Forest Demon

Man I love the South Park mob. Rabble Rabble Rabble.

I am sure Mifsud and Demetriou have made Neeld and the MFC aware where the rumour started now. So let's just sit back and see what action the MFC takes. If it is someone within the MFC I would expect that action to the harsh and swift.

You are correct that it is his job to dig and report, but if you are going to put something so potentially damaging out there, you would want to make sure that it is correct. And since it is not, he should be held accountable for it. As I said, not defending Mifsud at all, he should get the arse aswell. I am just very disillusioned with the football media at the moment.

I'm not defending Mifsud at all. I think he should get the arse personally. But I just hated Grant Thomas' smugness on FC, that he thinks he can just throw damaging content out there into the public arena, with no proof and then just retract it, and he thinks all is well.

As much as Mifsud is in the wrong, I still think Grant Thomas is the main one in the wrong here. He is the one who put a very damaging comment out there with nothing but a sketchy source, and then puts a flippant remark like 'It may not have happened?'. And then when Neeld takes calls him and tells his side he takes the article down and thinks that all is well. Seriously, the football media is hitting all time lows at the moment.

I've calmed down a little by now, and can see where you are coming from. We are using a vastly different game plan, which was working reasonably effectively in the 1st quarter. I have come to the conclusion that as frustrating as it is, we need to be patient and give this new game plan however long to mastered. Any comparison to other teams with new coaches are almost irrelevant as our game plan has changed far more vastly than any other. It would seem Neeld is only releasing the game plan in iterations, with the first being to pretty much win some contested ball, run and spread from the contest, and as a last resort go long around the boundary to a contest. The spread from the contest was non-existent on Saturday and we relied far too heavily on the long bombing around the boundary. Hopefully we see improvement each week. But there are still issues with the mindset within the player group, mainly around the senior members, but I'll keep that for other threads.

That doesn't suprise me. Disgusting journalism and should be held accountable for putting that [censored] out there.

My crackpot theories: 1. The Losing Culture - it seems when we are up against it, we just throw in the towel. You can say it hurts when you lose, and you may well mean it. But that is not the same as being out there and when things are going against you, doing absolutely everything in your power to wrestle back ascendancy, but rather going through the motions just hoping things will turn around, others will lift, the opposition will take there foot off the pedal etc. 2. The Melbourne Boys Club - also seems like senior players have been allowed to do things their way for years in regards to working hard on the track and in games. They then seem to get the shits when someone comes in and wants to do things differently and more professionally. Resistance to change happens in all workplaces, it is similar to me doing my job for 5 years and then a new boss comes in and wants me to do things his way and I say to myself, 'stuff this bloke, I have been doing it this way for 5 years and doing it well'. Playing group need to realise their way isn't working. 3. Young Playing Group - the senior lads also seem to have got the hump with the way some of their peers have been treated. White, Yze, Robertson and McDonald among others were all big personalities in the group and still arguably had something to give on the field. Obviously this meant we have an extremely young list and the younger players have arguably been favoured at the selection table and in the leadership group. The senior guys left on the list probably envisaged themselves in leadership group leading this young list, but it hasn't worked out that way mainly because of points 1 and 2. Well, that could all be well off the mark, but that is my take on it all from the outside. And in response to the thread title of What We Need? We need to address these mental off field and culture issues before even thinking of playing good footy.

I refuse to believe to anyone would organise individual interviews for each non-indigenous player on the list, and then only interview the indigenous boys as a group. Perhaps interview everyone individually (both indigenous and non-indigenous) and also a separate meeting with all the indigenous boys on top of that for whatever reason. I am calling absolute [censored] on Grant Thomas on that. Nothing but sensationalist [censored] aimed at getting his name and his show in people's mind. I for one won't be watching Footy Classified, but will rather tune into On The Couch to listen to what Neeld himself has to say.

Very hard to predict who is going out this week as there are about 10 blokes in the gun. I will give myself a slap after writing this, but we need Morton's ability to find space and get us some cheap possession, especially at Subiaco. OUT: Davey, Blease, Macdonald, Green IN: Bennell, Sellar, Petterd, Morton FB: Sellar, Frawley, Bartram HB: Grimes, Garland, Rivers C: Morton, Magner, Trengove HF: Petterd, Martin, Watts FF: Bennell, Clark, Howe R: Jamar, Moloney, Jones INT: McKenzie, Bate, Bail SUB: Tynan Tapscott, Strauss, Gysberts, Couch, Tom McDonald etc. to stay at Casey for another week ready to come in against Richmond the following week if they perform.

I am on board with the 'it's not so much the recruitment as the culture and development' crew. In saying that it is clear the style of players we generally drafted under Bailey when we were bottoming out are not suited to the contested style of footy Mark Neeld wants us playing.

