Deestar3

Two of the most insightful things I have read lately. Jack viney thinking the crowd was booing the umpires & realising it was actually the players that were being booed ( sad & embarrassing by supporters) & tod viney stating that jack watts does not have an "Agro" bent to his nature & may never. There are 22 players out there & not all of them are designed to do the same thing. I can live with the fact that he doesn't bash & crash the packs .....I would be happy to watch his sublime skills & delivery of the ball & reading of the play. I have seen glimpses of this .....I feel his confidence is slowly building & look forward to seeing him in a forward/maybe wing position surrounded by the likes of Dawes , Clark & hogan who do have the bodies to bash & crash the packs. After the likes of Evans ,tapscott,terlich in fact a host of others play their 50 odd games ....then I will make judgements. Until then there are a lot of players who simply have not had enough afl games to be judged so harshly. I was shell shocked at the beginning of the season and I know we are getting thrashed but I can't help it ....I am seeing some positives & do have a glimmer of hope

I totally agree with RalphusMaximus .......dont sack Neeld now. I believe he has the players .....if you were maybe at the game instead of watching on tv or listening on the radio ......so many of hawthorns goals were from our turnovers & bad decisions . That is caused in part by inexperience & lack of confidence. That turns around quickly with more game time, more time with each other & some of our experienced players back in the side. Replacing neeld may appease the ever voracious media & impatient supporters but will do nothing for the psyche of the players or the finances of the club. Unless someone of the quality of a paul roos or the like turns up tomorrow ....lets just get the off field part of the club right & let the rest of the season unfold. Funny we give coaches like malthouse, Thompson, Clarkson years to win a flag, but the afl is littered with coaches who never got the chance to see what they could do.

We go around in circles. No it is not heresy about the inherent problems of our club .... They are well documented & my comment does not need defending . You could not possibly in all honesty equate the problems of the mfc with the on field performance of the players & the coaching of mark neeld. I also agree with Jackson's comment that these problems can definitely be fixed but will take time. Time....that cliched word that no-one wants to hear.. It is somewhat symptomatic of our society ....instant gratification ....instant results! I am as despondent as you with our on field performances but until you can give me a viable solution to neeld's sacking & the benefits of a caretaker coach then I am prepared to back the coach. Jon Ralph, robbo etc arguments make no impression on me. They do not know....follow my club as I do ......they have papers to fill & readers to entertain !

Yes neeld is a second year coach but I would equate him more to hardwick than clarkson. It is not just neeld that would go but assistants & then the payout gets larger. Hardwick for example is in his 4th? Year...finished 12th in his last two years (&remembering GWS joined last year) & at this stage won't make the 8. However there has been massive kudos for richmond but I for one believe in two years with our list we will be well ahead of them. I don't want a caretaker....it achieves nothing ....& you have absolutely no proof that players will leave ....sponsors will drop off.....just doomsday & media hype. You cannot turn around a club like ours with all its inherent problems in 18 months. It unfortunately takes time. Until I categorically have proof that the players don't want him then I will support him. Hearing Daniel rich saying he will sign with bris even though there is no guarantee voss will be there ( he wants him to be there) but he believes in the club ....why not give our players the same credence. Just because you as a supporter is p**sed off does not mean the players or club are. Instead of continually bagging the club just give them the year

Can we just stop this captain debate. They were voted in by their peers.....end of story. They will cope ......lack of any pre-season is trengoves issue not the captaincy.... Grimes was just fine ....unfortunately injured. Lets just support them .... They will grow with the team & will not only be exceptional young men but great captains. It is such a pointless debate.....I don't understand the pointless waste of energy debating it......we have been told a million times by neeld ....in fancy every member of the coaching panel, the captains themselves, other players & board members the process & why they were appointed ...so let's put it to rest !!!!

