Binmans PA

I don't think it's a cheap shot, JR. If the mail is Jones sets an incredibly high standard and is the difference between us implementing cultural change or continuing on like we have, then I think it's a worry. What he didn't do in that passage of play is what any one of us on Demonland could have done. That is chase and put some effort in. That's got nothing to do with experience. I was really disappointed with him. It was right in front of the members wing. I thought he should have been dragged for it. It was darn lazy.

Not Eade. For a guy that has made one grand final, with copious attempts, it is staggering how often his name comes up. I don't hear Daniher's name anymore, but he has had just as much success, if not more.

I watched him watch and walk at one stage the other day, while Viney chased after two Eagles on his own. Talk about a low base.

It could explain it. Particularly as the "relative unknown" fellow that came in was to deal out some harsh sprays. He definitely came in with a great deal of arrogance. I'm not the sentimental type, but imagine Ross Lyon coaching us.

I concur, but Collingwood is probably not the best example. We actually matched up against them quite well and came close under Bailey at least twice.

I've said it a number of times, but the Melbourne players were told that Lyon was their coach. Lyon did the dodge behind his manager's back and Neeld was appointed the next day.

Of course. My brain's shutting down at the end of a long day.

You're not being rude at all. We haven't had one. Moloney would do it occasionally, during the matches on the 'G against interstate or weakened opposition. McDonald didn't win regular centre clearances either. Obviously, this has been one of our biggest problem areas. It's so refreshing and exciting to see Viney win the odd centre clearance and then pin point a 50m pass down a Melbourne forward's throat. We've been so deprived of this. Imagine him around Mitchell and Sewell. Even Cotchin and Martin. Jimmy Toumpas is currently an outside mid who is not quite AFL ready yet. But I'd be looking at an experienced mid during FA or trade period and a ready-to-go mid. I think if we get our ruck situation sorted out, we'll see things turn around a lot quicker than some may expect. Get Spencer or Gawn (preferably the latter) in this week. Neeld may go if we lose to GWS. My sense is that if we get smashed he'll almost certainly go. But if not, I'd be getting in the ear of Roos and/or Clarkson with a view to a potential take over at year's end. Of course, Neeld may still prove me wrong. I hope he does, but I just don't see it. It will all depend on the back end of season 2013. Will we string together a few wins? If we can, Neeld should see out his three year contract.

Jeff White.

I'd agree except on the last point. I'd say a small running defender must be on our list too. Minus potentially Garland, who would you have play on a Rioli type?

I'd be looking at throwing cash at Betts and LeCras to solve our dearth of crumbing forwards. I'd go Thomas first and Dal Santo at a pinch. No to Guerra and Van Berlo.

Drool. A forwardline of Clark, Dawes, Hogan and LeCras? Amazing.

What we need is a crumber. I know Clark and Hogan are mobile talls, but we need someone with x-factor who can find it on the deck. It's then a supremely dangerous forwardline. We should be going for a FA midfielder next year and then another midfielder or two, plus that crumber or even a second in the ND. This is the missing element of our forward set up. If Gawn can come in and at the very least give first use to our midfield half the time that will improve the midfield. The other thing missing is a small defender. I know Garland can play that role, but believe he is best used as a third tall and rebounding defender. I don't think Strauss has the leg-speed for the position, so it's to FA, ND or the trade table. The other important piece of the puzzle is signing Frawley up. Do it now MFC. He's having a [censored] year. Get him to recommit. He is the lynchpin of our defence when on song. With less defensive inside 50s to deal with (hopefully), he'll find his form again. Anyway, sorry to digress. Cannot wait for Hogan to debut. He won't get it though unless our midfield improves. I'm glad he's not playing this season. VFL development and gaining confidence in Casey is much preferable to shooting the kid's confidence at AFL level (hello, Jack Watts).

Those three usually know where to get the ball offensively, but defensively they're reasonably inept at the moment. Either way you look at it, our set ups are atrocious. That's Royal's department. If he's not implementing structures, what is he doing? Exactly. No, we waited close on seven years for him to do anything. He was woeful through all the White years. He's been playing the best part of a decade and he's played one, yes one, good season. If anything's more endemic of mediocre culture, I haven't come across it yet. No, he wouldn't. He can't mark or kick. Where would you propose we sit him? He's no good at full forward.

Rivers was a fantastic reader of the play. However, McDonald demonstrated a number of times yesterday that he could play that role. What McDonald offers is pace and run and carry. Rivers never offered that. Rivers was a good servant, his experience is what we will most miss. No one in our back six has ever played in a final or a winning team. Rivers had.

Agreed. Play him or don't.

It may also take him time to get used to running again after his hip ops.

Yep. That's the truth, I'm afraid.

That's a reasonably generalised comment, but the fact that Neeld isn't teaching anymore could speak volumes. Don't get me wrong. Being a teacher doesn't make you a good communicator, but you would have thought it would offer you a little more foresight about how people respond to autocratic leadership. Someone described the way he came into the club as subtle as a bull in a china shop. Reasonably apt description. Surely he'd know this approach wouldn't work with everyone.

I'm not a school teacher. I just prefer to spell things correctly. And his boxing sessions were about emasculating the younger players, just as it was for Brock McLean. Moloney made his own call. If he hadn't been lazy and egotistical, he'd have played a role for the team. It's not about any one individual. I agree a good coach gets the best out of his players, but what Bailey got out of him was not the best and if it was it's not worth it. Moloney was endemic of the Bailey era. If we were playing an interstate team at the 'G he'd turn up. He rarely got it down against good opposition.

I agree. Although this problem stems from simply not following Heppell or Priddis around the ground. We are so loose and our midfield structures are hopeless.

Disagree jnrmac. We were still as loose as gooses in the first half. We took the game on with more attacking flair, but still failed to stop them from scoring. Our tackling was almost AFL standard in the first half. In the second half, our players "went into their shells" (to quote Grimes) and this further exposed our lack of accountability.

Doesn't it just defy logic that he's clearly not a good communicator, considering his background in education?

Good point. McKenzie is perhaps a big out. Still, he's a very limited player. But so was Ling to an extent.

Neeld has denied we're playing a zone. He may not want to call it that, but it's that or deliberate unaccountability. It makes absolutely no sense that a coach would come in, looking to strengthen defence, but play zonal defence. This teaches a side about manning space, not accountability or winning one on one hard ball. Neeld must finally feel how Bailey must have felt. Neither of them are up to it either.