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Last time I was at training was the Thursday night before the Grand Final in 1964 - my father was working with the Club. In the rooms after training, some bloke hoists an 8 year old me up on Ronald Dale's shoulders and gives me a footy to hold above my head. Next day, back page of the Herald (the evening paper) is a pic of me on RDB's shoulders with the headline "Youngster takes a screamer over Barassi"!! Then we go and win the GF!!! Not sure tomorrow can top that, but it's much more important - see you there and congrats, waynewussel, for providing the inspiration for so many of us to do the bloody obvious - SUPPORT THE BOYS WHO PULL ON THE RED AND BLUE!

So Watts was ill, as reported by Neeld himself, but gets dropped the next week... This after choosing to sub him when there were at least 18 other candidates. Is he actually trying to tear his confidence to shreds? Meanwhile Kent still waits for his chance after being one of THE players in the pre-season. Jamar keeps his spot after the single worst performance I can remember seeing by a ruckman, and only marginally better the week before. Thank God Jetta finally gets picked and both Nicholson and Gillies go. 2 rounds too late. I have serious concerns about some of the decisions being made at this club. It's getting to a stage where if Neeld was revealed as being a Collingwood plant to destroy the club from within, my reaction would be one of mild shock. Let's hope it's under 100 points.

Watts and Blease out........... Don't agree with these at all.

Maybe we can upgrade Gillies groin to LTI and upgrade Magner... Also how ironic Gillies is out with Groin... No balls in that area!!!

i'm a firm believer that we need to give Neeldy a good 5 year crack at it. He has been handed a big ol' mess. Give him longer than 2 years, please.

*puts down the molotov*

Sacking him this season will just put another nail in the coffin of the MFC because we won't be able to get anyone big or noticeably better. Continuity and stability are key and take time. This is still a learning curve for Neeld and I believe he can get through it.

And if you've got the 18th ranked midfield, you're prone to being ranked really low for i50's and ranked really high for defensive i50 entries. For Neeld's sake he needs the midfield to generate into something effective. And with Jones, Jamar, McKenzie (inj- coming back), a splattering of first year players in Viney, Toumpas, and some mature players who may be inconsistent - Sylvia, Bail, Jones......plus our skippers... It really is an underwhelming midfield lacking quality and any cohesion at present.

Not happy Watts is out as he was our best player last time we played them. Blease as well. Spewin Sellar is still in, i have zero confidence in his marking ability, and he is full forward. Very happy, Jetta and Evans are in though. Would also have preferred Spencer or Gawn to Jamar.

Up next, Alf explains the theory of gravity... 'It's pretty much just trapping me here on this god forsaken planet'

by the way im rapped that Nev Jetta is back in the team its a joke he wasnt in there for Round 1

Our team is virgin on the ridiculous, so it maybe appropriate.

Not sure about that Stuie! The living conditions in my household have slipped somewhat over the last couple of weeks.

a) that's a matter of opinion b) it wasn't the pre-game speech, it was the pre-warm up speech, done nearly 2 hours before the game.

Either do I. Blease was great in the one quarter he got 1st round and yes, had a poor one last week, but he is better than Byrnes, who IMO has been hopeless in both games. Long term as well we need games for Blease. This IMO is a pathetic selection. Great way to make another young player want to leave the club.

lol - comparing Jeff Kennett to David Schwarz. As Yossarian said, he was the Premier of Victoria. He might be a footy dunce, but he knows how to run an organisation. Honestly, I can't believe people are still clinging to this idea of Schwarz as the club president. It is beyond ridiculous.

Remember, the big fellow is with us!

