Allen Jakovich

In my opinion has played exceptionally well the last two weeks down back. I really like him as a player but don't think he is suited to the forward line.

I'd really like for him to stay back, but is there room for Watts, Frawley, Garland, T. Macdonald and Sellar?

I believe Neeld really wants Watts down there for his disposal but I hope he doesn't move Sellar forward again.

No late change. Bail sub.

Bring on Jimmy Mags

Davey full game, I like it.

This is now officially getting beyond a joke.

I'm actually starting to hate the guy now, and I feel cheated at how he has driven our club so much further into the mire.

Seriously, what a load of crap. It's just rumour mongering.

I find this rather funny to be honest. We "need someone who can sell hope" do we? I'd rather have someone who is honest and tells us the truth. Neeld told us right from the start that the team was a shambles and it would take time to fix. He's not even halfway through his contract and people are calling for his head because it's turned out to be true. Before this season he said they weren't up to the standard he wants and there are still holes to fill in the list. He hasn't tried to sell us hope, he's sold us reality. The reality is that you don't fix a team as messed up as ours in one year. The reality is that if we sack him now we'll have another coach starting from scratch with another new message and we'll be a year and a half further back. The hope I hold onto is that Neeld is right and with time, fitness and experience these players will gel into a cohesive unit that can get the job done. I'm willing to back him for another year to see if he can make it happen.

Neeld has butchered this list. It is much worse than when he took over. They are paralysed by a fear of failure. He has to go.

We did just this with Bailey after Rnd 1 was it, 2010?

Didn't work out so well...

I seriously think fitness has to be an issue... as in... they can't physically complete the running tasks that are required to defend uncontested chains...

I find this thread so funny. I'm in the USA at the moment so I missed the game, but you have to understand that I have been going to sleep expecting the worst and find something even worse than that when I wake up.

People are saying Neeld was happy with a 28 point loss. BS he is taking positives to build on with the playing group, any massiah coach we got in that's had this start to the year would say just about the exact same thing. Of course they bloody well play to win, but sometimes it's good just to say, "well at least.......".

Finally some sense.

People need to realise that we are a football side devoid of confidence. Neeld is simply attempting to restore it. Don't forget rounds 1-3...

Rohan Bail should be dropped for torching his teammates four times and missing shots at goal instead. Cost us massively, as all were at important stages of the match too....

I noticed a marked difference in the Mark Neeld who fronted the presser after the West Coke game than the Mark Neeld who I have seen for the past 20 odd months.

Much less intense and much less angry. Much more prepared to have a bit of a laugh and much more, dare I say it... understanding...

Watching him I was filled with hope that he might finally understand that going into pressers and answering "i don't know" when your asked how the team might turn around their poor on field fortunes sends a horrendous message to the players...

That he might finally realise that he must tailor his leadership approach to the people he leads, rather then expecting them to respond to the way he wants to lead.

Time will tell...

Thats crap, the MFC is a viable business with no debt, we attracted 20,000 to a game last week against GWS, if we play a decent Victorian side we always attract a decent crowd, there one top season off 42,000 members, if they can get it done on the field it would be sky the limits, but as we know thats a big IF, its not as bad as your doomsday posts make it out to be.

Just about the best post I've read this year. Spot on.

Daniel Rich suffered a shoulder injury at training tonight.

Shoulder blow leaves Lion Rich out for eight weeks

Bad news for the Lions, bad news for Rich, but could help our chances this weekend.

So glad this guy is on our list. In five years time I think Collingwood will rue the day.

I'll put in on youtube when i've got a second. I will say it didn't look as good on the tv as it did at the ground though.

I reckon the ultimate warrior could lift our fortunes. Would do alright on a half back flank, running through the square at the centre bounce taking out a couple...

Make it happen Jason Taylor.

6 - Jones - A marvellous example to the rest of the team, champion effort by him in and under.

5 - Sylvia - Equal 6th for Inside 50s in the comp is pretty amazing given how much we've sucked, played a pearler yesterday and was inspirational in the last qtr.

4 - Grimes - Led the way all day, even when others were dropping their heads.

3 - Garland - Best quarter he's played for MFC in the 4th. Just wouldn't allow us to lose. Not on his watch.

2 - Trengrove - Played like a captain for one of the few times in his short career. Immensely encouraging.

1 - Howe - Electrified the MCG and was the cream in the last quarter.

Honourable mentions to Pickles and Byrnes (who were both superb), Gawny and Terlich.

I've made them all, but think I'll excuse myself from the Gabba trip this week.

Often our club is derided for not having any true leaders, and often Colin Sylvia is smashed by the media and supporters alike for never standing up when it counts and liking it all his own way.

Well we all know where we were heading at 3 quarter time today... and at the start of the fourth quarter when Col ran through about five blokes through the centre square his teammates visibly lifted and the self belief really began to re-emerge.

This guy was immense in the last quarter despite cramping like crazy and he worked his butt off to create opportunities for his teammates in the forward 50.

It's only GWS and haters... you keep hating.. but Col (with a few mates) lead our club to victory today.

And you know this how ?

Interested in your critique of all our assistant coaches ( and methodology of forming your opinion)

I don't wish to speak for Dawi, but happy to give you my opinion...

In meeting Royal once and hearing him a number of times in his pre-match interviews on DeeTV last year, he strikes me as a very unintelligent football person with very little idea about how to teach young footballers. His tactic of shoulder shrugging when being asked how the midfield will approach certain difficulties in the upcoming game, doesn't fill me with confidence that either a) he knows anything about how to build a winning midfield b) has any idea how to inspire and enthuse his charges. I'm sure it wouldn't fill the players with much either.

He seems like a very good bloke and I'm sure the players get on with him, but very inadequate in his role. The performance of the midfield whilst under his watch is also impossible to deny. The way the players always seem hopelessly lost at stoppages... the way at training last week he had them practicing stoppages with phantom opponents... I just don't see how that helps. They should have all players who rotate through there practicing against each other...

Just look at the midfield when Ratten was in charge to see the effects of an excellent assistance coach...

Moving onto Grieves... i have only met him once but I was impressed. He has a teaching background and it really comes through. He seems much more astute than Royal but is still very personable. Of course, I have very little idea of how well he'll do in the "assistance midfield coach" job, but he impressed me a lot more than Royal does.

If this rumour is true I for one will be very happy.

Would be even better if we could get the ball forward...

Which having Dawes at FF would help us do, due to how his inclusion in the team would affect the position of other players... your point?

Thanks 1994 keep up the good work. WIsh I could be there (although maybe not given the conditions).

Man it would be nice to have Chris Dawes playing forward for us right now.

I gotta say, I think Dean Terlich will play 200 games for the MFC and be a really great player for us. He's one, along with Jones and Viney. Who have really excited me.

Please let Maxy come in this week and dominate.

He can go a long way to lifting our clearance fortunes.

Damn, I left just before the players finished I guess, missed the thanks.

Awful lot of set shot practice given we're struggling to get it inside fifty at the moment. They must know something we don't!!! Tappy drilling them from everywhere...