Is the Swans game from last year equal our optimum?

[Kento80 83]

Based on what? Becuase they made the pre-season Grand Final. Yes, watching thier game against the saints, they moved the ball well. But, I still believe our players (at thier best) would beat thier players (at thier best). They just have a little more consistancy at the moment. Midfield - Melb, Backline - Melb, Forwards - Ess, Rucks - Melb.

It's only round 4. As previously stated, lets see what happens when we travel west next Thursday.

We will also get a look at where Essendon are at on Monday. I think they will get handed a reality check.

Who would have thought last year we would have come 1 goal from Pies and Dogs after our hiding from the Hawks.

Consistancy comes from playing Games. MFC are closer than you think.

I should say though that you are right. We will see on Monday. Where I differ is that I actually believe they will make a pretty good account of themselves. I am not saying they will win, but I think they will give it a good shake.

[dee-luded 2,959]

It's Mckenzie who I really think we miss - he's out engine IMO. Last year when he played, 8 wins a draw and 10 losses. Without him 3 losses. One of those was the first game against North. Obviously he's just part of a team, but in a way I think he's a little more than that. I think we'll see an increase in performance when he comes back.

He's great. He brings a lot of energy/intensity to the midfield group with a sort of possitivity/mojo. He's not the key to it. The lock has many parts. But, he is one spark plug that helps ignite, the engine.

Keep burning Hot Jordie.

[hardtack 10,547]

It's Mckenzie who I really think we miss - he's out engine IMO. Last year when he played, 8 wins a draw and 10 losses. Without him 3 losses. One of those was the first game against North. Obviously he's just part of a team, but in a way I think he's a little more than that. I think we'll see an increase in performance when he comes back.

I agree. I also look forward to seeing how well he and Bail can link up to transition the ball into the forward line; I think that combination could give us a great midfield advantage when they are firing.

[Jack son 5 162]

In reletion to Jordie, has anyone seen where he is at at training (intensity)?

I'm wondering as to how he will fair gaining his match fitness after his groin injury.

One or Two weeks at Casey?

[Jack son 5 162]

They drew with Carlton, lost by 5 pts to Sydney, smashed the Saints by 52pts and smashed the Dogs by 55pts. Based on that, it is pretty simple. Just have a look at how they fared last year. Equally, it is not the result, but how you go about it. I hate the Bummers and I hate that a team, which I actually said is not as talented as ours, has reacted so well to coaching. Our team unfortunately does not seem to react to our coaches as well. We have an ok record so far this year (and I hope this keeps improving), but the way we have gone about it has been very ordinary. It is a glaring difference between the two, you just have to watch to see it.

Yeah, I had the bombers in bottom four with the worst list on paper (bar GC), at the start of the year. Bomber is coaching that team (sic).

I have only been [censored] with the performance in our brisbane game and the 3rd Qtr against the Hawks. Bar that we are on track. I couldn't give a toss we lost a QTR against the Suns. Had to laugh at the Media after The Demons thrashed a team by 90 points on the road, and all they gave a toss about was "DEMONS lose QTR against the Suns".

[Striker475 696]

Yeah, I had the bombers in bottom four with the worst list on paper (bar GC), at the start of the year. Bomber is coaching that team (sic).

I have only been [censored] with the performance in our brisbane game and the 3rd Qtr against the Hawks. Bar that we are on track. I couldn't give a toss we lost a QTR against the Suns. Had to laugh at the Media after The Demons thrashed a team by 90 points on the road, and all they gave a toss about was "DEMONS lose QTR against the Suns".

I'd tack onto that the first quarter against the Hawks.

[Kento80 83]

I have only been [censored] with the performance in our brisbane game and the 3rd Qtr against the Hawks. Bar that we are on track. I couldn't give a toss we lost a QTR against the Suns. Had to laugh at the Media after The Demons thrashed a team by 90 points on the road, and all they gave a toss about was "DEMONS lose QTR against the Suns".

I agree about not caring to lose a qtr to them, but the media were right with one thing saying it was one of the worse 90 pt wins they've seen. We won, but not prettily. I just would like to see a more positive reaction to our coaching. I know the players have the talent, but they need to match that talent with effort and intensity, which at the moment I don't feel they are.

[Rogue 585]

It's Mckenzie who I really think we miss - he's out engine IMO. Last year when he played, 8 wins a draw and 10 losses. Without him 3 losses. One of those was the first game against North. Obviously he's just part of a team, but in a way I think he's a little more than that. I think we'll see an increase in performance when he comes back.

I think one of the things is that he releases other guys who can then be more damaging.

[rpfc 28,468]

I think one of the things is that he releases other guys who can then be more damaging.

He think he does so much work that our midfielders get into bad habits when he is there, and get shown up when he is not there.

[Guest DeesPower]

As stated above, we're simply not playing our best at the moment. The main problem is that we seem to lull for about quarter of a match. At other times we have soundly beat each side we've played. With some consistency and momentum we will fix this. It is what we all know this comes with a young side, which we still are, despite what some seem to think. Don't think they aren't working on it.

