Leaderboard

We owe the Cats. Last two losses down at Kardinia Park (111 and Zach T) reduced my eldest daughter to convulsive fits of despair and snot after the final siren. She used my shoulder and my 1980s hand-knitted scarf (marked with my own tears from 1987) as a hanky each time - it’s still intact and will be worn with pride this Fri night. Anyway, what a difference a few weeks make. Here she is running out with the boys for the GWS game last week, with all ahead of her and the team. Great photo full of hope, joy and purpose, from article here: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-09-04/finals-experience-no-issue-lewis Go Demons!!!

Hi all! Been a while since I've posted here, but for those who don't know, I post Demon highlight compilations to YouTube. To commemorate our first finals appearance in 12 years, I've put together a short video celebrating the year so far. Go Dees!

Richmond lose nothing but salary cap. Equalisation should involve the team they go to losing something in the process. Otherwise the top teams lose nothing and gain everything, low teams lose experience and gain a risky selection that may or may not work out. the current system has no equalisation built into it.

That was just so underwhelming. There was just no substance or depth to any of the questions or answers and I don’t think there was anything there that wasn’t already public knowledge. Something that surprised me was that when asked what he’d do differently, he replied he’d investigate, question and challenge the club’s decision to move on senior player at the end of 2011. He often referred to how young the list was that he inherited and lay the blame at the feet of the admin. At the end of 2011, we delisted or traded out: Matthew Warnock Addam Maric McNamara (rookie) and Cameron Johnston (rookie) Where is this mass culling of senior players that he referred to numerous times throughout the interview??? He then claimed that we brought in a significant number of young players for his first year, but in fact we brought in: Mitch Clark (mature) James Magner (mature) James Sellar (mature) Leigh Williams (mature) He claimed that he went for all out youth and knew it would be a long, slow rebuild as a consequence, but that does nothing to explain the following preseason bringing in: Rodan Byrnes Dawes Pedersen Gillies.

Lots of things we can pot Neeld for, he did an awful job. It is worth putting that aweful performance in context with the following events that were outside of his control: - We were on the back of 186 and our complete implosion on and off field; - It became quickly apparent that preseason how far behind the competition we we're when it was exposed that our list doesn't meet the minimum fitness requirements of the "in vogue" game plan of the time (Collingwood); - Immediately prior to the season our president and club legend retired then died; - Our 2011 leading goal kicker attacked someone with a machette and only played one game; - We had spent big to bring in Mitch Clarke who busted early with injury; - We had off field issues with sponsors and the tanking investigation. In his defense, and this is difficult, but we had a rubbish culture where tail wagged dog. I'd be surprised if anyone truly thinks we were on the right track after 186, after the canceled time trials etc. It was so clear at the time that our "senior" players had no leadership abilities and were not setting standards. Jones wasn't yet a leader, Green was an unsuccessful leader, and Moloney - as much as I enjoyed him when on song - was a selfish player who from reporters actively worked against the coach and was a big part of 186. At the time Neeld needed to rebuild the club culture from within, and I have no doubt that Grimes and Trengove were the best "leaders" on the list. The players and support staff were asked rate all players on a number of leadership qualities and they voted those two by such a margin it was fait accompli. I agree they were too young but Neeld took a risk to try and salvage something; If Trenners didn't get injured it may have worked out. A similar analysis: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/how-the-demons-blundered-on-young-cocaptains-20141202-11yq5n.html Neelds tenure was a horrible, torrid and unsuccessful time. But his legacy is that he cut out the rot from our playing list in the brutal manner that was needed to allow us to start to grow our culture from scratch, without it constantly being tainted by the previous generation. A bit like a heavy pruning of the garden that leaves it bare and ugly, but allows it to regrow.

Phew, I see Nicholls has been sent to Perth.

My father would buy series tickets and any spares he would give to the Salvos and they would sell them. At the time I never understood, he was a kind soul.

...and we sing this song to you (Pass me the brie!) Gouda and quince paste camembert Keep your eye on the red and the blue

No 'WERRIDEE', not even close. The totally incompetent board we had at the time should take most of the blame. The board that was responsible for the CEO, allowed Lyon to be coopted to a role he had no experience in and didn't take the hard decisions when Jimmy was ailing among other things. The same board that appointed Neeld.

Bang!

Can't agree with this 'deanox'. In his first few years Roos turned over most of our list. He inherited a disaster. It wasn't repairing, it was a total club rebuild with Jackson at the helm. The blame has to be shared for the mess, no doubt. Neeld played his part but die was cast well before he arrived.

