Ouch!

Matt Thompson from the AFL obviously lurking amongst us!! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-01/betting-plunge-on-coach-roos?utm_medium=RSS

Harsh call after what was a pretty decent game, but it's a pretty good call. I'd want a good look at Mitch Clark and how he will come back before making such a call, but with Watts, Dawes and Howe down there and Hogan next year... his opportunities are going to be limited. If Clark can work with Gawn in the ruck, you might look at it, but without Clark neither of the other forwards can go into the Ruck.

in my opinion, this guy is reaffirming why he is considered one of the best journalists in football. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/coach-out-to-break-male-dominance-20130628-2p2ub.html Listening to Michelle Cowan, you can't help but be impressed. If we were to land a coach such as Roos or even Williams, I think it would be a bold move to maybe consider someone like her or Peta Searle as a development coach.

I can't fully agree with this, these senior players do have a bit of an understanding of whats going on. Their 'supplement' regime was different enough from what they have experienced up until that point to warrant them wanting waiver forms. They knew that they were pushing the envelope, that leads to grey areas. I don't have an issue with the line of thought that they should trust the doctor, the sports science groups etc, but they KNEW this was something different. As for booing last night, I am of the opinion, that whoever Essendon played last night would have gone and boo'd him. The AFL *should* have stepped in, just like they did with Milne last week who has not been convicted of anything yet. Watson has admitted to taking a banned substance on national television, Regardless of whatever defence of the club is at this point, that bit is pretty much fact. Being a star and a good bloke, yeah I don't argue that is the case. But it has nothing to do with anything in this case against them. I love that he is talking to Watts, and that Watts is showing signs of competitiveness, but again completely irrelevant.

But the definition of prohibited vs the S0 classified list which is for substances not yet approved will be the key here. Also I heard that the legislation that allows ASADA to compel Steven Danks to speak to them got passed yesterday,.. That is going to be interesting also!

I guess it depends if they waiver would hold up in a court. If the players were acting on good faith and felt like they were pressured or deceived it might be considered differently My knowledge on thing legal is very limited as well btw.

I think WADA has stated that AOD9064 has been on their 'not approved' list which essentially means the same thing as banned since Jan 2011. Ask yourself this... if this was not performance enhancing why the heck would these players be injecting it, AND requiring a waiver form. AFLPA said very early on in the piece that no player should be required to sign anything from their club outside of their player contract. Did anyone catch the footy show last night, I was just told by someone that apparently the Bombers confidence is based upon they believe that they are fine due to a 'legal technicality'? Any truth to that? If that is what their case rests on, and given that they have not even been charged with anything, wouldn't confidence based upon a 'technicality' be a little wobbly as surely ASADA could lay charges against them that could nullify the technicality? Would have thought a technicality normally hinges on wording... which could be countered by other wording.(Thats just my 'non-legal' opinion btw)

Lets be fair though, Some muppet in the media obviously thought it would be news worthy to ask him whether he is keen on coaching the MFC. He is only answering what was asked at a press conference for the GCS. Still seems highly regarded as an assistant as were Neeld and Bailey

Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but I heard that Ricky Petterd did a 'like' or whatever the equivalent is on Instagram (sorry don't use it.) to the 'Karma is a [censored]' image that was put up by Moloney Thats the closest thing to a comment from players that I have heard of (Can't confirm it however)

Perhaps not directly, but how can we in excess of 20 players that are not of a standard? They all came from the same draft, sure we have cocked up some picks like Lucas Cook, and Luke Molan, but Gysberts, Morton and most of the 20 that we have on our list are capable players. Actually heard a good interview with David Dunbar this morning about our list and what an incoming coach would have to expect. Worth listening to (if they have it as a podcast) .. actually didn't realise he wasn't our opposition analyst any more either.

My comment has nothing to do with the competency of Ratten, but I would be amazed if the 'bail-out' that is being funded by the AFL wasn't presented and discussed that they need to lure a big name coach, and quite possibly a very experienced Footy Operations Manager too. With such announcments comes expectation, better chances to lure players over, retain existing players, sponsorship, membership... it all would start to roll on from announcing established and proven performers. If we can't land one of the big names then sure he is a strong candidate, but personally I would be pretty disappointed if we name Ratten, Knights or Harvey as our new coach at the end of this. Because it means that we failed to land the preferred option. We were required to settle for someone else.