Heard Terry Wallace on SEN today say that we won't see the results of some of Neelds coaching tenure for up to 3-4 years. He compared it to Essendon now reaping some of the benefits of the Matthew Knights recruiting and coaching philosophy only now 3 years after he's gone. Neeld inherited Bailey's work and only now into round 2 of his second season is he getting some of his own players on the park with the new recruits. It could take another 12 weeks for them all to gel. People don't realise changes take a lot longer than we think to take effect.

you lot really do amaze me.. nothing but Watts sledging, then he gets dropped and everyone is critical of the selection. He has obviously been asked to achieve something on field.. getting 2 kicks was obviously not that thing. I feel there is a hint of a statement in Neeld - the statement is 'yeah we're going bad but what can I do when these so called elite performers are simoly not having a crack' I for one am happy every time I see an underperforming player actually get disciplined at this club, we have had players coasting with impunity for the better part of 15 years. The next trick is making sure he doesn't just automatically stroll back in next week. I want three performances that prove he is a cut above VFL, then he can come back. As others have mentioned though, Sylvia should be gone, as should Jamar, who I hold personally responsible for about 80 points scored against us last week.

Astounded that people can complain about our performances, then defend Watts. He had a great off-season, but has been catastrophic in the 2 games he's played. Blease also was abysmal last week.

the pea hearts Jamar and Sylvia stay in the team while Watts and Blease dropped when they ar eboth 22 and developng.. you gotta be [censored] kidding me

Melb got fined $500k for the actions of their employees for something where we were not proven guilty. Dank and some of the others (Weapon etc).... what sort of fine do you think this worthy of in the eyes of the AFL even if cleared by ASADA?

Loving the energy around this guys. Most positive stuff I've read on this forum for a long time Can't wait till Friday.

Was at the game sylvia ran all night non stop did any one else note how many times it was in our forward line give the guy a break

Media yesterday: Sack Schwab! Media today: Why did you sack Schwab? Schwab: I accept being sacked. Media: No you don't.