That was the worst Open Mike ever. Neeld couldn’t even describe his role at Essendon but reading between the lines he managed to upset all of the line coaches and game analysts enough that his good mate Woosha couldn’t save him. Just a load of rambling nonsense.

The Ox and "Marco" on Macquarie sports radio said that plenty of ex-Demons from the Neeld era have called them to back Green and Moloney. Among the off-the-record comments: within 3 weeks people could see it was a calamitous appointment ... it was hands down the darkest time ever ... destroyed careers ... (not news to we the faithful, but maybe to some outsiders, esp in other codes). But every one (including Green and Moloney) refused to go on air to talk as they say they don't want to disrupt the finals campaign.

I've been dying for all these characters to tip the bucket on each other at the MFC Truth and Reconciliation Commission for five years but right now is hardly the time.

No doubt if we lose and Viney has little impact then all and sundry will be pointing the finger at that as the main reason. Personally, I'm 100% comfortable with Viney coming back in. He's an animal that'll will himself on every contest and punish the opposition far more than JKH or Spargo can. I reckon his preparation has been flawless this time around and he'll be a significant factor in the clearance battles even with 6 weeks without game time.

Geelong are susceptible. Ego-driven predictions and expectations from their players do create lapses in effort and concentration, and their power players exude far too much confidence and assume 'all will be right' on the night. Prepare thyself, Geelong, for a crash. Your ability to transform a game with one or two bursts of scoring are reflections on days past. The rallying that you performed in the past is not possible weekly, and in the very recent past it was shaky. Your players are ageing and slowing; you meet a very fit, keen and capable opponent in the Elimination Final - one who has beaten you all over the ground with its youthful exuberance twice this year to achieve in comparative terms 'an upset' looming and large. If it was not for umpiring standards lapsing in your favour, twice, as a saviour of the finals gate receipts, it would by now be all over; accept it, Geelong, your sun is setting. 'Go Dees!

If Collingwood beat WC then we would play every game at the G. But let’s beat Geelong first...

I have just watched this ‘episode’ of Open Mike. Firstly, I am ok. I think we need to get down to the nitty gritty of all this and strip back some of the bull [censored]. This man said that on taking the job he was told a lot of older players would be moved on and essentially cited Schwab for this (vaguely), I’m staggered that the CEO had so much input into the list management and find it very weird that the coach had so little say in who he wanted moving forward. I’m also a bit surprised every time someone mentioned that our list needed a complete overhaul on the back of a season where some tipped us to play finals. Lastly on that point I can’t belie e there are people here falling for this and think people like Lyon we’re behind this orchestrated plan with the list. When asked if Lyon got Neeld the job he had no idea about any of that so I’m pretty satisfied he didn’t know anything about Lyon’s input. It’s time to stop blaming Lyon for the downfall of our club during that period when in reality his contribution ended when the coach was hired look to the people who oversaw that period. His Essendon time sounds like a total joke. I’m sure the guy is a nice man but he couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. That men behind the ball nonsense I remember hearing after one of the thrashings in Adelaide. It stank then and it stinks now.

I don’t mind a rule where the top 4 clubs cannot sign a restricted free agent from a equalisation perspective. Then again if Gold Coast were not so porridge he may have stayed on.

Scalping is good. I'm after 4 scalps. Cats, Hawks, Pies and Tiges, in that order. Then I'll be at peace.

Who are you again? When did we entertain trading Weideman? (If you are going to troll best to get the spelling right)

First elimination final: Melbourne v Geelong Field umpires: Ray Chamberlain, Robert Findlay, Jacob Mollison As I said I told you first on sunday. Add their numbers up and you will see the answer. Forget all the newsbreakers, Redleg is the one.

Just get him in the rooms pre match. He would not even need to speak, his presence alone would lift this group!

Agreed. Nobody went into the job wanting to ruin our club. Everyone had the best intentions and there is no denying the love that Stynes and McLardy had for the footy club. They just didn't have the tools to succeed. Neeld was an awful coaching selection, but I am sure he tried his best and did what he thought was right. He just happened to get it so horrifically wrong!

I'm not defending Neeld, I didn't like him from his first presser when appointed but it's never just one man. The whole club was toxic and divided and the list was terrible. He put the explanation mark on a terrible period. Nobody at the Club intended to hurt it, they were just out of their depth. I'll watch with interest, it's part of our history and just highlights the strides we've made and the wonderful contributions of all involved since PJ was appointed. But IMO it's time to put the knives away for the Stynes/McLardy era and enjoy our growth both on and off the field.

Just found a preview online..

Imho i think they need to get rid of the minimum salary cap. Carlton are paying (minimum) 93% of what richmond/wce/hawks are spending. They should be able to pay their players next to nothing and use the rest of the money to make huge offers to free agents. Who is to say lynch wouldnt have gone to carlton if they could pay him 2mill instead of 800k at rich?

