Scape Goat If Neagle didn't play on...

[sameolds33]

Knew his old man - bloody good footballer and better coach - RIP

Ah yes, Merv running through the centre of the G, taking no prisoners...good memories

 

[PressureCooker]

Imagine a forward line of Neagle, Gumby and Joe *drools*

 

[Howard Moon]

Imagine a forward line...

 

[Doss]

No wonder Jay was a one man forward line; he probably threaten to eat whoever got in his way.

 

[Howard Moon]

JAY Neagle failed to read the play, and that's a worrying weakness in a footballer.

He should have known he was headed for tougher scrutiny the moment Essendon turned to James Hird to replace Matthew Knights as coach.

Hird had publicly declared his reservations about Neagle on July 5 in his then role as a panellist on the Fox Sports show On the Couch.

Asked about Neagle, among others, as Essendon went into freefall at Round 14, Hird's instinctive response was: "He's not up to it."

Then, as if he suddenly realised he and Neagle might cross paths in the not-too-distant future, he hastily added: "Not at the moment."

After a reference to a Neagle error in Round 1, Hird said: " ... hasn't been that impressive all year."
If Neagle is a typical footballer, either he would have heard the comment or, more likely, been alerted by a teammate or friend. When Hird chose to critique anyone at his old club in his media roles, it was always going to get back.

Yet Neagle still presented himself in unsatisfactory shape for pre-season training. Silly.
Neagle, who turns 23 in January, finds himself delisted by the Bombers in a statement that will have reverberated throughout Windy Hill and Essendon's supporters.

Hird's decision on Neagle and Jarrod Atkinson, who suffered the same fate for similar reasons, says the new boss isn't going to compromise his standards, and all young coaches arrive with tough standards.
While Kevin Sheedy was determined to draft the son of Essendon and Sydney great Merv Neagle in 2005 and Knights adopted a fatherly role, Hird is less accommodating of the foibles of 40-odd players.
When Neagle didn't meet the required fitness standards, he dropped the guillotine.

Actually, he stopped the blade just as Neagle felt the chill of the steel on his neck - the Bombers have offered him a rookie spot if he responds with appropriate dedication in the next four weeks.
Neagle's arrival at training at 7am yesterday was a promising start.

The problem for him is simple. Despite the faith shown by Sheedy and then Knights, the facts are he has played 28 games for 41 goals in four seasons, and Hirdy hasn't been a fan. Famous bloodlines and raw talent aren't enough these days.

There are mixed views on Neagle.

The majority position seems to suggest he's not going to make it.

That it simply doesn't mean enough to him and he isn't good enough to play at less than 100 per cent in terms of his fitness and application.

Kevin Bartlett and I share the view he can be a player.
At 191cm and roughly 100kg, he is a man mountain.

No, mountains don't move fast, yet Neagle can mark and, generally speaking, looks a competent kick for goal.

He booted 19.4 from 12 games in 2009, including four bags of three.

He made a couple of memorable blues against Geelong in Round 1 this year before being banished to the VFL for way too long. It seemed even Knights had lost faith.

Under Hird, Neagle has two choices - knuckle down or nick off.
(Mike Shehan)

Cant wait to see how this Hird guy goes, sounds like hes never made a mistake. Nice time capsule article though...

 

[Pweter]

Ah yes, Merv running through the centre of the G, taking no prisoners...good memories

Merv v Dippa - epic battles were had.

 

[yodellinhank]

I can't help but feel Jay's playing on and subsequent failure had an impact on the rest of the Neagle boys' confidence and development.

 

[frenchfri12]

New option added to the poll for all you serious types.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Merv v Dippa - epic battles were had.

Martin Riggs vs Super Mario

 

[frenchfri12]

Here's what we (or not we, I've never heard of half these users) said @ the time:

Shit, Neagle.

Dare I say it, that looks....ACL?

Don't tell me he hurt himself when he took that mark in the 50 and played on. WAS RAGING AT MY COMPUTER SCREEN WHEN HE DID THAT.

Still need the forwards to step up (less Neagle ). We also need to put in a full quarter effort. We start strong, but tail off towards the end. Hopefully we break that trend.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Neagle!

Little moments like Davey missing an easy goal and Neagle playing on not only cost us goals, but it also cost us momentum.

fletch and neagle shouldnt have played on......

Neagle would surely have to be dropped you would think. Keep Gumbleton for Fremantle but you'd at least have to punish Neagle for trying to play on in that situation. Clearly undiscipline.

Neagle just needs some confidence. If he goes back and has a set shot he than has the confidence to mark the next one and he seals the game. How do you give a guy confidence? It is going to cause many headachs for supporters because it is trial and error.

Neagle cost us that game.

Completely ruined our forward line structure and confidence when he didn't go back and take the set shot. He kicks that goal I think we have enough momentum to win the game.

If Neagle goes back and kicks that goal we go 30 points in front just before 3/4 time.

Not only did he injure himself, he destroyed the confidence of the whole team around him and totally stuffed up rotations for the time he was off the ground.

It is totalably questionable whether he was actually injured in the indicent of if he really just wanted to find a nice place to hide.

If I was looking for easy targets I would head straight to Slattery and Stanton. They seem to be the whipping boys of this forum, but alas, Stanton played unbelievably well tonight and I thought Slattery held his own quite well.

I am just saying it as I see it.

Neagle. Nuff said.

Neagle was ok imo. Made a huge blunder but was making an impact any time he got the ball.

Neagle looked ok in patches, yes he made some disasterous mistakes but he should learn from these and become better for it.

 

[Howard Moon]

Not like Kelvin sheedy to post against the grain?

 

[Doss]

That's some solid prospecting, Howie.

 

[frenchfri12]

#NeagletoDaniher

 

[BrunoV]

Jay got all of his old mans talent.

Just did not have the head for it unfortunately.

 

[frenchfri12]

How'd this thread get into the bar thingy at the top of my page with selected threads?

 

[yodellinhank]

How'd this thread get into the bar thingy at the top of my page with selected threads?

Because he played on. He should've went back and took his kick.

 

[raskolnikov]

I've been waiting a long time to use this thread prefix. It's the small pleasures sometimes.

You mean it's not on the Brent Stanton thread?