MadAsHell

You do make a good point. Jack Watts would probably be the next most at risk of coming under consideration of other clubs after Col. Although as Jack can't walk by way of free agency I wouldn't be suprised if he was used as trade bait unless his out put improves soon.

Would prefer him on the board or in a spruiking role like Connolly's as I suspect he will probably be asked to look for work elsewhere when his suspension is up.

As you said, we can't afford to loose Col. 3 year deal and make this man a Demon for life, I've been impressed with his work rate this season. Would be a huge boost for the club (and Neeld) if this can get done soon! After Col our attention can then turn to big Max.

I thought I'd previously read he was only on 2 years?

Not a bad system. Although it will be 25 games, not 24. (All 8 teams in your group twice and the other 9 once). Reckon this one could have legs if they are keen to start the season early to run along side the NRL. As far as finding venues that don't clash with the cricket venues you'd have to move matches to: MCG: Etihad, Launceston or Darwin SCG: Homebush GABBA: Metricon or Cairns Adelaide Oval: AAMI Stadium

Scrapping the NAB Cup makes sense, but at the same time it doesn't bother me if it stays, however I think the current format is poor. Go back to the groups of 3 for first round (each team plays 2 matches on the one night) and then the best 8 advance in a knock out comp. Better then the way it works now. I agree that I don't see how starting the season 3 weeks early is possible? One week earlier should be more then enough and help fund the upgrade of Junction Oval for CV. Don't see the need for 26 rounds (24 games & 2 byes). There's enough uncompetative games and teams out of the finals race already. 24 rounds (22 games & 2 byes) should be plenty. Top 10 is to many finalists in an 18 team competition. No one from lower then 5th has ever won a premiership and no one from lower then 6th has ever made a Grand Final. I'd go top 9 at best and keep it at 4 weeks. 1st, 2nd & 3rd get first week and home quarter finals. First week of finals 4v7 and 5v6 to work out their rankings from 4-7 and 8v9 in an elimination final with the winner taking on the minor premier in the 2nd week of the finals away. The only other change that I'd make which I've mentioned previously in another thread is: Have every team play eachother once and have a bye each over the first 18 rounds, meands 9 teams have 9 home games & 8 away, 9 teams have 8 home games and 9 away. 19th week of the season all clubs have a bye. Perhaps have the EJ Whitten match on the Friday Night this weekend and maybe an All Star U18 match on the Saturday Night (Vic Merto & Country v The Rest). This week off allows the AFL some time to work on the fixture over the coming 5 weeks. Over the last 5 weeks split the comp into 3 sections, 1st to 6th (top 4 group), 7th to 12th (finals race group) and 13th to 18th (draft pick group). Of the first 17 games played, only the 5 against the teams in your group carry forward putting you into your new ladder position. Over the last 5 weeks of the season you play everyone in your group again. You can't finish any higher then the top spot of your group (1st, 7th or 13th) or any lower then bottom (6th, 12th & 18th). Over those last 5 weeks of the season everyone in the top 4 group is obviously playing out for ladder positioning and trying to secure a top 4 spot. Everyone in the middle group is fighting it out for the last few finals spots and everyone in the bottom group for the number 1 draft pick. Whoever tops the bottom 6 group gets pick 1, bottom of that group pick 6. This then makes every game mean something going forward and should keep them somewhat competative as they're against teams in similar ladder positions. I'd imagine it would be difficult to pull off, but I think it's do-able and makes the draw as fair as possible. The following year the team who had 8 home games in the intial part of the season gets 9 and vice versa.

Sadly I'm not privy to anything there RN. I just think it makes sense in weird kind of way, despite the fact he turns 70 this year. As you said he's still been heavily involved in coaching footy up in the Ballarat area I believe it is and am on vey good authority that he still eally loves the club. He's a coach who demands respect and as he did with us in the 80's and Brisbane in the mid to late 90's really fosters an us against them mentality which we could really use. If Richmond weren't obsessed with trying to secure Sheedy at the end of the 95 season what he could have achieved there? I'm obviously aware that as he's now 70 that it wouldn' be a long term appointment, however due to his love of the club I reckon we could get him on the cheap and afford to throw more mney at quality assistants to take over after say 3 years of Northey sewing the seeds. Like Barassi did at Sydney for Eade we could do here with Northey for say Tudor or Sumich as the situation we're currently in is pretty unfair to throw a rookie coach into. Northey's been there and done it all before. Lets not forget in one of the last games Northey coached for this club we knocked off the Filth who were top of the table at their derilict home ground at Victoria Park when we were out of finals contention. Just an example of what he could get out of his players, even when we weren't necessarily having our best seasons. As I said I highly doubt it would happen, but I tell you what we could do a lot worse.

If one of Jamar or Spencer were out of contract at the end of this season then it may have been a possability, but as both are contratced and Fitzy's out of contract I think the writting's on the wall. He'll need some big games at Casey to get a game at senior level and then have a break out game quick to secure a new contract, but I can't see him with us next year. I can however see another club taking a punt on him.

