Nasher

Yep, disappointing. Shame, I've always enjoyed the Devils / Sandy games, as I've been to every one that was in Hobart.

A healthy body is everything in this sport, as Bell demonstrated this season (before this week, damn). It's no coincidence that as Sylvia strings a few games together his form is getting and confidence better.

I don't see why liking a coach and respecting him have to be mutually exclusive. Personally, I think that's been the #1 biggest misconception in Neale's coaching career -- that he's too "nice" to the players. He's an affable character on the exterior but I'll wager my house on the fact that behind closed doors, he is capable of being as ferocious as any coach is. #2 is the idea that he doesn't "blood" the kids soon enough.

I'm sure he only played because it was Neale's last game. He's all heart and IMO deserved a last run with his coach. That mistake in the last was a shocker but you can't pin it all on one boo-boo. It just doesn't work like that.

I was pleased. He worked hard, made the contest every time, and did all the team things like chasing and passing off when someone had a better shot. I think he (and Robbo for that matter) had vaseline on his hands though. Maybe it was the nerves but he dropped a few marks he should've taken, especially that one in the last. Overall though very happy. Definitely earned another run.

It's a joke that some of those players are allowed to play IMO. At least this time the joke is in Sandy's favour, usually they're in the receiving end of a reserves team stocked with AFL grade players.

1) 3 Melbourne players from the past ten years who you hate/hated seeing in other team colours. Powell, Woewodin, Thompson 2) 3 current Melbourne players you would like to see in other team colours. None, as long as they're on our list I like them all equally. 3) 3 current Melbourne players you would cry if you saw in other team colours McLean, Jones, Neitz

If more than 3/4 who claimed they'd pay actually do if he's selected this week, I'll be very surprised.

Neither did I. I thought we were well past that. Of all times!

It's a full time job.

Because Mark Williams will be coaching Sandy? He isn't officially an MFC coach, and I'm not even sure if he's technially a member of staff. Riley's probably the coach on our staff with the best credentialls, with senior experience and a few years behind him as an assistant. He's the logical choice.

I feel a little sad and empty to be honest. You kind of get used to things being the way they are. Best of luck Neale and thank you for doing the honourable thing. It can show once and for all that you've always put the club ahead of yourself and that's something I admire very much. I think this is definitely the right thing for the club but for me it isn't the relief I thought it would be.

If this was the first time we'd heard this it might mean something, but it isn't and it doesn't. More hot air coming from a player's gob as far as I'm concerned.

Hey all, We're just wanting to gather a little information as to how you came across this website. If you could please vote in the above poll, and perhaps give us a little explanation. I discovered Demonology after they got a mention on the Footy Show in 2003 and heard about Demonland through that site shortly after. Since then I've been an active member of both sites. I've considered Demonland to be "home" ever since I set up the new forum in late '05 and became part of the team after hearing the lads were unhappy with their existing setup. Edit: As an extension, I've also added another couple of questions to gauge some of our demographics. Cheers. Edit2: If you voted in the poll before I added the extra options but want to vote in the gender and age polls, send me a PM with your age and gender and I'll add the votes in manually.

Not even close BRFE. Comes it at number 49. The longest post is this one.

I don't think that guy's an embarrassement to us all, he's just an embarrassment to himself.

I don't recall a single one of the players ever saying they "liked him". They said they wanted him as coach. They may've even said they liked him as a coach, but that isn't the same thing as liking him as a person which is what you're talking about. I believe Gardner is correct when he says it's very important for the players to "get on" with the coach. If they don't, you get a situation where they just don't listen to him. Believe me it's no fun playing footy under a coach you think is an absolute dick. I believe the players do have respect for the coach, though after last night's insipid performance I am starting to have my doubts. He didn't say it's going to be the basis of his decision but it is something he'll take in to consideration and I think he's 100% correct in doing so.

Agree Jack, if Paul G said as described above then I'm happy. His job is to make decisions based on what he and the board believe is the best for the club, NOT what the members demand he do. People seem not to understand this.

He didn't answer his phone. Boooooooo.

Give him time! The Newton (non-)selection is definitely the biggest storm in a teacup I've ever seen in my time on Demonland or Demonology.

Come on, you deliberately titled this thread "Newton Selected" to mislead people. You did it on purpose for a kick and you got the desired result. Don't turn around now and say you didn't mislead anyone. Besides, that was hardly Rumpole's point anyway.

How often to supports stop "supporting" a side? Membership and attendances rise and falls but I would have thought most people's support for a team was constant. That is, if you're a Melbourne supporter you probably will be for the majority of your life, regardless of how many matches you attend or whether or not you're a member. Even if supporters were "dropping off" I doubt it'd be a very significant drop.

I hope he does Brocky. As Stevens says in his article, all the boxes are ticked. Bring it on.

I'm yet to see any person who has learned English as a second language whose only grammatical symbol is the ellipsis and doesn't use a single capital letter or the full spelling of words because of a misunderstanding of the language.

I think that's a good point. It's difficult from the outer to estimate what effect a player like Brown has on those around him. The fact is that he'd throw himself on a grenade for this team and it's that which primarily keeps him in the side.