WHO ARE WE AGAIN? by Whispering Jack Just over twelve months ago on the eve of the Round 2 West Coast Eagles game in Perth, I wrote that the way in which Melbourne approached that particular fixture would define the playing group, given its poor start to the season under then new coach Mark Neeld. The result was an even more insipid performance by the team than the week before and it was followed by more of the same for the majority of the season. A full year later, the team in a different form with a number of new faces repeated the dose in Round 2 against Essendon. This time, it was another defeat in excess of 100 points but far worse and in front of an angry MCG crowd. What we gathered from that was an undercurrent of disaffection between the playing group and those who control it. That means the board and administration, the coaches and yes, ultimately the supporter group. The disconnect was there to see - a repeat of the disgrace that came to be known as "186", a day when the players appeared to down tools and withdraw their labour. Alternatively, if you want to be charitable it was at the very least, a failure to perform to even the minimum acceptable standard in the sport. The supporters were not only let down - they were treated with contempt. If the board, or the administration or the football department deserved that sort of treatment, the supporters certainly did not. Some of the fans will never come back and though I would never put myself in that category, I can hardly say that I blame them. Those who defend the players might well say they owe the supporters nothing; that there were issues that they needed to deal with (and that might well be the case) but what we saw on the playing field was unprofessional and nothing short of deplorable. The thing that most football fans can't really abide from supposed professionals taking the field in their club colours is not doing the basics like running, chasing, tackling and putting pressure on their own opponents. These things are the non-negotiables of our game. I usually disagree with much of what Patrick Smith writes but not when he drew the analogy between Melbourne's ineptitude last week and Essendon's sparkling performance. If one of the two playing groups out there was entitled to rebel against those in control of their club, it should have been the Bombers whose players were led up the garden path in such a scandalous manner when injected out of club premises with substances whose legality and identity they apparently can't now be completely assured of by their club hierarchy. Some might argue that this provides justification for players to rebel against the club for the contempt with which they were treated. But they acted as professionals with a duty to the club that pays their wages, to their loyal supporters and to themselves. Their refusal to tank defined that playing group. This can't be said of the playing group at Melbourne which has now drawn blood in the form of the departing CEO and caused substantial distress to their young coach. Even if there are issues with his coaching, is this how sane and rational people deal with such a situation. Are they now satisfied having blown the lid off the season and brought themselves and their club into disrepute or am I reading this wrongly and our playing group is just inept and incompetent? There's far more to this than just the playing group and a young coach struggling to impose a new systems and standards at the club. We are fractured and hurt by factions that carry with them a destructive mindset that has persisted for close on five decades since the time we dominated the competition and the code. Whatever way you look at it, having fallen in the estimation of the football world, the Demons need to work their butts off to rise again. Perhaps they might heed the words of American author and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: Now is the time to rise ... THE GAME Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at MCG - Saturday 13 April 2013 at 2:10pm (AEST). HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 15 wins West Coast 28 wins At MCG Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 7 wins Since 2000 Melbourne 7 wins West Coast 12 wins The Coaches Neeld 0 wins Worsfold 1 win MEDIA TV Fox Sports Channel at 2pm (live) RADIO THE BETTING West Coast to win $1.03 Melbourne to win $12.00 LAST TIME THEY MET West Coast 25.16.166 defeated Melbourne 9.4.58 at Patersons Stadium, Round 2, 2012 The Eagles handed out a thrashing, winning by a club record 108 points at Patersons Stadium, dominating the possessions 447-313, not to mention the free kick count which, at one stage read 21-1. Mitch Clark booted five goals and was one of the few shining lights in the gloom of the West. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE Backs Neville Jetta, James Frawley, Dean Terlich Half backs Jack Trengove, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland Centreline Michael Evans, Jack Grimes, Jack Viney Half forwards Matt Jones, Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe Forwards Aaron Davey James Sellar Shannon Byrnes Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones Interchange Rohan Bail Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Jimmy Toumpas Emergencies David Rodan Jake Spencer Jack Watts In Rohan Bail Michael Evans Neville Jetta Cam Pedersen Luke Tapscott Out Sam Blease Tom Gillies (groin) Daniel Nicholson David Rodan Jack Watts WEST COAST Backs Schofield Glass A Selwood Half backs Hurn Brown Waters Centreline Gaff Priddis Masten Half forwards Embley Kennedy Hams Forwards Darling Hill Le Cras Followers Cox S Selwood Shuey Interchange Butler Cripps Kerr Sinclair Emergencies Brennan Dalziell Wilson In Kerr Le Cras Out Dalziell Sheppard (shoulder) IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD by Whispering Jack If we were living in a perfect world, this week would have been the ideal one for Melbourne to confront the West Coast Eagles. The visitors are coming off a six day break from a tough game played in 32 degree heat and have travelled across the continent to play on a ground where they haven't won a game since they surprised Melbourne in the first half of their wooden spoon season of 2010. Since then, the Eagles have lost seven consecutive games on the MCG. Like Melbourne, the Eagles are 0-2 and have not been particularly impressive to date, although admittedly they lost at the hands of some strong opposition. They have some key on field personnel missing and a couple back from injury who might be suspect if put under enough pressure. And there lies the crux of the problem. Pressure. In its two games thus far, the Demons have exerted absolutely zero pressure on their opponents. For a team that has ostensibly trained hard for two pre seasons to develop this aspect of the game, they have given absolutely nothing and on Saturday, they come up against one of the very teams that exposed them so badly in this very area twice in the season before Mark Neeld became coach. Melbourne has selected a marginally better side on paper than the one which has failed abysmally in the past two weeks. The defence is a little less stacked with talls who have no run and exert little defensive pressure. The same can be said of the midfield which has been so static but which remains particularly young and inexperienced. Above all, one must ask whether anything has happened to this group in the past seven days to change its shattered mindset? The removal of the CEO who, on the face of it has ensured that the club's off field finances are "tracking very well" according to the AFL and kept himself apart from the workings of the football department since it was restructured at the end of 2011? Hardly. A day and night of bonding at the Sorrento Hotel followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields? Perhaps. The shame of being booed off the ground by their own supporters, then to be pilloried mercilessly in the media, deservedly so for their sub standard efforts and failure to have a crack or the fear of being the next players demoted? This is the professional era in sport. Many of us were surprised last year when players with plentiful experience at various AFL clubs were delisted but failed to find suitors. It would not surprise if the same thing happened again this year. The Demons need to learn that they are all playing for their football lives if not their team and club and that if they continue to serve up that which they've shown to date, its going to be all over for many of them by year's end. Based on the events of the past week, I can see a little improvement but against a far more desperate Eagles that need the four points and percentage on offer, I don't expect enough improvement to overcome this team's crisis in confidence or for it to show the pride and character of the Bombers who continue to play like professionals despite their own crisis surrounding the club and coach and in which they find themselves right in the middle. Two weeks ago I predicted that Melbourne would be the most unpredictable side in the competition but it's not a perfect world and I was wrong. They now are sadly, the most predictable. West Coast by 72 points.

