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Take a bow you bloody legend! Never say die attitude, hard work pays off. Lead from the front again today. Well done #2

Often our club is derided for not having any true leaders, and often Colin Sylvia is smashed by the media and supporters alike for never standing up when it counts and liking it all his own way. Well we all know where we were heading at 3 quarter time today... and at the start of the fourth quarter when Col ran through about five blokes through the centre square his teammates visibly lifted and the self belief really began to re-emerge. This guy was immense in the last quarter despite cramping like crazy and he worked his butt off to create opportunities for his teammates in the forward 50. It's only GWS and haters... you keep hating.. but Col (with a few mates) lead our club to victory today.

I find Don's take on this and his referral to the 'cheap seats' a little bit condecending. Don's comment that we will end up with people from the cheap seats running the club which will be another major problem for the game is laughble when you consider how well those from the 'expensive seats' are going doing the same thing. I mean Don really could anyone do any worse than what the club has been subjected to in the last 2 years? Don really is out of touch and needs to get some perspective. I would have thought the 'establishment' type people at our club would have realised they need the people in the 'cheap seats' to make this club a great one together as one and not blame them for pressure. Lets face it at 3 Qtr time today all I could think was - what more do you want MFC...20K supporters turn up even when you are at your lowest and now you are doing this to them against GWS. Seriously Don come sit in the 'cheap seats' just like Jim used to do. You might find you actually learn something outside the ivory tower.

86 tackles that's what I like to see

What a misguided, entitled opinion to have Don. If this was his actual business he would not tolerate the level of ineptitude that has plagued this club for far too long. The issue is that those on the board at the club see it as their knighthood. They've been successful in business and so they see this as the reward. Well guess what? It's not. On paper we have some extraordinarily talented people on our board. I read all of their profiles last night. But, as our drafting has painfully taught us, success isn't measured on paper. It's measured on the ground and on the financial report. They've failed, they've admitted they've failed and now we are expected to feel sorry for them. They need to accept that Jim may have put them in place but he did so so they could take the club forward. They seem at a complete loss to want to lead, and at a loss to evolve the culture of our club and begin to stand for something. It's not a thankless task. You get to make decisions for, and represent, the greatest football club in the world. If that's not enough for you then please move on. My Internet name is Heart Beats True, but in the real world I run a successful multimillion dollar company with offices in Australia and New York, and it would be an honor to represent the MFC's proud, passionate and wonderfully stubborn members. I think there are people here on this forum that have much better credentials than I do. Lets find those people and put them on our board, and when we put them there lets remind those in power that we'll continue to judge those in charge, and replace them if need be, because that is how our special breed of democracy works. Until then I implore our board to stop asking what everyone can do for them and instead start representing the club with the pride and honor that our club deserves. It starts at the top.

He is the heart and soul of this footy club. And IMO, damned close to elite. How is he not on the Demonland banner? Get Garry "I'm too busy" Lyon off there and put the bald nugget in the centre!!

I hate people repetitively arguing the same thing over and over again, so I am hypocritical in this instance, I must've made about 5 posts about Watts' [censored] poor efforts in the last 3 weeks. But I just can't get over it. And the 20 other rubbish players argument doesn't wash with me. Name 1 other player (bar Lynden Dunn) that constantly avoids contests, takes short steps so they don't have to jump into an aerial contest. Poor form doesn't bother me at all for a few games, it happens, good players get through it. My beef is with a whole young career getting away with pure soft efforts and zero intensity. Punish this or correct it. Do not [censored] tolerate it then complain that he cops a hard time. WE are copping a hard time, we want to see everyone at least making an attempt to go when it's their turn, or chase, not take 2 steps and dive with one arm out stretched. Adem Yze got away with it while at least having an influence on the game. Even he flew into a pack when he needed to. I just want to see Watts go back to Casey like Pederson, and not come back until he's shown he's prepared to do what needs to be done on a football field. It makes me sick that some people do not care as much as I do. I mean FFS, the hardest team to play against... culture change... Let's get real and do it properly, no exceptions.

You have some good points re finding quality board members - granted, but don't you consider Dons comments about the cheap seats derogatory and divisive at a time when he should be continuing to do the good work Jimmy started by healing the club as one? You have spoken to him, and thats good, so you understand him but what about all the supporters in the cheap seats who don't have the same access? The best they have is to read what he talks about in his Presidents Lunch today and here he is making statements that don't help the club heal. How does Don think what was a premeditated prepared Presidents Lunch speech is going to be taken by the members in the cheap seats. We need as many members sitting in cheap seats as we do corporate support and alienation of either is unacceptable for a President. Don needs to realise perception is reality and perception is he is playing the blame game instead of telling us constructively what Club is doing about all this mess. Don't start with the poor me story Don as we all feel it albeit not in the gun.

