Demon Dynasty

Nice work TD. Northey!!?? Where the hec is he at these days? Are you aware of something which made you bring him up? I knew he was running some coaching clinic business or something for training junior coaches? I'd never even thought of bringing back Swooper. Is he in a position to consider this or are we clutching at rusty old nails here?

And this is the flaw that has haunted the hallowed halls of the MFC for decade upon decade. Over weighted with business eagles and big wigs about town, sticking to their own and never truly letting go of thier power clique and "star chamber" culture. While the Star Chamber culture and faceless nature of the MFC board (president & 2ic) continues, this club will never taste ultimate success at the highest level IMO and will continue to wallow from one under performing decade to another. They will never allow true football people to take over (ie., a few more football experts at board level who have a ruthless football business background) and turn the club into what it needs to be. A bloody football club, there to cater for it's members and to foster and get the very best out of it's players and coaching staff. For without regular and consistent success by the latter, a football club withers at the roots, resulting in an unstable foundation and little fruit on the vine. If left for too long it will eventually wither and die. With success of the FD and players, the roots become embedded and eventually rock solid, finding sustenance from the new nutrients it finds (read members/sponsors/increased tv exposure via big matches/increased gate) and the tree will blossom and produce ample fruit once again. It's time for this board, and most attached/linked/feeding from it, to let go and allow the Melbourne Demons to find its roots once more. Only then will success and respect return once more to this once great club. I don't blame Neeld as he didn't appoint himself. It's the inept and closed (non-transperant) nature of the board. The rot starts at the head and works down. The MFC Board decided to appoint a 2nd untried coach within 4 years, along with a myriad of errors along the way. What we are witnessing now is the product of many earlier misdemeanors, some major and some minor, but in the end it's the sum of all parts that's led us to here.

Our last Senior Premiership at any level. I'll never forget Giles off the ground handball to Bailey for the winning goal. Nor having to scale the metal fence on the boundary without slipping off on a dewy night feeling a sense of surprise, shock but also great elation! From memory I think they call it...WINNING! [ youtube ] [ /youtube ]

Now now Angry, don't be too harsh on the late Denis Jones. Even he had the jump, ever so slightly, on Neeld. The 3 worst win loss records of any MFC coach (during home & away/regular season) in order are: 3. Denis Jones: 1978 Matches 22 Wins 5 Draws 0 Losses 17 Percentage 22.73 2. Eddie Drohan: 1910 Matches 18 Wins 4 Draws 0 Losses 14 Percentage 22.22 1. Mark Neeld: 2012 to present Matches 29 Wins 5 Draws 0 Losses 24 Percentage 17.24

Doesn't have to be mid field coach in his first year or 2. Could replace Aaron Greaves as development coach. I wouldn't place him in as line coach just yet IF we could find a more experienced candidate. But even if we couldn't, Black coudn't do a worse job than Brian Royal. The mid field is our biggest fail and he must have had a fair say in what he wants on the list management side, so he is as responsible as Neeld here. Need a new Board/President first, followed by experienced Coach as selected by new board/President, annointed by Peter Jackson (AFL). This is another reason to move on Neeld ASAP. Craig in as caretaker. The new line up must include all time greats who have succeeded at the highest level. I believe this is our very last shot at getting this right. The consequences of not moving now and setting ourselves up for 2014 will be dire and most likely terminal (as in the club remaining in its present state as we know it).

One of many. However there were 2 other whoppers, one prior to 186 and 2 (including the unsacking and re-signing of CS) post 186. All 3 whopping mistakes included the involvement (at the bequest of the Gardner board and the then McLardy/Stynes led board) and input/advice of one Mr G Lyon. Lyon played a significant part in getting us to where we find ourselves right now ie, in a bucket load of chicken manure!

