TGR

I hope Spencer makes it, but we can't keep giving away 2 goals a game. On topic, Frawley's decision making and execution doesn't warrant hanging out for elite money; but I guess the market is the market. Looks fit, but gets more kudos than he deserves week-in, week-out. Scully will be more of a loss, if Frawley does go IMO. Other than Edwards' misses, Richmond were pathetic (and we made them look that way in many respects). They weren't far off full strength; whereas we were so far from it. Our turnovers gave them at least a third of the their goals. Loved the fact we didn't bomb high and long to the boundary. Was sick of it after Neeldy's 3rd game. Just hope our supporters stay smart and patient with our sometimes backward, slow steady and hopefully composed ball movement. I don't want to hear a thousand "just kick it long" screams by simpletons at the G this year. Our best win since the often mentioned Sydney draw.

Amazing how they do all this profiling, all this psych testing, but a basic such as "OK Mark, you are the Coach, this is a scenario.....we are the players....what are you going to say?" is considered so basic and so junior, it would never be asked....probably for good reason. Problem is, that Neeldy would have struggled to pull it off unless he quoted Kennedy. Can't believe some are even comparing Bailey with Neeld. One of them you wouldn't mind coaching your son; the other you would be sitting in your car with your phone (speed dial DHS) in one hand, and in the other, an elephant tranquilizer ready to go. God, imagine if they ate his lollies! Under 9 banner "Hunt with speed".

Skills-under-pressure and work ethic = ability to hold the ball for long period of time in possession. Interesting to see if Roos' Melbourne suddenly acquire this ability.

As stated by others, Roos never rated the NAB cup. Like always, it won't be the scoreboard that pleases him or displeases him. I think he will be looking at our: clearance work, 2-way running and decisions&skills-under-pressure. Howzat for stripping it to the bare essentials. Others might have included "structures" or "shape" if we are talking cricket.

Agree….some of us were calling for a cultural overhaul and quasi-revolution more than a decade ago. But, Neeld was one of the few that sent us backwards years in some areas. Go look at the rejects the guy recruited for one. On the other hand, Roos credits him with getting some basic standards up from poor to just OK. On the whole Neeld left this place is a worse position. Furthermore, several players look like they would have ran out the door had he stayed.

His biggest issue was his body; pure and simple. If it was OK, he's still be captain…with Grimes. Anyone out of the Essendon scene, that contemplated borderline medicines must have been in a bad way.

The fact that the Roos-Jackson duo appointed Grimes co-captain, and the chronically injured Trengove in the LG, in many ways, vindicates the Neeld decision a couple of years ago. I strongly disagree with Nathan Jones as captain, but the duo have runs on the board, and so I'll let it be for now. Interesting that Brock McLean makes Carlton's LG BTW.

Can't be N.Jones surely. Grimes or Garland perhaps...but no standout Roos might pick 4 frigging captains...who knows. Viney must be in the LG IMO. If not, it aint a LG in my book.

Pendlebury is a good comparison, but surely Pendlebury's sidewards agility is grades above. As for the victim of poor development? While I think Neeld treated him appallingly (subbing Essendon game 2013), hunger for the pill should be so intrinsic that it can't be taught or erased. Personally, I can't see Watts the midfielder. I want to see it, but I can't. I know Roos is trying to emulate the Freo midfield giants (Mundy, Fyfe etc..), but I can't see how Watts can be the transitioned into the midfield. I really wonder whether Roos knows this (Watts midfield) will work. The good thing is it won't do him any harm trying. His engine will be better. His body will be more hardened and his tackling intensity etc. will be better. But he will end up forward; he is a natural; and he is the guy I want having 8 shots at the big sticks come GF day 2018.

David King was one of the few commentators to put his balls on the line early and call for his sacking in 2012…for memory. School kids better come with the right coloured laces to training from now on; is my tip. Also, the canteen better have David King bring Neeldy the mandatory 10 lollies in the coaches tent.

Since the Ross Lyon era in particular, the defensive attributes have been emphasised by most. This is also backed up by the fact that most teams with a low against, win the thing. However this objective you raise (receiver being at full tilt) is so vitally important, and yet is dwarfed by the "defensive" mantra of commentary and the SEN sub-elite. This objective is an area where we have clearly failed in our history, and went backwards under Neeld. The targets were basically lead-footed. Even Matthew Knights had his Essendon receivers (Dempsey, Lovett-Murray) running at full tilt. First you need an engine and a work ethic. Second, the giver needs to quickly spot the ideal potential receiver. The midfield of Cross, Vince, Tyson, Trengove etc... wouldn't break any records for first 5-10 metres surely; so they more than most need to dish-off quick, or receive at top speed. Again, most of the commentators and SEN sub-elite have labelled Roos a "defensive" coach. I'm looking forward to his much underrated influence on our offensive structures and patterns. The guy is a genius at maximising our strengths, minimising our weaknesses....and vice versa for the opposition.

