Choko

I said this in another thread, but it belongs here. I tell you what. I was annoyed enough with the performance, in particular the contested footy. But with a new game plan, and a known poor poor midfield, I was prepared to excuse. But when I heard Jack Trengove on AW say that the effort wasn't there, I was, and am still, fuming. These guys can get stuffed. They have no professional pride. I personally didn't think it was effort, especially with the tackle count early, but if Lloydy and Jack T think so, then I accept that. I am not one to shoot off on here, but seriously, if the MFC players genuinely believe that the effort wasn't there, then they are dishonest, no-hoper spineless footballers basking in a terrible culture. After Jimmy's death, first game of the year, new coach, all I think anyone expected was 100% hell for leather effort. To not get that makes me ill. By the way, those that are bagging Neeld, it is way too early to bag the game plan. We haven't had time to learn it yet.

I tell you what. I was annoyed enough with the performance, in particular the contested footy, but new game plan, poor midfield, I was prepared to excuse. But when I heard Jack Trengove on AW say that the effort wasn't there, I was, and am still, fuming. These guys can get stuffed. They have no professional pride. I personally didn't think it was effort, especially with the tackle count early, but if Lloydy and Jack T think so, then I accept that. I am not one to shoot off on here, but seriously, if the MFC players genuinely believe that the effort wasn't there, then they are dishonest, no-hoper spineless footballers basking in a terrible culture. After Jimmy's death, first game of the year, new coach, all I think anyone expected was 100% hell for leather effort. To not get that makes me ill.

Very nice to see Bailey there too. A touching and in more ways than one absolutely remarkable service to a remarkable person.

I can't work out for the life of me why we would be lower this year same time. We had no reason to be more optimistic same time last year. Maybe people are just more resigned to our likely fate this year? I can think of a few reasons we should be higher this year - Mitch Clark, new coach, Jimmy.... A bit weird....

This is actually just a reflection on the pitiful character that is Jason Akermanis. It is not in any way a reflection on Jimmy, nor will it be seen that way. It's perfectly obvious to me that he either has such an out of control ego (but I do good things, why don't they worship me?) or he was unloved as a child and has unresolved issues which means he cannot understand the world like most happy and contented people. It's kind of sad. More pathetic than sad, actually.

Yeh sounds ominous, and really really sad

You in PR for a big firm of something, by any chance?

Bailey was terrible at these functions. Danners was outstanding. Danners gave nothing private away, but he told us things that the industry knew that we didn't know. I can think of a few examples, like wanting Dunn to learn to play forward (when he started on a wing), what he expected from a kicking coach in terms of improvement, where he saw our weaknesses, etc.... There are many many examples of things that can be said that make fans feel like they are a little bit special, that does not compromise game plan, confidentiality, etc... I am not having a go at Neeld, bc he is so new and it's always better to play it safe, especially before he has coached a competitive AFL game. Of course we all want our footy to do the talking. But that is a different issue to when fans are at an MFC event. I should say, MFC generally does events very well - to the envy of quite a few clubs.

Simplistic. Every side is trying to "just do". Arguably, by having a club event, that is time they are "speaking", not "doing". On that argument, club events would be counter-productive. But they are not, they are important. What Fan is rightly saying is that you don't have to be selling the family silver to explain what the challenges are, and the frameworks/perspectives being used to tackle them. That way you can consider whether you think that the approach of the coaches to the identified issues seems to make sense.

SPOT ON. This is absolutely the rubbish we always get at these events, which is formulaic and frustrating, and makes you feel like you have been sold a pup. Nothing you have mentioned here is too private. I can appreciate that Neeld might be anxious to set expectations at this point, but on the other hand, he can say what the goal is and what impediments there might be to getting there.

How was the game plan when we beat the Magpies last week? To say you know, or to judge, the game plan based on 3 pre-season games is absurd. Are you basing it on the media, which has nothing else to talk about?