Sorry, I disagree, we have seen these players play a lot better over the course of a season as well. (first half of 2011 there were some very good players developing...) There are players that are very capable, they are just bereft of confidence, playing under a coach that I believe didn't have total buy in, and confused, and some who might still be at the club could be like Moloney and having a sook. No question that our midfield is poor, and needs significant boosting, but the backs and forwards are more than capable. I also feel that Neeld made too many excuses for NOT winning. I know that its the current trend to say we need to get games into players and that the scoreboard is the last thing we look at ... but I think as players at the elite level, they should be under no illusion that losing is acceptable, they should not be content with honorable losses, and a lot of the internal benchmarks, whilst no doubt important, shouldn't overlook the teams first aim, and that is to win games of football. I never felt, other than Neelds first game against Brisbane, that he ever appeared angry about a loss. It's just too simple to say the whole list is crap OD.

Out of footy in the sense of directly coaching, but he has headed up the Swans development academy since he left coaching is my understanding. But correct in that getting a team the way he wants it would be a few years, and the structure of the footy dept won't be a magic fix in a couple of weeks.

I thought I read somewhere that all the coaches with the exception of Neil Craig come out of contract at the end of the year anyway... Whoever comes in will have the license to pretty much chose their coaching panel. Neeld got that (with the exception of Royal who was contracted to the club)

would he add an extra 'ey' to Viney? Wouldn't be fair if he didn't

The money gets him to the table to listen. the pitch from the club should be what gets him interested... after that it's up to him. I don't think Foxtel would have him on 1mil a year (possibly over 5 years) as some people are reporting... A lot of people commenting that Roos didn't build the list and Eade did.. but Roos coached them for a few years after Eade left. Also, and this I think is more important, Roos is the one along with the players to get the 'bloods' culture to what it is today. Our club needs this cultural buy in more than anything... Question is do we have the players at our club that can instil a similar culture that Maxfield, Kirk and the others were able to do, these aren't the most gifted players, but they dragged the club along to great things!

Cos the mining money behind Freo would have been able to trump anything that Melbourne could have offered. Without a cap on footy dept spending we wouldn't have been able to get in a bidding war with either WA club.

I think Malthouse said similar things last year... *IF* the club thinks that he is an option... then as I said throw the sink at him. We have to be bold here, we have to get whoever we can. Roos and Lethal both are 'not interested' until such time as an offer of a contract is put before them.... it's the size of the contract and the challenge that goes with it that will land a coach like this.

I agree PJ speaking very well at this presser. Neeld to his credit is also speaking well.

You would have to think that the 'highly conditional' contribution from the AFL might have had something to do with this decision coming sooner rather than later. Craig is the best option we have (probably Rawlings) but the club if they were going to make this decision had to move (should have probably done it more quickly than now) I think the sink has to be thrown at Roos, Lethal or similar sooner rather than later. .... and here I was thinking that this would finally be a quiet week for the dees!

I don't disagree the contract for 4 years was not great for the MFC, but it's not like it caused us salary cap pain. If his body holds up for the remainder of this year, I would be amazed if they didn't offer him a 1yr contract that is performance based.

Nah, I agree that I think Neeld and Rawlings played a bit part in securing Clark, and similarly Neeld and Brown did similarly to secure Dawes. My legitimate concern is how the players that we are actually commending for how they are presenting themselves etc, might be if Neeld is removed from the equation. I am not pro or anti TBH, I just think a clear and decisive decision needs to be made and that must be something that everyone (or most) need to be able to stand behind.

Whilst this is true.... I get the gut feel that if Neeld is shown the door (now or later) that Dawes might crack it somewhat, he does seem very strongly aligned in Neelds corner. That would be offset based on what might eventuate with a replacement coach, but as you rightly say Dawes came here because of Neeld and Leigh Brown selling it to him.

After listening to Ox on SEN explaining his article, I dont' think too many people can argue he isn't speaking from a point of passion when it comes to his words.

I am a little confused as to why people are unable to see the connection between the increased salary cap proposal, AND the equalisation money. We get X amount from the AFL now, but it can't be used to pay players.... I think that Eddie and Newbold are suggesting that perhaps some of that equalisation should be available to use within the cap itself. I don't for a moment doubt they have self interest... as this 'solution' doesn't compromise the draft (after several years where it has been) and it deflects any attention away from their current business models and footy dept spending.