You realise Jeff Kennett was the premier of Victoria, right?

For anyone complaining about Blease being dropped, he had about 2 possessions last week.

I don't see a ruckman, I see a statue. Cox will dominate like you wouldn't believe. I am considering putting him in as Captain in my DT. Not quite, GA will absolutely have a field day against the lions on current form.

I would agree - you can blame the current coach but the problems stem way, way back. Sanderson or Scotts would be in the same position as Neeld. Atleast he has taken steps to improve training and fitness. It is just going to take a bit longer to get the players to play the way he wants. I'd stick with neeld.

I don't think I've seen 5 worse "ins" from an AFL side. None come to mind, anyway. It's going to be another shocking game.

I don't own anything "funny", so it mustn't be mine. Are you sure it's not your funny? Or perhaps someone else's?

The majority of the off field things the MFC has done in the last five years are IMO good moves. The Casey thing is a good one and contrary to what many think I believe the Darwin Exercise is also a great Move

I cannot believe we are getting sh!t for trying to get into Casey, or for the efforts in that area. We have no base of support - just inherited allegiances that are being shaken of late. And were shook disastruously in the 70s and 80s. We need to be in Casey and the Heartland initiative is a good one, as is the movement into schools, and the regular clinics. I don't care about players whinging about travel. They should be living south east of the city and its a nothing trip out to Casey from there.

If i was a player at the MFC i would love to see past players getting involved in the club. Perhaps President is a little lofty, but seeing the Ox come and throw his support behind the club would signal to me that the club is a life long thing, something that you are part of for life. Who knows could make a diference to guys like Chippa, Syliva and Watts when the time comes for them to sign new deals

I think Baghdad Bob's concerns about McLardy, Schwab and Neeld have received some added credence over the past few weeks.

I'm frustrated that the journalists do not directly refer to the AFL Anti Doping Code in their coverage. It's a relatively simple document that mirrors the WADA and ASADA codes. All three documents are freely available (they are very similar). It makes it pretty clear that Dank and (potentially) Hird have broken the code. 11.6.B 'Possession by an Official In-Competition of any Prohibited Method or any Prohibited Substance, or Possession by an Official Out-of-Competition of any Prohibited Method of any Prohibited Substance that is prohibited Out of-Competition in connection with a Player or training, unless the Official establishes that the Possession is pursuant to a Therapeutic Use Exemption granted to a Player in accordance with Clause 10 (Therapeutic Use) or other acceptable justification.' 'An Official means a coach, trainer, manager, agent, team staff, official, medical or paramedical personnel, parent or any other Person working with, treating or assisting a Player participating in or preparing for the AFL Competition.' Dank and Hird are Officials. Dank has openly admitted that he has possessed and administered Prohibited Substances to another Official. Hird has so far denied the allegation. They don't need to involve the players at all to be found guilty. I'm a cycling fan (hence my interest in drug codes!) and there have been quite a few examples of cycling teams being found to have broken WADA's code simply through possession. It's pretty simple. All that needs to be concluded now is if it goes any further and what the punishment should be for EFC and its Officials.

