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How far we've fallen 25th July 2010 and why?

DeeSpencer

By DeeSpencer
in Melbourne Demons

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DeeSpencer   26,266

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Bartram Frawley Garland
MacDonald Rivers Bruce

Morton Sylvia Scully

Dunn Watts Maric
Green Jurrah Wonaeamirri

Jamar McKenzie Davey
P. Johnson, Bennell, Bail, Jones

Kennelly, Richards, Mattner
Malceski, Grundy, Shaw
Hannebery, Kennedy, Jack
McGlynn, Goodes, Moore,
Jetta, White, Bolton
Mumford, McVeigh, O'Keefe

Pyke, Meredith, Kirk, Bevan

Sydney had 15 players from the 2012 premiership team. Plus Kennelly and Kirk from 2005 flag, plus McGlynn would have played if not injured. What's worse, 2012 finished and we start back 2013 even worse. No doubt things went astray in 2011 but I don't see how anyone can defend Neeld when Bailey got results like this.

Now what went wrong. That backline was really good. Bartram obviously had his career ruined by the knee injury that ruined his fitness and pace but before then was a great stopper. But that half backline hasn't been replaced properly. We had smart defensive players who could run. Bruce felt he was owed 2 years so walked then Rivers after that. Guys like Watts, Grimes and Tom McDonald were perfect to replace those 3 but it hasn't worked out. Same for a replacement for Bartram until we found Terlich. Bennell who was in that team or Strauss should've held a spot as well.

The midfield is the most damning. We smashed Sydney's premiership winning midfield but there's developed as ours went backwards. Obviously Morton and Scully went down hill then out. Sylvia and Davey couldn't keep any form. Bail who was a high half forward/tagger and running machine is now a horrible defensive forward. McKenzie had 12 tackles but has got worse since then. Of interest there was no Moloney/James McDonald in that team.


The most glaring problem is that forward line which I agree was structurally weak but had guys who could find the ball and kick a goal. I don't think any club would've stuck by Wona or Jurrah or being able to prevent what happened back home with them. The rest couldn't hold any form.

Lastly the ruck. Jamar was AA that year. Paul Johnson for all his frustrations did give the Russian a chop out at times and then could be a big lad in the forward line. Now he wasn't physical at all but we ended up down grading with Stef Martin then down grading again with Pedersen/Sellar.

Anyway I feel like we didn't identify players who were contributing to us winning games. We then followed that up with bad list management decisions and horrible player development. No doubt a percentage of that was due to a poor culture that wasn't about the high performance we've been told so much about. But my overwhelming theory is that Neeld, our list managers, our development team have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

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