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I will start by saying I have a poor opinion of our list and that is probably not news. It astounds me how many people on Demonland are never happy. Here are two guys training early in there holiday period in Melbourne. They are not getting drunk somewhere or being arrested for kicking a car etc. No they training in mid September. Well that looks like good news to me. Can we just for once accept that some of our players are serious about their futures and leave it at that. Please keep your prejudices in check for five minutes.

Close. A coach has come in demanding professionalism and adherence from the players which has been noticeably absent for years. Some players have not realised that respect MUST be earned.(Nathan Jones has earned the respect of the coach)

Was really happy out on my lunchtime run to see Dunn and Jetta putting in the hard yards at the tan. Good to see they are doing their bit in the off season (regardless of how you view them as MFC players).

People who think Dunn goes hard at it need to look closer. Jetta on the other hand does go hard at it

You see...this is why you leave people gobsmacked. So sacking Neeld 1 year and 5 matches would send a terrible message but 1 year and 7 matches would be fine ? We have been a basketcase on field because of our players and a series of coaches have comfortably taken soft options and had modest expectations. We finally have a coach who is prepared to say that modest expectations are not acceptable and surprise surprise-certain players dont like it ! I got caught up in Bailey's message " they are still young,they are still young". Neelds message to me is "we are young and inexperienced but that doesnt excuse you from working your butt off and trying to execute the way I teach you". I for one would not delist or trade Cook but I back the coach to have discussions with his assistants and the players themselves and decide if they are up to the challenge to be the best they can be.If he deems that he sees nothing in Cook that gives him any hope for the future then thats good enough for me. I beg the board not to accept membership money from softcocks who want to back players who arent happy with a coach who makes demands. (actually not necessary as they are usually on here saying "I am never buying a membership again"). Three cheers for a coach who says to the membership, the players will either commit to being the best they can be ( which takes a lot of hard work - something half of them wouldnt know about) or there's the door.

I'm a fan of Jetta's. Not really sure why yet. just think he's shown glimpses of being able to play a role for the team. Let's hope for 2 years of injury free football so he can prove me right or wrong

The best part out of this whole deal is what happens at Carlton and Collingwood.... Carlton win a premiership under Malthouse = Collingwood not = Collingwood wrist slashing for getting rid of a Premiership coach, and stuck with Eddies love-child. Carlton don't win a premiership = wrist slashing and sacking another coach. all good as far as I can see.

Bang on What's transpired is that over the last few seasons (decades?) the tail has been wagging the dog, and that's not going to continue under Neeld. And some people want to go back to status quo? Why? It got us where exactly? There's been a lot wrong with the club over the years. The drafting. The development. The coaching. The (dare I use the cliche) culture. Neeld, Misson and Craig IMO are the 3 most important figures with respect of our on field fortunes. Neeld coached one of the best midfields of recent times to a flag at Collingwood, a club renowned for having elite fitness etc Misson helped with his injury management, the Swans to their first flag in over 70 years Craig left Adelaide with a strong, mature, highly disciplined list, primed for the new coach I'll take these guys advice over people who don't like seeing their favourites swept out the door

After Malthouse's first year at Collingwood when they won 5 games he delisted or traded 12 players. He delisted or traded another 6 after year two. That's 18 players he turned over in two years. They went on to play in 4 grand finals over the next 10 years. You do realise that after a terrible 5 year period that judgment calls are made on mediocre players ? Or do you want more of the same ?

I seriously think we have some Brent Moloney/ Cale Morton type posters on this forum!!! DRop the bottom lip when things get tough or are just used to accepting half assed efforts! Like it or not, Mark Neeld is the coach of the MFC! I don't give a continental if players a b c where captain of the club/b&f winner under bailey because that is the past! I am about the future and the future is Melbourne moving towards its 13 th premiership at whatever cost!

What a load of rubbish, the MFC needed a coach with a hard edge. They were soft and it looks like the soft players cant handle the required standard thats needed to become a top four club because under previous coaches they have had it far too easy. He has seperated the men from the boys. We wont be 0-4 next year because Neeld will have weeded out the players who cant cut it and will have a list that he wants. Why dont the haters start one big Mark Neeld bashing thread so the rest of us here with common sense can enjoy each others company.

Hi Folks, You may be interested in this Irish report into how Big Jim's life has been remembered back in Ireland. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/jim-stynes-comes-home-as-wife-sam-recalls-battle-with-cancer-3226644.html

There's plenty of scope for a denial on that one actually.

