How do you fix Melbourne?

[Contador]

Sounds like what McCartney is doing with the dogs is the way to go then

Difference is we still have a great core of senior players who were good enough to play in multiple prelims. Melbourne have been rebuilding so long they no longer have these players to guide and support the youngsters.

 

[Shane_Mag]

Get rid of the players who clearly don't give a stuff and just play for the paycheck. Colin Sylvia comes to mind. Will never forget after Melbourne lost to the Swans last year by I believe over 100 points and he was smiling after the siren like it was a great day.

Fix the footy department up. Get better experienced heads who will take charge and really make the tough decisions for the better of the club.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

I think the problem is recruitment, not coaching.

I was in the un-cool school who viewed Bailey's sacking as knee-jerk, probably a mistake, and especially bad during the season. Now many seem to want to do it all over again, a mere 1 year and two games in to Neeld's tenure. That will not fix anything. That will just be Melbourne 'reacting' in haste to the problem once again.

Fact is they had great draft picks, but selected poorly. IMO Neeld could probably see that in what he inherited, and has tried to pad the list with experience. Unfortunately that clearly isn't working either.

I'd really have no idea how you would fix it. Start rebuilding all over again perhaps.

I hope they improve.

 

[gbp420]

Culture is the problem, so get Brian Cook and Paul Roos.

 

[CF]

next week 22 players out.... 22 witches hats in..... they'll put up more of a contest.

Oh and....Keep your hands off Brian Cook.

 

[Alfonz]

The problem they have created is that anyone who might be capable of fixing them probably wouldn't want to go there. Why would anyone do that to themselves?

 

[the harry]

next week 22 players out.... 22 witches hats in..... they'll put up more of a contest.

Oh and....Keep your hands off Brian Cook.

No, they need to keep some of the back six just so we have some people to jump on/over to take a few nice marks.

 

[Super Hans]

If they're trying to improve their culture the first thing I'd do is drop Colin Sylvia for the rest of the season. Even if it is only round two. I've never seen such a waste of football talent. Cancer on the club.

 

[ousitgarn]

If they keep losing the way they do the season is obviously gone (if it isn't already), will probably only get worse if Neeld gets the boot and they revamp the coaching department. They can't implement a new game plan in the middle of a season and hope to be any good. As others have said it is clearly a problem with the entire administration.

Chalk up this season as a loss, leave everyone in place but get the ball rolling now for a transition to an entirely new administration over the off season and a planned relocation over a number of years to Tasmania as the Devils (starting with home games, ending with a home ground etc.). Recruit plenty of local talent from Tasmania, chuck out the spuds and the non-performers but keep enough on their list to help them out and to prove that it isn't entirely on the players but to do with the entire club.

They already look as if they are starting from GWS or even lower levels now (i.e. won't even be 'competitive' for years), so this way they would have a legitimate reason to be struggling with the hard slog of revolutionising the club without the week to week scrutiny and the baying for heads to roll. Don't know where they would get the money from or if the idea is feasible at all but anything less radical will surely not work. Plus you can't punish any of the other AFL clubs with a merger, it isn't guaranteed to be the tonic required and might destroy two clubs in the process.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

If they're trying to improve their culture the first thing I'd do is drop Colin Sylvia for the rest of the season. Even if it is only round two. I've never seen such a waste of football talent. Cancer on the club.

One of the many players where Melb just has to be strong enough to cut there loses and if it means delisting more then half its list at the years end so be it. They need players who want to fight to the bitter end.

 

[underthestars]

What can they do? Neeld looks like exactly the wrong man for the job.
He's drilling that losing culture even deeper into the players.
Sending out the message that they are not afl standard.
Sending out the message that the goal is not to try to win, but just to try. WTF?
Theyre provided with an excuse before they run onto the field.
They're beaten before the siren sounds.

They need a motivator, not a schoolteacher.
It's a terrible thing to do, but they need to remove him ASAP.

 

[Galileo9]

I think the problem is recruitment, not coaching.

I find that observation fascinating. Whilst melb made some errors, all clubs do and their hit rate isn't that bad because at end of day they recruited players whom were rated just as highly by other clubs.

It has to be coaching. How can it not? Not instilling the right frame of mind, tactics, development is down to coaching. Young players need to be taught. That's why clubs spend a lot of money on good coaches, not because it looks good. Not being able to teach a gameplan or selecting the wrong gameplan is down to coaching.

Neelds philosophys on football may be sound, but to me he has never appeared as someone that knows how to implement them.

Also when you have so many disillusioned players, that's down to coaching.

I can't imagine what it's like being a melb supporter right now. It's like being locked up for life with no chance of parole.

