PaulRB

For some bizarre reason I see Watts best position being in the midfield with a license to float back and forward as the game requires. In the mould of Pendlebury or Goddard. Not saying he's there by a LONG shot but feel he is being groomed as a player who could play that role as he matures physically and mentally. He needs to demonstrate he wants such a pivotal role and is prepared to back himself to take more responsibility in the team.

Age and experience of list critical to performance... or even just getting on the field. Number of games missed by top 10 players in club's 2012 best and fairest (up to Round 7) 23 Gold Coast 22 Western Bulldogs, Melbourne 21 GWS, Port Adelaide 16.5 Collingwood* 16 St Kilda 15 Carlton 14 Adelaide, Essendon 11 Brisbane Lions 9 Fremantle 8 Geelong 8 Richmond* 7 North Melbourne 6 Hawthorn, West Coast 2 Sydney Swans

One of the reasons the MFC has failed to lift off the bottom of the ladder despite our high draft picks is that the game over the past 5 years has turned to favour players with more solid bodies that can handle the increasing rigours and workload of the current style of footy. This shift, in addition to causing us to wait longer for our young pedigree draft kids to mature (Watts, Trengove, Toumpass, Viney, etc), increases the value of recruiting mature players. Given these players have been trying to get in to the AFL, it means that they are not "pedigree" high draft pick types... i.e. they have been passed over and gone back to further develope their game at a lower level. That this development pathway produced half our best players on the weekend (Terlich, M Jones, Evans) highlghts the value of this development pathway. That the MFC is not alone (see Doggies article in age today) in struggling to get rapid results from it's pedigree draft picks (with the exception of big bodied players) means we are going to have to develope ALOT more patience as to when these pedigree picks are expected to impact at the highest level, i.e. after 2 - 3 years at Casey instead of one... Another aspect of this new breed of mature, mongrel type players is they have had to work their asses off, be open to any and all advise on improving their game, etc... which makes them very coachable, unlike some pedigree types who may be more resistant to change and the hard work required (i.e. Gysberts)

To be honest, I don't believe I am in a position to judge if Mark Neeld should continue to coach the MFC. I simply don't have the data. And to react to short term losses without the actual data, strategy, etc... denies the possibility that these losses are necessary for medium term gains and real progress. Mark may well have got his job with a 3 year plan that included the first two years being painful while he transformed the list, culture, game style, etc... The point is I DON'T KNOW. Given this, I need to trust the leaders of the club do know. I trust that they had faith in Mark Neeld ahead of others. they will monitor his and the teams performance and evaluate if he is meeting the expectations they have of him. they will act in a honourable, professional way and mature way if they change their minds about the value of Mark as coach. they will fall on their own swords, should the appointment of Mark Neeld become (in retrospect) a profoundly bad one. Given I doubt many on this forum have much more data on the coach than is available on this site. I can only conclude that the ones running the "time to go" campaign are happy to make an ill considered and emotional decision which may not actually take us toward the premiership we all seek.

Thats fair. however, wouldn't there be many clubs in Melbourne that would have this issue when playing interstate teams? If so, then a centrally located boutique stadium that enables all the interstate matches with small crowds to be played profitably would seem to make most sense? I'm not clear, given the MCG is built, and when we have a small crowd there every second shop is closed, why is it so unprofitable? To the extent that building a fresh stadium would be more cost effective. I don't understand this bit..?

I reckon Jordie will be up to speed by then.

I'm keen to hear if Jetta is going to be back. Gold Coast are not exactly packed with heavy bodies, but do have a couple of elusive and quick mids that could cause us trouble.

That's not even close to what i said Stuie.

Not sure why your not understanding Neelds decision making could constitute a criticism of Neeld. He probably has access to information and experienced FD staff that you don't. Sheesh!

Did you answer my questions as to how the Neeld bashing helps the club? Or does it boil down to "I feel angry" and Neeld is the easy target? I think Neeld, as a first time coach, is learning rapidly and has handled many issues as best as can be imagined. For example Jimmy's death a week prior to him coaching his first game, Liam's machette issues and subsequent family issues, sorting the wheat from the chaff on our list, putting in place the processes and systems to raise to elite the preparation the team has, etc... That said, no one is perfect. But the question remains, whats your goal in constantly potting your own coach?

