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When the only person who offers logical thought is a Port supporter, you must take a long hard look at yourself

I've got no interest because lamenting over the players that won't play a role in our next premiership is a waste of time and energy. I haven't given up on the listed players above (Blease, Strauss, Watts, Grimes, Trengove, Tapscott, Bennell, McKenzie, Bail, Gawn and Morton) and if we're to win a premiership in the near to medium future many of those names will be wearing premiership medallions. We lost a game to Port in the pre-season. No-one here saw it and the aftermath has been comical. I'm accustomed to being called a 'happy clapper' when it comes to trying to be positive about the fortunes of my footy club and am clearly setting myself up again for that here but the alternative to me is that you become jaded and cynical and start seeing the negative in everything. Two weeks ago Jack Trengove was the future of our premiership assault now after a couple of games back he's clearly being over-burdened by the captaincy. Neeld was a genius after the Collingwood game and now his gameplan is all wrong. As I've said before, people on Demonland always think in black and white terms and rarely see the grey. During the pre-season, there's more grey than ever.

The call from the more intelligent supporter is to come back in 10 years. Geelong is the classic example. Remember how their list was built? http://afl.com.au/ne...80/default.aspx In the fifth year after Ablett, Bartel, Kelly and Steve Johnson arrived at the club and in the seventh year after Mooney was traded for and Corey, Chapman, Ling and Enright were drafted Geelong finished 10th and Thompson almost lost his job. I don't need to remind anyone here what happened to Geelong in 2007 - 2011. How was Ablett rated after 3 years? Were Bartel, Kelly and Steve Johnson certain to emerge as superstars? Was Mooney considered a great trade option? The 1999 crew (Corey, Chapman, Ling and Enright) were entering their peak. At the end of 2006 did many anticipate they'd become multiple premiership and All-Australian players? I'm not suggesting that Blease, Strauss, Watts, Grimes, Trengove, Tapscott, Bennell, McKenzie, Bail, Gawn and Morton will necessarily go on to match the Geelong players I've mentioned above but clearly coming back "in a few years" is still too soon.

You 2 need to get your facts straight . You need to brush up on your history please . It wasn't the rank and file member that voted for the merger . It was Ian Ridley and his 12 person committee with their 3,500 proxy votes that got the vote through . Plus they then booked a small venue where many couldn't get in to vote . 80 - 90% of the people at the Dallas Brooks Hall that night were against the merger . I can understand people wanting to vent this morning but for goodness sakes it was a practice match . Cheers

I know Mark Neeld is trialling different strategies but how about we trial winning. Last time I checked it's a pretty good strategy.

I know you know this b-h, but it's a point that is consistently lost on many others - it's why you can't read too much in to the results of practice matches: because they're practice. It's when new tactics can be tried, practiced and revised. That's not to say it's not disheartening when we get rolled by sides that have previously sucked - it is - but I just can't find the same level of disappointment as some when I know those in charge see this as an opportunity to learn more than anything else.

It's not a lot, but the following is a comment posted on another site from a Port supporter that was at the match. "It seemed to me like you were trialling defensive strategies as opposed to being hell bent on winning the match. So many times during the last three quarters you had Everybody behind the ball in a mega flood with port chipping across half back looking for the switch and an opening. Often you won the ball back but then had no-one to kick to and turned it over again. With watts and jurrah back in the team you'll have the forwards to compliment clark well and your midfield is developing well. Jones especially looks ready to step up imo. The base of a finals side is there. Just give it patience." There's no doubt that we're trialling defensive strategies, but at the same time we seem to be losing our structures in the process. This will be remedied.

three blokes die on christmas eve and are told at heavens door that to enter they must show something demonstrating the christmas spirit first blokes fumbles around in his pocket and pulls out a lighter - "it's the lights of christmas" he says, and is allowed into heaven second bloke fumbles around in his pocket and pulls out his keys, shakes them around - "it's the bells of christmas" he says, and is allowed into heaven third bloke fumbles around in his pocket and pulls out a pair of women's knickers... "these are carol's"

