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This is not a thread to advocate that Neil become coach in any way, shape or form. I would like to salute Neil in the way he has carried himself in extremely difficult circumstances. Sure, at times he has made some moves that have been puzzling but during this time, he has been honest, open and acted with the utmost integrity. He may not get the job next year (sounds like Paul Roos is getting more likely as we go along) but he has impressed me tremendously and I would love to see him stay on as a development coach next year.

Neil Craig is an impressive Human. Upon stepping into his new role he as approached and discussed everything with energy, knowledge and visible heart. The man has a heart as big as Phar Lap. The players obviously really appreciate him. In saying that I honestly don't know whether he's the man to take the team onwards or not. If we go in another direction Craig will most likely go. It's quite a disappointing state of affairs, and one worth noting i feel.

TPM posted very early in Neeld's tenure that his appointment was Dennis Jones all over again. Jones was a similar mistake some 36 years ago. After this Big Carl took the reins and immediately looked fearsome. Neeld for all his big talk was certainly no Big Carl. Lots of talk about the hardest team to play against but sadly we quickly became the opposite. I was nailed to the cross by most in Demonland for simply pointing out obvious selection blunders, recruiting blunders and various strategic blunders. Blunder after blunder. Why couldn't anyone here(apart from Tonatopia) see this? Just interested? What were you guy's thinking? Does anyone concede this very same problem has existed in the Melbourne FC hierarchy since 1965? Failure to see the bl oody obvious? After Brisbane round one last year, the stagnant game pattern, hit the boundary at all costs mimicking Collingwood's Style. IMO most in this forum just couldn't bring themselves to believe it.The great white hope! Mark Neeld. Some 75% here even demanded Neeld was the man to revive MFC similar to many whites in Jack Johnson's era who tried to invent someone to topple the Galveston Giant. "Neeld is the man to revive Melbourne back to it's glory years." The Posts defending Neeld just kept coming. Melbourne kept on losing and the margins became larger. Melbourne not only kept losing by large margins but it was the lack of any method, strategies heart that made us appear somewhat soulless. Neeld had no punch or zip. After match conferences were senseless. Pre game addresses lacked fire. They seemed scripted, boring and school teacher like. To the contrary players ran out onto the ground revved down not up. Tonatopia and TPM stood firm and waded through the various topics heaping praise on Neeld for doing what "needed to be done". Sellar, Gillies, Pederson, Rodan, Byrnes will all make way for future Melbourne stars next year. Sylvia, Hogan, Clark/Dawes, Toumpass, Viney, Watts, Blease, Gawn, taggert, Clisby, Frawley, Howe, Terlich, the Jones boys, Trengrove,Mac donald Grimes and Garland will form a potent force as early as next year with the right Coach and Administration. Neeld had to go just like Dennis. Dennis at least won 5 games in his first and only season. Good luck to Neil Craig instilling some confidence back into boys. Am tipping to fire up V Bullies and pull off un upset.

During the standard post-match Press Conference, the hot question of Jack Watts was whether he wants to stay at the battling club and the young man answered in the affirmative, pointing out that after being apart of the poor form the club has produced he wants to be around his mates when it all turns around - hopefully sooner rather than later. The source of that question attempted to ask a rejoinder, and interim Head Coach Neil Craig interjected: "It is up to the Melbourne Footy Club to provide an environment for players like Jack who are coming out of contract to want to stay. That's part of our responsibility," said Craig in a matter of fact way that is a departure from the usual spiel about 'hoping' players stay for they are good players, and resting the world on their shoulders by intimating the club's future is tied to their presence. "It's the responsibility of the Melbourne Footy Club to get its act in order, to provide an environment, so that when people come to the MFC, whether it be a player or an employee, they have an absolute belief they will be able to be the best they can possibly be," Craig stated with thundering authority. Craig concluded his remarks by saying "that's just part of our responsibility, so that when it comes (players) signing or re-signing - it just becomes a no-brainer. We need to accept that responsibility." Whether the club embraces this notion is to be seen. It has long put its faith and hope into young players and placed the denouement of whichever rebuild - the first, second, or third - over the last few years in the hands of boys full of potential and promise - deposed President claimed the 18 year old prodigy Jesse Hogan, playing VFL currently, as the salvation from the despairs of earlier this season. Hopefully, the club listens to The Craig Principle and stops looking for salvation in its players, but looks to offer them an environment they know will get the most Demonic performance out of them. Then that hot question will never have to be asked. rpfc (Thought I would do some journalism; lots of journalist these days but not much journalism.)

Well, here we are. Amidst the doom of the season we still must admit that the off-season recruitment of established names in footy development is a pleasing aspect to the Neeld era. My concern is that many on here don't realise, or refuse to acknowledge, the need to let the more talented, if poor in performance and less mature in body, to have the time to use the expertise of Craig and Misson to turn their fortunes around. There are no promises in this game but Morton, Watts, Bennell, and Bail are a few names that given the right advice can transform their bodies and give themselves a chance to succeed at this level. And remember that this doesn't occur overnight - it is a project that takes a few years. Do we still wish to delist Bennell? Do we still want to trade Morton? List management decisions must be made I believe, with an eye to the new development dynamic. I will admit this thread is a reaction to seeing Morton called a dud this morning - not on what he has done this season, but because of the previous dynamic that was not conducive to getting the best out of players.