Just watched the last quarter of the famous 2009 victory over West Coast. Jack Grimes slaughtered them. He took 17 marks, all of his kicks hit targets, he was inspirational.

What happened? Was it the burden of being made  captain way prematurely?

As an adjunct, I was at the Casey Box Hill game yesterday, near where the players interchanged and when I saw Jack Trengove up close I couldn't believe how young he looked. He was made captain 5 years ago. What a death sentence by the Melbourne Football Club.

Or, do we just blame Mark Neeld?

 

Look forward Dieter, not back.

Release your MFCSS shackles!

What about Blease's 5 goal game? Tapscott's debut? Gysberts first 10 games?

Some players work out, others don't. Move on.

There are a lot of players I feel the club failed miserably in development, Grimes is one of them. He and Trenners were made captain because we didn't really have anyone else. Jones wasn't the player he is today, and Moloney was the only other senior player we would've had in contention but he didn't buy what Neeld was selling, so he went the opposite way. 

Perhaps Grimes being made captain contributed to his downfall, but ultimately I feel Neelds labouring style of play stunted him when he could've been given a bit of a license to show some flair. The same thing happened with Trenners before his injury. He was attacking and exciting, then Neeld came and he was looking backwards and sideways, anywhere but forward. 

Maybe Beamer is just bitter with Neeld, but I think he was right when he said Neeld tried to transplant the Collingwood gameplan into a team that didn't fit it. 

So yes I do feel that Neeld played a big part in Grimes's downfall. 

3 minutes ago, Pates said:

There are a lot of players I feel the club failed miserably in development, Grimes is one of them. He and Trenners were made captain because we didn't really have anyone else. Jones wasn't the player he is today, and Moloney was the only other senior player we would've had in contention but he didn't buy what Neeld was selling, so he went the opposite way. 

Perhaps Grimes being made captain contributed to his downfall, but ultimately I feel Neelds labouring style of play stunted him when he could've been given a bit of a license to show some flair. The same thing happened with Trenners before his injury. He was attacking and exciting, then Neeld came and he was looking backwards and sideways, anywhere but forward. 

Maybe Beamer is just bitter with Neeld, but I think he was right when he said Neeld tried to transplant the Collingwood gameplan into a team that didn't fit it. 

So yes I do feel that Neeld played a big part in Grimes's downfall. 

Add Morton to the list, started very well, showed promise but with some flaws. Just think the club burned him, he needed very close mentoring, guidance and encouragement but I believe he got jackshyte help in that period both Neeld and Bails. The club had no idea, just thought top picks would deliver in spades with no need for help from above. 

12 minutes ago, Sylvia Saint said:

What about Blease's 5 goal game? Tapscott's debut? Gysberts first 10 games?

Some players work out, others don't. Move on.

Exactly.  Trudging back through our history like this serves zero purpose.

23 minutes ago, dieter said:

Just watched the last quarter of the famous 2009 victory over West Coast. Jack Grimes slaughtered them. He took 17 marks, all of his kicks hit targets, he was inspirational.

What happened? Was it the burden of being made  captain way prematurely?

As an adjunct, I was at the Casey Box Hill game yesterday, near where the players interchanged and when I saw Jack Trengove up close I couldn't believe how young he looked. He was made captain 5 years ago. What a death sentence by the Melbourne Football Club.

Or, do we just blame Mark Neeld?

 

Yep, just blame Neeld -  can't believe someone with such little emotional intelligence ever got past the first interview.

17 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Add Morton to the list, started very well, showed promise but with some flaws. Just think the club burned him, he needed very close mentoring, guidance and encouragement but I believe he got jackshyte help in that period both Neeld and Bails. The club had no idea, just thought top picks would deliver in spades with no need for help from above. 

His biggest flaw was that he was a poor kick, if he was actually a good kick (which was one of his selling points in his draft year), he would still be playing AFL.

Grimes wasn't big enough (Solid). Big heart but he was just too small for a key defensive role and not quick enough for the midfield

never 100% after breaking the collarbone

Edited June 26, 20178 yr by Sir Why You Little

5 minutes ago, Watts the matter said:

His biggest flaw was that he was a poor kick, if he was actually a good kick (which was one of his selling points in his draft year), he would still be playing AFL.

Poor short kick. 

Over 40m hee was fine. 

35 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Exactly.  Trudging back through our history like this serves zero purpose.

No purpose. Just an observation of how good he was in 2009, how poor he was in 205-2016.

