In round 22 last year we played the Saints and for little bits, actually dominated them

this video

shows our best bits

things to note are:

- high efficiency (even spencer hits a pinpoint pass through traffic)

- constant movement and runners at angles from behind to keep the ball moving forward and avoid our usual stalls and flat-footedness

- lots of pressure and strong tackling

- winning the clearances (through jamar)

- forward line performing

Why can't we replicate this every week?

Our players obviously know how to do it, but for some reason we just don't do it on game day the majority of the time

If we can play like this against most teams there is no reason we cant win 7-8 games

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.We can play like that but we can't do it consistently yet,consistency is our weakness atm.Secondly Mclean,Robbo,Wheatley,Jurrah,Sylvia all played that day,that's a 1/4 of the team and bucketloads of experience that has been replaced by 3 first gamers and Grimes (12 games experience between them).

I believe when we get players back and become more settled and get some continuity,we will surprise a few teams this year.There will come a time when everything will just click and we jell together,the gameplan becomes second nature and we can maintain intensity for 4 quarters,at the moment that seems a lifetime away.

It will come.

Great video. Interesting the majority of the highlights involved Jurrah and Sylvia, neither of whom have played yet. Also there were flashes from Jetta, Morton and Cheney who also haven't played. Then Dennis Commetti commented on how well the Dees were coached and the Ox said yes he is highly regarded down at Melbourne.

It is amazing the difference from our last game last year and our first this year. I am convinced that with gametime for our younger players and the return of others like LJ, the two Colin's, Morton, Aussie and the blooding of a few more like Blease, Tapscott, Gysberts etc we will improve dramatically in the second half of the year

In round 22 last year we played the Saints and for little bits, actually dominated them

Why can't we replicate this every week?

Our players obviously know how to do it, but for some reason we just don't do it on game day the majority of the time

If we can play like this against most teams there is no reason we cant win 7-8 games

In that game, we held them for half a game, and could have done so for longer had the coach not switched into tanking mode - players shifted all over the place, and the emphasis clearly on whether the retiring threesome could score some goals for the last time. It was almost comic, light-hearted in the second half. Riewoldt's goals were as soft as you'll ever see, as were some of his frees.

It was almost as if there had been a decision to try to show St.K. we could play but not to win. As other posters have noted, the team was weakened by injury, but really took it up to the Saints, who I think were genuinely surprised by the efficiency of our play. Frawley gave Riewoldt a towelling equal to that Jurrah gave his opponents, but after that they were moved around.

The performance in that game is one of the reasons I've been so disappointed in things this year; they appear to have gone backwards.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.We can play like that but we can't do it consistently yet,consistency is our weakness atm.Secondly Mclean,Robbo,Wheatley,Jurrah,Sylvia all played that day,that's a 1/4 of the team and bucketloads of experience that has been replaced by 3 first gamers and Grimes (12 games experience between them).

Exactly. Every single passage of play in that package included at least one player not playing today.

At others mentioned, we had so many players that day not playing today.

But we also had a forward line. The movements of the ball by hand were good, but they worked because players looked up and had targets forward of the centre.

Jurrah being one of those makes a hell of a difference, but I'd hope today that our mids can take the ball at half back, look up, and have someone to aim for.

Melbourne had options forward of the ball and they kicked it to them.

EDIT: That tap by Spencer to McLean was brilliant.

gave me the chills

Hope to see plenty of that today, sad to see Robbo, Jurrah, Sylvia & Brock aint in the side..

Melbourne had options forward of the ball and they kicked it to them.

EDIT: That tap by Spencer to McLean was brilliant.

The tap was brilliant but haven't seen it repeated. As I have said elsewhere on demonland, Spencer needs ruck coaching and plenty of it. His timing is completely off. Watch him today and you will see that when the ball is actually tapped out by his opponent, he is standing flat footed having jumped way too early.

In round 22 last year we played the Saints and for little bits, actually dominated them

this video

shows our best bits

things to note are:

- high efficiency (even spencer hits a pinpoint pass through traffic)

- constant movement and runners at angles from behind to keep the ball moving forward and avoid our usual stalls and flat-footedness

- lots of pressure and strong tackling

- winning the clearances (through jamar)

- forward line performing

Why can't we replicate this every week?

Our players obviously know how to do it, but for some reason we just don't do it on game day the majority of the time

If we can play like this against most teams there is no reason we cant win 7-8 games

I watched that one and the great comeback against Freo. Who was the dominator in that comeback? BRAD MILLER!!!!!! Who is not playing today? Mr Miller. Oh well........