Red&BlueBlood

SO with recent admissions by Jobe Watson surely heads will roll at Essendon. I dont expect Hird to get the boot, but I think assistants and definitely medical staff will be looked at closely. While he has said he doesnt want to coach again at all, I think a call from PJ (much similar to his call to Paul Roo's) wouldnt be a waste of time. He is on mega bucks at EFC, I think we could match if not top those dollars. Besides the obvious fact that he coached Geelong into and through a golden era, people often forget the scrutiny he received before the era began. He was under the pump in a big way but still produced, he also galvanized the playing group to a level not seen in the AFL which has now become the benchmark. He made players out of people like Enright, Corey, Bartell, Taylor and no one can doubt his input into recruit at the cats... All in all should be as wanted by the MFC as Paul Roo's and definitely a better option than Mark Williams... IMO Thoughts?

I want to see Tynan given a go, we need to see if the kids got it before the end of the year... His VFL report doesnt read that bad either: Josh played a solid game. He is winning more of the ball and continuing to tackle hard. He had 21 possessions and seven tackles, which was a good contribution

Have always thought that Watts should be played as a Mid, has great vision and disposal, could be the turning point. Have always had the belief he could be a Goddard type who rests forward if given the chance

Regardless of who we get as coach I think we need the person to step into the role this year ASAP. Im not saying rush the decision, but give the uncontracted players a chance to play under the new coach and gel... this may help them re sign with us.

Ok, so they are quoting Roo's... Fair Play I'm gun shy of getting my hopes up, also I do have a thoughts that if Neelds hard line approach didn't work how will Roo's, Clarkso, Eade or Choc Willams meant to? You can only hope they scare the sh!t out of the players and get some results... Either way I'm pretty tired... I miss footy, I miss not getting flogged week in week out... But still I can't help but think it wasn't Neelds fault it was the players.

So everything else the HUN writes is crap but this isn't? I would dance the happy dance if we got him but I don't think it will happen. Clarkson is where we should be sending our dollars.

Just read the first page of this thread... how can people not think signing this kid long term is int he best interests of the club?? Even more important given Clark may or may not get back on the park with his foot...

if mitch is out for more than expected, couch should be upgraded now to give him a chance of proving himself at AFL level. SURELY is your averaging over 30 touches a game in the VFL you can do something good at AFL level

1st quarter against the pies was an example of how we can play if we follow the structure set by Neeeld. As he said in his presser poor disposal is what killed us, not the coaching. for those jumping on the get rid of Neeld bandwagon, Roos, Eade or who ever else we could get in as a replacement wont be able to change the disposal skills of our players. KEEP FAITH IN NEELD I SAY!!!!!!!

The 2 things we need to improve on quickly are loose ball gets - can't have the opposition having 100+ possessions every week and disposal efficiency. Again a couple good midfielders will sort that out pretty quickly. Also as stated our training standards are lifting, fingers crossed that starts showing in games

Swap Jamar for Adams & a pick. Done

Simple steps: 1. Trade Jamar to GWS for a midfielder 2. Promote Max Gawn to No 1 ruck 3. Sign Hogan for 5 years 5. Find another 2 B+ - A grade midfielders and throw cash at them 6. Recruit strong balling winning kids

Is there a reason why we are not offering hogan 5 years like the GC did with Martin?

Someone mentioned if there weren't expansion teams we would of only won 1 game out of 33... This is true but we would also have a better crop of youngsters that the GC & GES sucked up. The coach can't give the players confidence, he can't make them get to each contest harder and quicker, there is only so much a coach can do do be it Neeld, Roos, Eade or whoever is in the seat. Today GWS pushed the cats by sticking to a game plan & structure, are our boys so dumb that they can't do the same? Neil Craig would have a lot to do with our game plan / structure, how far off can it be? Not sure about you guys but when I'm at work I do what the boss says to, the way he said to do it... Maybe the MFC should try the same

Personally I think if Sylvia leaves it is to find success. Infact can we trade him or do we get nothing should he move on? If Watts leaves it will be because of the constant bashing he receives from the media & fans... In saying that players usually like to get a but of form behind then prior to signing to bump up the $$. If Frawley is to re sign I think it will be next year. Chip is the real keeper, once we get a midfielder or 2 things will turn. As I've said TERRIBLE recruiting has cost us - Cook, Gysberts, etc have hurt us... Evans, M & N Jones and co just need a polished sidekick to show them the way. I'm not sure Dale Thomas is the answer so who else can we target??

