I was introduced to Neil Balme randomly in a Cafe once and I asked him how come he has won premierships at every club he's ever been too except Melbourne and he said to me because we never gave him enough time.

He's been integral in premierships at Norwood, Richmond , Collingwood and Geelong.

He's sitting on the board at Adelaide this year.

Darren Burgess is the high performance manager.

We have had a season without knowing how to win.

Watch Adelaide romp it home this year with ex demons who know how to win guiding them.

We complain on Demonland about individual players but you need more than that.

Watch Adelaide romp it in with the right people there to make it happen.

Guerra needs to make that happen for us again.

On Paper he had a great team, then you take out the key injuries we kept getting. That would hurt the best coaches.

In the last 2 he wasn't the coach, big difference.

Interestingly If you think of 1994, massive wins then smashed by eagles, and then our drop off was almost a mirror image of 2018 and the following year.

51 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

I was introduced to Neil Balme randomly in a Cafe once and I asked him how come he has won premierships at every club he's ever been too except Melbourne and he said to me because we never gave him enough time.

He's been integral in premierships at Norwood, Richmond , Collingwood and Geelong.

He's sitting on the board at Adelaide this year.

Darren Burgess is the high performance manager.

We have had a season without knowing how to win.

Watch Adelaide romp it home this year with ex demons who know how to win guiding them.

We complain on Demonland about individual players but you need more than that.

Watch Adelaide romp it in with the right people there to make it happen.

Guerra needs to make that happen for us again.

I can live with a Crows flag.

I like Matthew Nicks, think he is a really decent bloke.

Who cares?

Yeah right, watch em choke in the granny

I would rather the Crows than pies, hawthorn or Geelong

1 hour ago, darkhorse72 said:

On Paper he had a great team, then you take out the key injuries we kept getting. That would hurt the best coaches.

In the last 2 he wasn't the coach, big difference.

Interestingly If you think of 1994, massive wins then smashed by eagles, and then our drop off was almost a mirror image of 2018 and the following year.

My memory - and I stress this is memory only - is that in 1994 he wanted us to "share" the ball around which meant that we handled far too much. Result: a team that was absolutely star studded ended up in the lower reaches of the eight and ended up playing a prelim in Perth. In the first two finals, especially the first against flag favourites Carlton, we showed how good we really were.

I game always thought that year was the one that got away. Then in the off season we Schwarz did his knee, and Garry Lyon did his back.

4 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

My memory - and I stress this is memory only - is that in 1994 he wanted us to "share" the ball around which meant that we handled far too much. Result: a team that was absolutely star studded ended up in the lower reaches of the eight and ended up playing a prelim in Perth. In the first two finals, especially the first against flag favourites Carlton, we showed how good we really were.

I game always thought that year was the one that got away. Then in the off season we Schwarz did his knee, and Garry Lyon did his back.

And G.Lovett kept doing Hammies, and Jacko his back, Then Tingay fell through a bloody window (I think that was next next summer break)... then... horrible run.

Whether his game style stood up in the AFL compared to the SA league with the more prep and observation by the opposing in preparing for game. I think he was undone by the simply fact they could pick his game apart if we weren't fully fit.

9 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

I was introduced to Neil Balme randomly in a Cafe once and I asked him how come he has won premierships at every club he's ever been too except Melbourne and he said to me because we never gave him enough time.

He's been integral in premierships at Norwood, Richmond , Collingwood and Geelong.

He's sitting on the board at Adelaide this year.

Darren Burgess is the high performance manager.

We have had a season without knowing how to win.

Watch Adelaide romp it home this year with ex demons who know how to win guiding them.

We complain on Demonland about individual players but you need more than that.

Watch Adelaide romp it in with the right people there to make it happen.

Guerra needs to make that happen for us again.

Respectfully- what is your point?

We should have given Balme more time?

Or?

9 hours ago, ijustwannaseeaflag said:

Yeah right, watch em choke in the granny

They'll choke in a fortnight. Sadly. Haven't had enough time to adapt to not having one of their best players out there

Edited Sunday at 16:431 day by John Demonic

The Adelaide comparison is a really interesting one and a good case study for MFC’s current state.

Had a great team that underachieved in 2017. From that disappointment they developed some cultural issues and slid way down the ladder. Lost quality players in the process. Don Pyke sacked after missing the eight for two seasons, same as Goodwin.

I think the lesson from the Crows is how important it is to be honest about where you’re at and what needs to be done, and then crucially, stay the course.

Crows went from 11th to 18 in Nicks’ first year. Then failed to make the eight for the next four years. I’ve been amazed how little pressure there has been on him for the last couple of years, and now the patience is bearing fruit.

Also critical to this is getting comms right.

When did he win flags at Collingwood?

12 hours ago, DubDee said:

Respectfully- what is your point?

We should have given Balme more time?

Or?

Get the right people at the club and win premierships. Most of the top 8 teams have players with similar abilities.

Posters are quick to blame the coach or players like Sharp for example.

But you need the right structures not just on the field but off the field to win premierships

6 hours ago, layzie said:

When did he win flags at Collingwood?

I don't believe he did, however he was involved in getting them from the 1999 wooden spooners to two losing grand finals in 2002 and 2003.

Re: Adelaide, I think they'll fall short and are a straight set exit candidate. Rankine is absolutely irreplaceable and I don't think their talent spreads as far as Geelong, Collingwood and Brisbane. Like the Dogs theit bottom 6 players are nowhere near as good as others.

Gives me a little hope for a bounce back in 2026 though. From 15th to Minor Premiership, what an odd league we are at times. Understand there is a bit of inequality, but that's a little mad.

21 hours ago, BDA said:

I would rather the Crows than pies, hawthorn or Geelong

Absolutely. Crows, Giants, Dockers - anyone but those three.

... and Sean Charles wrist, Prymke back, Pikey booze.

I actually backed Melbourne for the flag this year at $26 (forever the optimist), however a bit of dyslexia made me click on Adelaide (also at $26), so instead of cancelling I let it ride. So I have now a vested interest in the Crows for the flag.

Incidentally up to R24 they were offering to pay me out at $52 ( I originally placed a $10 bet)...but now offering only $38 to pay me out (might be the Rankin factor)

Crows won’t win it this year. They’ll get close but I suspect that they will come up short.

Unfortunately I think Geelong will win it again this year. They are going below everyone’s radar and they play the most punishing brand of footy.

Will be a Geelong b Lions final I reckon. Cats will win the EF and the Lions will have to take the long route, which will cost them in the end.

13 hours ago, John Demonic said:

They'll choke in a fortnight. Sadly. Haven't had enough time to adapt to not having one of their best players out there

You might be right. Collingwood wont be easy

All aboard ANB flag 2, electric boogaloo.

You have to admire what Balme has done as an administrator. However, I watched many of the games he coached us in and, hand on heart, he was the worst coach we've had in my time of watching. And that includes Neeld.

There are some passages of play that I still recall with a mix of amusement and horror.

Will be in Adelaide on September 4 staying metres from the Adelaide Oval. I should wear a flea collar.

On 24/08/2025 at 16:57, BDA said:

I would rather the Crows than pies, hawthorn or Geelong

My thinking is even simpler than that….anyone but Collingwood (ABC)