felixdacat

I have only been a supporter of the Melbourne FC since 1997. I come from Queensland and grew up playing Rugby League and Union as young child. I spent 13 years in the West surrounded by Eagles and Dockers fans before moving back home with my young family. As a supporter of a sporting side I have always thought that I was pretty level headed and could be quite balanced in my approach to providing that support. I loved to watch other teams play and enjoy the spectacle of the game. The last few years I have become increasingly obsessed with football and find my self in the off season getting very impatient with the lack of football in particular not being able to see the Mighty Demons playing. The last few years have also hardened my resolve and passion towards the boys. I can honestly say I am a one eyed supporter who is more ferociously vocal and feral when I watch the Dee's play. I also now hate every other team in the AFL with a passion because I only want success for one team and that is the demons.Whether this is good or bad remains to be seen, but I find it an interesting side effect that our boys are struggling on field and I am becoming more and more resolute in my view that they are the only team for me. It has now become a case of Us against Them and for me that is both disturbing and exhilarating. So bring it on Media Commentators and bring it on opposition supporters because regardless of who the President, Board, CEO or Coach is, I Support Melbourne FC!

Whispering I could not agree more with this view. Especially the part about supporting our club through thick or thin.

I certainly smell something and it ain't coffee.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-06-06/mclardy-hits-back-at-kennett-comments

Thanks for that sweet puff my counter is "you are part of the problem!" I personally was not there because like a few other fans I live interstate. Does your 15-18k numbers account for us who live outside of Melbourne. Because I have a note from my mum for why I was not there. FWIW If a blood letting occurs at Melbourne at this time we will be further behind and be weakened even more. I have no problems with a challenge happening at the AGM but to create Chaos halfway through a season will not do anything but stroke a few egos and end up costing more money.

I am sorry but as a Dee's supporter I have never had the desire to watch my team lose at any point. It's a very sad article, written by a passionate ex player who happens also happens to be in the media. All of these factors make me question this article. The other part of this that is really tragic is that when unity is required we have ex-players like Schwartz and Healy taking pot shots and trying to divide the club. People are saying that if we continue to lose games and have MN as coach our club will die off, but article like this from former players create havoc and are like a cancer that will eat away on the inside. I have alway held The Ox with some regard but not after this article. On Sunday we have Gerard Healy saying MN is gonski once the board met on monday. All the media outlets treating it like its gospel, then when it does not happen they all cry foul and say it was a non-decision. Biggest beat up ever and what a waste of resources and time for the journo's who spent waiting all day to get given nothing. The only reason it had credence is because Healy's brother is on the board but journos being the sensationalist they are equated this to a certainty it was going to happen. I lmao by the end of the day and listening to Gerard over in Perth having a sulk because he thought his brother could get it done. Obviously knows his football but he has got no idea of what type of politics goes on with boards. This is the world I reckon Ox is trying drum up support to enter into and he is going to find out that he should stay in radio. Because on the radio if you don't agree with someone you just hang up on them and push your own agenda. In a board there no hanging up you actually have to argue and win your fellow directors over to your side. You can't bully them or cajole them you need to to convince enough of them to carry your agenda forward. This is all done whilst dealing with the agenda's both hidden and open of all your fellow directors. But I digress. For Shame Ox For Shame you may speak for some Dee's fans but you do not speak for me in this matter.

it would be devastating.....if the reports were even accurate, but I guess if a player wants leave then so be it. If they do walk and site the reason for it to be difference with the coach, does that mean that every time players decide to leave that you need to revisit the Head Coach position. Strangely that almost like the Tail is wagging the dog, where does it stop. At some point you will get players who want to be there for the right reason and we will back to square one and were having a rebuild of the rebuild of the rebuild. FWIW I reckon Frawley, Watts and Sylvia are on board the reality bus. So we will just have to wait and see. As you are aware I am not violently opposed to MN and I actually think he should see his contract out, because I still think at some point the penny will drop and our players will actually start to turn the tide. Watching Richmond tonight shows me what happens when you stay the course and start getting the right culture and attitude into a football club. Others may disagree