Was is Dylan Shiel who said this came would be a confidence booster for GWS? Dylan Shiel, stick a [censored] up your [censored] and enjoy it you little dirtbag.

I thought Jack Trengove had a horrible 2012 and the pessimist in me thought we may have fluffed another high draft selection. But he is starting to work himself into some nice form after a long layoff. A superb captain's goal in the last quarter. Doesn't look that important with hindsight but he had to kick that goal and it went gun-barrell straight. Well done Jack.

Jack was hesitant and just didn't put in today, he was hanging back, he handballed to players putting them under pressure and his kicking was nothing special. I though he was very ordinary today and if his efficiency was good it just meant that the poor bugger who copped his handball got it before being crunched. He has to be dropped.

Evans: hadn't seen anything in him until today, he was superb.. same goes for Tapscott, apart from the two shocking shots on goal. Byrnes was excellent too.. MJones, Terlich, big maxy, Bail even Pedo did a few quality things.. there is nothing more pleasing than seeing these second shelf types prove themselves I can't believe people aren't more pumped, 12 goals in a quarter without Clark and Dawes, dodgy video reviews, dogy ump calls, some shocking luck (eg the ball bouncing striaght over tommy mac to setanta) some stupid frees/50s against Clark and Jetta, we should have won by considerably more than 41. We also conceded 5 goals in 12 minutes in the second when they completely lost focus.. but they got it back big time. Playing what is likely to be another winless side next week, let's all stop wallowing and get fired up

I can understand the reticence of some posters to make predictions these days, but Hogan will be the club's best player since Flower. And if he's as good as I think he'll surpass him; merely for being one of the most dominant key forwards in his generation. They don't grow on trees. With what is happening at the club I doubt any supporter wouldn't be a tad nervous about his future, thankfully we have nearly 3 years to entrench him into our club. Mitch Clark and the young guys like Viney, where he's living, will be the key. Players love their mates. Obviously he needs to see the chance of future success, but it would be highly unusual for a player not to sign a second contract. There's no commencement club on the horizon to offer ridiculous money and it's unlikely he'd just walk into the draft, so I reckon we'll be OK. But Boy, do we need to start getting things right at this club. Call me mad, but I still reckon the young core of the list isn't too bad. But there are clearly deep seated issues that are yet to reach the public surface. Someone needs to get to the bottom of what is going on and do whatever it takes to fix it. It's not necessarily kowtowing, or pandering to the players, but it's about understanding their needs, understanding what drives them, what unifies them and bringing about the best practices to maximise their collective potential. Neeld, may, or may not survive, I reckon he's toast, because there's just too much baggage under his tenure, but if there is change, they must bring in a voice that the players respect. It must be a coach that has had significant success. Easier said than done.

I strongly disagree - we should not be giving games to players on the basis of 'potential'. Players should have to earn their spots and I think this is probably partly the reason for our poor culture. Neeld has two options: 1. send him to Casey until he can show consistent good form for 3-4 weeks (with aggression) or 2. Keep him in AFL for 4-5 weeks in the hope that he shows some form He should not be coming in and out of the side. I would go with sending him to Casey - show him that he needs to change his attitude/performance

Kevin Sheedy, I mean. Fair dinkum, if he couldn't coach that mob to a win today, he's ... gawn!

Sylvia had a great game chased and ran hard all day, did the 1%'s also his burst through the middle of the ground was awesome to watch broke like 3-4 tackles love watching him when he's on

These kicks should be bread and butter for any AFL player. It's like congratulating him for tying up his boot laces properly.

unfairly bag the board?They have done that to themselves for the last 6 years. I am not obsessed. I just want better people running my club. Don's "Cheap Seat" comment is another barb thrown at financial members. It's wrong.

Given that the last quarter provided some redemption for the middle 2 quarters, a lot of players bobbed up and started to look better. BUT, certain things crystallised for me, particularly given that GWS make people look better than they are against quality opposition...... *Pederson is a poor contested mark, and has very little impact in general. If only Dawes were fit, we'd see the end of him. *I've been a Nev Jetta fan, but he's just not good enough for the AFL. Just 'not quite' in too many areas. *Terlich, Evans, Matt Jones.....definite keepers. Loved Terlich's guts today. *Gawn is everything Jamar isn't. He's a really good mark, is quick and mobile, stays on his feet, creates a presence, brings others into the game, and is a good kick. Spencer should replace Jamar next week, but won't of course, as GWS have gifted Jamar a reprieve he doesn't deserve. *Confidence is a MASSIVE MASSIVE component to football. And it builds with momentum. Just look at Garland today. A totally different man, and you could see Chip just getting wind of a bit of the same.

