Hello

Well this is the draw from hell isn't it - I go to all the home games - which is a bit hard to do, as we haven't had many we can go to. what is the problem - how come Collingwood gets all the good draws and doesn't have to travel - at least we are not playing at Etihad anymore which is good.

Just a point about Sunday's game - once again we didn't man up - why not??? Do they have an aversion to this - are they told to?

It may sound trivial but it's not - and the sooner we remember to do so the better - no good running in when it's too late. We would have lost quite a few games over time doing this. Also where are Wheatley and Woniemera (wrong spellig I know) are they coming back? I would play Watts why not - why wrap him up in cottonwool for heaven's sake - as Tommy Hafey would say to you all - if you can't kick a goal - get off and let someone else come on who can.

And I do not like soft Melbourne fans and all their excuse - so this is why people say we go to the snow, time to be tough, as I have mentioned before the players get paid enough money - I have to say we are playing better I think - tell Robbo not to try and show off as lying on his back to kick the ball doesn't always work - anyhow they did well to catch up as we were 52 points down at one stage.

Cheers Jill Ward

Wow Jill, you certainly have a lot to talk about......

So many answers, so little time. So in short.....Go Dees!!

Wow Jill, you certainly have a lot to talk about......

So many answers, so little time. So in short.....Go Dees!!

Welcome Jill.

I think all of the topics you've mentioned have been covered on one of our threads somewhere.

My pet one is the fixture but you won't get any sympathy from the AFL on the subject. They have no problem at all with giving Collingwood a two game and millions of bucks start with their easy draw, less trips, blockbusters and the like.

I'm actually enjoying all the games at the 'G. The Sunday twilight slot isn't the best but at least we're at the best ground in the land.

As for manning up, that can make for a very defensive stop-start kind of game. And because both are forced to do it, it doesn't automatically favour one team over the other.

Hawthorn play a very distinctive zone type of game, which suits teams who rely on possession and speed. I know it's frustrating when the opposition (say Hawthorn) get possession on their back line and suddenly there are 3 or 4 of their players loose all the way down the wing to their goal. But it cuts both ways. When we get possession, we hopefully have similar loose players and if we're skillful enough we can keep possession through these players (by pin-point handpasses and kicks) and onto the chest of our leading forwards.

Watch how Melbourne are moving the ball, we usually aim to have players loose and move the ball quickly through the centre corridor. Which is an attacking style, guaranteed to give you best chance to win games. Once the skills of pin-point handballs and kicks get better. It's a style that should eventually challenge for a flag. And if while we're learning and developing the necessary skills to implement it we lose some close games, then that's just the price for ultimate success.

I'm happy with our game plan as it's developing, some of our passages of play are a delight and hopefully those exciting plays get more and more with each game. And the stuff-ups (that can lead to loose opposition players destroying us) get less and less.

What was your other point Jill.. soft Melb fans making smart-alex comments about the snow. Yep, hate that. Walking to the 'G on Sunday, there was a group of us Melb supporters together and another Melb supporter thought he was being clever by shouting "not been a good week for the snow". It made me cringe.

And you are absolutely right Jill, we're definitely playing better. So enjoy!

Collingwood might be a rubbish football team, but they still draw the numbers (even if they are down this year) and as long as they do, it makes sense that the bigger teams play in Melbourne, in the bigger stadiums. Until we lift our game as a supporter group, our fixtures won't improve. That said, I think we've got a reasonably good draw this year. Okay, so we play Geelong, Bulldogs, Hawthorn and St Kilda in a matter of 5 rounds, but at least we're playing in Melbourne.

As for manning up, that can make for a very defensive stop-start kind of game. And because both are forced to do it, it doesn't automatically favour one team over the other.

Hawthorn play a very distinctive zone type of game, which suits teams who rely on possession and speed. I know it's frustrating when the opposition (say Hawthorn) get possession on their back line and suddenly there are 3 or 4 of their players loose all the way down the wing to their goal. But it cuts both ways. When we get possession, we hopefully have similar loose players and if we're skillful enough we can keep possession through these players (by pin-point handpasses and kicks) and onto the chest of our leading forwards.

Watch how Melbourne are moving the ball, we usually aim to have players loose and move the ball quickly through the centre corridor. Which is an attacking style, guaranteed to give you best chance to win games. Once the skills of pin-point handballs and kicks get better. It's a style that should eventually challenge for a flag. And if while we're learning and developing the necessary skills to implement it we lose some close games, then that's just the price for ultimate success.

I'm happy with our game plan as it's developing, some of our passages of play are a delight and hopefully those exciting plays get more and more with each game. And the stuff-ups (that can lead to loose opposition players destroying us) get less and less.

Yeah, agreed. It doesn't matter how many loose players the opposition might have. These days, the game is so much about hitting up a leading forward, inside 50 and if Hawthorn have free men on the wing, this will mean we will have 3 or 4 spare in our defense and if the opposition turn it over (like Hawthorn did, with surprising regularity the other night), we can stream with numbers through the middle. It's good old counter attacking, modern day football. Not always good on the eye, but when it comes off it sure is. We just need to develop our forwardline, with Watts and these types and in a few years, we'll be a great shot at a flag. Bailey's game plan is finally coming to fruition.

What was your other point Jill.. soft Melb fans making smart-alex comments about the snow. Yep, hate that. Walking to the 'G on Sunday, there was a group of us Melb supporters together and another Melb supporter thought he was being clever by shouting "not been a good week for the snow". It made me cringe.

And you are absolutely right Jill, we're definitely playing better. So enjoy!

I haven't heard Melbourne supporters saying it. I know it was started by Collingwood and Eddie, on the Footy Show a few years back (2004, I think?), but I've only ever heard opposition supporters saying it, not our own. Apparently, there is at least one idiot out there.

And I do not like soft Melbourne fans and all their excuse - so this is why people say we go to the snow

Seems it might now be, "must be the dry season... on safari in the top end!!" Jill, don't breathe a word of that suggestion off of this forum, we don't want that one doing the rounds :D