praha

Not HoF quality. Top 5 Melbourne player of the past 50 years, but not HoF quality. Says a lot.

Still wish he was coaching Melbourne.

I don't think we'll lose either tbh. Trade period is always all hype, no substance. Not much will happen.

Well, that's better than saying, "Collingwood won a flag in 2010 so let's copy them!"

Let him focus on being the best midfielder he can be. Don't stop what's been so good. Grimes and Trengove have done a great job imo, and should keep it for at least another year.

The entire second half of that match. I don't know, even as a winless side with no hope, the second half was just...different. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I'm trying to be optimistic but... 2012 is easily, without a doubt one of the club's worst years ever.

Melbourne's DRAFTING is not the issue. Its development is.

Now sure if serious?

Neeld has coached one of the worst teams in Melbourne history, that's for sure. Whether that's because he can't coach or because the team just isn't that good, or perhaps because of off-field distractions, I don't know, but anything more than 3-5 wins next year is a massive plus for the club. He will get until 2014. The only thing threatening his position will be the relentless media scrutiny he is sure to get next year when the club starts 0-10. Bookmark it. On Triple M today they were saying Melbourne of 2012 was certainly worse than 2008 and 2009, and probably one of the worst teams of all time, seeing as though 3 of the 4 wins came against new, "non"-sides. It's amazing how far behind the next worst team this year's team was. It's staggering. And either the players leaving will be replaced with better, more experienced players, or young, POTENTIALLY better players. If it's the latter, and I think it will be, I seriously think 2013 and 2014 are well on the way to being two more 'spoon years. Buckle up, people.

Some must-watches for you: Essendon vs Melbourne, Round 10, 2012 The Comeback - Melbourne vs Fremantle, Round 7, 2008 Just be careful, kid. They'll break your heart.

Basically what I already knew or expected to happen. Not sure what experienced players the club can attract now. Cloke's pay expectations were quite clearly a turnoff for the club.

Are you an Australian living abroad, or a curious American? Anyway, I recommend Norm Smith's book "Red Fox", also.

I think that the 2013 wooden spoon is very much guaranteed. I am not saying that out of anger or frustration, I just think that 2012 is essentially 2007 all over again, and we need to crash further before we can rise. We are considerably further off than people think we are. I think people need to prepare themselves for another bad few seasons. We have some great young players, but absolutely no culture and poor development, and that doesn't change over night. Just prepare yourselves. It's really only the beginning. The club is still trying to drain out Daniher duds, and the cancer that was Bailey's cultural issues. 1. Yes, because a big ego and arrogance hasn't worked for Collingwood, Eagles, Geelong. This is the big league. Nice guys can be shown the door. See: Daniher, Bailey. 2. Michael Jordan once said that only one sort of player made him angry: it wasn't the crappy player that tried hard, but rather the skilled player that made too many mistakes. Players like Moloney, Davey, Petterd simply don't work hard enough. The club has kept players like those three on for too long over decades. 3. I don't disagree with this. Time will tell. 4. Gameplan? What gameplan? I am willing to give him 2-3 years before judging him, and this year was essentially the culling opportunity. The club missed on Sheeds AND Malthouse, so now much make do with some who has a very clear agenda. Either you support that, or you end up in the same circle, time and time again.

Goddard is OK, would be a good fit for a backline next to Watts. Imagine that lineup in 3-4 years?

So while it's been a pretty bad year, let's try and look at the more enjoyable moments as Dees fans (because I don't expect similar coverage from the MFC website anytime soon...). Hopefully we can keep this positive! 5. McDonald's Tackle On Zaharakis Essendon vs Melbourne - Round 10 With roughly 13 minutes left in a tight contest, Tom McDonald makes a silly handball into space, directly into the path of multiple Essendon players. After a few swift handpasses, the Bombers get it into the hands of a streaking Zaharakis, before McDonald lays a superb tackle and is rewarded with a deserving free kick. Made that little bit more special by the silence of Bombers fans around me, who had only seconds earlier laughed at the seemingly brain-fart of a handball from McDonald. 4. Demons 1, Scully 0 Melbourne vs GWS - Round 13 In what was Scully's first game back at the MCG, Melbourne trounced a pathetic GWS in front of a hostile crowd. This game was as fun as it got all year: the Dees were never in doubt (except for some troubling early signs), although Clark's admirable hanger attempts would eventually end his season. 3. Clark's First Half As Melbourne's prime recruit in the 2011 off-season, he more than earned his paypacket with a great return of 29 goals from 12 games. The sad thing: Even though he missed the final 10 matches, he still sits atop the club's goalkicking statistic. 2. Howe's Hanger Sydney vs Melbourne - Round 8 In what would be one of Melbourne's most dismal performances for the year, Howe's hanger mid-way through the 3rd was applauded even by Sydney fans, a bittersweet response considering the scoreboard at the time. 1. That Win Essendon vs Melbourne - Round 10 In what would actually turn out to be one of the best contests of the year (well, at least in the top 20), outsiders Melbourne would come from behind in the last to beat the 8-1 Dons on a cold and wet MCG. For those in attendance it was bliss, and without a doubt the best moment for the year. What are your top 5 moments from 2012?

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill Reputation grows with every single failure, good or bad. This club is now setting the foundations, perhaps too late, but time will tell. It needs to be a strong club in 3-4 years. The league is becoming far too mainstream and scrutinised for clubs to languish in the bottom for decades at a time. If you do that now, you won't survive. It's as simple as that. Dees fans live at the MCG.

Is it surprising? "Accountability" is a term thrown around quite a bit. It didn't exist in the Bailey years.

Robbie Flower. Since then we've just had "good" players.

Why not wait until at least the B&F count has happened?

I see Neeld as being just another scapegoat for a poor culture. Like Bailey was. I have faith, but it's hard to imagine with this club.

Everyone deserves to let their hair down. They still work hard and mostly to capacity.

So he wins our B&F and has one bad year and now he's out? I think he's struggled in the same way most of his teammates have. Suggestions that he is "out of favour" are ridiculous, considering no one player has had their place in the team assured this year. Yes, even Jones a few times could have been dropped, had our midfield in general not been so inept. Aside from him being dropped for poor form, what reasoning do people have to suggest he is "out of form"? The guy can still play. Remember, Stevie J was "out of favour" at Geelong in 2006...

8-10 wins.