Ron Burgundy

Perhaps to you.

Probably not. But that doesn't mean that, as a supporter of this club, they will ever hold the same affection for me as someone like Robbie Flower. Players are clearly entitled to do whatever they want - I wouldn't contend otherwise. However, as a supporter, I will assess them through that lens - and, if they look after themselves ahead of the club, I will judge them accordingly. It doesn't necessarily follow that I'll dislike or begrudge them, but I won't think of them in the same way as I think of those players who have given their all to the club, including sacrificing potentially better short term opportunities elsewhere. There must be some reward for putting the club's interests over the individual's interests IMO. Absent that, you have an ordinary club culture.

Surely this is a no brainer.

And that's why he should stay. Being a one club player surely means more in due course, than simply going to another club now and being a serviceable, bit part player for the next few years. Bruce, for instance, ruined his MFC legacy for me. I have absolutely no affection for the man at all now.

Perhaps unfortunately, but yes it is. My support is absolutely unconditional. Hopeless coaches, hopeless players, hopeless administrators are just people transiting through the joint. My affection continues regardless. Doesn't mean the hopelessness of it all doesn't annoy the hell out of me though.

Neita and Junior excluded, virtually all of our senior players over the last decade or so have held the club to ransom over their contract extensions. IMO this said something about the leadership and culture of the joint. Examples include Green (when the Pies were circling), Davey (when Freo was circling), Bruce (when the Hawks were an option), Yze in 2002 (when Carlton was circling), TJ also in 2002 (when the Pies were circling) etc. There are many instances - the above are merely completely off the top of my head. With this group though, you have each of them committing to the club without any protracted negotiation - indeed, even before the end of the season. They seem to want to play out their careers here - leaving is not an option for them. A prime example of this is Trengove who essentially committed to the club for the rest of his career immediately following the 186 point demolition to the Cats. There's is a change in culture and leadership underway here - and I think this comparison provides a good illustration of that.

I find this interesting. And the reason - IMO it just shows how our leadership culture seems already to have radically changed. I have no concern about any of our current leadership group wanting to go elsewhere, even in the face of overwhelming interest from other clubs. Contrast that with the re-signing of our other "leaders" over the years (Neita and Junior not included). Sums it up really.

I really hope this isn't the case. Speaking to Andrew Mackie in NYC last year, he said the only senior MFC player he really rated was Rivers. He wasn't particularly complimentary of some other senior MFC players, particularly given what he observed during "186". Quite appropriate, really questioned our leadership and culture. I think he knew Rivers from SA days - thought he was a good player and of good character. Wouldn't be surprised if he's currently pumping up Rivers' tyres around the Cattery.

Just listened to the podcasts- thanks Felix. Just confirmed to me (yet again) that Neeld is the solution for this club. As an aside, I really hope Rivers recommits to the MFC. He should be a one club player.

Did he mention any names?

It seems to me that the likes of Moloney and Cook have been told by the club that better opportunities lie elsewhere. However, for Rivers, it seems as though the MFC would like to keep him, but he wishes to explore opportunities elsewhere. Unlike the others, Rivers played important KPP roles in pretty well every game this year. Pure speculation I know - but, if true, it's a pretty big difference.

North could be the smokey here. I think they have pick 14.

Ross Lyon's stocks are through the roof at the moment. He demands a hard, disciplined, professional culture. And fitness in particular is a key component to all Ross Lyon teams. Apparently, as soon as he got to Freo, Lyon singled out Pavlich and told him he was too fat and needed to get fit. Pavlich did so, and is now in absolutely red hot form. And who did he desperately want to take with him to Freo? Yep, Dave Misson - someone he rates extremely highly and someone with whom he has worked very closely. With Buttifant, Misson is apparently regarded as the best in the business. IMO Neeld has a similar focus to Lyon. And that's why he also wanted Misson. The fact that we now have him has to inspire confidence. Many posters here are understandably frustrated with the results this year. But the performance this year is the culmination of a soft, unfit list that was built prior to this year. Neeld and Misson are now trying to fix it, but this will take time. In short, Neeld and Misson are the solution, not the problem. Freo's rise this year under Lyon (in my opinion at least) demonstrates this. It's about nailing the fundamentals - and, over time, the results should then follow. Neeld didn't inherent a list as good as Freo's, but I'm convinced he knows how to build one. Fitness and discipline are key components to that. There can be no argument that Neeld and Misson do not know what elite level AFL lists look like in terms of fitness. Rather, the knowledge gap on this point seems to sit with some MFC supporters and (soon to be exited) players. In two years from now, under Misson's guidance, this list will be a lot stronger and fitter than the one we witnessed take the field 22 times this year. In the meantime, it would be good if some of the Neeld critics here would just properly consider these facts.

