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Perfect for your office wall, or stick it on that annoying co-workers face to really drive the message home.

I feel for Jack Fitzpatrick. They guy has been in our best three weeks running at Casey and still not even a spot as an emergency in a side that's crying out for another tall forward.

There was no point elevating him until they were going to actually select him. He could have played last week, I agree. I suspect he has been elevated now in response to Sylvia's suspension in the recognition that we need another bigger body after being brushed aside by the intimidating Suns last week.

It's taught me one thing. When we get off the ground - and we will because it's only a matter of time - I will not be humble. I will let the world know how good we are and do what Ted Whitten implored of his players once - "stick it right up em".

Why this week? Why not last week as soon as Grimes went down? He must've had a great week on the track, I guess he'll be in v Richmond.

I don't know who the lawyers you spoke to are but I do know that in the aftermath of the AFL's inquisition, both the MFC and the AFL's senior counsel were reported to have said that if the case went to court, Melbourne could not lose. Nevertheless, the risk was enormous, the financial outlay could well have topped the $1m mark, the thing would have been a substantial distraction (and it's already been seen that despite the club's attempts to quarantine the players from the controversy, it does seem to have had an effect on the playing group) and the AFL could have hurt us going the other way if we won the case. End result, as a wise man once said, "you've got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and when to run". Many people don't understand this philosophy unless their own money is on the line, perhaps four or five days into an expensive court case, when they realise that despite having been told by their barrister that they have a strong case, things have gone wrong and the evidence hasn't come out the way they wanted it. At that stage, they're staring at a black hole and can't get out. Meanwhile, their lawyer is sending his children or grandchildren to a more expensive private school. Bottom line: the club made a deal and it was the right thing to do.

I have to admit I find it amusing that you can determine the gravity of the weekend's loss by whether Robbo or Burgan conduct the interview on "The Coach's Office". If Burgs is there, we've just been embarrassed. If Robbo is there, it was just your standard belting. Warning that Neeld supporters (the ones left) won't like what I'm about to say, but I can't dance around the fact that I do not like Neeld's attitude one bit, and t is not difficult to see how he could be a divisive figure. In the interview he makes particular effort to mention the players that have joined the club this year as being ones that are standing up - Matt Jones, Terlich, Viney, Dawes (I'm not sure what he did on the weekend that warranted special mention)..and that they "need a bit of help". To me, he still is carrying this mindset of the disparity between the before and after his arrival at the club, and is now trying to paint a picture that it is only the players he has introduced that are contributing. Rarely do the improved efforts of Frawley, Sylvia, Garland etc get a mention, or certainly not to the same degree as Dean Terlich. Not only does it reek of a desperate man trying to save his own hide, but it is this mindset that has been his ultimate undoing and has sent the club into a dramatic tailspin. From the moment he arrived there appears to have been an almost stubborn refusal to acknowledge anything to build upon in the club environment, and this trend continues. As an aside, his body language is that of a shattered man. Him staying here is doing neither him nor the club any favours. I hope Jackson sees this sooner rather than later.

Cannot trade Frawley.

Get him in the red and blue. The Prestia family is diehard Demons since the 60s. No excuses.

It cost us pick 1, but welcome aboard! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-16/daisy-plucked-first

I'm gobsmacked that some supporters can't see that we need to go after midfielders.

FINALLY, I can tick something off my list What I want this round: Magner to be elevated to list Watts to play forward Tackles Tackles Hot chicks Melbourne to win Tackles Get some contested marks Howe AFL mark of the year nomination Tackles

You know what? Melbourne bring it on themselves. Pathetic effort week in week out. We deserve it. Someone tell me why we don't?? The players have a lot to answer for here. Their efforts are frankly pizweak. Are they trying to kill the club. How can we not tackle?? How can we not chase?? How can we not hit a target from 20m? How can we not kick in from a point? How do we let a team get 12 clearances in a row?? The players are killing the club. Its time we turned the heat on them. If its true they revolted after 186 its a disgrace. If it is still happening it is even worse. I am not a MN fan but he is not telling the players to play like this He is telling them to pay with abandon - "don't worry about mistakes" "Take the game on" etc etc Are they doing it? No. Why are they not under fire? My loyalty is to the club, its tradition and its colours. Players come and go - very quickly in some circumstances. If this current crop of players destroys that - which they are doing - then it will increase my anger even more. Pull your fingers out of your clacker and try . Try harder. Run, Tackle chase. You dont need elite skills - just commitment.

