How do you fix Melbourne?

[Demonic Ascent]

Don't think Junior was a good call. If the captain wants another year, you give it to him - especially if his potential replacement is another hack draftee. Would've kept Bruce around on a new contract on reflection too, and White could've taken another year. This club is expert at fracturing relationships. Whitey's kids are GC supporters, because he doesn't really need to tell them otherwise does he?

McDonald spent 6 weeks on the sideline with a hamstring injury. In hindsight it may have been worth keeping him on another year but at the time the decision was correct.

The Bruce decision was proven correct after he had to hang up the boots half way through last year.

If White's kids go for GC that is because he is a sook rather than any fault on MFC's part. We gave him complete control of the ruck for 10 years giving barely 5 minutes a quarter to guys like Jolly or Jamar to develop yet he still wants to hold a grudge?

All those players mentioned were expert at self-preservation and dominating against weak opposition yet went missing as soon as any heat was applied which is the "culture" Neeld is going about trying to change. With the exception of a couple like Whelan or Neitz the Daniher years were "bruise-free" thanks to guys like White, Yze & Bruce, definitely not the kind of role models you want to be setting the example for the kids.

 

[Papa G]

Never seek or take any advice/help from Garry Lyon.

 

[fushy]

Have been staying up late and reading demonland striker?



bad boy.

 

[Tulip]

McDonald spent 6 weeks on the sideline with a hamstring injury. In hindsight it may have been worth keeping him on another year but at the time the decision was correct.

The Bruce decision was proven correct after he had to hang up the boots half way through last year.

If White's kids go for GC that is because he is a sook rather than any fault on MFC's part. We gave him complete control of the ruck for 10 years giving barely 5 minutes a quarter to guys like Jolly or Jamar to develop yet he still wants to hold a grudge?

All those players mentioned were expert at self-preservation and dominating against weak opposition yet went missing as soon as any heat was applied which is the "culture" Neeld is going about trying to change. With the exception of a couple like Whelan or Neitz the Daniher years were "bruise-free" thanks to guys like White, Yze & Bruce, definitely not the kind of role models you want to be setting the example for the kids.

I would have agreed with you, and have agreed with you, in the past: But look at our last 5 or 6 years. I pine for the days of Daniher's 'bruise-free' football. There are some Dees supporters that have such an entitlement and checkered view of the game that the club will never improve. It all goes back to Norm in 65, this club has never learnt from its mistakes and it's going to take a bit more than some tough words from Mark Neeld and Neil Craig to convince me that we're headed in the right direction.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

I would have agreed with you, and have agreed with you, in the past: But look at our last 5 or 6 years. I pine for the days of Daniher's 'bruise-free' football. There are some Dees supporters that have such an entitlement and checkered view of the game that the club will never improve. It all goes back to Norm in 65, this club has never learnt from its mistakes and it's going to take a bit more than some tough words from Mark Neeld and Neil Craig to convince me that we're headed in the right direction.

It's not just tough words, it's recruiting the right players and developing a TEAM.

Baldur hit the nail on the head earlier in the thread, we seem to keep looking for the next messiah to drag the club along with them instead of developing a hard-nosed team.

Talented players will not fix Melbourne. It attitude that Melbourne needs. From the outside looking in it appears that Melbourne has been waiting for the messiah star player who will change their fortunes. Champion teams are just that, TEAMS.

By the way I loved watching the Daniher teams as well - SOMETIMES. After the 2000 GF it was evident we wouldn't win a flag playing that type of footy even though 2004 gave us some fleeting hope. You won't in September playing April footy though.

 

[Old Shinboner]

Never seek or take any advice/help from Garry Lyon.

^ This.

 

[final fight]

With restrictions like the draft and salary cap in place I'm afraid your stuck at the foot of the table for the next 5-7 years.

 

[Stromageddon]

The thing with Melbourne is that they have been fairly average for so long that people aren't willing to spend even more time trying to rebuild properly, looking for quick fixes. Luckily Neeld seems to be getting the idea of it, and while some reporters have labelled it as a bit scattered, their off-season recruiting was actually pretty darn good.

Go Power!

 

[KrakFiend]

Fire as many people from the top down as possible, replace them with outsiders who have a proven history of success that won't let internal politics or trips to the snow interfere with getting the job done.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Get rid of Chris Connolly and Cameron Schwabb

This. I am absolutely flabbergasted as to how these dimwits have remained at the club. Have had numerous opportunities to drop them but they remain.