Can we just... wait until a few rounds of the season proper have past at least... please

As you know, I keep an eye on Demonland as part of maintaining a feel for what our people are talking about. I haven't posted for a while, so I thought it might be worth clarifying a few matters. We will have a more in depth interview up on www.melbournefc.com.au shortly which covers some of the same topics in a little more detail. Second Major Sponsor: One thing I can say - I'm glad some of you guys aren't negotiating contracts on our behalf! We have explained the strategic importance of the sponsorship 'property' and we will do a deal when the deal is right, and by strategic we mean long term and having a significance beyond the revenue itself. We have locked away some very important deals over the last few years (in particular EnergyWatch) that now underpin our sponsorship revenue, and we have a number of contingencies from both a revenue and cost perspective in the event that we don't achieve our preferred outcome. We will not compromise the value by agreeing to a sub-optimal long term deal because of external or perceived time pressures. In the meantime, we proudly wear the Reach Logo on our jumpers. Compensation Picks: We are required to make a call on the GWS Compensation Selections later this month. Tim Harrington and Todd Viney have put together some detailed analysis, which is fundamentally a trade off between current and future value of the selections, taking into account the fact that we have a Jack Viney father/son selection in 2012. I cannot pre-empt this decision, but what it does show is that the choices are very valuable and will play a key role in the next phase of our list development. Tim and Todd know their stuff and they are working closely with Mark Neeld and Neil Craig in particular to map out our direction. Commencement Dinner: Surprised at some of the negativity. We received outstanding feedback on the night, which continued today. The evening is deliberately nostalgic, and will continue to be, as well as presenting the thoughts of our coach as a lead up to the season. We will never apologise for celebrating our heritage. As I said on the night: - We will look back – for that gives us our identity - We will focus on the now – for that is what our game demands - We will look forward – for that is our responsibility. The feedback from the players who received their blazers, modelled on the 1940's blazer worn by Harold Ball, was one of immense pride. This pride was beautifully articulated by Ron Barassi, Hassa Mann and John Beckwith. These videos by the way, were produced in-house by our new Digital Production man Jack McCowan who has captured the personalities and emotion of three legends. Unfortunately, the audio on the speeches is a bit rough. I won't comment specifically on Liam Jurrah, I think this has been covered off in many forums. I will say, that we are confident in the support he has received in the time he has been at the club, and continues to receive, as he deals with a number of challenging and complex issues. Finally, really pleased with how the football structure and personnel has come together. Capable, committed, directed and passionate, with clear standards and expectations that have been set very high. Importantly, they are loving our club. I won't answer any specific questions as I better head home, its been a solid week, but just to let you know we do follow Demonland, enjoy the by-play, love the passion and we do take on thoughts and suggestions. Cameron Schwab

OK here are some Jewish jokes (sent to me by my Jewish friend so its all in the context OK) ==================================================================== * I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport. * I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years! If my wife ever finds out, she'll kill me! * What are three words a woman never wants to hear when she's making love? "Honey, I'm home!" * Someone stole all my credit cards but I won't be reporting it. The thief spends Less than my wife did. * We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops. * My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night; only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried. * My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed. My wife called it the Dead Sea . * She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off. * The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill so the doctor gave him another six months. * The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, "Mrs. Cohen, your check came back. " Mrs. Cohen answered, "So did my arthritis!" * Doctor: "You'll live to be 60!" Patient: "I am 60!" Doctor: "See! What did I tell you?" * Patient: "I have a ringing in my ears." Doctor: "Don't answer!" * A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, "You've been brought here for drinking." The drunk says "Okay, let's get started." * Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They're worth it. The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact thatWonTon spelled backward is Not Now. There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school. Q: Why don't Jewish mothers drink? A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering. . Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers? A: They never let anyone finish a sentence! A man called his mother in Florida , "Mom, how are you?" " Not too good," said the mother. "I've been very weak." The son said, "Why are you so weak?" She said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 Days." The son said, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?" The mother answered, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call." A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks,"What part is it?" The boy says, "I play the part of the Jewish husband." "The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part." Q: How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Sigh) "Don't bother. I'll sit in the dark. I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody." Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said, "Lady, I haven't eaten in three days." "Force yourself," she replied. Q: What's the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother? A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go. Q: Why are Jewish men circumcised? A: Because Jewish women don't like anything that Isn't 20% off.

