The Ox was dead right again.

I agree I think it's pretty poor really - I wonder what Neeld was told after the board meeting a fortnight ago.

He was told he has the confidence of the board, you know the same board that has been and is currenly being dismantled.

Neeld is in the profession and will know that you live or die by your results; his were unacceptable and he would have also known that, so I don't feel sorry for him, I feel sorry for the MFC because he has set us back 5 or so years and hopefully only that long. My allegiance is with the club not the coach.

My empathy is generic and indiscriminate, Robbie. My loyalty also lies with the club and I too agree that we're better off without him; that doesn't mean I can't also feel bad for a guy who now faces an unclear future and the feeling of failure that must accompany this. I am able to separate club from person, that is all.

Wow so it was decided on friday to sack him. Im more shocked it didnt leak out. We actually kept a secret for 3 whole days.

Look I get why he had to go but no other coach has had to put up with so much crap in his first 18 months.

This is James Frawleys 6th coach now since he started with us. Pathetic. This time we have to get it absolutely right, im sick of this coaching merry go round.

But at least we handled it so much better than the Bailey sacking. I wish we had PJ a few years ago.

gee that is a hard question rpfc I am still getting my head around

- a new CEO

- a new President

-a new Coach

and the AFL showing us love.

on the 17th june.

It's cause today is my Birthday...

It's cause today is my Birthday...

Happy birthday Lifelong

Sorry to see you go Neeldy but tried your best. Spoke well and I would shake his hand if I saw him on the street. Took the toughest job in Australia but unfortunately it just didn't work out.

PJ is a very impressive man btw. you can tell he knows what he is doing.

Lets all get behind craigy and get to this weeks game with loud voices!

Neil Craig addressing the team:

"Boys i've got some good news and some good news… The good news is that Mark Neeld has been sacked… And the good news is that we will have a new game plan"

Don't put words in someone's mouth. I'm sure Craig has a lot more class than this.

the wrong choice? Absolutely, but not necessarily because he can't coach but for the task at hand. Too big of a job for him and it should've gone to someone with experience. Never stood a chance.

Can it be called a clean-out when all you're doing is getting rid of the shite you shoveled on all by yourself?

None I would thing Rusty

No i didn't think so either OD. I just thought in an ideal world without all the egos and emotions he has to be a better propect than old Royal surely. But emotions and egos are always a big part of footy and most situations like this.

I would like to think Royal will be looked at anyway. Seems to survive every time but on the surface has delivered very little on the field.

The Ox was dead right again.

LOVE the Ox

HUGE man crush on him

I heard he still told someone at the club "look if you dont appoint me now, Im accepting Adelaide this afternoon". Mick Malthouse was at his shoulder, he was at Pies training.

And no he hadnt made the short list.

But its just what I heard...

I have heard something similar.

Damien Barrett has been peddling an alternate version of history, which I'd suggest had been pushed by Neeld's management group knowing that he was under a lot of heat.

Wow so it was decided on friday to sack him. Im more shocked it didnt leak out. We actually kept a secret for 3 whole days.

Look I get why he had to go but no other coach has had to put up with so much crap in his first 18 months.

This is James Frawleys 6th coach now since he started with us. Pathetic. This time we have to get it absolutely right, im sick of this coaching merry go round.

But at least we handled it so much better than the Bailey sacking. I wish we had PJ a few years ago.

Denis Pagan put up with much worse than poor old Neeldy.

DP was hired then 3 months in the salary cap scandal was found out which robbed the club of picks for multiple drafts. Followed by Carlton essentially declaring themselves bankrupt from bad deals led by John Elliot acting President. They were in so much trouble the players were told to buy there own footballs for training!

Add the fact is was a old list with multiple veterans retiring, it was not exactly a side that was the youngest in the comp with the most first round draft picks of any team like Neeldy inherited.

NO chance... PJ has already stated MN will be paid out..(press conference today) . Pointless re hiring him in ANY capacity .. What would be the point in paying his contract out ??

