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when ever I log onto this site I expect to see Mark Neelds photo to start fading like that photo of Marty McFly in Back to the Future

Yeah Clarke may leave just like Maloney, or Petard, or even Steph Martin. At least we still have Trengrove and Peterson, along with great staff like Mission.

What an absolute joke. The dogs of war came out and howled for blood. They crowded around, waiting for any morsel. And they were proven to be complete fools. The sports media in this country are appalling. If there is no story, they create it. They build up innuendo and here say to a level of frenzy. That simply make stuff up. Shame, all of you, shame. I'm glad you were left today with egg on your face (or is it Caros nuts on your chin?). Who are you going to turn on next? Hint for next time: you report the stories, you don't make them up, and you are not the story. See you Next Tuesday, all of you.

ABC Radio Hobart just announced that the Beatles are reforming.

Come on, a dozen journalists sitting outside the MFC boardroom for 5 hours only to go home empty handed counts as something doesn't it? I got cheap amusement from it anyway.

Nothing.

He drove through the boomgates - he meant to go around but he missed the target by 10 metres. He went through the back door favoring his boundary line approach even though the quickest way home was straight through the front door. Jack Watts was hovering around the boomgate deciding whether or not to open it or just hover about hoping the boomgate would come to him. Neeld was 96 minutes late to the meeting but was overall pleased with his effort even though he did go through the boom gate instead of around it. When quizzed about the the boomgate he quipped "with a bit more experience Ill be able to go around it and with a bit more bulk on the gate I wont be able to go through it so easily but at the moment it is what it is"

Neeld and Jackson start taking during the meeting Jackson " Thanks for coming today Mark. Hasn't been the best on performances so far this year. What could you put it down to?" Neeld "it is what it is" Jackson "Is that all it is?" Neeld "that's all there is" Jackson : "So what is "it" exactly?" Neeld: "We know from out internal KPI's what "it" is but in the context of the performaces this year we aren't tracking at elite "it" levels." Jackson: "What the hell is an elite "it"?" Neeld:" It's part of our high performace with high integrity plan. As part of the rebuild of a rebuild we have had to strip back and re-assess every aspect of out KPI's which include factors which "it" is part of" Jackson" You've lost me" Neeld "And that part of the issue is that what we have been producing on the training track hasn't been re-produced on the weekend." Jackson "i give up" Neeld "Ok, thanks for having me. Is that it?"

Mzungu, Spurr, Ballantyne, Barlow, Hannath were mature aged recruits who weren't originally deemed good enough. Dawson, Clancy Pearce, De Boer, Sutcliff, Crozier are presently no world beaters. There's eleven players there. Half Freo's team. Barlow, Fyfe, Pavlich, Duffield, Mayne, Mzungu, Johnson, Griffin, Ibbotson, Hill, Crowley, McPharlin, Zac Clarke, Pearce, De Boer all played in the team that lost to Melbourne by 89 points two years ago. It's amazing what a good coach with great structures and game-plan can do when the players believe and work for their coach. Conversely, the opposite can be true - and dire.

After watching today game and last week for Dawes, i think he is great to have in the team for Watts to learn off. Dawes was great today, has mongrel and high standards which is one of the reasons he was recruited. But now Watts has older more experienced key forward to learn from. Something the club has not had since he [watts] was recruited, a big gap in his development. Now to recruit a mid to do the same for our midfield.

ABC also saying Neeld confident of avoiding the axe . At least they have both sides of the story covered.

3. He was totally stuffed from returning to the coaches box. Unfit.

PJ officially staying on ' Great news

This grotesque anticipation of someone's demise is so nauseating.

LOl i like the idea of the media having been camped out here since 8am (which they have been) and nothing happens [censored] the media

After sitting on the fence for the past 18 months, I think I have finally decided to take the plunge and join a "side", however, my support is conditional. I want Neeld to coach out his contract, and for an announcement to be made at the conclusion of today's board meeting, on the condition that they also announce (in the not too distant future) that Frawley, Sylvia and Watts have re-signed (Frawls getting an extension). It will pi$$ the media off, but it will also show a sign of unity between coach and players. An announcement like that will satisfy a majority of supporters (except Hogans Heroes), and could be that bit of "hope" that we all need. I would be concerned what would happen to the playing group if Neeld were to be sacked. Dawes is adamant that the work ethic is a player thing and shouldn't be blamed on the coach. How would he (and the other players that feel the same) be if Neeld was sacked due to some players not putting in?