Sorry Don, but that's just pathetic. You are under the pump because you were not entirely truthful with the AFL and your fans. If the kitchen is a bit hot, it's cause you left the stove on full blast with the door open

I can't believe what I'm reading. People are commenting as if it was a cheap shot! It was nothing of the sort. It was a poorly executed but warranted bump. Yes, it was late, and yes, it contacted the head, which is going to draw the MRP into play, but it was a perfectly fine thing to do, and he was well entitled to lay it how he wanted. He hit the head, he'll cop the consequences, but it was accidental and right on the ball, just a tad late. Leave him be. He was one of our best today, and he showed the aggression we need from all 22.

I actually think more good will come of Melbourne losing.

Watts needs to [censored] off.

A mate of mine wrote a message some years ago and its core stays with me still. He said that the club is yours. It is not the players, or the administrators or the boards'. It is yours. And you - the supporter - mark with your unconditional support for the club - a continuation of 155 years of the existence of this remarkable creation. WE form the fabric of the club, though we may not feel it or know it. IT IS US, FOR [censored]'S SAKE. So when I take my kids tomorrow (why, jesus, why?), and I sit with my dad, my brothers and their children, I am at MY club, with my family and that I will support despite their fault and failings. Players come and go. Officials come and go. The supporters are the club - we are the permanent feature - renewed our kids and grandkids in perpetuity. So when I am disappointed, feel helpless, feel utterly furious, I try to remember this. Am my favorite stanzs of my favorite poem: Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,-- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Max Gawn showed glimpses of his true potential today. What i really like about him, he is 6'9", but chases and contests like a mid fielder, and when he rests in the square, he is such as presence, that he attracts two or three defenders, and still beats them, either by marking it, or by providing a contest, and it falls to unmarked forwards. He is also a dominant centre bounce ruckman. I have said in other treads here, that Max has the potential to be in the 2 or 3 most important players at the club as we climb into the top half. I think today he showed us glimpses of that potential. it is very exciting...

Thought this bloke was really important for us today. kicked 3 goals and should have atleast had four but was robbed. He kept us in the game and he showed real leadership. I also think he hasn't been that bad at all this year. it was always going to take time for the new recruits to fit in to our structures so I hope its all forward from here for him.

They were calling for "Neeldy" but obviously wanted the boys to have the glory. Dont mind that.

In my opinion it's because he works hard off the ball which a lot of players on our team don't do. Late in the 2nd term the ball was deep in GWS'S forward line and Jetta was running the ball out of defence. Sylvia was calling for it short just outside the defensive 50 but instead Jetta went long to the wing (can't remember who) and they took a mark out there. Sylvia then proceeded to give Jetta a mighty spray while Jetta just pointed to where he kicked it and sprinted past Syvia who was still giving Neville lip, Jetta kept gut running forward into the 50 to provide a traget and was passed the ball but with a horrible kick that went over his head. Jetta then kept running and provided a sheppard (could have been a better one) for Byrnes who then dribbled a much needed goal from the boundary. All the while the higher paid and more highly regarded Sylvia was still standing in the middle of the ground. If more of our players worked as hard as Jetta does we'd be a much better team.

Anyone that defends him after these 3 games has no idea about football. The type of people that just count possies and go "bravo". Or they've invested in too many Wattsy badges and named their cat after him. If he was pick 30 odd he'd be out the door with Jamie Bennell and any other soft pea heart that lasts 5 minutes. It's embarrassing watching him, it's even more cringeworthy watching people defend him. I truly want culture change. I truly don't understand how the players and coaching staff aren't beating Watts with telephone books. How do they look him in the eye?

To be brutally honest with you Sue my business likes to be associated with winning and success, so I'll not be sponsoring out current club. But I love that at the first sign of someone putting their hand up you've sniped at them. Go ahead. I'm not going to accuse you of taking a cheap shot from the 'cheap seats'. I'm smart enough not to do that.

..huh? He was one of the best today, in fact I had him as BOG.

Kudos to Jetta and Terlich. Their multiple efforts didn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Biggest score in the final term from the MFC ever (12.2) Hold your head high tonight boys - great fight

Mitch was in Phil Davis's ear and giving him a bit of a push it was right near me and the only thing I can think of was that they thought Mitch was pushing Davis out of the play. They were near the point post and both were not near the play. Dumb,stupid and severely retarded are words to describe that decision.

