MyFavouriteMartian

Both Alan Johnson and Farmer can both play the role Davey played, but better footballers. Both of them.

You got it in one, ''MnD'.

Of course we did, make finals... we've made finals many times since md8's. So you think we cannot get to that point on talent alone, even with poor culture.? Do you think a more talented team can be beaten by a more disciplined unit, in finals and grand finals.? The issue with Mfc in the early 90's, was we had a lot of talent, but weak on culture side, and this is why we didn't win silverware. Moving thru the 90's, our ability to develop our young recruits dropped away, and continued to be an issue thru the early 2000's. Until we just ran out of natural talent. And faced a whole list rebuild. We failed to develop our kids to be their best, and they only developed to their natural level, which they could have done at suburban footy. And attitudes that let the slacken off when they felt like it. Lack of Pro attitudes. We witnessed much of this self oriented attitudes thru the 2000's, which eventually really showed out when '186' happened along. This is an attitude that blames others for the teams woes, rather than each individual taking their responsibilities as serious as they can do. None of the players were without blame of that action. As were the top admins, equally to blame via their preceding actions. But that was coming on slowly, for over 10Yrs of mismanagement. The club had been a mess for ages, but where trading on talents from the 90's decade. The development of the 2000's recruits was the worst since the early 90's. .

Yep... my tweak of jAndersons selected team. B: Laurie Fowler – Ray Biffen -- Sean Wight HB: Brett Lovett – David Neitz -- Gary Hardeman C : Stan Alves – Greg Wells – Robbie Flower (Capt.) HF: Brian Wilson – David Schwarz – Alan Johnson F: Jeff Farmer – Garry Lyon -- Allen Jakovich Foll: Jim Stynes – Gerard Healy – Todd Viney I/c: Max Gawn – Nathan Jones – Clayton Oliver – Adem Yze -- Brad Green

Jnr was our only natural leader at that time. Green didn't know how to lead, and the others all had the questionable holes in their games, which showed out at crucial times. Bruce soft under physical pressure. Green same.. Robbo, another of the same basket. We did Not have many at all who, 'could play', and show courage under fire at the same time. IMO, Jnr was blessed with ability, skill and courage, and a fine example of putting the workload in off the track. We had few who were great role models. Again our footy dept stufffed it.

They ringmasters were already gone before Roosy got the invitation. Yes the culture still needed transforming, but the dirty part of that job had been done already. Roosy had mostly a clean slate, and mostly young players to work his magical soft tones on. He tried to woo all and sundry, and some still refused to walk to his beat. And some still didn't cut the mustard... some very talented players who lacked in fundamental areas. But did find distant shores, in footy terms.

As I recall, Jnr went into retirement, & Sheedy asked him back the next season to play for GWS as a leader & mentor. And he played very well. The leadership of that club did a very good job. And Sheedy could have already been at Mfc for some years, & deep into a rebuild.

Do you have SS in your Mfc dna, 'SonS' .?

agh Ha Ha... you beat me to it, 'b_n'.

Almost like a Pre-Sereason comp. Or a night series comp, in conjunction with the normal H&A season.

Gawny and Tracca should go into a competition against one another. $1000.00 per missed set shot, to the other. Lets see who comes out in front at end of season.

Do you really think Gawny has it in him, to improve from here on and try to take it to another level.?

Well, his lower arms look trim, too trim. But he does appear to be putin in, the fitness work. Lets all hope that translates into more endurance, and more running both ways.

Fritzel looks like one of the stars from Harry Potter. Grow some facial hair Fritta. A 'stache', or a demonic Go-Tee. You still look like an under 19. Tracca actually looks more like a man, with his do.

Ha Ha, i guess that'll have to do, Deem.

As a player Robbie would win.. but when considering a career of impact in footy, Wins with the club, Successes, Premierships, Captaincy, and Premierships won at other clubs. RdBarassi has it.

Is anyone at training, 'DmAG'?

