Footynut

The thing I can add here is that he is an unbelievably serious person. As soon as you talk to him you think to yourself he won't want me asking lots of qs about the club as he would get it all the time. But he freely brings things up himself about the club and team and talks passionately about getting this right. My word he is a serious guy who lives for footy. The tonic i think will do the club wonders as I must say previous dealings with the club prior to Neeld had its head in the clouds thinking they were well ahead of where they actually were. Really enjoying the nature of this thread. Nice to be apart of.

Thanks Ben Hur. Its always a risk posting on here with the real facts as ppl will always demand you to come up with evidence. Reality is you want to give supporters the benefit of what you know to be true so they can get a better understanding of the club. However it is balanced against the confidence you are taken into by people at the club in the discussions that are had. Therefore its difficult to disclose everything and sometimes you have to leave people to join their own dots. Some here would probably say to me don't post at all if you can't tell us why, who you are and how this all came about so we can believe you. That is understandable given many claim to be an authority. I am certainly no authority. I just wanted to iron out some misconceptions some here seem to have when they really don't know the true facts. Mind you it's not their fault they don't know the facts either and I just thought I would give my perception based on reasonably extensive interaction. I don't really want to breach confidence of anyone involved at the club. But I do deal in my job ongoing with a number of AFL clubs. Mark is one of a few coaches, club CEO's and support staff I deal with on a consistent basis. When you know the person and all the facts, it is frustrating to see people on hear make judgements from a distance without all the facts but I can understand why. The things I have disclosed are not ground breaking, but there are certainly views held on here I can say are held without any basis whatsoever.

Sure order me 3 if they're that easy...

If I may I would like to address a couple of your comments and appreciate everyone has their own opinion. In terms of management style and whats right and wrong, history shows there are many different styles of leadership that can be successful. Singling out players rightly or wrongly according to the latest management school of thought has been done because every player needs something different. Not one approach fits all. I can suggest with some authority that Neeld holds strongly to the value that every single player needs to be coached, lead and challenged differently, not one size fits all. He challenged Jack early as he thought thats what Jack will respond to. It is actually as simple as that. You cannot say that is Neelds' style. In fact it is a management solution that fit a certain situation to which he applied to Jack. I hope that makes sense. Secondly, Neeld himself was the first person to point out to players at our club on arrival that at CFC tell everyone they have the best club and resources in the world. The fact is he told them MFC have newer and better facilities for PLAYERS. This does not mean the coaching staff do. Yes we have invested in more coaches than ever and that is a huge step which Neeld himself initiated and led. I can tell you it is falacy to suggest that our football club coaching staff have better resource off the ground than other clubs. Neeld has personally driven the club to get up to speed on all types of common industry coaching support tools which the football club didn't have. The club has traditionally thought it was an innovator but reality is they have been at the bottom of the table for everything to do with coaching resource and infrastructure. Again I make these statements as I have a bit to do with most AFL clubs and can also benchmark MFC. Neeld has done a MAMMOTH job to rectify this and has worked himself and the staff into the nights to get it to where it needs to be in order to play on a level playing field. When I say mammoth what he has done so far is outstanding. But he knows there is so much more to do and the club admin needs to make further gains to support him. Again I understand everyone is entitled to an opinion, but its very easy to cast judgement when you don't actually know what, who, where and how are going on behind the scenes. Just one more point on emotion if I may indulge ... Mark is not emotional about our players. He is objective and sees them for what they are. They are the people who bring to life his game plan. He is VERY strategic and the emotion will come in when you start to see players earn his pride and trust. It has still been a blank canvas and rightly he is at the moment letting the Sports Science team get the job done to get the players into the shape required to be part of the game plan to deliver ultimate success. It is my personal opinion that Mark will use the emotion card alot like we have see Chris Scott or Brad Scott....Rarely....but for a purpose. Don't underestimate MN, everything he does is calculated and for a purpose driven outcome. A game is yet to be played. But if MN does fail it will not be because he didn't leave no stone unturned. Go Dees

On top of this Telstra customers will receive access to watching every game live to mobile handset next season. Can you imagine all the birthday's, weddings etc now people gathered around their phones watching the footy!