Your wrong because the stuff you describe in game focuses on what the players are doing wrong at times within in a game. The team does not do those wrong things throughout the whole game. There are times when the team does all the things its supposed to do, we get confidence but when challenged the inexperienced players fall back into the wrong routines. This as Neeld has said in numerous Pressers is because the team is inexperienced. Every anti-Neeld poster hear like to blame all the team losses on MN Coaching. But we never acknowledge that the teams we lose to are much more improved then we are. for example we lost to the Bummers by a large margin, but this season they have dismantled some pretty good sides , they were an okay side last year but are further along in their development this year, Gold Coast they are a side who are full of really good young players and now that they are into their third year they are gaining some ground. Apart from Port who jumped us early (and we did not recover) we have played Brisbane (NAB Cup Winners) Carlton, Richmond, Fremantle and West Coast all who are clubs a lot further developed then us. I like many others was buoyant at the season start thinking we would be a lot further along. I was wrong and my expectations were unrealistic. So now as I have said previously I just keep waiting for the mental aspect of the game to change with the players and how they attack the game. I am hoping to be presently surprised. The second part of you post is conjecture, how do you know how Mark Neeld coaches his players. I see the persona you talk about in your post when he is talking to the press, but that is a reaction to the press and not necessarily how he would coach his players. If you ever hear the questions being asked by the media you can understand why you would get annoyed as an AFL coach because they are the most purile questions "how does that loss sit with you?" is probably my most favourite. I don't think he is about discipline but more about being clear on expectations with players which other have said about him. As a coach and motivator that's what you want. Clear instructions about what is required so you can go out an get it done. Finallly Buy in is wonderful but execution and maintaining mental fortitude still needs to happen, it's going to take little time to learn which has been the message for a while now from the coach. The media continue to make the agenda about MN and Mark continues to ignore the them.

Some of the most frustrating and obtuse form of derogatory comments I hear stem from this attitude that Indigenous people get it easy because we are indigenous. We get free cars, houses and everything laid out for us. Apparently the fact that I have worked since I was 16 years old, built a house for my family with the money that wasn't just given to me but I had to work hard for does not matter because I have it all easy. To top all this off I spend every other fortnight going to the funeral of a family or community member. It's the attitude that we are lazy people who just sit at home getting the dole that this type of comment stems from. If the person in the stand had said the umpire was blind and was favouring the opposition side because they are the umpires favourites then that would be fine. But to say that he is being favoured because its indigenous round and he is indigenous is an obvious attack at the fact that the player is indigenous. It's used to easy to stand in the a crowd of people and Racially vilify people but understand today that if you choose to do that and someone reports you or films you then expect to be asked to explain your behaviour to the AFL. People complain that it's political correctness gone wrong but I see it as a lack self control and really sloppy thinking to continue to belittle someone because they are different.

Racism is not only about words but is also about power and how the words remove any feeling of worth. Posters who say that words meaning change, we are being overly sensitive and white people get called all sorts of names and its should be okay because its all fun and games/larrikinism don't seem to get this. As an Indigenous male I have lived all my life as a minority in my own country so I roll my eyes to the heavens whenever I hear a member of the dominant majority say I should stop being sensitive. I have lived with constant barrage of racism both open forms and subtle forms pretty much all my life. You become conditioned to ignore the subtle digs and jibes because I learnt long ago that fighting each one just makes you very angry person and the reality is, the issue is not one I have, but the uneducated views of the person perpetuating the racism. The last few days have been an interesting time for the sport and I think it has been a good to have discussion about this issue. It's a sad way to have to address this issue but often with racial vilification it's only going to be discussed when something negative happens. Some may think the media have blown the issue out to be more then it should but I would rather have peoples comments and opinions as it means there is robust discussions about it. The worst thing Australians can do is sweep it under the rug again issues like these need to be always discussed. What would be interesting is to see discussion occuring when there are no flare ups of racial vilification going on. The discussion has been a very interesting one and its been good to hear all your views on this except for yours DeeinWa having lived and worked in WA I am all to familiar with the attitudes of Rural WA towards the Nyoongar people comments like your mirror my own experiences in that part of the country. I wonder if you would have the audacity to call Buddy Franklin, Neville Jetta, Harly Bennell, Marley Williams, Louis Jetta, Jeff Farmer, Jamie Bennell, Ashley Mcgrath, Leon Davis, Chance Bateman and any of the other great Indigenous Footballers, who have come from Rural WA, an APE or monkey and then see if they think your funny. But I guess that's a bit harsh and I do apologise for that outburst as I certainly can understand that it must be hard living in rural WA as white male.