Outside of that Neeld and recruitment are doing all they can and I just hope the stupidity and ineptness of the above pair does not get in his way.

 

[Purple Maverick]

They need to get an experienced coach who not only is a team coach, but a club coach. A person who has had success as a coach, but also experience with today's playing style. A coach who can influence culture both upwards and downwards, a coach who demands respect, is media savvy and is an effective communicator.

Mick Malthouse would have been perfect. But of those available, I would move heaven and earth to get Paul Roos on board.

 

[raskolnikov]

They shoot horses don't they?

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Outside of Culture and management which has already been touched on in this thread...

You recruited Chris Dawes, has to be one of the biggest spuds going around. He kicked like what 18 goals in a top 4 team? It's decisions like that is why Melbourne struggle. Yes you needed another KPF but Dawes hasn't really shown anything to suggest he will be a good KPF he can't even take a mark over his head let alone kick goals half the time. And it'll be worse for him because the ball will come in a lot less then it did at the Pies and it'll most likely still go to Clark instead of him.

You need another gun mid, you have Jones but nothing else. Your banking on the future which won't help Melbourne out now. Trengrove needs to go to another level and your kids have to start showing some signs of improvement to start being competitive with other bottom 8 teams.

Then by the time your kids start reaching there peaks, your older players you just recruited are going to be retiring. So that will most likely set you back again and that's assuming your kids do come on as expected.

 

[mysainters]

They are well and truly on the way to redeeming themselves.

I am not so doom and gloom about them.

Makes complete sense to me why securing guys from successful clubs like Geelong and the Pies was so important to them.

They'll improve this year.

 

[pazza]

Like where Neeld and his recruiting department are heading - maybe the big improver for the year - won't make finals, but improve markedly.

Do agree that the cancers of Connolly and Schwab need to be ousted and fast.

 

[L_W_P]

Only 2 options are available for a quick fix -

Relocate to TAS or NZ and pickup early draft compensation to trade for gun players

OR

Merge with the Dogs. Seriously. Between the 2 clubs there could be a really strong team here that would compete for a flag within 2 or 3 years.

 

[Scotland]

What are the failings of the Neeld era?

It's interesting that you say there is 'no quick fix' - but then seemingly have a pot shot at the 'Neeld era' having failings...

I'd suggest that Neeld has started doing what is needed to fix the club, he's not taking the easy road.

I'm not pointing to specific failings in tactics or management or whatever, but Melbourne won 8.5 games in 2010 and 2011 and only 4 in 2012, and 'not taking the easy road, making the tough decisions etc.' sounds scarily similar to what Bailey was charged with from 2008. The captaincy decision (a player vote apparently, but part of the Neeld era) remains a mistake, IMO. The Clark recruitment reeked of Schwab, and some of the signings going into 2013 are a bit curious. Chances are Neeld is going to be good at some things, great at others and poor at others still. He should be marked on his merits by the Melbourne fans and not held up as a messiah - or he'll just end up in the same boat as Bailey, Daniher, Green, Moloney, Scully etc. as being blamed for the problems of the day after he's gone.

As for the 'hypocrisy of Melbourne supporters' - please, every team has those fans.. West Coast has those fans, as I'm sure you know.

On the balance of measure our fans tend to be stupid rather than hypocritical, but yes all clubs have some.

Schwab should be gone, I don't trust the man - I don't think the players trust the man.

Glad to see you're on board.

 

[KrakFiend]

Only 2 options are available for a quick fix -

Relocate to TAS or NZ and pickup early draft compensation to trade for gun players

OR

Merge with the Dogs. Seriously. Between the 2 clubs there could be a really strong team here that would compete for a flag within 2 or 3 years.

I like option 2, except I would throw the Saints in as well. That way a) we rid the league of that disgraceful club and b) still have an even number of teams.

 

[Scotland]

Only 2 options are available for a quick fix -

Relocate to TAS or NZ and pickup early draft compensation to trade for gun players

OR

Merge with the Dogs. Seriously. Between the 2 clubs there could be a really strong team here that would compete for a flag within 2 or 3 years.

Two options that are neither on the table or a good idea.