What are your coaching credentials. We have a pretty credentialed coaching panel. Given, neeld is a first year coach ....but was a very experienced assistant coach .......can we really aspire to "armchair" coach better? Sometimes what we see on field .....which is extremely disappointing doesn't reflect what is going on behind the scenes. Why would we pay out probably close to a million dollars to get rid of the coach & assistants for a caretaker just to appease mainly a voracious media & the usual disgruntled supporters. I don't necessarily think neeld is the best person but am prepared to let him at least finish the year if not his tenure. History shows us that there will always be someone down the bottom & subject to ridicule etc. Agreed, melb has been there for awhile. However they are my team ...I will support them & I tend to believe that the players do support him & would be quite surprised if any leave. Steps have been taken by people far more experienced & attuned to what is happening than us. Let's give them time to implement them & let's stop bagging our club. Essendon have systematically injected their players with a cocktail of drugs (illegal or legal is a moot point) but their behaviour towards their players has been reprehensible .....however their supporter base has never been stronger. Our team is performing as most critics & indeed neeld warned us it would .....& we act as if it is a massive surprise. Come back to me when neeld is two years into HIS rebuild & I bet there will be a massive turnaround in supporter opinion.

NO........get a grip........stop being as " Jackson " said .... Reactive. Stop trying to always blame the coach or whoever.....the year has gone ......we have in a good CEO ......let's see what unfolds...

I missed the "bimbo" article ..... Let me say .....one of the most measured and articulate statements I have read. It has restored my faith that there are some supporters who have foresight. I agree wholeheartedly with all the sentiments that were written. Let's not look for instant gratification as is synonymous with today's society & have a bit of faith !

Maybe he has now developed body size & footy nous ...... Perhaps we should give some of our younger players the same time frame to develop.......

Do you have children? I hope not! To write off young men so early is quite frightening ! We exalt about the early 20's vfl players who were overlooked & then make it when they have mature bodies & minds & then write off 18 yr olds who haven't had a chance to prove themselves ????

Pffff.... Have you never not had a negative observation ! I will be looking for your pro toumpas posts in a year or so !!

Rivers has a suspect knee & ankle. However I was sorry to see him go as he was a genuine clubman. He said he was very sorry to leave the demons ( you can bank that comment from last weekend as 100% accurate) however the rest of the delistings ...couldn't care less... Mooney included !

I read but do not post on this site.....however the extreme arrogance of this thread takes one's breath away. Do you ever stop to think that just maybe your perception of the coach & his relationship with the playing group is just that ....perception. There are 40 odd players on a list & you will never keep everyone completely happy but in my "perception" I think the players in general have absolutely no problems with the coach or what he is trying to achieve. That is ....turn this club into a professional afl club &the players professional afl players. He will get there....no doubt about it & maybe you should respect the 18 months or so that he has been in the job....support the exciting changes he will bring.....watch the development of our younger players.......don't expect stars after a couple of pre-seasons....& get around the players. I am not forgiving of those losses any more than any other supporter but I won't be a keyboard coward & take the soft option.....bag the coach & players. If after his tenure it has obviously not worked .....then we move on......but I have extreme confidence this will not be the case. We were behind the league in terms of fitness, work ethic etc... Fact not blaming bailey etc ....just fact. Respect neeld, Craig, mission, a pretty astute & experienced coaching team & don't be so arrogant as to suggest that your opinions are fact .......you couldn't be further from the truth. Just support your team positively for once

We have a group of young players we will build a side around - we have a group of senior players refusing to carry out the coaches gameplan. We will be very active at the end of the year come trade time. I for one am happy to have a training / teaching / sorting out the crap we don't need year and use this time to set the foundations for a tough uncompromising club for years ahead. We do have talented youngsters - they quite simply need time & a couple of pre-seasons. I can't quite believe the hysteria surrounding Neeld 8 games into the season. The blame lies entirely with the selfish egotistical group of senior players that are finally being called to account by an uncompromising coach. We all get disappointed & upset - but berating a junior group of players is unfair and I'll-informed. If we were 18months into Neeld's tenure - a lot of the negative comments could be justified but jumping on the media hysteria which is nowadays like a reality tv show beggars belief.