Bartram - year's best game

Bate - cause for optimism

Bennell - impressive and creative

Bruce - a true leader

Davey - superlatives are superfluous

Dunn - some encouraging touches

Frawley - absence was felt

Grimes - 2 costly turnovers

Johnson - a gutsy performance

Jones - career best game

Maric - gradually made inroads

Martin - confidence still lacking

McDonald - just a game

McLean - has almost returned

Miller - straightened the attack

Moloney - creative and important

Morton - impressive in defence

Petterd - gave defensive drive

Rivers - courageous and unlucky

Robertson - needed more involvement

Sylvia - some thrilling moments

Warnock - ruthless and reliable

Agree with most of the above, but...

Bate - cause for optimism

Bruce - a true leader

Grimes - 2 costly turnovers

I'm wondering what optimism you saw from Bate today, and how Bruce is a true leader despite turning the ball over constantly, but Grimes (in his second game) gets a bit of a serve for a couple of turnovers?

Grimes looks like he's played 100 games already.

is the only thing saving junior from being dropped the fact that he is the captain and captains don't get "dropped"? He is looking very slow and tired out there

Bartram - year's best game

Bate - cause for optimism

Bennell - impressive and creative

Bruce - a true leader

Davey - superlatives are superfluous

Dunn - some encouraging touches

Frawley - absence was felt

Grimes - 2 costly turnovers

Johnson - a gutsy performance

Jones - career best game

Maric - gradually made inroads

Martin - confidence still lacking

McDonald - just a game

McLean - has almost returned

Miller - straightened the attack

Moloney - creative and important

Morton - impressive in defence

Petterd - gave defensive drive

Rivers - courageous and unlucky

Robertson - needed more involvement

Sylvia - some thrilling moments

Warnock - ruthless and reliable

McLean - Slow and Uninspiring

Miller - Another strong performance

You have to be kidding me about McLean??

Bartram - Did pretty good on an injured Kerr

Bate - Rubbish below his knees and kicking action still a concern

Bennell - Makes things happen

Bruce - Undoes good work with terrible disposal

Davey - His stocks just keep rising and makes things happen

Dunn - Needs to be played forward and didn't do a lot

Frawley - Good until injured

Grimes - Disposal a worry (his kicking action should be addressed before we have another Bate/Frawley situation)

Johnson - Good effort on Cox

Jones - One of the best on ground

Maric - Some classy touches

Martin - Quiet game with occasional moments of class

McDonald - Nothing game

McLean - Very poor disposal

Miller - Provided a much needed target

Moloney - Continues good form

Morton - Quantity, not quality

Petterd - Quiet until the last quarter

Rivers - Easily one of the best defenders in the league

Robertson - Was good when he had options

Sylvia - Doesn't impose self on game

Warnock - Steady down back

McDonald - just a game

mcdonald let the club down today, he did some very bad things that resulted in eagles goals,but the worst thing he did was have a got at bennel for not hitting him lace out on the chest. very disappointing from ourncaptain

Edited May 10, 200916 yr by Rogue
Just quote the relevant passage

Bate - Rubbish below his knees and kicking action still a concern

Dunn - Needs to be played forward and didn't do a lot

Grimes - Disposal a worry (his kicking action should be addressed before we have another Bate/Frawley situation)

Dunn looked like he got shifted down back due to our injuries,but may not have ventured forward anyway.

In regards to kicking action, would i be right to assume that there would be players who have perfect kicking actions yet still don't hit targets regulary, and others who are slightly imperfect, and do hit their targets?

Just wondering if we blame kicking actions sometimes, when it may actually be more of a mental thing. Just like golf swings, or basketball shots, seemingly less than perfect actions can still produce outstanding results.

Edited May 10, 200916 yr by Rogue
Just quote the relevant passages

Grimes - Disposal a worry (his kicking action should be addressed before we have another Bate/Frawley situation)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Grimes kicking action..........on either foot.

He can be excused an aberration or two in his second game.

I thought McLean was disappointing today, seemed to go missing along with Moloney and Jones for a bit in the latter stages of the game. Can't believe Davey only finished with 20 touches (20 is good still of course)... I guess I was just so amazed at all his possessions - he has the best foot in our team by an absolute mile, maybe Bate can get some tips off him at training.. that's if he's not dropped.

I thought McLean was disappointing today, seemed to go missing along with Moloney and Jones for a bit in the latter stages of the game.

Me too. McLean has been struggling for a while and you've gotta wonder whether or not he's carrying an injury. Disagree about Moloney going missing, I thought he was still prominent and right in the thick of it late in the game. Don't know about Jones, might have been off the ground perhaps? He'd run his guts out all day, no doubt he would've been completely spent.

Me too. McLean has been struggling for a while and you've gotta wonder whether or not he's carrying an injury. Disagree about Moloney going missing, I thought he was still prominent and right in the thick of it late in the game. Don't know about Jones, might have been off the ground perhaps? He'd run his guts out all day, no doubt he would've been completely spent.

Moloney has been exceptional all year and probably running 2nd for the B n F behind Davey currently. I think he is one of the most important players in our team and there is no co-incidence that Jones is having a much better this year because he is watching how Moloney goes about his work with hardness and grit at every contest. Love the bloke!

Bate was better; should have kicked three in the end. His form hasn't warranted continued selection - his workrate has. Kept presenting with Miller.

Jones was solid all day and brilliant in patches.

Moloney had 10 clearances, he is playing some great footy. Very quick brain in close.

Petterd, Bennell, Grimes, Morton, Maric, and Martin make these losses bearable, and very watchable.

Some of you will be glad to know this is my final post.

I have been warned that I shouldn't flame or troll posters.

So I won't

MFC had 22 then 20 players that busted a gut for four quarters, most made a clanger or two and were desperately unlucky not to come away with a well deserved win.