If Neeld is sacked today which I consider unlikely, it is another massive blow to the current board. In 2007 we commenced to re-build our list and failed massively, but we were all happy for Dean Bailey in 2009, it was as bad as this season, but we forgave Bailey because a priority pick was up for grabs. This current coaching team is 18months into a rebuild, they have had 2 drafts and trading periods, I will stand by my position that if this was our second year of a rebuild we and not out 6th we would be willing to give Neeld more time, I hope he gets to coach the balance of th year and we make a fair and reasonable assessment when we have 3 of our top 5 players back plus Viney and McDonald, you take out the bottom 5 players from yesterday and replace them with Clark, Sylvia, Grimes, Viney and McDonald and then make an assessment.

Lol. Any 'lander who lists current listed players as their favorites as well?

Macdonald may not have touched it much, but he certainly did a good job keeping Mitchell quiet.

A whole lot of media got to the club pre dawn and wasted their whole day. PJ has re signed until end of 2014, chip is out of 4 weeks, Neeld will coach against the filth. That's about it.

I'm just going to reword this a little so it's a bit more accurate: 4pm: Still waiting to hear the outcome of the board meeting, if any. Earlier today Damian "i think I know something about football, but I'm really a tool" Barrett told AFL.com.au's 'Access All Areas' that Melbourne's board had already decided Neeld would not coach next season, and his exit was now just a matter of timing. Watch the video here. Barrett also said Demons president Don McLardy may soon be replaced, and that interim CEO Peter Jackson was facing pressure to take the job on a permanent basis. Barrett also stated that he felt that Melbourne took a scattergun approach to it's recruiting during the offseason, but acknowledged that he does not have the intelligence to understand anything more complex than 1 + 1 = Window.

when Josh Kleine speaks people tend to listen

The media in general are a joke these days but when you have guys like Matt Thompson, Jon Ralph, Damian Barrett, Craig Hutchison etc as senior footy journos and Mark Robinson as a chief football writer you know they're really plumbing the depths. It's for this reason I'd love Melbourne to come out and announce nothing today just give these morons nothing to write about in their papers tomorrow. Would make them apoplectic to think we didn't follow their witch hunt to sack our coach. Find another bone to chew on you numpties.

According to Google he is a Yellow Pages salesman in the Albury area - of course he'd know.

No use in laughing. If I [censored) it up at work, to such an extent, I get the sack. No laughing matter that.

Why is it that you associate the sacking of Neeld with bowing to media and supporter pressure. Can you not see a rational argument for sacking Neeld based on his performance? He has presided over possibly the worst first half of a season I've ever seen, which has followed on from a year in which he won four games (three against GC and GWS) and produced largely uncompetitive displays. He has the players confused and lacking belief in their style of footy, has completely failed to implement a working game plan, has taken the team completely backwards, has handled situations poorly, has repeatedly changed his tune on where the club is at and has given inconsistent and self-serving messages to the supporters. It's no wonder the players are confused and lack belief - I am confused listening to what he says in his press conferences! To say a decision to sack Neeld would be bowing to media pressure is just completely failing to acnkowledge the strong performance based grounds supporting his removal. One 25 goal loss, three 15 goal losses, one 13 goal loss and two 10 goal losses. All in half a season of footy.