Yes i heard and watched the presser mate. I've been involved with small, medium and large businesses on both sides for 25 years. I've interviewed/employed/sacked and been sacked myself (twice). I know what it's like to be Neeld albeit without the $600k. I've seen consultant's paid out before their term is up. I know how the system works but thank you for trying to enlighten me. FYI companies pay out employee's contracts and re-employ them down the track on a fairly regular basis. Admitedly that generally doesn't happen with someone who has under performed, although this will often depend on "who you know" within the organisation. In addition organisational structures and the people who drive them are forever changing. So what was the "sacker" 12 months or so earlier, might become the "sacked" at a certain point down the track. Enemy leaves, allies can enter the scene and all of a sudden you're a chance at getting another guernsey. Then again i'm not suggesting we re-employ him as 1st banana either. Egos and emotions aside he was very highly regarded as 3rd banana mid field coach with the Pies during his tenure. Just ask their captain. Couldn't do any worse than Royal as a mid field line coach. But yes, i'm also wise enough to know this is a 10,000 to 1 shot and the new coach for 2014 will be looking to replace Royal (i hope) with someone of his own preference.

Part of my reasoning for putting it out there is to highlight Brian Royal's continuing tenure. One which has been highlighted for many a year now but somehow manages to survive every new restructure and coaching appointment. By any measure, our mid field performance in the last 2 years certainly doesn't justify him being retained.

It's cause today is my Birthday...

Happy bday LL what a present you have got today.

I got made redundant on my bday so yours is much better.

I want this board gone. The only worthwhile member was Jim. The rest of them are just running in circles and trying to avoid being the next one to drop. Get rid of the lot of them and bring in a group who can make smart decisions, stand up for the club and govern with a little integrity.

One thing's for sure is that there's never a dull moment at the MFC.

I'd love some dull moments for once..

What I think will be interesting is Craig's player selection each week. I reckon this will really show how much he backed Neelds approach.

What I think will be interesting is Craig's player selection each week. I reckon this will really show how much he backed Neelds approach.

It won't differ all that much. Craig does not believe in giving games to young players who aren't ready. He's gone on record as saying that the common belief that getting games into kids fast tracks them is a fallacy and he won't play them until they are ready to be played. As such I would expect him to be putting the most experienced side he has available on the park each week. We could well see Magner and Couch in the side.

Of course, that assumes he is coaching to win. He could take his caretaker role as a license to test the whole list and see who is worth keeping on. We could see wild experimentation for the rest of the season. I'd quite like that to be honest.

I have never heard any player use Neeld as an excuse ??? many of them are below AFL standard.. The list will OBVIOUSLY change for 2014.... Drastically !! It won't "be interesting to see their reaction in the next game they play" They are simply not up to it !! Big changes to the culture and list for next year please !!

Every potential coach will have plenty of time to work out who stays and who goes.......

Or avoid Melbourne like the plague

It won't differ all that much. Craig does not believe in giving games to young players who aren't ready. He's gone on record as saying that the common belief that getting games into kids fast tracks them is a fallacy and he won't play them until they are ready to be played. As such I would expect him to be putting the most experienced side he has available on the park each week. We could well see Magner and Couch in the side.

Of course, that assumes he is coaching to win. He could take his caretaker role as a license to test the whole list and see who is worth keeping on. We could see wild experimentation for the rest of the season. I'd quite like that to be honest.

What experience does Couch have exactly??

WTF??

It won't differ all that much. Craig does not believe in giving games to young players who aren't ready. He's gone on record as saying that the common belief that getting games into kids fast tracks them is a fallacy and he won't play them until they are ready to be played. As such I would expect him to be putting the most experienced side he has available on the park each week. We could well see Magner and Couch in the side.

Of course, that assumes he is coaching to win. He could take his caretaker role as a license to test the whole list and see who is worth keeping on. We could see wild experimentation for the rest of the season. I'd quite like that to be honest.

so Neeld won't be shown up?

What experience does Couch have exactly?? WTF??

I think he means experience by age in this case. Also he has played quite a bit of footy even though it isn't senior AFL.

I don't think Couch will come in unless another midfielder goes down - Magner should come straight back in though. I can see Craig dropping the underperformers quickly though, such as Tapscott.

Part of my reasoning for putting it out there is to highlight Brian Royal's continuing tenure. One which has been highlighted for many a year now but somehow manages to survive every new restructure and coaching appointment. By any measure, our mid field performance in the last 2 years certainly doesn't justify him being retained.

Royal is probably preparing his PowerPoint presentation as we speak. No point wasting time on coaching for this season now.