Ron Burgundy

This win is the most important win I can remember in a very, very long time - for many of the reasons expressed above by Demon4Life - but also for many other reasons. I actually reckon it could be the start of the making of this young player group. The criticism of Neeld prior to this game was absolutely appalling. It was relentless ... and quite ridiculous. Any rational, informed observer could see what Neeld was attempting to do with this list, our club culture and the game plan. Anyone with the most basic, rudimentary knowledge of our list, and its 'progress' over the past four years, also knew exactly what Neeld needed to do. And he was doing exactly what needed to be done - in a very measured, deliberate, intelligent, organised and determined way. That he attracted so much criticism from so-called 'expert' commentators and journalists continues to fire me up. It was simplistic, mediocre, populist stuff. That some 'supporters' were also into him in such a relentless way annoys me even more. In my opinion, we are seriously bloody lucky to have this guy. His patience and determination through the first ten games of the season, and then his reaction to winning the game last Saturday confirmed it in spades to me. So much so, I even received the following text (among many) from an Adelaide supporter following our win: "I almost converted to being a Dees supporter when I saw the passion in the rooms as they belted out their song. Someone give Mark Neeld a medal - that guy is first class." This text sums it up. Neeld will start winning back respect for this club. Respect the club hasn't enjoyed for ages. In short, I know it's only one game. I know we're essentially last on the table (the only clubs below us being start up ventures). But the signs are there. And, in my view, they are extremely positive. Mark Neeld you are a Demon! I'm absolutely stocked you're on board. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By way of reminder, following four years of brutal rebuild, and too many first round draft picks to mention, this is what 2011 delivered for us. In short, this is what Neeld inherited - hardly a list on the verge of finals in 2012. 2011 results 1. Swans at MCG - draw 2. Hawks at MCG - loss by 45 3. Lions at MCG - win by 11 (Lions finished 15th in 2011) 4. Gold Coast at Gabba - win by 90 (GC finished last in 2011) 5. Bye 6. West Coast at Subiaco - loss by 54 7. Adelaide at MCG - win by 96 (Crows finished 14th in 2011) 8. North at Docklands - loss by 41 9. St Kilda at Docklands - loss by 20 10. Carlton at MCG - loss 47 11. Essendon at MCG - win by 33 (Dons finished 8th in 2011) 12. Collingwood at MCG - loss by 88 13. Freo at MCG - win by 89 (injury plagued Freo finished 11th in 2011) 14. Richmond at MCG - win by 27 (Tigers finished 12th in 2011) 15. Bulldogs at Docklands - loss by 64 16. Bye 17. Port in Darwin - win by 21 (Port finished 16th in 2011) 18. Hawks at MCG - loss by 54 19. Geelong at Skilled Stadium - loss by 186 20. Carlton at MCG - loss by 76 21. West Coast at Docklands - loss by 48 22. Richmond at MCG - loss by 7

I get so bloody sick of all the Dunn bashing on this site. He's a good player. And he always wears his heart on his sleeve and gives it a red hot crack. In short, he's a real Demon.

It's Carlton that I want to beat. And to see Mitch Robinson and Eddie Betts finish the game literally covered from head to toe in bruises.

Joel Macdonald had a very good game tonight. Very good.

Absolutely stocked. So happy. But I want to see all Demonlanders stick fat. Whilst Neeld is without doubt the future, it is likely we may have a few more disappointing losses this year - and that doesn't mean we're heading in the wrong direction, just that we're developing. Love Mr Neeld though. He will win us a flag. Best thing that happened to this club in centuries (ie, even before the game was invented).

Nailed this pick. Jack Watts is the future of the MFC - and I'm happy about that.

The best win I've seen in years. And much of it is because Mark Neeld is a gun and, tonight at least, we've been able to give him an insight into what he can achieve at this club. So bloody happy. I reckon we can pump the Pies next week too. Mark - thank you.

The Dees stood up tonight. Showed the world what a superficial flake David King actually is.

I love Neeld. He is the future.

Totally agree. Awesome to watch. I love Mark Neeld. I hope he is our coach for the next 20 years. In short, Mark Neeld will win us a flag. It's that simple.

Very good game tonight. Good pick up on tonight's form.

All of you who bag Neeld - shove that up where it fits. He's the future of this club. Thank you Mark. And bloody good onya!