Wonderful, a new thread on a topic we haven't discussed

I'd love prestia at the Dees, but I want the club to make sure they don't get bent over getting him.

Hats off to all contributors to this thread. There's an absence of the '[censored] for tat' stuff - just genuine debate from different perspectives. Good to read. Personally, I don't know what to think anymore. But a 10 goal loss to the Suns at the G did it for me - absolutely unacceptable IMO. I'm pleased/relieved with the appointment of Peter Jackson. However it's clear to me that the football department needs to be reviewed, and quite urgently. The only untouchables for me in that department are Todd Viney and Dave Misson. I didn't expect a top 8 finish this year, but I definitely thought we were going to be quite competitive throughout the year - after all, that's why we recruited some mature players, 'moneyball style', wasn't it? So I literally hated hearing that we were 'out muscled' against the Suns, particularly in the context that Rivers was not retained and is now in Geelong's best 21, and Brent Moloney was let go and is now running through brick walls at the Lions - both players with the MFC in their DNA. I expect Neeld knows how to coach, but he does not know how to motivate players who don't conform to a certain personality type. And not all about coaching is science based - it's people based too. In this context, Scoop Junior's just got to be right on this - the coach is also responsible for the 'effort' displayed on the field each week. Perhaps worth reading this article - it's about Moyes giving a lecture to uni students at Cambridge University about coaching, taking on the Man U role etc - in it, he comments on dealing with players: "They teach you a lot at these universities," he said. "But they do not teach you how to walk into a dressing room and deal with Paul Gascoigne, Duncan Ferguson and David Ginola." http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/moyes-passes-first-test-with-honours-20130515-2jm3m.html#ixzz2TP0dgY9k

Ridiculous thread.

Riiiiiiiiight.... So we should sign Buddy as a midfielder?! FMD. Sorry, but you earned this.....

nah mate, got Dawes, Clark and Hogan. We got enough. Just gotta get players who can get the ball down to them, and get the ball down to them with decent kicks. Buddy isn't the answer to our woes, believe me.

Possibly, but at least he's a player that'll get in and have a go - more than what most of our regular players show each week.

Very deserving of the Upgrade! all demons fans can ask for is that blokes earn the guernsey through hard work and this bloke has done it, now he just needs to make the most of the opportunity.

Spare us WYL with the tanking, every post you raise it up. It would have cost more, still wouldn't have been settled by now, and we would have lost - no good precedent for sporting clubs and codes in the courts. If we had a water tight case we would have gone to court, but we didn't so move on. The club was found not guilty, and most importantly our draft picks were secured. Also people can debate about the good and bad decisions he has made (that's fair), but to suggest he has sat on his arse, "enjoyed the free food" and hasn't tried to improve the club is plain offensive.

He has said he will stay longer if needed. I think he will stay a year at a minimum.

we really need to make sure we get this kid. he is still just 20, and is averaging 22 possies, 5 marks and 4 tackles It will be so hard to atrract players with Neeld still the coach, thats why he must be replaced ASAP

First part of my plan coming together as planned Now for Dylan Shiels

The current list is under performing to an alarming degree. A lot of them can play a damn side better than what they are and we are quite capable of winning games in the remainder of the season. But a few things have to happen ... The players need to lift their game by about 200% The coach needs to start coaching well - if he can't do that, he goes. The club needs to stop all the spin right now and set up some achievable goals - like winning games. At the start of the 2012 season, 70% of 'landers were expecting (on average) 5 and a half wins in the 1st half of the season (in a poll) And 80% of 'landers were expecting a finishing position on the ladder of between 13th and 6th for the 2012 season (in another poll) That equated to 12 and a half wins (on average) Not many were predicting this level of misery. Certainly not the large majority. Either the very large majority of us were completely wrong or something has gone completely wrong to prove otherwise. I'd favour the latter reason.