 

[MightyTiger]

Melbourne are a disgrace and should simply relocate and start over.

 

[Obeanie1]

What can they do? Neeld looks like exactly the wrong man for the job.
He's drilling that losing culture even deeper into the players.
Sending out the message that they are not afl standard.
Sending out the message that the goal is not to try to win, but just to try. WTF?
Theyre provided with an excuse before they run onto the field.
They're beaten before the siren sounds.

They need a motivator, not a schoolteacher.
It's a terrible thing to do, but they need to remove him ASAP.

I listened to his talk to the players before todays game and thought the same thing, he doesn't have what is needed as a motivator of an AFL side. Noticed in the background Neil Craig with his head down listening / probalbly cringing over what was being said.

This situation is the direct result of MElbourne tanking mindset. They got caught and the ex coach and head of football took the fall. The CEO and board also needs to be turned over. The players all know what went on and deep down they would hate that the fat cats who escaped any penalty are still there.

IMO the captaincy situation is an epic failure. It is simply wrong to elevate two young guys to these positions. I saw was it Trengrove today shake hands we Watson, he had a baby face compared to Watson and then you saw this kid trying to talk up players 10 years and 100 games older than him. Its not fair on the kid and it would piss off the older guys big time because the club has made the statement that this kid is more of a leader than you guys who have played 10 years.

Sylvia and the likes must go, be dropped. Melbourne should trade him and get a 2nd round pick or what they can for him, he doesn't chase and doesn't care. Cancer to the club.

This club needs mature leaders both on and off the field.

 

[Mr Magic]

I listened to his talk to the players before todays game and thought the same thing, he doesn't have what is needed as a motivator of an AFL side. Noticed in the background Neil Craig with his head down listening / probalbly cringing over what was being said.

This situation is the direct result of MElbourne tanking mindset. They got caught and the ex coach and head of football took the fall. The CEO and board also needs to be turned over. The players all know what went on and deep down they would hate that the fat cats who escaped any penalty are still there.

IMO the captaincy situation is an epic failure. It is simply wrong to elevate two young guys to these positions. I saw was it Trengrove today shake hands we Watson, he had a baby face compared to Watson and then you saw this kid trying to talk up players 10 years and 100 games older than him. Its not fair on the kid and it would piss off the older guys big time because the club has made the statement that this kid is more of a leader than you guys who have played 10 years.

Sylvia and the likes must go, be dropped. Melbourne should trade him and get a 2nd round pick or what they can for him, he doesn't chase and doesn't care. Cancer to the club.

This club needs mature leaders both on and off the field.

Yeah it is a hell of a dysfunctional group they have put together now. Scully is lucky he escaped.

Imagine the effect this has on Viney, Trengrove and others not good for their development.

The fact they couldn't identify a captain from the group other than the youngsters is a sign to me they are off the railroad tracks atm.

I would have made Frawley or one of the more solid mids as a captain as just an outsider not knowing anything else. To me though they have done a good collective job of pissing off the group and not one would have any confidence on how they club is being run.

The coaches point to a board about trust!!! Well were was the trust for Connolly and Bailey as the power brokers, probably still current still at the club, let them roll under a bus and put the players through hell for their own gamesmanship for draft picks??

Talk is cheap and the players and AFL community are not buying it TBH IMO.

The players no doubt to survive as a group at all need people that can walk it not spin it!!

 

[Ando727]

Melbourne are a disgrace and should simply relocate and start over.

Yes, Melbourne is a disgrace, but why would relocation solve anything? Whatever changes you think relocation would engender should just be done right here in Melbourne.


There are so many people here with no clue about the club just sprouting off garbage with no real concern for the club at all or its fans. Lots of drunk-at-the-pub stuff: "I could do a better job coaching the Dees...I'd sort 'em out..". Or, "serves 'em right for tanking. Karma!". Or, "Send 'em to Tassie". "Get Ron Barrassi back...". etc, etc, etc. There's no limit to the quips and mockery.

Really helpful stuff, all that.

There is a lot of disingenuous opinion giving - pretending you are worried about the club when half of you are revelling in this whole situation. Gives you a chance to bring out all your favourite cliches about Melbourne fans and use your favourite word, "culture". The reality is every single one of you is looking forward to playing Melbourne at their worst so you can have a thumping win and get the biggest percentage boost in your club's history. So let's not pretend. This is like a train-wreck and you can't look away.

There needs to be a series of very well considered steps to get out of this mess. No-knee jerk reactions, but a new leader to come in and sort out every department of the club decide what can work and what needs to go. I'm under no illusions that this will come quickly or easily. One thing sitting at the bottom of the ladder for 7 years does is make you give up on quick fixes. It needs to be done right, regardless of the time-frame. Sort it out once and for all so the club can actually have a future.