Oh right so its not what I pictured where it might be 400 pages and 370 blank pages for vomit catchment and readers to draw pictures of Neeld with stink lines?

Honestly this is the biggest load of rubbish i have ever heard. Why does he has to prove anything? In good faith he has signed a contract till the end of 2019. Unbelievable what some people think players owe the club and their fans. Fair dinkum i have never read so much baloney on this site. And that is seriously saying something.

Apparently the leadership vote that Neeld was talking about, is a lie. That seems to be the common theme amongst those who have since had a go at him. Putting Trengove and Grimes in charge was apparently a directive from the board, which is pathetic in itself. Why the need to lie about it, I wouldn't know. The 2 guys I feel the most sorry for, are Trenners and Grimes. This move ruined their careers.

Neeld is the worst Coach is VFL/AFL history, he inherited a team that had won 8.5 games the last year and he went 4 wins & 2 wins. There is no excusing his appointment or his complete lack of depth for the role. For all the talk of poor training standards, going youth over experience i was in it for the long game, it is all complete bullshite. I believe that Neil Craig as escaped very lightly for his role, he was the senior assistant.

time gentlemen please... It's time to raise eyes to Friday.... and drop any distractions in the run to this weeks game. Bring on the Cats.

He is an inspiration. I think of him Paul Roos & Barassi as living icons of our club. RIP Jimmy & Robbie Flower.

An interesting proposition - could Neeld be appointed to top clubs in a senior football capacity as an equalisation measure of sorts?

Over the weekend I rewatched all our wins from this year. From that, I observed that Viney was nowhere near what he offered in 2017, and is almost a downgrade on form for what our midfield did without him this year. I think he'd be a good defensive forward/mid in bursts to lock the game down, but I'd rather stick with our Gawn/Oliver/Brayshaw/Harmes setup — especially when it really starts to count and we need to get a lead or get back in it.

I feel like differentiating Neeld the man v Neeld the coach. As a man his disappointment must have been immense, coaching was his lifes ambition. He killed his own dreams as much as killed ours with his coaching style. He faced the truth of our recuiting policy that had gone before him...which was never going to make him popular. The club recovers but his aspirations never will. So, as many above have said , like him or not, he gave it his all and bled for our club along with us. It must have been a savage ride and I thank him...as I thank all ex dees for his contibutions and the time and strain he gave for us. That being said. Neeld the coach was a frikn abomination. He was weak when he needed to be strong ( apparantly following a directive to sack the leadership group on arrival....sooo wrong) and strong when he needed to be flexible ( the manner he appoached the players and the relationships he grew/ poisoned) his speeches to the players were atrocious, his game plan was dated anyway and built without reference to the players he actually had. On top of that he managed to alienate both the coaches AND the players with his autocratic ways from early on in his time here. His tenure remains the darkest years of my entire 46 year supporting history...and theres been some really crap years to run that against lol. The only good thing Neeld gave us imo was that he brought us absolutely and fully undone. He was great at that. From THAT place PJ and PR arrived and today we are a destination club, finals coming, a possible new home base and seen by many as having the best young list in the comp. I hated the death and that whole humiliating time he was at the helm...but Im def enjoying the rebirth! Perhaps today could never be reached without that kind of black yesterday.

There are a lot worse getting around. At least he does his research and knows his topics.

770 and almost entirely odd.

An inspiration His presence and best wishes to the boys is enough. He doesn’t need to say a word. His heart is as big as the MCG

The amount of Neeld sympathizes that were probly [censored] canning Neeld on this forum 5/6 years ago is disgusting. You've all forgotten how bad it was.

Stay in my seat at the ground till the following week in the fetal position.

I'd elaborate by saying after Neeld did the hard stuff someone had to do (even Green said that in an interview in early 2012, about how Neeld was ruthless, making the group work harder than ever before and direct in his appraisals), Roos had the "easier" job of repairing and rebuilding trust, and developing a culture relatively free of toxic influences. Roos could be more diplomatic because the time for hard words was over. I say all this in complete agreement that overall, Neeld had terrible execution and was a terrible coach.

Terrible idea. Right up there with a suggestion that we replace "It's a grand old flag" with "It's a brand new flag." We're Melbourne. If we don't hold our tradition, what else have we got?

This will have absolutely no bearing on how the team prepares and plays. Heres a thought... Don’t watch it.

Why oh why would it be this week. I know it's relevant now but surely they'd wait till GF week for maximum negative Fugazi impact on this club.

Gerard sounds disturbingly similar to Frank Walker from National Tiles.