I know this isn't exclusive to Demonland, but over the past 2 years I have heard a somewhat common theme that Davey is overpaid and supporters would be happy to have him on less money. Money... I hate it when money comes into argument or opinion of a player.... fact is Aaron deserved that contract when it was given to him and the market dictated that was his worth. Injuries, form lapses etc happen in every sport, however it is important to never blame a player for his wage, always blame the guy who signed the cheque. If I was being overpaid for what I can output at this stage of my career am I really going to ask for less money? I don't think what a player is being paid from a contract signed after the best form of said players career is even remotely pertinent to his current output. Blame list managers, blame the market, but never blame the guy getting paid.

I want us to be ruthless, but cunning as well. The way Carlton have gone about their business with Rats is not the club I want to support, quick fix messiah option that I think (and really hope) will blow up in their faces. What Neeld is bringing in is what I want the club to be, professional and determined. Case in point is Neeld and Co flying to Brisbane, staying in crap accomodation and convincing Mitch that Melbourne as the right option. Whatever is takes.

We need Dunn because he goes hard it. On a serious note, it's good to see 2 of our players taking their careers seriously, regardless of their standing in the team.

So your mate gets told by Paul Connors that some players want out. Who? Because Gerard Healy assured his audiences a few months ago that we wouldn't re-sign key youngsters that were out of contract. And then we signed Jones, Howe, and Blease with the rest of the players being chaff. I have heard that some of the players - the players one would hope - see Neeld and Misson and Craig as a revolution of higher standards and expectiations. Maybe those 15 players that you think are being railroaded out deserve to be. Maybe we would be a better club for it. Maybe you should stop getting on here and hysterically calling for the removal of a coach and then immediately back away from the claim and say 'some time in the future' he should be removed. Well some time in the future he will be removed but his legacy will be higher expectations and standards and that is not a bad legacy.

Perhaps you have misunderstood me. Lets say it is true (ie 15 players want out). Does it change my view? Not one iota. If they want out, get out. Go to another club. Now. That leaves 30 blokes who want to be there. Lets be clear: it is about the club not the players.

I have a membership idea.... We should start winning games, maybe even a premiership, then we'd get heaps of members on board.

Has he lost Jack Grimes or Jack Trengove? Mitch Clark? Colin Garland? Colin Sylvia? Sam Blease? Mark Jamar signed a 3 years contract half way through the year so you would think he is on board. Jeremy Howe signed too. Spose Neeld has lost him too Don't understand the vitriol

The Dude abides.

What about members of Land doing the delivery...that could be worth a TV show!!!

I want the club to be ruthless, but first of all I want the club to build a platform for long term sustainable success; I believe we’re on the right track to do that. At the moment it wouldn't matter who coached us in terms of winning a flag, we’re currently miles away from that, getting Lyon or Malthouse would probably give the club some credibility but that's all. We need to sort out our list and that's what we are doing, then we need to see if the coach we have can actually do the job or if we then need to reach out for a more senior coach to add the finishing touches. Who would have thought that Clarkson would have had the success he’s had, before he was appointed I would imagine that there were those that wanted a former Hawk to take over from Schwab, but it’s proved to be a master stroke giving him the job. Both Carlton and Freo have pretty good lists and it seems the right way for them to go, the experienced coach way, but we need to build a list and the question that has to be asked is, would either of them be willing to do it? If the team under Neeld hasn’t shown any improvement in 2 years’ time and we have what we believe to be a pretty good bunch of players then I’d have no hesitation in looking elsewhere. If the current board sit on their arses and do nothing but spectate on the progress of the club, then we need to replace them, but that will sort itself out in the next 12 to 24 months

I stopped reading after this.

I want a club that wins premierships.......simple isnt it?

Great thread BH. After following this club for most of my fifty plus years I'm starting to get desperate for success. I like you don't want to be the nice guy that offends no one and always plays by the rules, and yet when I look to the other clubs that I admire the most, the one that always comes to the fore is the Swans. I know that this is a conflicted view and yet I can't help but be impressed by their club structure. I love their internal discipline and fortitude, on field they are a remarkably resilient club that takes it's limited resources and delivers way beyond expectation, including premierships. If there was to be one model in the AFL that I would most like to emulate it would be theirs.

Has taken leave early. At the club right now exercising on bike. All things going well, will commence pre-season training on time. Sauce - Mark Neeld on SEN this morning.

Reminds me of The Big Lebowski.

I'm one who is kidding myself. I'd rather the young hungry coach with something to prove, than a spiteful old hypocrite who may not have the hunger and who is doing it for the wrong reasons, ie. to shove it up Eddie.

