Thank goodness we nabbed Joel Macdonald in the off season ...

[Cheesecake 92]

... because he is the only player who can hold his head up high after tonight's debacle. He must be wondering what he's gotten himself into, though. He, and a pretty good performance from the two gun debutants, showed up the rest of the established Melbourne team tonight.

We have a fair bit to work on before the real thing starts, that's for sure.

[1858 285]

I think a few more players can hold their heads up than just MacDonald but I agree on his value to the team. I said it once and I'll say it again, one of our most important pick-ups in quite some time.

[H_T 3,043]

I thought Martin, Rivers, Cheney, Grimes did some good things. I thought Jones & Sylvia also did some good things which led to goals. I thought Petterd added something to the forward line when he replaced Fitzpatrick with the sub rule. Miller did ok, whilst not outstanding. He did convert and led well to provide a target.

I thought the skills let us down (again) and our decision making when in possession also let us down many times. However, there were alot of first and second year players as well as many of the squad who have not played alot of games together. It is very much in it's infancy and results won't happen overnight.

Many have to cool their heels for the time being.

[Cheesecake 92]

I think a few more players can hold their heads up than just MacDonald but I agree on his value to the team. I said it once and I'll say it again, one of our most important pick-ups in quite some time.

Yeah, you're right, 1858. I am probably being a little harsh on a few players, but not adding a lengthy qualification keeps the post short and to the point!

I'll qualify it now by giving apologies to Grimes and Frawley, who both showed enough for us to keep the faith that they will be part of the great resurrection. Jones, Sylvia and Miller showed something in patches, though Miller was equally shocking in others. Jordie and Spencer were good for rookies. And, like I said, Trengove and Scully showed a fair bit, considering how well beaten we were.

Joel really did look good tonight though, didn't he? He really added the experience and calm under fire that we needed, as well as plenty of run. I agree that he will be hugely important for us.

[1858 285]

Joel really did look good tonight though, didn't he? He really added the experience and calm under fire that we needed, as well as plenty of run. I agree that he will be hugely important for us.

He was very good mate and it wasn't just the things he did with the ball or his efforts on opponents or his fantastic effort in general. He also showed the streetwise 1 %ers that we lack. The way he can get the ball out of bounds under pressure without it being called deliberate or back into and bump players subtly enough to take them out of a contest without giving away a free kick. We need more of this basic stuff.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

Sylvia showed something in patches,

What patches were they? He was very ordinary. Miller was serviceable while Jones did have a pretty good game.

Edited February 21, 2010 by LITTLE STINGA

[Cheesecake 92]

What patches were they? He was very ordinary. Miller was surviceable while Jones did have a pretty good game.

I agree he was ordinary early, but thought he showed more as the game went on. Started breaking tackles and generating run, and hitting targets with good handballs to free up players. Then again, I just got back from OS yesterday and am still suffering from chronic jet lag, so I guess I could have been hallucinating.

I thought Miller lead and marked well in patches and generally used the right option when he got it. Jones was pretty good.

[Trisul 664]

Macdonald was good, as was Frawley & Grimes.

Jones and Mcdonald kept trying, to some effect.

[Chook 15,012]

Somebody said "He'll be good for us if we don;t manage to coace all the Brisbane out of him," and I thought "Ha! How true that is!"

[DeeSpencer 25,678]

Thought he was a bit soft in the first quarter - don't know if anyone else agrees with me?

After that he was pretty solid though. Wins some of his own footy and doesn't get destroyed by ordinary forwards, carries the ball well, kicks nicely. But I think we will have days when the majority of thought will be why did we recruit this in between size soft flanker.