Our half against West Coast and our quarter against GWS, suggests we are better than Mark Neeld makes us out to be. He makes our we are a young, inconsistant team who will take year to rebuild. I agree we are inconsisant - but that isn't because of our youth and we don't need a massive rebuild. Neeld just says this to take the heat of his inability to get the best out of our players. We were insipid for 3 quarters today and the side that played the last quarter, isn't a side that suggests we need a rebuild. We need a new coach that can get the best out of the lads for 4 quarters, we don't need a rebuild. Instead, the club could use a coach who develops the talent that it has.

Anyone see the tackle count today. Check it out before bagging trengove.

Too many supporters of this club accept and applaud mediocrity.

Nathan Jones is elite. Great player.

For most of today Frawley was atrocious and he is, at the moment, a shadow of what he once was. Not sure if it's confidence but on his first three quarters today he should be playing at casey next week with Jack. I've never sen Jack as soft as he was today, he shirked many contests both in the air and on the ground and was embarrassing. You could see it all, the slip rather that the tackle, the turn and bump instead of attacking the ball, the half hearted attempt to fly for a mark from behind.

Watts had some shocking moments today, where his lack of intensity was appalling. At same time, in the 2nd, in front of the members, he copped it big time in one passage of play. He corralled his opponent, hanging off him. If he attacked the player, GWS were away as by committing, the GWS player could have handball end over him they were away. By hanging off his player, he prevented this handball, worked his opponent 10 m backwards and forced him to do a kick over his shoulder. That kick was marked by a Melbourne player and set up an attack. It was perfectly played by Watts, all the while the masses were giving it to him!

GO DEMONS ENJOY THE WIN BOYS

That we could find the resolve and determination to fight back from 19 down at three quarter time to win the game (let alone by 41, ignore that for now) is the most pleasing part of today. How many times under Neeld would we have rolled over and dropped our heads? Yes, it was only GWS, which brought the possibility of a comeback into consideration, but it's not fair on the players to simply put it down to GWS and say we're still no good. It takes an effort, no matter who you're against, to fight back from three goals down at the last change, and the heart that was shown today was really fantastic. Other positives include finding a way to goal without Clark, not falling apart when down to two rotations, Evans, Byrnes, Gawn (he's going to be a star if he stays fit), and just the confidence boost that the players surely will get.

Embarrassing. Sad. He shirked it today. Cheap inconsequential possessions many uncontested off the half back line that did little to hurt the opposition. Needs to go back to the VFL and actually show that he wants to make it in the AFL. He is faking it badly at the moment.

A lot of Demonlanders sit on them.

The only time we've been competitive this year (moments of the first half last week, last quarter this week) we've played a brand of footy that is eerily reminiscent of the kind of football that was called 'one way' under the eye of Dean Bailey. All it does to me is prove that the gameplan has to be part structure, part cattle. Neelds game plan has been fat too structured to date and as a result we've looked to be going backwards.

If Clark is out next week, Watts needs to sit inside 50. He was an emergency last week for Clark. And now that Clark had injured his foot, JW should take that spot.

Cracks papered over. Good effort at the end. Still enormous question marks that linger. A win is a win.

COACH and FOOTBALL DEPT When Neeld and his football dept first came to the club it became apparent that the fitness and the culture of the list was so far below the clubs that they had come from...We could do one of two things....1/ Train like Essendon and have half your list out with soft tissue injuries 2/ Build you fitness gradually for a result which was long term Change the culture by bringing to the club older players who had come from premier clubs to teach training methods and attitudes to the younger players....It did not matter that they were not elite players but that they had the right attitude to training and preparation...Unfortunatly these two methods do not change overnight and take time to implement..... I believe that the football side of things will change if we stay the course BOARD This board has had the years from hell to deal with.....Some of it was their fault some out of their hands....But they have all stood up and none of them have thrown their hand in the air and said "Give up...I'm out of here"...They preform an unpaid work and have the interest of the club and supporters at heart....They are all professional and hard working people who have a lot of business acumen.... I believe this club will prosper if we all stay the course..... SUPPORTERS I realise that all of us want instant success ....We bag the coach , the players, and the boot studders....and hate being the laughing stock of the competition but it is now that we have to stay the course If we sack the coach, the board, some players, and the doorman now, what will change.....We will put ourselves further behind and continue to be the laughing stock...Thompson, Malthouse, Hardwick, the Scott bros all came to their clubs with plans and it took a fair while before their teams became first competitive, then successful If we don't stay the course, this club will implode and we can all go to the snow or where ever.... As a fifty year member I implore all supporters to stay the Course.

We're starting this already?

The statement from the club that there are no concerns about supplements was entirely predicated on the management of the program by Bates - who is now stood down. Before that McLardy was saying no changes to personnel contemplated, next day Schwab is sacked. I can't believe anything coming from the club.