buck_nekkid

What a crap article. Sorry, Glenn, send a letter to yourself with a picture of a haemorrhoid and consider it a self portrait. We were never found guilty of tanking. We are in dire straits How many other draft picks have not made it at other clubs? It ain't just us. Who cares that 2 other teams were pantsed on the weekend. What does that have to do with anything? What is your real point? You are a flat track bully picking on the weak kid. Try writing something constructive. The AFL have to tolerate us for 4 years or mess up their broadcast rights. A weak Melbourne makes attendances for our host clubs drop too. It is in the AFL's interest to have us viable, if not competitive, ASAP. So, cash + priority picks + any other help to get us out of the toilet. Thanks for nothing Mr Haemorrhoid.

Anyone with some real info? I know we are all suffering at the moment, but It would be great to hear observations from reality occasionally..

I would love to see the whole playing group taking responsibility for their performances. Come out as a group and put it on the line. Tell the world there is no internal BS between coach and players and they WANT the MN way. Come out and say the buck stops now, and for them to hold themselves, and each other accountable. Too much individualism, lack of 'doing it for the team or mates' and no accountability. Set and keep the non-negotiables that they, as a group, BUY INTO. A mixed up team is MEAT. Meat being eaten by hungry predators. That is MFC at the moment. Time to get it sorted

Will MN survive? Don't know, but here are a few ideas to move us forward: 1. Allow our interim CEO to complete his review and institute any recommendations immediately. I suspect the FD will look completely different afterwards 2. Board to communicate more to members. It is bad following the Demons this year, but to do so in silence is not acceptable. Spill at the end of the year. 3. Continue as we are and get a priority pick. We have never tanked, face no sanctions and so a request for a priority pick should be put forward. No extra wins this year will make any difference. Let the kids have time to develop at Casey. 4. Get tough on the players. Set non negotiables in how to play. Do it or play for Casey. Stop treating them like poor babies, and get them being uncompromising. 5. Get outside experts in- support MN, and sports psych for the players. We are the laughing stock of laughing stocks. If we don't get it right we ay be the Darwin Demons in time for the next TV deal...

Looked back can't see the presser. Coud someone pls post a link?

Ok, so they look like the Doggies. Happy?

If this was Sydney vs Melb. there would be calls for the coach, and for blood. The Swans have ripped the pies a new one. Making the Pies look like us. Won the contested ball, spread better, foot speed, taking risks. Wow.

So we have a number of players out of contract at the end of the year. Reality check: happens every year, to every club Other clubs are expressing interest in payer X or player Y. Reality Check: of course they are. It is called list management. Player X is delaying contract talks to the end of the season Reality check: of course the,y would. If the manager thinks their value will go UP due to this years performances, why sign now? Why not ' explore the market? Especially when your advisor ( the manager) gets a direct cut of the result. Player Z is disgruntled. Reality check: source? Is this contract negotiation leverage? Player Y has friends at Collingwood. Reality check: half of Collingwood have friends in prison, doesn't mean they have to go there. Player Z is not loyal. Reality Check: only supporters are loyal. Players are paid employees with a limited lifespan, trying to make their career The media report a story of Player Y leaving Reality check: D'Oh- that is what they do- stretch the truth to make a story so you will buy their rag. It isn't fact, it's supposition. So, the deal isn't done until its done. All the speculation for what? Cold showers and reality checks for several here, I think.

I was really frustrated with McKenzie today. He fluffed and fumbled almost everything. If he had clean possession, we had paths out of contests. His fumbles ensured these were missed and it either led to a turnover, or a shut down. Then kicking into the mark! He has to fix this. The keystone cops try hard, but never win. McKenzie is a keystone cop. Nicholson, on the other hand, dis some ok things and is worth another chance. Perhaps it is confidence and self belief.

Freo have few talls, so we can stretch them with Dawes and Gawn forward. Toump will come out with injury. Jordie was the worst butterfingers I've seen in ages. At least 5 times a clean possession and we were away. Fumbles and it went the other way. So OUT Watts in, ?? For jordie. We probably need legs to run Subi. Overall, the effort was there, but we had patches of poor skill particularly in the spread, and hitting targets to advantage. Gotta get better in this to take any points this year

I still go to the footy, but am not taking the kids. If it is no fun for a hard nut supporter like me, I won't subject my kids to it. Losing is not the issue, it is the way they play. When they are competitive, I will take the kids again. Until then, the boys can enjoy their weekends. It is the only way I can think of to ensure they aren't driven away from the club.

