Chook

He's not all talk. Our contested possession is the highest in the leage, up from the lowest in the league. Our defensive structures are already better than last year and we're only one game in. We're a damn sight off "the hardest team to play against," but we're already better than we were under Dean Bailey.

Uh oh. Biff agreed with my team selections. Does that mean I'm unrealistic too?

He is a scary guy, but if I were playing for him, I'd love him to death. I have no time for pussyfooting around. I need motivation and brutal honesty from time to time, and I bet I'd get from him. But most people aren't like me, in that they can't see the intent of criticism if it's not delivered "just so." I hope there are enough guys on our list who "get" Mark Neeld and what he's all about. If not, they won't be on our list for long. To borrow a Beamerism, "We're on a straight line, and if you aren't on that line, you can [censored] of to Carlton" - or Essendon and GWS, if the rumours are true.

Another positive is that in comparing Mark Neeld's coaching career with Dean Bailey's at the same point, we're 1.5 NAB cup wins and about 65 points ahead compared to where we were one game in to Bailey's tenure. Is that enough? Hardly, but it's optimism, which is what this thread's all about.

I originally had Macdonald out too, but I'm concerned about our ability to handle all the WCE forwards. I wouldn't be too displeased to see him dropped though. I've been one of his biggest supporters on this forum, so if his form is so bad that I'm considering dropping him, that's saying something. Also, apparently Tom McDonald had a good game in the VFL, so maybe he could come in for one of our other 15 underperforming players.

1 Mark Neeld's press conferences will be worth bringing out the popcorn for 2 Jack Watts is our best outside midfielder 3 James Magner is our best inside midfielder 4 Brad Green and Aaron Davey are finished 5 Brent Moloney is only in our side because we have the worst midfield in the competition.

OUT: Green, Davey, Blease, Bartram IN: Petterd, Morton, Couch, Sellar Green is too slow, Davey too soft, Blease too unfit, Bartram too unskilled. All are Maxy (as in GAWN!) Petterd is versatile and has a mad-dog attitude Morton is an outside player who is soft like Davey but young enough to change Couch is a little unknown for me but I've heard he's tough and hard Sellar is tall enough to tackle the monster Eagles forwards For the reasons RalphiusMaximus has said, Rivers can only stay in the side if we commit to playing a spare man back all game. Otherwise the Eagles will simply isolate whoever he's on and cut us up all night, Markovic-style. Bringing in Strauss is an option, but he might not have the match-fitness to run out the whole game.

The only one which didn't show a stoppage (where you would expect to see Jones) had the apparently "close-checking" Clint Bartram drawn to the ball (and away from his opponent) like a block of iron drawn to a magnet. Cue that very same opponent becoming freed up, receiving the ball and kicking it straight down a team-mate's throat.

I get the feeling he wishes he hadn't said what he said in the press conference, but that he still 100% believes it. No Davey, no Green on the weekend. You can put your house on that. I hope he keeps an honest dialogue with the supporters, because I really appreciate it. Regardless of how we went on the weekend, there's not one coach in the league I would prefer over Neeldy. Absolute gun. Just you wait and see.

Garry Lyon should absolutely belt Thommo on Footy Classified tonight. It is one thing to get your facts wrong as a journo, but it's another thing entirely to make accusations of racism in the wake of an already explosive climate of race-related issues. Dog act by Grant Thomas, who now has absolutely no credibility whatsoever.

I think a lot of people who "dislike" us are simply realistic about how pathetic this club has been for 50 years. Pity, rather than dislike, is the dominant factor at play for most commentators talking about Melbourne.

Good news for Dreamteamers all over Australia. Not to mention Melbourne supporters.

A friend of mine was in labor for thirty-six hours. She told me it was a terrible experience for her, so I said "Maybe politics isn't for you."

Most people charged with such a serious crime would ask around, interview people and do their utmost to get the best people to represent them in the case. BP would probably not even interview the best lawyer in the land because he didn't like his haircut.

Tom McKenzie, eh? Good report otherwise. I wonder who'll be in the team next week.

Last year, Bailey didn't require chasing and tackling from Davey - at least not explicitly. This year, it is Davey's number one role. Rather than being a part of a "power struggle," I believe he's simply not willing to do what the coach tells him to do. It amounts to the same thing. Whether through outright rebellion or unwillingness to fulfil his role, Aaron Davey is nowhere near in line with the Neeld ethos, which as a senior player and likely our second highest earner, he damn well should be.

Happy birthday Chook?

The fact that he put Jack Watts into the midfield at this stage of his development shows that he is playing to the strengths of some of his players. Watts is a winger/mid in my mind, and his accurate disposal and pace is better than anything currently offered by the blind, mute pack of turtles currently gracing our midfield.

So Aaron Davey is playing to instructions by failing to chase hard and tackle? What about Brad Green falling on his arse after every contest? They don't want to do what I'm sure Neeld has told them to do. It is an assumption, but this whole website is based on assumptions, so I don't think you can really blame me for that.

I have no idea where players get off dictating terms to coaches. It's absolutely unfathomable. As a coach, you ask for input from many, accept the advice of few, and delegate roles to all. But the number one thing is that you must rule with an iron fist. Anyone who won't listen to you is poison and must be gotten rid of immediately.

If Sam Blease wants to head up to GWS, it's no skin off my nose. He won't get by simply front-running up there either. Brake a leg, Sammy.

Any "leader" who adjusts his willingness to lead based on official titles is no leader at all. Leadership is a character trait that can only be turned off with a concerted effort, and can almost never be turned on by someone who doesn't have it naturally. If Beamer is [censored] off at not being in the leadership group, then he doesn't deserve to be in it at all. Leaders don't lead for the benefit of themselves, but for the benefit of others.

Agreed 100%, Clint. There should be an unwavering focus on tackling, contested possession and defensive structures. Everything else should be tailored to your players strengths.

If only Moloney could get the ball by drinking beers. He'd get leather poisoning.

Magner, Trengove, Watts, Martin.