Neeld trying to change the Mfc culture is like the Liberals under economic John Hewson arguing for the GST...and losing that election. Hewson needed all the support his team could give him, to carry the right decisions through. He did not get enough team support to do the job that needed doing. And it all fell apart. Similarly, Neeld was on his way to crushing what we all know was a lousy culture, and a lazy playing list that was happy to take the money for little. He barely got started, and they failed to Back hIm up, with his attack on the sour culture which we all endured. The truth is we will never know what he could have achieved, because everyone panicked when the playing group bucked up a pulled that 186 stunt. This showed how much the tail was already wagging the dog. And no wonder why we could not develop our young players. With a culture like that. We failed to develop most kids from the mid/late 90's, Trapper just one. Mclean, Sylvia, Bate... A huge lack of discipline and healthy culture.

Your right. Thats spot on. The worst player/club decision at Mfc, that I can remember.

Do you really think we hired Neeld to be the father figure... or to cut deep into the clubs ills. We had the chance to hire Sheedy (a proven Super Coach), ahead of Bailey, and the club called the media to be there, to film Sheedy leaving that house after the meeting. The club wasn't serious about hiring Sheedy, because the club had other ideas of what was necessary for that list. They collected Sheedy's thoughts, and said thanks. Another huge mistake. Then under the Bailey era, it got even worse, the players were running their own race. And that is what we witnessed, in the infamous 196 game. It takes special sort of players and culture, to do that and throw a game on-field, like that.

Development. I don't think he got to the point of development. Before you can get to be able to be successful in developing kids, then first step is to ensure the culture is a strong one... so the first point of business is to learn about what culture is there, and then do what needs to be done to straighten up any areas needing work. This is the head coaches area, and the first issue to be looked at, by that head coach. The kids are coached and developed by assistant coaches and line coaches, and anything the head coach notices, he discusses with those assistants to seek thoughts and confirmation.? The Head coach will give some instant feedback, but the assistants will be working closer with the kids and they will know how to treat each individual. the coach receives feed back from his assistants about the young players and their progress. The development of youngster is not the head coaches main role. His is the senior payers , 1st 25 players to focus on, team ethos, discipline, and that all important culture. Its nigh on impossible to successfully develop young players, in a club with weak cultures. You'll notice how much Barassi struggled with the Mfc in his first 3 seasons. Until the good junior kids were maturing and coming through and some mature recruits were stabilising the senior team prior to Barass's finishing. ... and handover to Northey, who topped up on interstate recruits and some inter-club recruits like Koop, rJackson and others. A large influx of mature recruits into the side. but even that side was too light on class. Which showed in the crunch, times failing to go all the way. summary. The culture, if sick, has to be addressed strongly, right from the start. The coach has to assert is authority at the beginning. Not dictatorial. But an outside coach coming into an established self protectionist culture, is up against it from the start. Neeld was not accepted at the demons by many past and senior figures around the club, and much derision and backstabbing was going on off the training track, virtually from the start. He was not afforded the due support from around the club, and this quickly established itself amongst the playing group. Literally thrown to the wolf pack as if a sacrifice. That was MfcSSSSSS full blown. But what he did manage, was to remove many troubling issues, before he was taken down. This alone, helped us to move forward under Roosy, who could come in as Mr nice guy, whipering sweet overtures to other troublesomes.... Who would end up gone anyway. but gone in a more distant way, from the coach. Gone in a quieter way let say. Roosy is not so, "in your face".

Lyon had better diversity in the front half and disposal skills. kicking goals with ease from 55m. Neitz from 50m. Lyon from tight angles. And passing to teammates. Lyon the quicker thinker. Neitz I would have in my CHB team everyday, when Lyon and Schwarz were up front. Neita IMO the perfect CHB, with his strength, core strength, and mental attitude. I would have Neita as the leader, over Gazz. But for the all-round better player, I have Lyon, for his use with the ball.

Tthe AFL again, stopping rucks from wrestling one another at the boundary throw-ins. And the line across the circle at centre bounces.

Geo Pell types. butter wouldn't melt