It's great to see MFC on the front foot in this area..... Hopefully one day all teams can field a team in a national women's footy league..... As ive mentioned before..... I like to see a women's match take place as the opener for all AFL matches..... This is the first step..... And I for one am glad MFC are involved..... Good work dees!

In the rooms, kicking his locker after last weeks game.

LOL this all over again. Throw in Seller, Nicholson and Dunn to get the deal across the line. If they're lucky we ll include Joel Mc

Do you understand the repercussions of not winning another game this season? You really need a reality check. We are at crisis point and one of the ways out of this mess is to win games. Stop towing the company line and get into the real world - if you're capable of that. Here's a few things for you to contemplate. If we don't win another game this season and continue to cop thrashings ... Crowds will continue to drop off. Membership will be negatively affected. Sponsors will drop off and our ability to attract them will diminish. Our financial 'bottom line' has to be affected negatively. Players will want out (whether they're contracted or not) Our ability to attract talent will dissipate. Prime time games on TV - forget about it. Confidence within the club will get worse. Confidence within the supporter base will diminish. It will take longer to recover and heal. All our streams of income could be adversely effected. Be careful what you wish for. Do you really want all the above to happen? Because it can and it will. Some areas already are happening. We nearly reached 37,000 members in 2011. Now we're limping our way to 33,000.

Go home DeeVoted, you're drunk

McCartney took a side that was exhausted in key talent following years of an unsuccessful finals tilt (think MFC circa 2007). Neeld took a side that won 8.5 games in 2011 and said he was going to make them the hardest team to play and has delivered absolute rubbish since with 5 wins (4 against development clubs) in 29 games. He has taken a lowly team and turned them into an embarrassing bottom quartile basket case. He is now stating this year that MFC is in the process of a rebuild of a rebuild. There is no reason why a rebuild needs to be an absolute bottom crawling process. See Hinkley at Port Adelaide. Too many people have been suckered into the castor oil assessment of our predicament. It's tastes bad at the moment but think of all the LT good its doing you? Yeah right!

The penny has finally dropped on how bad McKenzie and Bail are Playing / Are every week

I didn't mind reading the comparison actually. Mark Neeld should read it. Forget the text books and just get plain angry. Even try saying the word "win" occasionally. Might just work.

As a Fitzroy supporter at the time, Shaw is talking rubbish.

The list is poor. It is however not THIS poor. There is talent spread throughout, but alot of it is at a critical development stage. Even Jack Viney is not immune to going backwards in this regard, if we don't get the right people in place.

Great read. Caro should ask him how to write something decent.

It's at least 3 years old and is referenced back to a CEO who is no longer around and a FD set up and personnel that is significantly different. You would be better off focusing on Jacksons assessments.

Must keep Frawley and Watts. Must have a new coach to get them back on track

I see you've jumped on "acceptable" and dodged "expected". I'll give you one fact - the most salient fact - that these results should not be expected or accepted. The coach himself didn't expect them. "Didn't see that coming" - then what's been his response since then - not to actually remedy the situation and have the team play to expectations - it's been to lower expectations - "we're less experienced than GC". Take a look at Port Adelaide - they lost important players Pearce, Chaplin and McCarthy over summer, but they replaced their failing coach and president and they're showing signifcant improvement. Their leadership group is Boak, Ebert, Schulz, Gray, Hartlett and Trengove. Yes it's not ALL Neeld's fault - we've got a poor midfield, major management problems and some unavoidable misfortune. But he hasn't delivered on his OWN expectations.

I don't think GC would see Prestia and Jamar on par in value.

Out of contract, PSD pick for sure!

If we were to trade Frawley, we'd set our backline back 5 years. You can't trade a gun with no foreseeable replacements. We should do as much as we can to lure Prestia though, barring stupid things like the above.

