Due to the message spouted from Melbourne the past 6 years (I think it started way back when we were belted by the bulldogs in 2008) that all Melbourne has to do this week is be competitive, than last week was a win for us. Yeah I didn't get to sing the song, or join in with the conversations on how the dees had a great win, but the fact we were competitive means I should be feeling like we had a win last week. Is that right? Is that the message we have been led to believe? Am I happy with a competitive effort? No!!!!!Why is this line still being thrown out by our club! I use Gold Coast as an example, bluey McKenna has come out today and said "we should be a fair chance against hawthorn". How come every club goes into each week expecting to win yet we hope to be competitive. Here lies our problem. If I hear the phrase "we must be competitive, or any comment referring to be being competitive rather than winning I'm going to "throw up!" Demand a win dees. Even if we head to skilled stadium to take on the cats I want the message resonating from our club and players and coaches and waterbpys that we are going for a win, not simply a competitive effort will do!

Blame the spin and constant conditioning of supporters, lowing our expecations by our failed coach for this. The problem is it also lowers the expectations, confidence and self belief of our players.

The pass mark given for the Richmond game makes me sick. Hell we were smashed. If it was not for their poor set shots combined with our excellent conversion rate per forward 50 entry, the losing margin would have again been embarressing.

Enough of this crap!

Preseason expectations change but in season how are we meant to demand victory when most weeks we've been smashed.

Sure the tigers kicked poorly but clear as day we were much better against Richmond than Gold Coast

Like we haven't had enough angry, wrist slashing threads in the last month.

Merge with..... um, every second thread on the main board. Ho hum.

Preseason expectations change but in season how are we meant to demand victory when most weeks we've been smashed.

Sure the tigers kicked poorly but clear as day we were much better against Richmond than Gold Coast

Yep - so did we.

In the 3rd quarter, we had 7 shots for goals in 12 minutes.

Kick those seven and where would the Tiges be now? Tigerland would be in melt down and some crazy supporter would be dumping manure at their social club.

Improvement is what I want to see! A game plan that's contemporary and disciplined.

I think we're getting there.

Blame the spin and constant conditioning of supporters, lowing our expecations by our failed coach for this. The problem is it also lowers the expectations, confidence and self belief of our players.

The pass mark given for the Richmond game makes me sick. Hell we were smashed. If it was not for their poor set shots combined with our excellent conversion rate per forward 50 entry, the losing margin would have again been embarressing.

Enough of this crap!

Completely agree!!

Have you ever heard Neeld utter the word "win"? If he does, it's almost by accident!

Next time he's at the MCG he should stop to look at the Jamie Cooper painting of our Team of the Century. It hangs proudly in the MCC Members. In that painting Norm Smith is addressing the troops. His first point on the old blackboard is very simple, "...expect to win!" There's nothing scientific about it. It's just about having a positive mindset, not one that's about self preservation. An excellent post Darsby.

Edited May 22, 201312 yr by Swooper Northey

Too many supporters of this club have accepted mediocrity for too long!

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A competitve effort is the minimum expectation of EVERY afl footballer (and every team) - not something to be celebrated,

Good OP.

It's time to demand WINS. Neeld needs to look that word up and see what it means,

Was a very ordinary footballer and is a worse coach.

I think we tried the demanding wins thing too.

We tried the sack the coach thing.

We tried the accepting mediocrity bit too.

Frawley said something interesting after Sundays game,

"It's up to the players, no one else".

I actually saw the penny dropping!

A 6 goal loss to Richmond is a positive for us these days hey? What a joke.

I think we tried the demanding wins thing too.

We tried the sack the coach thing.

We tried the accepting mediocrity bit too.

Frawley said something interesting after Sundays game,

"It's up to the players, no one else".

I actually saw the penny dropping!

I think this is the key. The biggest challenge Neeld has faced is getting the players to take resposibility for their own performance.

I think this is the key. The biggest challenge Neeld has faced is getting the players to take resposibility for their own performance.

Exactly right chookrat. Some players have picked that up, others are taking a bit longer and some were moved on because they weren't going to pick it up! It's a long road back, but all we need is freo or someone in the next few games to get ahead of themselves and we snag a win. After that, confidence builds and expectations turn from competing, to believing, then to expecting to win. Small steps. Unfortunately some players taken over the last few years didn't develop how they (or supporters) would have liked- Addam maric, Matthew bate, Jordy gysberts, Lucas cook, Ricky petterd, cale Morton and Jamie bennell. All top 35 picks who should be forming the cornerstone of our team now. Unfortunately it hasn't happened, so the light at the end of the tunnel now is getting grimesy, trengove, Clark, jones, garland and frawley keep developing the standard so that viney, toumpas, hogan, Kent and Barry have that foundation to learn from.