Didn't hear it exactly, but sounds like a stupid comment. Mitch was far from the worst yesterday. Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett's lovechild would have struggled to get a kick playing up forward for us yesterday.

I just seem to get the impression these guys have the shits about the leadership situation. They can say they are fine and they are going to knuckle down and contribute and continue to lead etc, and they probably genuinely mean that. But when the heat gets put on them, when the hard stuff needs to be done, they just rollover and give in. I wish they understood that everyone in the football world can see these guys are exactly what is wrong with our club, and being over 25 doesn't give you a right to be a leader. Run out of chances for mine, and Green and Davey should be put out to graze and Moloney gets a chance to pull his finger out.

I was a little confused why he didn't see much time in the NAB Cup. Showed promise last year, apparently was a standout over the summer, and played ok up in the monsoonal round robin joke. Good week to put his hand up as there are a bunch who should come out.

Threw himself in there on numerous occasions. Didn't notice him shirk any contests. As for Davey, I decided to give him another chance this year after last year, but that was it today. Brad Green had a go in the last quarter, but it was too little too late for me. Combining last season with today's insipid performance I have had enough of the both of them.

He probably was, but still doesn't mean he was good. Personally thought he was ok, and showed usual silk but still leaves me wanting more.

After watching our preseason, I was hoping all the long kicking to contests was just a matter of nailing the basics of contested footy and when the season proper started we would see a more varied and competitive game. Some stats today that illustrate what my concerns (and most likely many others) are this: Contested Possessions (+2) Melbourne - 152 Brisbane - 150 Uncontested Possessions (-89) Melbourne - 146 Brisbane - 235 Contested Marks (-1) Melbourne - 15 Brisbane - 16 Uncontested Marks (-41) Melbourne - 50 Brisbane - 91 We can't honestly expect to win games of football continually bombing it long to contests where we are consistently out numbered. Brisbane spread from contests and got so many cheap possessions, where we were never able to control the footy and had to rely on someone pulling down a pack mark or producing something against the odds. I would be dumbfounded if a coach sent us out there to play this way and expected anything other than a thumping. Is it the players not working hard to create easier options, the ball carrier not showing enough poise to pick the right option, or the gameplan strictly saying bang it long to a contest at all cost. I'll be stuffed if I can see how this is going to work. Neeld seems like a pretty smart bloke so let's hope we don't go to Subi next week and see the same sort of footy or we are in for an absolute pummelling. And on another note, if I hear another 'supporter' say something along the lines as 'I have had enough' or 'I want my membership back' I'll spew. We are all Melbourne supporters by choice or not, and even though we are currently [censored] on the field, this club has given me some of the best times of my life, and when, or if, we achieve some serious success it will make it all the sweeter.

Trengove - had no support Grimes - tried but outplayed Jones - down on pre-season Bartram - always looks rushed Watts - skilled but passive Bate - boarded sinking ship Frawley - not his best Clark - always out numbered Mckenzie - needs more pre-season Blease - was rarely seen Green - lift or retire Garland - not his best Moloney - gets another chance Rivers - tried but undersized Macdonald - picked wrong McDonald (or Davis) Martin - martin of old (as in ineffectual / [censored] me off early when he was 1 on 1 with an undersized opponent in the goal square and played for the free when had the best position, pathetic and set the tone) Davey - lift or retire Howe - needed much more Jamar - outplayed by Luey Bail - tried but ordinary Magner- an acceptable performance Tynan- threw himself about That was difficult

Mark Neeld has as much to answer for as the players do. One of the worst performances I have ever seen. I am not giving him the honeymoon Bailey got.

Gawny does make me laugh. And also laughed at Stef's answer to the Petterd/Morton question.

He seemed to be rushed in his decision making, often taking wrong options etc, thought he played very similarly to what he produced here at Melbourne. If that continues I'm sure he will frustrate Tiges supporters like he frustrated us last year, looks like he should be better than he is. As for Richmond I couldn't agree more, their top end young talent is very good in Martin, Cotchin, Deledio and Riewoldt, but far too many of their 22 are not up to it, such as Edwards, Post, Miller etc.

In as DemonHendo

A legend of the club, the game, and just in general. A remarkable human being. Lots of love to Sam and the kids.

First I've heard of it as well. Read the list and didn't notice it was a knee until you mentioned it, just assumed it was still the shoulder. Not good news.

Wondering if someone can clear up my Father/Son query. If we have a stinker this year and finish say 16th, that would make our first round pick #3 and second round pick around #21. We then nominate our intention to take Jack, and the teams that have picks 1 and 2 don't bid their first round pick for Jack and say whoever has pick 4 (or anyone lower) bids that pick for him, do we then have to use #3 on Jack, or does he slide down #21 because the highest bid on him by another club was after our pick 3. Hope this makes sense and sorry if it has been asked elsewhere.