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I know for fact Hird stated to his employees at Gemba after much wooing from the Bombers that he had decided to stay at Gemba....100%....and two weeks later he signed!

Isn't it nice to have strong, insightful and honest leadership from the CEO. Now I know how it feels to follow the Cats etc "off field".....maybe one day "on field". Give him the job and move on.

Trengove didn't train at all, came over early then headed off. Watts, Jamar, Stark and Gillies doing run throughs. Dawes only did half training also....looked good but? Fingers crossed.

According the channel 7 we had our least experienced side ever under Neeld today, average games about 46, Carltank were 97 I believe. On a very slow, very very slow, upwards curve from ground zero (186) I marked today as a slight upward blip.....not based on the score, but rather based on what goes in the comments column....a speculative as the bookies might say. If we picked on form both Trenners and Viney would get dropped next week.....but I expect both to play. My god we missed a CHF....today proved Howe isn't a good one out goal sq option, which might shut up the commentators for a few weeks. Please give us Dawes and maybe Fitzy. Even happy to see Pederson at CHB rather than T Mac for a few weeks. I think today showed Neeld can pick a footballer.....having the time to put into it I'm very happy with Kent, Viney, M Jones, Terlich, and at Port yesterday was very pleased with Toumpas and Clisby. Toumpas has time....skills and vision....at VFL level and SANFL level as an 18 year old.....it's only a matter of time.....not that far away. Big week next week.....let's win and go on from there. go Dees

Just back from the game, watched the second half. A very good fierce game of football, Crackers Keenan on the boundary encouraging his Port ruckman to "hit in hard" every few minutes helped! It was a game we shouldn't have lost given the 3 qtr time lead, but at 5min 15sec into the last we trailed by a point without having basically touched it - except for when Couh got mowed down trying to break free after ingnoring Jimmy T as a free handball.... A great level of footy for our young boys to be playing and as the coach said at 3Q time - "they've lost twice in 4 years at home"....we let one slip. Looked like we'd roll over and die but Casey stuck at it. Love the Port song, weird to lose and hear "a grand old flag". Some thoughts on players I saw today (didn't see Pederson play): Clisby: had no idea who he was but really liked #70's leg speed, long raking kick and energy at the contest for a "quick small backman". A rich mans Nicho perhaps. Had kick out duties and was well in the game until concussed early in the last. I can see why we picked him. Fitzpatrick: I know there are many mixed views but from what I saw today he's at least as capable as Pederson and Sellar for a AFL spot. Has really grown into a mans body, can take a big mark and is OK in the ruck. Might be a confidence issue with him. Reckon he's earnt a crack. Couch and Magner: wow they are similar. The heart and sole of the VFL mid-field, in there all day, no rotating forward for those boys. As has been said ALOT before they are really hard and get heaps of footy....but geez can stuff it occasionally. I thought Couch was BOG but couple that with an awesome turnover Casey ran down the wing in the 3rd Q under plenty of pressure throughout for Couchy to get free at 60 and hit Dawes opponent laces out when Dawesy was 5 metres clear in front....argh! Happy to have one of them in the senior side. Toumpas: what's all the fuss about him not being a #4 pick etc? The kid can play, got plenty of it, is more outside than inside but can do both, laid some nice tackles and EVERY time he kicked it, whether it be in the clear, under instense pressure, short or long, in pack or whatever he HIT a target. A few more games like that and he'll be back at AFL - I bet Hoges loves the thought of Jimmy T getting the ball. Davey: serviceable game, kicked a nice pressure goal last qtr, got involved, pretty positive body language etc. Played forward. Dawes: if he can play HALF as good as he can lead, coach and direct traffic he'll be a gun. I'll bet he coaches one day. Enough to like, kicked 4 I think though not all from BIG pack marks etc. Attacked it hard, is pretty quick. Maybe one more week at Casey pending how we go tomorrow. Sellar: thought he was pretty average actually. Solid but nothing more at CHB. UNlucky kick against him in last. Davis: similar views to all others on here, like him better as a footballer than Sellar but.....argh....kicking Blease: thought he was really good, flashed in and out but did it regularly. A key for the team in gaining 70m every time with run and carry. Still needs a lateral move and some composure kicking...almost kicked the winning goal bursting from a pack on the wing and a point going through from 65m out. D-Rod: as you'd expect can dominate the contest at this level. Kicked a really nice goal or two bursting from a pack, could have had more. Fierce competitor, actually pretty happy he's on the list and any blokes at Casey have to get past him first for a game, keeps a high standard. Tynan: solid, tough, has a crack but didnt get heaps of it. Groomed as a back pocket it seems. Taggert: ripping body for a footballer, could go toe to toe with Col I reckon. Plays half forward, we really need him to become a dominant on baller in VFL then go from there. Something to build on for next week. All for now, let's hope we pull off the miracle tomorrow.

Yes you did KC, giants by 21 at half time

<p>Long time ago but I can still remember when my mate, "Greg Wells nephew" came home from training that day and said "Schwarta just did his knee jumping on my back".....I was shattered. After such an amazing 1994 finals series it devastated the Club. We could have been anything wit him up and about - we can only hope young Hogan has the same impact but better luck with injuries.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Ox was as capable as Carey - no doubt.</p>

Ins: nicho to play on garlett, seller at to play on Rowe (McDonald out). Strauss to run and create off half back, play on yarran maybe. Viney on ball. Happy to let Matt jones have a week back in vfl. Not fussed on others.

Nice to see Dawes and Dunn named....

