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Be careful what you wish for. A new Chief might not be as supportive to the MFC.

That's an ironic sentiment of misleading stats as you brought up the number of wins without mentioning that Neeld had 11 games for his one win and Craig 5. We are all very smitten with winning. It's quite important. But so is form, and many are just pointing out how it has changed for the better. There is no need to be snarky or imply that posters don't care about winning because there are improvements to be seen in a loss.

One thing he has over Neeld is some form of success as an AFL coach, or even just a previous AFL coaching career, to back up the stern words. When you're telling a room full of players about your hard arsed approach to footy and advising them that no-one's spot in the side is safe, it doesn't have much resonance when everyone in the room is thinking, "who is this guy again?"

For me, when the game has finished, I no longer get that 'I've just been kicked in the guts' feeling. It took several days to go away.

It is patronising. Not by design but because of where we are. As if we need a song to tell us we used to be good but now we're crap, so go out and try harder? Worse idea than any of the club history stuff that had been done over the past 5 years. At least that had a purpose.

we pedants surely

Whilst I agree that it has a bit to do with game plan, I think it's the fact that the players have responded better to Craig than Neeld.Read the majority of the articles including the one on Fitzpatrick yesterday for evidence. Game plan aside, Neeld was strangling their enthusiasm for the contest whereas Craig is giving them the confidence to attack it. That's the real stat that matters - as immeasurable as it is.

is that a reflection of how well craig is coaching, or how bad Neeld really was? hard to say

"Fitzpatrick has fought back from diversity from a young age." Damn that diversity and such...

Insulting? How on earth do you come up with that? I don't think it really needs a place to fit BB. Just another classic Mike Brady feel good song that was written for the MFC. Found it to be quite a proud little moment.

The big men are still going to be prone to injuries going on past history. i am one for maintaining depth and, should the problem arise that we have a surplus of big men, then on any one day, i am sure that Casey can help us out by giving them a game.

Have you heard Richmond's?

That last bit is very true. This season the Richmond young guns have really come on too which can be directed at least in part to Williams influence. This has been pretty well documented in the media. I for one would love to have Williams. If it's not Roos, for me it's Williams or Craig with Rocket behind these two.

Sadly for us pedants, words and phrases change meaning over time. It is a long time since 'beg the question' meant 'beggars the question'.

Without the administrators setting standards & direction, coaches have little chance of succeeding. The club needs a good President, Board, Admin & staff to succeed. The reason we are in the current on field position we are in is because we never appointed someone such as Walsh to oversee the direction of the FD. For the last 6 years the club rebuilt on the failed CS blueprint. Whilst the GMFO will never kick a ball, he will manage the Footy Department & allow the coaches & players to do what they are employed to do more efficiently & effectively. The position is probably the most important in terms of the future of the FD.

Yeah you would think we could trump anything the Tigers offer. Just depends if he would want to come to Melbourne. Choco may help with that if the players at GWS loved him...

Like this one?

Where does it fit in if it doesn't replace Grand Old Flag?

Adding to that, we seem to have a hell of a lot of work to do in working together as a unit - I personally don't see a lot of acts of camaraderie on the field between the midfielders. Just pulling each other up at a stoppage, putting off a tagger physically or general talk to each other in play seem to be lacking. They don't have to be elite midfielders to do this either. When our midfield can work together it will be a lot easier for young guys to come in and play well, knowing they have the support of the rest of guys through the actions above.

Today on SEN during KB's session, it was confirmed that Mitch could have played at the end of the year but with the amount of time he needed to get fit after his lay off, it would have meant that he may play one or two games. So the Club decided to not take any risks and get him ready with a full preseason for 2014. It was also mentioned that Melbournes forward line with Mitch, Dawes, Hogan and Howe will be a power forward line. I think we can expect some huge media coverage of this fact next year.

The game against Brisbane was the first time this season we have played a side twice. Gives agood comparison with 2 different coaches utilising alternate game styles. Round 5 +/- Disposals -100 Cont. poss -31 Inside 50's -16 Clearances -9 Centre clearances -11 Round 17 +/- Disposals -48 Cont. poss -13 Inside 50 -6 Clearances +4 Centre clearance Even What a marketable differnece. Our disposal difference has improved by 50% and we actually came out in front in clearances. Bravo Neil Craig! Your position as senior coach of The MFC is getting stronger each day.

News? Footy show?? Hahahahaha

Stars on jumpers,edgy collars,spanking blazers and expensive furniture now folky songs.For gods sake just win a fcuking game of footy it all starts from that.

