Demonsterative

I think Royal's contract was up a the end of last years season. Not sure how long this new contract goes for. I love shiny new things (cars, tools etc) but Royal is dispensable IMO. The only player he can hang his hat on is Jones. But the way I see it, Jones is the perfect proto type for the Neeld way of doing things. Jones has the fitness, strength courage to play the game and he now has a simple game plan to guide him and he no longer tries to do too much and dosnt get confused. Trengove has gone backwards. He had Gysberts and was unable to improve his strength, attitude and fitness (Gys can play if he the dedication of a Scully). Grimes last year was ok, but he was always injured so you cant judge Royal on the captain. McKenzie is good at what he does but is woeful in his offensive game and disposal. Sylvia has not made the grade into a midfielder. Bate was another failure. Davey has under performed. When he went through the midfield his role was to gather easy kicks and use his excellent foot skils. I never really saw Davey use his speed often enough to break away from packs. I think the club has had numerous top 20 draftees recdently that were seen as midfielders and only Jones has made his mark. I dont agree with the argument he has had nothing to work with. He has had many players who have not developed, and I dont see the midfield group playing as a team either.

If Mark Neeld popped into this thread, he would be demanding 98% of the posters to get back on the 'reality bus. Seriously, the comparasins here after 40 minutes of footbal are ludicrus! Brereton Carey Brown The kid is full of potential, but he has more than a marathon to go before he gets a game in real time

How is it good when the players do not have the ball in hand for far greater percentages than the opposition? I get what your saying, our defensive structures stood up, but when you dont get first hands on the footy, dispose of it well, then the only positive you can take out that situation is for the defensive strusture to stand up. Its a poor mans positive IMO

Exactly how many goals did Garlands opponent kick? Serious question? I have no idea!

All my life I have watch the Demons trying to find talent. I thought Allen Jackovic to be the most talented and look what happened to him. Hulk may have been good, but oo many have sat in the same company. I'll cheer when and If he reaches his best for and period longer than 5 years

Colin has gone backwards under this new Football Dept!!! I could name many mates in this same category. Who is to blame? No need to answer, I have my own opinion

I have a few questions that have been worrying me for a while. I only listened to the Richmond game so i'm happy to be corrected. But i keep thinking, Why is Royal still coaching the midfield? I agree that he has little to work with but the midfield is constantly beaten in defense and attack and we are ALWAYS beaten in the possession count. Most possessions come from the midfield and Royal is constantly out coached by the opposition. Why isnt Neeld taking a more hands on approach at training. He came to the club as an assistant who developed teams very well. Yes he had Swan and Pendles plus others to work with, but he also has Grimes, Jones, Sylvia and Trengrove etc to work with. I'm only going by the training reports and I hear about Neil Craig taking charge but never the coach (Neeld). I thought Neil Craig was Neelds superior, but it seems Craig is taking a more pro-active approach this pre season. Maybe at the Pies Malthouse took a director role with his assistants and told them how to teach the midfield, forwards and backs. But Malthouse has decades experience and has learnt how to lead his staff. Neeld has had one BAD year as a senior coach and seems distant in 'Open' training sessions. I would rather Neeld take a MUCH more active role teaching his assistants and his players at the same time. If I am right, its too early for Neeld to play the directing coach role. I like Rawlings and Brown. IMO they are very astute assistants. My thoughts on why are Mitch Clark played like he was an elite forward last year. In half the games and probably half the opportunities (the club were pathetic in forward 50 entries) he kicked more goals in a season than he had in a year at the Lions. He was a star. Well done Brown. Tom McDonald played extremely well at CHB on some very good forwards without a pre-season directly under Rawlings. Rawlings got him going well with limited time. Well done Rawlings Blease was a dangerous small forward when he got fit Garland and Rivers had some good games despite never playing forward in their AFL careers. The played above their weight Nathan Jones had an break out season. BUT, he was always an elite trainer and was always going to stand out due to his Elite fitness lifestyle. Watts played some very good games at HB with limited training under Rawlings. Dunn also played some good games at the end of season with limited training under Rawlings. Some other thoughts IMO Grimes is potentially a very good midfielder (at least). he hasnt the impact he should have. Too much emphasis on Trengrove being captain. He was coached to be defensive and only now is he stating he didnt attack the game that made him one of the most potentially dangerous midfielders in the game (Royal HMMMM) McKenzie is not a modern game midfielder. He can tag but not impact offensively. 10 to 20 yrs ago he would have thrived. He is a waste of a player in the midfield. At the Hawks Nicholson, McKenzie, Spencer, Bail, Davis, J Mac would not be on there list. Yes, 40 of of our guys would not be on there list, but the named players would not have reached there top 100 draft prospect in any draft as they cant dispose of the ball consistently well Frawley has gone backwards due to intense pressure as a backman. Chip is a match winner if only he could use his run and carry. Neeld is coaching him into a defense player only and not allowing him to attack. Play TMc at full back as his skills are average and play Chip at CHB to defend and rebound. I dont give a flying **** if TMc has elite endurance. Chip has speed that the backline needs when rebounding Thats my rant

