dpositive

Maybe its just me and my selective memory chip failure But there does seem to be a bit of a downward spiral Perhaps was trying to console OD?????

I have enjoyed the debate and probably lean on the take the money and run side as there are more positives to it. I have said previously that we need to continually reinforce our history we are the "Melbourne" team the only team called Melbourne and our history is the MCG. That is the feature that could save us. Visiting Darwin (2 games ) does not make us THE Darwin team but if we win we will get supporters and exposure which could provide sponsors who want to penetrate that market. Its all good if we manage it right.

Wow old dee Havent seen your posts so disconsolate. Some one suggested on another thread that you could do some pre season training by saying something positive every day. Not sure I agree with that radical proposal You do have to believe it But if you are old as I most certainly am we have seen some even more desperate times and even more depressing times But there was and is always something that you can get excited about. I know we can handle defeat weve seen enough of it, as I have said before I am really excited to see how Neeld and the team goes. This is surely the greatest test for him and if that aint exciting I dont know what is.

Once again YD i agree with all you say I still have that excitement /hope NAB was underwhelming but tinged with experimentation and individual development there were some highlights. We do need early wins to get the confidence back and to get the ball rolling for supporters also. I hope that they play as a team and with desire from game 1 This is the test of Neeld. I support him and have been satisfied with his approach so far analyze skills, improve performance, recruit and dispose His structures and game plans now really come under scrutiny. He has the players he wanted He has had two seasons to get the buy in and a solid pre season for players to learn patterns etc( these are full time footballers) His game day performance will now be the critical issue. I remember Balme was never proactive in his coaching He always seemed to me to be reacting and always too slowly to opposition tactics. It will be interesting to see how Neeld structures and changes, How many plans he has. THat is what is really exciting

And think of the blockbuster impact of the old enemies playing with some new incentive to build up the spirit Who knows we could pack out the G with [censored] off pies supporters

Good chance for G lyon to win back some respect for himself and MFC by reinforcing the MFC message ("denied he briefly consulted" "Dank was rejected for job") and ask CW who players were? how did they identify Danks? did they know why Danks was there? If /when she refuses to answer or is unable to answer then ask why as a responsible journalist she did not research adequately? Why she did not ask Danks himself? had the players been treated and what for? who she interviewed at MFC and why she did not report their comments? if the MFC official is incorrect action could be taken! Perhaps he could also ask as a journalist with close connections with Richmond can she identify the allegations of that team and quote the denials for them. If allegations are later confirmed she can then be dismissed as irrelevant.

You really are sticking your neck out I think Ill be a little bit cautious with mine. I do like Neelds approach and hope fervently we achieve improved results this year. Neeld knew he was appointed for 3 yrs he analysed the players on the list many of them high draft picks so with some perceived talent and presumably set them targets based on his experience and played them in circumstances that he dictated (although may have been affected by injuries)(having No Intimate Knowledge I have no concerns with any of his decisions) he had a say in the recruiting and release of players ( I have no concerns with any of his decisions) he has now had time with the players to display his character and the strategies and requirements he has of them He has a well rounded and I would assume selected coaching team who all have had time to digest his strategies and demands. In short I reckon he should be fine and a contract extension should be offered ahead of time to reinforce all of the above and the stability etc you indicate . However I would not make it conditional on the Club"not falling apart" but on actual improvement on the ladder with wins over many sides and close competitive efforts against the others. I am yet to be assured of the on field real time coaching patterns and strategies. If Neeld is right and with NIK I can only be satisfied that he is aware of opposition tactics and Industry trends and has the ability to use the tools( players )he has in the right combinations to achieve those results. I am dpositive and am even more positive than ever that the club is capable of great things But I really need to see that improvement in results and attitudes. When we win we do so and accept it as a result of planned effort and strategy not as a shock result, when we lose we hate it, but know we put our best planned effort and stategy in and are prepared to alter the strategy to win the next game. I dont expect to see the players slump their shoulders when things get tough I expect them to show pride not arrogance. Its something to do with culture and its growing. The club needs to make its coaching decision with that culture in mind and reinforce the message through its treatment of Neeld.