Ok so I've been a bit of a Neeld basher in the past but for some reason I want him to get the chance to see out his contract with a bit of support. I'm not getting sucked into his development talk its just I think he has literally had to start again. The game plan he is trying to implement isn't too different to most other teams - play on, back yourself, high skill level, get back on defence when the opposition has the ball. The big difference is he doesn't have a midfield and the players can't translate training skills to match day. He has brought in 2 very good players in Clark & Dawes and a bunch of stop gaps. I hear people saying rodan, pederson, Byrnes, etc are a waste but who would have taken there place on the list? Bailey recruited athletes, light framed athletes who still to this day struggle to dominate games. At seasons end should he be in charge I have faith that Neeld will get us that big fish midfielder, possibly 2. If we can get the ball into a fit forward line of Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Watts, Howe... Happy days. If players choose to leave at seasons end because he is to hard on them are they really fit to wear the jumper? I think we have suffered this much we don't have anything to loose so show him some support... Just my 2 bobs worth

I for one think getting jeff in is a good idea. His comments regarding the club were made when he was the president of another club, although I'm sure he will stand by what he said. Who cares if he doesn't know the song? Who cares if he supports another club? What I care about is his ability to put in place a top line board, to attract big name sponsors, to get us a big name coach (or support Neeld...?). Jeff can do all that and then some, there is no one else who is putting there hand up...

I don't rate dale Thomas as an elite player, pendelbury, swan and as an up and comer Dane beams from the pies... We need someone who can find there own ball and use it to hurt the opposition. I once thought Gaff but he has dropped off this year. We need to be the team who gets the next Goddard through FA, there must be a few becoming available can anyone confirm who target? Mids & at least 1 gun backline player

After today's game I'm sure of one thing - we need more quality experienced players!! I think we could definitely do with at least 2 mids with 1 of those being a real "A" class or elite player. I also think we could do with a quality defender. With Rivers leaving chip has been exposed and its really up to him and col garland to run the show which is proving too much. Gillies is good enough and more of a stop gap... So the question to ask is who is available? And out of those who should we go after?

The difference to the AA chip & the 2013 chip is that teams have negated his run out of Defence. Also with Rivers gone its basically Chip & Garland running the backline. We need to get a B+ - A grade defender to help the guy out.

Of course he has to chase but did you see how many times he had to cover 2,3 & even 4 players? On top of that prior to being dropped he was crucified for not "filling the gap" as a loose man in Defence. I just want to see him play forward. There was 1 or 2 occasions he crashed packs, and he did kick 2 goals in the 2nd half as a leading forward. No matter what anyone says I still have faith in Jack Watts.

If we were to part ways with Neeld I would have a chat with Malcolm Blight... I would also like a truck to reverse up in Leigh Matthews driveway, the man is a genius, commands respect and would be a coup in anyone's world

Can't believe people are trashing Watts, he did ok 16 touches 2 goals both clutch kicks. I read on the gameday thread that he was running from end to end chasing hence the reason he looked stuffed everytime he had to chase. I agree with this, the delivery to him was woeful. People seem to forget the reason Watts went back was to get him behind the ball so he can get his hands on it. If we had just 1 other person who could actually kick accurately out of defence we may be able to keep him forward. A forward line of Clark, Dawes, Gawn, Howe Watts & Byrnes / Tappy would be pretty handy. For me the blame lays firmly with the midfielders, as EVERYONE here has stated we need 1 even better 2 "A" class mids. Throw the sink at everyone available in the off season... Also the zone isn't working, we need to play man on man problem is our guys can't get back for the rebound. I was proud of the boys for keeping it to 28 points, yes Brisbane kicked like they had broken feet but we kept at them. Ins for next week: Dunn, Kent, Dawes, Clarke Outs: Pedo, Tom McDonald (isn't the same player and can't kick), Davey, Rodan.

I see gram as an older, more experienced Farewn Ray. Both provide run off HB, we loose nothing to get him

Jack Trengrove... Also what this game about and how do i get a spot on the HBF this or next year?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!