Spend the next day Eiffel Towering every Male I meet (IT Crowd style) and Winking and double finger gunning every female whilst saying "How You Doin?"

I have been accused of using a bunch of Metaphors in my OP although I think the author of that particular post does not really understand what a metaphor actually is (or I am mistaken by what he/she constitutes as a bunch) My OP was rhetorical and by that I mean it was designed to make a point. Like some others you may have missed my point, I am not saying I would extend his contract because he is doing so well, but, I would as a club act in a way that showed some guts and not be lead around by the Media and nay sayers and take a knee jerk reaction in the middle of a season. The second point I wanted to make is that we have (now) a 113 + pages of negativity about MN and occasionally I like a little balance. The third point was not really a point but just thought it would be a laugh to pull the old Free Sex gag on a few posters get them reading a different post. Now to answer your question after Gold Coast I was definitely finding it hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. It was a sad indictment and almost expected the obligatory Press conference with MN being shown the door. But hey guess what the club is still sticking by its decision. After Richmond felt we were back on track. I reckon the players got a little self belief worked hard and were let down by skill errors which challenged their mental toughness. They stuck at their task and fought out the game. When I watch the players I like to see how they react when they are challenged or make mistakes, if they shrug it off and continue to work even harder then that's what I like to see. I reckon our fitness has improved since last year, our skills are letting us down at crucial moments in games which can hurt us and switch any momentum we have gained against us. The players skills will improve with games and (that horrible word) time. If we maintain the work ethic and our skills improve each week who knows may be MN may make it to the end of his contract. lol. Go the Dee!

In an uncharacteristic show of solidarity and support the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) Board has decided to put to bed the rumours and innuendo surrounding there beleaguered senior coach and extend Mark Neeld's contract to the end of 2015. Neeld's original contract was for three years up until the end of 2014, but the Board unanimously voted to extend Neeld's contract by another year to reinforce the message that, contrary to popular belief, the ailing club was going to stay the course in its rebuild. Recent media reports linking the Former Swans coach Paul Roos to the club have contributed to this bold move by the board, this and the unanimous support shown by the MFC players and Football department whom have all rallied around there Senior Coach. Rumours about AFL intervention have been quashed by the AFL CEO earlier this week who emphatically denied the AFL have any involvement in moves to replace a coach of one of its member organisation. The above is not a real article but what I would be doing if I ran this club. Why? Because at some point this club "needs to grow a pair". Stop being pushed around by the Media and others and show some real grit. I have watched and read some of the defeatist carry on on these boards about sack the coach and starting again because its all too hard. Because apparently Roos or Williams or Worsfold are magically going to make this team better. Yeah Right pull the other one its got bells on it. Well I still have faith in Neeld and the team he has gathered, I am happy with incremental improvements because soon the steps will be become great strides and the players and people we have at the club will be forged into "The Hardest Football Team to Play" I support Neeld because he has chosen to take the hardest route to success. He is recruiting the type of players that knows that you need work hard if you want to win. He has made choices based on what is proven and not on what is easiest or guesswork. The systems and plans he has set in place will make this team be successful and it will ensure sustained success. Quite frankly I think it sucks that we are not winning but unlike some I look for the little positives that are becoming ingrained into the ethos of the team. Work hard, hunt the ball and never drop your head and Play out the game. Sorry mods for starting a whole new thread but I just wanted to start a positive thread on our Coach rather than get my message lost in the Negativity that is being said about MN.

