How best to support the club at the present time

[WAdee 17]

Like most people here I watched yesterday's game with a mixture of shock and horror. It's clear now the club is in a horrible position, so what can we do to help? We the members are the backbone of the club, we need to do something to help the club in its hour of need

[Demon Jack 6,865]

Another massive turnout to training?

[machine11 142]

turn up to matches. I am not surprised that the players couldn't be bothered - 13,000 people turned up. If I was a player, I'd be thinking about playing elsewhere where there is big crowds and more excitement.

I wonder if Peter Jackson has worked out that we have the biggest pussie supporter base in the league.

[pantaloons 2,019]

turn up to matches. I am not surprised that the players couldn't be bothered - 13,000 people turned up. If I was a player, I'd be thinking about playing elsewhere where there is big crowds and more excitement.

I wonder if Peter Jackson has worked out that we have the biggest pussie supporter base in the league.

You have got to be joking. The hawks had this many turn up to game at the G against Port a few years ago. Anyone who turns up or buys a membership in support of this disgusting basketcase deserves a medal.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,197]

turn up to matches. I am not surprised that the players couldn't be bothered - 13,000 people turned up. If I was a player, I'd be thinking about playing elsewhere where there is big crowds and more excitement.

I wonder if Peter Jackson has worked out that we have the biggest pussie supporter base in the league.

What a joke your comments are - I was there but can understand why some might not have shown up. We are playing like absolute rubbish, were playing against a soulless franchise who were every chance of embarassing us, it was Mother's Day and we were playing at 4.40pm on a Sunday when most people have school/work the next day. If the players showed some spirit in any of the prior 6 rounds they may have had more people there.

[machine11 142]

just saying it how it is - I went to the game yesterday - the supporters barely made a noise when our players ran onto the field. No, passion or culture whatsoever at this club.

What a joke your comments are - I was there but can understand why some might not have shown up. We are playing like absolute rubbish, were playing against a soulless franchise who were every chance of embarassing us, it was Mother's Day and we were playing at 4.40pm on a Sunday when most people have school/work the next day. If the players showed some spirit in any of the prior 6 rounds they may have had more people there.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Sorry Machine, that is the shittest post I have read in a while. No other club with a small/medium supporter base would draw many more if they were faced with the exact same situation as we were yesterday. The fact anyone is willing to hand over their hard earned at the moment is a small miracle.

Edited May 12, 2013 by Forest Demon

[What 18,810]

let Peter Jackson know we are behind him 100%

how to do that, I am not sure

[jumbo returns 6,740]

let Peter Jackson know we are behind him 100%

how to do that, I am not sure

Will you still support Jackson if he endorses Neeld as coach?

Just asking....

[What 18,810]

Will you still support Jackson if he endorses Neeld as coach?

Just asking....

He wont

[Dr. Gonzo 24,197]

just saying it how it is - I went to the game yesterday - the supporters barely made a noise when our players ran onto the field. No, passion or culture whatsoever at this club.

That's because the supporters are completely demoralised from the inept efforts of the entire club. The players have barely raised a sweat all year. I pay to go to games, they get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to be there, how about they take the initiative and give us something to cheer about.

[jackaub 1,402]

The body language from players coaches even the water bottle girls is very very bad yesterday

I waws there yesterday clalpped and cheered them onto the field and then sat back and watched the worst 1o minutes of football i have ever seen. The crowd around me were vocal until the players just made it imposible to cheer them After embarrasment and sadness the players were ridiclued by many in the crowd and many left after half time

the players lost me yesterday they have some responsibility surely

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,693]

Will you still support Jackson if he endorses Neeld as coach?

Just asking....

As a matter of interest, did Peter Jackson ever go through the process of selecting a coach? (ie, was he still at Essendon when Matthew Knights was appointed?). It's not like he's come from a club that has had to deal with much "coach-stress".

By the way, I'm not criticising Jackson. I think he's an excellent appointment, albeit temporary. But the very reason he's ideal for our club is because he knows how a successful, stable and passionate club operates...not how a soul-destroying, poorly performing one does.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I went yesterday and I took my wife as a special treat to her for Mothers Day, we lasted until about half way through the last quarter when she kindly suggested we head off home.

We have a very poor coach and a very poor list, so I'm finding it harder and harder to justify going, I want to support them but they just give you nothing in return.

I'll give Jackson time to come out with some recommendations but not forever; there has to be change and soon.

