Demon Dynasty

This guy could dodge raindrops.

I'm really amazed at his ability to keep his job.

Neeld just looked at him tonight and asked for answers.

We have been crap in this area for so long .

Royal has been there too long .

The answer lies WITH Neeld. He has to take responsibility for the worst part of our game atm (if there is possibly a worst part) and that's the mid field set up/structure/plan and the rucking dept. We suck at both and this is where the game starts and ends.

Neeld needs to show some leadership here, takeover the running of the mid field (bye bye Brian) as a start where he supposedly did well with a premiership club in Collingwood. The best defence in the land couldn't stop the leeks from this dyke in terms of clearances from the middle and general stoppages tonight. I think they had something like 50 more i50s!

His selections pre match our questionable too. I said to my son before the ball was bounced tonight that we were at least a ruckman/tall short versus the Bummers. Trengove under done. Better to leave Rodan in who should never have been dropped. Showed something last week in the first half prior to things getting out of hand and also in the short time he was on this evening. Still not enough but better than most we offered through the mid tonight, Jones boy excluded.

6. Davey

5. Howe

4. Jones

3. Frawley

2. Terlich

1. Grimes

*Edit: 8 to my son for having to sit through that shyte for 3 & a half quarters and me carping on all the way home afterwards.

A decent effort by the young boy. Credit where credit is due.

Neeld said he still doesn't know how his players weren't ready for the opening round after six months of pre-season preparation.

"I asked the same question. No answer, don't know. I don't know if there is anyone who can give you an answer,'' he said.

"I don't know, I've got no idea.''

Hand him the B&F award now. One of the only players who showed spirit on the field along with Viney, Howe and Grimes

Add Davey, Howe, Grimes, Terlich and to a lessor degree Frawley. Viney tried hard but wasn't really in the match this evening in my op. Not alone obviously.

FLASH made a comeback tonight, not Aaron Davey as he's been for 2-3 years but FLASH that bloke that excites you when he gets the ball. The bloke who runs hard and tackels harder. I've missed him, I don't know where he's been but I'm sure glad he's back.

Fittest i've seen in 3 years. I was over him after the squib but he seems to be back to some sort of form which is encouraging and was a small glimmer of light this evening. Not sure why he wasn't played at beginning of season. We lack toe and skills by foot, and he at least has that in spades versus most of our other boys.

Expect to see him follow his mate Moloney out the door at season end as a free agent.

Playing like he doesn't give a rats!

I think he does and i think he trys to a degree. He just has nothing more to give. Like a number of others there tonight, he just ain't got it. Time to look elsewhere. Has had too many chances already. As someone has already said. Kent in....Sylvia ......gone.

Rusty, if enough people agree with you, you can get voted onto the Board, so you don't need to be qualified you just have to have a thick skin to put up with the [censored] on this board and in the media. we don't know the work the Board is doing, that is my point, the problem at the moment in my opinion is with the players

Don McLardy told me he went to the team meeting before training on Friday, what do you think he said, he didn't tell me directly but I got the gist and it wasn't "same again this week boys"

Same with Demetriou, what do you want him to say, "Melbourne's performance was a great advertisement for AFL"

Keyboard warriors on this site rant, rave and moan, ask for some action and it's "oh not me, I was just sayin"

Anything's possible Satyr but in the end you also have to have some clout/connections with big business circles or other circles of influence (say politically or within the AFL itself), offer some sort of professional asset (eg., Guy's legal/business background) or carry some significant weight with you football wise (ie., a past player like Greg Healey or past experience running a business/club etc). Anyone can put their name up sure, but if you're a no name with few connections other than as a long term member/supporter or aren't bringing a wod of folding stuff with you, a la Diamond Jo....you're just wasting your time.

Agree that some comments on this board, including mine, are seen as ranting and probably are, but in the end supporters rant because they want a better performance on the field. To get the best on the field you need eveyone to be pulling in the same direction and playing their part, including off it. I'm not saying that McLardy and the board aren't. All i'm suggesting is that they're past performance is an indication that we could have done better and should do so from here, subject to finding an alternative ticket that i believe is a reasonable to significant improvement on this one.