SEN. Daniel Harford, the Ox,KB, etc etc lifted this lid many times and many months peviously

After a few years of not being able to afford pay for a membership I signed up today. I could not help but think, can Neeld coach? Am I wasting my money? Then I thought performance is not the issue here, giving the club money to continue its off field performance is just as important. If Neeld is a failure, the money spent on the FD is just as important as one day will have a coach who can perform. Not saying Neeld cant coach, Monday to Friday he is a fantastic coach, just waiting for the weekend work to start working. Although I would like to see him on the training track more

Ellis maybe a victim of the Buddy Franklin contract leehow. He could be one of a few Hawks other clubs may pounce on. If the MFC are smart they will be in the ear of a few Hawks offerring reasonable money. If the club shows some very good improvement on field, we may look like a club that could intice a player like Ellis. He is always on the fringe come selection

I rate Ellis. Injury prone but has the outside game the club needs. Foot skills are very good and struggles to fit into a midfield that is stacked with talent. He should not cost too much. He also plays well in finals. Players who step up in important games are hard to find.

I think this is a matter of 'Counter Transference'. Like, or dislike BH, he is elitist and offensive to all and sundry

The only soft person in this debate is the not so great man himself. Yes I'm talking about Ben Hur. Ben reminds me a bit like Sammy Newman. Loves to learn a newword and then attack others whilst trying to look intelligent himself. My definition of soft is those who put others down to make themselves look better. The easy option is to throw abuse and attack others. Ben likes to do this to players and posters. I would have thought BH's definition of soft and pic of Watts constitutes player abuse.

No BH, he is developing. and has improved over the years. Your PROBLEM is that you expect Watts to be Riewoltd (bad spelling I think ??). You are a vcitim to your own expectation. The guy is 21yrs and you expect too much and you become upset as has not become the player you want him to be. I did not say he is a star (your words). Maybe would wanted him to be a star and have become bitter. I think we need to give Jack more time before we can say he is a failure or a success. How can Barry be a potential star on the training track when Watts is far more advanced and provides far more flexibility than Barry will as a player. Watts can be a outside player playing on a wing. He is quick, he can influence more in the air, kick goals and intercept forward thrust from the air. Jacks foot skills are excellent. Your opinion of yourself is WAY over inflated. You call many fools and unintelligent. I think a massive level of counter transference is occurring here Barry may become a player. He is a graceful mover and has paceto burn. So does Jack! Your lack of intelligence and emotional reaction to Jack is obvious. BUILD A BRIDGE

