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Im enjoying reading all the comments as I dont get to see many games only the televised highlights. Did go to QB and was surprised at Toumps size as on this site he was described as small. I did think he was underutilised and thought this may have been the coach . pleased to see he shown a little more last week and I reckon he will become a very good player when he adjusts to the requirements of this level. As others are saying he is only 5 games into the business I dont expect him to dominate every game just yet.

I see this in Melb plays more than any other side a lack options to go to. Players dont seem to be focused on the ball and other players more self location and self preservation. More concerned with their space rather than their opponent and where the ball is. Maybe losing their instincts for patterns and systems Hopefully something for the new coach to look at

I hadnt given it any thought until read here but Cameron Ling might be a wise long term consideration Has premiership credibility Has been part of a culture rebuild and was influential in maintaining that culture has been an interesting commentator with a broad and developing view on different techniques through his current exposure seems to still have the fire and has a passion for the game If he could work with someone like Craig or Roos as the senior mentor even for a short time while he develops his own style it could be fantastic I would even probably prefer Roos in that role as Craig may be tainted with Neeld connection where Roos comes in clean with his record for developing and leaving a strong culture It would obviously be critical how the two get on But well worth exploring and I do not have any personal criticism of Craig It may also be worth long discussion with Frawley who it was reported has now seen 6 coaches in 7 years I would definitely sound him out about options I would also be having informal and formal discussions with players as stakeholders and keeping them in the loop as to what will be forming the decision We have time to get this right

Well that sums it up an athletic winger not played din that position Hopefully we have an interim coach who can let players develop their attributes in a game plan that uses them rather than trying to reinvent them the martin Flannigan "cook" analogy

If the AFL wanted to help save the club would only require some on field success which could be engineered by reminding the umpiring fraternity that the place we carry our numbers is our backs, the bits above the shoulders are neck and head, when a tackle is applied by a melb player it can be rewarded Opposition players sitting on backs or heads of Melb players could be penalised, off the ball decisions can be payed in Melbs favour as well as against them. The protection of younger and slighter players can be emphasised to ensure there are less injuries and greater longevity for players. OK OK just joshin

Thanks for the report Sat further to all above was there intensity with the training? You mentioned walk thrus? It seems there is difficulty in translating training to playing, intensity has been mentioned again and again. Are we training at speed and under pressure? Unlike OD I reckon there is skill there but it is limited. Not every player can be good on both feet or fast with their hands but they all have some skill and it is releasing that in combination that makes the team IE if a player is good on delivering off his right hand it is better to be there than running on his left unless you are particularly skilled at reacting to an error. These things come under greater scrutiny in match conditions and under intense pressure which can be replicated at training physical presence can be intimidating and induce pressure, this can be a feature of training without causing injury

I really only know what I have read in the press and what has been added here. It seems to me that Roos is the culture builder. He has a record of success and leaving a healthy and well adjusted supportative environment behind he came from Fitzroy and seemed to have an awareness of what they were destroying and took many of the features into his future, It may have to be presented that he could enhance his personal standing by turning us around and his reputation within AFL and broader sporting circles would be beyond question Of course there is also the fact that failure would destroy him more significantly than Bailey or Neeld. Is his game day action as relevant now as previous? Williams does seem to have some more risk but again has success and a good track record I am liking him the more that comes out as he does have some strong character traits that seem to ruffle the feathers but he seemed to have support of players. Eade I wasnt aware of some of his attributes but he does seem more subdued and methodical than Williams and may well sit between him and Roos I would not be speaking $$ without loading it based on success and I do mean games just not leaving a better culture. I reckon we need a relationship between players and coaches that will get the best out of players Who is best to do that can only be ascertained by closer examination and interview. I would like to be involved in the discussion but wont be and can only hope that whoever is making the decisions can present us and all stakeholders with a succinct and justifiable explanation of their choice including expectations and conditions. I have come around to concentrating only on proven winners as many here have to avoid any further coach development programs. I was not anti Neeld and would have taken Hinkley or any of the many assistants available at that time but the step up is obviously major and we have already wasted our opportunity, FGS would probably even consider Sheeds as well as Clarkson Lyon etc but would probably avoid Ayres etc for same reason

