I'm a big Bartram fan, and have said as much before, but he was directly responsible for 4 goals today, and did not have a good game, at all.

Have always loved his efforts, no doubting his courage, but his skill levels today were horrible and I agree at least 3 goals came directly from his not hitting targets. Some were opportunities for us to go forward and kick goals ourselves, 12 point turnarounds!

People who look at his stats and say he had a good game obviously weren`t at Etihad today. By no means was he our worst player though.

Oh and to get back to the thread, our season ended last week not today.

Bartram is and will continue to be ONE OF THE FIRST PICKED EVERY WEEK.... you must have no idea

Season over???, we lost with a heap of injuries to a team that lost by a kick to Carlton 2 weeks ago

We won alot of KPI's contested possession and tackling a believe at least until 3QT

Today had a heap of good signs

Thank goodness someone else is keeping it in perspective. There are only champion teams, and no team of champions.

I believed this year that expectation would be greater than the team could deliver + injuries = another development year. Lots of players to come off the list yet to get us a flag.

Just look at the Pies and how long it takes to win one and they have loads more $$$$$$$$$$$ than we ever will in my lifetime anyway.

Edited May 21, 201114 yr by Deevout

Rename this thread - "Unrealistic expectations over".

Phew, that would be a relief.

Yeah you're right, what were we thinking when we expected some improvement after 3 years of rebuilding...

Thought i'd mention Davey, seeing as Bartram is taking a lot of undeserved heat. Turn your criticism onto this so called 'star'; he was absolutely pathetic today and in my opinion does not deserve to be in our starting 22 at the mo. Season is not over by a long shot, although we failed today the boys showed a bit of fight, without quite a few of our best players. With a bit more energy from some (hopefully soon to be) debutants in Nicholson, Gawn, McDonald and maybe Lawrence, we could still snag a few more wins. Evans was a fantastic inclusion this week, tried his guts out all day unlike too many other players.

Blease is still struggling, Gawn is developing, Strauss has been tried and found wanting....I agree with the desperation of your post but I'm worried where the improvement will come from.

Don't know where your comment about Blease struggling comes from??? He had a bad game against Frankston when he got concussed but otherwise I think his development in the VFL has been very good this year. I watched him against Bendigo the other week and was very impressed with his game, I think a debut match wont be to far away.

Comments about Gawn and Strauss are fair though, although I'd give Strauss another season on the list before I write him off.

Thought i'd mention Davey, seeing as Bartram is taking a lot of undeserved heat. Turn your criticism onto this so called 'star'; he was absolutely pathetic today and in my opinion does not deserve to be in our starting 22 at the mo. Season is not over by a long shot, although we failed today the boys showed a bit of fight, without quite a few of our best players. With a bit more energy from some (hopefully soon to be) debutants in Nicholson, Gawn, McDonald and maybe Lawrence, we could still snag a few more wins. Evans was a fantastic inclusion this week, tried his guts out all day unlike too many other players.

I agree , so doers the coach, that Davey is in very poor form right now.

I actually like Bartram better when he plays in the midfield, just dont think he is a backman.

Foe us to make the 8 we really needed to win at least one if not both of the last 2 winnable games

With Carlton Essendon Collingwood and Freo our next 4 games,and all our injuries we are completely stuffed.

We now have to rely on teams like Westcoast and sydney losing, but they will gain at least a 2 game break on us.

Even Richmond should finish ahead of us.

No.....its time to look to next year already.

Bartram is and will continue to be ONE OF THE FIRST PICKED EVERY WEEK.... you must have no idea

Season over???, we lost with a heap of injuries to a team that lost by a kick to Carlton 2 weeks ago

We won alot of KPI's contested possession and tackling a believe at least until 3QT

Today had a heap of good signs

One of the best posts I've read on here in years!! Thank You!

We have probably 7 of our best 22 out, now 8 with Tappy and I thought we tried harder all day and they were just a little more skillful.

