Demon17

I'd say this article is bang on the money:

http://www.heraldsun...f-1226352552522

Not really a revelation though.

Was quite fond of this bit:

I agree. Its really sad how the footy show - once mandatory vieiwng - is now just a cliche ridden sideshow for professional bogans like Crawford, Brayshaw and Brownless..

Don't get me started on Damian Barrett - has he ever told me somehting I didn't know!

There is a time and a place. The time- 1000BC, the place- Rome. Not modern day Demonland thanks.

Rome didn't exist in 1000BC - It was founded around 600BC by Romulus, although some historians belive the legend that Trojans escaping from that war founded it about 1100BC, I don't though

I reckon Neeld loves Bate - and I can see why.

So do I. He has a real future.

Watts and Trengove . Both players will be in Sheahan's top 50 in the next few years.

Why? in the case of Watts. First decison is never taken and obseses about passing off and not taking responsibilty.

Haha just saw that then watching the replay - definitely said "get Moloney off the f*ing ground NOW!!!" and I'm guessing it was after he missed that sitter of a goal when he had a free Dunn over the top? Great to see some real passion and intensity from the coach after having Bailey looking like a corpse up there for 4 years.

Agreed. It was Moloney and I was screaming to drag him as well. I loved Neelds immediate rsponse to a player who is still a prime mover. He won't do it again under Neeld and this should harden his resolve.

Great coaching leadership.

Yes the guys have to keep going at that intensity. That must be the Neeld way.

I think we have definiteily seen the Neeld way last night. His decison to retain Tom McDonald after a shocker last week gives me great confidenece in his decision making and what he thinks the team needs.

Proud of the re-build effort last night as was everyone else at the ground.

Clarification: This is in no way a criticism of Neeld, it is a critique of the management flip flop that has given us the laughing stock of the competition and consigned us to yet another rebuild.

Success for any coach is first and foremost a function of the quaility of players and nothing else. This post assmues all lists are equal.

Good players make good coaches - not the other way around..

As other posts have said recently, our list post-ND has been less than inspiring with a few excpetions. IMO the right people are at the helm now to get this sorted.

he has absolutely no lack of talent, passion, anger, skill, courage, leadership... If you go on potential, he could quite conceivably be the next Neitz in the side. I've seen enough, and I daresay most would have.

Did anyone else basolutely LOVE his double tackle on the flank, that was eventually given as a free against? Bad luck, but wow the effort from a ruckman-sized player... If Watts doesn't look at that and think, I wanna be like Mitch, then he never will.

Thius is my highpoint of the season. We can build a forward line around him for the next 5 to 6 years. and a great coup by the club

First post after being an observer for a long time.

Travelled from Adelaide for the Tribute game - had to go to acknowledge the contributions of a truly remarkable man - and was impressed with the pre game presentations. He will be greaty missed.

Jason Akermanis made some comments on our current situation as a part of a radio interview over here tonight. He is not sure if Neeld can actually coach - and claims to have spoken to a close friend who played for the Bulldogs against us on Sunday who thought the Bulldogs played really poorly despite the win, but that we were rubbish and consequently the Bulldogs were very disappointed with their performance. Yes, I know it is Aka, but he does raise some interesting points, many of which have been raised before. The Link is attached - his reference to Melbourne is approx 6 min 30 secs into the interview.

http://www.fiveaa.co...swan-fat_104753

Tell us something we DON'T know Aka. Terry Wallace said after the game the Dogs were at their worst since 1996 - he was being constructive. Doesn't say much about us but our upside is way better and our 3rd and 4th quarters showed the spirit, hopefully , we will turn around. The coaching panel will get the rest sorted in time.

Go Demons

Our top 5 ball getters had 50 -ish % kicking efficiency yesterday, meaning we gave the ball back every second time we got it for this group.

The heart and effort was great yesterday and the supporter turnout fantastic but this is killing us.

so dunn the sub again? or tapscott?

Tapscott was good last week and played a lot of game time. he would be ready to go, not a sub position.

Reasonably happy with this.

Would like Petterd in, but happy for him to go back to Casey for a couple of weeks and get his hands on the footy and work into some form if that is what he needs.

Suprised Couch isn't in, after being promoted to the senior list and showing good form for Casey I thought he might get a run.

And would also be interested when Moloney might be back.

Couch was great at casey last week, so maybe they are looking at him one more time. Morton was uninspiring and disposla was atrocious at Casey .

Is cale going in hard KC?

No. At the whole game today and he tagged Dolphins young ball magnet No.38. who was half his size to half time, playing off half-back.. Turned over a fair bit as well and some poor decisions. Unimpressive to say the least.

I say development and impatience.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the choices we've made, but they haven't been developed well,

Neeld will rectify this, but it will take time.

Bottom line is that Neale daniher and team left the list in basket case mode and no serious effort was made to recover apart from draft picks.since 2007.

Neeld and his team now have the ability and skills to do this. IMO the right rein has been pulled and its now a time issue.

We bemoaned last year that we played uncontested footy but we have the reverse this year - we went at 52% of our possessions being contested - unheard of. ( geelong averaged last year 39% and Swans who are the benchmark for contested footy go at 44%).

