Clearances?

[Jerry Lundergard 420]

It hasn't necessarily been a weak point for us this year, but we were absolutely pathetic today to the point where we were almost doubled, which contributed to the 60- 29 IN50 count against us also.

Just a disgustingly soft effort from the team today.

[stuie 7,374]

It hasn't necessarily been a weak point for us this year, but we were absolutely pathetic today to the point where we were almost doubled, which contributed to the 60- 29 IN50 count against us also.

Just a disgustingly soft effort from the team today.

Just like teams found out about our corridor footy after the win against Brisbane, they have also found out about our Jamar/Moloney combo from the attention brought by positive media coverage... Problem is, we have no back up plan...

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Midfield was crap. Thus we didn't get inside 50 enough. So we lost.

[big tuna 0]

Really need the skipper back in there. The entire midfield non-existent until 3rd quarter. Davey looks great when the ball is being won by the inside mids, but on days like today he should go into the backline and get those easy kicks running around behind the player so he can set up plays and create movement.

[deeflog 679]

Really need the skipper back in there. The entire midfield non-existent until 3rd quarter. Davey looks great when the ball is being won by the inside mids, but on days like today he should go into the backline and get those easy kicks running around behind the player so he can set up plays and create movement.

beat me too it

[Jaded No More 68,915]

Today's midfield performance was like 2007 all over again.

It showed our unhealthy reliance on Moloney and Jones, who are both good at getting the ball inside but useless as outside players, so when the game is going against them at the clearances they become redundant. We also missed Junior badly and Gysberts' ability to win the inside ball (terrible selection decision IMO).

It was the worst, softest, most pathetic midfield performance I've seen from Melbourne in 2 years, easily. Some of that can be contributed to the fact that once Moloney and Jones were shut out of the game, we were relying on kids who are not ready to take on a developed Adelaide midfield, and some of that can be contributed to a general lack of intensity at the contest, which is NEVER excusable, no matter how young your team is.

[drdrake 3,163]

Inside 50m has been a problem since Bailey took over at some stage Bailey has to allow the players to kick long to a contest instead of maintaining the footy inside our defensive 50m arc. The problem in games like yesterday we lose confidence, from the TV I saw a number of times when we could of went up the middle but we went wide or backwards, one was Scully kicked wide to the wing to Jetta when Watts was clear up the middle, Jetta dropped the mark ball the Crows got it.

We struggle against the full press because our forwards are playing a defensive game, we need to man up one on one stand next to your defender and work off them, not the way around like we do which is zone off our opponent and work towards them. We try this zone but we have no forwards we don't give ourselves the change to win the game.

[Red Sox 2]

I recall some kid that flashed into our side briefly...Jordan Gysberts??? He seemed to be at the bottom of most packs getting the pill out. Oh, he was omitted for that silky user of the ball Joel MacDonald!

Yep, great selection call that!

Need Junior back badly.

Just need some desperation at the ball guys...geez

Edited June 27, 2010 by Demon Jack 16

[jackaub 1,402]

Inside 50m has been a problem since Bailey took over at some stage Bailey has to allow the players to kick long to a contest instead of maintaining the footy inside our defensive 50m arc. The problem in games like yesterday we lose confidence, from the TV I saw a number of times when we could of went up the middle but we went wide or backwards, one was Scully kicked wide to the wing to Jetta when Watts was clear up the middle, Jetta dropped the mark ball the Crows got it.

We struggle against the full press because our forwards are playing a defensive game, we need to man up one on one stand next to your defender and work off them, not the way around like we do which is zone off our opponent and work towards them. We try this zone but we have no forwards we don't give ourselves the change to win the game.

[jackaub 1,402]

It seemed to me other than clearances we still dont move the ball quickly enough from the kick in. Every time we did we put serious pressure on Adelaide and from memory once scored a length of the field goal.Im not sure what was worse, getting smashed at clearances or when we did clear the resulting kick was turned over or again and again or a hand pass to a team mate under pressure resulting in a turnover. BTW has any body looked at our complete inabilty to take a contested mark when it counts.I think we have an expectation well ahead of the reality.

[No16 1]

Unfortunately, Jamar's dominance worked perfectly for the Crows who set up each ball up/bounce with a midfielder reading their ruckmans tap and one waiting for Jamar's tap. With Moloney being blocked most the time this tap continuously went to where Moloney had usually been but where a crow was always waiting....

[Redleg 40,925]

I recall some kid that flashed into our side briefly...Jordan Gysberts??? He seemed to be at the bottom of most packs getting the pill out. Oh, he was omitted for that silky user of the ball Joel MacDonald!

Yep, great selection call that!

Scott West said on radio that Gys had hamstring tightness and that was the reason he didn't play. Funny then that they didn't list him as injured instead of omitted. If he wasn't injured I agree it was a poor selection.

[Red Sox 2]

Scott West said on radio that Gys had hamstring tightness and that was the reason he didn't play. Funny then that they didn't list him as injured instead of omitted. If he wasn't injured I agree it was a poor selection.

Yeah saw that earlier Redleg....that's fine if that's the case but would have much preferred to be informed of that. One area that the club has improved a lot is the communication to fans, so will put that lack of info down to an oversight by the club.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Midfield was crap. Thus we didn't get inside 50 enough. So we lost.

yeah, if we chuck in Jnr & a fit Sylvia into that young Midfield group & the belief would rise. Getting started on the back foot against a physically mature side isn't agreat way to start, & the stats seem to reflect us chasing tail all day.

Considering we were down in the leadership stakes & coming off the break, IMO the boys struggled to get back into gear in an away game.

We'll need to be better prepared this week against the Saints, or the confidence will drop.

We've got coming up,,,, Stkilda @ Etihard... then Essendon @ the 'G', then away @ Subiaco v Freo.

[jnrmac 20,065]

We were 6th in clearances before the weekend game. We got smashed by Adelaide 50 to 26. We have actually been doing alright but the weekend was a disaster.

Blind Freddy could see we weren't running or tackling like we should be. To top it off the Crows sharked Jamar's taps beautifully.

Why oh why do we lower our intensity so much?????? The difference between our best and worst is unbelievable.

[bing181 9,238]

I recall some kid that flashed into our side briefly...Jordan Gysberts???

10 possesions and did next to nothing against Collingwood.

He's not the saviour. Yet.

[Red Sox 2]

10 possesions and did next to nothing against Collingwood.

He's not the saviour. Yet.

Bing, he did next to nothing because they applied a heavy tag to him after he was extremely impressive in the stoppages against Geelong and Carlton...two teams that are not too shabby in this area.

I'm not a fan of Meat Loaf in any way, but 2 out 3 ain't bad!!!

Considering the HUGE focus on the Jamar/Moloney double act through the week and the pressure Craig Neil applied on Moloney, Gys could well have had an impact on Sunday.

Get him back in!