What a shambollic year. Slow start and fast comeback against swans, fits and start against suns, reasonalbe start against Hawks but diabolical second half, eagles lame ducks, unbelievable against crows. We are all over the place from game to game and from quarter to quarter. Of course our best is usually against interstate teams at MCG - particularly cold wet Sunday afternoons, but as was stated somewhere the press have been motivating us all week. In fact this is not a one off season but has been going on for some time. The last few years we seem to have created a winning stretch that promises a lot but quickly disipates. Is there not something within the club that can instill something consistent in our team. Personally I have no idea and look forward to others reflections.

What a shambollic year. Slow start and fast comeback against swans, fits and start against suns, reasonalbe start against Hawks but diabolical second half, eagles lame ducks, unbelievable against crows. We are all over the place from game to game and from quarter to quarter. Of course our best is usually against interstate teams at MCG - particularly cold wet Sunday afternoons, but as was stated somewhere the press have been motivating us all week. In fact this is not a one off season but has been going on for some time. The last few years we seem to have created a winning stretch that promises a lot but quickly disipates. Is there not something within the club that can instill something consistent in our team. Personally I have no idea and look forward to others reflections.

13 players in our best 22 with less than 50 afl games. More than half our team under 22 years old.The more games these guys play together the more consistency we will achieve.

Should inexperience and youth be used an excuse? of coarse not. Is it a bit of a 'get out clause'... i guess so. But does it help, at least partially, explain our inconsistency, I think so.

What is with the traveling thing though. I mean we were so insipid in the west and have been consistently bad on the road for years. Are Adelaide that bad? And look at Fremantle against Richmond. I mean i dont think the clubs know? Has it got something to do with the flights? Should we send em by bus? Is it the home crowds? Ive even asked a few players over the years and they don,t know! It even happens across other codes. All i know is it makes punting easier. Perhaps if an answer can be found to this some better consistency may become apparent.

2011 is 7 rounds old...

Let's see if Bailey can instil a more consistent rate of application.

But remember, kids will have those days...

And we are still the youngest team bar Gold Coast.

What is with the traveling thing though. I mean we were so insipid in the west and have been consistently bad on the road for years. Are Adelaide that bad? And look at Fremantle against Richmond. I mean i dont think the clubs know? Has it got something to do with the flights? Should we send em by bus? Is it the home crowds? Ive even asked a few players over the years and they don,t know! It even happens across other codes. All i know is it makes punting easier. Perhaps if an answer can be found to this some better consistency may become apparent.

People always feel more comfortable in their own bed. But i still believe that Wet Coke game will be a motivation, as we the supporters put the heat on the club.

Time will tell in the next few weeks.

To answer the OP: demonland threads.

Last year we reacted similarly to a roasting in the press after round 1 and brought our A game out against the pies in round 2. It seems that when the heat is really turned on this team they can find an extra level of intensity.

But I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. I mean, it's better than if we absolutely couldn't find an extra gear to slip into. That would suck. But it also shows how far below full intensity and effort Melbourne players often play. And there aren't many teams in the league who wouldn't be able to lift a gear and have a big win after the kind of scrutiny we saw directed at us last week.

Personally I'm concerned that the whole 'rebuilding' and 'premiership window' mentality that dominates football clubs' thinking these days might be leading to a kind of malaise in teams who don't feel their window has opened yet, where players don't put in full efforts in games and lie down and accept losses instead of busting a gut to get back into them and fight for wins. I'm concerned that this malaise is why we can find such an extra gear when we actually are busting a gut and playing for pride, and i'm concerned about what that might be doing to the development of our younger players.

Which is why I think no one should be letting up on our young Dees at all right now. If they come out half-arsed again next week, or any week for that matter, they should cop it. Because as we now all know, it's not that they lack the talent, or size, it's all in their commitment and application.

Last year we reacted similarly to a roasting in the press after round 1 and brought our A game out against the pies in round 2. It seems that when the heat is really turned on this team they can find an extra level of intensity.

But I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. I mean, it's better than if we absolutely couldn't find an extra gear to slip into. That would suck. But it also shows how far below full intensity and effort Melbourne players often play. And there aren't many teams in the league who wouldn't be able to lift a gear and have a big win after the kind of scrutiny we saw directed at us last week.

Personally I'm concerned that the whole 'rebuilding' and 'premiership window' mentality that dominates football clubs' thinking these days might be leading to a kind of malaise in teams who don't feel their window has opened yet, where players don't put in full efforts in games and lie down and accept losses instead of busting a gut to get back into them and fight for wins. I'm concerned that this malaise is why we can find such an extra gear when we actually are busting a gut and playing for pride, and i'm concerned about what that might be doing to the development of our younger players.

Which is why I think no one should be letting up on our young Dees at all right now. If they come out half-arsed again next week, or any week for that matter, they should cop it. Because as we now all know, it's not that they lack the talent, or size, it's all in their commitment and application.

Agree. This team can play finals with the right attitude.

I am hoping the players realize that themselves as a group.

Last year we reacted similarly to a roasting in the press after round 1 and brought our A game out against the pies in round 2. It seems that when the heat is really turned on this team they can find an extra level of intensity.

But I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. I mean, it's better than if we absolutely couldn't find an extra gear to slip into. That would suck. But it also shows how far below full intensity and effort Melbourne players often play. And there aren't many teams in the league who wouldn't be able to lift a gear and have a big win after the kind of scrutiny we saw directed at us last week.

