monoccular

I think it sounds like a rather tinny version of what we have had for years.

It could not have been done better. Bryan was clearly moved but battled on in true Stynes manner and made it through. A very respectful morning. I tried to make out Mitch Clark in the guard of honor but couldn't pick him from afar - he was the one who seemed most affected on the day Jim died, which I must say (without knowing him) surprised me.

Melbourne didn't poach Neeld - they put out an advert , he applied and he was appointed. MFC didn't tell him he had to leave Collingwood during the finals - Collingwood asked him to leave. Nobody lied about anything, in this case. So he who as someone earlier pointed out talks about integrity but lacks any especially when it comes to his own pet projects e.g. GC, GWS, should just but out and stop interfering in what doesn't concern him. IF anyone broke a contract it was Neeld and / or Collingwood, but it sounds as if it was by mutual agreement. Bottom line is....that maybe, just maybe, MFC may have contributed to Collingwood's downfall, and how good is that if true? Presumably the one with very selective integrity thinks that a club should wait until after the GF to appoint the person who will amongst other things play a pivotal role in his new club's future a fortnight later at trade week - how much integrity is there in that?

Yes.....interesting times ahead.

Jim has given so much to the club, the AFL, sport in general and to the whole community, and will be most sadly missed. Irreplaceable. My sympathies and admiration to his family. There is so much more, but I am lost for words at this time.

Wow - that is moving. I just cannot add to that. Well said.

Joke #1: Neale Daniher "Melbourne will be ruthless" Candidate for sequel, though the jury is still out: Mark Neeld "Melbourne will be the hardest team to play against"

Do we really know what he actually said, as opposed to what was reported in the pre$$?

Exactly right - Neeld has said that reputations matter nought. He ha spot the players on notice - they need to perform or ship out. And I believe it (that is they will perform or ship out) will happen. Too early to judge whether the players in question have enough depth of character to lift and stay.

I tried to find the article, but couldn't. What was actually said?

Do you mean like Dangerfield fell awkwardly due to lack of awareness?

What a great perspective on Geelong's recruiting and player development: player development being an area in which we have, to date (and remembering we have a new coach and FD this year) been chronically deficient. Can we emulate the Geelong of 2007-2011? Time will tell. Rewind to the end of round 5, 2007 - Geelong 2 wins, over Carlton and Melbourne. Many were after Thompson's head. I remember the vehement arguments. A few months later they win the flag in the most emphatic manner. I am not saying that is what will happen to us, though one can dream. But a great look at can happen to one team when the players decide to click together.

Where is the new mental toughness, the uncompromising style of play we were promised. To crumble so meekly against Port is just not good enough. Mark: you have talked the talk but the walk is absent, in fact a total con job. Do you seriously think that anyone will think, as you proclaimed pre-pre-season that we will be the hardest team to ay against? Even in he top 16 in that criterion? Unless falling down laughing may distract some sides for a few moments.

Thank the Begeezus it wasn't on TV - I would have smashed the screen. Now I know "it is only a glorified practice match", like last week........but seriously, have we shown any real improvement in our biggest deficiencies: contesting at all times, pressuring the ball carrier, being hard to play against? Early days, but poor signs all round. Sure, we beat Collingwood. Sure we don't have a full list. Sure we have a new game plan and a new coach. Sure, we are MFC.

I wanted to get in before the wrist slashers and Membership card burners.

Clearly we have to sack the coach, the conditioning staff, the recruiting manager (sorry, gone already), the captains, vice captains, any players picked anywhere in the top 30 of their draft, the club doctor, receptionist, cleaners et al. We need a clean start.

Well, I guess he won't be playing round 1 then! Maybe he has the sulks.

After a fantastic debut few games, he has for various reasons not set the world on fire since. With the arrival at the club of the likes of Magner and Couch, Jordan is at a bit of risk of things passing him by if he doesn't really produce on a regular basis this season. Hope he doesn't, but there is the risk.

Is there any way a mod can change "tonight" in the title to whatever date it was?

Absolutely no way, given their lack of preseason, or at least preseason appearances.

....but not Tappy and Strauß for round 1, which is the title of this thread.

I notice that many put Jurrah in - the header of the thread is best 22 round 1. Clearly no way Liam will be ready for that. Same goes for Morton - is he in full training?

I guess one big issue as I see it is that the club backed Liam fully, brought him out of Alice Springs to 'safety' in Melbourne, then he went on a TV show without even informing let alone asking the club that extracted him that he was doing so. A lesser point is that the TV show just happened to be fronted by a self promoting president of a rival club. Pretty poor in my view.

OMG - a practice match, glorified by some, and you are seeing 186 !! Don't bother slashing your wrists: most recover from that. Go straight for the jugular! Can we revisit this post at season's end please?

Been there, done that. I think that you may have misconstrued what I was trying to get at. I felt the AFL's stated aims of the 2+2 was to tire them out so slow them down - my point was that limiting the interchanges would have the same effect, without leaving some poor guys stranded without any game time, thereby limiting their development. I wasn't "feeling sorry" at all for those who were out there "getting tired".