Norm Smith's Curse

Heard it two weeks ago - With Choco Williams as head coach - designed to mend old wounds. Was supposed to happen after Queens Bday so we will wait and see. Im doubtful. Would love to see him back in some capacity because he was an outstanding individual.

I guess the way I look at it is - if this was Clarkson's first 18 months at hawthorn what would have happened?

Sure thing mate.

Love the Rev and is under-rated but he hasn't coached in a long time.

ive heard it suggested that we are focusing on blooding youth but that doesn't seem right given Byrnes and a few others but we seem to tend to persist in some that offer very little and refuse to select some that seem to have better attributes.

Clearly the club already had a terrible history of recruitment, probably more so in development of players (yes Gysberts is still skinny circa 2011) and lax training according to current thought in media. Dermie often tells of opinions offered by Melb Storm players about our 'recoveries' etc. But we have gone way backwards which either means our list was over performing and is now balancing out as being shizen, or the players confidence is shot from being baked a little too hard early on? Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards but remember Neeld was 'surprised' by our loss to Port - even though we had three debuts in our midfield and one inside mid named for the game... Supports have gone cold of Neeld - fairly or unfairly. And without any sign of significant improvement this year the supports have had a gut full because of the culmination of many things. If the players have as well then its a worrying situation for many reasons. Players not resigning = players not offering a vote of confidence in something.

Not to mention drawing the tags...

To reiterate a point - if the ticket was a combination of people who would not sell out the club to a merger and allowed jeff a mandate for accountability and governance I think the idea sounds ok... Jeff didn't ruin Hawthorn - quite the opposite. Apparently Beyond Blue asked him to do it because there were too many MFC supporters bothering them?

Im not really sure about this one. This board doesn't inspire. the club really needs to remind people that this club has won 12 premierships and was a powerhouse. The club has always had some strange administrations - the ones that sacked Norm (there was crying in the streets); the ones that told Hassa that they thought he was no good anymore so could leave; the one that moved us towards merger combined with a majority of members; Melbourne needs an Eddie Maguire - love him or hate him he doesn't take any crap and he vigorously supports the clubs position in all things. For years every member of the football media fraternity has taken constant pot shots at MFC - listen to Venom tomorrow morning and we will be a rabble and a joke. I have always defended the club but sometimes your belief wavers in the administration and the footy department - our development of players has been a joke afterall. Providing I was certain that this new ticket had our bests interests at heart - was manned by diehard demons that wouldn't let Jeff go off on weird tangents and allowed Jeff to concentrate on accountability and governance - two areas where we have struggled it seems - then I don't think im against the prospect potentially. Don is a nice guy there is no doubt but he comes across as a bit laid back or stressed.

I have infact been a major supporter of Neeld in the past and Ive doggedly criticised some who suggested that he had lost the players. But I think about it this way as well - if Moloney's defensive efforts were so bad and if he wasn't working hard enough to make it, then how do you explain the effort the club put up against Gold Coast and Essendon. Sure Moloney has been criticised for being selfish and a bang it long type, but he was still an inside mid and he still drew a tag which freed up Nathan Jones. Losing Moloney doesn't seem to have made any massive changes in relation to effort at the club if our results this year tell the story. And remember Brent's comments were echoed by Rivers recently - didn't feel respected - didn't buy in. Brad Green on leaving had to remind the players to 'buy in'. Moloney did more for the club than Neeld has so far perhaps? I guess time will tell on that count. But if you seek out people with close relations to the club what I tend to find is vastly differing views about what has gone wrong down there in the past and recently, and ofcourse opinion doesn't equate to fact but its worth passing on just to perhaps inform opinions.

Totally agree with this sentiment. if Brent did sook as some suggest then its pretty ordinary. But all I was saying (rather forcefully I will admit because I had a baby screaming in my ear and a wife berating me for not washing the dishes) is that in the future we might hear more about what happened when Neeld arrived at the club. Not in any way saying Neeld is responsible for our terrible recruiting record, terrible development and other of our many ills.

I will clarify the above - the words facts are a bit strong. The words should have been 'informed opinion'. I respect that if someone makes a statement without any facts presented people may scoff at it. I would. But I am confident its close to the truth.

Oh so widely stipulated views made by external observers hold weight because people agree with them based on their personal views of Brent? Holds more weight than vague statements that dispute an opinion you voiced that you admit is based on speculation? I wont be providing any evidence for my comments on a public page. Take it or leave it. but when you hear things from people that at least SHOULD know you feel the urge to pass them on despite not wanting to expose those people.

mate I don't need to do anything - I can do what I like. Last time I checked it was a free country... Someone told me a few things in confidence and Ill keep it that way - particularly when some clown gives me attitude. But there is a set of facts often reported here that are based purely on speculation. Where you at the club watching Moloney train? Did you speak to him personally and did he say that? Did a club source openly come out and say that Moloney was playing casey because he wouldn't work on his defensive game? Did the coach say that? How were Moloney's tackle and defensive stats? Was he the worst offender in terms of is defensive game? How many tackles did we lay against gold coast? You often see comments that Moloney wouldn't work on his defensive game or didn't work hard enough and that was the sole reason he was sent to Casey but its entirely based on nothing but speculation. At no time did the club say that was the reason he was playing at casey other than some subtle comments from in one pressor.

The truth will come out and there is definitely two sides to the story.

The difference being mine was based on fact, whereas yours is assumption...

Well deserved.

All I can say is the truth about what has happened at the club will come out and its interesting...

I heard more info today one what has been happening at the club than Ive heard in years. Wow... Again PM for details. Suffice to say the previous info I got was sarcasm...

Neeld arrived. Neeld sprayed a lot of the players. Neeld demonstrated zero respect for certain older players and no interest in earning their respect. Moloney thought he was a shoe in for captain. Instead Moloney stood up to Neeld and voiced concerns of the players Moloney got Casey for his troubles and off he went on his merry way.

I'll wait and see. I think it cones down to either bad coach or bad list. The rest will improve with infield performances.

Not only experienced. We need a coach that either played in a premiership side - or preferably - has coached a side (senior coached a side) to a premiership. One who has built lists like eade or Williams would also be ideal. Roos has never constructed a solid list - he inherited Eades. A mate thinks neeld was talked up by Malt so he would leave the pies to undermine Buckley.

I met Ayres a few years back. Highly impressive bloke. btw signature of the century - retaliate first.

He's hopeless. Like jay. Pretenders.

I used a lot of internet time today for no outcome one way or the other.