Ned

He was a very good player and his coaching reflects playing career. He wasn't a star, just a really hard worker who always put his head over the ball.

I keep having this strange thought on Pendelbury. Out of contract next year and seemed to be pretty close to Neeld. Daydreaming I guess. As to Brown, I'm hopeful there. Always admire a man who can will his way into a situation and he has done it all the way to a premiership (I'd like to see him get into Dunn). Also probably well versed in the notion of the press. However things turn out with Neeld, you can't say he hasn't had a good crack at putting together an exciting coaching team. I'd love to be a fly on the wall during this pre-season. .

Goddard to Carlton makes some sense. He supported them and expected to be drafted there until the salary cap sh!t hit the fan and they lost all their draft picks. Otherwise GWS would be logical for him. In other words, one is close to contending and the other could pay him a sack full of cash. The Demons are in no-man's-land, in other words, when it comes to Goddard. He's a champion but I think we're too far off the pace at this point.

He's very articulate and seems to have the ability to convey a strong message in a polite manner. That's a very impressive combination. I'm not sure who mentioned it above, but I liked their notion that it sounded like Mick saw Neeld as his natural successor. If true, that would be very high raps indeed. The club has recovered the situation pretty well, enough to engender a lot of enthusiasm on what we'll see next year.

Hopefully no more benders in china.

I'd like to see David King in there somewhere. Sharp as a tack that guy.

I reckon your 4 is the clincher!

Chief, there's something called fantasy footy. Your post belongs in a similar realm.

Too right. RPFC is clueless and should be reminded of the dross he wrote about Scully repeatedly. Having said that, I think we might've done ok on the coaching front.

I'm warming to Neeld/Craig after reading those articles. Craig has that great fitness background and is level-headed. Neeld sounds like he was in hot demand and seems pretty capable. Grounds for hope there.

Yep, not much chop as a player, clearly, just like our Dean. Bailey was an assistant at two premiership clubs. Meaningless. Maybe he's a new Clarkson/Lyon. Here's hoping.

All the saps who accepted him lying his face off at the start of the year should keep their thoughts to themselves on journalists now. Who was right?

Judas

Yeah, I'm not out there checking out their personalities! Goddard was a Carlton supporter, enough said. But his performance together with Lenny Hayes in the drawn grand final is something I'll take with me to the grave. That mark should've capped it and set him up alongisde Jezza among iconic images. Pity it didn't play out to script. He's an out-and-out champion nonetheless. He's already indicated he'd be open to an offer from GWS.

Hundreds of miles, maybe even thousands. The West Coast story is inspiring but I think having a dozen premiership players roll into top form really does help. I really enjoyed seeing Hawthorn smacked around. Just couldn't help it. I hope they do the same to Collingwood.

Yep, he's a superstar. Think GWS would get him first though.

Gold!

The only downside is that Carlton is the beneficiary.

In your dreams mate. It will be a shocking mercenary act. We're not talking Judd and Ablett who took teams to the top, won brownlows etc. We're talking about a spotty 19-year-old who shafted his club after 2 years.

I don't know how he missed out this year, tbh

I reckon he's on track to be All Australian.

Agreed. What I'm saying is port played out of their skin.

I didn't take the loss to port as hard. First game on what will be their néw home ground; old port champions there with guard of honor; big crowd roaring them on (something they haven't had for a while); few re-signs by young players; and last but not least, playing to avoid the spoon. That's equivalent to a rocket up your backside. We had little to play for and lost due to inaccurate kicking. No damage done. I don't judge Viney on these 5 weeks. The club he inherited was/is totally demoralised. Let's have a big preseason and get back on the horse. We'll be better. A crap year like this year should teach the kids it's not just going to happen. They need to work like mad. Go Dees!

I don't mind Todd at all. If we can't jag a premiership coach I'd be happy with Viney.

Port is going to want to make a statement in its first game at Adelaide Oval. Their spines will also be stiffened now they have a Norwood champion running the shop! Having been raised to hate Port from birth I find myself in the odd position of wanting them to turn it around. A close, competitive game with the Dees kicking the winning goal after the siren would be nice. I wouldn't be desperateely upset if it went the other way and Port avoided the spoon. We need to recharge under a new coach and come out firing in 2012.