Neeld is showing his own growth and development as a front man for our Club. Much better - giving nothing, some optimism for us fans and little for the journo's to snipe at. We're all very critical and think we've got the wrong guy etc etc....might be worth checking out how Sando is going over the Crowville right now. He's starting to get a battering and not handling it as "warmly, welcoming, openly and positively" as he did the winning streaks last year. Perspective is a wonderful thing.....

Don't understand some people giving Frawley a hard time today. Go check Cameron's stats, he absolutely flogged him. Cameron is a gun and we'd all love him in our team, and today he was smashed.......well done chip, happy he showed this. T Mac on the other hand was ordinary but kept at it. Frawley to J brown next week and t Mac to Martin.....hmmm.

So nice to have a win. Took a 3yr old to his first game and he loved it, his older brother did also....and a kick on the G. Fair to say they love Howie! 6. Grimes.....really like his emerging leadership. Hope and trenners were good when needed today, great last qtrs. 5. Byrnes......well done.....still got it at AFL level 4. Howe.......enough said 3. Nat Jones......great to see him off the leash today 2. Frawley......setanta got away from T Mac but Cameron got smashed by an AA Full back today.....gave him nothing chip, welcome back 1. Evans......didn't really notice him until the last but it was spectacular. Loved big Maxys game also, and trenners. garlands last qtr was awesome. Terlich showed he is an AFL find. Go on with it next week boys

Completely agree. Has been said on here many times - we are shite....but with little if any confidence in oneself or the group we offer absolutely NO resistance when it goes a bit tough. I like alot of what Neeld has done OFF field in getting the list together, bringing in some leaders (even if past it), making us have a broad coaching group, Misson being a key - we can't even get an LTI when we want one!.....but he has given us NOTHING on the field. Hinkley seems to have hit Port with a tough...."it's this way or else" AND crucially "you blokes can play a bit, let me help you find out how much".......Neeld has ALL the former and NONE of the latter. Save the cash.....make Neeld Senior Assnt, Craig coach and move on.......QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Who looks good KC?

Someone has to be at the G, we lost Mckenzie in the warm up last week.....last thing we need is to play with 21!!!!

Question, what is the largest loss a coach has ever had then gone and won a flag in future years? Clarko got flogged a few times from memory, but 148????

He is still very active, well thought and has some clear opinions he has shared with Don this week. A true demon very much.

But you can show emotion and leave a positive vibe.

Can't recall exact stats but something like 20% of communication is the words, the rest is body language and tone. Clearly mark never taught that at school. No wonder they look uninspired. Shocking footage, even worse he let it happen and then performed so poorly.

No one in history has recovered from this as a leader......he is gone. Simple. When not if. Ideally tomorrow for all concerned. Put Craig in charge.....a mature leader who has been successful if not ultimately. Then go get Paul Roos or mark Williams.....Williams has more energy running the changes on the tigers bench than neeld does in a pre match address......that is so wrong.

This is simply gut wrenching......but you are correct that we will recover, the saddest factor being with how many supporters.....we have lost generation over seven years who follow success, many start out that way. We would not have earned a neutral supporter for almost a decade. We need real leaders of men. I still believe neeld can manage and has a vision, but he cannot coach. Put Craig in tomorrow and move on.......then give half the mcg for Paul Roos. Then we start again.

I found the article bang on to the truth as I'd expect it to be written. Like many long time footballers In struggling clubs Rivers has played some very good football for a decent time, without any real reward or broader public recognition since his first year. I met with a senior figure working with Geelong this week and he talked about this initial connections with Riv, stating that Riv was thrilled to be in a culture/club that simply reeked of success. Every where you turn at Kardinia Park you run into some serious people. This same person, a serious cats fan and very very senior business exec also stated his belief that Geelong "were never going to win a flag in the 90s as the culture basis wasn't there", but geez they went close a lot! While I think we'd all be thrilled with four GF appearances in the next ten years I fully understand his point. He believed until Cook and Costa took over the Cats were never serious. For me this article highlights the core issue with our club, we all, me included still accept too much mediocrity because we've lost sight of what true success means for our club. Outside of my beloved Demons I coach in elite sport, not AFL, and with a club that is the exact opposite, 3 flags in our last 7 years....two of those wins we clearly weren't the most talented team, but won very tight grand finals because our culture/team ethos and belief is success was better than there's. We have a long way to go, a long long way actually. I'm excited more about this season than any other recently because for the first time in years I believe in a coach and fitness guru who know, strive for and demand elite performance. Next I'd like a business admin team that demands the same. I do believe C Schwab gives his absolute all, and is in the best 18 CEOs on Australia for an AFL club....I just don't rate being best 18, I want best 3-5 in all roles.....as WCE or the cats have had for years. End of rant. Go Mitch and JV, can't wait to see you pumping the port boys next week.

ON form it sounds like Terlich and M Jones are looking good for Rd1. I'm guessing one of Viney or Toumpas will get a gig also - plus Dawes, Byrnes and Road. Six/Seven newbies including 3 on debut is a lot - having read somewhere Neeld didn't want too many on debut vs Power. I know Pederson was told he had a clear role - and the coaches believed it (so did most of us) when we traded for him. What's happened since is he has shown poor-ish form overall and Sellar has somewhat "comes of age" as a forward/ruck - perhaps by mistake having been played there vs power in Renmark as there simply was no one else. Goes to show that practice games can be important it generating self belief - which I suspect Sellar and Watts now have more of.....when we really needed 15-20 players "walking a little taller". Will be very interesting at selection.

And a definite in my super coach team....big year ahead from Dunny

He's fine - I spoke to him at Family Day, he said he'd play Rd1 but obviously not AFL - said he was ready to go but they are being cautious. Will make a HUGE difference to our team when fit - we really need him up and about.