Ned

Yeah, we have to do the hard yards either way. As I said, my query is whether Neeld can oversee it effectively. Still hopeful.

It's a defense-oriented one that requires winning contested footy. But if we can't adapt we're gone anyway, only those sorts of game plans stand up in finals. Cam Mooney - who I'm starting to respect more and more - said it right. Under the old system we would always win 8-10 games, but never make finals. What we're trying to do is develop a finals-type plan. doubters are Neeld's capacity as a coach. I'm pretty sure his idea is right.

I'm not sure this is the worst season. But it's the first season I've stopped enjoying footy and felt really depressed about the team. In 2008-09 I bought the story. I don't see a story at the moment. Hopefully we can really turn it next year.

I've given this year away. Too many injuries, too many players out of form. But I do expect a better performance next year, much bettered. Hird turned Essendon around in a pre-season. The problem with Neeld is he made no attempt to manage expectations. His comments in hindsight were ridiculous. I haven't written him off. I can see what he's trying to do. But I'm not sure about his judgement and man management. If we have another really poor start the drums will be pounding and in the modern AFL environment it'd be hard to see him getting to the third year. The good news is Craig is there to step straight into the role. But as I said, at this point I think he has a decent chance of turning things around. The game plan looks solid and if we can execute it may all turn for the better fast.

Heat stroke.

Yep, agree. But sounds like a shocking situation in that community in general.

He'd run his race at Adelaide, clearly. But look at the team he'd put together there. New coach and they're flying. He left Adelaide in good shape. Sound bloke. Not a genius like Blight but very consistent and decent. Good fit for trying to develop a good culture at Melbourne.

Totally agree. Taking him at 12 reeked of "pick any tall" not best pick possible. I can't say anything about Darling as every team skipped him but my heart bleeds when I watch the way he plays. God Melbourne could do with him in the forward line.

Morton is apparently a smart bloke and clearly had ability. A really curious case. I think we could do with a decent midfield coach - would love to see them approach Cameron Ling. Someone with real gravitas. I don't know much about Brian Royal but our midfield is rubbish. Maybe it's just the cattle.

Good ordinary player. Struggle to see what all the fuss is about.

I can visualize it pretty easily. Classic.

Totally agree. Richmond weren't that good - as you'd expect from a team with seven players out - yet they pantsed us. Richmond haven't won a game with 7 changes since 1963! We were shocking and should've lost by 10 goals. I felt ashamed watching it. The only thing worse were the [censored] umpires who should be sent to the reserves for a year. I am starting to hate watching my own team. Just depressing.

That was totally depressing. We should've lost by 10 goals and Richmond weren't playing very good footy. I don't even have an opinion on what we're doing wrong - just amateurish mistakes. They were saying on the Telly that shitmond haven't won a match with 7 changes in 40 years and they then flogged us. The umpires today need a year in the magoos. Terrible decisions. It was a rotten day all round. I'm starting to hate watching my own team play. Sad.

I voted yes out of respect for the bloke. I think it should've happened this year. But I take the point that you don't want to undermine the two Jacks. They've done it damn tough this year - the first half of the season just a horror - and should retain the post. Two decent young blokes. I still miss junior and am still damn pi$$ed that he was sacked. I've felt that from the minute I heard about it. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Someone has to make the call - get rid of the lot of them. Maybe we can then recruit Collingwood's team or Geelong's?

I didn't feel upset at today's loss. Too many outs. Some good periods though where we really trapped the ball in our forward line. I like Blease. If he can learn defense ala Daisy Thomas he may turn out a star. like Howe too. We're going to be a decent team I reckon. Cloke for pick 3, speedy mid at 4, Boak for 13 and then Viney and we'll be well placed.

No, I said I would have been distressed if we lost or it was an arm-wrestle. I'm a Melbourne supporter for goodness sake. I'll be as personal as I like mate when a person misquotes me and then gives me a hard time based on their inability to read and comprehend what I wrote. I owe you no apologies.

I rest my case. You have low-level literacy, it seems.

Yep, totally agree. He's terrific and deserves complete respect.

I find your limited reading comprehension amazing. I would've been distressed if we lost or it was an arm-wrestle. As I said, I'm happy for the team because they got it exactly right. They kept the foot on the pedal and won handsomely. But no, I didn't take anything away from beating a first-year team halfway through the season. It's what we should do and did and that's great. I took a lot from the Essendon game when not only did we hold it together under pressure, we stood up and won against a really good team. You're strangely amused.

Glad for the win. But I took nothing else out of it. The boys did what they had to do and I'm happy for them. I just kept feeling like last year with interstate teams. It tells us nothing. The Essendon win was far sweeter.

Yep, nailed it.

What I like about Neeld and his game plan is that it really exposes our soft underbelly. I'm starting to buy in. There's nowhere to hide for our players. Col is unlikely to make it as he's a frontrunner. But you never know. He could grasp the nettle and end up a Demon Paul Chapman!

I like the idea of opposition players being afraid to stand under a ball and go back with the flight because they WILL be crunched. Tapscott is the beginning of that and let it continue. Hard, nasty teams win. Buckley himself had no problem with any of it. Why would we?

I want to see Humphrey tear the Pies to pieces today and headline tomorrow: "Humphrey in rampage!"