Neeld to be sacked for tanking list-management practices. McClardy to resign as prez and become interim coach

This thread is a great indication of just how bad we've been for so long and that some are so conditioned to getting absolutely thumped that even the slightest hints and glimpses of competitive football are discussed glowingly. Let me put these facts out there: - At half time, the score was 12 goals to 1. Last week it was 13 goals to 2. - In three quarters of footy in perfect conditions we kicked 2 goals. The opposition kicked 19. - In the two first halves the last two weeks, when the heat is on, we've kicked 3 goals to the opposition's 25. - If we take out the third quarters of the last two games, when Freo and Hawthorn switched off, we've been outscored 36 goals to 5. That's right...36 goals to 5. This says it all really. I know we've played two top sides but that is downright shameful and embarrassing at the highest level. Yes, I saw some positives yesterday, but they were purely from an individual perspective. Frawley, Jones and Dawes were great, Garland kept us his solid form, Kent showed some good signs, etc. But from a team perspective it was just another woeful performance, one we now expect week in week out. To come away even remotely pleased with what we dished up yesterday is just a sad, sad tale of how far we've regressed since the end of 2011.

On a par with our playing results, the meeting has been rescheduled to the Haunted House at Luna Park.

A few weeks ago on radio 3AW: Mike Sheahan: "what young players have improved since you've been coach ?" Mark Neeld: (stuttering and stammering) "Jeremy Howe and Sam Blease." There's probably no greater indictment on Neeld's tenure than the fact that virtually no players have improved. And Blease is wallowing at Casey in his 5th year. Young players need a quality senior group around them so one can't lay all of the blame at Neeld's feet. Those charged with running footy at this club have made some horrible decisions over the last few years.

There has to be a definitive statement on Neeld's future at today's board meeting, either he's sacked or he's guaranteed until at least the end of the year when a review will be conducted. Anything else would be madness - although it is the MFC - Madness Football Club... As buck points out, I think people should consider the possibility that he's retained.

Watts is a forward. What does this mean for the MFC? It means we have Hogan to play FF, Dawes to play CHF, Clark to play FF/ruck, and Howe and Watts as our higher leading forwards pushing up onto a wing when needed. It means that if we can find a crumbing forward (or two), we have a full forward line.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever been more encouraged by a 95 point loss. We matched them for periods, but they kept it up constantly and whenever we slipped off them they scored in bursts. Had our usual problems getting good forward 50 entries which translates as a low score, but you would expect a loss of that magnitude to be far worse than it actually was in terms of the play. Of note: Dawes really stepped up. He worked hard and gave us that vital link between HF and wing. 21 disposals and 12 marks is a huge effort. Nathan Jones continues to be the man carrying our midfield. 28 Disposals, 16 contested and 11 clearances. So good they used Sam Mitchell to tag him in the last quarter. Col Garland and James Frawley can both take a bow. They were awesome on the best forward tag-team in the competition. Not only did they hold the twin towers, but they got involved the other way as well. Dean Kent showed a bit today. He is going to do very well for us in the next decade. Love his confidence to step around some of the stars of the game and take them on. This is his third game people. I wish Fitzy hadn't looked so nervous. Had a chance to take a few telling marks and fumbled them. Could have had a few goals if his hands had been better, but he did enough to keep for another week. David Rodan had his best game in our colours and probably his best in a few years. Burnt his teammates a couple of times, but he was heavily involved and had an impact.