I'm perplexed as to the objective of those looking to undermine Neeld through this ongoing campaign of rumour and innuendo. If Neeld fails to perform as coach then the appropriate steps will be taken at the appropriate time (i.e. either at the end of the season or at the end of his contract). For the MFC do otherwise (i.e prior to those points) would be amateurish and raise more questions about the capacity of those in charge of the MFC than it would resolve. Given this, what is the point of giving Neeld anything other than our unqualified support? How does it serve the MFC, the players who take the field weekly, the FD and Coaches, etc... to have a section of their supporters highlighting every failing (real or perceived), making up or honing in on any rumour of division or the coach being sacked? How is it helping us win games of footy?

I'd prefer the MFC focus on building enough members and a quality team such that we can fill the MCG each week, rather than admitting defeat and plumbing for a baby stadium because we can't fill the G. Aside from that I'd prefer to see us play in Darwin than Casey.

Bugger Casey. Turn the Punt Road oval into 35k seater within walking distance from G and MFC HQ. Melbourne PT and roads work like a wagon wheel with the easiest spots to travel to at the centre. Building on the fringe would be pissing into the wind.

Yep, let's build a strong resilient club capable of climbing the premiership mountain based on the interference and pitying benevolence of the AFL..! MFC: "Andrew, can you find us a good CEO because we're too useless to do it ourselves? please" AD: "You are useless, I'll get the perfect person for you" MFC: "Andrew, can you find us a good coach because we're too useless to do it ourselves? please" AD: "You guys really are useless, I'll sort it out for you, don't worry you pretty but empty heads" I'd be joining Bossdog in giving up on the AFL's newest enterprise, formerly known as the MFC...

The reason this has been circulate is to sell papers, fill minutes on the innumerable sports and footy TV and Radio shows, and keep clown supporters like us tuning in... Merde

Nicho has a very valuable skill in his ability to weave and accelerate through traffic. His challenge in hitting targets is that he is under pressure, not sure of correct option, can duff his kicks. The best remedy for this is experience and the addition of obvious "get-out" options (i.e long to Clark or Dawes on the boundary or deep to a player running into space). One of the challenges that line breakers can face is they get through and have no options ahead of them, Sylvia had that along the boundary against Carlton where he had to stop his break, and got himself into trouble...

Interestingly, all of the recent premiers Coaches had been there a long time or transitioned up as their coach "amicably" moved on. I.e. Longmire, Scott, Malthouse, Thompson. So the short term bloody Coach turnover strategy advocated by some has not delivered a premiership for a club within 5 years. The only new coaches to deliver flags were amicably brought in to continue building on the good work of their predecessor...

Hardnut - the point you're making with me by highlighting Scott's successfully taking up coaching at Geelong is that if you have a great and experienced list the coach can do little to screw it up, as it's the players who win or lose the game. The coaches impact takes longer to be evident. Similarly, or rather conversely, if you have a weak and inexperienced list the coach can do little to improve it, as it 's the players who win or lose the game. The coaches impact takes longer to be evident.

I think Strauss has the tools to be a very effective rebounding defender but I am yet to be convinced of where his ceiling is. He needs AFL game time to rebuild the confidence and composure he was building prior to breaking his leg. After McDonalds kicking issues on the weekend I'm keen to use more surefooted kick out of defence, on the switch etc... and I've liked Strauss's kick.

Neeld in his post Carlton game interview stated Dawes was a certain starter.

I'd push for Strauss to step into Grimes shoes. Strauss needs to step up, plays of half back...

Reckon we need to try an keep changes to a minimum to improve team stability and cohesion. Strauss and Nicho can play Half back flank with patches on wing, and need more time in ones to prove themselves... So Grimes only out and Dawes in.

Be interesting if Dunn gets the job on Gary Junior this week.

Matt Jones and Terlich were good and seem to be consistently so. Givens the forward line outs and losing Grimes in the first we fought it out while gifting the Blues half their goals through skill errors (MacDonald) and poor execution of high risk decisions. Another factor is simply that many of the players have played too few games with each other and are taking time to Gel. That embarrassing missed goal in the first with two players running for goal being a prime example. Glimmers on another grim day, but some improvement can be seen.

I think the the drafting since Neeld came on board has been solid give the challenges of getting both youth and experience while turning over a stagnant and under-performing list. Clark, Hogan, Viney, Toumpass, Dawes, Terlich, M Jones, Byrnes have all been good pick ups (too early to call on a couple), and all recruits have fully engaged in lifting the fitness level (according to pre-season reports). And have got Casey firing such that there is real pressure on places in the MFC team. If you intend to be a hard team you need to recruit and develop hard players. Losing Morton, Gysberts, Martin, Cook and replacing them with the above boys can only improve us.