How do you fix this?

[jumbo returns 6,739]

as usual very well put

couldnt believe average players trying lookaway handballs .no doubt another monday rant from fd

sacking the coach mmmmmmm., i still dont see the point of this. it wont stop frawley giving up when we have 3 goals kicked against us in the first 3 minutes.

i can only imagine how frustrating it must be to teach a young man to approach a game in a certain way and then watch senoir players lead him down the track of laziness .

as for building from the ground up. your right dr gonzo, its difficult when you still have bad apples in the mix

im not a fan of the coach but im a fan of rebuild and all for one. unfortunately this fd has inherited a group of < we have always done it our way> and the chasm is slowly starting to appear between the new and the lazy. couldnt help but think this may be intentional to show the newer players its< either this way or get traded> and the older set is struggling to come to terms with the new regime

Appreciate the sentiment.

In turn, your analogy of the 'chasm' growing is sadly going to come to a head.

Neeld will probably get the sarse, but those players that avoid standards, lack resilience and true professionalism in their demeanour will stay.

And, probably destroy another coach.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,024]

Drafting or development?

A little of both I'd say. The development in recent years has been hampered by the massive number of games lost to injuries to our young players. Strauss and Blease lost a year each to their broken legs, Nev has just finished his first full pre-season, Tapscott had a series of annoying issues requiring minor surgery, Fitzpatrick has had his CFS and Diabetes. In a sense you can forgive these players for not getting their act together sooner, but they have all been on the list for long enough that even taking those issues into account they should be further along than they are.

Of course, the classic bad drafting choice is Cook. I know he was AA in the U18s, but surely they could see that he was another Panos? He was too slow and too soft to make anything of himself at AFL level. I have to wonder if this was a knee-jerk reaction to Tom Lynch being taken right before our pick, since I have no doubt we would have grabbed him if we could have. Equally, Tom Scully has never shown the quality you would expect of a number 1 pick, although he at least justifies his place on a list. Guys like Martin and Bastinac have shot right past him and are playing dominant roles for their clubs. Clearly our ability to spot major talent has been flawed in the past. Given that we now have a new recruiter in our club we can hope that this area at least will show some better results in the future.

[Kenny Powers 90]

How do you fix this? Macgyver + Paper clip + Rubber band

[optimus_grimes 4]

Off field problems aside, we need a midfield so badly. We can't win a clearance. I'm reserving judgement on the backs who get shelled every week and have no one to kick it to and the forwards who see a footy twice a quarter flying over their heads.

We need to do everything we possibly can to attract some elite ball winners in the middle. Problem is why would you come? We have no appeal to blokes who want success unless you can sell it to a few all at once. How much room do we have in our cap to throw some money at two or three guys?

Otherwise we are left with trying to draft and develop them. This scares me. Even if we do somehow draft well and by some miracle develop them well, we're looking down the barrel of another 2 years+ of getting bashed every week.

[rpfc 28,262]

How do you fix this? Macgyver + Paper clip + Rubber band

He's going to need a Stargate for this problem...

[jnrmac 20,055]

the players are not performing. They are not giving the effort required. Its not fitness because you can see the lack of effort in the first quarter or two.

How can we repeatedly start games and not give chase, tackle etc??

Neeld isn't telling em to play like that but he can't get them to play the way he wants (or in fact any way that resembles a pro football club)and has to carry the can.

Our big problem is we have been there done this.

Bailey was not performing and we ditched him. We then systematically went through players that did not perform for us in an effort to make us harder and more accountable. In theory fine.

We now have to do this again. We have made an awful error with Neeld and have to ditch him as unpalatable as that is. We will be subject to further ridicule but really it can't be any worse than it is now. We need a tried and proven coach. Our last coach like this was Northey I think?? We simply cannot go with an unproven coach again.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,024]

I think perhaps a little Ross Lyon could be the answer. Is someone does not meet the benchmarks set they are dropped regardless of who they are or the place they fill in the team. Nobody is safe. Everybody is accountable.

[Kenny Powers 90]

I think perhaps a little Ross Lyon could be the answer. Is someone does not meet the benchmarks set they are dropped regardless of who they are or the place they fill in the team. Nobody is safe. Everybody is accountable.