Personally I'm concerned that the whole 'rebuilding' and 'premiership window' mentality that dominates football clubs' thinking these days might be leading to a kind of malaise in teams who don't feel their window has opened yet, where players don't put in full efforts in games and lie down and accept losses instead of busting a gut to get back into them and fight for wins. I'm concerned that this malaise is why we can find such an extra gear when we actually are busting a gut and playing for pride, and i'm concerned about what that might be doing to the development of our younger players.

Which is why I think no one should be letting up on our young Dees at all right now. If they come out half-arsed again next week, or any week for that matter, they should cop it. Because as we now all know, it's not that they lack the talent, or size, it's all in their commitment and application.

I tend to agree. I can see the scenario that we will have a half dozen or so 200+ game players with nothing to show for it in 10 years time and the rest withered on the vine from the current crop. What concerns me is that we are currently playing with something like this mentality and nothing seems to have changed for the past 20 years.

The next few weeks will be an indicator to see if anything has really changed. One thing encouraging though is that most supporters are sick and tired of all this, demanding results and less tolerant of soft excuses. Far too passive for many years.

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by america de cali

Last year we reacted similarly to a roasting in the press after round 1 and brought our A game out against the pies in round 2. It seems that when the heat is really turned on this team they can find an extra level of intensity.

But I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. I mean, it's better than if we absolutely couldn't find an extra gear to slip into. That would suck. But it also shows how far below full intensity and effort Melbourne players often play. And there aren't many teams in the league who wouldn't be able to lift a gear and have a big win after the kind of scrutiny we saw directed at us last week.

Personally I'm concerned that the whole 'rebuilding' and 'premiership window' mentality that dominates football clubs' thinking these days might be leading to a kind of malaise in teams who don't feel their window has opened yet, where players don't put in full efforts in games and lie down and accept losses instead of busting a gut to get back into them and fight for wins. I'm concerned that this malaise is why we can find such an extra gear when we actually are busting a gut and playing for pride, and i'm concerned about what that might be doing to the development of our younger players.

Which is why I think no one should be letting up on our young Dees at all right now. If they come out half-arsed again next week, or any week for that matter, they should cop it. Because as we now all know, it's not that they lack the talent, or size, it's all in their commitment and application.

Great post

Last year we reacted similarly to a roasting in the press after round 1 and brought our A game out against the pies in round 2. It seems that when the heat is really turned on this team they can find an extra level of intensity.

But I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. I mean, it's better than if we absolutely couldn't find an extra gear to slip into. That would suck. But it also shows how far below full intensity and effort Melbourne players often play. And there aren't many teams in the league who wouldn't be able to lift a gear and have a big win after the kind of scrutiny we saw directed at us last week.

Personally I'm concerned that the whole 'rebuilding' and 'premiership window' mentality that dominates football clubs' thinking these days might be leading to a kind of malaise in teams who don't feel their window has opened yet, where players don't put in full efforts in games and lie down and accept losses instead of busting a gut to get back into them and fight for wins. I'm concerned that this malaise is why we can find such an extra gear when we actually are busting a gut and playing for pride, and i'm concerned about what that might be doing to the development of our younger players.

Which is why I think no one should be letting up on our young Dees at all right now. If they come out half-arsed again next week, or any week for that matter, they should cop it. Because as we now all know, it's not that they lack the talent, or size, it's all in their commitment and application.

When was the last time you played footy?

I think the main point made in your post is completely wrong.

The issue is not individual motivation - it's learning to play as a team and how to be motivated to do the correct things within that system.

It's a growing thing.

You're confusing commonality with causality.

People always feel more comfortable in their own bed. But i still believe that Wet Coke game will be a motivation, as we the supporters put the heat on the club.

Time will tell in the next few weeks.

Yep. Unfortunately, as many have already stated infinitum on this site, the truth is it took a clanger to motivate them.

But respond they did. Impressive effort....so far.

I'm wondering whether they responded as they felt it was us against the world. The seige mentality can be quite a motivating factor for some players/teams. Don't know how long that lasts though.

Lets hope it's more to do with FD/Coach/players drawing a line in the sand after the wet coke match.

B)

What a shambollic year. Slow start and fast comeback against swans, fits and start against suns, reasonalbe start against Hawks but diabolical second half, eagles lame ducks, unbelievable against crows.

Yes a shambles. We are 14 points from 6 games. We are missing key players (Scully and McKenzie). We have a couple of players who were underdone with little pre season. And we have got there without considerable or consistent input from senior players (sans Jamar and Moloney). We have unearthed a genuine AFL prospect in Tapscott. Trengove continues to develop.

And we have only really hit our straps on Sunday.

For all the negativity there are still great prospects for MFC. But its no lame excuse that when you have the 2nd youngeest list in the AFL you are going to get potential divergences in performances.

The OP does put up a very significant question , if not dillema. WHAT does motivate this tea, Many are looking at the how often and for how long, bit 'what' is it thats gets us up off our bums and playing decent footy. We canat times play a very good game. Others note that that would likely become more reliable with others to come in but none of that really goes to the 'what" Is it required that the Pres needs to call to arms 9 each and every game ) , is it within the abilities of the Coach to get their heads thinking the right way ? Both are effectively internal sources of motivation but what of the external ones. The close scutiny and firing up by the media. This must surely have triggered some of the reversal. This wont be there all the time not ought it be the source for players to play decent footy.

The answer is very much at the cause of our inconsistency.