Craig Drinker

My observations from this game (although clouded withh a little too much red wine. What I Liked: Jimmy Toumpas makes great position and will be a big player for the MFC. Great effort from Tom Mcdonald. He has a fantastic motor. Massive effort from Kent especially in the early part of the game. Excellent second efforts. Another good game from Terlich. makes a few errors here and there but considering his AFL experience, very promising. Garland putting his hand up for captaincy. Liked the effort from Rodan. Love the attitude from Dawes. Other observations: I think new coach will delist Shannon Byrnes.Doesn't bring much. Liked the effort of Nicholson once he came on. Need an investigation into why Trengove is so slow now? Pederson may be petrified. Sometimes pretends he is going hard at the contest but squibbing the physical contact. Watts a 50/50 for me.Sometimes suffers from perceived umpire persecution, but can play.Needs a visit to club psychologist. Aaron Davey-confidence shot.Visit club psychologist. Players still haven't shaken the negative game plan mindset.Wil take a few weeks. Love Sam Bleases attitude! Please play him every week. He moves the ball forward!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that was Ken Sheldon.

Amen brother!! You are absolutely spot on. The fix was in on the proxy and the voting circumstances regarding venue etc. was extremely dubious. It was my understanding that if the merger vote was successful that Joe G had legal heavyweights ready to go the next day in regards to the way shifty way the whole merger business was conducted. It was a very sad time in the history of the MFC and as you can tell (because we are still posting about it) some wounds take a long time to heal. Whichever way you look at it the merger was doomed to fail. The vote never got up , but even if it did it would have been destroyed in the courts afterwards.

One of the positives if we do get him is that he is not an assistant coach at another club and can start planning in advance i.e dissecting the list etc during this season, watching more Demons games/replays.

If Craig was around to mentor Neeld, will there be a role for him, given we hire an experienced coach next season?

I think it was Kelleher??

Has the press conference kicked off?

What you're saying makes a lot of sense. The only concerning flags for me are : Why haven't the club come out and said that they will back Neeld until at least the end of the season under the new structure? And the fact that people that you would expect to privy to insider information Caro and Gerard Healy have said that Neeld will go. The other thing to be considered is that this is football and what is said today could change tomorrow.

It was more to the point this was the second opportunity that has come up to back Neeld and no-one in the administration is prepared to do that. It is my feeling that part of the AFL package is to pay out Neeld's contract. This is my opinion/gut feel if you like. A few people have already stated they thought Neeld will be gone soon Caro (AFL contacts), Gerard Healy (brother on board).

Listening to PJ's statement to the press on AFL website and reading between the lines ,I think Mark Neeld's days as coach of the MFC are numbered.

Meeting started at 9.30 am according to the AFL website. May not be announcements today but maybe Caro may report something in the Age tomorrow if there has been no news?

It may not be a particularly hard sell by PJ as he is likely (unofficially) an AFL appointment. I'm sure he has kept the AFL posted on his findings during his review. I doubt there will be any huge shocks to the AFL in his presentation.

Have heard that myself too!

I think Caro definitely has some inside info and it is my view most of her inside info comes from the AFL. In turn she writes some things in her columns that the AFL want to get out into the public. Things could move very quickly from here on in!

The good thing about our present situation is that we are moving forward with a plan. A huge plus is the AFL is interested in assisting us in becoming a stable and competitive football club. The future looks a heck of a lot brighter!!

Anticipation is the key imo. Being already on your toes with a plan where you are going to move . I think Cotchin is fantastic at this!

Okay,understand. It is possible MN may not be in charge of our next game though.

Not neccessarily. Neeld may be paid out.

Gerald Healy just stated that Peter Jackson is going to the AFL on Friday with his blueprint for the Demons moving forward. If AFL are happy with his plans Dees will then have some financial freedom to make some changes. Which could include funds for new football manager, payout coach etc. Changes on the way but not until after Friday. Views?

I hate seeing coaches sacked as it means acknowledging that the club has stuffed up and a lot of wasted cash and more importantly wasted time. Unfortuantely with MN I think we are past the point of no return. We must move on.

I am questioning the coaching because it is my belief that the the playing list is not that bad! That will only be proven rightly or wrongly if coaching changes are made. Until then it remains my opinion.

Rubbish!! But beautifully spoken.

They have killed the confidence of the playing group! They are not deverloping the young players!!!!

Confidence was shot in round 2??? What was with that??? Major issues with the coaching staff and not just Neeld. I feel a little sorry for him as he seems way over his head. I think he had an ambition to become an AFL coach. Achieved his ambition, unfortunately I don't think his ambition was to become a quality AFL coach. If he is removed, then most of his assistants including Neil Craig need to be removed, as this isn't all Neeld's doing. Unless a major miracle occurs then I can't possibly see Neeld coaching in 2014. Make the call, cut him now. Do him and everyone else a favour. For a reason I can't put my finger on the confidence of the playing list is shot and that was evident from round 2.??? I keep saying this and I truly believe it. Our playing list isn't that bad!!!

That's depressing!