 

[Frank Grimes]

How do fix Melbourne? Does the term fix mean as in repair, or is it fix as in your dog?

Looks like no F/S pick from this lot.

 

[Mr Magic]

Yes, Melbourne is a disgrace, but why would relocation solve anything? Whatever changes you think relocation would engender should just be done right here in Melbourne.


There are so many people here with no clue about the club just sprouting off garbage with no real concern for the club at all or its fans. Lots of drunk-at-the-pub stuff: "Ya know what's wrong with the Dees? I'll tell ya what's wrong with 'em, they should get me in there as coach...I'd sort 'em out..". Or, "serves 'em right for tanking. Karma!". Or, "Send 'em to Tassie".

Really helpful stuff, all that.

There is a lot of disingenuous opinion giving - pretending you are worried about the club when half of you are revelling in this whole situation. Gives you a chance to bring out all your favourite cliches about Melbourne fans and use your favourite word, "culture". The reality is every single one of you is looking forward to playing Melbourne at their worst so you can have a thumping win and get the biggest percentage boost in your club's history. So let's not pretend. This is like a train-wreck and you can't look away.

There needs to be a series of very well considered steps to get out of this mess. No-knee jerk reactions, but a new leader to come in and sort out every department of the club decide what can work and what needs to go. I'm under no illusions that this will come quickly or easily. One thing sitting at the bottom of the ladder for 7 years does is make you give up on quick fixes. It needs to be done right, regardless of the time-frame. Sort it out once and for all so the club can actually have a future.

I didn't watch the match last night, cause I knew how humans would react!!!

Who is the new leader or saviour??

 

[manboob]

Melbourne are a disgrace and should simply relocate and start over.

Pot. Kettle. Two finals appearances in 30 years...

 

[Ando727]

I didn't watch the match last night, cause I knew how humans would react!!!

Who is the new leader or saviour??

Not sure what point you were making with the random bolding and "humans" stuff, but to answer your question, we need an experienced CEO from outside the MFC environment to head up a review and changes. Obviously if would be great if we could snare somebody with football experience like Brian Cook, but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere - although if he was up for a challenge, he would get the biggest challenge of his life with Melbourne... Somebody who is used to making tough calls and is not shy about making them.

I tend to think that we might need a single person as dual president and CEO for a while. There always seems to be a schism between the board and the CEO at Melbourne. Whether that's constitutionally possible, I don't know. As it stands, we could never attract a coach like Paul Roos to out club. We need an organisational cleanout first so that the club seems less of a rabble and less of a risk to the reputation of coaches like Matthews, Roos, Williams etc.

 

[Mr Magic]

Not sure what point you were making with the random bolding and "humans" stuff, but to answer your question, we need an experienced CEO from outside the MFC environment to head up a review and changes. Obviously if would be great if we could snare somebody with football experience like Brian Cook, but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere - although if he was up for a challenge, he would get the biggest challenge of his life with Melbourne... Somebody who is used to making tough calls and is not shy about making them.

I tend to think that we might need a single person as dual president and CEO for a while. There always seems to be a schism between the board and the CEO at Melbourne. Whether that's constitutionally possible, I don't know. As it stands, we could never attract a coach like Paul Roos to out club. We need an organisational cleanout first so that the club seems less of a rabble and less of a risk to the reputation of coaches like Matthews, Roos, Williams etc.

Why would the players play for Roos??? Ex Fitzroy, won a premiership with propped up Swans, media player.

I do not see values needed to create the success you crave.

Thats the problem with the club. What leaders are around the club with the appropriate values that carry the political weight??

Honestly, I would be surprised if Roos would entertain let alone do the job. If he took up the job then he would have more metal than I give him credit for and he might be the right guy!!

 

[MightyTiger]

Pot. Kettle. Two finals appearances in 30 years...

We've been shit, for sure, not questioning that, but Melbourne are on a whole new level of shit.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Melbourne need a coach the players want to play for.

After seeing Neeld's pre-game speech on CH7 last night it's clear he is not this man.

 

[billyboutsis]

Nah **** the supporters.. Eat a dick MFC

You're one of those blokes you'd love to bump into on a train ride back from the game

 

[Coach Bombay]

Feel absolutely zero sympathy for the coaching and administration staff at Melbourne. Clearly tanked and fully deserve all of this to be happening. On the other hand the current situation is ruining players' careers that should otherwise be on the rise. Members of the club don't deserve this either. A complete overhaul I think really is necessary seeing's as its been almost 10 years of nothing but bad decisions.