Is there only one game at the MCG this week? Would have liked to have seen any of Strauss, Tappy or Davis instead of pedo

Okay, fine. I'll be the one do do it. This is a stupid idea and a waste of time! Why don't we just focus on winning games!! We are a joke!!! No wonder we tanked!!!!

I read that Vlad was given a confidential briefing by ASADA - confidential. Now IF he told any club about that in advance then that is "improper conduct" at best. And never forget that it is Vlad who has always been going on about "the integrity of the game"! Hypocritical??

Here it is. 'Get out and have a go' http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/mike-bradys-new-football-song/20130725-2qknf.html

Yeah, it must really annoy the sound people at the ground when we win and they have to dust off the old phonograph in order to blast out our club song.

The song formerly known as "Grand Old Flag". It's now just called "Flag".

so many false dawns... Ill get excited when i hear the roosters crowing and wins on the board

The thing that makes me mad is that we have to play one of our home games at Etihad against nth who's home ground is Etihad. Surely if we were forced to play one match there, we should play a interstate team there. I just don't understand the madness of it...

SO. lets get this all straight. Essendon players have taken banned substances (as admitted by jobe Watson himself). Andy D finds out that they have been investigated by the ACC and RINGS ESSENDON TO TELL THEM. Essendon come forward less than a week before the ACC has a press conference (timing, or did they have the press conference because Essendon came forward?) basically whats gone on here is that Essendon have cheated, AD has just about died because he knows without a competitive Essendon in the comp for a few years crowd figures (and hence his bonus) will be down, so he tells Essendon and goes into bat for them. if this is what has happened, AD needs to go and not work in the afl again. if Essendon are not given a HUGE whack for systematically taken banned drugs, the consequences will be massive for the entire game.

Loving this guys it is way better than the slanging matches we get. Also re minds me how really poor I am at grammar .

I don't know how much truth there is this, if any at all. He resigned at GWS citing family reasons. It was Sheedy who was granted the one year extension just prior to him leaving and now the succession plan is in place. I seriously doubt it would have been a clear choice of Cameron over Williams, and if it was, I'd put that decision down to Sheeds influence, whose judgement at this stage is iffy at best. It's also worth noting that the Giants have not won a single game since Williams left, in fact things have nosedived in pretty spectacular fashion. They were looking alright at certain stages last year with Williams guiding the young players.

Everyone thinks that Ross is THE coach to get. And yet, another bloke won a flag the year before Roos won his, the bloke you are talking down. Eade has a very good record, but he didn't win a flag.

shh No logical questions please ..lol

Can we got some better players please none of these guys actually take the field.

No-one is saying we are 'killing it.' Objective reality says we have improved. You can dismiss reality if you want to. But you would be tilting at windmills.

I like what craig has done but i would like to see Choco as coach next year with craig to slot back into his role that he was doing before Neeld got sacked

Whatever it is,the games are easy to watch. Will be good if we win. I don't get panic attacks during the game after Craig took over.

Also saw them win the 2000 grand final and almost be the perfect team.

Maxcellent news! Ugh, that's even worse than I thought it would be. Apologies.

Blatant barracking by Caro. There should be a disclaimer at the beginning that says "this advertorial is sponsored indirectly by the RFC and written by a massive fan of Martin and the RFC". And conveniently fails to include a readers comments section at the end where we can point out the ridiculously obvious conflict of interest.

After the last one I am a little gun shy

Hardly missed IMO does not worry me.I think Spencer and Gawn do a better job. Trade if there is a taker.

surely craig would be a better option

He's here at my place. Cooked him a ripper fat steak and got rid of a few brewskis whilst trying to convince him to take on the top job. All he's giving me is "not at the moment," whatever that means...

Hope Watts signs next, then Sylvia and that Frawley extends.

I've seen him present well in defense and try to start or engineer play. HOWEVER it is clear that he is a pretty emotional guy. It will take him time to stop feeling pressure and relax into the roll. I'd guess that we'll see a steady improvement for 1-3 years and then a marked improvement 4-6 years from now. Like Garland. The problem with emotional types is that they make decisions when 'emotional'. Too much emotion = not great decisions. Not necessarily evident as a junior because the environment = less demanding. And yes, all of this is evident on testing and tests are made available to afl clubs post draft camp.

P_man was talking about Wines being sensational, not Toumpas. Thanks for the long winded rebuttal, though