First time long time. Have felt compelled to write my thoughts as I am stunned the amount of vitriol directed at neeld whilst the board seem to be getting off very lightly. This board was given a free kick to begin with and started with no debt courtesy of stynes. Now losing millions a year. Crowds, membership and hope are well down. They have overseen a football department structure which has been openly canned by new CEO. Copped $500k fine for tanking. Lied to afl about dank. Gave former CEO 3 yr contract extension before sacking him 6 months later. Got us to the point where it is widely recognized that we need afl intervention so as not to implode. I could go on. Meanwhile, neeld walked into a fractured playing group who hadn't been within a bulls roar of finals in 5 years because they didn't work hard enough. It is no secret we had a toxic culture and he went about trying to change it. He has been canned for alienating the leaders when he came in. These leaders had got us nowhere in the past 5 years and were the epitome of the lack of work ethic which got us to where we are in the first place. It is not like he walked into Geelong and proceeded to get all the leaders off side. Last year our so called senior footballers in green, davey, sylvia and moloney responded to being made accountable by dropping their bundle and spending time at Casey. I would think this is more of a reflection on the character of these players than it is of neeld. Moloney spends the off season urinating in nightclubs and then sooks for a year when he isn't made captain. Again, reflects more on moloney than it does neeld. Because of this neeld has copped flak for getting some noses out of joint after being given carte blanche to fix the culture at the club. Note that blokes like jones, Howe, grimes, dawes, clarke etc. who are actually prepared to work hard don't seem to have a problem with the neeld's regime. I think the development problems we have had can be attributed to the work ethic of the bulk of our players who are 26 and over. Few if any would get games at a decent club. In the absence of a decent senior group neeld was forced to throw two blokes into the captaincy who ideally wouldn't be captain yet. Again, says more about the quality of senior players we had at the club prior to neeld's arrival than it does about neeld. The other thing neeld gets canned for is his 'moneyball' recruiting policy. This is absolute garbage, i think his recruiting has been excellent. Let's look at last year: In Hogan - pick 3, gun Toumpas - pick 4, hasn't started well but has obvious talent Viney - pick 26, gun Dawes - pick 20, good acquisition Barry - steak knives with hogan deal, going ok at Casey Rodan - effectively traded for Morton (pick 88). Was excellent on the weekend and from all reports is a good influence on the group Byrnes - free agent, has played a couple of good games Kent - pick 48, forced his way into side, wait and see M jones - pick 52, great pickup Terlich - pick 68, great pickup Gilles - awful Pedersen - traded for gysberts who has spent 2 years in vfl How can the above be deemed to be bad recruiting? Neeld shouldn't have to deal with players not putting in. These problems go back further than neeld and are problems which grew under the board. I think neeld has gone about trying to fix things up the right way and I hope he stays to see out his rebuild with a competent board in place providing some stability instead of the current circus

I'm struggling to handle this and Game of Thrones tonight...

The ironic thing will be that if Neeld is sacked, the "experts" as well as the media flogs will come out saying it was the wrong decision and that the club is a rabble.

it was the yeast he could do.

Any DL member who lists Jurrah, Martin and Gysberts as their favourite players must have their sources questioned...

Gosh this made me laugh. An ordinary weekend, a stressful day for Dees supporters and you come out with this... cheers! PS. Maybe your sources read it in the paper too? Pfft....

you mean like Sheedy...hows he going ? how did Pagan go at Carlton. How did unproven coaches Scott got at Geelong and Longmire at the Swans ? I am not saying for a minute that Neeld should stay and nor am I advocating an untested coach as a replacement. What I am preaching against is a "magic wand". We have a lot of very average footballers running around and no amount of messiah's are going to turn that around in a hurry and to quote - "anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron"

Which means it has just started. WAt least there is plenty of off field intrigue to engage dees fans. Like fawlty towers mixed with West Wing

Injuries happen.

Dawes was a great pick up for this club. Stunning to think anyone would think otherwise. Players have different values to different clubs - he may have been surplus to needs at the Pies, but he's definitely an extremely important player for us. I also reckon the Pies may come to regret letting him go too.

I know this is hardly new, but it is just wrong not to have Jones in the Demonland banner. He is the absolute heart and soul of this club right now. Should anyone in the banner need to be removed, he has to be next in line surely.

And a lot of posters remind me of George W Bush - blunder in with no thought of the possibility of negative consequences, declare mission accomplished and leave a bloody mess.

Yeah, I'd be playing Watts in the forward fifty for the rest of the year, even with the return of Clark. He's shown a glimmer of attack on the ball over the last two weeks. We've said it before. If he can impact contests physically, he'll become a very dominant player with increased possession. That said, going forward I see him as a player that rotates between deep forward, half forward, high half forward and the wing. It's a good thread this though. I agree. Dawes is more of a physical player than Clark. It's great seeing a Melbourne key forward banging and crashing opponents. There was a moment there today that reminded me of Neitz's hip and shoulder on Luke McCabe over a decade ago. He has a presence. I think he will be helped by Hogan's bash and crash too just quietly. Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Watts and Howe. Get two B grade crumbers and we're looking incredibly dangerous down there. If Blease can lift his work rate and fitness, he might become one of those crumbers too.