How can one post be so right and so wrong at the same time? No issue with your assessment of where we are at. I agree that Hawthorn were terrific to watch in the manner in which they worked off the ball, and their defined gameplan is way ahead of ours. But to give some significance to a NAB cup game and to go further and say that a pre-season game is the most revealing since 186 is just ridiculous. Do you really believe that Carlton won't score in a second half against Brisbane this year? Or lose by over 10 goals? Do you really think Geelong will have the first 9 kicked on them at Skilled against anyone during the season? How about Richmond? Will GWS get within 3 points of Collingwood? What did our win over Collingwood tell you? Are we better than them now? Or is that just NAB Cup? There is no doubt Hawthorn is ahead of us. But let's not get too excited about a pre-season game.

I just thought we played a side with a very good, well developed game plan that is far superior in every way to where we are at. I would have liked to think we might have had more composure and more of a plan when we had the ball, but I think we very much reverted back to old habits and kicked the ball haphazardly. I think the "lack of run" is an issue, but hey, we all know we have a midfield problem. Hawthorn don't have that much "run" - they play to their strengths.

Definitely. Premierships, maybe...!! What I do like is that we appear to have a potent and difficult to match up on forward line. I like Bate as a midfielder. Let's not go nuts, Collingwood was undermanned and not necessarily going full pelt, but some positive signs nonetheless.

No, I'm talking about 2011, not the 2010 cancer ones.

People on here are very precious IMO. Some of the criticisms made on here are fair comment, some are misinformed. Where they are misinformed, information has been provided. But there's no need for people to get their knickers in a knot because some people don't like the logo. FFS, last I looked, this was a forum for discussing the MFC. If people get upset at pink jumpers, let them. It happens to be the MFC's tradition. For what it's worth, I agree that the club is going in the right direction, but anyone who closely observes our club (and especially those who have a bit to do with the administration) know that we are fairly poor in some areas. Pink jumpers were an absolute embarrassment IMO. Now that doesn't mean I don't think cancer is more serious than pink jumpers, but I'm not on the Cancer Council forum. Some might argue that having a forum for football, and not world hunger or knocking off Middle Eastern dictators, is trivial. Stop being so precious!

Couldn't agree more. Garry actually delivered and gave what he had at a time of need for the footy club. All the while, he stayed true to his own principles about his media role and stepped away at the appropriate time. He has clearly left a lasting impact on the club in engineering changes that have made us better.

Fair crack though. That means he has leadership credentials. But given he a young kid who hasn't played that much footy because of injury, and therefore hasn't had much time to be an on-field leader, it can hardly be irrelevant whether he gets on the park. I will put it this way. He would possibly be captain in 2012 if he had played 70 games. But no chance for 2012 now. So, not irrelevant.

Where do you work? haha! I have been known to use that line at work. If delivered well, with a straight face, people aren't sure whether you have a poor command of English or whether it is an attempt at humour.

I resemble that comment.

Disagree. Firstly, we plainly need a crumbing forward with Jurrah, Clark and Watts. Davey has a lazy and unaccountable defensive attitude and gets too many kicked on/through him. We have other blokes who can perform off half back, including Grimes and Tappy, maybe even Morton, Green. Davey has also shown he needs, shall we say, protection.

If this is correct, as I suspect it is, then I think it is an inspired, overdue and exciting decision.

I agree that our midfield is clearly our biggest weakness. We don't have enough defensively minded players, or enough blokes who go get the ball. I think you're being a tad harsh on Gysberts, who is just a kid finding his way. And Jones can turn it over a little, but he is actually quite damaging by foot most of the time.

Agree.

No, you miss the point. These guys can't just jump when they get a better contract. There are strict and strange rules about when and how that occurs. It's the system that creates the liars. If it was my job rather than that of a footballer, and I was choosing to leave for money, I would sign and resign almost instantaneously. If you signed (and we don't know he signed, he may have just "agreed") with a new employer for 12 months from now, would you tell your current employer? Most wouldn't if they wanted to stay in their current employment for as long as possible. Now, if you were asked about it in the media every second week? Would you lie? He owes you nothing. And if you think that others here aren't firing shots with a fair degree of the good 'ol tall poppy syndrome, you're kidding.