Our top-end drafting has always been ludicrously bad. That's where you get your quality ball users and decision makers, and we've stuffed it up on a regular basis.

Athletes...not footballers the majority of that list. If BP did not interview Dustin Martin..then that says it all.

The most important factor in determining any club's culture is its leadership group. It's little wonder ours was turned on its ears. It can and will change.

The thing is Jim Stynes set the culture change in motion, now its time everyone involved with the MFC ensures its carried thru. Hard decisions need to be continually made, players need to demand the best of thier teammates, admistration has to ensure the club continually takes steps forward financially and facillities are always top tier, supporters of the club need to become members. To be the best you have to demand the best. I miss the likes of, Stynes, Wight, Viney, Flower, Hughes, Grinter, B & G Lovett. Because they wore thier hearts on thier sleeve gaver thier all and didnt hurt that a few of them struck fear into opponents. I want some of the current crop of players to show more of these characteristics.

That's all very fine Nasher but I'm at a total loss to understand just what it was that they were 'practicing', unless you call bad football practice. Walks like a duck, looks like..............call it as it was

For me all this emphasis on hard bodies, defensive game plans and head over the ball. Is far too simplistic. To reduce our game to a few components is futile. It is a dynamic game with hundreds of components. Our midfield has hard bodies, but lacks speed. The defensive game plan is not adequate. Defense is one thing, a defensive game plan is another. We have a defensive game plan which robs us of potent attack. Defence is merely a mind set that prepares for a potent attack. Attack develops momentum way beyond even leg speed for it is a collective magnification of the individuals. The opposite of all out attack without defence similarly comes unstuck. Hard bodies with inadequate skills is both boring and ineffective. Our demonland mantra has become far too narrow. It is a multiplex dynamic activity and we have not respected many of the other components necessary.

It sounds like they may only be one of very few that actually witnessed it first hand.

I'm sure that Mark is spewing he hadn't thought of that and is so, so grateful that you suggested it.

"MFC - Where are we honestly at ?" Our senior players are arguably the worst in the competition. There's not an A grader in this batch: Green, Sylvia, Moloney, Bartram, Dunn, Bate, Davey, Rivers. They don't lead the way and they don't regularly influence games. How does our top 6 players compare to the better sides in the competition ? You become a top 6 player when you regularly influence games. We have a dearth of top end talent. Top 20 draft picks from the last 5 years that were going to be the cornerstone of our rise up the ladder that didn't play last night ... Watts, Grimes, Morton, Gysberts, Tapscott, Strauss, Cook, plus you know who. That's a third of the side. Our best player last night was a top 20 pick from another club. What do you get when you cross arguably the worst group of senior players in the league with a crop of first choice draft picks that are sitting on the sidelines ? Demonland in meltdown. I like Mark Neeld. His style doesn't suit everyone, but I believe in him and his game-plan. I'm confident that he'll sort the wheat from the chaff. Neeld's game-plan isn't complex, but it does require getting your hands dirty. My very late Great Grand Father apparently often said, "an ounce of action is worth a tonne of theory". But with respect to my Great Grand Father, I say "you can't make chicken salad from chicken sh*t". Sweat will only get you so far. We need talented footballers. Talent plus action = success. We'll know soon enough who's up for the challenge. I've been a critic, but Nathan Jones is leading the way. Blease and Trengove will be better for the minutes. I still have faith in this coaching panel to develop many of the other young players that didn't suit up last night. And something tells me that James Magner won't die wondering. The future rests with the club's ability to develop Watts, Trengove, Grimes, Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease, and Strauss. I'm still confident we'll make tangible in-roads in the year ahead.