There were a heap of good signs for such a depleted side, and at Etihad were we suck for whatever reason.

I've been disappointed after games this year too, and although I'm always disappointed to lose at least this wasn't due to a lack of trying.

The 2nd half of the year is going to be supper important to us if we can manage to get some men back on the park and keep them there. We need to run the year out with the reasonably kind draw we have and get some confidence into a struggling side.

JUST NEED TO STOP GETTING INJURED!!!!

Read the stats mate, they don't lie. He had a better game than lots of our "better" players. He is just like Jonesy, workmanlike and only gets noticed when he makes a mistake. Fact is he goes about his job in an exceptional manner. He will never be a superstar, but superstars need these guys to get there.

Stats won't tell you that he also made two absolue howlers in the defensive fifty that directly cost us goals. And Milne kicked three more on him. Stats don't lie but don't always tell the whole trth either.

PS I agree he is an important player and should be in the side every week. Always has a dip and plays his role.

Yeah you're right, what were we thinking when we expected some improvement after 3 years of rebuilding...

Yeah and if they were on the park playing together you would be starting to see that improvement by NOW!

How can anyone [censored] about a lack of improvement when we have been smashed so hard by injuries to our most important players..

Don't know where your comment about Blease struggling comes from??? He had a bad game against Frankston when he got concussed but otherwise I think his development in the VFL has been very good this year. I watched him against Bendigo the other week and was very impressed with his game, I think a debut match wont be to far away.

Comments about Gawn and Strauss are fair though, although I'd give Strauss another season on the list before I write him off.

I was talking about his leg - is it true that it still 'aches' after heavy use? It must be playing on his mind. You've seen him play more than me - does he have the desire to make it?

Yeah you're right, what were we thinking when we expected some improvement after 3 years of rebuilding...

This is true. Would we really improve much after three seasons? We need 10 years before we will see a visible improvment on the field.

Yeah you're right, what were we thinking when we expected some improvement after 3 years of rebuilding...

Ok I'm wrong then, there will be no improvement or development to come out of our young group this year. Season over.

Bartram is and will continue to be ONE OF THE FIRST PICKED EVERY WEEK.... you must have no idea

Season over???, we lost with a heap of injuries to a team that lost by a kick to Carlton 2 weeks ago

We won alot of KPI's contested possession and tackling a believe at least until 3QT

Today had a heap of good signs

Good signs mean nothing when you are a perennial loser and other teams use us to get confidence from, because they all know we are not a hard team.

It might change one day,but im so sure about it, especially if Scully goes to GWS.

The leaders arent doing enough like Davey etc to me thats a very bad sign.

Im over potential, signs, injuries excuses, etc etc....

I want a mongrel side that is ferocious for 4 quarters!

A side that really wants it badly. ( Look at Richmond last night)

JUDGEMENT DAY 2011 by The Oracle

Melbourne won statistically in nearly every aspect with the exception of the one that mattered - on the scoreboard. 

The most damning statistic is the one that says St. Kilda scored 11.7.73 out of its score of 16.10.116 from turnovers. 

Many of those turnovers came about because of dumb play and a lack of preparedness to play direct attacking footy (rather than pressure from the opposition).

We are becoming unwatchable.

Good signs mean nothing when you are a perennial loser and other teams use us to get confidence from, because they all know we are not a hard team.

It might change one day,but im so sure about it, especially if Scully goes to GWS.

The leaders arent doing enough like Davey etc to me thats a very bad sign.

Im over potential, signs, injuries excuses, etc etc....

I want a mongrel side that is ferocious for 4 quarters!

A side that really wants it badly. ( Look at Richmond last night)

Me too DeeZee

We have been saying the same things for 45 years ( with the exception of two small periods )

I look at our side and IMO we are simply not good enough.

The really sad thing is that history is repeating itself again

and I have no confidence that anything will change anytime soon.