At the 20 minute mark of Q1 the tackle count was 15 to 5 our way and there was no way the Lions could get out of thier defensive 50. And we were 11 points up at the break. Small steps I know - but I saw this as a start and something I hadn't seen for a long time. They did this to the Pies in the NAB cup also.

Thought he was fantastic.

Said at the media conference he was speaking to the members. Not the footy world.

Excellent post. I was at the game and I felt Neeld was speaking to ME and telling ME what I wanted to know and hear. Everyone else in the press can please themselves. The kerfuffle about the conference is just a sign that for once we get some honest emotion and thinking , not cliche-driven garbage the likes of Malthouse, Ratten and Co produced.

As another poster said yesterday, don't look for Watts, Clark and Co as the answer.

Neeld , Missen, Craig are the answer for us. The cattle will come and be developed. Some are already on board - MAGNER!

That was where Rod Grinter came from!

He came from Katandra - Goulburn Valley

When these players below are the main core that is when we progress:

Grimes

Trengove

Tappy

Gysberts

Blease

McKenzie

Frawley

Garland

Howe

Gawn

& Co

Forget the older guys they have had their chance.

A former Asst. Caoch at a top club(Read recent Premiers) told me the industry thinking is that good players make good coaches. I don't entirely agree as I think Neeld also brings something, but G is G is spot on and the future is bright if his list gets going. It won'y be the older ones - sadly.

Trengove/Grimes appointment points to Neeld seeing the future this way as well and that this young group are up for it.

It's weird I thought norths announcement was very amateurish they had everyone in middle of ground with media only allowed to watch from a distance they were not impressed with the demons announcing co captains an hour later so well played demons.

And in the Age article on North today the first 3 columns of the 6 column article were deveoted to the MFC timing. They will be fuming at the Roos.

I work with a media expert and she says nothing happens by cooincidnece regarding announcements.

Remember North were foolish enough to telegraph their announcement timing days ago.

I would have been cross if the MFC had not done what they did with the leg up from the Roos.. Someone down here in media is a real pro.

BTW - Trengove is the youngest at the time of his first game when he officially leads them onto the field , with Jack G., in late March.

Another great piece of work by the club with the Trengove/Grimes announcement timing trumping all other AFL announcements yesterday, getting great interviews, and coverage . Admittedly the age thing is a huge angle attractive to the media , but just a great positive story for the club - again so fay this year.

Good job Cameron!

If in doubt, see this mornings Age sports section

Some players are just born leaders and it doesn't matter whether they are any good on the field.

Two years ago, when Jack Grimes was 20 and injured, I met with some very high ranking people at the club about a different matter. I was told then that Grimes missed out on a leadership group by a whisker. At 20 and having played less than 20 games. Some people have it, and some people don't.

Bartram clearly has it by the bucket loads, and it has nothing to do with his talent.

When guys like Davey are picked into the leadership group, you think, well of course, they are so bloody talented. And then you realise how terrible a decision it is to choose a leader based on their talent ranking.

Davey, Green, Bruce, Yze... I can go on. All damn good players. All damn poor leaders.

Junior, average player, brilliant leader.

A great analysis Jaded. Its the same as 'great players don't necessarily make great coaches'. leadership is somehting special - Lyon, Viney, McDonald, Stynes, Barassi - Voss etc etc

Another great piece of work by the club with the Trengove/Grimes announcement timing trumping all other AFL announcements yesterday, getting great interviews, and coverage . Admittedly the age thing is a huge angle attractive to the media , but just a great positive story for the club - again so fay this year.

Good job Cameron!

Very perculiar call regarding leadership group- kick in the face to Rivers with Garland picked instead. Furthermore, Clark picked and no Moloney-wow- open to a hell of a lot of in fighting.

This isn't a democray nor a popularity conexst about hurting others feelings.

Neeld has made the tough and correct choices here. Rivers will be a professional and suck it up.

Guess what happens if he doesn't?

I love the record angle with Trengove's age.

Garland is an excellent on-field 'do as I do' leader. You rarely see him be demonstrative, but you rarely see him beaten, and you rarely see him looking at his bootlaces.

Couldn't have said it better. Same for Frawley although style of play is different.

Niall thinks they will go with co captains of Grimes or Trengove with a senior player. Only name he mentioned was Beamer

I'm sick of a capotain good or otherwise starnded in the goal square whilst the team unravels - think Green, Neitz.

We need a gun mid-fielder - think Lyon, Viney, and some guts to bring on the obvious even if a bit youngish - North did with David Dench at 21.

Trengove as Captain - Beamer and Frawley as V/C's.

Pretty obvious I reckon. Problem? - What problem!

No surprise here. You just had to read between the lines of his interviews during draft time to see he may not have had as much control as previously.

My source who knows Neelds extremely well and has a strong AFL background believes players make coaches - most of us do - but that Neeld comes fom this angle as well.

My guess is that he wants oversight over the type of players he wants when maybe Barry had more autonomy previously.

Either way, If Neeld is happy, I'm happy.

And best wishes to Barry