Everyone adds weight as they mature DC. IMO this year Watts has developed nicely to what many have been wanting for 5 years. He is now at an age, and in a program that will develop him nicely from here on. I remember Chip Frawley being bagged for his lack of strength and size in his early years. Maturity and age has helped him nicely. Watts is taller and skinnier than Chip but he got there. So will Jack. Imagine if McDonald being beaten at CHB. The obviuos change is to put Watts at CHB. Or Pederson or Sellar. We now have swingman who are key position players, and we have Watts who can play many roles. Invaluable to the team and hard to match up on. In a year or two he will provide inavaluable flexibilty. The guy is 21 and has alot of improvement in him in many positons. His development has been steady over the last 3years. This will continue. BH is wrong when he says Wtts is weak and afraid in the contest. He isgetting to the point to where he can contest in the air and ground. Howcan Barry be rated above Watts? In BH eyes? Watts provides run, skills and isgeting ti size to competeone on one I go to training too. Watts is laconic in his style. But he is graceful, kicks beautifully. He impresses morethan Barry. Hardness at theball/player only occurs when you feel you hve the strength to compete. His size hasimproved nicely this pre season and will only ge better in the coming years. Watts had alot of growing to do before he could build strength and size. but he is getting there physically BH over rates his self importance and forgot about natural attrition. Naturallyskinny ppl, take to there early 20 yrs to stop growing and fill out. Particulary players over 190 to 195cms. Is he scared to put his body in? in the past yes. Now he is building strength he will feel more comfortable to use his body. Its called development.

I for one are very happy with Watts development. He can play many position. HBF, CHB, wing, CHF, HFF. In this day and age Watts will be invaluable. He now has a nice size to him meaning more strength. IN 2 years time he will have more size therefore confidence to use his natural footballing ability and using his strength. Most people will only build strrentgh after they have matured. 21 is a good timeto develop strength. He will only ge better from here and at better rate. His body has matured and he wil build a very nice size giong forward

I thought the Pres said it well. He wants to protect the integrity of the club and its former/current employees. I'm certain he has read the epic novel of 800 pages and hasnt changed his stance throughout. Gardner may have bent over for a few extra mill from the AFL, but the club is in a much stronger position financially and it now stands for something. First and Forever

You got to admire how the Nude Nugget has improved all facets of his game. I particulary love how he has turned himself from the Whipping Boy to a loved demon

Is Liam accepting the clubs support? I'd say he is in a spiral downwards and no level of support will assist him. Its one thing to offer support, its another to accept it.

Geez WYL you would want some very hard concrete evidence to your accusations. Journo's held back on this issue due to legal reasons. But you keep going buddy. Your in fine form! Cant say I'm surprised by this level of posting from you

Part of me says, "I dont care how just win one". Just as long I and everyone else does not know how it occured. But my better side says, No play by the rules, It will happen eventually (when I'm dead) OD, if the club wins 10 games this year questions will be asked. Any team that over performs from now on will be looked at as being suspicious.

I agree rjay. Imagine if (and i say IF) the Dees somehow make the eight. Will there be questions about our performance. The tanking issue or the performance enhancing supplements issue will gain more weight as we will be seen as playing for draft picks therefore rising up the ladder, or questioned about our Sports Science program. This will be despite the club cleaning out its dead wood that included many high draft picks and Craig and Misson having an excellent standing in Sports Science. NC was invovled with Charlie Walsh in the Aust Track Cycling program. IMO it could be likely that performance ehancing drugs were a part of this program. Not saying in any way that NC's reputation should be questioned. But, too many journo's who have nothing better to do but to find any angle on such issues. All this crap is bad for the game. I fear there is no way going back now. I cant believe others are re joicing this scandal. Lets get back to football being played on a Saturday. Its been discussed on another Thread but, surely the game needs a clean out at the top and a new beginning. the current Admin is looking tired and sloppy in its handling of such issues

Bring on the footy I say. Politics is taking over the game. Cant wait, till the game speaks for itself after each weekend

Moonshadow Sometimes there is a time to moderate and a time not too. In this case its a time to delete such crap and warn or PM the offenders to stop. God, I sound like Stuie now

I cant believe I just wasted a few minutes (more) on this love/hate/stalking crap. BBO, Biff and Stuie,get a room and sort it out! If I remember this time last year it was the RR & WYL show. The script is not any better and I wish I can visit threads without having to sort thru the pig [censored]