Tricky

6. N.Jones

5. Sylvia

4. McDonald

3. Grimes

2. Clark

1. Viney

Unfortunately, this is a shocking decision from Neeld.

The question is not 'why did we have our emergencies at the MCG?', because that's easily answered in Neeld's favour - the VFL game was in Ballarat, and think of what would have happened if we'd have had a player get injured in the warmup and our emergencies were in Ballarat. Before you say 'what were the chances of that?', it happened to Beau Waters.

The real question is why Watts was an emergency at all. We knew, and have known for months, that Casey played in Ballarat the same time as we played at the MCG. Neeld would have, or should have, known this when deciding to drop Watts. Despite all this, he still decided to make him an emergency, knowing this would take him out of the VFL, as cover for Clark.

That's a bad move. Watts may well be our 23rd best player, but there surely has to be more to dropping him than making him sit a week out. Surely, surely, we're hoping for him to gain confidence and form at VFL level, and for that, he should not have been named an emergency to allow him to play.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter...

This thread deserves a bump..

C'mon folks, the captain has re-signed for another three years in the midst of the club's darkest hour.

His co-captain did a similar thing in 2011.

With the regular press speculation about how our better players are desperate to leave the club / in the sights of rival clubs, it speaks volumes that our two captains believe the future is bright for the MFC.

^^Absolutely.

Quotes:

“I was glad it all happened this week, because I really wanted to show the faith that I have in the club and where we’re heading. I’m definitely not heading anywhere, and I’m sticking to it."

“It hasn’t been a good week at all for the Dees, but I’m absolutely pumped to sign for another three years after this year, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“I really wanted to show my support towards the club in a week like this. I pushed for it to get done this week, because I thought it’d be a good week to do it. It had been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks.”

Well done Jack.

What has Hird actually done wrong?

From this: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/essendon-coach-james-hird-is-vulnerable-to-sanction-by-the-afl/story-e6frf9l6-1226618594524

Coaches and club officials are allowed to take prohibited substances under Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority guidelines* but not traffic or administer drugs to players.

I'll be there but I cant promise I will last the whole game.

ditto

Tricky, (I bought your last album), you have lost me there...not sure what that refers to unless it is Jack Watts' beard....can you explain....ah got it now...Cam Schwab's tatts...some posters have been obsessing over it in various topics this week, only felt it appropriate to comment now given this week's circumstances...........and trying to get my humour back.......been busy at work as well just to top off..sigh

Oh, that was you!

some posters have been obsessing over it in various topics this week, only felt it appropriate to comment now given this week's circumstances...........and trying to get my humour back.......been busy at work as well just to top off..sigh

Yes, hence me bringing it up in this thread - obviously the reference was too subtle to portray my actual opinion on the matter but that should at least be out of the way now.

Gents, just got back and having lunch whilst typing this, promised this to Lifelong Demon

There are normally 5 or 6 and a stray dog at training, today wasn't good, it was magnificent.

Some admin out of the way first, Cameron Schwab has tatts, I know, now get over it., Travis Johnstone was there, he is not playing footy at the moment, enjoying being a parent, just wanted to show support, he had a good chat with Cameron Schwab and Flash.

Being known has it's benefits

Josh Mahoney - had a good chat with him, yes he totally understands how the supporters feel, he feels the same way, they are working to get if fixed, liked the way Casey played last weekend, that is style they are looking at. The Footy Dept know they are under the pump, but united

Flash Davey - pumped to be back in the side, again understands the supporters frustration, absolutely rapt with the turn out, promised me another goal from the boundary this week, just wants to play

Nev Jetta - you know I have to speak with him, rapt to be back in the side but you can tell he thinks he deserved it, looking fwd to having a real crack (surprise, surprise),

"Pickles" Evans - same as Nev, I congratulated him on his game at Casey and getting back from serious injury, asked me would I like to see the same run, I said yes

Col Sylvia for Col Sylvia was very subdued, thanked me for showing up, perhaps this is the new Col who knows it is now or never, very serious

Jack Trengove - same, humbled by how many supporters turned up, looking forward to cracking in tomorrow

Jack Viney - tweeted yesterday for movie recommendations, I asked him what he had watched after I told him I was going to recommend a romcom but thought better of it, he watched Snow White and the Huntsman, "you need an action film before the game", I would adopt him if I could

Had an open and frank discussion with Nathan Jones about the media, most of which if I wrote it down would be nothing but those (censored) thingys, he desperately wants to repay the supporters

Somebody has already posted about Tapscott''s demeanour, I congratulated him on two things going back to Casey and not spitting the dummy and playing like he should to come straight back in, told me was going to give it everything tomorrow.....said that to my face.....I believe him

Jack Grimes - was another who I think was humbled by the turnout and another who desperately wants to turn it around, repeated, and we all saw it this morning, they don't train poorly, they just need to take it onto the field, all united

And finally Jack Watts (still full bearded thankfully), got a big smile, an arm around my shoulder and a thanks for being there, maybe a couple of weeks away from the spotlight will be what he needs to get back into the form he was showing last season

Also spoke to a couple of the boys playing for Casey tomorrow, Clisby, Kent and Taggert, really confident, Kent was a bit disappointed with the standard of VFL, thought it would be higher, desperate to crack a spot in AFL side, he looks even bigger than when I chatted to him just after he was drafted

If I think of anything else will add it

Nice run down thanks.