As long as it takes. I felt empty yesterday watching that. Supporters around me turning on each other. Numb by the performance. Regardless, I will stick through thick and thin. That is the difference, I suppose, between a barracker and a supporter.

My belief is the board needs to be spilled, Peter Jackson needs to drive professionalism and accountability throughout the organisation, instil better values and make some clear staff choices. Then we need a priority pick, a handout from the AFL and a few Hail Marys.

Thought for limited opportunities Dawes kicked some nice passes that had the forwards leading to the the ball. He took a couple of marks, contested a bit, and fluffed a few. For first game back, I'd give him a 'pass'. Lots of room for him to improve. Nice if players could kick to his advantage.

After watching the presser I'm now clear : it is what it is ( shrug shoulders).

Can someone post a link?

Sylvia? Really? Ran around the outside of packs, 10 direct turnovers, kicking efficiency about 50%. Flashy goal in the last, 3 quarters too late. Viney, Dawes, Howe, Garland , Gawn and Sellar get pass marks. The rest, not.

That was simply one of the most insipid performances I have ever seen. Issue 1: Gameplan. What the hell is it? Win contested possessions? FAIL. Run and overlap? fAIL. Tackle and spread? FAIL. No Gameplan to speak of. Issue 2: protect the kids. This is simply no excuse. When kids are earning the money that these guys are earning, it is unacceptable for them to walk around and be insipid. Second to contests, no tackles, no simple skills. Time to skewer them all. Not good enough. Issue 3: pride. We are the only team that doesn't play for the jumper. Neild's pre game address on TV was appalling, and where is the pride and passion? Today's game must be a call to action. Something significant has to happen. No more excuses.

Lots of people want to play 4 ruck-sized players? How about if Fitzy comes in, Spencil has to go out. Maximus to first ruck, Fitzy support, rotating through CHF with Dawes the deep target. Spencil jumped way too early, too often and got caught in bad positions in ruck contests. Perhaps another game to get the feel of it, to see how he goes. Put flash at his feet. Mackenzie out, and the toump in instead. Dunn to run with Ablett. Jetta in, Grimes out. Would have to think about Tommy Mac having a 'rest', and maybe Sellar or Pedometer to half back (watts straight in if available) Kent to stay. Sub to be Blease.

Poor disposal under minimal pressure. Can't keep our feet. Make poor decisions. Kick to the opposition and 30 m of grass. Sigh.

I worry that we have a complete lack of forward line. Are Gawn and Howe enough? Will they put Dunn or Garland forward? Fitzy could have been an option. With Watts, Mitch and Dawes out, and he can't crack a game, what message does that send him? Expect Spencer and Kent to add plenty to the middle, and Dunn some grunt off the half back. Carlton have struggled on the defensive efforts, so we need to exploit this with quality spread and hope we can keep up with their foot speed the other way. Some are saying 100 points. I would be happy 4 quarters of real effort, a few clearances, no short steps and some ferocity at the contest.

Implications for us = nil. The spotlight is going to be on them rather than our on field performance, which may be a good thing. How Vlad and the AFL manage this is where the interest lies. Cover up, roll over and slap on the wrist, or serious sanctions? Essendon are screwed. If they are not then the AFL is complicit and a farce.

How do people here judge that Watts is running half pace, or lacking urgency, or doesn't have courage? Seems that the measures being used are not the same as those used by the club. Watts to stay in, forward. Dunn IN ( he is not done in) and back. Strauss in. Evans sub. Davey full game. Grimes to the middle. Mckenzie out, pedometer (autocorrect, but I let it stand given he heard 'footsteps' earlier in the year!) out. TMac stays. Rodan out. Fitzy a possible in. Dawes to earn it through Casey.

We were second to the ball, always behind the man, and took too many short steps. They embarrassed us on the spread and overlap. They hammered us in the clearances. The zone doesn't work, when it is stationary! Loving Terlich's effort, Max Gawn, Watts up forward ( showed sublime skills in marking and goal kicking). We won the umpiring by a mile. Maloney cut us a new one. Brisbane kicked 2.8 in Q2: we were lucky to be in it at half time. Work rate, clearances and confidence. Where can we buy some?

Cameron Schwab?? Oops for a minute there I thought I was Caroline Wilson! Such a talent. I hope it works out for him, after the joy he gave us supporters during some bleak times. Gotta say, though, drink driving is self imposed stupidity.