From Footy Confidential:

2 Carlton players interviewed after the game (recording shown) - both said that Melbourne want to play "outside, bruise free footy"... clear that phrase was the theme for Carlton going into the game.

What a disgrace. Connolly puts out some statement that they (MFC) are disappointed with the disrespect that Carlton showed MFC.

Both Lyon and Thompson quite rightly said that they (MFC) should be disappointed that that's how others see the MFC.

Truth. We're perceived as WEAK - and we might just be. How the hell do we to get to these situations???

I wonder if that thought went through Chris Yarran's head as ducked out of the marking contest at half back on Friday?

Can't say i'm surprised that we're perceived as weak, too many times players put in pathetic efforts to tackle and are swatted aside like a fly. It sickens me to see it.

Truth. We're perceived as WEAK - and we might just be. How the hell do we to get to these situations???

Because we play soft, weak football when things don't go our way. If the other team want the ball more than us they get it and we watch them do it.

I wonder if that thought went through Chris Yarran's head as ducked out of the marking contest at half back on Friday?

Any pangs of conscience he may have had were probably eased by a comprehensive win over the Dees. However, if you are right, I'm sure his coach will deal with the issue during the week. In any event, your retort carries little weight in the circumstances. Perhaps we should just concentrate on our own backyard first.

From Footy Confidential:

2 Carlton players interviewed after the game (recording shown) - both said that Melbourne want to play "outside, bruise free footy"... clear that phrase was the theme for Carlton going into the game.

What a disgrace. Connolly puts out some statement that they (MFC) are disappointed with the disrespect that Carlton showed MFC.

Both Lyon and Thompson quite rightly said that they (MFC) should be disappointed that that's how others see the MFC.

Truth. We're perceived as WEAK - and we might just be. How the hell do we to get to these situations???

We have been for decades mate, through the early 80's whilst in a young rebuild, and again from the late nineties.

We started to harden up about 1985/86 through to 1990ish... and a bit more through Balme's time for a while, personell...

Currently we are as hard as the 2004 team, not saying much at all. A looong way short of the 1990 side... Loong way short...

The umpires dictated that game from the opening minute when Morton was penalized for his

so called "high hit", Judd does the same thing in the 4th qrt and he's a king.

I just thought that it was funny, given that incident which was embarrassing.

MAybe I should have added a smiley face.

Garlett had a moment just as bad.

Honestly, I don't like being perceived as soft, but with so many physically underdeveloped kids in the team, it is hard to be seen as a team of bruisers.

We don't strike other teams as being physically intimidating by virtue of our lack of size.

I don't see how we possibly could, even if we did go in hard as possible.

I'm sure lots will disagree with me, but I'd love them to tell me what we could do to change that perception.

NB.

This is also a theme developed by Ratten designed to give them the confidence and mental preparation to beat us, not necessarily the reality.

And I keep thinking of Trengove in the last quarter against Adelaide - goes hard at the ball going into the forward line, gets it, then takes the extra step before dishing off the handball for an easy goal. Gets crunched, and lying on the ground. NO ONE goes to him to pick him up and pat him on the back - pathetic. This NOTHING to do with injuries or youth (him being young, and all). It's a poison and I'm sick of it. I was there in '64, enjoyed the Northey era, but now feel ashamed. I don't have any answers all I can do it let off steam. My deep worry is that despite the debt reduction and the perception of off field improvement we've all been conned by the managerialists - lots of smooth talk and not enough head over the ball.

While we do have issues to address,I think Mitch Robinson should concentrate on hitting the side of a barn and also getting his head examined for brain cells, before he opens his big ugly mouth. I would be more concerned if those comments came from good players, not D grade hacks who are only getting a game because they like playing like talentless [censored].

I hope we use these comments, and I particularly hope we use them to smash the shizen out of that arrogant, full of self importance, done nothing in 10 years footy club come Round 20.

Home truth or not...for young Mitch, what goes around will come around

As much as Robinson is a [censored], I don't think the club management would be overly upset.

As much as Robinson is a [censored], I don't think the club management would be overly upset.

