The Devil's Advocate

i hope so. i would be devastated.

I have heard a rumour (supposedly from the mouth of a StKilda director) that Frawley wants to go to St Kilda. Can somebody confirm that this is rubbish please!!!

If the current side are going to be any good (and i think they will be), it will be in 2-3 years - is Maloney going to be a big part of that? He will be 30-31 years old. Does he provide the persistent high work rate and defensive grunt that Neeld clearly expects of every player in the side? The answer to both questions is, at this stage, a big "no". Obviously we want to keep experienced, hard bodied players, but if he wants to leave, then good luck to him.

Watts first efforts are pretty good. But you do not get the feeling that he would move heaven and earth to win the footy if his first effort does not succeed. He does not seem to be able to impose himself on a game for sustained periods of time at critical junctures, although he clearly has the ability to do so. whether that is lack of spirit, maturity or experience is hard to tell. Only those really close to him would know.

A classic example of Neeld sending a strong message that the way things have been done in the past is not acceptable anymore. That includes inadequate responses to off-field indiscretions and the inadequate (or non-existent) defensive aspects to our game plan. I don't think we should under-estimate the complete overhaul that Neeld and co are trying to achieve at our Club.

Speaking of Club Culture, in the 1950s, Melbourne successfully lobbied the then VFL to create the father-son rule so it could recruit Ron Barrassi Jnr (who at that stage was not in its recruiting zone). The father-son rule was duly created and we got our man and went on to win 6 premierships with him a critical part of the side. It is that kind of attitude of ruthlessly doing everything that could be done to ensure success, including changing the rules, that surely contributed to Melbourne's golden era. Collingwood have been doing it recently with their facilities, aggressive recruiting and the Arizona camps. Since 1965, (when ironically we allowed Barassi go to carlton on bigger dollars and a coaching contract), we have simply not been that sort of Club. The recent moves to get Jack Viney and Mitch Clark are small steps back in the right direction. But Neeld et al.. have got a long way to go.

I think Neeld recognises that it is player driven - which explains the identity of the two captains. The fact that the club culture is player driven though does not absolve the coaching staff of the responsibility of providing programs to facilitate an elite culture. You get the sense that this is happening though.