Reality Check

[Demon3 2,541]

Today's disaster is a timely reality check of where we are as a football team.

We are young, and our best is great to watch, but our worst is awful, and that will be the case until we get games into our young guys. Simple as that.

46 points is a disgrace on our home ground. Players went missing today and that is really disapointing.

All our good early work this season can be undone with crap like today. For all those who talk finals, wake up. If this team cannot beat the Eagles at the MCG then we are still a very long way to go.

Faith must be kept, and it will, but we have to be better than today.

[Chook 15,023]

Absolutely. But it wasn't just our young guys who were bad today. Davey, Sylvia, Rivers, Johnson; all these players and more were really disappointing.

[Demon3 2,541]

Agreed. I guess i meant that our young kids will suffer ups and downs, but yes our senior core needs to better that that!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

I was working today, so I only got to see a few bits on the AFL website and the last few minutes on the radio. Seemed from what I could see that we were back to overusing the ball at half back and handballing in circles with no targets up forward. IS that about what everyone else saw?

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,346]

Sylvia's been rubbish in all our 3 losses.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Davey, Bate and Bruce who have all been big movers this year, and all came off in the end hurt. Bate ankle, Davey got smashed in the scon, and Bruce may have nicked his hammy.

[Gandalf46 133]

Just like the North game - we seemed to switch off/lack intensity against a non-contender. McDonald can hold his head up high - Sylvia and PJ were ordinary - Davey seemed injured.

[Hardnut 327]

Some of you may hate this, but face the facts (and think of the good teams as you read):

- too much handball, not enough kicking

- poor team selection and placement

- poor match day coaching

We basically have the players, but they need good development and coaching.

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

[Jaded No More 68,976]

Inconsistencies are to be expected but today the inconsistency in intensity between Melbourne and WC was unacceptable.

We didn't come out wanting the ball.

Really disappointed particularly in some of the guys who have been around for a while. Sylvia was terrible, PJ is a poor poor footballer and as much as I've been a great fan of Rivers, he is really struggling. His lack of pace is so glaring and costly.

Of the kids I thought McKenzie was brilliant and Grimes as always is superb. Junior as always was leading from the front.

We played like crap and had little intensity at the ball. I know we had some injured players but our lack of run was obvious.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,346]

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

Big call there champ!

[Demon3 2,541]

Overused the h/b, we were strangled across half back, and reactive in the coaches box.

we have a plan A and when it works it is great, but our plan B stinks.. we dont have one.

Teams will work us out pretty quickly.

[bing181 9,436]

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

Pathetic.

[Demon Disciple 12,489]

Some of you may hate this, but face the facts (and think of the good teams as you read):

- too much handball, not enough kicking

- poor team selection and placement

- poor match day coaching

We basically have the players, but they need good development and coaching.

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

Not sure if Bailey needs to go, but his selection of Mahoney as his forward line coach was a serious lack of judgement. Mahoney has to go, he is fuseless. As for the players, all bar James McDonald should give their match payments back. Trengove and Scully need to be rested, Miller should come in for Johnson, Davey needs to be told to kick the bloody thing long and none of that short crap, Sylvia has to go back to Casey, Grimes should be told to never kick sideways or backwards and get greater awareness. Rivers is just about finished (he is sooooooo slow) and Jones needs to get a rocket put up his arse.

What i am frustrated about, is this constant need to handball. Kick the bloody thing long.

Rant over.

[two sheds jackson 3]

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

You're either a troll, have a personal vendetta or have absolutely no idea.

We were rubbish today, and Bailey has to take some responsibility when the side performs like this. But to take one crap performance from a young side and call it categorical proof (or "inevitable" proof, whatever the hell that means) that the coach isn't up to the job, is just ridiculous.

The one positive to come out of games like today, is that there won't be any more ridiculous posts saying we're a chance to make the top 4. On the downside, we'll have equally ridiculous posts saying that the coach needs to be sacked.

[Demon3 2,541]

What i am frustrated about, is this constant need to handball. Kick the bloody thing long.