If you're saying the supporters aren't able to voice their opinion and attempt to "shape" the nature/culture of a football club, whether it's via emails, phoning the club, discussions with executive or on here, then i'm not sure how you would expect us to otherwise, other than when we vote for re-election of existing board members or new ones or maybe at AGMs (held only once a year) where there's little provision/time to do so.

If you don't like the warrior side of things on here, no one's forcing you to contribute or stay. But you're more than welcome to! B)

Bossdog, what I have been trying to say, the only problem is on field, RR never prefaces his posts with I think, I will, just bald untrue statements, you will never win there, but he will also produce no action, he will try and convince others to carry out his agenda....keyboard warrior was coined for him...also Muvver are u going to stand in the elections coz I will...quite simple put up or shut up

Not everyone who commentates is able, or necessarily qualified, to stand for election on a board Satyric. Very few seats available anyway. But as paid up members we have the right to observe and make up our own minds. We also have the right to state them freely provided we aren't breaching any slander laws etc and retain some respect for those who are in these positions of control and power and no doubt trying to carry out a pretty tough gig on behalf of the club and its members.

'why you little' do you have a legal background? What is your understanding of the repercussions to the Club if they fought all the way to the Supreme Court and lost? The Director who coordinated our response to the tanking charges is Guy Jalland (profile below). He is an extremely experienced corporate lawyer, has worked for the Packers for 15 years. For mine he and the board did the right thing in reaching a settlement and avoiding a finding of tanking and draft penaltys. Interested in your response.

Guy is 51 years of age and holds a Batchelor of Laws degree from Melbourne University.

Commencing in 1998, Guy was employed as a senior executive of Consolidated Press Holdings Limited. Between 2004 and 2007 Guy acted as Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (then 38% owned by CPH). Following the demerger of PBL last year, Guy returned to CPH.

Before CPH, Guy Jalland was employed as a senior executive with Village Roadshow Limited; as a partner in a Melbourne law firm; and worked in various positions in Asia and Europe.

Guy commutes between Melbourne and Sydney. He is married with 4 children, and is a lifelong Melbourne supporter.

No doubt a well qualified and experienced man demoniac, but in the end he's under instruction. That instruction comes from the board as a whole, including McLardy. A well run board would also be seeking advice from Guy for sure. Maybe it's biggest influence. But the board would also have some input/advice from the CEO as he has to live with and deal with the fall out post the decision.

In the Age today it states that the AFL are very concerned about the state of our club. And Demetriou saying that he is hoping we do well tonight. against Essendon. On face value this looks like wishful thinking. This may be a precurser to AFL intervention if things don't improve.

This is a worrying sign, i don't believe Demetriou would want the AFL to step in, as this would reek of complete and utter failure of a club's board/admin. However, our board has already shown itself to be extremely week and vulnerable to whatever the AFL "wishes" after rolling over on the tanking fiasco.

Bottom line is that all these guys have worked hard, but after 7 years we are going backwards again. Yes they did some good things, but the reversal of strategy on the Tanking issue with the acceptance of a $ Half Mill not guilty verdict overshadows their entire reign.

To then refuse to speak to the shareholders about it is to me simpy untrustworthy.

It was their strategy to follow & they f$&@dd it up but remain in the cone of silence.

Not good enough for me, but i do understand we need an alternative plan.

Dr. G's above rundown is compelling reading

This is the sour icing on what is already a failed cake WYL.

It's the ultimate slap in the face for the supporters of this club, the players and the existing (potential!) sponsors. As RR has said many times.....has had a massive detrimental impact on the club as a whole. McLardy and Schwab must be replaced ASAP in order to halt the cancer they started under and during their watch.

Unfortunately you must have a decent replacement ticket in the wings and at this point, other than a wiff of a rumour about Greg Wells, there appears to be no "white knight" ticket putting its hand up. Maybe this will emerge as the year progresses.

