Hard done by

[DeeZee 7,414]

Roos believes in Wattsy .....so do i.

[SaberFang 7,151]

You can't put it all on the players for not "trying" if they have brain dead coaches teaching them to play a horrible game plan designed to make them lose matches. You can only give so much to the team, but if you're being coached to play wrong, the results can only be bad for everyone involved.

[P-man 13,366]

That's great, Jack. Now play some decent footy this year. Please.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I feel hard done by too.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

The club was gifted the most highly decorated junior footballers in the country over the last 7 years , and 2 coaches screwed them its as simple as that, I think people are going to be very shocked this year .

Seriously mate, you have NFI. You're full of simplistic comments which are so far from reality it's laughable. Do you honestly think its solely the fault of 2 coaches that 'highly decorated juniors' flopped? How's Nate Jones gone the last few years? What about AA Chip and Jamar in 2010? While in hindsight Neeld and Bails were not the best choices, it's more than the coaches that caused players to not to perform. Maybe, just maybe it's also themselves.

I really hope that Jack Watts has a massive season, partly because if he flops again he'll look pretty [censored] stupid giving backhanders like that to previous coaches (that is, assuming the validity of the OP). I want to see him be an AA, but comments about past coaches are bad form, especially when you are far from being a star yourself. Be careful who you kick on your way up, Jack, if you are on the way up........

[mjt 640]

Seriously mate, you have NFI. You're full of simplistic comments which are so far from reality it's laughable. Do you honestly think its solely the fault of 2 coaches that 'highly decorated juniors' flopped? How's Nate Jones gone the last few years? What about AA Chip and Jamar in 2010? While in hindsight Neeld and Bails were not the best choices, it's more than the coaches that caused players to not to perform. Maybe, just maybe it's also themselves.

I really hope that Jack Watts has a massive season, partly because if he flops again he'll look pretty [censored] stupid giving backhanders like that to previous coaches (that is, assuming the validity of the OP). I want to see him be an AA, but comments about past coaches are bad form, especially when you are far from being a star yourself. Be careful who you kick on your way up, Jack, if you are on the way up........

BBO is on the money about you, if a team performs poorly who gets the arse you simpleton it's not rocket science .

[Machsy 2,858]

I don't agree with mjt, but I also don't think it's necessarily true that the players should shoulder the blame.

The simple fact is that some players have it in them to reach great heights with little assistance.

Many others have great talent, but need someone to give them a lot of help harnessing that.

This is one of the main roles of the senior coach.

If you don't have a good coach, it's evident that a lot of talent will go to waste.

[Blinkybill 276]

This might sound stupid, but I think Neil Craig engendered a more positive outlook in the playing group. It might have only a slight impact, but I think a handover from Craig to Roos was far better than a handover from Neeld to Roos.

This isn't just idle speculation as I have family members involved with the club on a day to day basis.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

BBO is on the money about you, if a team performs poorly who gets the arse you simpleton it's not rocket science .

Oh that's right... play the man and not the ball. Good one, an in depth response which addresses the post. Not simplistic at all. Congratulations.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

I don't agree with mjt, but I also don't think it's necessarily true that the players should shoulder the blame.

The simple fact is that some players have it in them to reach great heights with little assistance.

Many others have great talent, but need someone to give them a lot of help harnessing that.

This is one of the main roles of the senior coach.

If you don't have a good coach, it's evident that a lot of talent will go to waste.

Agreed. Balanced viewpoint.

[Wells 11 5,406]

Sorry to say Wells 11 but that has got to be the strangest conclusion I have seen in some time.

It is a bit like saying just as well they bombed Hiroshima because we end up with Mazda cars.

Yes I agree lol. It was a bit tongue in cheek. Im just glad we look like coming into happier times. Its been a long road.

[mjt 640]

Oh that's right... play the man and not the ball. Good one, an in depth response which addresses the post. Not simplistic at all. Congratulations.

Read the first line of your reply its just abusive and then you spew play the man , you must be joking.

[Slartibartfast 17,326]

I feel hard done by too.

The difference of course is that the players get one chance at a career. Ask Taggart and Tynan.

The biggest disappointment is that a conversation that was never invented for the public domain has ended up in one. Not only that but the player has been named. It's good fodder for us but it shouldn't be here.

Disappointing disclosure SD.

[Guest]

if Mark Neeld was responsible for us losing cry babies like Moloney, Rivers and Sylvia then I want to shake his hand.

Thank you Neeldy for weeding out the culture killers!

Gawd that's a turnup for the books.

Last year I thought you may have tried to go all Lee Harvey Oswald on Neeldy, HH.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

Read the first line of your reply its just abusive and then you spew play the man , you must be joking.

Did I call you names? No.

However, on the whole, your comments are simplistic. If we could survey everyone on 'land the results would be conclusive. Why don't you start a thread and prove it without a single vote being cast? Lol!

It is simplistic to say that "the most highly decorated juniors over the last 7 years" have been screwed because of 2 coaches.

[rjay 24,950]

The difference of course is that the players get one chance at a career. Ask Taggart and Tynan.

The biggest disappointment is that a conversation that was never invented for the public domain has ended up in one. Not only that but the player has been named. It's good fodder for us but it shouldn't be here.