Seems pretty close to the mark for mine. IMO It's Bailey all over again. Last time we did that it cost us $500K. The media and other clubs will love it because it reinforces their view of what a basket case the MFC is but so be it. Posters on here want to get rid of someone who has been doing the job for 5 minutes because things are not going to your own plans or wishes for MFC. All because people want instant gratification and instant progress we hear the drums a beating for another sacrifice of our coach. Others argue that they have been waiting for 60 years and they are sick of waiting, How is that laid at the current coach's door he only started in September 2011? but posters continue to bleat like the length of their Martyrdom means they have more valid claim to being more righteous than other who are calling for calm. 44 pages of venting and negativity towards a Coach who has been in the job for 18 months on the basis of various assumptions and misguided realities vs the personal hell in Ground Hog Day hard to separate IMO.

If I was Don I would stand down as President, not because I think he is guilty of anything far from it but at some point with the weight of scandal and drama coming out of the club you need to look at doing what is right for the club. If it was me I would call a press conference dress up in my civvies with no Club logo or paraphernalia and announce my stepping down from the board and chair once declared, proceed to give my honest and unfettered views on the AFL, media and sundry. Go out with a bang a big FU to all and walk out lmao. But thats just me

Even Worse a mixture of the Above Caroline Wilson and Cameron Schwab finally reveal long standing affair

Previously I have been supportive of the Don and what he has done but with this morning news my opinion on Don Mclardy as the Chairperson has changed, I believe his position is now untenable and he must stand down.

Wow so a coach should have the ability to install self belief in to a player should he? what a load of hog wash. Self belief must come from one self you can't teach some one to believe in themselves. You provide them with the skills the training and opportunity its up to the individual to take the last step. Having confidence with ones ability comes when you see the training and work paying off on the field. Having a positive first half gives the players the taste of confidence and self belief. Maintaining that for the whole games has improved from the Essendon game. In the Essendon game our players self belief was shattered by a team that kept its foot on the necks of our boys all game and would not let them up. West Coast blew us away in the third quarter but there were signs of trying to get up, dusting off and having a go in the fourth. The ability to learn from the negative and reinforce the positives is what MN is doing and I think he is well suited to it. The boys will improve it will just take some time.

I agree there is something wrong with the club. We keep losing by big margins and we are uncompetitive for large parts of the game through lack of confidence or resilience, How will the AFL help this by stepping in? How will injecting people into administration help the players on the field ? What possible magical solution does the AFL have to solve a problem like MFC? Has it ever done something similar in similar circumstances to any other club in history? If they do this to the MFC what would other clubs think? Does it set a dangerous precedent? RR I think if you call in the AFL to solve your problems it's a bit like running crying to your parents as a 21 year old when life gets hard. MFC just has to work its way through this situation and solve it own issues. How will it ever become resilient and grow in confidence.

To answer the Question making a bucket load of cash with no responsibility other then to comment on football, personally I hope he stays there.

Sadly I think posters are right Jamar was a liability on Saturday and I hope that they give one of our younger Rucks an opportunity,

Richard Loudner 1987 Anthony Banick 1989 Stephen Hooper 1990 Three first draft picks that have worse playing records then Jack Watts found within 2 minutes of research Scott Cummings well done

You mob are like that Tracy chapman song talking bout a revolution. But come AGM not a round is fired. Happy to listen to you all talk tough now but all those who are talking up big now better be doing the same at next AGM. If you don't and we are still here next year talking bout a revolution. Expect some vigorous feedback from myself and other D'Landers. Especially since a lot of you are sick of the rhetoric from Neeld and Co and you want results I and others should hold you to the same measure. In fact this thread would make a great political campaign platform to get the word out to members. Not sure if that's allowed though. I personally don't see the need for change and quite happy to continue with current regime but if you get up I will support you all. So good luck and happy campaigning.

What's Sunrise?

"Rise up in the cafeteria and stab them with your plastic forks" "You can take our wives but you can never take our freedom" "Sincerely yours the Breakfast Club"