You really are missing your sense of humour though - he could have "your name" tattooed on his left butt cheek for all I care

He was wearing a suit.

Highly suspicious!

Cameron schwab here too

Can you confirm or deny the sleeve for us?

Saying we shouldn't get a priority pick because our current on-field position is our own fault is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard.

Agree.

I also find it almost as ridiculous that some on here would not take a priority pick if it was given. Are you serious?

Not sure anyone actually said this.

That would be very nice.

I sincerely hope we are not considered eligible for another priority pick within my lifetime.

he has weeks...

no good you can BET on it

*Crickets*

Can someone start a poll on Schwarz, I dont know how to do it.

Poll ready - knock yourselves out. (I'm on the fence leaning towards yes)

Poll as per request from Tonatopia

Jamar taps the ball directly to the opposition midfielder who does not get effectively tackled, and kicks it to his forwards. If any of our players get it they hand pass it around until they turn it over or kick it to a contest which we lose. When the ball is in our forward line we do not get into space. When it is in the opposition's possession we do not man up. That's the way the game plan looks to an observer. It seems to be a combination of baileys hand passing and run and carry style and a scared rabbit indecision style. Neeld's style is being largely ignored. Also, Jamar is scared to kick the ball and always hand passes. This is football. He should practice his kicking.

Jamar taps the ball???

Rucks get beaten. You have to adjust. Eventually Jones began sharking Ryder's hitouts. But it took him 3 quarters to wake up. None of his midfield colleagues did though

I guess that's the point.

To quote one of my favourite traitors - "Even blind Freddy would have been able to see that".

So was there no instruction from the box or was that instruction being ignored?

I know this sounds stupid, but I reckon we have an outside chance. It's at the G and the Weagles are injury depleted.

I also reckon Port and Essendon are better than people think.

And, despite our absolutely loathesome, pathetic performances thus far in season 2013, we're not actually quite as bad as people think.

Relax. We've got this.

I don't think Schwarta would be buying-in anytime soon

Dont agree. He isn't telling them to play this way,

His main focus on the weekend was Jobe Watson. And yet within the first 10 mins he had racked up 12/13 possessions. Coaches fault? Not likely. Well, clearly he had the wrong player on Jobe. But all night Neeld was unable to curb his influence.

Our midfield set up was Jamar, NJones, Grimes and Viney for much of the evening. Yet we were slaughtered in the midfield. We don't actually have too many better options in the midfield. IN the second half Sylvia was their for 11 bounces for 2 possessions. Coaches fault?

We have to face the fact that our team is not good. Coupled with the fact they don't try anywhere near hard enough.

The CHampion data stats FWIW said our 'effort' on the weekend as defined by pressure acts was around 54% of the next worst!! That is simply unbelievable to comprehend. Coaches fault??

Why was Jamar allowed to continually attack from the same angle at every bounce, only to get kneed in the chest whilst the ball sailed into the hands of the Bummer's mids?

We could have had JC himself in the centre and it would have made FA difference.

Good post, you have summarised it quite well IMO.

No matter how down on confidence or mentally draining it may or may not be, basics like tackling, pressuring opponent, being accountable and encouraging are non negotiables.

I know the speech was over 90 mins from game time, but when they walked out you could be excused for thinking they were filing out of church. Perhaps Neeld isn't the ra, ra, ra type of coach and he is a strong willed calm and calculated coach. One thing you must do as a coach is to know your players and how best to get them up.

Guys like Royal, Craig, Rawlings and even Brown who have seen first hand other coaches, should know if Neeld has the players or not.

http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26035-non-negotiables/

2 years on and we still don't appear close to having them!

Too recent. I'd like someone who can come in without having gone through all the bs over the past few years and might possibly have bias or baggage.

It's tough pickings but I'd rather not bring someone in unless they fit the memo for the sake of bringing someone in. Possibly someone from another club?

I understand what the OP is getting at but I think the horse has bolted. What qualifications do they bring to the table other than them being former Melbourne players who were pushed out the door in an arguably ill considered manner?

It would be great to see them around the club now & again but "jobs for the boys" hasn't exactly been a raging success. See Connolly, Chris; Lyon, Garry.

C'mon, where's your sense of sentimentalism?

An aside - where's Ratten these days?

Junior is a great guy and I have no doubt that he would be a good midfield coach - but when people are talking about culture they need to understand what in turn he would bring and if it fits with our current strategy.

(lol I was wondering if the beer had wiped this out of me since I studied it at uni)

He is like CS: I really like them, but they didn't fit with the overall strategy. This is something that cant be flexible, look at our current results for a good example of what happens when culture and strategy dont facilitate eachother.

I can see your point but in this case I think I'd need to understand a reason why he doesn't fit the strategy. (although Royal may be one)

It's clear MN's has adopted a 'fresh start' strategy.

He did this by bringing in new staff, Misson, Craig, by restructuring the leadership team and with the young Jack's as captains.

It would be counterproductive to then bring in old staff and to re-create an old culture.

Culture either permits or denies strategy and should reflect it.

Interesting to note that CS was one of the only staff to there since DB was coach - his exit keeps in line with this strategy.

I think we should be flexible and intelligent enough to not throw the baby out with bathwater...(or in this case the "idea" of bringing the baby back)

No way was Jr anything but a good influence on the MFC culture and in IMO he epitomises many of the traits we are sorely missing (from what we see on field in any case).

Perhaps this is an emotional viewpoint, but perhaps that's not a bad thing.