I remember getting this in an email last year. Gotta love it. Happy reading! - Here's the Collingwood Membership Application Form Collingwood Magpies MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM NAME…………………………………………………………………….( 2 mistakes allowed ) NAME…………………………………………………………………….( 2nd chance ) ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………………... (this means what is the name of the street your house is in and what is your house number. If unsure of either – check the phone book for details but look under your own name or you will get it wrong) If address unknown – put a tick here:………….. DATE OF BIRTH……………………………….. (What day does everybody sing happy birthday to you?) AGE…………….. (How many years have they been singing it to you?) MOTHER’S NAME……………………….…………………....(Mum will NOT do. What is her REAL name?) FATHER’S NAME ( if known )…………………………………………………………...( NO SWEARING ) DO YOU HAVE A CAR? YES / NO IS IT YOURS? YES / NO REGISTRATION NUMBER…………………………….(found on the piece of tin hanging from the bumper bar) DO YOU HAVE A DRIVERS LICENCE? YES / NO IS IT YOURS? YES / NO ARE YOU WEARING MAGGIES CLOTHING ON LICENCE PHOTO? YES / NO COULD YOU DRIVE PLAYERS, MATCH COMMITTEE OR OTHER SUPPORTERS TO: a ) HOME GAMES YES / NO b ) AWAY GAMES (to keep costs down) YES / NO DO YOU HAVE A WASHING MACHINE? YES / NO WOULD YOU BE PREPARED TO HELP WASH OUR TEAM FOOTY GEAR? YES / NO (tick which……..socks….shorts….guernseys….jockstraps….hankies….band ages …. ) DO YOU OWN A BEACH SHACK? YES / NO COULD WE USE IT FOR THE PLAYERS “END OF SEASON TRIP?” YES / NO DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? YES / NO ARE THEY YOURS? YES / NO WOULD ANY OF THEM BE INTERESTED IN PLAYING FOR THE MAGGIES? YES / NO a ) BOYS YES / NO b ) GIRLS YES / NO HOW OLD ARE THEY? 1 – 10, 11 – 20, 21 – 30, 31 – 40, or don’t know? DO YOU HAVE ANY LARGE FOOTBALL TROPHIES (no name tags ) THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO DONATE TO THE CLUB FOR OUR TROPHY CABINET? YES / NO WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING OUR END OF SEASON DINNER? YES / NO COULD YOU BRING ANYTHING ALONG ON THE NIGHT? (e.g. fairy bread, party pies, cordial, plastic cups, jelly ) YES / NO ARE YOU RELIGIOUS? YES / NO WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO LEAD OUR SUPPORTERS IN PRAYER: a ) BEFORE HOME GAMES? YES / NO b ) BEFORE AWAY GAMES? YES / NO c ) BEFORE WE PLAY THE EAGLES? YES / NO d ) START TO FINISH OF A EAGLES GAME? YES /NO PART TWO – I.Q TEST 1) PICK THE TV SHOW (circle the right name from the clues given ) BLANKETY______________ Cheque / Blanket / Blanks / Donation / don’t know I DREAM OF_____________ a premiership / Chris Judd / Jeannie / having money / don’t know STAR TREK, THE NEXT____ Footy Show / AFL team / AFL Draft / Generation / don’t know GET_____________________ John Worsfold / Lost / rid of Malthouse / Smart / don’t know HEY HEY IT’S ___________ a June Premiership / smoko / Saturday / another defeat / don’t know WHO WANTS TO BE _____ a Millionaire / a Collingwood member / stupid / Leon Davis / don’t know 2) PICK THE ODD ONE OUT ( circle the odd one from the lists below ) FEBRUARY 30th / MAY 38th / JUNE 40th / OCTOBER 33rd / APRIL 1st / don’t know SPOON / SOON / MOON / BOON / CHEESE / GOON / SWOON / don’t know A, B, C, D, 4, E, F, G, H, I, don’t know WOEWODIN / ROCCA / CLEMENT / BUCKLEY / HOLLAND / (one wasn’t poached from another club) MCG / SCG / AAMI STADIUM / SUBIACO / GABBA / WEMBLEY / don’t know 3) WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE? “I THINKS THE MAGPIES IS THE BESTEST TEAM IN OSTRAYLIA” IS IT: a ) BAD SPELING b )BAD GRAMMA c ) BAD GRANDMA d ) DON’T KNOW To find out if your membership application has been successful, please put a stamp on both sides of an envelope and leave one side blank. We will advise you by return mail. BONUS: Please list in order your preferred complimentary Collingwood Membership Surgery that comes with every successful membership application. We will try to allocate you a bed in an appropriate hospital, as one becomes available. a ) MOUTH ENLARGEMENT. b ) ONE EYE REMOVED.( left or right ) c) BRAIN REMOVED

