The Reverend

Yeah, you're probably right. It's my way of explaining a lack of work ethic that I can't understand. It helps me to generalise so I've got something to pin my frustrations on at times like these. Probably unfair to hang it on Gen Y. I'm sure there are lots of good hard working youngsters out there. They're just not at MFC.

You don't think the players have anything to answer for in all of this? As individuals who are paid as elite sportsmen, personal pride should be driving them to be better than this. As members of a team, responsibility to others should be a factor. As representatives of the MFC, they have a responsibility to honour the history and work to turn things around. Not good enough on any of these counts. It's a Gen Y thing to blame failure on others and wait for someone else to fix it. Yes the club has a role to play, no doubt, but the players are the ones who have the power to provide some fight on the field.

In the midst of the debate about Neeld, I wrote that our players are coach killers. You might be closer to the mark. Unless something is done to change the list/culture/expectations, the club could well find itself relegated to Tasmania or merged with the Roos or Bulldogs. We need to take to this list with a big knife and cut out the fat.

I'm with you OD. It's one thing to get beaten but another altogether to be beaten the way we have been over the last couple of years. In the 70's and 80's we at least had some players who would make the opposition earn their victories. Today we have a band of soft-shelled crabs who surrender meekly at the first sign of pressure. This fills me with optimism though - because we can only get better. And, if we don't, we'll collapse totally and then we won't have to worry about it any more. See, there's always an up-side. Go Dees!

I've been saying all along, it's the players. The list is incredibly fragile and shallow. Coach killers, supporter killers and hope killers. The change has to come from somewhere and I guess we just hope PJ can do something about putting the train back on the tracks. We must address the list in the coming draft and clear out the rubbish that infects this club.

I couldn't find any positives! However, I will continue to look on the bright side because it's quite clear that we cannot get any worse now.

Seriously? Franklin's going to be more impressed with a win over Melbourne than by an offer of 2 million + per year? When you start talking that kind of money everything else is insignificant. If Buddy isn't interested in money, he'll sign with the Hawks. GWS's ability to beat us will have not a skerrick of influence. Maybe if we beat them, he might consider playing for us.... Hmmm? Nup! GO DEES!

... find the positives and remain optimistic. Some things in life are bad They can really make you mad Other things just make you swear and curse When you're chewing on life's gristle Don't grumble, give a whistle And this'll help things turn out for the best And always look on the bright side of life Always look on the light side of life GO DEES!

Too many times last Saturday Watts ran away from the contest; presumably running into space to collect the loose ball that somebody else's pressure might have caused. I've seen this too many times now. If he stays, he needs to play the game hard and get to the contest when it's his turn to go rather than playing wide. He has the skills but I'm yet to be convinced by his heart. Stay or go? If we can get something worthwhile for him, I'd let him go. No room for passengers. GO DEES!

Hi Jeremy, You will need to clearly align yourself on the side of optimism or pessimism. Optimism offers hope and uncertainty. Pessimism offers misery and hopelessness. Please choose and declare your allegiance before going any further. Either way we expect unwavering commitment. GO DEES!

I wonder, if there were no restrictions, how many of the current list would we keep. Do you think the AFL would let us throw in all our players and have a fresh pick - like in scrabble where you can miss a go and get new letters? I'd be happy to forfeit a round, or even two, to do that deal. Seriously, we will just be rearranging the deck-chairs this year. It's going to take the next couple to re-furnish the whole house. The important thing is to get rid of all the white ants and start afresh. We will get it right at some stage. In a couple of years we will be looking a little better. I had hoped it would be sooner but later is better than never. Don't worry Old Dee, you'll still be around to see some success. GO DEES!

That point does not escape me. I've lived with the guilt for a long time. The relevance to our situation seems to escape you though. What does it say about our board? What sort of people are they? What does it say about all of those who demanded the sacking of Mark Neeld? How much of our situation was his fault and how much was down to the players? Over recent weeks it's been all about Craig freeing them up to play to their strengths. Today we saw how little mental and physical strength some of these guys have. Too many imposters. Too many cruisers. Too many who just don't care enough.

A long time ago I had a terrible smell in the house. After a lot of head scratching I came to the conclusion it was the cat peeing somewhere. We decided to part ways with the cat and deposited him with the local RSPCA. A couple of weeks later we were convinced the smell was disappearing. Good decision, we thought. Then the smell came back with all its old stench. Turned out to be an overheating bakelite light fitting. Hmmm, felt a bit bad about the cat but they did promise to find him a nice home. Moral of the story? Sometimes the solution is not as clear-cut as it seems. The smell didn't go away when Bailey went and it hasn't gone away now that Neeld has gone. What does that tell us? I wonder.

We need someone who can do a great job of both. Otherwise, 18 months down the track, all the critics on this forum will be baying for blood again. Neeld's biggest fault was an inability to sell the dream. This played a big part in his demise.

I haven't been away, I've just had little to say given our on-going lack of success. Hard to preach optimism in times like these. That doesn't mean I'm giving up the fight, just choosing the time and place to wage war against the apathetic and pessimistic. I will return! GO DEES!

Not for me. We need a communicator who can pull the club together. Not Laidley's strength.

Just before the rock rolls back and squashes him for all time? I didn't really mean that. It's just sometimes hard not to see things through jaundiced eyes.

We don't need brains when we have single malt whisky. A dram or two of Laphroiag will always ease the pain and keep me going. As long as Scotland continues to produce the good stuff, I need nothing else to keep me dedicated to the Dees. Not sure what I would do if I wasn't able to drink...

I think you missed the sarcasm/irony!

Don't put words in someone's mouth. I'm sure Craig has a lot more class than this.

Someone with some class would keep his mouth shut. He stopped being a good servant and wiped out any credits when he took the easy way out instead of manning up and working a bit harder.

Do you really think so?

Here we go again. This will add another who knows how long to the process of rebuilding. I just hope there's a strategy and some serious planning behind this. If we've sacked him on the basis of speculation that someone else might be available I'm a bit nervous. Who would want the job? Seriously, what would motivate anybody with a reputation to risk it all at a club that flips and flops like a dying fish. I will always be a supporter but it sure as hell tries my patience.

Simple but true. Maybe not the only reason we're where we are but certainly a significant one. How are you going Old Dee? Are things looking any brighter? On a positive note the season will be over in 12 weeks. We can then go back to our off-season optimism. Go Dees!

It's great when someone really raises the level of debate. Well done.