I can't see that working with our current team. It's pretty much already been tried and tasted anyway

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

So how do you fix this problem? If you delist all 15 of your NQR players at once, you go so deep in to the draft that you're finding 8 more Nicholsons, Couches and Bails, only now they have zero games experience rather than 30 to 50. If you are lucky you might find a Matt Jones or two, but while he is handy, that hardly seems like the path out of oblivion.No, the replacement of NQRs has to be piecemeal, otherwise the very real possibility is the side getting even worse. Don't think that is possible? Neither did I until this year. Delisting players currently in our best 22 is not going to help us at all, because they have to be replaced with someone.

No [censored] if you go into the draft to take 15 players chances are we'll get some shockers. I haven't read anything about drafting 15 players after delisting 15.

It's a mix Nasher. You do understand our recruiting has been the worst of all clubs over the past 5 or 6 years don't you? We've got the bloke who worked under the head recruiter for collingwood and a beefed up department. That should be better than the BP recruiting department you would think so I wouldn't use 'Nichos or Bails' as a comparison. They are shocking picks.

It is absolutely mandatory that over the next two years we again strip this sick and conditioned list. Anybody can see it needs to be done deliberately and carefully. At the end of this year I am hopeful that we move on another 10-15 players and draft, trade and use free agency to target certain players. I don't like what Neeld did bringing in Byrnes, rodan, gillies and Pederson. We obviously need to target some midfield talent and experience. 22 - 25 year old proven mids. Maybe one or two more dean terlich/Matt jones types and then draft young mids with the right [censored] attributes and get it right.

If we did this over two years and got it right there would be obvious and steady improvement. New coaching panel too.

These players on our list are below average footballers: Fix it with recruiting from the draft.

They are mentally weak and are used to losing. They have lost hunger for the game: Fix it by bringing the RIGHT players in from other clubs. We have done it with Clark and I believe Dawes is a handy addition despite his onfield performances to date.

These players are now conditioned and have developed bad habits thanks to being in a sick culture as well as already being average players when drafted: Fix it with mature aged skilled players who have a burning desire to play AFL, ie Matt Jones and Dean Terlich.

Throw in an experienced coaching panel who have a proven track record of success.

Give it two years and we're back on track.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I call BS.

Possibly, although Gerard Whately isn't the type of person to spread rumours.

Edited May 27, 2013 by Clint Bizkit

[Sir Why You Little 36,983]

Gerard Whately's sources are usually rock solid.

[Ouch! 2,258]

Gerard Whately's sources are usually rock solid.

Whilst I don't disagree... it seems odd that an ultimatum is issued so quickly after Peter Jackson comes on board. Also goes against what he mentioned about taking his time to assess whats going on in the football dept.

[jumbo returns 6,739]

Gerard Whately is just another journo that is at the mercy of sensationalism, relevance and spin.

What a crock of SH$T!

[Sir Why You Little 36,983]

Gerard Whately is just another journo that is at the mercy of sensationalism, relevance and spin.

What a crock of SH$T!

you know Gerard do you & how he works??

[demonchris 162]

Norm Smith would fix the midfield in one trade/free agency period

he would also attract free agents and get our good players to re-sign

Agreed, Coaches like him bring players to the club. They have an awe about them. No disrespect to Neeld, It's what we need right now.

[demonchris 162]

I think perhaps a little Ross Lyon could be the answer. Is someone does not meet the benchmarks set they are dropped regardless of who they are or the place they fill in the team. Nobody is safe. Everybody is accountable.

Yep, but when that happens they back their bags and leave i.e Moloney.

[Pipefitter 2,150]

First up I'd trade watts. Bundle in a pick and get an A grade midfielder.

Forget the experienced coach. Put our money into getting Stephen wells from geelongs recruiting department. Or the next best we can get. Be aggressive.

The reason I say forget the experienced coach is apart from roos who is not Interested they are all over the hill. If they still had what it taked they'd still be there.

Since the Brisbane dynasty, apart from the one premiership from Malthouse, all the coaches have been first time premiers. It's bloody hard to win premierships. Especially at 2 clubs. We need to be looking for the next Ross Lyon or Hinkley. Coaches that haven't been seniors, but been assistant at AFL level for 10 years plus. To me this is even better than getting a Malthouse. You have quality experience in the big league and the hunger to go all the way after waiting so long for your turn. Sumich stands out to me. Also Gavin Brown is an interesting one. Been in the caper for almost as long as his playing career now. The way he played the game is the way we should strive. Strikes me as a hardwick type.

