ETIHAD DREAMTIME

[Demonland 73,140]

ETIHAD DREAMTIME by the Oracle

I feel sorry for Essendon coach Matthew Knights and his team of Bombers.

They ventured out to Etihad Stadium last night with a well prepared game plan which they executed properly with all the necessary due skill, enthusiasm and a winning attitude. The team played well, dominated the first and third quarters of the game, coasted in the last and even ticked most of the boxes with the umpires who obligingly handed them the first three goals on a silver platter and generally looked after them well during the game. After two and a half hours of blood, sweat and very few tears, they took home the four premiership points on offer, grabbed a place in the top eight at the expense of the reigning premiers and had some much-needed momentum to take with them in the run home to the end of the season and possibly into the finals.

So why is it that I feel sorry for Essendon?

Because, basically the Bombers would have absolutely no idea after last night's game as to where they stand in the AFL scheme of things. The team they beat, Melbourne, is certainly not the sort of opponent you can use as a measuring stick when your next opponent is a lean, hungry opponent like Carlton which is desperate for a win. In other words, if you want to test your strength and ability, you simply can't do it against a disorganised rabble playing with seemingly no purpose and no discipline.

The Demons can trot out their excuses - their youth, injuries, swine flu, tiredness, the umpires etc. The fact of the matter is they are a long way off being even competitive or up to the standard of the competition.

After a relatively competitive first half, the third quarter, known by many as "the premiership quarter", demonstrated Melbourne's ineptness. Essendon controlled the play at will while their opponents stood around like stale bottles of you know what. The Bombers had three goals in the first five minutes of that term while the Dees took an extraordinary and shameful 16 minutes to venture into attack for the first time. Luckily, a very tired looking Russell Robertson was able to manage a goal on that occasion; his team's only score for the quarter. The final term was all junk time and afforded Demon fans plenty of time to head home early. I for one was not prepared to hang around or find refuge in Etihad's overpriced bars and food stalls.

While the Bombers had veterans in Scott Lucas and Matthew Lloyd (three goals each) and Dustin Fletcher (close to best on ground), the Demons had youth and that was simply not enough.

Debutant Liam Jurrah stirred up some excitement both at Etihad and Yuedumu and should have had three goals on the board by the second quarter and not just the one. He showed a few glimpses of the magic he's capable of producing and left Demon fans licking their lips at the prospect of seeing more in the future.

Jack Grimes and Jack Watts also managed to produce the opening goals of their careers. The latter might have scored more had there been some rules or a system in place mandating that you pass the ball to the forward who's in the clear and has made position nicely. Presumably, they have such things as game plans and team rules at Brighton Grammar. Apparently, at the MFC they do not.

James Frawley continued to show improvement with a rock solid game. He managed to quell Lloyd's influence after a purple patch and was a shining light in defence. Stef Martin did well plugging gaps all over the place but Cale Morton, Jamie Bennell, Kyle Cheney and Neville Jetta were disappointing. Sadly, they didn't have too many older and wiser heads to show them the way.

Of the more established Melbourne players, one of the few entitled to hold his head high was Brad Green who showed great skill and courage and looked a footballer in beating the dangerous Andrew Lovett. Others in Aaron Davey, Cameron Bruce, Brock McLean, Brent Moloney and Colin Sylvia were adequate but not world beaters.

Aside from that, Melbourne's performance was highlighted by a distinct lack of pressure on the opposition, the usual high number of turnovers, skill errors and poor decision making.

And if you asked me for one word that would best describe the whole mess, you would have to be dreaming if it was anything other than "abysmal".

Melbourne 3.2.20 8.3.51 9.3.57 13.5.83

Essendon 6.3.39 10.7.77 17.13.115 19.17.131

Goals

Melbourne Bate Miller Robertson Watts 2 Bruce Grimes Jetta Jurrah Martin

Essendon Lloyd Lucas 3 Davey Lonergan McVeigh Monfries Skipworth 2 Hooker Watson Winderlich

Best

Melbourne Green Grimes Frawley Davey Bruce Sylvia

Essendon Fletcher Watson Lucas McVeigh Prismall Dempsey Hooker

Injuries Nil

Changes Nil

Report M McVeigh (Essendon) reported for striking J Rivers (Melbourne) by field umpire McLaren in the third quarter

Umpires McLaren Ryan James

Official Crowd 45,470 at Etihad Stadium

[Mister Ed 317]

ETIHAD DREAMTIME by the Oracle

Jack Grimes and Jack Watts also managed to produce the opening goals of their careers. The latter might have scored more had there been some rules or a system in place mandating that you pass the ball to the forward who's in the clear and has made position nicely. Presumably, they have such things as game plans and team rules at Brighton Grammar. Apparently, at the MFC they do not.