. ^^^ This."That sort of effort shouldn't need to be coached, and the fact that this week it does need to be coached is an indictment of the playing group." It shouldn't but it needs to be there as a bare minimum pass mark and part of any coach's 101 manual player non-negotiables. It sounds from Dawes's comment like it wasn't. Another Neeld fail. "If things are going to improve and we're going to achieve some sustained success, it will be gradual. There will be no silver bullets." The word IF worries me here. If the players truly believed in where Neeld was directing them to me he would be starting with the word WHEN not IF. I have yet to see anything "gradual" other than most players either stagnating or regressing. I don't think any genuine Demon fan is expecting a magic silver bullet in the first 3 years. But we certainly weren't expecting a team to come out in its 2nd season under Neeld bereft of skills, belief, fight and generally uncompetitive and unwatchable at AFL level, expecially against start up clubs and clubs that are heading south. Massive fail. "The only silver bullet will be effort." Hold on, I thought you just said there would be "no silver bullet"? If trying your guts out every week and giving your all for the club that's paying you a hefty fee is considered a silver bullet in your mind (and i wonder how many others in the FD/list) then it's no wonder we are where we are. Again, this is something most professional footballers and clubs consider a non-negotiable and part of a the natural order at this level. Sure, even the pros have off weeks and periods where their form aludes them, but very few will ever be accused of not giving their all in terms of effort. It's just a given that "effort" is part of a competitive animal's make up. That's why they play and why even the most docile of characters off the field (eg Bruce Doull, Matthew Scarlett) bring it once they cross the white line. This is not something that had to be coached into them at senior level. It was inherent and expected when they walked through the club doors. More effort might be a coach request at various times during a match or season. But I doubt if a senior Coach would ever have to explain and coach a whole week of "effort". As a coach you might be able to motivate and inspire greater effort from a base effort. But that base effort should arrive from the inherent competitive spirit within each individual. The fact that the group (almost as a whole) don't show this most weeks and haven't so far under Neeld is again, IMO, a massive fail on the part of Neeld and his team. "There is a magic bullet. It is SELF BELIEF. It is the coaches job to instil it in every player". So again, there is another magic bullet. And yes it certainly is the mark of a good quality coach and person to find & bring the best out of every player. I've seen very little or this during Neeld's stint so far and certainly neither belief or effort at the beginning of any match this year other than against the Lions in the first quarter where I believe we drew the quarter and that was against a depleted out of form outfit. Sorry Chris, nice try but I believe the only magic bullet from here will be when/if we can find an experienced coach that brings and is able to bring out the skills and belief in the playing group to a base minimum level of competitivess and accepts nothing less from a player than an AFL level competitive effort at the very least. And who also expects and prepares his team to win every week and prepares them accordingly, both physically, mentally and with an AFL skill level (eg, quick movement and transition of the ball with minimal turnovers) that allows/assists them to do so.

I'm also in the Craig boat as the logical caretaker coach from here Stu. Unfortunately I cant see much happening before the buy. The board and president probably arent in a position to act given PJ's still in review mode. Probably frozen in fear too, a bit like the players it would seem.

Mate we obviously don't have the cattle at Casey to throw all of these players to Casey. That's why i said 1 tackle OR none shouldn't play this week..... Some who had few tackles may have contributed in other ways. What i'm trying to say here is that if Neeld TRULY believes in his original mantra, which HE spelt out and displayed for all to see in his first "impact" meeting with the player group.....then he needs to seriously act after Sunday. My summary on players' tackle counts is just my way of giving one KPI example. Neeld would obviously have his own minimum KPIs on each player. All i'm saying is, on that performance, many wouldn't have met them. Whether his KPI's are over 1 week or a rolling 3 or whatever. But he surely can't keep many of the same group that's played in the last 3 weeks IF he's being true to himself and his original mantra. If that's changed then he should spell it out and make it clear that he's changed his thinking since he first came to the club. He obviously has but all we hear now is lame excuses, including ones pre match which warn us of the pending likely armageddon. No wonder the players are on a losing run......that's what he's implying they're likely to do every week in his pre match address. Never mentions the reason the club's here..... TO WIN games of footy! Where's the urgency, the fight, the emotion to strive and push for excellence and performance and get the best out of the players!?? And for that matter where are the 3 most important aspects of any successful sports person's mentality/actions in this group??..... 1. Belief 2. The will to win for themselves and their fellow mates (then club and us) 3. The skills to win ??? It was clear after the Bummers match that he had lost the players and had no idea how to get the boys up for the big stage or match, nor for that matter any match. Pretty sure we've lost every first quarter so far!! Neeld must go (or be moved aside into an assistants/development role) ASAP. Neil Craig is there and has finals experience and can caretake on extra $$ surely until we find a willing experienced replacement. I don't think we can afford to wait any longer. We'll lose too many key players by year's end otherwise, either mentally or to other clubs.

Classic post WYL. Wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel robbed. As Frankie is often want to say...... Honor before honors. As you've stated, the current president, board (in support of CS) swept 186 under the carpet and look at the outcome. And now they've gone to ground completely. Must be busy reinforcing their personal bunkers. One thing i do know is this club has little chance of surviving in its current form while this "Failed" board (and any member thereof) remains in place. If only we had a true Demon white knight ticket out there right now and someone with a strong football background to head it up as President. They could call for an extraordinary GM and spill. The writing's on the wall if massive changes don't occur at the top before season's end IMO. In many ways i hope PJ is truly going to stick a rocket through the halls, but at the same time i'm wary of what the AFL has in store. The Board has brought this upon us though so it's really no surprise given what's gone down at the club since 186.