Disappointing disclosure SD.

2 good points 'Bob'.

The players suffered under the previous admin/fd's at the club. Jack should not be hung out to dry on a private conversation. Maybe a bit indiscreet of Jack but he is really still a kid and from all reports a likeable one, he is excited about the opportunities ahead and good luck to him. He is also on the money with what he said, we all know that.

Jack showed good faith in sticking with the club when many around him and in the media were advising to leave, it would be better for his career. Now it's time for him to stand up and start to develop as a player. Remember that Nathan Jones really only started showing what he could do over the last couple years from when he was around 23 - 24. Jack turns 23 this year.

Jack's Watts, Trengove and Grimes starting to hit their straps along with the new additions to the midfield plus Hogan and a fit Clark...then we are on our way.

[Whispering_Jack 30,228]

This might sound stupid, but I think Neil Craig engendered a more positive outlook in the playing group. It might have only a slight impact, but I think a handover from Craig to Roos was far better than a handover from Neeld to Roos.

This isn't just idle speculation as I have family members involved with the club on a day to day basis.

What you say might be right but I was never really comfortable with Craig's coaching style after the first couple of weeks honeymoon period. Our output during that period was disappointing and no better than under Neeld. Those massive lapses when under pressure continued even though our draw in the second half of the year was easier. Having said that it was a mammoth job coaching a team that was bereft of confidence but I'm not convinced that having the man who was mentor to the former coach (and failed miserably in that capacity) take over his role.

[rjay 24,950]

What you say might be right but I was never really comfortable with Craig's coaching style after the first couple of weeks honeymoon period. Our output during that period was disappointing and no better than under Neeld. Those massive lapses when under pressure continued even though our draw in the second half of the year was easier. Having said that it was a mammoth job coaching a team that was bereft of confidence but I'm not convinced that having the man who was mentor to the former coach (and failed miserably in that capacity) take over his role.

I think the confidence was shot 'Jack' and Craig did the best he could. He inherited a junior coaching squad with little experience but I agree his role as mentor to Neeld must have put some doubt in the players mind and it was at best a total failure.

[Akum 2,660]

The difference of course is that the players get one chance at a career. Ask Taggart and Tynan.

The biggest disappointment is that a conversation that was never invented for the public domain has ended up in one. Not only that but the player has been named. It's good fodder for us but it shouldn't be here.

Disappointing disclosure SD.

Absolutely agree. SD, you've painted Jack as a real whinger when I know 100% for sure that whingeing is just not in his nature. As others have expressed, they're just rarin' to go in 2014. You've left Jack wide open for the peanuts to have a free kick at him again.

For God's sake, if you're going to report a conversation with a player, don't leave it so open to misinterpretation. Think, and read it back, before you post.

[Jack Jack Tappy 112]

I don't think SD meant it that way, I think we all know the last five years have been a disaster , especially the last two. Jack's conversation is not quoted verbatim and he definitely didn't get on with Neeld, but he liked Bails. However Roos is another kettle of fish and might just stand out beyond anything we might imagine. Watching them play on Friday was actually shocking because it was so good, I think it will be a very good year and I'm glad we have Wattsy and Roos.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

The difference of course is that the players get one chance at a career. Ask Taggart and Tynan.

The biggest disappointment is that a conversation that was never invented for the public domain has ended up in one. Not only that but the player has been named. It's good fodder for us but it shouldn't be here.

Disappointing disclosure SD.

I agree, but if true or accurate the player should be smarter.

Edited February 18, 2014 by jabberwocky

[Machsy 2,858]

Key phrase "if true."

I think we've got quite a bit of SD mayo with that post.

The fact is that we'll never know, and even if the conversation happened in a similar vein, we'd be stupid to believe that SD has quoted Watts verbatim.

Not worth the carry on seen in this thread by the usual suspects.

[rpfc 28,526]

What you say might be right but I was never really comfortable with Craig's coaching style after the first couple of weeks honeymoon period. Our output during that period was disappointing and no better than under Neeld. Those massive lapses when under pressure continued even though our draw in the second half of the year was easier. Having said that it was a mammoth job coaching a team that was bereft of confidence but I'm not convinced that having the man who was mentor to the former coach (and failed miserably in that capacity) take over his role.

There was a marked spike in some key stats from when Craig took over.

It matters little now, but being a caretaker coach would have to be one of the worst jobs in the world.

[sue 9,107]

Key phrase "if true."

I think we've got quite a bit of SD mayo with that post.

The fact is that we'll never know, and even if the conversation happened in a similar vein, we'd be stupid to believe that SD has quoted Watts verbatim.

Not worth the carry on seen in this thread by the usual suspects.

Very true. It doesn't take much to misinterpret/over-interpret comments. Even with the best of intentions it is easy for the reporter's expectations of what is being said to distort the conversation. I can easily imagine a verbatim series of comments which could be reported as per the OP without the actual meaning being anywhere near as brutal as appeared in the OP. EIther way, no need for us to get into a knot over this.

[bing181 9,246]

... the man who was mentor to the former coach (and failed miserably in that capacity)

That's a chapter of the book of Neeld that remains to be written.

Craig was there specifically to make sure what happened didn't happen. So what happened?