The Reverend

Is this the only tune you know? It was boring at the start and it's gone downhill since. Try to get a grip on reality.

This is taking things a bit far mate. I enjoy a bit of heated debate but this is just plain rude. There's no need for personal attacks.

SHEEDS IS DOING GREAT STUFF AT THE MOMENT ISN'T HE.

And this is based on the win/loss ratio or some other far more revealing piece of intelligence??? Unless you are privy to what goes on at the club and on the training track, this sort of statement is just plain silly. There is a bigger picture.

Let's not forget that Dean Bailey won three games in his first year and a total of 7 games in his first two years. I'd be backing Neeld to be ahead of Bailey's record at the end of this year and well ahead at the end of next year. Bailey had a four year win record of 26.5%. Nothing to get excited about. I hope you're not holding up Bailey as an example of a winning coach. Neeld has a three year contract. His job is to build long term success. It aint gonna happen in one year. Is that so hard to understand?

Don't get the wrong impression Old Man. I've just about run out as well. It's been a long time since '64 and I was 12 then. So I've served my time. I just don't know what else to do but be patient. I've been through all the anger and frustration over the years and it didn't change a thing. I'll give patience a go for a while. It's easier than tearing out the hair.

At last, some common sense. Bergly is right. There won't be any quick fixes but there will be a fix. Let's wait patiently and watch it unfold. Let's be supporters and have some faith in the new direction.

But that's the point isn't it? Neeld and co are in the process of cleaning up the mess created over previous years that allowed us to accumulate these players. Those that can't look at what's going on at the moment and see it in a positive light will never see the glass as anything but half empty. This year is a necessary evil. It's painful to watch but we are seeing the club expose those who are not up to it. They are being given chances to show their stuff and can have no complaints come the end of year cull that will inevitably take place. Those who point to Bailey's eight wins last year are kidding themselves. We have a rubbish list and it needs to be cleaned out. It can't be done without some objective assessment of what's there. That means providing opportunities and seeing who has what it takes.

You cannot be serious! What do you think the members can do? The board have made a decision based on a whole lot more knowledge and understanding than you or any of us have about what is needed. When have the members ever been in a position to sack a coach? It's a fairly inane suggestion that Neeld is under any pressure. It's players on the ground who determine whether we win or lose. No amount of coaching will change those who refuse to be changed. The only answer is to move those individuals on. Personally I think Beamer is a great asset to the club and I'm hoping he can regain some form and come back bigger and better. Having said that, it may be that the game has passed him by and that a whole new set of skills is required to compete at this level. I think it's time for all of the Neeld haters and Beamer critics to take a deep breath, have some faith and give everybody at the club a chance to get on with the jobs they are paid to do. A little faith/trust would go a long way. Rabid calls for indiscriminate sackings aren't going to help turn this club around.

What's it like in that tunnel of yours?

Are you serious? The man has a contract based on the club's understanding that there needed to be a reversal of culture in order to move forward. Sometimes this means taking some steps backward. I guess it's like kickiing the ball backward to create space sometimes. The point is, Neeld was not appointed to continue the work of Dean Bailey. He was appointed to create a new culture among the players and football dept. That's what he's doing. I don't care if we don't win another game this year because I know the foundations are being laid for a strong, successful future. If you're happy with eight wins a year against mediocre opposition then perhaps you should swap to supporting Richmond. I've been waiting nearly fifty years for some long term success. If I have to wait another couple of years, so be it.

Man, you sound just like the dunce sitting behind me today. I had to move at half time; couldn't put up with the inane criticism and dumb suggestions as to how to improve our game-plan - "kick it down the guts" is not always the best option yet this was the one solution offered. Despite witnessing what was probably our best first quarter for the year he could not find a positive. Why can't we look at a game and take some positives from it? Yeah, it's frustrating but given the injuries today we did a commendable job against a team two to three years ahead of us in terms of development. It's getting hard to turn up each week but not because we're losing; it's because of the mentality of some of our supporters. My mother always told me, "If you can't say something positive, shut the far cup."

Wines and Viney has a nice ring to it. Could be a good vintage.

Hey, it's just one measure. I agree, we need to look at all the indicators. That's my point. Let's be sure.

Yeah I sort of figured that after I posted. Not sure I'd rule out the possibility but tend to think he will be better suited when he gains some more muscle. Nothing to be gained at this point. Leave him where he is.

Boak doesn't rank in the top 50 midfielders in Dream Team calculations. On his current points (795) he would be our 9th best, behind Col Garland (809) and just ahead of Jack Watts (767). Is this enough to get this excited about? We need to be careful we don't get sucked into paying more than he's worth. I'm sure he would be a handy pick-up but can we do better?

He doesn't what?

Time for Moloney to play the role of sub for a couple of weeks. If he can't have an impact in that job, maybe it's time for a stint with Casey. Let him beat up on some lesser talent and regain some of his touch. The boy can play; I'd hate to see him written of just yet.

Time for some consistency but at least one change (Clark) is mandatory and another, for team development, leaves Joel McDonald really unlucky to miss out. Tapscott has to come in to take his place as a player of the future. It's not yet time for Cook, Couch and Davis but these need to be given a shot before the end of the year. Moloney gets one more chance, as the sub, but will need to show he can have an impact when he gets his chance. In the coming weeks we need to work Cale Morton back in to the side to see if he's serious about being an AFL footballer. It might also be time to give Magner a game or two with Casey to regain some of his early hunger. FB - Frawley, Sellar, Tapscott HB - Watts, T. McDonald, Nicholson C - Trengove, Grimes, Howe HF - Dunn , Martin, Garland FF- Davey, Rivers, Magner Fol - Jamar, Jones, Mckenzie Int - Bate, Blease,Sylvia (Sub - Moloney) Out: J. McDonald, Clark In: Martin, Tapscott

We need to start the process on Sunday. No mercy. Let Sheedy play his infantile games while we get on with winning games of football.

At least Clark looks like he wants to play for the team. My point is that we are better off with players whose actions show some desire to play for the club. I am well and truly over the other bloke.

We got the better end of the deal because we rid ourselves of a mercenary little snake with no sense of loyalty and a complete lack of integrity. We have done well.

Should have been dragged. Selfish play. He's a dud. No talent, just interesting hair. I predict he won't play in any more than 2 or 3 premierships and will never get closer than second in the Brownlow. Waste of space.

Far too many whingers and complainers on this forum. Yeah we lost yesterday but we were far from disgraced. Our effort would have beaten a lot of other teams on the day. We were playing last year's grand finalist and were able to match it with them for three quarters. Is it so hard appreciate just where we are in terms of development? Is it so hard to be thankful that in the past couple of weeks we've seen the team have a real go? Is it so hard to recognise that Neeld has things under control and is working through a process that will result in long term success? I went home happy that I'd seen us have a crack at the pies and to have stood up. OK we were not good enough. Did anybody really think we would win that game? FFS get over it and enjoy the ride.

It's funny, I'm strangely, uncomfortably confident about this one. Yeah, I know one win is no reason to think we've turned the corner, and that's why I'm uncomfortable. My head tells me not to be stupid but something else is stirring deep inside me that sees great things ahead. I'm not sure what to do about it. $8 for the win seems like reasonable value but I would have expected more. Maybe the bookies suspect an upset. I wonder how much the odds are on a 50 point margin. Can someone sit me down and talk some sense into me - please - I'm scared I'm going to put the house on it.