We constantly handballed because we lost our fwd structure, everytime we looked up our fwds had been dragged out of position and there was nothing to kick to.

[The Big Ticket 94]

Good reality check for the boys. This was coming.

I thought it was a bad team selection to be honest. Rivers shouldn't have played. Nor PJ.

I want to see Morton, Cheney and Gysberts in next week.

[sylvinator 96]

keeping things in perspective guys. This is gonna be a frustrating year. we are probably still going to finish 10th-13th.

This year IS still about development. And if we keep developing our list, and getting games into our super talented youngsters will inevitably lead to natural improvement!

I have said it before and I'll say it again... our real rise up the latter will come in 2012 once these boys have had an extra 44 games playing together, and an extra 2-3 pre seasons to build their bodies.

If anyone wants evidence on the importance of getting games into players, just look at how James Frawley improved after 40 games of afl.

Can't wait for Watts, Scully, Trengove, Strauss, Bennel, McKenzie, Jurrah, Wona, Bail to have played 50 AFL games. Garland, Morton, Grimes, Pettard, Bate, Frawley to have played 70-90 games. Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease 25 games.

That's when we'll start to dominate.

Look at the moment- Watts, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Jurrah, Bail, Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease etc all played less than 10 afl games!!! they are babies to AFL. To have too high expectations would be silly

[Demonic_Inferno 17]

46 points is a disgrace on our home ground. Players went missing today and that is really disapointing.

Amazing noone has corrected you on this yet.....we lost by 29 points.

[Adam The God 30,644]

Sylvia's been rubbish in all our 3 losses.

He was certainly horrible today and has been quiet the last three weeks.

[wonnabeeri 277]

Some of you may hate this, but face the facts (and think of the good teams as you read):

- too much handball, not enough kicking

- poor team selection and placement

- poor match day coaching

We basically have the players, but they need good development and coaching.

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

You sir, are an idiot. This is the reason why I dont come on this site after a loss.

We are still a very young team that has now played all of 8 matches together. It will take time.

[Felix 92]

Some of you may hate this, but face the facts (and think of the good teams as you read):

- too much handball, not enough kicking

- poor team selection and placement

- poor match day coaching

We basically have the players, but they need good development and coaching.

Bottom line is Bailey has to go, and probably his assistants.

No more excuses from the Bailey apologists - today was the inevitable proof, it was just a matter of time!

Did not take long for the "Bailey Bashing"

- too much hand ball or no targets to kick to?

- poor team selection, who would have made more of an impact today?

- poor coaching or out coached?

[Adam The God 30,644]

Just like the North game - we seemed to switch off/lack intensity against a non-contender. McDonald can hold his head up high - Sylvia and PJ were ordinary - Davey seemed injured.

Agreed.

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

Simply the two teams that have denied us the corridor have smacked us.

North and West coast.

Once we have to go around the corridor we seem to freak out and run around in circles handballing to no one, brought back memories of the Daniher years.

[desertfox 9]

This was no reality check. This was an absolute bloody disgrace. Yes the umpires were yet again useless but we were shocking.

It is just like Melbourne to come to a game favourite to win and then not turn up. We never wanted this game and we never had the guts to win it.

I cant think of one player who earned their match fee for the game they were all pathetic!

Heads must roll on this performance. I hope the 2s played well.

If we cant beat the Weagles at the G Port are going to smash us in Darwin

[Redleg 42,039]

Today's disaster is a timely reality check of where we are as a football team.

We are young, and our best is great to watch, but our worst is awful, and that will be the case until we get games into our young guys. Simple as that.

46 points is a disgrace on our home ground. Players went missing today and that is really disapointing.

All our good early work this season can be undone with crap like today. For all those who talk finals, wake up. If this team cannot beat the Eagles at the MCG then we are still a very long way to go.

Faith must be kept, and it will, but we have to be better than today.

Don't let the Coaches off. Thought they were very ordinary too. 240 handballs, handball at all costs. No forward structure. Rivers on Kennedy far too long. Priddis unmanned for long periods. No counter to the Eagles pressure.