[The heart beats true 18,110]

Machine11,

I'm really tired of being a Melbourne supporter and being told we are [censored] weak.

We are the only reason the club still exists and we will very shortly be asked again to keep the club going.

We are the only thing about this club that is AFL standard, and it breaks my heart.

[machine11 142]

i am tired but walking away won't change much and this is my club, not some insurance salesman club - if the supporters are united they can demand changes.

Machine11,

I'm really tired of being a Melbourne supporter and being told we are [censored] weak.
We are the only reason the club still exists and we will very shortly be asked again to keep the club going.

We are the only thing about this club that is AFL standard, and it breaks my heart.

[Ouch! 2,258]

I went yesterday and I took my wife as a special treat to her for Mothers Day, we lasted until about half way through the last quarter when she kindly suggested we head off home.

We have a very poor coach and a very poor list, so I'm finding it harder and harder to justify going, I want to support them but they just give you nothing in return.

I'll give Jackson time to come out with some recommendations but not forever; there has to be change and soon.

I live interstate, so don't get to a lot of games, but I am just gutted at the moment with where the club is. The thing I hate the most is that I don't even get heckled or ribbed by friends who support other clubs, it's pity.

Have to admit up until this week I felt that posters such as yourself Robbie have been overly negative and critical, but I can't even argue against yours and the views of others (WYL etc...) It's your passion for the club and for a while I thought it would be too destablising to change the coach with everything this club has gone through... but we have to act or we face losing more players, more supporters, more corporate sponsors.

I don't dislike Neeld, I don't even think we put the wrong coach in at the time... I think he came in with some hard truths and got some people off side as a result, I listen to his press conferences and I understand the message he is trying to convey. I just think that this club has been a slow motion train wreck that would have killed off any coach given the last 18 months we have endured (not to mention the years prior...)

Bailey killed off the senior players too early in a youth driven rebuild, Neeld alienated several more leaving us with a badly unbalanced squad of players, and whilst I understand him trying to bring experience and leadership from other clubs in to help... fact is each club has it's own culture and I don't think that can come as easily as Neeld expected.

We need an experienced coach, don't really care who (Matthews, Roos, Eade, Worsfold, WIlliams ... don't care if it's Sheedy.) we need Jackson to do his job, and possibly as part of that try and negotiate with the AFL to defer our 'Tanking' fine whilst we pay out those that need to leave. We need to see what comes at a board level at the end of the year.

I am a member, as is my 10yr old son, and soon I'll sign up my 3yr old son... That's as much as I can do to support the club at the moment. I watch as many games as I can (for as long as I can )

Edited May 13, 2013 by Oucher

[Sir Why You Little 36,989]

Oucher, you are spot on.

This club need a total cleanout off field this year.

Hollywood Boulevard must leave quickly without a fight.

We need Professionals to run this old girl.

The right choices will turn it around.

The wrong choices have been made and we are in deep shite. But it can be fixed.

I am not against more AFL appointments, who have no earlier connection at all.

Mclardy's Board is done.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I live interstate, so don't get to a lot of games, but I am just gutted at the moment with where the club is. The thing I hate the most is that I don't even get heckled or ribbed by friends who support other clubs, it's pity.

Have to admit up until this week I felt that posters such as yourself Robbie have been overly negative and critical, but I can't even argue against yours and the views of others (WYL etc...) It's your passion for the club and for a while I thought it would be too destablising to change the coach with everything this club has gone through... but we have to act or we face losing more players, more supporters, more corporate sponsors.

I don't dislike Neeld, I don't even think we put the wrong coach in at the time... I think he came in with some hard truths and got some people off side as a result, I listen to his press conferences and I understand the message he is trying to convey. I just think that this club has been a slow motion train wreck that would have killed off any coach given the last 18 months we have endured (not to mention the years prior...)

Bailey killed off the senior players too early in a youth driven rebuild, Neeld alienated several more leaving us with a badly unbalanced squad of players, and whilst I understand him trying to bring experience and leadership from other clubs in to help... fact is each club has it's own culture and I don't think that can come as easily as Neeld expected.

We need an experienced coach, don't really care who (Matthews, Roos, Eade, Worsfold, WIlliams ... don't care if it's Sheedy.) we need Jackson to do his job, and possibly as part of that try and negotiate with the AFL to defer our 'Tanking' fine whilst we pay out those that need to leave. We need to see what comes at a board level at the end of the year.

