Hows it looking?

[Summer Blease 0]

Always love a win!!! Great for confidence etc. In saying that I feel it was a somewhat fortuitous win, as we did get the 'rub of the green' for once re umpiring decisions, and Adelaid took a battering personnel wise.

In essence we stumbled across the line. I am happy that we won and thrilled with some individual performances, but I hate to say if we were up against stronger opposition today we would have been pumped. Very low scoring affair and it is so apparent we lack a permanent strong bodied forward with skill it is not funny.

BASIC SKILL ERRORS UNDER PRESSURE ARE THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUBS DOWNFALL.

BASIC SKILL ERRORS UNDER PRESSURE ARE KILLING US!!! Not only do they create turnovers and opposition scoring opportunities- they also put the clamps on momentum. These are basic errors- handballing out of ideal reach, missing short targets by foot, marking, finding space.. all the basics we plain suck at and today’s win was unglamorously grinded out.

I heard Dennis say something a while ago.. “if it’s not perfection, it comes undone”... so so pertinent... our basic skill errors under pressure are KILLING us... they are basic!! With that out of the way...

- With Green in the forward line we look ALOT better. Problem is this is also true when he's back..

- The Dunn experiment is drawing to a close... I can't see him making it forward... what else can he offer?

- Bennell played a blinder today and deserves alot of applause. I am happy for him making me look the fool!

- Jamar is tapping beautifully and if we let this ruckman go I am going to loose faith in our culture.

- Usual suspects good today, kids good, lack of genuine, full time, big bodied skilled forward obvious.

Overall- happy with a win of course, concerned with SKILL ERRORS UNDER PRESSURE. We need to get this sorted!! I have faith in our kids, and it's going to rock when we become more calm in the heat of the battle. Can't wait till Richmond next week!! Go Dees!!!

[P-man 13,366]

We still have some problems up front. Let's be honest, Adelaide were a shambles today. A better side would have put us to bed after we failed to take advantage of our possession. A big strong marking forward is desperately needed.

[Jack7 528]

You bloody Ripsnorter,well done guys.

Well done to Bails for tinkering with the gameplan at half time.The Crows weren't allowing us to use the corridor this week and in the second half we played wider for a 6 goals to 1 second half.The Birdman looked like winning the game off his own boot early,then Frawley moved onto him for 57 minutes and he had 3 further touches.Grimes' rebounding from 50 was an amazing display of composed maturity beyond his years,well done Jack.

So many Demon outfits of the last decade would have rolled over today but the spirit and character being displayed is something i haven't seen for a long time.

Bring on the Tiges, 2-2!!!

Edited April 11, 2010 by Jack7

[Cards13 9,117]

Really ugly game of soccer, basketball, netball sorry I mean footy today. I thought Adelaide's lack of fwd options would create problems for them during the preseason and now it's killing them.

Bail has improved dramatically. Bennell using his pace and his 2nd efforts a highlight. Junior's taclking. Chip was brilliant once he moved onto Burton. Burton was Adelaide's only way to goal and once Chipper went to him Adelaide were stuffed. Chipper's ability to stop in the air then run off either finding a target by foot or creating space is a pleasure to see.

Bater and Bruce were both good after half time. To say other wise well we just all see different things.

The thing to take out of the game is two weeks in a row our talking and pressure on the ball carrier has been fantastic. Hopefully the rollercoaster can keep going up for another week or two.

If things had of fallen our way we could be 2-1!!!

[Cards13 9,117]

BASIC SKILL ERRORS UNDER PRESSURE ARE THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUBS DOWNFALL.

BASIC SKILL ERRORS UNDER PRESSURE ARE KILLING US!!! Not only do they create turnovers and opposition scoring opportunities- they also put the clamps on momentum. These are basic errors- handballing out of ideal reach, missing short targets by foot, marking, finding space.. all the basics we plain suck at and today’s win was unglamorously grinded out.

I heard Dennis say something a while ago.. “if it’s not perfection, it comes undone”... so so pertinent... our basic skill errors under pressure are KILLING us... they are basic!! With that out of the way...

Nost this will continue to be the case for some time. The likes of Newts, Dunn, Bruce, Junior etc who are not good by hand and certainly poor by foot will be around for another year or two as the younger ones develop. I hope the younger ones learning curve is decreasing and there skill level can increase to have us moving up the ladder in the next few seasons.

Anything more than that is a bonus I'd think.

PS forgot to mention before gee wizz didn't Newts start off on fire!! 4 possies in his 1st 5 mins on the ground, looked good. Leading, providing a good target, chasing, taclking, harrassing. But wow he fell away badly from that point. He can provide a small glimpse then looks ugly again from there.

[Jack7 528]

We still have some problems up front. Let's be honest, Adelaide were a shambles today. A better side would have put us to bed after we failed to take advantage of our possession. A big strong marking forward is desperately needed.

Yes,but to win without a forward is a great sign.