Being ruthless as a club, which Neeld has shown a tendency towards, doesn't mean blindly sacking a rookie coach who is steering the ship in the biggest club overhaul we've had in decades and decades and decades.
He needs to be given time to at least get HIS team in order before he cops the chop.
We won't really even know if Neeld can coach until mid next year. This year was assessment of the list and this trade period has been about filling deficiencies we have.
Deficiencies:
Key Forwards - check - he's recruited a Premiership Key forward who is about to enter his prime. A Key Forward who suffered horrifically from being played out of position for a large portion of the year. A Key forward who's value dropped upon Collingwood's obsession (rightly or wrongly) with having a Leigh Brown type role player. Do we know that the Leroy Brown Player (which served them well in 2010) is even valuable now? Footy is an ever changing game. On top of this, he's nabbed an exceptionally highly rated junior KP monster who will have 12 months at the club to train and get to know the game plan / teammates etc. and come 2014 will be rady made round 1.
On the topic of Key Forwards - when Mitch went down - we lost our ONLY avenue to goal and had to swing the likes of Garland / Rivers up forward, despite their natural instincts being as Key Defenders / 3rd tall.
Leadership and Experience - We've done the rebuild with kids thing, and that put us in an even bigger hole than we were already in. It's been a disaster, a monumental failure. No matter which way you look at it. Now we need Leadership and Experience to come in, to help these young kids along their way. 2011 Mitch was bought in and has been HUGE in terms of leadership - don't discount that. Now, we have 2 proven, experienced Premiership Players coming in. Byrnes isn't a world beater, but he's got 2 premiership medallions around his neck, and will fulfill a role. His experience and leadership will be valuable. This goes for Dawes too. We will have his leadership, his premiership experience and from reports over the years he's a really level headed bloke. He and Clark will mentor Hogan along very nicely. Additionally, we have Viney coming in, well known for his desire and leadership. He will usher in a new generation of culture at the MFC.
Small Forwards - Byrnes will relish standing under Dawes and Clark (Dawes / Clark / Hogan in 2014). He's pacey, he has reasonable goal sense. He'll snag a few goals with a run through the midfield. Additionally, the recruitment of Barry SHOULD allow Aaron Davey to return to his natural position of defensive forward. No more Hollywooding up the half back / wing - that will be Barry and Bleases role now possibly.
Outside Run - We are sorely missing outside class. Barry / Byrnes / Blease should all now get stints and rotating through the midfield to accept the dish off
Midfielders Midfielders Midfielders - The catch cry of many on here, now we have snagged 2 top 5 mids (Viney and perhaps Wines?) to complement what is actually the nucleus of a reasonable midfield. Jones, Trengove, Grimes, McKenzie, Sylvia, Bail has more potential than perhaps they showed this year. With someone to dish off too, as well as virtually 2 new recruits in Taggert and Tynan - this could become a dangerous midfield. Viney is primarily an inside mid, but he has more tricks up his sleeve than just grunt. A good bit of toe to break away from packs and nice disposal. He will set the tone with 1%'s - others will follow. His influence will be huge.
Additionally, the midfielders will grow in confidence when they look and and see Mitch with 1 defender on him instead of 3 and another big target in Dawes.
Dawes may have had an ordinary season - but he's big, he presents as a target and should hopefully be over the worst of the badly broken knuckle / finger he had that many collingwood supporters claimed to hinder his marking ability.
The ship is on the right path and we now need to soak it up and enjoy the ride. We are becoming a professional club, despite what those on the outside might think. 20 was right for Dawes, the swapping of later picks means nothing (we probably won't be using late picks in the draft anyway)
What really irks me is "our draft picks have been crap" then in the next breath "how could we trade pick 20 for a proven premiership player when we could've drafted a star?"
Well, if our draft picks are duds, what makes people so sure in a draft that drops off after about pick 15 that we'd pick up anyone of worth with 20?
