Im not surprised we lost today as this season we will have ups and downs. Mind you I was expecting to win and I was very disappointed. But losing will put us back on track and focus I hope. Winning 3 in a row the media were building us up more, talking finals, talking about our youngsters and how good they are which isn't a bad thing but some people may got ahead of themselves.

If I was told at the start of the season we would be 3-3 and beat brisbane and adelaide(I would have expected us to beat Richmond) I would have taken that and been happy with that. We are playing exciting footy and we will lose games along the way but at least we are improving. Id rather be a melbourne fan than an Adelaide one right now.

... Id rather be a melbourne fan than an Adelaide one right now.

or Richmond, Hawthorn or West Coast for that matter.

it could have been a hell of a lot worse, after that first half

it could have been a hell of a lot worse, after that first half

hell yeah, if NM could kick, it would have been a very sorry scoreboard. And I doubt Melb would have had that spurt in the 3rd.

I expected us to lose it, and I honestly I can think of far worse things, as the degree of the media spotlight this early on in the season was beginning to feel a bit sickening. This allows us to resettle and look at our entire list to see exactly where we're at.

A positive is that we did not capitulate but really gave the other mob a fright after looking like we might go down by 10 goals.

There was not the spread and control through the middle we had last few weeks and maybe some of that is down to Norf's stronger bodies.

I thought it was key that Jamar was not able to control the ruck the way he has recently. They had three very tall rucks and the Russian was giving away 7cms at least to McIntosh.

We should have finished closer than we did but the umpiring in the last term was schoolyard stuff. That free to Hale for holding when HE was doing the holding, and that so soft one - well no it was simply WRONG - to Wells when he ran into Joel Mac who had eyes only for the ball was an absolute Barry Crocker.

It hurts to lose to mobs like Norf but it gives us a reminder we are a long way off yet, but we know the improvement is there in the players.