as Neeld mention couldn't stick 51 tackle attempts. To me that smacks of lazy selfinterested footballers.

I agree machine - I will qualify my statement that I think Neeld is 'Max Gawn'

But how can the players not be held accountable?? Makes no sense.. i think it was 100 odd tackle attempts 36 stuck, that is pathetic

People here can go on about how Neeld has fractured the playing group - whatever, Any player not giving 100% when the take the field doesn't deserve our support. Whoever they are how ever highly rated they are they can [censored] off. That effort is below VFL level

If a player thinks he can give 50% and get away with it because he dosen't like the coach I will not support them.... And there were more then a handfull that didn't give a stuff last night

PS - I don't want to hear excuses like Neeld upset them

[censored] weak - and I don't want to hear your [censored] weak excuses for the playing group

I agree twith the thread title, but disagree on the reasons. I'll explain why.

Jackson has come in and straight identified that there are problems with the structures in the club. He spoke about streamlining reporting to the CEO, and also commented that with all those other factors contributing to state of the club AND the playing list, that nobody really knows whether or not Neeld can coach.

Here's an excerpt fromThe Age quoting Jackons re Neeld and Neeld's response...

Asked about Neeld, who has endured a nightmare start to his coaching career, Jackson admitted that judging his ability as a coach might prove difficult in the short term.

Angry Demons supporters yell abuse. ''He's contracted until the end of 2014, and that's where it sits at the moment,'' Jackson said. ''When he came into this club there has just been one massive external factor after another, and on top of that, we've got a very inexperienced playing list,'' he said.

''I think we've got to give everyone the chance, whether it's Mark Neeld or whoever it is in the footy department - give them some clean air, if you like, to show what they've got.'' Neeld said he had not heard Jackson's comments before the match, but revealed he had been heartened by the new boss' direction for the club.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/mother-of-all-hidings-20130512-2jg9k.html#ixzz2T7o7jzog

Neeld seems to be right on board with how Jackson is approaching things. The important part for me, when reviewing this whole situation, is that a Coach, in my view, should not be ultimately responsible for the culture of the football club, the administrators and the CEO are. Schwab is now gone, that was the appropriate move. I firmly believe that a new coach, even an experienced coach like Roo's could not hope to turn around our onfield performance in 18months whilst also rebuilding the list given the culture of the club at the time. This team was less experienced than the GC team that smashed us (though I'm still [censored] by the manner of the loss), and less talented. Our top line talent would be seen as Sylvia, Jones and ?????? from that game, and that doesn't go close to their top line talent of Ablett, Brennan, Swallow, and young crop of Bennell, O Meara, Lynch, McKenzie.

I'm sorry but we don't even shine on a light on them talent wise. This, to me, is a byproduct of the poor management of the football department since as far back as the Daniher days. Think about it. Why did it take Travis Johnstone up until the time he was traded to the Brisbane Lions to realise the standards he needed to train at. Why did promising young Ruckmen, like Darren Jolly (dual premiership) and Troy Simmonds, start to develop and become solid AFL players AFTER they left the Demons. Why couldn't our culture provide enough incentive for guys like Scott Thompson to stick with the club. Why did Brock McLean, a guy many thought would be our next captain and who is now one of Carlton's most important players, want out of the club.....the CULTURE.

Why haven't we been able to turn Watts into more than he currently is? I don't blame Watts, I blame the club culture and the football department. Why did Scully leave? Money maybe, but he stated that he wasn't impressed with the actions of some of the senior players (think Moloney) during the China trip, again CULTURE. Why has it taken until now for Colin Sylvia to put in effort for a full game, both defensively and offensively. Hell, we've even contributed to the downfall of Liam Jurrah, who had never touched alcohol until joining the club.

A coach, can only do so much within a poor culture, and as has been reported by two people on here (one being me), their are people in and around the club that are stating that the list is tighter and more united than it has been in years. This is a positive statement. If thing's weren't changing we wouldn't have had players join us of the calibre of Dawes and Clark.

