Which 3 men cost us the game?

[Dee*ceiving 1,736]

Stupid topic.

The grey matter in between the ears of ALL 22 for the first 60 minutes is what cost us.

THAT's IT.

Oh yeah, i forgot that we have to have a weekly Watts bashing thread.

I agree mate. The whole team failed to fire a shot in the first 20 minutes. Not only that but once we started to work our way into the game we shot ourselves in the foot with clumsy free kicks in front of goal and thoughtless 50 metres penalties.

Our starts need to be addressed. Blaming 1, 3 or 15 players for a loss is plain stupid and gets us no where.

After the game Watts was clearly traumatised by the fact that he had 2 chances to win the game and failed. Mark my words he will be a better player for it. One does not appreciate success until he has tasted bitter dissappointment. He is still a boy in a man's world but he is maturing every week.

[Hannabal 4]

Let's be honest, Watts and Dunn could've won us the game. Two gettable shots on goal each that were missed. They're forwards and kicking goals is their job.

Having said that, some part of me is glad that we showed enormous spirit but didn't quite get over the line. It will just teach the team that you have to play four quarters to win (and don't get me wrong, like all of you I was desperate for us to get up).

But these tight negative learning experiences are better. We are 5.5 from 16 and could easily be 9 from 16 and in the eight. But being in the eight wouldn't be giving us anything as we'd be bundled out fast. Sitting where we are now just tells our young group that there is still a mountain to climb and they need to work harder and be more consistent. So we are seeing positive signs but it's clear there's still a ton to do. I think that's about right.

Good post, but success breeds success. Given a choice of a win, or a loss I'll always take the former. But I understand where you're coming from.

Watts is definately playing with more urgency and giving us a glimpse of what's in store down the track. He's an amazing talent. Once he believes that he truly belongs and starts demanding the footy he'll dominate games. To do this he needs to have confidence in his body/strength.

I was really disappointed that he missed that goal. I KNEW Dunn would miss, but I expected Watts to nail it. The greats come through in clutch moments and he didn't. The best golfers in the world make those curling 6 footers when they have to. They thrive and want to be in those exact situations. Next time he's in that situation I expect him to kick it. And I think he will.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

Ridiculous thread.

Singling out players who missed shots on goal in the fourth quarter when the entire team was insipid for a half is just wrong.

The umpiring was fine. Of course there were some howlers, but that happens each week.

We lost because we started like an amateur football team and only played decent AFL football for a half.

[Guest cj52]

ANYONE BAGGING 3 PLAYERS FOR YESTERDAYS LOOS NOT F ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL AND SHOULD GO AND BARRACK FOR ESSENDON.SERIOULSY GO AND LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

ANYONE BAGGING 3 PLAYERS FOR YESTERDAYS LOOS NOT F ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL AND SHOULD GO AND BARRACK FOR ESSENDON.SERIOULSY GO AND LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!

Learn something about English Sir.

There is no such word as loos.

You are correct about yesterday though. It wasn't three players. It was our start and that involves everyone.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Has Bate ever won a 50/50 marking contest?

No he hasn't.

I don't think I have ever seen him mark the ball out in front either.

Always on the chest.

He is being caught out in this modern day of football and I have been worrying about it a lot.

Doesn't have enough strings to his bow off the ball.

Run in the 2's for me.

[olgreydingo 51]

Bagging individual players is not my gig, However i am forever frustrated that players who get paid telephone number salaries, have set shots at goal, and cannot kick straight!!. There is no excuse - from a mark or a free kick that a player misses a goal. Please guys, practice practice practice, and kick straight, It's your job and you are killing us supporters!!

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

ANYONE BAGGING 3 PLAYERS FOR YESTERDAYS LOOS NOT F ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL AND SHOULD GO AND BARRACK FOR ESSENDON.SERIOULSY GO AND LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!

STOP YELLING!!

[stuie 7,374]

This thread is ridiculous and should be deleted...

How about WE are to blame. Get behind your footy club and show them the support they need, you'll be surprised how much it helps the overall confidence.

[old dee 24,040]

The 3 that cost us the game were the 15 that did not come to play until half time.

The one of the players I would drop is Bate.

I may be a little critical of Bate but at best he is a average half forward.

The reason he will never be more than that is he has only one side to his game.

i.e. the left side, everyone knows he will come back to kick with his left foot.

You just dwell on that and you have him half beaten.

I think it is time he had a spell at Casey.

[45HG 1,559]

I'm still in shock.

A 19 year old developing forward pushed wide a set shot for goal, 25+ minutes into the last quarter, 40 out from goal 10-15 in from the boundary.

[Geddy Lee 582]

I didn't want this thread to go like this. I am allowed to voice my disapproval at the disgraceful set shots for goal late in the game. However I was "shaking in anger" at the umpires, not those three particular players. Watts was great and Dunn was pretty good all day.

Syliva also missed two gettable goals, as did Bate. Cameron Bruce gave away three free kicks and a goal in the first quarter. No-one specifically is to blame but I'm amazed people are almost happy to have lost.

"We did not deserve it etc"

You've all forgotten the point of football. Of course there are salient reasons we lost, but it's almost as if it's not cool to be angry anymore when the MFC lose on here. It's jammed packed full of hyper-sensitive apologists whose minds have been absolutely warped by the last three years. I take every loss extremely hard, I've been to every Melbourne game this year (including all pre-season games in Melbourne) and I'm super [censored] off when we lose every time.

It's the way it should be.