Little Richard

Heading to the game with some seriously misplaced optimism, happens every week. Regardless it's always exciting to go watch the Dees, despite everything they've done to me, I love this club!

Yeah I know, that's why I said even last year was better than Prendergast. I liked Vineys approach with the more mature blokes in the draft, has worked well with Terlich and Jones.

No Dunstan? Thought he was supposed to be a shoe in for top 5?

How about... Morton who was rubbish anyway, Gawn who will re-sign soon (his value is hard to determine and contract talks are probably progressing slowly as management works through it with the club), Blease who hasn't earnt games and Howe who is learning versatility and becoming a better player for it. I guess we can all look at it differently though Stu.

Actually I'd be backing Jason Taylor to know what to do. Even last seasons recruiting has been a step up from the Prendergast years.

I hope he comes along and develops into a player but VFL reserves at 19 doesn't bode well. Reserving judgement at the moment!

As t_u said, it's ridiculous to be comparing a coach at the four year point to a coach halfway through his second year. People also tend to forget Bailey's problems with the senior players when he first came to the club - he and Neeld are not so different in issues caused and faced.

Actually PJ Barry is 19 and was just part of the deal with Hogan. I think he wouldn't have really been a target of Neeld's if we didn't need another component for the Hogan pick trade considering his size and I reckon he was just spare change for that deal really.

Oh I thought Gossip Girl was the one who started the rumours. That's interesting, did he give you reasons?

A former player? Got a name? So how long was he actually under Neeld for because being a former player doesn't really support the argument of Bailey>Neeld? And how do you gauge the current players feelings by a former players opinion?

Demonsraum - love that. They could be educated on a diet of 'Mein Demon Kampf', the comprehensive autobiography of Mark Neeld's days at Melbourne.

It's not panicking, it's list management and addressing massive holes in the list. We badly need one or two very good players around the 24-26 mark. If we continue to recruit just youth it will be a long, long time before the younger guys mature and that gap is filled.

If there is a player that we could snag at trade time, use it. If the right trade doesn't come up, Luke Dunstan for me.

Haha I do. I agree that it would be hard to fit both in the 22, but having both on the senior list would be a better option than two other blokes.

I think that's Usain you are after.

Not a list clogger until we the vast majority of our list is better than him. IMO he is a better option than quite a few guys at the moment - has a great work ethic and is not afraid to get his hands dirty at all. Hope he gets a run later in the year.

I'm guessing that's our Tynan named at CHB? I thought he was a midfielder?

Re 5: Jamar is a must keep for me. We need someone who can mentor Gawn and Fitz and Jamar is a decent ruckman, no matter what people say. Spencer would be ideal for this trade scenario, if anyone would be foolish enough to want him. Re 9: I agree with this, however we might find ourselves disposing of at least 10 players. The ones who have to improve drastically or go for me are Bail, Nicholson and McKenzie. Won't happen with McKenzie due to his contract status. Re 12: Absolutely, I can't believe he wasn't at least put on the long term injury list. There is absolutely no harm in giving him at least a couple of extra weeks on the sidelines, particularly if his history contributed to the current injury. It would also allow us to give Crouch a crack - one of the few who have actually deserved it due to strong performance in the seconds. Good ideas overall Redleg. Edit: had to add Nicholson to the 'can't kick' list.

Very true, it would be a good indication. Dawes' faith in Neeld seems to be shared by a few at least but we do need these players to hang around if we are going to go anywhere soon. I'm personally not sure if I'd like to see Neeld see out his entire contract but he must be kept to the end of this season I think, for a bit of stability. If Jackson decides he isn't the man for the job, it's best to get rid of him at the back end of the year.

Lot's of people, including myself said he wasn't worth pick 20 and although it's early days I'm happy to admit I was probably wrong.

There was a campaign for Redleg? I must have missed it. Maybe we can depose Jackson and put you up as CEO.

I'm probably just evidence for this post itself, but Whispering Jack for Prez.

At least Zoo has some nice pictures to look at.

Maybe he was just a bit more inebriated than us

No doubt we have the toughest supporters in the league. We might not be many, but that die hard core will always be there and I reckon this period is hardening many of us into fanatics. Good on you mate.