Love that

[45HG 1,559]

Premiership Quarter:

Melbourne - 24.20: 164 13.66(points p/q)

Opposition - 52.48: 360 30

ROUND 1 3.1 - 4.2 Loss 7 points (quarter), Loss 34 points (match), 21% (of the margin)

ROUND 2 2.2 - 6.4 Loss 26 points, Loss 53 points, 49%

ROUND 3 3.1 - 6.7 Loss 24 points, Loss 57 points, 42%

ROUND 4 3.4 - 4.1 Loss 3 points, Won 8 points, 27% (of possible margin)

ROUND 5 1.3 - 1.1 Win 2 points, Loss 17 points, -11%

ROUND 6 2.1 - 3.9 Loss 14 points, Loss 43 points, 33%

ROUND 7 3.0 - 4.5 Loss 11 points, Loss 8 points, 136%

ROUND 8 1.1 - 3.4 Loss 15 points, Loss 7 points, 214%

ROUND 9 4.4 - 5.2 Loss 4 points, Loss 22 points, 18%

ROUND 10 0.0 - 3.3 Loss 21 points, Loss 37 points, 57%

ROUND 11 1.3 - 6.4 Loss 33 points, Loss 66 points, 50%

ROUND 12 1.0 - 7.6 Loss 42 points, Loss 48 points, 88%

Percentage - 45.56

Won one quarter - 1.3 to 1.1 against the Crows.

In total this season we have lost by 384 points. We have lost 3rd quarters by 196, which is more than half of the total points of our losses.

This needs to be improved!!!!!

[titan_uranus 25,043]

Premiership Quarter:

Melbourne - 24.20: 164

Opposition - 52.48: 360

ROUND 1 3.1 - 4.2 Loss 7 points (quarter), Loss 34 points (match), 21% (of the margin)

ROUND 2 2.2 - 6.4 Loss 26 points, Loss 53 points, 49%

ROUND 3 3.1 - 6.7 Loss 24 points, Loss 57 points, 42%

ROUND 4 3.4 - 4.1 Loss 3 points, Won 8 points, 27% (of possible margin)

ROUND 5 1.3 - 1.1 Win 2 points, Loss 17 points, -11%

ROUND 6 2.1 - 3.9 Loss 14 points, Loss 43 points, 33%

ROUND 7 3.0 - 4.5 Loss 11 points, Loss 8 points, 136%

ROUND 8 1.1 - 3.4 Loss 15 points, Loss 7 points, 214%

ROUND 9 4.4 - 5.2 Loss 4 points, Loss 22 points, 18%

ROUND 10 0.0 - 3.3 Loss 21 points, Loss 37 points, 57%

ROUND 11 1.3 - 6.4 Loss 33 points, Loss 66 points, 50%

ROUND 12 1.0 - 7.6 Loss 42 points, Loss 48 points, 88%

Percentage - 45.56

Won one quarter - 1.3 to 1.1 against the Crows.

In total this season we have lost by 384 points. We have lost 3rd quarters by 196, which is more than half of the total points of our losses.

This needs to be improved!!!!!

Agree totally. Though for me it's not so much the margin that we lose the 3rd quarters by, it's the fact that we don't score enough in those quarters. 2 goals in the last 3 3rd quarters. Never more than 4 goals in a third quarter. Whenever we play reasonably well in the first half or in the second quarter leading up to half time, the opposition ramps the pressure up in the third, and we buckle badly. Then Bailey resorts to moving numbers behind the ball, which destroys any chance of us actually scoring (or even heading inside 50).

[Apocalypse XXXI 243]

Agree totally. Though for me it's not so much the margin that we lose the 3rd quarters by, it's the fact that we don't score enough in those quarters. 2 goals in the last 3 3rd quarters. Never more than 4 goals in a third quarter. Whenever we play reasonably well in the first half or in the second quarter leading up to half time, the opposition ramps the pressure up in the third, and we buckle badly. Then Bailey resorts to moving numbers behind the ball, which destroys any chance of us actually scoring (or even heading inside 50).

Desperate times call for desperate measures. There was an item earlier this week about Melbourne players undergoing hypnotism and Aussie Wonaeamirri even thought he was a soldier when put under hypnotism.

Perhaps the club could engage the services of a hypnotist to get the players to actually play at their best - especially in the third quarter of games when they've been going to sleep lately?

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Could Bailey's half time talks be that boring? The players look like spectators for the first 10 minutes of most 3rd quarters. Are they asleep?