Stop over-rating our list you tragics. It's always the same [censored]. "Wait until Blease, Tapscott, Cook, Strauss, Cook etc etc etc get some experience". They need experience with good players leading them!! Otherwise they will become nothing! Our current crop of 25 + year olds just don't cut it and they set (and have set) a terrible example for our younger crop. Add to that the fact that we are one of the worst teams at kicking in the AFL. We simply do not have enough players that can kick to a level that allows us to keep the ball and damage sides with it. I'm still all for Neeld/Craig and co. They are the one's after all who have come in and said we need to be a high performance club in all areas and that we were clearly so behind in terms of our fitness last year. I don't remember Bailey ever making that observation. We have two problems that clearly need addressing: 1 - Older guys, 'experienced players', + 25 group. So soft. So selfish. So mentally week. So average. We need some serious offloading at seasons end. The negative effect that these guys are having (and have had) on our younger crop is devastating. We have the worst + 25 group within the AFL by a country mile. 2 - Footskills. Whether we need to draft guys who know how to hit a feggin' moving target, or trade for some elite kickers from other clubs, I dont care. Just get them in. If Neeld wants us to be the strongest team at the contest and to win the footy, we need guys who can use the thing. It's absolutely disgusting watching us kick. Garland, Rivers, Bartram, Frawley at times. It's comedy back there at times. Absolute comedy. Seems pretty simple but really it just means we are further behind the eight ball. It's funny really cause we have drafted all of these young guys, but they just seem to have no direction. No one to take the lead on the field. No one to bring them into games. No one to inspire them. Make them walk taller. Mitch Clark is a start. It's killing me. I'm extremely interested to see who stays and who goes after this season. I have a feeling there could be some wholesale changes with our older crop.

I hope the MFC hit rock bottom tonight. Yes it was a practise match, thankfully. Port Adelaide are rubbish & so are we. $cully used us as a stepping stone. We say nothing. Eddie manipulates us last week. We say nothing. This week we gave out Blazers & felt good. But on the park we are a joke. I am glad Neeld & Neil Craig have no connection to this club. They work here. For that they can say whatever they like. The MFC deserves every word it gets right now. I don't want to hear about history ANYMORE. I want the future. Our history has retarded us. The Red Fox has died. Read the book. Rip this joint apart Neeld & Craig. You will be revered.

