maggotbasher

Do we get priority picks if we finish bottom 3? People are telling me the rules have changed, and that a team needs to put 2 crap seasons together before getting top picks. Anyone know the official word on this?

I'm left with a hollow feeling. I thought a change of coach was required, but now I feel like a Judas. Even if hope beyond hope, our troops go on to win a flag, it'll not seem quite right without Neale to share in the celebrations. The footy Gods have indeed been cruel this year.

The whole team is over rated. Bruce, Brock, Davey, the bloody lot of em'. Brock's got potential for sure, but Bruce??!! The game is called football. Foot and Ball. If you can't kick a ball anywhere near the sticks in this game, then what bloody use are you? Yeah, yeah, I'll get nothing but condemnation for you deluded fanatics, but look at the board. We're second bottom. We just got mawled by a stinker of a team. And I ain't surprised. When you accept the fact that we suck, defeat actually doesn't hurt as much. Victories and good performances are nothing but flash in the pans with this line up.

I really thought this kind of inept footy was behind us. But what a fool I am. It was worse than the round 1 debacle.

This is without doubt the most damning defeat for ND. 80 to 16 at half time against a [censored] house team like Richmond.

And all those players who rallied support for their coach can shut their mouths now. Like their opinion counts for anything after that performance.

Don't quite understand the whole debate over Bruce thing. He's a key player. Great hard ball getter. We need him. He's Melbourne through and through. I wouldn't say he had a bad day today. Par for the course really. I never expect him to kick a goal from a set shot. If he does its a bonus.

Ofcourse I hurl a tirade of abuse at him when he misses another gimme, but I'm a footy fan. What would you expect?

He's been a wonderful coach, but he's only gotten us so far. 10 years of winning stuff all is enough time for any coach. I acknowledge his tremendous efforts, but it's time to move on.

I retract my previous comments. The talent pool in AFL is such a shallow one. It's not like we're talking British Premier League here, where there's all of Europe to chose from with an abundance of coaches with proven track records, or American Sports, where there's heaps of College coaches ready to make the big leagues.

ND is a quality coach. I personally don't think he can bring us a flag, but there are other variables that hinder us that are out of Danihers control.

The Performances since the Bulldogs game proves we are a Top 8 Team.

How many games have we won since the Bulldogs?

He's been a wonderful coach, but he's only gotten us so far. 10 years of winning stuff all is enough time for any coach. I acknowledge his tremendous efforts, but it's time to move on.

I'm not a true die hard fan! I'm what you might call a fair weather supporter. You'd call me that coz I don't go to all the games. In fact I haven't been to a single game this season, primarily because I moved to Sydney last year. Didn't bother going to the Sydney game either though, coz I knew we'd get thumped. We were playing like baffoons. I make no apologies for doing something productive with my Saturday night, rather than watching another spineless effort.

I love this game, I love this team, but I guess there's degrees. They're certainly not my life. The last couple of months I feel like a bunch of imposters have been taking the field. If they show the kind of determination and application they showed today a little more often maybe I'll yet front up to a game this season.

I take my hat off to you fans who suck it up week in, week out. Fans like my Mum and Dad, who've driven up from Rye every game this season. What compels you to do it when the team is 0 and 9 and counting? Where does that fortitude come from?

My daughter is 10 weeks old. Before she was born, we'd already bought her baby demons attire. We've blighted her for life. She's waited her whole life for this victory today. When she heard the players sing the song on TV, she smiled the biggest smile.

We may not be die hard fans, but MFC runs in the family and it always will.

"We will bounce back. We’ve been good at starting games at home; it is on the road where we have struggled. We need to regroup and we get another chance next week."

That's a quote from Danners after the game.

Can anybody tell me what the hell he's talking about??!!

I reckon he's lost the plot.

Half time in this shocking display and I can't blame any of our players. They have been outgunned, outmanned, outplayed, outmustled, out-thought and don't tell me it has been the injuries.

I blaim the total ineptitude of our entire coaching and training staff. They are to blame for this carnage. I am completely broken hearted about the mis-match. Our BOYS are so badly prepared, just look at them, full of talent but so betrayed by their mentors. Many of the players that we have given the flick or transferred to other clubs have flourished while ours are just withering on the vine.

We look like high school kids and we haven't got a prayer against professional set ups that we can only dream of.

I am sick of our players having sand kicked in their faces every bloody week and I am mad as hell that I would give every trainer of ours the arse because we are running around like headless chickens that we would probably do better without them and we would save on the deal.

I am so bloody sad

Absolutely right. I've thought the same thing since day 1 of the season. They've been outsmarted and out muscled every game. Something's gone pear shaped at the coaching and training part of the operation in this preseason. They've gone from flag contenders to the worst team in the comp. Though I'm sure Richmond will give us a run. Disheartening!

Byron Pickett was brought in as the icing on the cake to win a flag, unfortunately there no longer is any cake !

And that icing has gotten fat, slow and useless in the off season.

This list can't win a flag! Who you all kidding. We're an average team with average players. They had a magnificent season last year. To be honest, I think that's the best we can hope for. This seasons a right off for sure, and there's more to it than the injury list. But even at full strength, we're never gonna compete with the interstate giants for the grand prize. They've got the money, the players, the coaching staff, the home ground advantage. We have none of that. My Dads been a fan all his life. He was a kid when Melbourne last won a flag. The way this now national comp is structured, I certainly don't expect the ultimate glory. Just a gutsy team with the occasional magnificent win.