I earnestly wait for the day, like Geelong Hawthorn Sydney and even Collingwood fans, where we refuse to consider the rear view mirror, where we look to our new victories and opportunities and expect rather than wish. Even Bulldog fans have a new found enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Maybe the change lies with us, a conscious group effort to kick the black cat (thanks McQueen) and stop wallowing in the swamp of poo that we previously enjoyed doing backstroke in.

It's time for the new world order where power clubs are challenged, where the MFC rises to a position to genuinely say, "why not us?" and deliver upon the promise held.

Salutè!

(Obviously had a few....)

Ricky Petterd looked like Gary Ablett Sr against Collingwood that one time too. Everyone plays well every now and then.

Grimes had a few serious injuries in his early years at the club and was never able to get a good run at his football.  His development lacked continuity in matches, coaching and even positional continuity.  While he showed promise as a half back, Neeld wanted him in the midfield and interrupted that element of his development.

 

Grimes was, at the time, considered one of the most promising up-and-comers in the league. I'm not sold that it was the captaincy that led to his demise, but it certainly didn't help.

 

But let us give credit to him, because he gave everything he had for the Club.

He and Jack Trengrove are quality people and we need people like that.

16 hours ago, dieter said:

Just watched the last quarter of the famous 2009 victory over West Coast. Jack Grimes slaughtered them. He took 17 marks, all of his kicks hit targets, he was inspirational.

What happened? Was it the burden of being made  captain way prematurely?

As an adjunct, I was at the Casey Box Hill game yesterday, near where the players interchanged and when I saw Jack Trengove up close I couldn't believe how young he looked. He was made captain 5 years ago. What a death sentence by the Melbourne Football Club.

Or, do we just blame Mark Neeld?

 

Melbourne having their best season in a decade and you want to look elsewhere.

Glass half empty doesn't even come close. Perpetually miserable maybe.

Edited June 26, 20178 yr by Wrecker45

1 hour ago, Wrecker45 said:

Melbourne having their best season in a decade and you want to look elsewhere.

Glass half empty doesn't even come close. Perpetually miserable maybe.

You are so mean, Wreck. I watched some footy on you tube, saw the last quarter of the '09 defeat of West Coast and couldn't get over how good Grimes was. That is all!

My glass was not half or near empty.

18 hours ago, dimmy said:

But let us give credit to him, because he gave everything he had for the Club.

He and Jack Trengrove are quality people and we need people like that.

Spot on.

i know the Grimes family and one son played football and basketball with oldest son Nathan (injuries hit him young and hard) and another football and basketball with Dylan.

I watched Jack play with Hurstbridge on Saturday with younger brother Tom (five brothers in all). He was BoG, the team won and he is helping tiny Hurstbridge survive against giant clubs in NFL Division 1. 

And here's a measure of the man. He could have got decent money with any number of AFL clubs, but he opted to go back to his junior club for next to nothing. He is a ripper bloke, as are all his brothers. 

He gave everything and his courage was unquestioned. 

This week, of all weeks, we get a thread about Mark Neeld.

WTF.

4 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

This week, of all weeks, we get a thread about Mark Neeld.

WTF.

Christ, posts like this are why I haven't been posting much. If you want a thread about Mark Neeld, open one. This isn't it.

5 hours ago, dieter said:

You are so mean, Wreck. I watched some footy on you tube, saw the last quarter of the '09 defeat of West Coast and couldn't get over how good Grimes was. That is all!

My glass was not half or near empty.

When i watch footy on youtube i watch uplifting moments. 

But that's just me. I'm not self loathing.

2 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

When i watch footy on youtube i watch uplifting moments. 

But that's just me. I'm not self loathing.

Grimes was uplifting, I watched it because they won. What the fluck are you on about?

2 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

2 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

When i watch footy on youtube i watch uplifting moments. 

But that's just me. I'm not self loathing.

Maybe you could do with a dose of self loathing. You certainly deserve it.

You remind me of the bullies I had to deal with at school. Always ready to make a snide, derogatory comment, especially if somebody doesn't agree with you or has another opinion.

4 hours ago, Blinkybill said:

Spot on.

i know the Grimes family and one son played football and basketball with oldest son Nathan (injuries hit him young and hard) and another football and basketball with Dylan.

I watched Jack play with Hurstbridge on Saturday with younger brother Tom (five brothers in all). He was BoG, the team won and he is helping tiny Hurstbridge survive against giant clubs in NFL Division 1. 

And here's a measure of the man. He could have got decent money with any number of AFL clubs, but he opted to go back to his junior club for next to nothing. He is a ripper bloke, as are all his brothers. 

He gave everything and his courage was unquestioned. 

I really liked him as well. He seemed like a humble, self effacing man. I brought up that last quarter against West Coast in 2009 because I think a lot of Demon supporters forgot how bloody good he was.