Honestly? It's too bloody soon to tell. Look at Geelong - they drafted big around 2001. Struggled and didn't hit their real stride until 2007. St Kilda - similar pattern. Hawthorn - similar pattern. We have pretty much as far to go as the Saints did, if not further. We've had the setback too - HWFUA has meant that the rebuild itself drops back a couple of years, which I don't believe is a bad thing. I firmly am of the view that our window will be open around 2016 - by that point, JT, Watts and the class of '08-'09 will be approaching 100-150 games, our 23-24 year olds (Frawley, Garland, Jones) will be in that 150-200 game bracket and our younger ones (Stretch, Viney, compo picks, Cook) will be really priming up. The problem with our cattle is that it is either of the maturing type (Watts, Cook, Fitz, Gawn, Davis) or has been struck down by ailments (Gysberts, Tapscott, Strauss, Blease, Jetta). The former we did know about; the latter we have been unlucky to a significant degree. We need more time. We do. The skills are there. Watts is as silky as they come, as is Trengove. Tapscott's booming punts are a joy. Strauss is a forgotten man among us right now, but he was really finding his feet before the break. Blease has lit up the field a couple of times. Davis has been good during the NAB, and the whole team is getting there. I don't want to wait any more than some of you. I've seen eleven AFL sides win flags in my life. The other five are perennial losers - Fremantle, Richmond, St Kilda, Footscray and unfortunately the MFC. We need that fact changed. I need that fact changed for my own sanity. I'm keeping the faith...I have to.

Me too actually, but it's very fashionable to lay the blame on him for Richmond's poor recruiting. Not sure how he had the time to appraise all those kids while coaching an AFL club.

I'm happy to go against the grain and what's commonly popular. I enjoy listening to Wallace's views on footy.

He is pretty close to the mark here, we have so many players that are the great unknowns. If Morton, Blease, Tapscott, Bail, Watts, Gysberts, Howe, Petterd Jurrah, Garland, Jones, Trengove,and any of the other younger players I have forgotten to mention don't step up this year then we fall back in the pack. The senior players have taken us to where we are now. Grimes is a player, needs to get on the park, Frawley at the moment is the only genuine top liner with maybe Jamar. As Terry asked where is our run and spread coming from, we get Viney next year but he doesn't give us that, he's another inside mid. It has to come from Blease, Morton, Grimes and Bail with some help from Petterd, Howe and probably Watts, then we really need to draft well with the compo picks. The thing with Watts is that when he gets the ball it ends up in a teammates hands, he is an elite user and decision maker who just needs to get more ball. In my eyes we can only take 2 or 3 of Moloney, Magna, Couch, Silvia and Jones into the same team otherwise we are unbalanced. Jones has earned his place with his pre season form, Magna gets in and under but at this stage his ball usage is sub par.

Terry Wallace played in Premiership sides. He knows what it takes. He is also a good coach. Richmond killed his career. I agree with his analysist of what we could be.

Two men walk into a bar. You'd think the second one would have ducked...

The crows seem to be struggling with their new game plan...

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does this taste funny to you?"

I'll bite, as I said in the post Port match thread: we're in another rebuild/reboot. I can't see Neeld tolerating the list clogging team of pea hearts that have been assembled in the Daniher/Bailey era so I expect they'll be cleared out progressively from the end of this season onwards. Maybe free agency will be good for us if it means we can get in ready mades easier. I'm beginning to think we were sold a bill of goods with our most recent bottoming out/rebuild using high draft picks strategy. There's just too much that can go (and has gone) wrong. Expecting bottom 2 or 3 this year.

Crikey... Just logged on, and sounds like there is a bit of a shemozzle afoot. Can someone fill me in on how the new priority pick system is going to work? Hahaha

We are a club that needs to improve dramatically. The culture change that has begun will foster that improvement. FFS mate get a grip. Only a few weeks ago we beat the Pies. Oh but wait, that was just a NAB game wasn't it...

We Are at the similar position to when 'Barass' left the rebuild after all the hard work done for 5 years, and Northey took over in '86. We're at the same point as we were in 1986ish.

I think its more the lack of development. Take a look at our first and second round picks dating back to 2003. If all those drafts were redone today, the only player who would be taken equal or better than their original spot is Frawley. The recruiters could not have got it wrong every single time. No. It's been the development or lack there of that has let us down. The most annoying thing is that Bailey was suppose to be a great development coach! Yeah he is not focusing on a gameplan! but at least we know that he is developing the boys well..... sign......