I think I've proven I have that same ability as you and so Ill agree . I like that layout with Pedersen at CHF to provide an even greater problem for defence structures Howe for the hangers and a fleet of runners in the pockets to pick up the spillage from ff or hf contests The mids dont have to run so deep and can provide better rebounding cover. I think thats what I mean technically and it is a bit of a modification on my previous rotating strategy which could still be worked to really unsettle the opposing defence. .

Certainly not easy to define and I agree with your contention. It is encouraged and reinforced and adopted through all levels. I prefer that it is identified so that there is a clear and consistent adoption. that makes encouragement and reinforcement much more effective. Looking forward to improved performance and attitude. GO DEES

well youngD you dont seem that young with some of your thoughts. I have enjoyed reading many of them on other topics. The game has always and will always evolve. I dont always support the AFL machine but I dont think they make change just 'for the sake of it" They may not always communicate their reasoning and it may sometimes not be obvious and certainly not accepted reasoning but I am sure there is always a reason. Some changes are required as response , other changes are proactive to both external and internal factors Like you I dont want to see our code become more like American footy or indeed any other code. That doesnt mean we cant take some of there features and incorporate them into our code to improve our game. Experience even in another place can still be valuable. And certainly those things that make our game great and unique should never be forgotten

i dont always agree with everything you say stuie but I reckon you are correct here. It is the coaches job to manage the resources. ("these guys"). I have always said managers (coaches) have to mange the difficult things not just the easy things. Its the hardest part of managing which is in simplest terms getting things done through others. it is what we will judge Neeld on. The culture is an even far more complex matter which I am still not sure has been publicly identified defined and established, and as I have maintained involves all stakeholders including players coaches administrators and us as supporters. I am just hoping that the team will display improvement and we as supporters will recognise and encourage that.

Good on you KC You are the best PR man the scorps have

Liked all of this but the last answer Do I as a supporter have belief?No MY answer is YES for all of your presented arguments. We need to see how our coach steps up for his on field structures and actions. We may have developed poorly but we have been developing for many years and we do have a list with comparable capacity to other sides we are young but that provides some enthusiasm and freshness that can be chanelled. Its the older stronger bodies that must put in and support that group. I see Sylvia as very important this year . The coach must tell him and others in that generation that they are not losers although they can leave the game that way if they choose They can be winners and part of a winning team if they desire, the lesser players have the ability and the desire they just need some leadership. This comes from the coach and I reckon he may be able to do it. It comes from the culture and even we as supporters have to embrace and promote it. I have always started each season, each crop of recruits, each coach, each administration, each 5 year plan with similar optimism. It hasnt done me any good and my footy tipping reputation is RS. but I always have had the optimism of the next year I hope for a great ride but know we need some success to ensure our survival and as Fitzroy showed that must be a premiership not close. SO Im thinkin if Neeld is as good as I hope we can do anything Lets have the playing group showing that and not dropping off when they have some adversity. Rant over!

Great pics and especially good to see the one on one contests were we manning up better and not allowing loose man? Looked like not too many times we were 2 to 1 in the air so no loose man and even in the packs we seemed to always have one in for the ball with the rest waiting for release. Seemed a defensive set up rather than man on man as such as often it appeared that the saints were on one side of the scrimmage and we were on the other??

Thanks PF I hope someone at the club is monitoring these frees as it looks like it represents an extra player. and as you say where they are given can totally destroy the structure that you are creating. We have never seemed to get those 50/50 frees and often I see players from both sides uncertain this can also disrupt the structure from that stoppage and so we may ned to have a defensive stoppage tactic incorporated from the unexpected free or perhaps the proffesional free where we eliminate the 50/50 and make sure that there is a genuine stoppage.

