Melbourne turns to Richmond for inspiration (H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Embattled Melbourne coach Mark Neeld takes heart from Richmond's turnaround from an 0-9 start only two seasons ago.

Neeld, who watched the Tigers thrash Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday, said it reinforced his stance to continue with his long-term plans.

"I've said a few times, major shifts in footy clubs take time," he said yesterday.

"We live in a society that's all about, 'I've got to have it now. Give it to me now'.

"The idea that people can sit down and come up with a plan and make sure they build solid foundations, for whatever reason seems to be lost on the community.

"Richmond is a perfect example. It's certainly not lost on me that two years ago, they were in exactly the same position we are now.

"They stayed the course as a whole club and supporter base. They kept working hard and stuck to the structures that Dimma (Damien Hardwick) wanted and the rest of the club wanted.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/melbourne-turns-to-richmond-for-inspiration/story-e6frf9jf-1226368674172

[wayne]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

[Stripes]

Also we had gutted our list (once again) and had very few senior players playing. The senior players we had on the field were our leaders in Newman and Lids but almost all the rest were football infants. We were losing, not through effort (I completely agree with you wayne) but just because we were two inexperienced and small. We were finding players that would take us forward.

The only similarities I see is that both teams were learning the new coaches game plan and how to work together as a consistent lineup.

I remember hearing how positive our young side remained despite the loses and how positive the coaches were. I can't see this at Melbourne either.

I predict a lot more pain this year and next for a team that was meant to be above us and pushing for finals in 2012....

[Tigger]

Also an experienced player like Tuck - didnt sulk.  Knew he wasnt getting a look in at first but stayed the course.  Worked on his deficencies and is now reaping the benefits.
Lids wasnt overly defensive at the end of the 2009 year - but know is quite defensive to go along with his run and carry.

People who didnt buy into Dimma's plan or didnt fit into Dimma's plan went out the door - eg McMahon - didnt play a game in 2010 from memory - ciao.

I dont see melbourne players having the change in mindset like our players had atm.

[Judge Roughneck]

Rumors grimes wants to come to punt road.

[gerkin greg]

Rubbish

[Loui Tufga]

Rubbish

It's true

[wayne]

Rumors grimes wants to come to punt road.

I wouldn't be surprised and I would think we'd be a very attractive team to opposition players wanting a change of scenery.

[Smokey]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

And right there you have the fallout from tanking.  Can't buy attitude, individual-wise or club-wise.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

And right there you have the fallout from tanking.  Can't buy attitude, individual-wise or club-wise.

It's a long bow to draw that they are tanking, no priority pickollas

[Hellenic Tiger]

Yet I remember the last three times they have beaten us

Round 4 2010, Round 19 2010 and Round 14 last year they claimed they were still well ahead of us and we were two years behind them in terms of development.

Fast forward 20 rounds and since then they have had 2 wins

One by 21 points to Port in Marrara in Round 17 and a 5 goal win against GC at the G in the penultimate Round last year. Hardly shattering stuff.

Then include three 100+ point defeats to Geelong 186 West Coast 108 Sydney 101

Three 10 goal plus defeats but less than 100

Five defeats by more than 40 points and less than 60.

You can tank all you like but no leadership no heart no passion no system no integrity no toughness leads to failure of the hardest order and leaves way too few to carry the can with the majority just standing around and letting things crumble down around them.

I can remember after our Round 7 loss to Adelaide in 2010 the papers were equating us to Fitzroy in 1996 yet I think it is more accurate equating that to Melbourne. At least we have members, supporters, character and passion (for a long time just in the stands at least)

Furthermore I can say that at no time have we fallen to Melbourne's diabolical depths and we have sunk very low in the last 30 years.

They can't do any worse than following us but unfortunantely for Mark Neeld it will take more than 2 years as they still have to cull the impotent and disinterested senior core who it may take 2 seasons to cull. At least we had a mass of retirements and delistings at the end of 2009 to reinvigorate the list and start the rebuild.

Yet even some of their picks since the current rebuild in 2007 are failing to make the grade or bring a level of consistency that can sustain a successful AFL career.

Can the Dees survive 5 more years with no finals and more importantly without their spiritual leader in the late Jimmy Stynes?

Sad state of affars for the ski chalet kids.

[tony_montana]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

And right there you have the fallout from tanking.  Can't buy attitude, individual-wise or club-wise.

It's a long bow to draw that they are tanking, no priority pickollas

If they finish bottom they get pick 1,2 and viney who is a top 5 pick for their second rounder under father son, if a couple of clubs finish beneath them and feel viney is worth pick 1,2 or 3 and nominate intention to draft viney for one of thosepicks then Melbourne must use their first pick on him. Massive massive reward if they finish last this season

[Coach]

These blokes won the occasional game under Bailey.

[Smokey]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

And right there you have the fallout from tanking.  Can't buy attitude, individual-wise or club-wise.

It's a long bow to draw that they are tanking, no priority pickollas

Not saying they are doing it now HRT, I'm referring to their tanking circa '08/'09.  Every sage under the sun at the time was proclaiming the wisdom and benefits of tanking and how such moral and wise actions had the Demons a couple of years ahead of the 'dumb' Tigers in regards to their respective rebuilds.  Neeld's observations and comments are irony of the highest order and an abject lesson in the merits of not trying to win.

[Smokey]

Yes we were 0-9 when we first started with Hardwick but....

a/ Melbourne have no good players.
b/ Cameron Schwab is still in charge.
c/ They are a rabble off field, player development is terrible, they have no home, they have no fans.
d/ When we were 0-9 we were trying our guts out. Melbournes senior players are sulking, and don't seem to be trying on field.

And right there you have the fallout from tanking.  Can't buy attitude, individual-wise or club-wise.

It's a long bow to draw that they are tanking, no priority pickollas

If they finish bottom they get pick 1,2 and viney who is a top 5 pick for their second rounder under father son, if a couple of clubs finish beneath them and feel viney is worth pick 1,2 or 3 and nominate intention to draft viney for one of thosepicks then Melbourne must use their first pick on him. Massive massive reward if they finish last this season

Groundhog Day.  Meanwhile, we are well on the path to finals and a crack at a flag.