John Swooper Northey for 3 years? Will bring in an us v the rest hard edge mentality and would be cheap. Surround him with some quality assistant coaches like Tudor/Sumich who are up with the modern game that we could throw more money at given Northey's no doubt cheaper price tag? Won't happen, but I reckon it would be a great story! Edit: Spelling

Pfff.. What if? What if i was having a shower and I slipped on a bar of soap? Oh my god I'd be killed! Hehe, sorry couldn't resist. But you're right it is amazing at how our climb up the ladder back then has turned into a drastic nose dive, and largely as you said due to poor management! Fingers crossed things start to improve, god knows they need to!

Swap of first round draft picks could get it done depedning on where both teams finish, especially if we get Pick 1 as a priority selection to go with pick 2 or 3 or whatever? Might also have to give them a sweetener like Bail, McKenzie or Strauss?

Head Coach: Paul Roos (No brainer) Backline Coach: Jade Rawlings (is contracted for next year and we can't afford to go paying out to many people, if money wasn't a factor I'd slot Leigh Tudor in here.) Midfield Coach: Leigh Tudor (Should finally be able to sack Royal at the end of this year and bring in one of the most respected assistants in the game. I'd have Tudor in line to take over from Roos at some stage in a hand over as if Roos did come, I wouldn't expext him to want to stay for more then say 5 years. If we sacked Rawlings a year early I'd have Tudor in the backline coachs role and Simon Black in the midfield slot.) Forward Coach: Peter Sumich (I'm unsure of Brown's contract length if it was 2 or 3 years, but ideally I'd bring in Sumich and just like Tudor have him as a potential replacement for Roos once he stepped aside.) Player Development: Nathan Basset (Has a great reputation in the SANFL for getting the best out of his players, eg. the move of Terlich from forward to the backline.) Neil Craig to keep his job and intergrate Mahoney's head of footy. Todd Viney to take Harringtons role as list manager.

We should certainly give Neeld the next month at the very least. If we can see some marked improvement or imagine even draw a win then he should see out the year and then only be replaced if one of Roos or possibly Worsfold became avaialble, otherwsie let Neeld have a crack at the final year of his rebuild. If we cop more of the same over the next month then he needs to be replaced pronto and have Craig, Viney or Rawlings step in on an interim basis. As for 2014 onwards I believe we would need an experienced coach to help re-shape the culture and demand the respect of the players. Even if they only came in for say 3 years before handing over to someone else (ala Sheedy to Cameron), at least to begin to begin with so they can plant the seeds like Barassi did with us in the early 80's and with Sydney in the early 90's. The only viable options for us in my opinion are: Paul Roos - Turned around a Sydney side that was beggining to lag under Rocket. Premiership Coach John Worsfold - Took a bottom 4 Eagles to the Prelim Finals the following year when most peopel thought they'd struggle. Premiership Coach. Mark Williams - Premiership Coach at Port and has a track record of developing young players. Leigh Matthews (short term) - To be used in the Barassi mould in reshaping the culture for a few years, would need some quality assistants around him. John Northey (short term, yes that's right, Swooper!) - See above. Took us to 5 succesive finals which hadn't happened since Smith and hasn't happened since. Took Richmond to the finals once which has only happened twice in 30 years and laid the foundations as the first coach of Brisbane Lions, got them to a prelim also. If we were to go down the path of someone like Matthews or Northey (short term) then you'd need to surround them with some quality assistants who they could hand over to within a few years once they'd laid the ground work. I'm talking about targetting the likes of Peter Sumich (forward coach), Leigh tudor (midfield coach) and Nathan Basset (backline coach). Obviously easier said then done, but as they say if you want to make money you need to spend money!

Viney, Toumpas, N. Jones, Evans, Trengove, Blease & Taggert are the building blocks of our midfield. Sadly only 2 have played more then 50 games which is why we're so poor. Sadly Dawes is correct, there's no silver bullet, and as you said we need at least another 2-3 in there. Whether that's people like Aish or Dunstan through the draft or if we do similar to this year and look for some top up players for the time being in Adam Selwood or a Farren Ray, I don't know, but as you pointed out I can't see any top midfielders from other clubs putting their hands up to come across, just like Judd and Ball wouldn't.

Don't forget that anyone we trade for has to agree to come here. Given the year we've had so far how many superstars are going to want to come to Melbourne? I reckon we'll have no choice but be forced to use our pick and chase established player through free agency with higher pay, like Adam Selwood for example.

Respect your opinion RR however I think Flower & Schwarz would offer afair bit. Flower while your right hasn't had great health I reckon has had a good enough business pedigree to suggest he would contribute well on our board. And whiel the Ox certainly doesn't have any real business pedigree, I'd of thought the way he's turned his whole life around embodies what we're trying to do with the club. I can't see any reason why he would be any less effective as say Dunstall is on Hawthorns board. Mitchell, I wouldn't begrudge anyone for having a negative opinion of, however I think he's a figure that could be beneficial to the club.