But obviously there is no pleasing some people, as the criticism immediately rears it head again.

It is a very sad state of affairs.

I for one watched the game and came away satisified that everybody put in, that's all I need and can now look forward to the Bulldogs game

Moloney has been exceptional all year and probably running 2nd for the B n F behind Davey currently. I think he is one of the most important players in our team and there is no co-incidence that Jones is having a much better this year because he is watching how Moloney goes about his work with hardness and grit at every contest. Love the bloke!

Agree completely. Has been one of my favorites since coming to the club, its so good to see him fit and playing great football. I love his passion for the jumper, and have always admired his hardness and attack on the ball. And his disposal and decision making has improved out of sight this year! (Also not a bad pickup for my supercoach team this year, averaging over 100 ranking points per game).

If he keeps this form and fitness up for the remainder of the season he'll definitely give the Bluey a shake up. Out of all our senior players this season, he has IMO shown the most consistent on-field leadership. Very vocal and always the first to stick up for his teammates and the young fellas.

Might be a bit of an early call, but he could even be our next captain...

Don't know about Jones, might have been off the ground perhaps? He'd run his guts out all day, no doubt he would've been completely spent.

With only a few minutes to go I heard that he - and Davey - were on the bench.

With only a few minutes to go I heard that he - and Davey - were on the bench.

Bailey is a smart man

Agree with most of the above, but...

I'm wondering what optimism you saw from Bate today, and how Bruce is a true leader despite turning the ball over constantly, but Grimes (in his second game) gets a bit of a serve for a couple of turnovers?

Grimes looks like he's played 100 games already.

Bruce had over 80% in disposal....

He stuffed up his first 3 possies but then had a really great game. Blinkers off please.

Bartram - a great effort

Bate - a little better

Bennell - looks a star

Bruce - better up forward

Davey - played well again

Dunn - another useless performance

Frawley - his absence hurt

Grimes - level-headed performance

Johnson - never gave up

Jones - career best game

Maric - way, way better

Martin - not a ruckman

McDonald - saved by captaincy?

McLean - he's worrying me

Miller - looked quite dangerous

Moloney - strong and tough

Morton - signs of improvement

Petterd - better up ground

Rivers - gonna miss him

Robertson - just one quarter

Sylvia - an OK performance

Warnock - did job well

Bruce had over 80% in disposal....

He stuffed up his first 3 possies but then had a really great game. Blinkers off please.

I never suggested Bruce had a poor game. But Grimes' disposal efficiency was also 82% yesterday, so why does one get judged for his mistakes (in what is his SECOND game), while the other doesn't?

We want to see the club develop kids, but as with Maric last week, or Bennell a few weeks back, we'll have a crack when they stuff up. I thought Grimes was great in just his second game. Calm, collected and poised he stood tall in a very undermanned defence. To not praise him for his efforts, but instead pick on the two solitary mistakes he made by foot, just seems so unfair to me.

I think Grimes shows plenty of promise and was good in patches today in what was only his second game.

But in reality he got towelled up by Le Cras who kicked 3 goals on him and probably should have kicked 6. His performance needs to be put in perspective.

I think Grimes shows plenty of promise and was good in patches today in what was only his second game.

But in reality he got towelled up by Le Cras who kicked 3 goals on him and probably should have kicked 6. His performance needs to be put in perspective.

I thought both Dunn and Petterd spent time on Le Cras, who got a couple of easy goals when left unattended.

I only remember Grimes giving up 1 goal from a direct one-on-one battle with him?? Although it was hard to tell, because the defence became a bit of a mess once Frawley and Rivers finished up.

You may be right Jaded but I thought the three other goals were on Grimes. That's part of the frustration when you are reliant on camera's to do the viewing for you.

Agree with most of the above, but...

I'm wondering what optimism you saw from Bate today, and how Bruce is a true leader despite turning the ball over constantly, but Grimes (in his second game) gets a bit of a serve for a couple of turnovers?

Grimes looks like he's played 100 games already.

Bate was infinitely better on Sunday than he's been in almost any other game this year , thus my ' optimism ' that he may have turned the corner .

IMO Bruce was outstanding on Sunday , and yes he made a few errors , NOT ' turning the ball over constantly ' .

The outstanding aspect of Grimes' game on Sunday was that he turned the ball over at crucial times . I haven't denigrated his overall performance on the day but merely referred to the standout aspect of his game in my 3 word analysis

According to the commentators Bate is Number 2 in the AFL for goal assists for the season to date. So he must be doing something right.

Bate was infinitely better on Sunday than he's been in almost any other game this year , thus my ' optimism ' that he may have turned the corner .

IMO Bruce was outstanding on Sunday , and yes he made a few errors , NOT ' turning the ball over constantly ' .

The outstanding aspect of Grimes' game on Sunday was that he turned the ball over at crucial times . I haven't denigrated his overall performance on the day but merely referred to the standout aspect of his game in my 3 word analysis

Fair enough.

I thought Bruce had a fair game. Ran hard as always and took some really good marks. His endurance is pretty remarkable for a guy in his 30's.

Obviously our idea of what was outstanding about Grimes' game on Sunday differs. I thought it was outstanding that he looked so calm and blended in so seamlessly in just his second game. That he made a couple of big errors by foot was hardly a concern, particularly as most of our players have become experts at stuffing up momentum with horrible turnovers (tanking? )

I think that Maric's game on Sunday was a great example of how a bit of time (or even just a single game) is all a player needs to get a bit of a feel for the game (100% efficiency from Addam), and we can't judge a second gamer on his errors. I doubt he'd make the same ones in 2 or 3 games. Bennell too looked a little lost in his first couple of games, but the glimpses of talent were there. I thought Grimes showed plenty of glimpses too.