Disagree. The season is not over. We are struggling, and our injury list grew again today but we always have something to play for - the jumper.

Agree about MacDonald and Newton.

Disagree about Bate, Bartram and Warnock.

Strauss Blease, Howe, T MacDonald and Cook and perhaps Gawn need game time and am prepared to rest senior layers to give them a run.

Just think about who we will have available after round 11/12 - Jamar, Scully, Trengove, Tappy (hopefully), Bail (hopefully).

Chin up - there's always next week/season/decade!!!

.

Mate you must be the ultimate optimist.

Wish I could join you but after 46 years of the same crap at the MFC I think I am all worn out.

There has been two small windows in the last 45 years that gave any real joy.

Northey and ND gave us 5-6 years of having teams with good results.

The remaining 40 years have been like this year.

God I do not know if I can endure the rest of this year let alone another rebuild / Decade of disappointment.

I am really tired of the sms from friends that go " another wondeful effort by the marshmallows

Get on board with the Blues"

God deliver from this football club.

Edited May 22, 201114 yr by old dee

God deliver from this football club.

Sorry but I don't think God's up to it ATM.

We'll have to rely on Jimmy .

Best

St. Kilda Montagna Riewoldt Goddard Gilbert Fisher

Their best five were their best five.

Unfortunately, five of our best (Jamar, Trengove, Scully, Grimes, Garland) were up in the stands watching.

The younger the Melbourne supporter, the more optimistic and hopeful they will be. I am 26 and still have some hope I will see this club when a premiership. For anybody who is 40/50 or older, I can understand your bitter disappointment.

Nothing will cover the club's deficiencies now.  It has a third world coaching set up and therefore other developing sides will do a leapfrog over Melbourne unless it can start playing a more positive and purposeful style of football.

Great review and conclusion Oracle.

Well done to AoB and you for preempting our stagnation; it's a deadly combination of losing Wellman, injuries, Bailey's failure to adapt and our pathetic senior players.

That said, we're back at the G next week and anything can happen; look at Etihad right now.

Yet again The Oracle is spot on. Great piece, summed up the game perfectly.

The younger the Melbourne supporter, the more optimistic and hopeful they will be. I am 26 and still have some hope I will see this club when a premiership. For anybody who is 40/50 or older, I can understand your bitter disappointment.

Samsara at 26 there is still time for you to get a good club to support.

Only joking mate

"I am 26 and still have some hope I will see this club when a premiership"

Good grief if you think that way there is no hope for me.

I think there is a chance by the time you are 40

Unfortunately I will probably be in the ground.

So think of me when the big day finally arrives.

Carn the Dees.

I wrote earlier this year (after the NAB Cup game against Essendon) that Melbourne has gone backwards since last year and I was criticised for this. Let me say now that the team has gone further backwards and the trend appears to irreversible as long as they are coached to do the things that were done yesterday.

this

Samsara at 26 there is still time for you to get a good club to support.

Only joking mate

"I am 26 and still have some hope I will see this club when a premiership"

Good grief if you think that way there is no hope for me.

I think there is a chance by the time you are 40

Unfortunately I will probably be in the ground.

So think of me when the big day finally arrives.

Carn the Dees.

You give up too easily old dee! I reckon I've got a few years on you, and I still see a bright light at the end of the tunnel, in fact I've promised my family that that they'll have to continue to put up with me until after our next Flag.

You give up too easily old dee! I reckon I've got a few years on you, and I still see a bright light at the end of the tunnel, in fact I've promised my family that that they'll have to continue to put up with me until after our next Flag.

I reckon we have been down this path before mate.

I am glad you can keep on keeping on.

I have only one complaint with your comment.

I reckon the last 46 years of devotion for 5 -6 good seasons and 2 GF appearances is not too bad.

It is May 22 and the season is over, the same as numerous in the past.

I am stuffed.

You are obviously going to live longer than me but be careful

mate the light could be a train!