If you're refering to myself which I believe you are, 1 of those ex players is already on the board and two of the three that I suggested are very succesful in business in Flower & Wells. No, but I reckon he could be just what we need in the mould of Maguire & Kennett and bring in some mongrel.

Changes that should be made to the board IN: Don Argus, Robert Flower, Neil Mitchell, David Schwarz, Greg Wells OUT: McLardy, Spargo, Howcroft, Hayes, Grimshaw, Thurin Gives us 9 board members. Flower, Healy, Wells & Schwarz all with a football background and 3 of the 4 in business also. Freeman, Jalland, Trotter & Argus gives us a good broad range of business skills in their elect fields and Mitchell then gives us that media presence along with Schwarz. President: Mitchell Vice President: Freeman

Is it true that Grinter has a son coming through the ranks also who's looking the goods?

At least a partial spill of the board at some point would restore a lot of members faith I think. IN: Argus, Mitchell, Schwarz, Wells OUT: McLardy, Howcroft, Grimshaw & Thurin I don't mind who you made president, but all 4 of those ins are pretty hard nuts and two pretty prominent media personalities that could give the club the shot in the arm it needs. As I've said elsewhwere I have no doubt the current board have always had the clubs best interests at heart, but change 9at least of some kind) is required.

Given our financial situation I can't see him being sacked until seasons end, unless of course we cop 4 10 goal+ drubbings over the next month, then Jackson may make the call early. I think Jackson and the board will use the rest of the season to set up two plans. 1 being securing a very good coach for next year and quality assistants of theri choosing. And 2 a seemless board handover as a show of faith to the supporters. Senior Coach targets must be the likes of Roos, Matthews, Ayres, Williams and surround them with some quality assistants that can take over after x amount of years as none of the 4 mentioned you'd expect would want to coach for more then 5 years or so. So I'm talking about the likes of Richardson, Bassett, Sumich, Lovett, coaches who have a track record of getting the best out of their players and the players playing for them is what we need. Either way we're a long way back and sadly I don't believe Neeld is the man to take us forward anymore, however I have no doubt everything that he's done has been with the best of intentions...

I'm actually going to come at this from a different angle. What we desperatly need is to build a winning culture and get our young players used to playing with eachother. Simply putting the kids into the seniors and getting flogged every week could smash any confidence we may have which brings me to what changes I'd make for next week and my long term goal for this year. Lets aim for a VFL premiership by putting all the players that we expect to take the club forward (outside of the leadership group) and put them in the VFL to get some wins, feel confident about themselves and try and win a premieship together. In turn that then means that the players who might not last long term or may be fighting for a contarct at seasons end I'd put into the senior side along with our leaders and see what they can produce. So my changes for next week: IN: Davis, MacDonald, Pedersen, Fitzpatrick, Barry, Magner (upgraded), Rodan, Tynan, Jetta OUT: Sylvia (susp), Viney, Kent, Terlich, Howe, Tapscott, Gawn, Evans, Bail FB: Davis, Frawley, Nicholson HB: Garland, Sellar, Strauss C: M. Jones, N. Jones, MacDonald HF: Dunn, Pedersen, Byrnes FF: Fitzpatrick, Dawes, Barry FOLL: Spencer, McKenzie, Magner INT: Jetta, Rodan, Tynan SUB: Davey NON PLAYING EMERG: Bail This would leave the likes of: Viney, Kent, Terlich, Howe, Tapscott, Gawn, Evans, Tompas, Blease, McDonald, Hoagn, Taggert & Watts when fit to play at Casey when available. Get used to playing together and see if you can get some success, even if it is for our VFL affiliate just to get some belief amongst yourselves as they're the group to take us forward! This would probably require us going to the AFL staright awat to tell us that this is what we're doing and why we're doing it to kill off any tanking allegations from the get go. Obviously I don't expect the club to do this, but given the season is already dead I know it's what I'd be doing. Gives us a chance to see what guys like Davis, Fitzpatrick, Tynan etc have to offer and also lets out top young players play together in what would hopefully be a winning VFL culture.

The old better the devil you know thought process. But I agree, I think Channel 9 do a good job and want it to stay there, but more cricket on FTATV is only a good thing. I must say I like this idea: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ca-ponders-oneday-carnival-20130509-2jant.html Would certainly help build interest over the month of October heading into the international season which normally kicks off late November. I reckon a 4 week carnival type season would work well. Although I'd og thought they may have to bring back the Canberra Commets so everyone gets 6 games (3 home & away).

And don't forget, even in 2006 we lost our first 3 but still made the finals that year!

You're not wrong there Rogue. That's why the only way something like the breakaway that I'm talking about to happen would be if they tapped into a market like USA or China where there's money. USA I reckon would be the best bet. It may require some type of concession to allow USA to be competative. For example USA are allowed to field 1 player from each of Australia, NZ, RSA & England who's under 23 who's not in their countries best XI. Would give that player some international experience and also help USA be somewhat competative while still getting to play 7 natives in their XI. I know it's a long shot, but something drastic will need to happen to end the BCCI's xurrently monopoly on the game.