I'm happy for people to vent, and it's clear Schwab needed to go, but watching him being turned into this mythical evil monster who tried to destroy us is just plain ridiculous. Oh wait, here he comes now! Look ouuuuuuuuuuut!!! Schwabzilla!!

the core business of a football club has to be playing football. Every organisation needs to have its administration, but in the long run a successful organisation will have its administration serving the organisation's core business - not growing independently, as an end in itself, and with its profile and importance increasingly detached from the core business. Bureaucrats are leeches crippling the function of whatever they colonise for their own careers - our society is riddled through with it. But good administrators prioritise the needs of the core business. Post 186, as always, it was the players who would transact the club's core business. I condemn the Board for its post-186 failure to find ways to make things right for the players. I condemn the Board for allowing Neeld to get away with blaming the players after last weekend's game (yes, they played badly - but their playing well is what the coach is employed for; what else does he think he is being paid for - to "implement his plans"?!). I condemn the Board for allowing Neeld to come in post-186 and apply iron discipline and the axe to underperforming players - blaming the players from the outset. Bureaucratic responses! The players are our only resource in our core business. I condemn the Board for its failure to keep MacDonald, Green, Rivers, Moloney (who I didn't like), Martin, and even Wonamirri (?) and Jurrah, who all had needs we failed to meet (to our cost), and for not ensuring our players were properly developed to their potential. I condemn the Board for allowing Schwab to prevail against the coach and the players, while our on-field performances went from bad to worse. What I condemn today is the failure of the Board to recognise that everything will go down the pan if we can't put the players' performance up front and centre and get them firing, and bend every bit of administrative personnel and role to the sole end of facilitating the players' improved performance. The players are all we have. No-one else at the club plays football. So, I am pleased with the apparent remit Jackson has been given, but until it is producing effects on the field it has yet to show it is any more than just more self-serving bureaucratic furniture-arranging in an administration that lost the plot years ago. If Jackson's remit is not in terms of shifting whatever is needed explicitly for the purpose of getting players performing better, it is just more window-dressing, more self-absorption, more of the Board fiddling while the club burns.

Amazing post, the guy has screwed the club twice. I don't know if he was shonky or not, what I do know is that he wasn't very good at his job. Look at the state of the club if you want evidence, the clubs business is football and we are not a very good football side if you haven't noticed. In fact we are in total disarray.

The players have been drinking Neeld's Kool Aid that they're no good, unfit, too inexperienced, can't carry out instructions and have therefore been delivering on his message. One day they're gonna wake up from the nightmare and wonder how they got where they are.

I disagree with the idea that effort is not coach driven. Have a look at the way Fremantle attack and harass the opposition under Ross Lyon and compare that to how they were under Mark Harvey. Most of them are the same group of players. A great coach gets his team believing in him and in his game plan. Fremantle players have bought in to the Lyon style and game because they know it works. Melbourne on the other hand play like they don't believe in the coach's game style. They might say that they do in public but they don't play as though they believe. This naturally affects a player's effort levels. To try to masquerade our problems by highlighting effort as the only or main issue is just failing to recognise the bigger issues. We were not thrashed by Gold Coast in the first quarter purely because of a lack of effort. We were thrashed because our blokes had no idea what to do (either offensively or defensively) out on the ground, because they have no confidence or belief in the message and because of skill errors and poor decision making. I don't blame Neeld for the basis skill errors but I do blame him for the confusion of the players and their lack of confidence and belief. To say it's just effort and that effort is solely a player driven thing is completely wrong in my opinion and is just more spin. It's like the comment that 'we showed a lot of improvement in the last three weeks' (prior to the Gold Coast game). Being three goals down at ¾ time to GWS at the MCG and getting walloped in general play by Brisbane is not what I would term improvement.

I watched Garland's interview last night and whilst some of it was from the heart, i cant help but think that they have all been brain washed to an extent becasue they all roll out the same lines and even respond to questions in the same way as Neeld does. Garland said something about Neeld being great for his career personally and how much he had learned over the last few years, which is at odds with what Hells Gates told us priot to his hiatus. I'd love Aaron Davey to face the media. As the longest serving Demon on the list, i think his words would tell us more about the current vibe of the FD/playing group than the conga line of Neeld-bots we're getting currently