This club is in full rebuild mode. We are NOT going to be playing finals in the next 2-3 years because we are in the same position as the bulldogs, Gold Coast, and GWS development wise. We should expect inconsistent performances from the young list as Neeld and co continue to work to fix the problems of the past. Jackson has already identified that Neil Craig is probably the only experienced football person in the footy department. Until we can provide the coach with the proper structure and support he needs, only then should he be the one under the microscope every other week. Until that time, he needs to be given the opportunity to prove he can coach.

But first we need to fix the culture and the football department.

In the meantime, the vultures are circling to see what appertising pieces of meat remain on the MFC carcass. Players who have obviously displayed AFL level talent in the recent past, will be targets - if not already- come the end of the year. We can't afford to lose the likes of Frawley, Sylvia, Watts and Garland in one hit.

Believe me, several clubs are already right into these players. We need to stop the bleeding immediately.

In the meantime, the vultures are circling to see what appertising pieces of meat remain on the MFC carcass. Players who have obviously displayed AFL level talent in the recent past, will be targets - if not already- come the end of the year. We can't afford to lose the likes of Frawley, Sylvia, Watts and Garland in one hit.

Believe me, several clubs are already right into these players. We need to stop the bleeding immediately.

Personally I don't care about this at all.... Other clubs can take our soft [censored] weak players - I am sure they'll thrive in enviorments where they can be role players and not put in any actual hard efforts

I don't accept this bullcrap that the players can't be held responsible for their performance - We need to build a culture that say Sunday's perfomance is not acceptable. Neeld may be a [censored] coach but he can't be held 100% responisbile for that [censored] weak effort. I don't care if the players don't like him, it's no excuse to be [censored] weak

I don't think anyone knows what the answer is - sack the coach just confirms that the players can take the easy road. Don't sack the coach and we have to continue to put up with this [censored]

MFC is buggered if it does and buggered if it doesn't - it's a shame you can't sack 20 players and coaches all at once

I'va no offence but blokes who don't put in 100% can get stuffed no matter their talent level. So if they want to walk I am happy with that - as a matter of fact put their hands up now and don't put on the red and blue ever again

There seems to be a culture at this club where we suuporters and staff accept medocrity. How does a club let players go out on the field and not put in 100%? This club needs to make a stand - Players not putting in 100% should be exposed, Coaching staff not donig their job should also be exposed.

It's not good enough - and we supporters are just accepting it

In a perfect world you would sack them all (coaches and players) but we can't - First we need effort then we need a football structure to lead us forward and I highly doubt that anyone already at the club are the right ones to take this club forward

pm, again some very valid points raised, however, 20 months in, are you not alarmed by the skill level and overall development of our players? If you had to explain the gameplan on Sunday, could you do it in earnest? That is to say, from a purely football perspective, how have we progressed? (please no mention of fitness because in terms of match fitness we are seemingly woeful)

It is fine, and indeed correct, to the point to the cultural failings of our club in the past. But is it not equally valid to say that Neeld us guilty of OVERcorrection in trying to address this? Jackson has said that you should never assume everything done in the past was wrong. It would seem that Neeld drew this conclusion from the moment he arrived, and we are now seeing the effects. He's the one under the microscope because this list and this playing style are his construct.

We don't have time on our side now. Supporters are dropping daily, and trying to attract sponsors in 2014 and beyond doesn't bare thinking about. It is at an absolutely critical stage for the future of this club. Brave decisions have to be made.

Personally I don't care about this at all.... Other clubs can take our soft [censored] weak players - I am sure they'll thrive in enviorments where they can be role players and not put in any actual hard efforts

I don't accept this bullcrap that the players can't be held responsible for their performance - We need to build a culture that say Sunday's perfomance is not acceptable. Neeld may be a [censored] coach but he can't be held 100% responisbile for that [censored] weak effort. I don't care if the players don't like him, it's no excuse to be [censored] weak

I don't think anyone knows what the answer is - sack the coach just confirms that the players can take the easy road. Don't sack the coach and we have to continue to put up with this [censored]

MFC is buggered if it does and buggered if it doesn't - it's a shame you can't sack 20 players and coaches all at once

I'va no offence but blokes who don't put in 100% can get stuffed no matter their talent level. So if they want to walk I am happy with that - as a matter of fact put their hands up now and don't put on the red and blue ever again

It's not good enough - and we supporters are accepting it

That's not the point UH. What is most concerning is they know that players on our list are soft targets, simply because they are sick of the environment. That is the issue.