Just look after yourself mate. I've been there twice and in the end this club has has given very little back on the field after decades of support, memberships and $ thrown at it. Let the club and players sort their own shyte out. The players, coach and many within the FD are getting well paid to dish up this crap so don't feel guilty if you cant contribute till you sort things. Hope you have something lined up.

Diablo your Poll Banner and the actual question are asking two different things. Might want to clear that up mate.

OD i know this is tongue in cheek, at least i'm guessing it is. But actually this should be seriously considered for those who refuse to tackle, chase and do the basic "effort" things expected of any footballer, even at amateur level. If Neeld truly followed through on his main "mantra" and "committment to the players when he first started.....which was..... "Everyone has a role in our structure and when it's their turn to go they must play their part!.... We will have a HARD EDGE". Followed by .... "You can trust me, if the bloke that you're sitting beside can't do that (meet the above mantra) to a level that i will set, HE WON'T PLAY". If Neeld was being true to himself and his original beliefs he MUST drop players who didn't meet his minimum KPI's. I suspect 1 of those would have to be that you at least get X number of tackles during each match as a tackle is the bare minimum that a player who is badly out of form should be able to still carry out during a match (ie., compete). I suspect that number would be around the 65 mark (minimum) as a team, which is what we averaged last year (hopefully aiming for higher this year). That's approx 3 tackles per player per match. Under that scenario, surely those who only had 1 tackle or none SHOULDN'T PLAY this week..... They include... Byrnes Frawley Tapscott Gawn Howe Evans Davey (sub doesn't really count as not on for entire match) Dawes (1st game back.... could be excused) Spencer Strauss Bail Nicholson M Jones I doubt we'd have enough replacements at Casey to cover everyone, but i think he should at least make a massive statement this week. Part of the trouble with our players (over many decades now IMO) is that we've never had the depth (or the gonads) to drop those that won't demonstrate a minimum effort and commitment towards the team and guernsey every week. They know we have no depth and their position is pretty safe.....so they just play to a base minimum and are generally happy (many players not all ... eg., exclude Clark, Jones & Howe in present group) to just take their pay and go home and enjoy the high life. TOO MANY PLAYERS AT THE DEMONS ARE JUST TOO COMFORTABLE....ITS BEEN THIS WAY FOR DECADES

Start by bringing back The Melbourne Demons. We all know how we arrived at that name via the great Frank 'Checker' Hughes However, The Melbourne 'Demons' and all physical references to it (the most recent material reference being "The Flame") was actually taken out of this club and removed from all marketing material, literally, by Gardner et al back in the mid 2000's and has never fully returned. We were hence forth referred to in all marketing and physical material (other than retro T-Shirts/Clothing) as The Melbourne Football Club. It is only recently (i think it was roughly around 2010 with the advent of Ronald ‘Dee’ Mann) that the Demon has made a bit of a come back at the Mascot level but the club still doesn't make any reference in any marketing material to us being The Melbourne Demons, nor is there a Demon on any marketing material other than a minor throwback via the trident on the coat of arms and references to 'Demons' in fund raising campaigns such as 'Bring back a Demon' and 'Dedicated Demon Payment Plan'. We are more likely to refer to ourselves in marketing material and club announcements as "The Dees". Personally i don't know what a "Dee" is and i hate that reference. Makes us sound wimpy and weak and that's pretty much how we play most of the time. I think 'Checker' would turn in his grave if he heard us using that term. I never use that term and never will for as long as i follow The Demons. I only wish we would bring back a decent Demon mascot on all marketing material and our general branding. This is how i fondly remember the club growing up. I would also like to see us return to our true red. Watching Michael Voss being interviewed the other evening i had to look twice at his shirt in the after match presser to make sure that wasn't us!! Probably another CS special. Looks like a dark pink on the TV too. Damn crappy colour IMO. I always take my 2006 scarf to the matches as it still has the Flame and proper Red in it and was the last one to maintain both before it was morphed. P.S. DeeVoted i like your Image/Logo !!!