There might be some truth to this. The mere fact that Geelong is apparently into Gysberts (and Rivers) suggests to me that they are keepers. Whenever clubs like the Cats or the Swans want our players I get nervous that we might be missing something.

I expect Cam would have a few regrets. Retiring mid season wouldn't be one of them.

Neeld knows the reality of coaching at AFL level. It's not a fairytale. If, after three years, he hasn't radically changed the culture and performance of this club, he's gone. And he's not taking any chances with the list. He's imposing his style on it. If he gets it wrong, he knows what will happen - and it won't be you Tex who loses the gig. Personally, I will be disappointed if Gysberts goes - but, then again, I trust Neeld's judgement on such players over my own. If true, the real pity is in the blown opportunities - Gysberts over Talia, and Cook over Darling, are tragedies of almost Shakespearean proportions. And it's bloody annoying too, given that most Demonlanders were calling for these selections to be made at the time, only for our expert recruiter (BP) to go completely left field and blow up each of these picks. Clearly, our list is not as good as the media, and perhaps Tex, thinks it is/was. Don't blame Neeld for that - he's merely trying to fix it.

Who cares.

I agree. I think Neeld wants him too. I don't expect Neeld would've given him key roles in every game this year if he was on the outer (unlike Moloney, Petterd, Cook etc).

Thaipantsman is enticing. All the way with thaipantsman.

They don't want to hang out with the likes of Scully in GWS's school camp facility anymore.

There's a hell of a lot of crazy comment and analysis going on at the moment. The reality is this - at the end of last year, this club's playing list had completely lost its way and was absolutely pathetic. Since then, despite winning only 3 games, we have put in a new football department which appears obsessed with discipline and has an appropriate focus on the fundamentals. The benefits from this new approach will, however, take some time to flow through. Surely that's obvious. The point is though - there's been a change of direction, and it is a much needed professional change of direction. In the meantime, the following Victorian clubs have not made the final 8. All of them had finals in their sights this year, given their respective stages in the life cycle. - Essendon - Carlton - St Kilda - Richmond Admittedly St Kilda have a new coach, but they also have a very experienced list that he inherited. Richmond, Carlton and Essendon, all of whom have more experienced lists than us and are more advanced than us in their respective cycles, have had much more time with their respective coaches, their playing style, their methodologies etc - and NONE of them made the 8. Think about that. Neeld's had but a nano-second by comparison, and with a list that is not his and that is pretty bloody ordinary. But we have cap space and good draft picks on our way - and we a coach who seems to have a ruthless commitment to professionalism and discipline. He will not sit on the fence. The transformation could be exciting. But - more than anything, what this club needs now is not the brainless criticism of Mark Neeld and the club more generally. It needs your support. In short, sign up for a 2013 membership as soon as they've been released. Get on board.

You're really bonkers man. Buying out contracts?! Cop a tip, we're not Man U.

Yep - you're right. How he took such a fantastically talented, super fit, experienced, physically hard AFL list to 16th on the table this year is beyond me. To think, following the superb performances towards the end of last season, I had thought we were a lock-in for the finals this year. If only we had a better process. Perhaps we could have landed Mick Malthouse or Allan Jeans or perhaps even Norm Smith. It's so good that we have you to straighten up everyone's thinking about Mark Neeld. Thank you Hardnut.

They're okay. Not worried about either of these players.

It's this simple - if Darling was on the market now, we would go hammer and tongs to get him. Clark and Darling would make for a dangerous forward line. Cook is playing Casey seconds. I hope Cook makes it, but, on the face of it, we clearly stuffed this up.