I don't think there's any point sacking Neeld now, give him till the end of the year and then decide. The simple fact is, who is going to replace him? All the coaches there are talking the same stuff as Neeld and no-one from the outside will come in now and coach. We need an experienced coach and at the moment I can't see anyone going anywhere near us.

No We need at least 12 capable players... Yesterday was it for me... I have tried hard to make various excuses and blame certain people at times , the Coach, the President, the FD and some of the players.... BUT at last I must unfortunately admit WE DO NOT HAVE THE CATTLE !!!! We will go absolutely nowhere with the current list... The thing that worries me the most now is....What the hell can we do ???? We are stuck exactly where we are for a long , long, time.... Sadly... We cannot change that in the short term... The coach is NOT the one who should be carrying ALL the blame...These players are just NOT up to AFL Senior standard.. IT is so obvious after watching them yesterday !!!! I am listening to ABC Radio right now in Hobart and They are giving us an absolute pasting !!! One statement just made was "I would try and talk my son out of becoming an AFL player if he was by some misfortune drafted to Melbourne" OK so he is only a journalist bashing MFC, but sadly, I found myself admitting I think he was sort of right... We are the laughing stock, if we weren't already..I am absolutely devastated and broken hearted with our once mighty, respected club.. IT HURTS !!! Where to now ?? Any real constructive realistic ideas fellow members ???? I am gutted !!! What can Peter Jackson do ??? A new coach is NOT the answer !! We need playing personnel...Glad we didn't go for Sheedy... He is only as good as his players as are MOST teams as is proven by the performance of GWS... What a bloody failure that venture will prove to be... !!! We got nearly 10000 attending a match in which Ackermanis played in with a local team last year in Hobart...

In the meantime, the vultures are circling to see what appertising pieces of meat remain on the MFC carcass. Players who have obviously displayed AFL level talent in the recent past, will be targets - if not already- come the end of the year. We can't afford to lose the likes of Frawley, Sylvia, Watts and Garland in one hit.

Believe me, several clubs are already right into these players. We need to stop the bleeding immediately.

WE are going to lose Sylvia for a little while after yesterday's stupid indiscretion, Sorry but Frawley is too slow physically and mentally, kicks far too often to the opposition when not under pressure,Watts ??? Who cares ??? and Garland, who would miss him , really ?? will never be a match winner and of what real value is he to the club ?? we need more than half the list to be shown the door , but unfortunately right now this cannot happen... We are in a bad place... I love this club but my love is being strained at the moment...I am past caring if I in fact receive any negative attacks as a result of this post... Water off a duck's back after yesterday's worst ever performance (that I recall seeing) even worse than 186 or 148, as the opposition was much worse than those two defeats ,without doubt.....

i used to think there was no point sacking Neeld. Now, i dont see the point keeping him on....

The way this team is playing is sad. I'm no longer angry, i feel sorry for the players.

I Don't ... I feel sorry for members like me and thousands of others.... the players are not up to it and at times anger me when they walk off the ground at half time giving each other "high fives'" They should be bloody hanging their heads... To me we are just a good VFL standard team.... Sadly

I can't see what Neeld has done to put his hand up and say i should be coaching, all the reasons not to sack him are about us, we are losing money because no body will watch us play, we're losing money because membership numbers are declining, we're losing faith because we have lost to Essendon by 148 points and Gold coast by ten goals are we're told to be patient.

if we sack Neeld now, we can get craig or viney in as caretaker ( no way they could do worse than Neeld is ) and we have the whole year to make sure we get the right senior coach for 2014

PS - I don't want to hear excuses like Neeld upset them

[censored] weak - and I don't want to hear your [censored] weak excuses for the playing group

Totally agree with these sentiments.... Enough is enough !!!!