[45HG 1,559]

16.13 - 2.3 our last 3 Third quarters

[deanox 9,989]

Agree totally. Though for me it's not so much the margin that we lose the 3rd quarters by, it's the fact that we don't score enough in those quarters. 2 goals in the last 3 3rd quarters. Never more than 4 goals in a third quarter. Whenever we play reasonably well in the first half or in the second quarter leading up to half time, the opposition ramps the pressure up in the third, and we buckle badly. Then Bailey resorts to moving numbers behind the ball, which destroys any chance of us actually scoring (or even heading inside 50).

last night the reason out numbers were so far up the ground is because the essendon players dropped a wall a kick behind play once the ball moved into their forward half. we had an extra 3 around the ball, but they had all the players loose. to stop that, our forwards pushed up and manned up in the midfield, so they didn't have a wall. as a result, they had a spare 3 men in our forward line.

wouldn't have been interesting to see what happened if our mids had of dropped back.

[titan_uranus 25,043]

last night the reason out numbers were so far up the ground is because the essendon players dropped a wall a kick behind play once the ball moved into their forward half. we had an extra 3 around the ball, but they had all the players loose. to stop that, our forwards pushed up and manned up in the midfield, so they didn't have a wall. as a result, they had a spare 3 men in our forward line.

Fair enough. But whether it's the fault of the midfielders or the defenders or the coaches doesn't really matter.

[Demonland 73,140]

Whenever we play reasonably well in the first half or in the second quarter leading up to half time, the opposition ramps the pressure up in the third, and we buckle badly. Then Bailey resorts to moving numbers behind the ball, which destroys any chance of us actually scoring (or even heading inside 50).

You seem to be suggesting that it's the opposition coaches who are instigating the tactic each week and we simply respond by going completely negative every week. However, if that was the case then surely our coaches would have twigged that it doesn't work for us and come up with another strategy.

I tend to think that the negative tactics are our own pre- conceived plan to minimise the damage when opposition sides get on top of a young team with immature bodies and which tires under the pace and the pressure of a game. If this is the case, then I'd like to see some different tactics adopted in the last half of matches.

On a lighter note, I'd even run with the hypnotism option. I heard that Richard Tambling started undergoing hypnotherapy after he was dropped to Coburg a while ago and since then he's returned to the Richmond team and is in career best form. The Toigs have won 2 out of 3 games in that time!

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

From what I've seen this year we seem to be playing without a small crumbing forward. Allowing Aussie is out and Flash`s work across half back and through the guts is too valuable we seldom have a small forward. Maric has played in the forward line but hasn't really crumbed. Jetta is another option in the absence of Aussie. our forward line is tallish, Bate, Miller, Watts, Jurrah, Robbo (plays tall) when the ball is not marked and goes to ground it is cleared far too easily. DB is too smart to not be aware of this and hence, is aiding the tanking process.

[titan_uranus 25,043]

You seem to be suggesting that it's the opposition coaches who are instigating the tactic each week and we simply respond by going completely negative every week. However, if that was the case then surely our coaches would have twigged that it doesn't work for us and come up with another strategy.

I tend to think that the negative tactics are our own pre- conceived plan to minimise the damage when opposition sides get on top of a young team with immature bodies and which tires under the pace and the pressure of a game. If this is the case, then I'd like to see some different tactics adopted in the last half of matches.

I don't think it's the opposition, I think it's us. You worded it better though.

When I said that the opposition ramps up the pressure, I meant that when we start to fall behind on the scoreboard we revert to a defensive plan. But I agree that these defensive maneouvres are our own strategies (i.e. that Bailey thinks the best way to mitigate scoreboard damage is to flood). I'd much prefer us to stick to a positive, attacking strategy. We've seen all year that this idea that putting numbers behind the ball doesn't work. We must try something different. If it was up to me, the first thing I'd do is ensure that there are always 3 or 4 forwards forward of the half-way line.

[deanox 9,989]

I have only seen us go defensive when we get smashed, and have not yet seen us try for an all out attacking situation.

Alot of our goals in these times seem to come from, getting the ball in defence (spare men or what ever), limited options going forward, means a turnover in the centre, and because we had loose men in our back line, they are all out of position (ie not attacking, nor responsible for their direct opponent) which means when the attack fails because we have no players to kick to, the opposition are unmarked and are able to run forward amidst the confusion.

i think we should be trying to play more man on man footy. if the oppositon leaves players a kick behind play, we should follow them out. at most have one spare man behind the ball.

and similarly i think we need to lift our workrate when we clear the ball from defence, i think at times the players mill about and don't offer options. i am not sure if there is a clear game plan for 'what to do when you win the ball in defence and we are flooding'.

