Lamenting with a fellow demon punter on Saturday morning about our insipid effort from half time last night, we got to talking about our third quarters.

So far we have one third quarter for the year and that was when we out scored Adelaide (in that high scoring game) 9 to 7 - we won the quarter by two points having scored just 3 points in the two previous quarters

In the last three matches we have scored a TOTAL of 15 points in third quarter and conceded 109 points. For the year we have scored 164 points in the third quarter and conceded 360 points at a percentage of 45.56.

A quarter by quarter points scored analysis is as follows (and hardly surprising considering our ladder position and our the number of games won!!):

1st qtr FOR 210 AGAINST 306 PERCENTAGE 68.6%

2nd qtr FOR 270 AGAINST 352 PERCENTAGE 76.7%

3rd qtr FOR 164 AGAINST 360 PERCENTAGE 45.6%

4th qtr FOR 239 AGAINST 249 PERCENTAGE 96.0%

Looking at this basic data, our first and third quarters are insipid - just what is happening pre match and at half time????

Other (useless) data includes:

So far this year we have had TWELVE quarters when we have scored less than 10 points in that quarter. Only twice have we kept the opposition to less than 10 points in a quarter.

So far this year we have only scored 40 points or more in a quarter twice (Richmond and Port Adelaide) and have conceded 40 points in a quarter eight times.

There is still a long way to go - the backline has battled well considering how often the ball has been there. As for the midfield and forward line..........

We have won a total of 14 quarters for the year - three in the first, four in the second, one in the third and six in the last.

The above are only some of the key indicators on how a team is performing and they certainly reflect where our ladder position currently is.

The most urgent issue is - how can an AFL side score only 15 points in total during the third quarter over the last three weeks?????????????

Not a useless stat at all, it's very enlightening.

Our third quarters have been pathetic.

My view on this, as I've posted many times, is that we seize up after HT because each player doesn't want to be the one to take the game on lest he screw up and it hurts the other way.

What that does is give the opposition the upper hand with our lack of run and daring play; leaves us (the defence) constantly under the pump and they give up goals.

I really want to see more confidence in the older boys eyes after HT when they run onto the field and instead of a mantra of worrying about your direct man, tell the players to go out there and win the game and get to the footy before their direct opposition.

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.

Wish Bailey could talk with Norm Smith right now!! Norm would know the answer-Reading the "Red Fox" as we speak-what an epic read

Wonder if Demetriou has Read it so he knows what our club stands for???

Baileys biggest job this year from now on is to improve the 3rd Q output all over the ground...

Good stats. Well done for putting them together.

Our last 3 matches, our 3rd quarters have combined for 64% of our losses.

Indeed, our last 7 matches, we've lost by 188 points and lost our 3rd quarters by 126 - 67%

Out of left field 'solution' for our pathetic third quarters - don't go back into the rooms at half time - coz whatever is being done or said inside the rooms at half time is CLEARLY not working - maybe watching the little leaguers may embarass the team to perform

And yes this is a ridiculous 'solution' - and so have our third quarters

Melbourne - 24.23: 167 12.86(points p/q)

Opposition - 56.54: 390 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%

ROUND 13 0.3 - 4.6 Loss 27 points, Loss 55 points, 49%

Percentage - 42.82

Won one quarter - 1.3 to 1.1 against the Crows.

In total this season we have lost by 439 points. We have lost 3rd quarters by 223, which is more than half of the total points of our losses.

The last four weeks

2.6: 18

20.19: 139