NEALE DANIHER'S MATCH REPORT

"We have a long turn around until round two against Hawthorn and have a lot of work to do to get our game back on track. Hopefully Friday’s loss has stung our players sufficiently to produce a more honest effort next Monday."

I think that there seems to be a disconnect between the responsibility of the players, the way they play and the way the coach instructs them. It's got me worried a little bit!

A few of us have commented on this very fact elsewhere. Something certainly isn't gelling. I would have thought after all these years Danners would have had it worked out as to how to get his charges to listen to him. Its as if he warants that the overuse of handball is all their (players) own idea. But this style has been apparent in all the games this year.

Do i dare say if all the fancy stuff aint working...go back to basics and reconstruct your game from there.

Alpha ..youre right in thinking its an interesting read.

ND needs to take responsibility for our game style. Dont tell the players that they didnt exicute when the plan was such that there was none apart from handball here, run there, kick from one back pockett to the other (even after it has shown to turn over). I havnt been a fan of danners and still am not. Hes a nice guy, good commedian but a bad coach. Artical in herald sun (by Rob Walls...let me here the boooos! lol) that Michael voss could take Pagans job at years end. Lets fight for him!

It was not the game plan that beat us against the saints. It was the timid attack at the ball in the last 3 quarters. PURE AND SIMPLE.

Danners is a good coach, We just need better leadership.

Danners is a good coach, We just need better leadership.

leadership starts with the coach!

ND is a good coach, but we need a great coach, thats why we dont win finals and we done finish top 4

leadership starts with the coach!

ND is a good coach, but we need a great coach, thats why we dont win finals and we done finish top 4

The side played same way on Friday night as did in NAB game against Hawks at TD. No lessons appeared to have been learned from the NAB game loss! Very clearly trained style of play - which I guess must be part at least of the game plan! Or perhaps the coaches dont have a game plan and its all by the players own mistakes????

Seriously - whether it is bad game plan, players not following instructions (if didnt), the timidness, look of unfitness, lack of desire and lack of chase in 2nd & 3rd qtrs on Friday or the total lack of reaction to Saints coaching (allowing for fact was Ross Lyon's first game!) the coaches are responsible for these things. Its their job to get the players on the park and prepared and ready to go. All their preparation in preseason was aimed at Round 1. (stated by several players and each of the coaches in weeks leading up to last week end.) We do need leadership at MFC! Leadership starts with standing up and taking responsibility for the group performance. If those in charge arent prepared to take responsibility then the troops will not follow!! Coaches are responsible for the style a team plays especially when it is clearly following training drills.

That is different from skill errors like missing goal from 15 m out or dropping marks or spilling ball. The training drills are supposed to sharpen up those skills but players have to impliment on the day (or night). So players poor performances clearly partly their own responsibility BUT also partly coaches failure to get the side primed and firing when clearly should have been. As head coach ND is responsible for the performance of the coaching panel, no one else. They all have only 1 to 2 weeks to turn the performance around!