I am a member, as is my 10yr old son, and soon I'll sign up my 3yr old son... That's as much as I can do to support the club at the moment. I watch as many games as I can (for as long as I can )

I want this sorted before we destroy any other young players careers; I would hate to see Hogan come in to this rabble and I'd hate to see Viney and Toumpass go the way of the other young players through the years.

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

It's a really hard question to answer - what is the best way to support the club right now?

Attending the games is excruciating. I have been to two so far and we got flogged by Bombers and Eagles.I have watched two games on TV and it is gut wrenching to watch. My wife and kids leave the room as I twist and contort on the couch watching lame tackling, country football level skills, and no passion from coach or players.

I went along to that training session on Gosch's paddock. I have scarves and newsletters and annual reports. My kids have got guernseys, badges of favourite players, posters on the walls.

I can't do any more than this.

When Neeld was appointed I said we had to give him until round 11 in the 2013season. Well, I have concluded 4 weeks early. He is as bad a coach as Skilton and Ditterich were in the 70's. He is as bad as Tony Shaw was at Collingwood and Tim Watson was at St. Kilda. He is not a senior coach.

I will support this club until I die but I cannot support the coach anymore.

[Ouch! 2,258]

I want this sorted before we destroy any other young players careers; I would hate to see Hogan come in to this rabble and I'd hate to see Viney and Toumpass go the way of the other young players through the years.

Its not just your young player careers and lack of development, we can't afford to lose Sylvia, Watts, Frawley to other clubs, this forum constantly debates about these players and their worth, but we need these players to stay at our club in 2014. A new coaching direction is probably the only way this can be realised IF they aren't playing for Neeld. Rivers comments about the MFC before the friday match hinted as much.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

It's a really hard question to answer - what is the best way to support the club right now?

Attending the games is excruciating. I have been to two so far and we got flogged by Bombers and Eagles.I have watched two games on TV and it is gut wrenching to watch. My wife and kids leave the room as I twist and contort on the couch watching lame tackling, country football level skills, and no passion from coach or players.

I went along to that training session on Gosch's paddock. I have scarves and newsletters and annual reports. My kids have got guernseys, badges of favourite players, posters on the walls.

I can't do any more than this.

When Neeld was appointed I said we had to give him until round 11 in the 2013season. Well, I have concluded 4 weeks early. He is as bad a coach as Skilton and Ditterich were in the 70's. He is as bad as Tony Shaw was at Collingwood and Tim Watson was at St. Kilda. He is not a senior coach.

I will support this club until I die but I cannot support the coach anymore.

Driving out before and I heard Col Garland's press conference and he is genuinely embarrassed at the moment, he said it was not the coach who missed the tackles or displayed poor skills it was the players and there were some of the younger kids having a go when the senior players weren't. He obviously loves the club and credits it for everything he's got at the moment.

I don't think that Neeld has lost the players Col said his game plan is pretty simple and it's just that the players can't execute it.

The problem is, if the game plan is simple and the coach can't convey his message then it is his problem, that's what the coach is there for.

The issue is not whether he has or hasn't lost the players, or if they will or won't play for him it's whether he can get his message across and instil the confidence in the players to do what he wants, and it seems as if he can't.

Listening to SEN on the way back I heard Robbo say that Melbourne can accept mediocrity or do something about it and that's about where it stands.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Its not just your young player careers and lack of development, we can't afford to lose Sylvia, Watts, Frawley to other clubs, this forum constantly debates about these players and their worth, but we need these players to stay at our club in 2014. A new coaching direction is probably the only way this can be realised IF they aren't playing for Neeld. Rivers comments about the MFC before the friday match hinted as much.

To a top club these players may be icing but to us they are pretty much the cake; we need to keep them or we will be set back another 5 years and we all know what that would mean.

[machine11 142]

What a joke your comments are - we are a soules franchise - we whinge about how our club is run - we decide not to go to games - we [censored] ourselves over and then whine - who cares when and what time we are playing. Grow some balls!

What a joke your comments are - I was there but can understand why some might not have shown up. We are playing like absolute rubbish, were playing against a soulless franchise who were every chance of embarassing us, it was Mother's Day and we were playing at 4.40pm on a Sunday when most people have school/work the next day. If the players showed some spirit in any of the prior 6 rounds they may have had more people there.