[titan_uranus 25,043]

i think we should be trying to play more man on man footy. if the oppositon leaves players a kick behind play, we should follow them out. at most have one spare man behind the ball.

Agree. When we go man on man, we look better.

[w00dy 146]

I don't mind us going defensive when the opposition are on top of us... However, you've got to have some sort of forward line...

At one point in the 3rd quarter, we had a boundary throw in on our half forward flank, probably about 75m from goal... We did not have one player inside the forward 50, I think we may have had one player slightly forward of the pack... How are we meant to score when we have no players in our forward 50, when the ball is only 75 metres from goal?

[Je Roos Salem 661]

In my opinion I thought Jetta played too far up the ground for the whole game- pretty much in the midfield. Also, I think Davey needs to play in the forward pocket or at least half forward because I think he will be more of a use there, after seeing his shocking handpass in the back half which gave his brother a goal. I agree that Maric hasn't proved much as a crumbing forward, but I think Wonaeamirri will be the wild card when he returns.

[Real Demon 232]

I reckon the way the forward line has been structured all year has aided the tanking process, as has the team selection on Friday night!

I told a mate of mine who is a Bombers supporter (who was worried they were playing us) that from the team selected, there was no way in hell we would beat the Bombes on Friday night.

I'm not sure why people were suprised by the result..........it was orchestrated from our end!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

In my opinion I thought Jetta the whole forward line played too far up the ground for the whole game- pretty much in the midfield.

There's your problem.

Small and crumbing forwards are very much underrated on here.

[deanox 9,989]

i think clint, our biggest problem is that our medium forwards: robbo and bate, are particularly inept at playing the defensive forward role when its their turn. miller and watts (the last two weeks) and players like newton neitz etc are large players who are usually not great with the forward pressure.

most clubs then have 1-2 small forwards (which we don't have I agree) and 1-2 medium size forwards who are both able to apply pressure, crumb and keep the ball in.

our medium forwards play like talls, using strength and marking, not like smalls who can roam and crumb as well. we don't have that versatility in the forward line that enables us to keep the ball in. this has been a problem imo for a few years.

playing 4 talls is great if you kick it too them well, but if the midfields kicking is poor, and the ball doesn't go to advantage, the forwards (especially medium forwards who play tall, who have the advantage over most medium defenders when the ball is in the air) loose their advantage as the defenders are quick and more agile.

watts has shown to be reasonably flexible. but we need to play 2 permanent crumbers to counter the top heavy medium players, or find medium forwards who can rove and crumb as well.

[Toad33 57]

from what ive seen this year we seem to be playing without a small crumbing forward. allowing Aussie is out and Flash`s work across half back and through the guts is too valuable we seldom have a small forward. Maric has played in the forward line but hasnt really crumbed. Jetta is another option in the absence of Aussie. our forward line is tallish, Bate Miller Watts Jurrah Robbo(plays tall) when the ball is not marked and goes to ground it is cleared far too easily. DB is too smart to not be aware of this , hence aiding the tanking process

MFC Tanking?

Al get it right please.

Not tanking just 'working to aquire compensation for an AFL sanctioned football landscape designed to make MFC success, and respect, all but impossible'.

Go Dees - Building for the Future.

[The Russian 0]

Lack of a crumbing forward has annoyed me this year as well. Wonaeamirri is our only true crumber. Jetta and Maric were drafted as forwards who will push into the midfield. The sooner we get Wona back the better. In the meantime it would be nice if they left Jetta deep.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Jeez we miss Wonna. His out makes a huge difference to our aspirations for a PP...

[DaveyJones'sLocker 647]

for me the concerning thing is i dont think we are tanking

and if we dont start winning games... next season is not looking very good either

[rpfc 28,779]

for me the concerning thing is i dont think we are tanking

and if we dont start winning games... next season is not looking very good either

Since Rd 6 we have played Geelong, WCE (Subi), WB, Hawthorn, St Kilda, Collingwood, and Essendon (Etihad).

We have looked bad in the first half against the Hawks, the second half against the Saints, the entire Collingwood game and the 3rd quarter against the Bombers.

I expected to win none of these games, I expected us to look awful in some of these games. We are, after all the worst team in the league.

The narrative, which the more malleable of you easily buy into, has been moulded by the games with the most TV exposure and the most recent games: both of which happen to be disappointing games against Collingwood and Essendon.

I see next season in the games against WCE, WB, the second half against the Hawks and the first half against the Saints, and the brave effort against a very good Geelong.

[Real Demon 232]

for me the concerning thing is i dont think we are tanking

and if we dont start winning games... next season is not looking very good either

We may not be officially tanking, but we are playing a multiple of players clearly not ready to play senior football at this stage.

In the end, we get the same result!