Breaking down the 15 goals to 1

[Demon Dynasty 15,210]

With regard to the behind the goal footage.  Seems to show that some tweaking from Clarkson on the match ups around the ground plus our inability to win the clearances on the day (our biggest asset), cost us dearly.  Clarkson needed to win that arm wrestle and he got a gift early from Goody with Jones occupied on Mitchel.

In my opinion the lock down of Jones on Mitchel was the biggest error on the day followed by Harmes in the ruck for too long (or at all) during the 2nd.  Left us too thin in the mid field / stoppage clearance area and too many B (bordering on C) graders to pick up the gap left by Jones being occupied (Clarry the sole exception).  They may also have read many of Maxy's hit outs and done their homework well which helped their cause.

The wings were probably always going to disappear at some stage to get the match ups Clarkson wanted back and forward.  Once he got them things started to turn for the Hawks.  Add to this the compound effect of the Jones role & Harmes in the ruck for too long in the 2nd.                                    

Then there's the mental / physical bullying factor (see below) and we have ourselves a recipe for a serious towelling as the game wore on.

My biggest worry is that in Goody's press conference he stated that he believed the Jones match up (result) for us on the day was a win.  Personally I don't think it was far from the sole reason for such a horrid result but it played a big part.

Vid 1:  Cyril is on Nev (seems likea good match up for us, if there is one for Cyril).  Maxy's hit out goes to the only player in the centre who is stationary and alone (for a split second) which is a Hawks player (possibly Jaeger being checked a little loosely by Salem).  The ball comes in quickly after Jaeger breaks, Lever backs into the contest without looking and falls over.  Frost gathers but is easily tackled then outnumbered (I suspect the Hawk that hasn't fallen over is involved in pressuring also).  Other Hawks from mid field have quickly drifted forward and waiting front and square they gather the ball turned over from Frost under pressure and score the first goal in record time.  The fact that Jaeger moves straight to this position just right of Maxy at the first bounce suggests either Clarkson has done his homework very well in relation to Maxy's drop zones, Jaeger just got lucky on this occasion or Max didn't look to see who he might be tapping to.  Maybe a combination of all three!

Vid 2:  shows a neutral bounce result followed by a secondary ball up.  This time Cyril is on Vince in the Hawks forward line who, although running with him, isn't quite checking him as closely as one would probably wish given Cyril's pedigree/experience.  Cyril moves toward the middle putting a little more distance between himself and Vince.  Max hits the ball directly into Cyril's bread basket and he's off to the races for another forward 50 entry with Vince trailing.  Probably not a lot Vince (or anyone could do with delivery like that) but Clarkson probably has one of his most dangerous assets on a better match up.  Win.

Vid 3:  After the bounce we eventually get the ball on back of square / wing (to our loose man...maybe Lever) who gets a quick kick to about 40.  Stratton (on Fritsch) reads the play much better and holds his position about a kick or more away from the contest up field.....playing well in front.  As the quick bomb comes in Stratton takes the easy defensive mark around 50.  All forwards (who didn't race into the contest initially (Kent I believe) are waiting back with their man and in Fritsch's case he is about a kick and a half away from play and eventually 10 / 20 meters behind Stratton.  Obviously you don't want everyone leading but in this passage the other Melb forwards (staying forward) seem happy to just sit around true CHF as the play develops.  Those remaining at CHF don't break in the direction of the contest at any point.

In this Vid I also notice that before the bounce Stratton comes in to man up on Fritsch.  On the way he thumps/punches ANB (I think) in the arm or chest.  ANB goes down on his knees in pain for a while.  No Melb forward remonstrates.  Maybe they didn't see but hard to believe.  He then goes past Hulk and gives him a shove.  He then finally gets into his opponent, Fritsch, and shoves him in the chest also.  At no stage did any Melb forward push / remonstrate or shove Stratton back at any point!!  What happens if you don't take on a bully in the playground guys!??

There were some other shoves / prods (socially unfriendly!) acts from other Hawks players also in these vids but I could only see one shoving / pushing act back at the Hawks from a Melb player the other way.....Kent.

Edited April 20, 2018 by Rusty Nails

[praha 10,267]

I swear I've read this before: 

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-20/keep-the-faith-says-melksham

“I think you’ve just got to stick behind us. It’s early on in the season and there is still a lot of footy to be played,” 

“We didn’t play the way that we wanted to and the education around that was really helpful,”

[Sir Why You Little 34,420]

1 hour ago, praha said:

I swear I've read this before: 

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-20/keep-the-faith-says-melksham

“I think you’ve just got to stick behind us. It’s early on in the season and there is still a lot of footy to be played,” 

“We didn’t play the way that we wanted to and the education around that was really helpful,”

Jared Rivers 2011. 186

[deelete my account 1,194]

1 hour ago, praha said:

I swear I've read this before: 

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-20/keep-the-faith-says-melksham

“I think you’ve just got to stick behind us. It’s early on in the season and there is still a lot of footy to be played,” 

“We didn’t play the way that we wanted to and the education around that was really helpful,”

He might be talking to Goodwin about selecting him.