I agree 100% with this.Mind you there were a lot of players not doing their job and as a result players ( and there were more than just Davey ) were leftr swinging in the breeze. Funny you mentioned Neita as I see a lot of the similar 'protectionism" in Clark

Exactly. And people still say we should not "play like Hawthorn". FFS

I wish Neeld every success, i heard him on Radio this morning. But i am stil suprised we did not throw everything at a proven coach last year...maybe we did. I was happy with Neeld's appointment but the problems within the club were far bigger than any of us knew at the time. If he can unite the MFC he will be remembered higher than Smithy. That's how bad we are now.

What the eff? Did they all of a sudden legalise weed? You have on good authority that 15 on the 45 are exploring options? Would that be Jurrah Green Moloney Bennel Davey Morton Couch Cook Gysberts Bate Dunn Spencer Martin Rivers Jetta Macdonald? You talk about extracting the best from players? I dont think the best of these players could beat an senior EFL side but hey keep bagging Neeld, its his fault he inherited a [censored] list.

Ethics? I though Ethics was a county cricket club.

If you don't acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them junior there is ever possibility you will repeat them.

Picket Fences favourite player was Juice Newton and he must have posted a couple of hundred times on Ology demanding that he be given a game; does that tell you anything?

Wad of your pretence has been greater than the alleged tad of hypocrisy. MFC should do everything in its power to improve its position if that means Davey stays and justifies his final year at MFC then fine. If it means he gets traded then fine. However, the Club would be quite within its rights and good sense to tell Davey as for every other player exactly where he stands. If he does not fit into Neeld's plans and I can see why, then he should be told that and given the option of Casey or seek a trade that the Club is happy with from the perspective of salary relief and draft picks. i cant see a bidding war for a player that cant cut a game at a bottom club. Its not a matter of loyalty. Its a matter of making each player including Davey aware of where they are at and what their options are. And given Davey's involvement in the Mifsud issue I am not sure that behind the scenes he is a must keep at MFC.

I want a club that despises defeat. So much so that it makes them want to "SPEW" The term "honourable loss" should be banned. "Win at all costs" should be our mantra

I want Melbourne to be soft, spineless and easily kicked around by everyone. Cale Morton for captain.

It has been a long time since a "hatchet job" coach has come into a club and had instant success. Recent premiership coaches were at their clubs for 5+ years prior to success with the only exception be Scott last year, and Scott wasn't a hatchet job (i.e. Thompson Walked). So when was the last time sacking a coach mid contract paid off with a premiership soon after?

Hard to see how Malthouse will lose out of this, no matter what happens on the field. He gets $1 million per year; he gets to torment Eddie McGuire; he gets to have lunch with Jeannie Pratt. From his point of view, what's not to like? And if he succeeds at being the only coach to get flags at three clubs, which with Carlton's list and cheque book in the free agency era is far from impossible, he'll go down as the greatest coach ever.

[ I think it's worse than that. He knows nothing about anything. For God's sake pantsman, what's your agenda and where do you get these ridiculous assertions from? A coach should just let players play the way they want should he? What a lovely idea. Just how would that lead to an improvement in TEAM performance? It just came to me! You're actually Brent Moloney aren't you. Or maybe it's Mrs Moloney annoyed at the way her little boy's been so unfairly treated.

Why would West who's currently Geelong's No 1 ruckman and playing in a succesful side want to come to Melbourne where he'd be our 2nd ruckman and be forced to play a foreign CHF position?

Yep...kidding myself ( not ) Malthouse is a mercenary whos found a pot of gold for his retiremenmt. Good for him. Hes goig to a near ready made list that just needs tweaking. Easy peasy Neeld is building a team and participating in the emergence of a sound , properly resourced and organised football dept. Mouse wasnt available. Neeld was. deal with it and wtf is that supposed to mean Jaded , in the context of coaches. . What do yo think MM would be doing that MN isnt ?? Malthouse is not Merlin, theres no magic you understand. Jaded, Im sorry, again whilst I understand your angst towards Carlton, please keep it so directed and leave any venom towards OUR club at the door cheers

Cant trade rivers.. 998..

Gysberts is in contract, any trade will in the coaches minds be in our favour. I like what he does when he gets to the contest, the issue is he cant get to enough contests. I am happy if he stays but will not mind if we use him to obtain what we are after. Rivers played some good roles this year and would be good mature filler in a variety of positions. I would not however have him as first or second choice in any of them. Again happy if he stays understand if he walks.

In his egomaniacal quest to be a 4 time premiership coach he will send the blues broke - and there are already players there who are very unhappy with his appointment. Can't wait for the fallout!

You know nothing about football.

For the love of God, vote mark #1.

You're correct TPM but who cares? The more pain, infighting, dissent and general shite for Carlton the happier I'll be!