diesel

Sam Blease rumour Started by Norm Smith's Curse I think the title of the thread says it all!

Anyone who fears that Neeld is too tough or inflexible is deluded in what it takes to succeed at the very top level. Perhaps you can feel good and meander along in some organisations but I guarantee these aren't organisations at the cutting edge and leading in their respective fields, be they business, sport or anything else. Why would Neeld need to be flexible or accommodating in his approach when it comes to what he demands of players, how to perform or their commitment to the game plan? By saying he should is really just saying that the tail should wag the dog. Doesn't work that way I'm sorry! As far as I'm concerned Dean Baileys tenure at the MFC was an abject failure marked most notably by his inability to get the senior players at the club to lead on-field. A couple of promising performances did not give me the impression he would ever deliver the game plan or work ethic to win finals. Some of our wins last year IMO were actually the most ordinary wins I have ever seen from the club, against Brisbane and GC twice.

In isolation that is just a flippant and stupid statement. Ben Hudson is 33. In isolation yesterday we are paying overs for Clarke but I don't expect our midfield and game plan to remain as incompetent in getting the ball to Clarke as they were yesterday. If Clarke were to prove not to be the answer as a KPF then he'll have to move to the ruck and on Jamars performance yesterday he could move to Casey or take the money at the end of the year. At the end of the year Hudson will be on an AFLPA pension.

Today was simply the worst effort by this footy club imaginable. No need to even single out players. Evidence so far is that Neeld & Co identified one glaringly obvious deficiency in the post season, which is that we have possibly the worst mids in the comp. Thanks James Magner! The first quarter showed glimpses of the right mind set but after that we were just soft. No spread, no gut running, no one putting there head over the pill. As with Hawthorn a few weeks back we had no composure when we had possession of the footy. If 'bomb it to the boundary' is the new game plan in its infancy it wont make it past pre-school.

I would love for us to sign our presence at games but this singing a song thing just doesn't work in AFL in my opinion. Even more so down tempo songs like the two suggested. Don't get me wrong, it's a worthy topic and great discussion but I don't see a song working. AFL doesn't have the down periods/lulls like Soccer.

Samsara, to add to CFH comments general admission will also allow you to sit on the bottom level of the G behind the cheer squads (ours at the Punt Road end for home games) and also towards the pockets. I have occasionally sat on the bottom level of the Olympic Stand when I've taken friends and not been able to use my reserved seat. I suppose it's a matter of if you want to sit up high or not?

It was the case that the club didn't convey to Junior that he wouldn't play on in 2011. That was the only error. They were right to retire him. He was apparently genuinely surprised when told it was over but I'm not sure he should have been based on what was going on. Certainly Cam Bruce wasn't waiting around to see the clubs future direction!

This for me is the essence of what I'd like to see from Jack in the future. There was one kick which came in his direction at one stage last night and fell into space with about 4 players converging. Jack toe poked it out on the half volley which for me looked odd and I'm not sure if he wanted to go at it head first, but had he I reckon he may have won a free?

Hallelujah to that! Standard was very good, it was a close contest and it was good win By Casey even if they had a few more Melbourne listed players on the park. Williamstown are a flag favourite and they really were outplayed when it mattered. Raspberries to the AFL, their split round and single game slopfest. I can understand them wanting all the media attention in Sydney but I'm in Melbourne so this game for me was a non-event and of no interest. Perhaps it's the fact I'm a club watcher, not a game watcher. Much to like about the games of some MFC players last night and it is predictable that the focus of attention is Watts. His game was solid without being spectacular. The overhead snap through traffic even missing would have had some commentators jubilating had it been pulled off by a 7 foot Fijian. Simple fact is that Watts does not have the agro, pack crashing body or mentality as yet. Hopefully it comes soon and people will get off is back. Just a comment on the way Casey played yesterday. There are signs that it is closely aligned to the way Melbourne has in pre-season. They moved the ball mainly up the wings and with success. Switches were quick as well as most F50 entries. It wasn't just a case of bombing it in but there were occasions when it worked such as with Watts one out. Casey were also able to mount some good attack from turnovers through the centre where Willy preferred to run.