Chris Dawes was magnificent today. I dont recall him ever playing with that aggression when he was with collingwood An inspired pickup, if he can continue that form. Well done today Chris, fantastic LEADERS effort

You speak very well pm24. You may even change my opinion tonight. Having just watched the press conference with Neeld & Dawes it was his most impressive effort this year to the media. Neeld is a fighter. I believe Chris Dawes should be made Captain this week. He is a leader. It's all over him. Grimes & Trengove need to learn. They are too young. Tomorrow i hope is a long meeting. Going deep into the night. If Neeld survives tomorrow i will back the result, but he must make the players more accountable on match day. It IS up to them. Chris Dawes is a gem. He could become an MFC Legend.

I love the inconsistencies of some of the anti-Neeld comments here: First the sign that he had lost the players was the lack of effort. Now in the last two weeks they have had over 70 tackles, and today in particular, showed a great deal of effort, but despite acknowledging that effort, Neeld still should go?? I love the statements that say there is no gameplan, but no explanation as to why they say this, or the failure to consider that we have a very inexperienced team out on the field each week who are still learning to play AFL level footy. I will actually be [censored] off with the club if the choose to sack Neeld not just tomorrow, but even at the end of the season. I like the direction that club is taking with the rebuild. I've read and heard numerous media commentators argue that our list lacked players in that 22-26 age bracket with 100 games experience, and that was before Neeld. They were saying that under Bailey. Guess what, it's still a problem and its part of what has lead to the rebuild. We don't have the luxury of a group of 100 game mid fielders to trot out there on a weekly basis. The only way for this club to improve is to develop the young players, and it takes time. Another reason I will be annoyed if they sack Neeld, is because I believe it would be a very WEAK act by the club to do so. It shows that the club will succumb to the pressure from the media and football public, and does not have the guts to stick with its plans. It shows that the club is reactive, not proactive. It would also have a negative effect on the players. You can't just keep swapping coaches over hoping one might satisfy every player. After what's been said about Moloney, I'm glad I don't have to see him in the red and blue any more. The guy might have had skill to play football, but if he's going to be so selfish that he cracks a tantrum when he doesn't get his way, and acts detrimental to the team, the as far as I'm concerned he should have been removed. This isn't the first time he's done it either apparently. I've had a colleague speak directly with Paul Couch (due to Tom being on the Rookie list) and Paul Couch said he did the same thing when he was at Geelong. If he didn't get what he wanted, he lowered his head and pouted around. To me the list moves that have been made have been good for the club. The experience and character of guys like Rodan and Byrnes provides something we did not previously have, that is guys with finals/premiership experience. I also have one key question to the Anti-Neeld people. IF Neeld was/is such a bad coach, why would a player who has already played in a team he has coached, then leave that team to come to Melbourne? Think about that for a moment. If you were in a work place and one of the managers absolutely sucked, would you then choose to go and work under that Manager at a new company? Dawes chose to come to Melbourne after already having a good experience with Neeld in Collingwood. I'm going to trust the opinion of a guy who has played in a premiership winning side, over a guy like Moloney when determining if Neeld can coach. It is also notable to me, that many of the new additions have nothing but praise for Neeld. Clarke has always been positive about things. Byrnes and Rodan as well. So if the new guys we've brought in, who are experienced players, are saying positive things about Neeld, it leads me to question the opinion of ex-players like Moloney, who didn't see eye to ey with Neeld. I then hear guys like Cale Morton comment on our poor training standards pre-Neeld when compared to West Coast, who also said that he thinks we'll get there, and can't help but think we are on the right path. This is the type of rebuild we needed to a long time ago. The culture and lack of leadership has put us into this position and it takes time to dig out of it. Give me a few more years of pain anyday if it's going to mean a stronger culture, and a stronger club for the next 20 years!

I have one positive. We lost by 95. That is a 1 point improvement since the 1988 grand final. And we were good then....