It just feels maybe the players don`t respect him as a coach, especially the leadership group.. He has served the club and hopefully he can turn it around, but a new coach is on the cards..

I think it's pretty much a given Daniher will be replaced next season, but don't everybody crud on him now. He's given 10 years of his life to this club and developed alot of talent. We all have lofty expectations and perhaps the time is right, even overdue, for change. But we could've done alot worse than Neale Daniher. For all his flaws there was genuine belief that this year we'd be a contender. If they'd stepped up a notch from last years form it'd be great, but alas that's not to be. I'm sure there's nobody more dissapointed than ND. I'm sure it's not his intention to lose. Finding a 'Mathews or Sheedy' will be a huge challenge. They don't grow on trees. I hope Daniher gets some kind of recognition and appreciation for his efforts when he leaves.

You can put Danihers head on the chopping block, point the finger at emerging teenage talent, chastise our under performing guns, but Neitz has some kind of immunity. Apparently we don't hold him as accountable as the rest of the team.

So, you aren't allowed to knock Neitz, who runs Demonland? Neitzs mum, no bloody wonder Melbourne are crap at the moment its because of blinkered people looking through rose coloured glasses at many of our players.

Don't go there. The thread will be shut down in a heart beat! I learnt that last night. It's blashemy to bash Neitz here. Just walk away now.

I will say it now, top class players wont win a flag!

The swans lack top class players, however have a committed team or players hwo are consistent and play their guts out week in week out. The swans have lewis roberts thompson at CHB. THis guy is not talented, and he kills chfs in the comp.

The roos of the 90s were the same.

We need a team of committed players, not guys who like to finish the job and do pretty things.

We need to harden up.

Wouldn't want to model our game on the Swans. Winning football it maybe, but ugly too watch. If more teams play like them, the great game will go into decline.

The Roos would've won sweet FA without Carey.

I think we need some true superstars playing great week in, week out. Having said that, this is a reasonably talented list that doesn't seem to be playing with much interest.

You idiot!

Yeah, I've noticed an unwavering support for Neitz on this blog. It's a curious thing. His captaincy has been as benign as ND's coaching. Don't get me wrong I like watching him play. I love watching him take a mark 20 metres out and take his kick from 50 out. He scores goals like any full forward worth his salt should do. But he's no fearless leader.

Dear all,

Eternal optimists are waiting for the team to bounce back!

Ever seen a turd bounce????

Yeah he's a reasonable forward. Had a decent few months of goal kicking at the end of last season, but he ain't no leader. When the chips are down, I never see him firing the troops up. In fact, when it's not coming easy, he shows complete disinterest. And that spreads through the team like a cancer. He's supposed to be the leader damnit. He's only inspiring when they're winning. Watching him on the sidelines today, there was no animation. Looking at the turf, scratching his leg. Where's the fire? Where's the passion? He's too passive, too quiet. Fire up damnit! You're the captain of the Mighty Melbourne Demons. Act like it.

Oh good god thankyou Bruce Almighty. Why do people say lay off Bate?! What the hell? He will be a star? Everyone keeps saying "blame it on the leaders, blame it on the leaders". They have been playing in the seniors for quite some time and I agree they should take MOST of the responsibilty, however we need them more than Bate at the moment. They are up to AFL standard and we know what they (Bruce, Green, Yze) are capable of. Yze played reserves on the weekend. Who would you rather drop next weekend, Bruce/Green or Bate. I know my answer. He is not up to AFL standard yet. Why keep playing him in the seniors when clearly he is not benifiting. His confidence will just keep dropping. Why not give him a run in the seconds and get his confidence going and then bring him up. God damn people. He was absolutely woeful today.

You're a space cadet! Bate's had two sloppy games along with most of the list. He was superb last year. Perhaps in a stronger and less injured list he'd be dropped. But we don't have such a luxury. He's got match winning potential and the best place to learn what it takes to be an AFL player is by playing in the AFL. There's about a dozen players that should have the chop before Bate, but like I said, our lack of depth hardly affords us that luxury.

I shall continue to hurl abuse at Red Nob when he screws up, but wouldn't want to see him dropped. He's learning his craft.

(Don't take offense by the Space Cadet comment)

We can outscore the Cats if Sylvia, Davey, Yze and Miller all fire

Also need goals from the midfield

Ahhh yes, the eternal optimism that only a true Demon can show so soon after yet another comprehensive defeat.

Hope does spring eternal I guess!

"Melbourne key forward Brad Miller says the Demons have the attacking weapons to remain a force even if star forwards David Neitz and Russell Robertson are sidelined by knee injuries."

That's the opening line of another piece of Melbourne propaganda on AFL.COM.AU

Who or what are these attackng weapons he's talking about? They're all firing blanks.

Red Nob's a great little find. Lay off him. In a few years he'll be a superstar (ish) and all you Bate bashers will be silenced.

Make no mistake about it, Byron was the spark that turned our season around last year. Without his physical prescence I see the same soft touch in the engine room that has crippled us many a season. Mclean knows what's required. Too bad, he's out for 6 weeks. Season will be dead and buried by then.