Ron Burgundy

You'd think we picked Neeld out of some bush league competition.

RR - I suspect I'll come in for some criticism here, but I think Davey is trying. I just think the game's moved beyond him a bit. I'd play him wholly in our forward 50 and instruct him just to effect tackles, nothing more.

I have no issue with the decisions on Robbo, Yze and White either (for what it's worth). But, after Junior, I think many of the senior players felt they had targets on their heads. The only senior player let go by the previous administration that I had an issue with was Junior. A very big issue. He was clearly respected by everyone on the list, and was a hard at it player for his entire MFC career. He was still in our best 22 and had a major role to play in 2011. In short, I think he was cut prematurely, and badly, and the effects of it are still playing out.

Unfortunately history shows that inflammatory innuendo and rumours are much more compelling to the masses than any sophisticated analysis of established facts/evidence. A zero from eight start makes it pretty easy for the commentators to generate such innuendo and rumour. And that makes for interesting news and drama. It's more interesting than saying we have a new coach who's trying to introduce a professionalism and hardness into a youngish list that's never experienced it before, and we're only 8 games into the new era.

I understand your perspective, but I don't think he could really say much more to be honest. In particular, I don't think he would think it appropriate to be telling the football department/match selection committee who they should, and should not, be selecting next week. That said, I suspect we will see a very different player group by the start of 2013.

Personally, I thought the rot set in with the senior players well before the 186 point loss and the saga surrounding it. Bailey's decision to cut Junior, and the way in which it was carried out, lacked judgement on so many levels. Then Bruce left. Robbo, White and Yze in the years before this. They were all in our best 22 at the time. To say this is all Neeld's doing is far too convenient - and not at all accurate IMO either. I said it at the time about Junior, and I maintain it still - Bailey's decision to let him go when he did has had long lasting consequences for this player group.

This is exactly what the club needs to prevent and what I was alluding to in my earlier post. And if I'm seen to be a sycophant, it just shows how anonymous forums like this really are. No one who knows me would ever call me that.

The On The Couch interview just finished. I thought Don McLardy handled himself very well. Get behind the club for Christ's sake. This is when real character shines through. As a supporter base, we're being tested right now. Now, more than ever, is the time to stick fat.

"I love scotch too. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly ... "

What are you trying to achieve with your incessant bagging of Mark Neeld, Retrospective? It's not clever. IMO the views you've expressed are far too convenient and simplistic. Mark Neeld came to the Dees as an extremely highly credentialed and well regarded senior assistant coach. He would've been high on the list for the Adelaide and St Kilda gigs too, but we moved more quickly. In short, he was very respected by those in the know in the industry. And, I expect, still is. Our list is not that good. For a start, we have far too few really good senior players, a leadership vacuum and, historically, a very weak culture. Everyone knows this. In particular, Mark Neeld knows this. All the signs to date show that. And, for the first time in decades, we have someone who is determined to change it. Importantly, I think he has the character, the conviction and the ability to actually change it too. He is trying to introduce a professionalism to this club that it has not seen in a very long time. Personally, I think we're bloody lucky to have him.

You serious?! Dunn, Bate, Bartram and Joel Mac all have a fair dinkum crack each time they play for us. I'd actually bring all of those players back.

Get Sydney's head of recruitment. They are fantastic at identifying hard at it players and reinventing them - and, quite often, they get such players on bargain basement deals. Obviously they've also got a great culture and a good fitness department. Josh Kennedy (pick 39 - Hawthorn), Rhyce Shaw (pick 61 - Collingwood), Marty Mattner (pick 28 - Adelaide), Shane Mumford (pick 28 - Geelong), Ben McGlynn (picks 46 and 70 - Hawthorn), Matt Spangher (pick 73 - West Coast), Tommy Walsh (pick 35 and 68 - St Kilda). Otherwise, stick with us Mark Neeld. You've totally got my support. You're definitely the man for this job.

Show some character and turn up to the game. Boycotting the game is the soft, easy option and it wholly lacks accountability. In fact, it is the very type of action that we are bagging many MFC players about displaying each week on the field. Crazy post.

Totally agree. Said much the same thing to Don McLardy at three quarter time at the game yesterday. I also told him that I flew back from Hong Kong especially for yesterday's game. He seemed to like that, and he immediately acknowledged that it's not that easy for MFC supporters at the moment. He also said that the club is very excited by Jack Viney. The compo picks that we got for Scully, coupled with what will obviously be a poor ladder finish this year, will land us a couple of very good players later this year.

No.

I want to see the club sign up some of our own required players on that list before I'll get excited by the prospect of landing non-required players from other clubs.

Worst post I have ever read on this forum.

I love Mark Neeld.

I've never wanted to see a win more than today. I know it's not likely, but it would be the biggest statement possible about the new direction of this club. C'mon Dees!

I'd absolutely love to see Dangerfield in the red and the blue. He's just what we need. It'd also be great to land a player like Dangerfield in circumstances where other so-called 'bigger' clubs are keen to get his signature. That, in itself, makes a strong statement.

Not enough pace. Or class.

I have no idea how good he is, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Andrew Moore was really hopeful of being picked up by the Dees in that draft.

Davey and Morton - both talented, albeit much maligned players on this site, are starting to show a lot more intensity now. And that's a great sign, because the upside to these guys is IMO enormous. I reckon Neeld loves Bate - and I can see why. He's a footballer's footballer. Definitely in our best 21 under Neeld - strange to think he was on the outer just six months ago. Jones - unlucky not to be Captain. Neeld's turning him into a weapon. Watts and Trengove didn't have great games - but there's no need to worry about these guys. Both players will be in Sheahan's top 50 in the next few years. Magner - unbelievable rookie pick. You could shoot him in the head with a gun, and he'd get back up and smash someone. He could win the B&F this year. Tom McD - what a great game from a 6 gamer. I literally couldn't believe it. We really missed Moloney and Sylvia in the first few rounds. Gotta love Bartram and Jordie Mac. We won all the important stats, except obviously the points on the scoreboard. All in all, the signs are there. In fact, some really, really good signs. Neeld is making this previously soft list, a hard list.

Great post Footynut. I remain absolutely convinced that Mark Neeld will transform this club. I've said it before, if he had a number, I'd put it on the back of my guernsey. I love the man. He is currently making decisions, and adopting structures and approaches, that this club has shirked for far too long. No doubt, there will be more pain - but, unlike the pain we've endured over the last few decades, I reckon this year's pain will be worth it.

Bullet proof mids. And no clever dick, left field selections.