It is a great question and I am sure we can all recognise it as such not only at MFC but at our local level and even in other sports. It is interesting to me as our local squash comp does a bit of manipulation of teams each season (an equalisation process) to ensure the contests are even at each level and overall. The best ranked no 1 is given the worst no2 and the best no5 etc. We quite obviously get it wrong some times as unexpected form or injury interferes BUT I have always stated that I like to be in the best average team as we can always spring the surprise and beat a better credentialed (ranked ) team as the competition gets more even. Particularly if you can improve your worst performer by a few points it can swing the momentum for the team. SO WHATS the bloody point????? I was especially interested that in the recent champion data we had 1 elite and only 3 below average. I dont think any other team matched us. It looked to me like we may have the best average team and therefore we can make a massive change with just a small improvement. Another thing is that team work can improve disposal if a team mate makes space or shepherds off so that the player with the ball is under less pressure or the player receiving the ball has a little more time to provide a target. An individual can do it - Jack Watts seems to be able to dispose but it may be his heightened awareness and quick reflexes not merely the fact that he may avoid those pressure situations.

Thanks for all that On the stats we presented well in every aspect but tackles and frees given the concentration on tackling and the apparent success at Renmark how did this difference manifest itself Also what were the type of frees, what part of ground etc.

The old "Data Continuum" Data is not Information Information is not Knowledge Knowledge is not Wisdom"

May have to revise thinking as Ted Baillieu "emerged' "ashen faced" "on Wednesday night" from"yet another special liberal party room meeting" Luckily not in the Vault and to date no claims from other teams players that Victoria was tanking. Caroline Wilson unlikely to be involved as matter requires some knowledge of reporting practices.

The more discussion the more I started to like it. Needs some modelling but I like it Its good to see that there is consideration of the permutations and it may be difficult but if it can help the competition to overcome the stench of losing as a "management" tool then it is probably even better. As an idea from Melbourne supporters I doubt wether the AFL would even consider it If we can get Eddie to agree it might fly.

I think I agree but also add that some of that creating space is by bullocking and making a space or shepherding as it used to be called to allow the player with the ball a little more time to dispose of accurately. The old second effort. Perhaps Jeordies disposal is what it is coz he doesnt always have that space and time created by someone else. And his tackling does make opponents dispose of more quickly than they like so it can be an offensive weapon. I have said before we dont need a team of Jonathan Browns and we dont want a team of Jeordies but his attributes can be a valuable part of the team operations.

Just read this after last post and as said appreciate your points/opinion is he a failed forward? yes at the moment as he is being played in defence but I recall Nietz was CHB before returning forward Is he timid? again harsh to use about any player who achieves AFL level I am sure he is not as timid as me. Hard and aggressive ? again not always as hard and aggressive as Jonathan Brown and many others but I have seen him contest and tackle and even take pack marks so there is some there. I understand your point about who you run out in a grand final with and to be honest Jack has not been placed anywhere near that cauldron. I wouldnt mind running out with Jack, knowing that he will get the ball and deliver it precisely, Knowing he can kick that goal, Knowing that he will make the right decision. Who knows the decision might be to die for that chance of victory when it actually occurs. But then death is a bit final and if an injury prevents a continued career I can be happy with timid.

Sorry BH I was a bit to certain with those comments. I should have not said always with Dunn but was trying to convey that I saw him as more competitive than many others and he did contest. Watts I should have said not a fault that diminishes all his other attributes. Trying to convey that there is more than a single feature to the game. I too do enjoy your contributions and value your comments and am happy that we watch footy very differently I think there is room for us all Just dont get me started on the umpiring.

I really didnt want to comment I saw a bit of Grinter and I thought he was as tough as his reputation . It was a different time and the game was played differently Brereton and Mathews were tough but thugs at time, I thought Grinter just played hard at the ball and was always prepared to be involved with niggling either offensively or defensively It would be interesting to get the thoughts of players at the time. Dunn I have seen and I thought was only tough by comparison to other Melb players. But he never avoided putting his body on the line Watts. What can I say? Hes a different style of player. I wouldnt call him soft (and I reckon its a bit simplistic and derogatory to use the word ticker) but he does try and avoid the heavy contacts, I dont see that as a fault if it allows him to win the footy and deliver it well, It may even be that the key to his kicking is a consequence of his avoiding the hard contact. He is part of the team and I reckon we need his style. We and I reckon no team needs a team of Dermot Breretons or even Jonathan Brown Obviously Watts isnt that yet and may never be We may have found one in Hogan and that will be fine if he has Watts feeding him.

An outstanding young man will have mongrel just disguised by a thin veneer of accepted respectability.