An overview of the club and Schwab's "achievements" since returning to MFC;

I think that is fairly comprehensive though I have likely overlooked some things which I am happy to edit in if anyone cares to point them out. I have tried to be fair and include the positives as well but the negatives comprehensively outweight them from my assessment. Others can make up their minds on what this all means but for me it points to a dearth of leadership at the top of the club and a dysfunctional relationship between the CEO and the rest of the club.

A great summary Dr. Thank you.

In the end Cameron has no doubt had good intentions when he first came onto the scene and probably did some good initial work. I don't believe anybody comes into a position like this with the intentions to wreck the place. I'm sure his heart was in the right place and still is.

However, the significant influence of the premiership model, trashing of senior players in favour of youth policy/drafting. Then the apparent continual micro managing into the FD/players, appears to have had a lasting and a detrimental impact on some of the playing group and no doubt left a sour taste with some in the FD (prior to Bailey being sacked), some of whom still remain (players too). The fact that the board failed to recognise the reasoning behind the dire actions of the playing group after 186, is IMHO, a poor reflection of those at Board level, in particular McLardy, who was the main man in control at the time. CS having effectively been sacked during the actual occurrence and Jimmy in no state to be controlling or making decisions at this point. Regardless of the level of truth in this, perceptions in business (and in a football club) if they are persistent and damaging enough are in the end reality.

It is alleged that after 186, McLardy/Stynes also (according to reports) took advice from Mr G Lyon (again) on what was the best course of action before proceeding with the sacking of Bailey. The sacking of CS & Bailey at the time was spoken against as it would be seen as too unsettling for the club. In addition the board extended CS's contract for another year! A grave error IMO. Again, the main man making those decisions (even though reportedly a great bloke and someone who makes great sacrifices and who means well, and i'm sure he is and does)....McLardy.

As to why we keep turning to Garry for advice. Smacks of complete amaturism. Nothing to do with Garry as he's only getting involved after being asked. But it's an easy gig to come in and review or advise, then depart and watch/commentate from the safety of the media sidelines with no further involvement or accountability.

Perhaps with all the lost data we may have also lost Stuie's multiple examples of irony.

Lost? Are we sure it wasn't a Captain Jack fat finger of censorship?

Just one thing - we didn't tank and no-one thinks we did in 2007.

I cannot believe I am telling you this for the second time CBDees - we played Carlton in what was then known as the Kreuzer Cup and we were largely laughed at by the football public by letting a PP after the second round slip through our fingers. And then even more so when our ineptitude the next year meant that Nick Naitanui would also be Demon if we had lost that game against Carlton.

(However, this could all be blamed on the Bulldogs who somehow allowed us to beat them in late 2007 when Riley was Caretaker)

Anyway, there is a little bit of recent history. Strange day it was in 2007. Akin to going down to your local park and feeding pidgeons, and watching TJ run around untagged for the first time since 1998.

Nor did we in 2009. Goal after the siren. If McMahon misses there's no tanking BS from the AFL or talk. Nothing. I know many of you would have seen this many times before and even been there, but feel free to watch it again folks.

There's even some question mark over whether the siren went before McMahon even took the mark. Apparently the umps couldn't hear the siren, even though the commentators suggest it may have gone as the ball was travelling through the air to McMahon.

This is one of the main reasons why McLardy & CS & Co. MUST go IMO. They failed to defend our club's honor in one of its greatest hours of need. I believe Jimmy would be ashamed if he were still with us.

Shame on you for rolling over McLardy. And the same goes for you Mr Schwab. I'd be happy to tell this to your faces. Weak as [censored] the both of you.

Condolences. Lets hope we have a nice win for your dad mate and all the best during what must have been a tough week for you and family. Cheers

Jack will lead us out. There is no doubt about this at all. It's just a matter of time and getting the right crew around him who are 110% committed goers. Jack is a man you can build a champion team around and will be a magnet for other players to come play with....IF we get e'thing right on and off the field.

I can feel the sniff of a champion in the wind at the MFC....at long last.

C'mon Demons. Time to rally round the old flag

There is only one option...... the greatest rock n' roll band Australia has produced. Survived through decades. A living legend. The song written with Satan (close as one can get to a Demon) in the lyrics. Nothing more appropriate. Nothing more fitting.