Mark Neeld assured me honestly that no decision has been made either way. Not sure if someone in the know is closer to it than the coach...

I have been in a position to meet and speak with Mark on a couple of occasions since he became coach. He is an impressive individual. You wouldn't cross him as a player. You would do whatever he asked. He is very specific about exactly what he wants and is demanding all staff and players at the club give him what he needs. He has stated a number of times he only gets one shot and you get the impression he will do anything to have this club win. He is taking a very scientific approach to training with every player on their own individual program and is already into matching players to game time and specific rotations for NAB cup through to Round one. Dont have any doubt this guy is leaving no stone unturned. Is he passionate....ask him....he would probably look at you with those piercing eyes like you are a dead man...

I have directly spoken to Neeld about this. He said Davey will definitely play the year forwar of centre. He obviously has this as a clear part of game plan as I had this discussion with him in October before he had even really been in the job too long.

Wonderful piece. Nice to see there are still great writers around. I shed a tear of joy reading the line which is the title of this thread. Jimmy is the MFC and I hope regardless of how long he is around that the MFC has his essence deep within its DNA.

It makes me quite emotional to read this thread. I can't help but feel sadness, inspiration, hope, strength, love and despair all at the same time. I can't imagine what it has personally been like for Jim and his family. What a remarkable individual he truly is. And what a remarkably lucky club we are to have him with us. May he continue on to beat this bloody thing, and may all of us learn from him of what can be achieved regardless of the odds and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Jimmy is living proof that no matter how hard it gets you never give up. We all love you Jim. Keep going mate.

V is for Viney representing both a proud past and future of this great club.

Last I heard (from Neeld) they have two in the mix. Didn't say who but its not Subi. He just has a personal mate there.

T is for Trenners...future of the club, put his hand up and made a statement by staying when he could have joined the circus. Trenners the True Team Demon!

Agree WYL we just happened to be the ones picking him. I guess an example if the lengths GWS will go to showed in the under handed way they tried to get Omeara this year. Still we have Mitch Clarke, Jack Viney and 2 first rounders. We are in front but it's the bitter taste in our mouths from be played like fools.

Well if it wasn't already the stench that wont go away for the AFL.... This is the GWS gift to the AFL that keeps on giving. What an embarrassment...the so called system has been a joke. Tom I don't blame you. You are a kid following your father. Phil I do blame you...you know better, you and your family will forever be remembered with this stigma of money hungry liars.... As for GWS....absolutely out of line. Should be sanctioned by the AFL.

The inside word is that it wasn't just one thing - but it was the straw that broke the camels back and it wasn't the Scully Snr thing believe it or not. Mainly an alleged interaction w female staff member was the rumour and the Scully thing wasnt a good look.

I can tell you MN is absolutely up for it. He will throw everything at pushing Col. As Mark said I only get one shot at this and someone like Col is crucial to success.

Was mentioned - he said nothing and smiled... Straight bat..

oh here you go again playing the man and not the ball... feel better now after attempting tp belittle me? You've made your point we get you don't like it, I disagree...at the end of the day who cares... Decision has been made end of story. Now its your turn to come back and belittle me again and show everyone what a hero you are...

Youre patronising the new coach DC...

I think you would know its not the only way and is one of many factors but all the same the coach told me this last night.. It is what it is - thats MN sending a message. Clearly you don't think the new coach who has his neck on the line and immense commitment to the role and experience with the Filth means nothing?

Agree totally with that observation. Mind you he is not on his own tonight...

As i said earlier - its more about changing the club culture and sending all players a message. Col knows better.... New culture starts now..

Aussies are a long way off. It seems one team this means alot to. The other team dont seem to fussed either way..

I see two Irish players came across to the aussie huddle and Green was first in the start physically pushing them away telling them where to go. Good to see that rough stuff and taking no rubbish. Hope to see him lead more like that whether he is captain or not this year. I will also state dont bother jumping on and telling us all how bad a captain he is. We all know. Just was good to see this act from him - thats all.