Ned

Cracked me up halfway through the Grimes interview in The Age today when he dropped: "A guy like Colin Garland was called Humphrey when he got to the club because he didn't speak." I heard him called "the undertaker" the other day. Have to say, this quiet achiever us rapidly becoming my favorite player. Always admire a man of understatement.

Watts was stunning on Saturday night. His reading of the play and directing of traffic around him was absolutely superb and really strengthened our backline. It was a masterclass and should give him heaps of confidence. Hurley can't kick straight and is pretty one-dimensional.

Incredibly happy for the boys and Neeld and coaches. And just so happy in general.

Incredible. So happy.

The team against Sydney was the best on paper I'd seen all year. I haven't seen a worse game of live footy in my life. It's meaningless. I'm still to see any indication Melbourne will win a match. I just watched the first quarter of GWS. I would be happy if our team played a quarter of footy like that.

I'll get the shovel!!

Yep, agree, have to stand by Neeld now and believe this pain is going to be worth it I really like Mooney in the media. Articulate and insightful. The exact opposite of what I expected.

Nice article in the Hun today on him saying that even though he's as slow as a turtle there is a place for guys like him in modern footy. Come home Brock and win a few contests for us.

I'm not the one who has to deal with the players. A coach needs a little composure. If you'd like me to comment on your semi-coherent posts champ I'm happy to oblige.

Big difference RR. When Richmond was 0-9 its players were clearly trying hard, they just weren't good enough. My concern is that it's not just our senior ayers not having a go. I was at the SCG last week and it was alarming. The psychotic faces Neeld was pulling in the box alarmed me further. Maybe you're right, it certainly crossed my mind too, but I'm not as confident after last week. Separately, I'd love to cane the Blues today and North get flogged so their respective coaches can have some pressure and Melbourne have a week without scrutiny.

Getting rid of Junior. I said it at the time and maintain it. He was the glue at the place. Just a decent, hardworking figure who kept everyone in line. Under him (even through this year) the younger blokes would've seen a standard and been able to concentrate on their own games rather than having to become captains at 20 etc. I don't know who made the call on that, but that was the end of our gradual improvement. Schwab and Connollly should've gone after the Geelong defeat, too. Someone in the upper echelons needed to be accountable, as well as the coach. Jones as captain, in hindsight, an absolute no-brainer.

It's just despair. I watched the game live with a mate from Sydney and he kept asking why we can't hold marks, hit targets etc. I had no answer.

I was out the back of the members at half-time having a kick of the footy with my boy - fortunately at 2 he had no idea what was happening. The Swans supporters are a mellow bunch and just kept coming up asking ``what happened''? This old bloke said to me he hadn't seen worse footy in his life (and he looked 100). I tell you what, it's hard to maintain the passion for the Dees from Sydney. I was excited about tonight. Everything was terrific except for the footy. Conditions were perfect and we were lamentable.

I'm off to see the Dees for the first time this year. On paper we should win. But we won't, the Swans play with great character and that's something we're still learning. So mainly just taking my little boy to see Jurrah. Can't wait. Should be great.

Luke Ball and Chris Judd came back from it.

Good team on paper. Enjoyed the OP's optimism. But we haven't looked like winning a game. Sydney are vastly improved on last year. Their senior players don't drop their heads.

Col should be at Casey this week and, if he is, I doubt we'll see him again because he won't get the message or learn. Perhaps Sydney could do something with him? But they don't overpay so I doubt we'll get much for him. Typical Melbourne tragedy.

We'll see RR. I don't think you applaud a man for leaving an asdistant's re and taking a senior role. That's the name of the game and basic ambition. So far I've seen hard words and bulging eyes and rotten football. He may turn out like Hardwick (glad we didn't hire him) or a disaster. If the pain is well targeted I'll be very happy for him.

Improvement?

Neil Craig's departure has unleashed the team's potential. I remember Craig as a player and never thought he was much chop as a coach. Hasn't had any discernible impact for us. What does the guy actually do?

Lucky Hawthorn couldn't kick straight.

I wonder what improvement Neeld will find in this flogging.

Hard to see th Dees winning a game this year. Shameful. I'm dubious about Neeld and Craig.

No, we all expect him to tear it up against the Suns and GWS.

I disagree that we're playing ok. I feel like we're dropping our heads and you can't do that with Geelong or you lose by 100 points. We've dropped off last week's good effort. Jones and Clark obviously excepted. Jamar wins the ruck and we never clear it. Depressing.