That's not the point UH. What is most concerning is they know that players on our list are soft targets, simply because they are sick of the environment. That is the issue.

Correct I'va - they are soft

I know that's not your point but after this year I really don't care....... Players leave clubs all the time - if Sundsy is any indication of the effort level and pride they have then bye bye

This club should be bigger then the players - stop giving these [censored] weak blokes excuses

WE are going to lose Sylvia for a little while after yesterday's stupid indiscretion, Sorry but Frawley is too slow physically and mentally, kicks far too often to the opposition when not under pressure,Watts ??? Who cares ??? and Garland, who would miss him , really ?? will never be a match winner and of what real value is he to the club ?? we need more than half the list to be shown the door , but unfortunately right now this cannot happen... We are in a bad place... I love this club but my love is being strained at the moment...I am past caring if I in fact receive any negative attacks as a result of this post... Water off a duck's back after yesterday's worst ever performance (that I recall seeing) even worse than 186 or 148, as the opposition was much worse than those two defeats ,without doubt.....

You may well be right, but we cannot afford to lose a core group of players in one hit, while yet another re-build is on.

It is fine, and indeed correct, to the point to the cultural failings of our club in the past. But is it not equally valid to say that Neeld us guilty of OVERcorrection in trying to address this? Jackson has said that you should never assume everything done in the past was wrong. It would seem that Neeld drew this conclusion from the moment he arrived, and we are now seeing the effects. He's the one under the microscope because this list and this playing style are his construct.

You might be right P Man, and I am posting simply because I am [censored] orf - but that is a [censored] weak excuse from any player in the AFL not to give 100% on game day.

I am not supporting Neeld - I am pointing out WE the stakeholders are can't and won't accept that output

I can't see what Neeld has done to put his hand up and say i should be coaching, all the reasons not to sack him are about us, we are losing money because no body will watch us play, we're losing money because membership numbers are declining, we're losing faith because we have lost to Essendon by 148 points and Gold coast by ten goals are we're told to be patient.

if we sack Neeld now, we can get craig or viney in as caretaker ( no way they could do worse than Neeld is ) and we have the whole year to make sure we get the right senior coach for 2014

Our playing group is NOT capable of doing any better !!! No coach will do any better with this soft sub AFL standard group.... Sorry to have to admit that, but tell it as it is I MUST... If I am attacked for my views ,then so be it ..I expect it from some of those whom write on this site... You are all entitled to your opinions, as am I.

You may well be right, but we cannot afford to lose a core group of players in one hit, while yet another re-build is on.

Anyone who gives 100% should be our core group. I dont' care how highly they're paid, where they were drafted or how far a pole has been shoved up their ass telling them how good they are.

100% commitment or [censored] off and play in the VFL until you can be fired or leave

I couldn't give two hoots about Neelds future

But I will use this thread to make my point and stand that anything less then 100% commitment from the playing group is UNacceptable

I've had enough _ i am almost ready to quit watching AFL

You may well be right, but we cannot afford to lose a core group of players in one hit, while yet another re-build is on.

Maybe we CAN afford it at the moment as what we have will not take us any further ..If we had five cents in the bank and we spent it then we could afford it as it wasn't worth anything much in the first place..THAT is where we are at right now....ANYTHING can only be a gain.. We are at "rock Bottom"

Our playing group is NOT capable of doing any better !!! No coach will do any better with this soft sub AFL standard group.... Sorry to have to admit that, but tell it as it is I MUST... If I am attacked for my views ,then so be it ..I expect it from some of those whom write on this site... You are all entitled to your opinions, as am I.

See that's the point i can't understand, we should be better than this, Sylvia, jones, grimes, trengove, matt jones, viney, although young should still be able to match any of the bottom six teams, injuries aside our list itself isn't bad, just young which makes it Vital that we have the right people in place, if it's not Neeld, we should bite the bullet and make a change.