Clintosaurus

Well said Robbo.

Probably should be more concerned with getting a kick. Not exactly setting the world on fire up in Brisvegas.

Good OP Benson but I suspect as hogans_heroes said it will be up to the new coach, as like most on here I think this will happen. Watts, Gawn and Sylvia will be the focus of PJ as far as retention goes and I would think anyone else out of contract will have to wait for news on the coaching front as to whether they get offered new contracts. I like both of Magner and Couch but their apparent/actual lack of pace does not help them. That said I think both of them should get an extended run in the team at the expense of some of the clanger merchants we seem to have a few of. How would Couch go as a tagger?

This is pretty much where I am at. At half time in the Freo game (after breaking the remote) I decided it's just not worth being so emotionally invested when we are just no good, as there is only one possible outcome. I'm still watching the games but it's like watching any team play, there's no difference in feeling whatever the score. Round 1 2014 I'll be back as I was before the Freo game, purely to see Jesse Hogan and any new recruits play. We will have a new coach but this won't increase my expectations at all. The list is just no good at the moment.

will we get to 20?

Umpiring is a bit "interesting". Effort is there but kicking inside 50 is horrible.

Apparently contracts at MFC mean nothing to flogs potting the club. Anyone can leave whenever they want without needing the OK from the club.

Sure is. I wonder what percentage of the 1500 AFL accredited journos actually write about matches? Probably a small minority.

According to Google he is a Yellow Pages salesman in the Albury area - of course he'd know.

Yep. The external pressure is pretty much all coming from the media. I suppose they will be outside Neeld's home if he does get the khyber. What would they know about coaching, or anything?

He does have a contract until the end of 2014, and if what he says about the club being happy in the cultural change aspect etc is true, and the onfield stuff is incidental, then maybe the avalanche of calls for him to go are misplaced. Who knows, it might all click magically at some point in the next few weeks. Personal view - I don't think he will be there next year, but will coach until the last game this year. I am probably wrong though and he might be gone come the bye, miracles not withstanding.

This could be 186 Part 2. I've already broken the remote - again, and the dog won't come anywhere near me. I think I'm done. I'll be back when Jesse plays his first game.

North get a good run every week so maybe they should suck this one up and get on with it.

I wonder if this might get the AFL (maybe in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Company Directors) to do some kind of course for prospective Board members, if there isn't already one. Even better would be that to be on a club Board one needs to be a member of the AICD. At least then members could have confidence that anyone seeking their vote has the governance aspects etc covered.

He probably had a wall of TV screens in his office and secret cameras all over the Admin and FD offices so he could watch and listen to what everyone was doing. That would take time to keep full track of.

Don't think so. The next four weeks could be fairly instructive though, plus the outcome of Peter Jackson's examination of the club.

Is 22,000 too optimistic? After all the great G Ablett Jnr is playing.

A genuine A-Grade midfielder and a Heath Shaw type player would really help. Outside of that, a former gun mid to coach the current lot and a crumbing forward.

There was a similar article by David Penberthy in the Murdoch rags 2 Saturdays back. Not sure who he is or who was behind the story but Tasmania cannot sustain a team in its own right.

Essendon have had a crisis management expert working with them since February so to me it seems they have been going through the crisis management playbook, and each time hoping the strategy would work. Looks like it isn't. Hird also has his own PR people to keep the saintly image intact. Good luck with that.

April 10.

Was that the one with someone being referred to as 'the sieve'?

Looking at the stats, the most obvious one is centre clearances. Got smashed there 20-10. Lost the contested possessions 150-120. The one that bothers me most besides centre clearances in the Lions took 20 marks inside 50, and this seemed mainly due to the defensive zone. The overall possession count was a concern but the difference was 34 kicks and 82 handballs. We just don't run and carry like most other teams.

Does anyone know what the players do at half time? Whatever it is it certainly does not work as it takes 15 minutes for them to start functioning again.

I suppose it's what 6 years (possibly 7) being at or near the bottom of the ladder does. My only complaints are the defennsive zone doesn't work well and the what appears to be half-hearted chasing. Maybe our blokes are just slow.