Adam The God

I'm usually the last to defend Sylvia, but considering his usual output, he put in a little tonight. Not enough, but showed more than usual. I'm not sure if that's good enough.

A guy called Sellar is quickly making this into an artform. Two sitters in two weeks. I was watching him mark in the warm up and he was only just clinging to those under little pressure. His confidence is shot. Meanwhile, on Howe's marking...you don't try taking hangers in the back half. He should have been dragged for that dropped hanger in the back fifty. Two seconds later he kicked it out of bounds on his left foot. He tried for probably three quarters, but his discipline lets him down.

MFC or nothing for me.

Well said. I agree.

Damning stat. I heard that too from some whacker behind me.

I wanna know who the feck was on Heppell all night. Even when he went into the square at centre bounces, he seemed free. Whole-heartedly agree though. Royal is hopeless. Though I thought Jamar's ruck work was again insipid, as it has been since his All Australian year. This may form a significant part of the midfield make up and their ability to get hands on the ball. Jamar barely gets off the ground and taps straight at his feet. Further, the opposition can read him easily (as they did tonight) and he offers very little around the ground. Bellchambers and Ryder managed to go forward and kick goals. No sign of that from Jamar - even though Neeld shifted him into the forward half later on. Unfortunately, Jamar seems to be our only option, or at least the only back up plan out of defence too. For a guy that's not a great mark, that spells danger for us. Another thing I noticed about our midfield in the first half was the peculiar role N Jones seemed to be playing. He was trying to zone off his man and play in between the lines during Essendon forward thrusts. In turn, this meant that some of the time he was playing a role unnatural to him, which probably resulted in retarding his natural ability to win inside ball. Our first three centre clearances were instigated, and in two cases, directly executed by Viney. Jones got amongst it as the game wore on, but to little profit. Someone on Demonland mentioned the other day that Neeld had perhaps stifled Frawley's ability to play his natural game. I just wonder if he or Royal are doing this again. Jones certainly needs to continue learning, but I thought last year Jones showed definitive improvement under Neeld and perhaps it's too early, but he seems to be largely ineffectual this year. Finally, another player who seems lost, seemingly bereft of instruct is young Toumpas, who I think under a clearly defined game plan and refined by experience, has the potential to become an important cog in the midfield machine. It is however worrying that in his first two games and particularly his second, he seemed unsure who to mark for large portions of the game. In fact, it was almost as if he appeared torn between zoning space and picking up an opponent. I don't rate Royal as a coach, but it's also difficult to tell whether Neeld's game plan is also convoluting issues here too.

Well said, Jaded. I was glad when no one challenged the board upon last renewal. I felt at the time that the board and CEO were doing respectable jobs. Financial security for the club was more important, particularly as we knew there would be some thrashings on the footy field to come. However, tonight made me realise that this decision was a safe decision. We're now, I believe, on the verge of a downhill spiral that will see us fold, unless we do something drastic. It's time for risk, because ultimately, if we don't fight now and take risks, we'll soon die anyway. I'm about to echo my sentiments from another thread, but we must be bold and employ non-MFC people, "footy" people to run the club. Not merely successful business people. Successful football people. We must be strategic, but bold.

Talk about irony. To remain alive we need to go into debt in order to sack the board that helped erase the debt in the first place.

I would give the game up if the MFC folded. I watch football to support. It's not interesting unless you're following one team. Even when watching opposition games.

I'm getting similar messages and from Essendon supporters.

Yeah, Aaron had a dip. Though he didn't play four quarters. Worth a game next week.

Disagree. For me he was very close to tears. Difficult to watch, but as callous as it sounds, I want to see that from him. I want to see him hurting like we all are. At least he made some moves tonight, instead of sitting on his hands like he did last week. It's not the right move, but he may be gone by the end of round four. My reading of our administration and board is kneejerk. I fear they may send another to the gallows before a contract expires.

This is something that was all too clear tonight. He would approach the majority of contests out of position. Surely Geelong would have hammered correct positioning into him?

No. He's low on confidence, in a defence being bombarded by opposition forward thrusts. Garland did some okay things tonight. I don't think many played four quarters tonight (the exception perhaps being Mitch Clark). The clumsiness was present almost universally by players in MFC jumpers. It's more an illustration of being belted week in week out, than it is of an ability to play the game. Not many people will agree with me, but I still believe we have a core group of players, forwards and backs, that will make a great AFL team. Currently, I would point to a lack of structures, tackle counts and one percenters, along with our rucking capacity that condemn us to the bottom of the AFL table.

Jack Watts will not be delisted. Bookmark this.

Defeatist. We must identify the problems and not scapegoat. Make everyone accountable. I don't think Neeld can coach, but I think he's got ordinary assistant coaches and something putrid within the admin and football department. I watched Josh Mahoney walk from the ground at half time. He looked incredibly dejected. It runs through the entire club. The MFC requires a transplant or it will die. Having watched five and now probably six years of this, it is not hyperbole to say that there will be no MFC in five to ten years time if this continues. We require blood. New blood. Non-Melbourne people that have had success elsewhere, at strong football clubs and know how to run a football club. We need role players right across the club. Everyone has a role and they must fulfil it or like any occupation in life, they will be removed. Rising MFC from obscurity must be the greatest challenge in football, but with our history considered, a prize worth aiming for.

Good to hear, but the obvious point to take out of that is why the fcuk did they fail to "try their guts out" last week? Grimes can hold his head up, but the majority of the group certainly cannot.

Well written, but defeatist crap. If you can attend a game of two opposition teams, you can bloody well attend Melbourne games. I don't enjoy watching Melbourne every week, but I'll go along and support. It's this sort of fella that gives the passionate MFC supporters a bad name.

He was the major part of the culture problem. Pissing on bars, chucking hissy fits. Good riddance. The rest however I could agree with. That said I think when Dawes finally gets on the park he'll be an important get for us.

Bingo. Innovation is the key. I'm yet to see it from Neeld and never saw it from Bailey. I hope we begin to see it soon otherwise Neeld's had his end.

I must be the only one who thought Chippa played alright the other day. At least not as poorly as some people make out. EDIT. Apparently I missed some of his chasing.

He may have been guilty of micro-managing (not necessarily confirmed), but our on-field success has little to do with the financial viability of the club. He's done wonderfully well with sponsors, albeit slowly at times. Still, kudos for attracting any sponsors considering the on-field rabble we've been.

Yes, player movement is essential, but there needs to be numerous plans. Not just the Jamar option every time. It's lazy and lacks innovation.

Not correct really. Neeld has probably lost me too, but Jones clearly had his best season last year. Finally delivered and stepped up. That was under Neeld.

Agreed. He's not proactive or innovative. Make some moves for somebody's sake.