In looking for a CEO think outside the box. One move that still has me scratching my head was Stynes removing Mcnmee almost immediately. To me he was an inspired and savvy choice. And obviously had some runs on the board running arguably Australia's premier sporting event the australian open. I often wonder how differently things would have turned out if he was given the chance. To me the CEO is the money man, and the footy man should be the football manager. We need someone who will come in a find some more revenue and fast. We can't just say oh we have the bentleigh club and that's it. We need to get into a position where if we have a bad year and lose 1.5 million like this year and be able to take the hit, not be worried we will fold. The current business model of getting supporters to tip in money continually is unsustainable. If we get to a 5 million dollar debt again it will be lights out this time for certain.

The president? It HAS to be Schwarz. So he's not a business man, blah blah. That's fine. As long as we have our football department running smoothly he doesn't need to be the sharpest tool in the shed. He needs to be passionate. We need to find our Eddie McGuire. Someone who won't get pushed around. Now who would have the balls to push the Ox around?

Good luck Melbourne. Lets get our #%** together.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

Step 1: Develop or recruite AFL standard talent

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-27/cale-morton

Step 2 ???

Step 3 Premiership

......... But in all seriousness a pretty big slap in the face to this club

Edited May 27, 2013 by Unleash Hell

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Step 1: Develop or recruite AFL standard talent

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-27/cale-morton

Step 2 ???

Step 3 Premiership

......... But in all seriousness a pretty big slap in the face to this club

Massive insult to be criticised by Gale. The sad part is it is probably all true.

[jumbo returns 6,739]

you know Gerard do you & how he works??

Pathetic and simplistic.

Is that all you've got??

[Redleg 40,841]

Drafting or development?

We have had this argument on other threads and I am completely in the drafting camp. We stuffed up our drafting like no other club. Mistake after mistake.

[Pennant St Dee 13,118]

We have had this argument on other threads and I am completely in the drafting camp. We stuffed up our drafting like no other club. Mistake after mistake.

Your right there Redleg, we went with the naturally gifted players as opposed to those who have mongrel and have had to work for everything they get. Makes a big difference when they step up to the big league

[titan_uranus 24,974]

It's interesting to see the divergent views. Some think we need to go back to the drawing board, re-stock our list, and wait a few years. Others think it's as simple as changing the coach, with everything falling into place under him. Others again think we need the AFL to get us out of this mess. Some still think time will heal this all.

I think the range of views and the ways in which different minds see things differently is a good indication of how complex the solution(s) to our crisis are.

We have had this argument on other threads and I am completely in the drafting camp. We stuffed up our drafting like no other club. Mistake after mistake.

Let's try not to start that one up again. Just had to go over it all with RobbieF in another thread on the weekend.

Edited May 27, 2013 by titan_uranus

[Sir Why You Little 36,983]

Pathetic and simplistic.

Is that all you've got??

i work for the same organization.

I know how hard Gerard works & how respected he is.

[dee-luded 2,959]

We haven't heard anything from the president or anyone from the board. We are bleeding and like to know what comes next.

the club has been saying ever since about 2005,,, we lack leaders,,, we lack extroverted players,,, we lack this & that, & hard work...

what we lack; sorry: 'What we have Lacked',,,, is go getter administrators & board members to lead since the Mid to Late 80's.... they set the Tone !

but don't be misled that this admin now isn't seeing the truth finally.... and don't be confused about the hard work finally being done, & the pain the club is going thru now.

a quiet board doesn't mean they aren't working, it probably means they can't tell us what we want to hear.... that this cleanup is the cleanup we have to go thru.

..... it should have been spotted 5 or 6 years ago.... so this tells us that those footy people who have been around the club, & the administrators we've had for 20 odd Yrs, aren't footy savvy...

this is why there are so few Super Coaches.

because most coaches don't truly understand a culture shift, or they can't be bothered, & put it in the Too Hard basket.

# this guy is different, and will do the hard bloody, dirty work, that the club needs so desperately.... the stuff that should have been sorted out in the 90's & again around 2006....

..... professionalism doesn't just happen to a Club.

.

Edited May 27, 2013 by dee-luded