Not while the current President (Board) is still in place. I think Paul Roos or any decent coach would be thinking the same. That's if they were asked to give it a thought and offered a massive contract. Can't see that happening anytime soon either. Not without a huge AFL bucket of $$. Then we'd be effectively run and owned by the AFL so they would anoint their 'preferred' option anyway and it may be someone other than Roos

Pretty good Frankie. Can i throw in Diamond Joe and also "Fabulous" Phil !! All 11 games and 23 goals worth

"IS" WYL.... just saying

Not unless there's an immediate "Quality" proven coach out there who's waiting in the wings. Even if there was we'd have to pay him massive overs. Money we don't have. In addition he would want to bring a new team of line coaches, development coaches and his own recruitment manager in. Plus he would probably want a financial commitment from the board (read AFL) on footy spend for the 3 years (or whatever) that he's contracted for so he knows the $$ for the FD and his strategy/set up/personell up will keep flowing and not be cut after the first year or 2. Peter Jackson hasn't been in the place long enough to handle something so mega either i would think. He would do better (and would no doubt be under some sort of soft instruction higher up the AFL chain) to complete his review of the club from the top down and put forth his recommendations. The rot starts at the top. Finish this part first before commencing a clean out and refurb of the FD. Neeld to remain till close to season's end IMO. I don't think anyone could salvage much from this mess if we were to appoint a caretaker between now and the end of year anyway. Although more damage could potentially be done i guess and we could see some senior (and less senior) players walking at year's end. I think this will happen regardless, it's just a matter of how many take up their bed and walk.

BUMP! I remembered this post as it stood out from the throng at the time. I wondered if you've seen enough now Old Dee

Not at all. Just trying to keep myself occupied and stay sane as i watch us self deestruct for the 5th straight year. Better than kicking the poor old cat. 80% of footy is above the head and nothing to do with experience. Players can do almost anything on the day, particularly against mediocre opposition if they are motivated to do so. Their performance on the field is a reflection of the coach and his ability off it, or lack thereof, to get the best out of a playing group each and every week. Neeld has so far proven he has no idea how to connect, motivate, plan, make the right match ups/selections for game day, make good moves/changes during a match as well as LEAD/MOTIVATE a young group of players to play for him or the jumper over a whole game, let alone week after week. The end is nigh for Mr Neeld. I was hoping he might turn things around this year but he's turned this playing group/list from woeful to totally shizenhausen.

More than likely now. But this present board appointed him and allowed a 2nd dip/input into the selection process after the first failed input/advice (Bailey) by one Mr G Lyon. IMO they are equally (or potentially even more) culpable than the coach right now having made the same mistake of allowing an outside adviser to suggest and then accept another untried coach.

Their top 5 most experienced players are better (overall) than our top 5. The most experienced in order of games played 1. Sylvia / Ablett 2. Jones N / Campbell Brown 3. Byrnes / Brennan 4. Frawley / Harbrow 5. Dunn / Murphy Our bottom 6 wouldn't get a game elsewhere either IMO (in no particular order) ...... Spencer Strauss Nicholson Bail Sellar McKenzie We also have 6 players (versus their 2) who have less than 10 games under their belt.... Kent Terlich Viney Jones M Gawn Evans And we also have ..... Neeld and his amazing line/development coaches

Demons by 6 goals (give or take a goal). Jones boy BOG.

Not really that bizzare Swooper. This is just another example of how this club lacks good governance and passionate football savvy leaders off the field. They are mostly corporate/lawyer/accountant types, willing to roll over in order to comply with "authority". We lack a passionate strong voice, a visible outspoken leader to make a stand on issues like this. They're also very silent on most of these issues without any feedback to the most important aspect of the club, its members. Poor communication. Lack of resolve. No representation. No outspoke voice or face at board level. Poor Governance. Change at the top is needed way before thinking of looking for a new coach, otherwise we'll just continue down the path of being the whipping boy of the AFL and a continual laughing stock on the field as well. Put real leaders in at the top who are passionate about the club and are willing to fight tooth and nail to protect its heritage & brand both on and off the field then we might start to see a resurgence of a once great club and start earning a bit of respect.

The Demons vs The Suns Round 7, 2013 – Team Stats Total Games Played Demons - 1,097 Suns – 1,325 Games Average Demons - 50 Suns – 60 Height Average Demons - 187.7cm Suns – 187.8cm Weight Average Demons - 88.7kg Suns – 87.4kg Age Average Demons - 23.5 Power – 22.9 Number of players by category 0-49 Games Demons - 14/19.5 (number of players/average games played) Power - 16/27.9 50-99 Games Demons - 3/72.3 Power - 1/73.0 100+ Games Demons – 5/121.4 Power – 5/161.0 Stats courtesy of footywire.com