Lord knows we need a massive rev up and some theatre pre match. And we need a song to toughen this soft as marshmallows club up.

I've posted this before a year or so back.

A demon enters the arena pre match. Fully kitted with horns, tail and trident. 5 to 6 Demonets towing out a bell with "THE MIGHTY DEMONS COMETH" on one side, and "In Honor of the great Jim Stynes" on the other......the Demon then uses his trident to begin striking the bell.....the music errupts.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQIi5szpO1E

No,it just means he is the unluckiest supporter on the planet.

What are the odds?

Now that had me laughing....nice OD

We are behind GWS too.

We are the basket case of the AFL.

I seriously hope not Dee. I won't believe it till i see it. But then again i didn't believe i'd see what happened happen yesterday either until i watched it unravel in front of me.

Yeah fair enough RN, you make a good point. I must say it's been a fairly emotional time for all of us. Rather largish meltdown last night reflected this.

I just wrote a critique of our centre square work on another thread which in some ways contradicts everything I've said on this thread !! As I was writing it, I was hoping that somehow, someone at the club might take note!

Just really frustrated like many others and I just don't understand how us supporters seem to know more about how the team should play than the people at the club. It's like the club and the way we play is continually 3 or 4 years behind the standard level.

I think we have to pray that we're the rank amatures Macca and the Circus Masters in the FD actually have everything under control, even though it appeared the chimps escaped yesterday and were running the show.

Unfortunately i've felt we've been behind the other top clubs, and at this point pretty much every other AFL club (other than GWS....i hope!), for decades now with only the Northy years an exception. And for a time there i was a believer in 1994, at least until we met a rampaging West Coast lol.

For a club to be successfull and win the ultimate prize, it must be completely united behind the Coach. All the way from the President/CEO down to every assistant coach, player, bootstrapper, stats man and even the doorman!

I've heard this said before from Premiership players and coaches alike.

United we stand....but if the club is in any way divided and doesn't fully back the coach.... forget it.

Having said that, i'm not happy with the present board and its pi$$ weak "rolling over" on the AFL's tanking farce. So it wouldn't bother me if we were to replace the invisible man (CS), and the current President with someone who has some balls, stands up for the club and who doesn't cowtow to Vlad and the AFL on matters of injustice. Provided they back Neeld and honor the remainder of his contract/tenure, i'd be supportive of a new solid team coming in at years end.

But the coach stays and should get our full backing for the remainder of his term. That's not to say he shouldn't change things around if he needs to, including coaching assistants/game plans and personell/players as required. Happy for him to adapt and improve where he sees fit of course! Stand still in this cut throat comp for long and we'll be toast anyway i would think.

How about we see Neeld come up with his own ideas and positive suggestions. What are we paying him to do?

We could have 15 pages of positive suggestions and ideas and it will mean diddly squat. The bloke has been put in place to do a job and somehow we've got to tell him how to do that job??? Ridiculous.

The very fact that a thread like this has been started, says it all. We don't have a say in things so it's a pointless exercise. We have a 0% chance of changing things. Neeld either coaches a lot better or he will be replaced.

It's as simple as that.

With no disrespect to the OP the problem with a thread like this is that many will end up 'playing' coach. And many will come up with some wonderful suggestions and ideas. And it will all mean nothing.

Neeld won't be reading this thread - that is an absolute guarantee. Garry Lyon wrote 1 or 2 articles a year when Bailey was coach. It all sounded great from Garry but it infuriated me at the same time. Why on earth was Lyon telling us what the team needed to do to improve? In effect, he was telling Bailey how to coach. And that's never a good thing coming from an ex player.

Another way of looking at this problem is what do successful clubs do that we do not do?

Brisbane bears when at their peak played man on man, and tackled hard, if you did not take the ball first time or fumbled you were ground into the dirt. They play with the concept of 'no easy kicks'. These are things that most good sides do automatically, which appears to be opposite to what we do.

You cannot hope to give any player 5 yards and hope to catch him, which is what we do all day long with our zone "defense" ironic that it is no defense at all.

Good teams shepherd and run for each other, they lead and present they talk...