Good distraction Stuie and good efforts Can you produce a draft based on Nascent idea I reckon we need to emphasis the "Melbourne" and reduce the demons in case the AFL decide the Darwin demons is the next expansion team that they are funding. That said the drawn demon makes no doubt about it and can be used to incite the club to act like demons

We certainly should even just to help confirm the attributes that our selected preference has. An option out of the blue may possess some factor in greater proportion than is recognised from existing knowledge it is why the interview wether from applicant or selected must be diligent

Toad 33 has nailed it also probably expressed it better than me Part of the transparency and engagement needed

Yeah I agree that potentials would know we are looking but also should understand that they can approach us not just sit waiting for a headhunter to find them. A "True job interview" also goes beyond one presentation when it is a critical appointment. I would suggest given the toxic nature referred to there could even be some engagement with stakeholders rather than a pure appointment and sale. I was once advised by a mentor that no one likes surprises and this critical issue should be treated accordingly

It is about the balance OD No team has a team of elites who [perform in clockwork at all times but it is about getting the understanding and cohesiveness of the skill set together. There is no doubt this is an important time for the club. The players definitely need to understand that. We need a great communicator now more than ever.

You got it TD Interviewing is in fact a necessary part of headhunting FGS you need both parties to sit down and discuss needs and capacities. the employer needs to scour the field by advertising (opening up for application) just in case someone hasnt heard about the position being available to them and those interested candidates can be supplemented by approaches to any alternatives who may believe they are uninterested for any of a variety of reasons. Frankness and honesty in the approach will require thoroughness in checking all information gleaned from the interview process. It does require a fairly explicit and honest appraisal of exactly what you want before you can get it. PJ appears to understand the processes (although Was he responsible for M knights at essendon???)

This does all seem plausible I just hope that contract considerations are clear about expected targets and performance. I would only offer a salary based on our current ability to pay as a poor performing club with difficulties attracting sponsors and members. Working with the current playing list and some defined improvement measures esp retention and committment to be followed with individual specification and improved results to turn around the sponsor supporter problems and bonuses to be paid if these challenges among others are met and overcome. Roos and any coaching candidate should understand this type of challenge

All the players on our list have these skills otherwise they would be with me. They are all at different levels as recognised through the recruiting and training periods It is up to the coaches to take these differing skill levels enhance some but more importantly to use them No other team has a team full of brownlow medalists. Its the team that does it. and to labour a point made elsewhere it is the coaches job to set structures and use the skills available, make sure others in the team know the strengths and patterns to be used and make sure they play to the exytent of their skills as a team ITS THE COACH

was beginning to see the return of old trenners when he was placed on Harry to cut down his influence. did that to a degree but his input was affected But certainly wasnt the worst dee on Monday

Have been a life time supporter including redlegs etc Moved to the country and invested in local team with constant reference to Ds heck I still pick em in tipping much to everyones hilarity. Mates still go every week and we have a post match debrief but even they stopped being fun anymore. Queens bday was the big day on calender when we would all take our Collingwood supporting mates to the match so we could at least take their money off them at entry and the bar. So I ventured down to see how bad this could be the entry was ok but even the service at the bar was slow and painfully expensive $8.50 for a glass of mediocre red wine???? couldnt bear to see the price of a beer just kept drinking to dull the pain till I ran out of money, and still wasnt drunk??? Pies (4 n20 type) were even slow coming. Administration seemed very pooor On the field the game opened up more than on TV and it was even more obvious that we are playing some sort of game that no one else appears to play. If there is structure its the wrong one, if there are patterns they are wrong, players are confused hesitant and just doing everything badly. For every highlight there were more lowlites/ The umpiring certainly didnt help and the leck of respect and protection for our players was obvious all over the feild. There were so many examples of just unbelievable play that I havent got typing skill to put down but have spoken with mates who follow all teams and they are very sympathetic to my frustration. I am now clear ITS THE COACH He is responsible for the patterns, application and performance of players. He is responsible for match ups He is responsible for positioning He is responsible for the attitude of the players which is transferred to the supporters. I havent got the answer but I reckon I now know the problem, it ain't the board, it ain't the cattle, it ain't the dollars, it aint the AFL. ITS THE COACH He may have been a great mid field coah but we dont seem to have a midfield perhaps he could concentrate on that for the rest of his tenure and have our players feeding off our ruckman who still seemed to win a majority of contests (havent checked the stats) Someone else could concetrate on match ups( putting someone on HArry (Trenners) was the bleeding obvious unfortunately he had already won the game. Someone else could look at game time and effort 9 Toumpas sprinted off to the bench for his rotation after 2 jogs down the opposite wing to patrol his area where the ball and his opponent never were. He wasnt exhuasted and had done nothing wrong (or right) Someone could tell players about shepherding, tackling, running at the ball. Someone surely can give them confidence that they are as fit and capable as their opposition that someone is usually the coach IT IS THE COACH OH well I feel better now sorry for wasting your time