Irony is that Daniel Cross is probably a worse kick than Godfrey. Always looks to dish off by hand after a mark etc. No confidence in his kicking at all. On par with Spencer in his first 1-2 years of league footy. Having said that, we had to do everything to get our midfield up from e-grade to c+/b-. When Cross has the ball in a stop play situation, look for 2 teammates to stream past with for the gimme; also look for a few players to spread to clear space (even behind the ball); because Cross won't back himself to find a needle in a haystack by foot. Roos will not let him go by foot to the corridor, as the turnover will be costly. But one good thing about the MFC forward line of 2014 with Clark/Dawes/Hogan/Howe, is that Cross might be one of a few players allowed a "bomb entry".

I'll go absolutely he if Viney aint in the leadership group. He trains like a captain, eats like a captain, talks like a captain, hates losing like a captain, shows the persistance of a captain, shows the committement of a captain.... and because of a so called failed experiment, "son your too young to be in the leadership group". Christ, he is the first person who should be in the LG. TGR

McLardy, CC, Guest. Judgement issues. Apparently smelt like a Ponzi scheme a mile away. We could have had Vlahos on the board in the Neeld error.

I am glad you mentioned Ray McLean, as Roos often refers to him as the spark when they had a chance meeting at an airport 10 or so years ago. Leading Teams leaves a sour taste in my mouth over the Akermanis bulldogs debacle. Here, the most boring sporting team in Australia, was trying to tell this guy to stop doing something remotely interesting like a frigging handstand after a game. Was that LT philosophy? Or was that small-mindedness from Eade, Brad Johnson, and Smorgon?

Had a very little bit to do with Greg in the past in relation to kids footy. Although his AFL knowledge and experience is obviously considerable, many parents wouldn't have even known he was "Greg the ex-footballer". He keeps his ego parked at home, and allows us with lesser knowledge to coach etc...uninterrupted. Unlike Jolly, this guy won't cause a scintilla of trouble. Like Jolly, he crept forward a bit to sneak a goal or two. Again, Roos/Stone obviously sanctioned this; and with that alone, you can't complain. Tick from me.

It was easy to predict that Tami Roos would be taking this. TGR circa 2000's would have called this psychobabble. The Paul Roos mantra is about honesty, integrity and openess. He has runs on the board. Am I doing cartwheels because we are meditating? Probably not. But am I satisfied that he is investing everything into this gig? Unquestionably.

Neale Daniher would never have had the guts to do what Buckley did. Jolly was no.1 ruck at Collingwood by reputation only. Brodie Grundy was an emerging gun. Had a dip....was mobile....2nd, 3rd, 4th efforts then more! Buckley rewarded Grundy. I reckon Buckley did the right thing. Granted though, Buckley's people skills and EQ aren't obviously flash. The Jolly article about Fraser was always going to have consequences. Ol' valium Fraser had deep roots at Collingwood. When he slagged off at Fraser, which I think was actually fair in context, he peed off many ex-teammates and officials etc. The writing was on the wall then in some way. Daisy Thomas came out publicly immediately and bagged Jolly in the press. To sum it all up, any club could have taken Jolly cheaply. FCS he would have been better than Jamar and Neville Jetta combined in 2014. But we have Jamar, who is virtually clogging the list....so our hands are tied. The fact that no club took Jolly vindicates Buckley again... in my opinion. Nathan Buckley, as assistant coach when Jolly arrived, pulled big Darren aside straight away. Buckley wanted to know about the Paul Roos aura. What made him a good coach. What did he do in certain circumstances.. How did he react to things. Buckley organised a coffee with him, and all he drilled Jolly on was Paul Roos. Bux has been under Tony Shaw, Malthouse etc.... but he has one idol in the coaching caper. The sundance kid. TGR

My concept (I didn't invent it, but brought it up in ology a few years ago) of retrospective drafting answers all of this stuff eventually. Wines would go earlier than Toomp after round 1 2013.....right through to now. Unless of course Toomp is training the house down and has stopped running like Donald Duck. I will give Toomp this though: his delivery is A-grade. pTGR

I have held Roos in the highest regard since 2004. I think this is a flat-out error of judgement. You can't make a leather purse out a a sow's hearse, as I say...now. But if anyone can do it, Roos can. I just thought it made more sense to work his magic on someone raw with some guts and speed for example. This may be the only time I'd ever be able to say to PR, "I told you so".

If you took off you rose-coloured glasses, and stopped clapping so loud, you might have heard the negative doomday forecasts about Cale.

No I don't have to think; I know. The good judges rated this guy before his 10th game. Case long closed.

Fair dinkum, you guys are like the drunk SEN phone caller saying "he shoulda been in the all-Australian". Problem is he has mentioned 35 names. Tell me Redleg; tell me Courtney, who the hell would have you picked then? It is easy to say "they were too young"...."it wrecked their careers"...."Neeld was bonkers".... The hard thing is to actually back it up with who you thought should have got the gig instead. Trengove and Grimes were the best of a bad lot.

Can you tell the posters of this thread that they are contributing to a thread with no point. You will be generously saving them a lot of time. In fact, can we commission you to go through every thread and sum it up in a "3 word slogan" so that all we have to do is read your Herald Sun headline.

I can't be stuffed googling you anymore; so tell me "Who did you pick for captain then....at the time?" Pretty sure I picked JT. Plenty out there that poo on the decision; but I hardly hear their logical choice of captain at THE time.