....Or would the Carlton management be overly impressed.

i can just see it happening, melbourne showing a bit of heart with a mellee, and destroying the pretty boys at carlton, although mitch robinson is a tough nut, putting a bullseye on yourself in a team that has the two largest midfielders and a raging bull is quite stupid.

moloney and sylvia will not forget this and both have a knack for laying tackles.

and with tapscott likely to be back, i think robinson may shirk a contest.

having said that he only said what most people are thinking, that we are soft and easily muscled off the ball, which is a very annoying thing to watch, players like morton and bennell flinging themselves to the ground in the tiniest bit of pressure really annoys me.

Round 20 he's going to cop it. Get JT to lay the perfect tackle on him, see how he likes it.

From Footy Confidential:

2 Carlton players interviewed after the game (recording shown) - both said that Melbourne want to play "outside, bruise free footy"... clear that phrase was the theme for Carlton going into the game.

What a disgrace. Connolly puts out some statement that they (MFC) are disappointed with the disrespect that Carlton showed MFC.

Both Lyon and Thompson quite rightly said that they (MFC) should be disappointed that that's how others see the MFC.

Truth. We're perceived as WEAK - and we might just be. How the hell do we to get to these situations???

I saw that. My reply to CC? It's not Carlton who disrespect our club. It's our players.

And I keep thinking of Trengove in the last quarter against Adelaide - goes hard at the ball going into the forward line, gets it, then takes the extra step before dishing off the handball for an easy goal. Gets crunched, and lying on the ground. NO ONE goes to him to pick him up and pat him on the back - pathetic. This NOTHING to do with injuries or youth (him being young, and all). It's a poison and I'm sick of it. I was there in '64, enjoyed the Northey era, but now feel ashamed. I don't have any answers all I can do it let off steam. My deep worry is that despite the debt reduction and the perception of off field improvement we've all been conned by the managerialists - lots of smooth talk and not enough head over the ball.

Yeah, spot on.. It's not hard to play Un-sociable footy!

I don't like the way we play and haven't for a long long time. If this is the way our Footy Dept', want us to play, then I won't be around long. I don't like footy this way. I like the way the Hawks played over the last few decades. and the way the Lions played the game under Matthews.

IF, this Melbourne Administration is trying to get us to play as we are, squeaky clean like currently,,, than I'll be off,,, because I'm bored with this type of Non Contact game... seriously, I'm over this No Bruise footy!

In 2013, Jack Viney is going to put Mitch Robinson in hospital.

A 16 year old not on the list yet, who may or may not be good enough to play senior football, is going to sort this out in a couple of years.

I'm glad he said it. Because God damn it he is right.

Yep he was dead on correct. I think his biggest point was about Green, basically saying he was waiting all night for the easy ball.

In fairness our two toughtest acts recently Morton (yes MORTON!) bump that concussed the bloke was paid a free kick against and Trengove who got three weeks.

As much as I think it was inappropriate for him to say, I think he is spot on.

Truth hurts I guess...

"For the Demons know, they won't always be so injured, or so young, or so bereft of physical players."

Garlett had a moment just as bad.

Honestly, I don't like being perceived as soft, but with so many physically underdeveloped kids in the team, it is hard to be seen as a team of bruisers.

We don't strike other teams as being physically intimidating by virtue of our lack of size.

I don't see how we possibly could, even if we did go in hard as possible.

I'm sure lots will disagree with me, but I'd love them to tell me what we could do to change that perception.

NB.

This is also a theme developed by Ratten designed to give them the confidence and mental preparation to beat us, not necessarily the reality.

So what do you have to say about Evans and Nicholson who were playing their second and first game against the Blues, they had their head over the ball?

It's not the underdeveloped kids who are the problem, Scully, Trengove, Tapscott, McKenzie, Bail, Evans, Nicholson etc are the kids who lead the way it's just a pity the leaders don't follow them.

Once again I blame the recruiters who have selected soft, talented, respectable players at the expense of players like Darling who may be a bit flawed of character but will win you games with their hardness.