ITs the C0ACH

You applying for the coaches Job Pm and thats not a criticism coz I agree with most of what you are saying If Neeld could present the argument you have he might have more support I thought we had a little more depth and the Casey players are obviously learning the so called game plan so why not shift them through there Magner Couch may be slow but add to the make up and can provide a rotation for Toump[as and Viney who are really too young to deliver every week Its all about developing the squad exposure to the elite level and learning tactics. We could probably accept a loss a little more easily if we could see the actual plan for improvement. Neeld doesnt really display that well and while it may be his aim and his legacy I fear it may be too late for him

I do agree with much of what you say However Neeld knew the situation he inherited and undertook to make improvement in his three year tenure. This has not occurred. While there has been improvement there has also been some disturbing reduction The Coach is responsible for the players, the way they play and ultimately the result. I am prepared to let him fulfill his 3 years but if we continue with the results at the moment he may not have that opportunity. We certainly cannot let the deterioration continue where the future of our club high draft picks that we have invested in do not get us a return.

See Sylvia for captain comment

An interesting concept However if the captaincy was used to inspire performance we would need to have every player as captain. I reckon there are other ways to inspire performance and unfortunately the current coaches and administrators do not seem to have the recipe. Sylvia and many others with previously recognised ability and silky skills need to be energised and inspired to work for themselves, their teammates, their supporters, to ensure their own future and that of the club There are fundamental Human Resource management issues and practice which need to be considered. I may be biased having trained and worked in that capacity and would not claim to have all the answers but I do at times see some practices sadly lacking.

Wow that looks like quite a crowd to follow carp or were they all eagles?

Well I have been hesitant in commenting as I agree with so much of what everyone says . I didnt want to sack Neeld but I didnt want to appoint him. I thought Hinkley had value but didnt say so.Hoped Neeld had more than one trick I haven thought our draft picks were brilliant but hoped we would get value from them (Cook Morton probably best examples) could have been inspired if they worked. I am tending to agree with GNF and others cos I think it is the coach for all the reasons that have been canvassed. If the players cant wont perform it is the coaches job to fix that. Maybe have a plan (or more than one ) that can do that. As someone said freo players seemed to get Lyons approach quickly perhaps because he used what he had. Hinkley has had some success with Port (the article in the Age sets out why). The Coach is the Coach. The coach doesnt alienate players he involves players He doesnt bore or berate them he encourages them He doesnt say they are unfit poorly trained lack skills he gets em motivated. For whatever reason or however it has been presented Neeld just doesnt seem to get it right. It may be that there is a difference between what we as supporters see and what is happening out the back but that is also aproblem there should be consistency of message And yes I think that means honest and transparent message. Yes we are playing poorly I am going to do this about that player X has not been tackling we will discuss and I will expect an improvement at casey. Player y has poor disposal we will work on that and I will expect improvement. player z is undersized we will use him sparingly to give him some experience of what he needs to do amd will build him up . If a plyer has skills use them while building on them and improving weaknesses. Make the game plan inclusive especially of those skills not my way or the highway. I dont think we can afford much more of this current situation, I am willing to give Neeld till the end of the year but I think even that needs to be clearly stated NOt we have overwhelming faith in him but we have until the end of the year to see his progress We have many players high draft picks well credentialed we will also be keeping them till years end and appraising them. There will be no rebuild of a rebuils we will retain the players we have and we will utilise them with a games plan to achieve some success We will not continue to condone failure, but we will identify both before we act OH Hell you know what I mean Rant over

hey Saty Thanks for that A considered and reasonable piece. Nice to see the comment on Davey - adding value beyond game time and your reflection on mental impacts especially on young players. Hope they are getting the right positive message through training etc coz you dont get it from Neeld public comments As you said I would like faster improvement but after a lifetime of following the Dees just improvement will do at the moment.