the image of Hird actually administering the needle personally is just fantastic, eat s--t Essendon Dank also said he gave players an extract from pig's brain, which is used to treat Alzheimer's disease, the first milk from a mother cow and a bark extract. That sounds like something straight out of a kid's story about an evil witch with a cauldron.. what in the name of God has happened to sport in this day and age Yeah I want to get a couple more kicks, hand me the syringe full of pig's brain please Disgraceful

Even though I have been as deflated as a Collingwood-supporting-dentist over the past week, and have posted about no longer being able to emotionally invest... I just can't help myself. I will rearrange my day tomorrow and get to training somehow. Red and Blue until I die. Edit: I just posted it on my Facebook page. Heaps of my extended family are supporters and/or members. Can't wait to get there.

The Fatman will be at his first ever training session tomorrow in support of this GREAT club - Go Dees

I actually have little care about this stuff at the moment. We have a lot more to worry about with our own club.

To me this is the source of most of our on field problems. It's not that the game plan cannot work rather the way it's was implemented. Neeld has come into a club that had little or no defensive abilities but on the other hand a free flowing attacking style. Rather than observe and evaluate what the playing group were capable of he has wiped the board clean and started afresh with a game plan devised for the Collingwood playing group. in effect he has made a major mistake of going to hard to soon, our players were not in a position to execute such a game plan.This in turn has the players confused and playing with little or no confidence. The net result is that he has either lost the players or is in the process of losing them. He was right in one sense that the players fitness was below AFL standard and given their new fitness levels one wonders how they would be performing today playing their older game style with a slight tweaking of defensive accountability. In other words making small incremental changes rather than wholesale changes. It's my guess that Neeld probably came to club under the assumption that they were an undisciplined rabble that needed a hard task master to pull them into line. This I believe was another mistake. He needed to gain the groups trust first and foremost. Again I suspect going to hard too early. All of this goes someway to explaining the last two weeks of on field performance. What can he do to recitify the situation? I believe he needs to readjust the game plan to a simple digestible one that the players can understand and adopt, something that does not require to much thought but relies more on instinct than analysis. A game plan that will allows them to rediscover their love of the game and with that their own confidence in their ability to play it. With time he might win them back and we might have a team worthy of going to the football to watch.

Oh Jesus. I love the Ox, but the man's never made a sound decision in his life. Someone with some business acumen who knows footy, please.

It is disgusting the way Demonlanders are wishing ill on Essendon and its players. They are just ordinary blokes playing the game they love and making a quid. You can’t blame them for medical and sports science mismanagement which has compromised the integrity of the entire club. What a travesty if a fine young man was divested of his “Brownlow” just because of drug issues. Don't worry just joking. I hate Essendrug more than any other club. I wish them all the worst. IF THERE IS A GOD, he will let this drug scandal destroy them totally. The image of Jab handing back the Downlow is almost too sweet to contemplate. There supporters are the worst pigs god ever put breath into ( note. two of my brothers are Essendrug members). Why can't a Jumbo crash land on that training facility?

I'd rather he did Watts. Col's a lost cause

We are in the position we are in, not because of Schwab, McLardy or any of the current Board it is purely the neglect and absolute incompetence of many of the previous Boards and their appointed Managers. We spent years in the wilderness because we put up with 50's and 60's style Boards/Managers who were well meaning but so far out of their depth it didn't matter. We should never have been headquartered at the Junction Oval and that caused the club to deteriorate, almost to the point of extinction.

Vlad was on 3AW just before and he said he wants our club to survive for another 150 years and that the Melbourne Brand is powerful in the overall competition seeing that Melbourne is the heartland of the competition. He wants a new CEO to go in to the club and do a full review of what's wrong and report to the board and tell them what needs to be done. Strangely I believe him.