 

[Slax]

Melbourne has suffered on the field from the decisions made off the field by the administration. how Connolly and Schwab still have jobs but Melbourne has sacked multiple coaches amazes me still. Whilst the Jim Stynes era did eliminate debt, everything else that occurred during his time was a complete failure.

If you have a look at successful clubs in the modern era you will notice one thing in common, strong administrations. Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney, Hawthorn, West Coast all have top quality administrations who have consistently made decision whilst sometimes unpopular with fans have helped provide stability tot he club. Just think what would've happened at Geelong had they sacked Thompson in round 5 2007 as fans called for? West Coast fans wanted Worsfold's head only a couple of years ago, but look what happened.
The best example of what a good administration means is Brisbane, during their reign they had stability and leadership, come 2005 the administration changed and look what followed.

Melbourne will never be a contender until it does a clean out of the boardroom. Its not the coach who sets the culture at the club it is the administration and Melbourne's is as bad as any in the competition.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I'm not pointing to specific failings in tactics or management or whatever, but Melbourne won 8.5 games in 2010 and 2011 and only 4 in 2012, and 'not taking the easy road, making the tough decisions etc.' sounds scarily similar to what Bailey was charged with from 2008. The captaincy decision (a player vote apparently, but part of the Neeld era) remains a mistake, IMO. The Clark recruitment reeked of Schwab, and some of the signings going into 2013 are a bit curious. Chances are Neeld is going to be good at some things, great at others and poor at others still. He should be marked on his merits by the Melbourne fans and not held up as a messiah - or he'll just end up in the same boat as Bailey, Daniher, Green, Moloney, Scully etc. as being blamed for the problems of the day after he's gone.

I think our supporters have notice a very different approach between Bailey and Neeld - Bailey wanted draft picks, and he thought that success would come through pumping as many games as possible into young players.

Neeld is trying to build a culture, based on work ethic and compliance.

I know which sounds a better long term fix.

The captaincy decision was definitely a statement by Neeld - I don't blame him for it, although I think Trengove wasn't ready.


Clark, Dawes, Rodan, Byrnes, Pedersen - these were all Neeld targets, I know Schwab was heavily involved in the Clark signing but that's only because we were so desperate for him.

So far it's looked a good deal for us!

I don't think Neeld expects players like Dawes, Pedo, Rodan and Byrnes to lead us to a premiership - he expects them to lead by example a be role players, all are just your typical good average players (Rodan and Byrnes with a bit of flair though).

 

[lamaros]

Daniher got Melbourne into the finals in 6 of the 10 years he was there, including three years in a row prior to the year he was sacked (halfway through the season).

I don't know how he was the problem, at all.

 

[Tulip]

They need to get an experienced coach who not only is a team coach, but a club coach. A person who has had success as a coach, but also experience with today's playing style. A coach who can influence culture both upwards and downwards, a coach who demands respect, is media savvy and is an effective communicator.

Mick Malthouse would have been perfect. But of those available, I would move heaven and earth to get Paul Roos on board.

Ludicrous to suggest getting rid of the coach now.

 

[Purple Suit]

I think they need to do two things. Get rid of the old brigade - Swabby and Conolly. They cause rifts off the field and it spills onto the field. You can't sugar coat it, you won't succeed with them still at the club.

Go looking for champion free agents. I'm talking about players with real success and leadership to help the young guys at Melbourne, similar to what GWS tried to do. Melbourne still have a really young side and with a few extra leaders around the club, they could turn them into players. I'm talking about Hodge, Mitchell, Chappy, Enright, Bolton, Glass, Black, Brown, anybody who has had success and wants to play for another year but can't at their current club or for too much less money. When they say no, ask the next lot and keep going until you have the best leaders you can find. I think that was your biggest mistake, cleaning out your on field leaders in 2009 and getting a lot of talent but no guidance.

 

[MC_Forward50]

....The captaincy decision was definitely a statement by Neeld - I don't blame him for it, although I think Trengove wasn't ready....

Totally agree with this comment.

I really hope the captaincy doesn't stall/hinder JTs development. Has superstar potential

I think Byrnes was a great pick-up for reasons of work ethic/training standards/match day preparation, coming from a strong club like geelong will have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to the playing list
Dawes/pedo recruitment is a strange one from my perspective, IMO i would have chased one or the other not both.

I dont really believe melbourne will be cellar dwellers for long at all. But definitely agree that schwab/connolly must both go.