Great post Mono. You should send that to Caro and ask her if she actually has an opinion on it, or is she content to be a mouthpiece for the AFL and Collingwood on the subject integrity and how they interpret it?

If I understand this correctly Collingwood are really cheesed of about us getting Neeld and it may have cost them a flag? ROFL Perhaps if they had a proper selection process at their own club for their next senior coach instead of giving the gig thier pres's mate their assistants wouldn't have to go elsewhere?

At the end of this sad day I glance at the clock prior to calling it a night and the time? 11:11

I met Jim for the first time and stood alongside him shortly after he became Pres during the 150th birthday photo on the MCG in 2008. Jim got a lot of well wishes that day and had Matisse with him. She looked up at her Dad and said "everyone loves you!" I hope his family and friends are feeling this love today.

Really can't fathom how bad we've been the last 2 weeks. Hoping it has something to do with training loads, learning a new structure, team balance/rotations, etc. It is ridiculous to say that the list rebuild is now defined as rubbish. Think I'll take a break from it for the next 2 weeks until round 1. Absolutely nothing to be gained from being around here.

At least no one will now bother whinging about the commencement dinner or the lack of an FOJ sponsor

I've actually had to turn off....also in part because Melbourne are insipid, but the commentary is bordering on hysterical. You would think you were listening to the Grand Final not a practice match! As a Melbourne supporter you just get nothing out of it.

Please note that he also had a good pre-season last year and there wasn't much else after that. There was definitely something with this bloke though, he is very good by foot. I was disapointed he left/wanted out but really he hadn't nailed a spot and I don't think he has the makings of a finals type player. No great loss.

I don't disgree with your sentiments but I would very careful of using that HS top 50 a measuring stick. It is one mans assessment/bias and IMO has been based in the past more on a prediction of where players and their teams are going. If Nick Nat is in it that would be an exampe because he is not in the top 50 players right now either. On Jack and what's been written/said I think any supporter who wants to consistently leap to his defence needs to take off the rose coloured glasses. The murmurs are turning into a roar. A No. 1 pick is a substantial investment and it needs ot pay off or it will reflect poorly not only on Jack W but the whole club.

She has a direct quote from someone inside the AFL in the article. I would have thought this was an AFL driven thing. Seems to fit in with all the talk around at the moment of reducing the influence of conditioning and football development staff. The last line of her article is typical of Caro's style to throw in some historical content so something can be read into it that actually isn't there!

Get a grip! He's been put out there by the cub. Would have thought anyone paying attention to current issues and media protocols would know this? He is still a senior player and he can actually speak, in fact spoke well today.

If you want to lay the blame with anyone it's with Eddie. He is the one who who knows the protocols. He is the one who did what he did for purely selfish (media) reasons. The other 2 blokes I continue to believe have nothing but Liam's interests at heart and because he is a Melbourne player the footy clubs interests are parallel. I think you should pull-up a little. As I indicated, the club needs to quickly sort it out.

This doesn't seem to be playing out well at all. Needs clean air, someONE to take charge and agenda pedallars like McGuire swept from the scene. It has seemed up until now that the club has had a good handle on the issues facing Liam but I think it's now time to get him in and draw a line!

I agree, why is this bloke who is allegedly one the fastest ever recruits over 20 metres never on a hard lead? Contested marks look great and granted, he has snared a few, but there is so much missing.

Are you suggesting a minder would have steered him away from his family obligations? Paternalism doesn't work in Aboriginal communities. More than 200 years of dealing with their culture has told us this much.

What a ridiculous argument "Regardless of any explanation" and you admit you know nothing of his situation but you're happy to cut him loose! Like most others I'm far from happy about what's happened at that someone was seriously hurt, but at what point do we stop the cycle of embracing the Aboriginal community and then opportunely cut it off when we don't like confronting complex, ingrained problems. Simply, we should be trying to be part of the solution, not trying to wash our hands of it.