Most good sides apart from Collingwood go down the centre corridor, we avoid it like the plague which is kinda why port owned it and just about everything else yesterday. We should not be afraid of using the corridor, going from side to side was farcical the way we try to do it. Kick long preferably to an even contest if you cannot find a man on his own, but why do we kick it to a man out numbered 3 to 1?

Nice post Deecisive. This is true of most good quality AFL teams. In addition they follow through after their initial possession/give off, try to run/spread into open space and make an option either sideways from the player they gave it to or up the field as an overlap. 2nd/3rd efforts and hard work to provide "another" option after the first give, making space! And as you pointed out, they lead up....hit up....lead up....hit up.

Mind you, you still have to have decent passing/handballing skills to pull this off, which just isn't there for us in a big way atm unfortunately.

This is what we saw in a major way from the Cats in the 2nd half today. We aren't Geelong and i realise they're a star studded bunch with many top liners and veterans. But it might be worth sitting the boys down and showing some of our "stationary" style of play, work ethic (ahem), decision making etc and then watch the 2nd half of todays match as a stark wake up call with regard to basic non negotiables and levels we have to start going to.

And yes Macca. You're spot on. I doubt anyone at club level will give a rats tossbag what we are writing about on here. And i agree with most of your points, especially that it's a sad reflection on where we're at. But unfortunately this is where we're at as a club atm. And Neeldy was the one who through his hands up and asked the question of the press. And you never know in life Macca, when people are under severe pressure, sometimes they do look to others for a bit of inspiration or a lift. He certainly won't be turning to us for inspiration or ideas lol, but who knows. Someone from the club might be watching and maybe just maybe 1 or 2 super ideas (in the eyes of the reader) might filter through to the war office. Lord knows they need something different happening down there cause whatever it is they've been doing up till now just isn't working.

I'm certainly not suggesting any ideas i might have are worthy, nor am i suggesting we tell Neeldy "how to". That's one reason why i referred to an MM idea as an option because in the end suggestions/ideas have to come from someone a coach might respect and take notice of. However, I'm very much holding out hope that he's leaving no stone unturned and at least willing to seek advice and/or suggestions from those he does look up to. Neeldy certainly needs a serious change up from here if we're to make something of this season.

In all seriousness though, what we write and vent on here means nothing to anyone of importance at the club for sure, but we talk about these matters Macca because the club means alot to us. I suspect that's a part of why many others, including yourself, are here as well! B)

A devastating loss for our club yesterday. It's the morning after. The dust has now settled and we've had time to reflect and vent. Microwaved membership cards have cooled a little....i'd like to hear from anyone as to what the Demons (ie., Mark, the coaching crew and the players) can do to turn things around? No doubt many suggestions have already been put forward (some excellent and maybe others not so) on other threads here.

But i'd like this thread to focus on any contructive suggestions and ideas if you have them, even if you've put them forward in another thread and you think it's worth repeating.

Only putting this forward as it appeared MN has thrown his hands up (during the presser) and asked anyone if they know what to do! This to me is a veiled cry for help and digging the barrell. So lets dig!

I would never be so bold as to know exactly what is ultimately wrong with the player group etc. However to kick things off i'll give one suggestion from a recent premiership coach. One which i've always fully believed is a key aspect in any coaching mantra 101 manual and which i used during my short stint as a soccer coach at junior level for 3 seasons (1 runner up result, defeating the unbeaten top team along the way and a premiership the next season. Yes hit and giggle i realise but still enjoyable seasons and results for all involved!).

Even the second part might have some merrit to it after some of the attempted passes (by foot) i watched from our playing group yesterday!

http://www.michaelmalthouse.com.au/coaching-and-leadership-tips/1-keeping-it-basic

Guys, it's true some of the defenders had a bet going on.

All was going well off the field ('A' grade training results etc and set for a big match today) until some smarty bum official at the club showed them an old scanlons footy card (see below) of the previous club record holder.

The shock on Watt's face in the interview tonight had nothing to do with today's loss!!

http://demonwiki.org/tiki-index.php?page=Garry+Baker