Richmont

But its worth it for the success the geelong players feel yes? Can you imagine the geelong players wearing the Melbourne jumpers. I did, the joy, oh jesus the joy!

In the previous three weeks I have spent a significant amount of time trying to analyze why The Geelong Football Club is so professional in all parts of the game. Remember; three premierships and appearing in four in the previous seven years (*Counting the St Kilda v Collingwood finals in 2010 as 1 premiership). If you identify Geelong and really analyze what they have done to get where they are is simply astounding. They have a senior squad of players mixed with those who are inexperienced in games. Selwood, Bartel, Enright, Johnson are consistently leaders the team in experience and important to their team. Mix a large handful of young talented kids, 1 cup of each of the following ingredients: Mitch Duncan(28), Harry Taylor(17), Alan Christensen (40), Motlop (39), Taylor Hunt (49), Billie Smedts (15), George Horlin-Smith (37). The result; a team mixed with leaders and young men bought up in a culture of competing, putting yourself on the line, taking risks and competing for you spot should be thought of as a positive motivation. Granted, the public consider Geelongs recruiting to be perfectly executed. The irony is that besides those kids listed above few other picks have performed. They are a 'great' club because they have a embracing culture built around 'winning'. It has bought some hope to me regarding The Melbourne Football Club. The result depends on the patience we have as supporters. It makes sense for Melbourne to be competitive, its a must! The plan of action for the club needs to be 'winning'. Fighting with the attention of getting your hands on the ball, accepting risks and imperatively, ignoring the scoreboard. Build the culture from the ground up. The scoreboard should remain irrelevant for the following three years. No longer are you measured on your statistics but on your competitiveness, analyzed by tackles, who enters the pack first and stoppages. During these years you create a group of born leaders; Viney, Hogan, Tompass, Trengove, Grimes, Jones, Howe, Frawley. Once the team gets a regular feeling of being able to compete week to week and believing in themselves the next importance should be placed on recruiting. Of somewhat less importance is the draft picks. We know Sydney and Geelong have done well in the draft and have not required to bottom out. Recruitment structures need to be adapted to the likes of Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, but its miles away. We need to patient.

Yeah your right. Only 7 years of sh**, yeah 'easy'!

'Jack watts was sick....and subbed off for form' otherwise 'Jack is a [censored] weak player and should f**** off'

Neeld knows hes gone from his body laungage at the press conf!

West Coast, Fremantle (@ subi), Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney. Its going to be a longgggggg year

Clearly the players, staff, CEO have lost confidence. How long till this 'cancer' transferred to the supporters and sponcers? We have a right to leave the club in droves!

Sylvia & Jamar exceptions

Very true. I feel devastated for the players that love this club. Clearly Jones, Howe love this club and Jones 24 disposals tonight was amazing considering the circumstances. I feel for Hogan, why would anyone want to play for this team; even Viney im sure is thinking otherwise now. It would only be natural.

Im going to cop flack for this im sure and I dont write this mearly to create attention but its time this club looks at merging. 7 years this has been the case, the only people that can hold their heads up is Jones, Viney and Howe. If I were these players I would quit now. They shouldn't have to put up with it and will be drafted later this year. This club must now come to the realization merging is its only option and I say that cause we cant afford to recruit more players with more time and debt.

If the Dees fold I will follow the Hawks. Always been second team

Ron nothing would make me more pleased than to be able to feel unashamed when people ask which team I support. I would purchase my membership for the club immediately if I saw improvement. I am not expecting radical changes in this club in 6 months. I see the team finishing 14-17th this year and I couldn't care less where we finish on the ladder. I do expect to see effort - this is a non negotiable. I dont have time in my life to continually support this team if the individuals who play and thoes running the club are not 100% committed to winning and improving. But what I wont accept is putting myself through another 2012 season. I just cant. I cant continue to follow this club and get embroiled in the emotion of this club when its players refuse to do the most basic tasks. Granted, our list is sub AFL level and players cant necessarily help if they dont have elite skills - but tackling, pressure, following your opponent are all basic tasks that ANY player can follow. If our most loyal supporters ran out there each week there would be more loyalty to the team than what I watched of 21 players!

I have the upmost respect for Ron Burgundy however perhaps the alternative to my suggestion is to continue accepting mediocrity (at best). For we have wasted 6 years of coaches taking the club backwards. Thats the alternative!

Who seriously thinks more than 10% of our team can play. We will be flogged against Essendon. Jones, M. Jones, Viney and thats it!

Hit the nail on the head. Garry Lyon should NOT be involved ever again in a selection. Apart from Roos I have no idea who should/could coach but I do know Dermot Brereton should be involved in the club. He speaks very well and has come from a successful era of footy. I will not put up with this each week after week and now have lost 90% of interest in the team, club and AFL altogether over the last 7 years. If Neeld goes, its only fair the entire coaching staff are sacked too. Grimes looked completely out of depth at the press conference and it makes me ask the question, should this club have a captain? Too much pressure for any of our players to go through- inc Viney!

Neeld must go NOW. I dont care if people say to give him time he has provided us with nothing to date and he must be sent packing. I refuse to take out a MFC membership until I see results and if this means the club folds, well so be it. For 29 years, every year I have paid my membership and recently put up with mediocraty. The time has passed. I want to see Dunn, Nicholson, Sellar, Tapscott all delisted at EOY. I want to see Neeld gone as well as EVERY assistant coach at the club. I want Connolly gone and the CEO. Its time to start fresh. Until I see results I will not purchase my membership or attend any games. Again if the club folds because of lack of membership SO BE IT!

We all agree the club cant afford to continue like this. A possible merge might be the answer and I would rather see a merge than the club folding. This is what will happen. Agreed another 7 years we wont exist.

If it continues would it be the worst thing if the club folded?

First time poster so hi all. Would have loved to start this on a positive note however I had a feeling a loss was on the cards today and therefor was not surprised by the score. My main concern is looking long term. I have no doubt everyone here loves the club and wants to see it succeed however lets be honest, the long term prospects are very concerning. We have a team who plays very weak and timid, whether this be due to failures in drafting or coaching errors. The game plan appears to fail to stand up under Neeld however this is still a question which will take time to answer properly. Ultimately its about where we see the team improving, and this is the most damaging thought. The likes of Richmond, North Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney are teams full of young, promising talent who play as a 'team'. These teams will only improve over the coming years and while Richmond, North Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle have improvement to make, its GC and GWS that will provide major headaches for the future. Coming up against these two teams in 2-3 years time will be a massive challenge considering their crop of talent. The Melbourne Football Club have clearly failed to draft appropriately and this is why we are seeing no improvement now. Bate, Dunn, Newton, Petterd, Maric, Watts, Blease, Strauss, Gysberts, Tapscott, Cook were all considered top draft picks and have failed to live up to expectation. This does not include players drafted later each year. I think there will be tough times for this club going forward. I love the club but I am also ashamed to now be part of it. Since 2006 the club has gone backwards in ALL aspects of the club and I truly believe we will see a decade of a failing team. I question therefor is will the club survive this for another 7 years. I think not!