Neeld Help

Dawes was overrated in the good times at Collingwood and then underrated and heavily criticized this year. Typical of Collingwood and the media hype that surrounds them. At some point this year the media jumped on his every mistake. He has played a role at Collingwood this year that no one has ever successfully done, Ruck and CHF. He was undersized in the ruck and had the demanding role of bi locking and dishing off the to smalls and running players. In other words, either badly coached, or that just decided to use his body. My feeling is badly coached. I would use him an a fair more aggressive way at Melbourne. Let him attack and take the game on.

Says more about Aaron Greaves than Bate to me.

Ta Biff, it was irritation that drove me to post an edited version of how I've felt felt this weekend.

It's time MELB supporters turned on other teams duds. Here goes, Natanui is a pea heart who has no decision making and can't kick, Schuey , pea heart, Darling no big deal. That should take care of the three West Coast players Who have been rapt on here over the year. as for the coach Worsfold, no idea either. Do you want me to start on Ross Lyon and Fremantle. Another dud. I've never seen a bigger opportunity for MELB players to get behind the coach, get fit, get faster, work on quick hands and decision making, stay tight and each just might be easier than they imagine to jump over the two pretender sides that lost this weekend.

I have posted before that's I think Frawley up forward is worth a look in pre season. Has pace on a lead, good hands and knows how to apply pressure when needed.

Correction to spelling. Steve O'Dwyer, and of course Jim Stynes. Got a bit carried away with Big Jake.

The only time I have every really thought Melbourne were respected and feared was when we had Big Steve Dwyer and Jim Synes in tandem. Spencer has heart and a passion to be out there playing for The Demons and a big man with heart will carry a lot of other blokes along. Someday enough blokes like Jake will twig that they can be the blokes to drag Melbourne out of the wilderness. In other words the blokes who bring home a flag will always be remembered. Stick it up em Big Jake""""""

Never forget Paul Gardner spoke to interested members at the Bentleigh Club years ago in the depths of another period of Club despair. Amusingly the talk that night centered around the need to get a young Matthew Bate into the senior team. At any rate after a stage managed talk Grdner retired to the bar and invited members to join him. Once there he surrounded himself with a group of heavies....that's fat blokes as opposed to the other type of heavies, had a few quick drinks and was gone. Never impressed me from the time he said it was more important to go on some hiking trek than fulfill his Presidential duties. Another Melbourne lightweight.

I'd like to be sitting in the room when the following accusation is made. Did you deliberately move Matthew Warnock to Full Forward and Paul Johnson to Full Back with the intention of losing the game?. Open and shut case except for the fact you could build a wall, similar to the Great Wall of China made up of Warnock and Johnson look a likes and we'd still lose.

Im no legal man but would describe McLean as a discredited witness. Love to hear him explain his actions fully and tells us when Carlton approached him.

One question for Brock, what sort of name is that, McLean. When were you approached by Carlton, before or after the tanking. As for the tanking itself. How dare pompous officials make those sort of decisions.

I know we are all depressed and anxious for change but I say lay off Cook, how in the he'll is he a scapegoat for the dismal efforts of administrators, recruiters, coaches and players at MFC. He's a second year player. Tell me one moment of his apprenticeship when a senior player has taken him under their wing and helped him develop his game. Let him run with Clark in the preseason and see whats needed at the top level.

Midway through the third quarter commentary went like this. Sellers to Rivers to MacDonald to Bail to........Kangas Could just as easily been Rivers to MacDonald to Bail to Sellars to.......... Kangas OR, anyway you know what I mean.

I thought by training report you meant match review.

Interested to get views on Our Best 18. For the first time in 50 odd years I can't pick one.

Can't helping wondering if Scully would be a far better player now if he had committed to Melbourne in a professional way from the start. He has lost 2 years of development since his first year. I remain bewildered that Melbourne never did due diligence on him and his family. I have never believed in the chorus line of recruiters who all agree on the order of first picks.

Re Cook/Fitzpatrick The argument Leigh Brown makes in regard to Cook and Fitzpatrick is that they couldnt run out a game. Why then dont they give Cook a taste by using him as a sub. By then the heats off the game and there would be great upside for his confidence and the supporters if he bagged a few.

Thanks Methuselah for setting me straight.

Hey Left Field. I was taught to not try and talk sense with a fool, but here goes. Tell me a Melbourne forward, Clarke aside, who works as hard as Chris Dawes for his team and teammates. How would I know that without being a Collingwood secret agent. Simple really. I have watched Collingwood play in the past three finals series where Chris Dawes has been involved. What in the he'll would make you start thinking about players you are glad we never got,,,

Well, that's right why would we need a quality young man who puts his body on the line every week, follows coaches instructions and plays a selfless game for the sake of the team good. Spare me from our own supporters.

We attack, that's what we do for once this season. Throw Watts forward, bring Cook in while Greens still around to show him where to run. Kick the ball long and fast to space. Argue all you like but I bet we wouldnt lose by as much as we might with Neelds game plan.

Surely it's not a question of how many, rather hard nosed decisions based on the players past performances and potential upside. On the issue of upside a great many players have none for reasons already well documented, ie, Bate, Dunn etc etc. Others have either been badly coached or have inflated opinions of themselves and their skill levels, ie Morton. Some are needing an inspiring coach to exploit their potential such as Blease, Watts and Cook. My reservation on Neeld at this point is he hasn't given them licence in any game I know of to play with freedom and flair. I suspect he had poor knowledge and respect for Melbourne list prior to coming and has never coached a game for the club where players have trotted their offensive stuff.

I think it coming to the point where it's fair to have an opinion of Mark Neeld. So I suggest 2 criteria for discussion. 1. Who has he inspired to individually improve any area of their game 2. Who has improved in there understanding of his game plan.

Like people views. Do we ? A). Give Scully a mouthful each time he gets the ball. B). Say nothing at all. For mine the jury will be out for a long time on how good a player he will be. He achieved nothing at MFC and has gone downhill from there this year with GWS.

Just wondering if anyone knows the name of Cook's father. A Michael Cook played in the 75 finals series for Hawthorn. He had a brother, Robert who was a footballing freak in junior footy at that time. He was the same height and build, a phenomenal mark and could kick goals from 60 metres out in under 15s. He played a few games for Hawthorn reserves kicking a few bags and then drifted away.