Dr. Gonzo

It is ridiculous the game starts at 3.20pm - it is so channel 7 can show it live and leading into the news. Seriously who gives a stuff about the news anyway? Is it really that big a deal these days? Who the hell watches commercial TV news anyway?

Didn't really fill me with confidence.

If we were ever going to do that (and I don't for one second think it will ever happen) we may as well just play games at Geelong. Would take me just as long to get there and back as it would to go to Casey (in fact Geelong may even be closer).

Name them. Debt Demolition and...

Yep me too, been happening long before Neeld got here and goes back to the Daniher years. I said it before Bailey got sacked and not much has changed since - we have either the laziest or most unift group of footy players I've ever seen. It's consistent too, from start of the year to the end, from first bounce to final siren. It's one of the reasons I was happy with Byrnes earlier in the year, often he would be the only player on the ground busting a gut to actually present into space when we would try and switch the play across half-back. It was clear we should have several players/the whole team pushing across the ground AT PACE (not just jogging between opponents) but more often than not he was the only one.

To be fair he was actually praising the recruits from last year saying they were the ones he could actually rely on to use the ball well and not turn it over all the time. He seemed pretty fed up with the constant brain fades from players who have been around long enough to know better (ahem Dunn) and was stating that our recruits from last year are actually able to take the game on and credited their recruitment to Viney. He wasn't talking about Pedersen, Rodan, Gillies etc but rather Terlich, M Jones, Kent, Toumpas and I guess Viney.

I don't know the precise answer but it would be the vast majority of our scores against are scored by our turnovers. I'd also like to know if there is a publicly available stat on this. No doubt Champion Data records it but for some reason they refuse to release their stats publicly. I don't know why the media refuse to analyse the stats properly and make them available, probably because if they do make them available people will be able to see the utter ineptitude of their "analysis" over the past couple of decades.

What about Garland playing on quickly from a point and running to the members side where no MFC players were - he then realised there was no-one there, went sideways to someone who then kicked to 3 Collingwood players on their own on the members wing. Seriously WTF???

The one thing that kills us week in and week out is our shocking disposal and decision making leading to turnovers which we get scored on, heavily. Today Collingwood scored 89 of their 122 points through turnovers. There's multiple reasons such as lack of forward structure and players standing still and failing to make options coupled with failure to kick to a players advantage/into space. This is why I find it difficult to really assess Neeld as if we had players with decent disposal and decision making we'd have at least one more win this year (Brisbane) and possibly two (Richmond).

We'd have to send one of Clark, Hogan or Boyd to CHB then, possibly Hogan to CHB and Clark to the ruck with Boyd and Dawes up forward?? You can't have 4 key forwards and no midfield we'd be better off trading the pick away for a midfielder (if we have two early picks) - Boyd's pick to Brisbane for Rich and a pick (or another fringe midfielder)? There's a few teams in need of a key forward would be interesting to see what midfielders they may have up for grabs. Would be interesting to see whether Port would entertain Wines for Boyd with some steak knives involved.

Haha what?? Some MFC supporters are truly delusional.

Brisbane games in Darwin.

I think we should prepare ourselves for the very real possibility that we will have pick 1, not 2.

Plus they have talent, hardness and footy smarts - that counts for quite a lot.

Toumpas, Taggert and Barry have shown nothing yet (not saying they won't make it just that at this early stage they haven't shown it - nothing wrong with that just stating a fact though). Barry could be seen as another player too skinny for AFL. Terlich, Kent and Evans have been good but haven't shown anything special to say they can be any more than good ordinary players who can lead us up the ladder. Forgive me if I wait to see some results before I start agreeing everything has changed. As a side note look at Richmond to see what can happen when you invest in your recruitment dept. Their recruiting was laughable even worse than ours now in the last few drafts they have put together a very good, hard and skilful midfield; Cotchin, Martin, Conca, Vlastuin plus some adept recruiting from other clubs guys like Grigg and Houli. So it can change but we need the right people there.

No they're not, they're miles off.

Hardly a fringe player.

If Neeld made a prelim and semi in the last two years he'd probably have some leeway. Comparing Neeld to Thompson circa 2006 is quite ridiculous. I'd still like to know whether the club receives additional financial benefit from membrs turning up if they have already paid for their seats. No-one seems to be able to answer that so I'll assume having paid my $550 already I am not hurting the club financially at all by not turning up to some games.

I'll be there Monday - but I'd genuinely like to know, if I've already bought a $550 Trident membership does the club receive any extra revenue whether I show up or not?

Previously I've been of the thinking that Casey's success or otherwise should not even be a consideration however this year I think it would benefit our young guys to play finals for Casey rather than pull them out. Players play footy to play finals regardless of the level of competition to play the season then get pulled for finals would be demoralising. And if a player gets injured that is the risk you take, injuries can happen anytime even pre-season just ask David Schwarz.

We shall see. Back to the footy - where are the Melbourne people putting their hand up for the role? I think everyone acknowledges McLardy is not up to it and I haven't heard anything from Freeman to give me confidence in him particularly as he was chosen by the current board as the heir apparent. We need something to happen now and we need people with business AND footy connections/knowledge to challenge the board. Leaving it til the end of the year is no good as we need to get things sorted before then so that we can begin planning for the off season and 2014 as early as possible.

"Bracksy" did stake his entire career on laying low so that he couldn't disenfranchise anyone and risk losing votes though. Probably figures it served him well then no reason to change now.

Hmm not sure about that, as strong and powerful as guys like Kennett and Howard were as leaders I doubt even they would be immune from crashing financial markets around the globe and the cumulative effects of 3 decades of neoliberal policies coming home to roost. Thank god though for the minerals still in the ground or Australia really would be a banana republic but even they won't last forever.

He advocated Hawthorn should merge with us in 1996 but that didn't stop the Hawks from having him as President.

Just like the MFC relying on supporter donations and handouts from the AFL, selling off public assets under the guise of neoliberalism is an unsustainable business model. When the Libs get back in nex time there'll be nothing left to sell off.