Watts is going to be a superstar - having another great game. All of you who constantly bag him, get stuffed. Garland up forward is good too. I'm loving this game - c'mon Dees!!

This has perhaps been covered to death previously (apologies if it has), but does anyone know why Moloney wanted to be traded to the Dons last year. Some people have said this was being openly discussed at last year's B&F night - and some Dons' supporting mates of mine said they thought it was a done deal, and that it only collapsed at the 12th hour. If true, this preceded Neeld's decision to drop him from the leadership group. I'd like to know what his angst with the club was last year, particularly having just won the B&F.

It would be great if we could land Boak. The reality is though, it will be very hard - every club wants his services. The Ling suggestion though is absolutely fantastic. I've posted this before, but I think it's relevant to this discussion. Last October, I was in New York. Sat next to Andrew Mackie and his wife at a restaurant and then spent the night drinking with him. I asked him what he thought of the Dees. He said we clearly had a leadership vacuum and a bad culture. He said the infamous 186 game was just bizarre. He wasn't sure as to the quality of the list - said some of the young players looked pretty good, but, because of the lack of really good senior players, they probably wouldn't develop as well as they could. He contrasted that with Geelong. In particular, he highlighted the importance of Cameron Ling. He said that, as a young player coming into the system, the older players are vital to setting the culture and attitude of the rest of the list - and he said there was no one better than Cameron Ling. He seemed to place a lot of Geelong's success squarely on the shoulders of Cameron Ling. In short, Ling would be an absolutely sensational get for our club - particularly at this stage in its list development. Having spoken to Andrew Mackie also gives me enormous confidence in Mark Neeld. He is doing exactly the things Mackie reckoned we needed to do. I won't say exactly what Mackie said of certain players - it wouldn't be fair to him - but it seems Neeld has formed a very similar view and has actively taken steps to address those issues.

In the words of Norman Mailer/Christoper Hitchens/Sir Les Patterson - who cares what the dumbest guy in the room has to say. It is clear that Neeld is introducing, has introduced, a professionalism never seen before at this club.

I have read some really brainless threads on here lately, but I think this takes the cake. Well done fired up - your emotion seems to overtaken all logical and sensible thought.

Neeld. Thaipantsman - I fear you're guilty of yet more greatness on this thread.

I have to say, I was very surprised by Moloney's omission from the leadership group at the time. For me, those concerns continue to linger.

Dustin Martin and Jack Darling. And, to think ...

Another perspective on silence: The Henrik Hudson School District Library Media Centre provides a model essay for students which ends with the words, Perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders, victims: we can be clear about three of these categories. The bystander, however, is the fulcrum. If there are enough notable exceptions, then protest reaches a critical mass. We don’t usually think of history as being shaped by silence, but, as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to say and do nothing.’

Despite the on-field results thus far, a new look professionalism that this club has not experienced before.

Strange the turnaround. We absolutely smashed these same stats between 2007 and 2011.

This exactly. Everyone who works in a corporate environment, or has worked in a corporate environment, that has 'psychological' testing knows what a load of b.s it is. It's funny that a 'footy journalist' is seemingly commanding such currency on this issue. Wilson wouldn't know the first thing about professionalism. Ironically, I reckon Neeld would have a fair clue though. The best recruits are often through contacts and by word of mouth, particularly from respected people in the know. Malthouse's endorsement of Neeld is worth so much more than some b.s 'psychological' test - it stuns me that this has got so much press to be honest. Shows how easy it is to excite the masses these days. The MFC absolutely nailed our recruitment in the off season - Neeld, Misson, Craig, Rawlings, Clark. I fail to see any credible contrary view - other than, of course, from a muck-raking perspective. And as to the game plan, perhaps a lot of MFC players and supporters are disappointed that the days of the downhill skiing game plan are officially over ...

Dead set, you are a genius. Why bother reading the likes of Wittgenstein, when I can simply log into Demonland and follow the intellectual might of 'thaipantsman'. A suggestion - google the media articles immediately following Bailey's sacking and check out who the so-called 'experts' (most of whom are now superficially fanning your fire - fickle mongrels that they are) reckon should get the senior coaching gig at the MFC - and, perhaps more importantly, what 'type' of coach the MFC needed to appoint. It might, just might, cause you to temper your vitriol somewhat at the moment. Given your form to date on this issue though, perhaps not ...