A big group of players are playing well below their best. By and large, they will improve. My top 8 for the side that actually threatens is Grimes, Trengove, Scully, McKenzie, Jurrah, Watts, Frawley and Morton. Of those 8 players only Trengove and Jurrah have delivered signifigantly and we all know that we will get much more from that group not just later this year but well beyond. Others like Green, Sylvia and Davey are currently our best players and we all know they can lift a gear.

As discussed elsewhere, we have some tactical issues to work around. This is part of the game and its not just on the coaches but on the players to be able to implement. Don't forget Bailey is a developing coach also.

It is still on the cards to be looking at 5.5 wins 1.5 losses

This is my point. There is no guarantee that the players will step up. What concerns me is that when they should be performing, they are not. There is no lack of talent, but there is leadership, particularly from the coaching staff.

How is that going to change?

Edited April 22, 2011 by DeesPower

[Guest DeesPower]

Perhaps he has that syndrome that must not be mentioned.

West Coast next week will be a great indicator as to how we intend to approach the rest of the season, I would think. After having a break where, hopefully, the Dees have been working on their mental attitude as well as the physical aspects of their game, if we can come out firing and catch the Eagles by surprise on their home turf (no easy ask for any side this year), then that could set the tone for the rest of our season.

It's a trite old saying, but footy really is a confidence game, and I'm hoping they took something out of that last quarter against the Suns - I get the feeling they were cruising in that 3rd quarter and after having a rocket put up them at three quarter time, came out firing; obviously not being privy to what was said in the huddle, I'm hoping at least, that was the scenario.

Also, as Junior's name keep cropping up as someone who is being very sorely missed for his on-field leadership, can someone please remind me how many games he played last year and how we performed in those games where he was absent? (that's a serious question by the way). And I'm sure that some bemoaning Bruce's move were probably among those rubbishing his performances last year.

Not me. i've never rubbished Bruce's ability, nor his performance. I think showing him the door will be Bailey's biggest mistake.

[Guest DeesPower]

Based on what? Becuase they made the pre-season Grand Final. Yes, watching thier game against the saints, they moved the ball well. But, I still believe our players (at thier best) would beat thier players (at thier best). They just have a little more consistancy at the moment. Midfield - Melb, Backline - Melb, Forwards - Ess, Rucks - Melb.

It's only round 4. As previously stated, lets see what happens when we travel west next Thursday.

We will also get a look at where Essendon are at on Monday. I think they will get handed a reality check.

Who would have thought last year we would have come 1 goal from Pies and Dogs after our hiding from the Hawks.

Consistancy comes from playing Games. MFC are closer than you think.

This is not like last year. we had one bad game against the Hawks. then it was improvement from then one.

This year, we have had one, albeit inconsistent, game against the Swans, then downhill fast from there. and still sliding, also fast.

Edited April 22, 2011 by DeesPower

[rpfc 28,468]

This is not like last year. we had one bad game against the Hawks. then it was improvement from then one.

This year, we have had one, albeit inconsistent, game against the Swans, then downhill fast from there. and still sliding, also fast.

This is a rewrite of history.

I am going to trawl through and bump the game thread after the WCE game last year.

The Eagles beat us by 5 goals at the G, and we scored 46 fracking points! The Roos made us look second rate, the Power did too, the Saints at the Dome, and the Cats down the road.

We are a bad, inconsistent team, and we want to see marked improvement, fine. But don't move the goalposts based on your bad memory.

[Little Goffy 14,573]

Be calm. Besides. the Swans game wasn't our apogee, the draw against Collingwood was.

Nothing happened in either of those games that we aren't capable of repeating.

If I may speculate - it isn't actually 'have we seen our best?' that is furrowing people's brows, but rather 'will we keep seeing our worst?'.

That second half against Hawthorn shook a lot of people's confidence, no doubt about it. There we were, right in the game at half time, full of hopes, and it was just snatched away, stomped on, rolled in the mud and fed to the neighbours dog.

Let's all take a moment to acknowledge our pain, maybe attend a group therapy session or two, and then regain focus on the plan, an a little faith in the club.

[Guest DeesPower]

We were all delighted when we saw Dean Bailey's game plan in action versus the Swans last year. It was a delight.

Nothing has come close since. Was it an " Indian Summer". I'm very afraid it might have been the high point of our revival, never to be repeated.

Certainly this year rather than looking like an emerging high performance side, we have looked mediocre at best, and there is nothing emerging which would suggest a turnaround any time soon. I am predicting a bloodbath mid year with 8 losses on the trot, and then only a further two for the year.

We do not have the bottle in my view to do any better sadly.

I hope I am wrong but I suspect I am if anything being optimistic optimistic. From here I can see our only additional win being the Suns in round 23 and given where we are that is by no means certain.

Hate to say I told you so, but I rather fear I was right. I suspect this will end up being another "building" year where we will end up in the bottom four before we have a clean out of coaches and admin in the off season. In other words, a wasted year....

Edited May 1, 2011 by DeesPower