Leopards

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. Crowded elevators smell different to midgets.

Not the moment to start a drafting discussion, everyone would prefer to be slashing their wrists, but it's just a ridiculous assertion. No-one can expect players who've played a handful of games - or no games - to be carrying the side. Look at who had 10 or less possessions tonight - almost all "senior" players: Bartram, Dunn, Bate, Green and Martin were all in single figures. Sylvia only had 10, as did Garland. That's a THIRD of the team. The only recent recruits with low figures were Tynan and Davis, neither of whom has even played an AFL game yet, and deserve to be cut some slack. Until the new players from the last few years come through, while the senior players continue to let us down over and over again, it's going to be rough.. Of the others, McKenzie and Trengove, have both had interrupted pre seasons with limited match-play and are clearly still underdone. And hidden amongst the stats, and considering how rarely the forwards saw the ball, Blease did OK for a player who isn't even regular 22 - 4 marks and 2 goals. If there's an ongoing problem here, it's not what has happened over the last 3 or 4 years, it's what happened in the Daniher years.

Here's one that one of my grade 1 students actually told me: Knock Knock? Whos there? I pooed my pants. Safe to say I fell off my chair (laughing in shock) and the grade thought it was the greatest joke ever!

Neeld has stated this is not a short term plan. His game plan is the polar opposite of Baileys. He is working with what he has which truthfully is a bunch of kids and mature C graders. Get the structures right. Teach the right lessons. Sort out who has the balls to play the footy he wants to play. If we have a poor year have it with 2 compensation picks in play that hopefully unearth the stars we so desperately lack to add to Viney who will be what we expect. Anyone that expected miracles this year is kidding themselves but it doesn't mean the path that is currently being set is wrong.

What is it you seek Affirmation of the negative Reassurance despite the obvious Communal flagellation This sort thing goes nowhere and doesn't serve a purpose. The eternal optimists argue its NAB cup, its new game plan, it's till round 12 before we can call it. The MFCSS say it's doomed cycle of perpetual nothingness. Fact is competition starts in 2 weeks and we really won't know honestly till then. If I see what happened tonight against Brisbane we're cooked.

In all honesty, I thought that was a pretty good look at our list. He may have missed a little by not mentioning Dunn, who is once again quietly going about his business and doing his job, and he certainly failed to touch on the lack of real crumbing players, but overall it was pretty good.

I mentioned some time ago that our recruiting had been appalling and was shouted down; I wonder if those that did the majority of the shouting would care to comment now. They know who they are.

I don't think it is a matter of not getting the ball. It seems while the opposition are stringing possessions together, hitting up players etc, we are either being forced or by design just banging it long to a contest far too often.

Missing from Port : Alipate Carlile Mitch Banner Brett Ebert Hamish Hartlett Cam Hitchcock Andrew Moore David Rodan Steven Salopek oh.... and their Captain.... Dom Cassisi PLAYERS OUT MAKES NO EXCUSE FOR POOR EFFORT!!

Yes...to hold players we must become a good tough club...not a bad thing i reckon.

If you were drafted to a club as a top pick and they were near the bottom after 8 years service they showed no improvement and weren't in finals contention then you would be forgiven for leaving. If I were a player who played 8 seasons and progressed through with a number of young players/mates in that time and saw us come from being a bottom eight side to a regular finals contender with Top 4 potential, i'd want to stay to see through what we had started. So IMO it's up to the clubs to hold players, I don't see the big deals Ablett and Our Former #1 pick were offered being a regular occurence.

It must really annoy some people who have serious gripes ,concerns ,axes to grind that the club can simply come out and address their concerns so directly . There is a complete lack of consideration for the fact that those people will now have to whinge that they have been put in the picture and know what is going on .Some people will find transparency and direct communication very distasteful .

I think we should start sacking everyone we recruit as a matter of policy until they show up to training built like a tank .