DARKNESS COMES EARLY

[Redleg 41,443]

Try and do a bit of analysis here. I know I shouldn't write so soon after a loss but I feel pretty calm at the moment.

1. Our midfield is slow, both in leg speed and reaction.

2. Our disposal as I have been banging on about for many years is the worst in the AFL. Can't kick to a player or handball to a player.

3. Our general handling skill is poor at best.

4. We allow match winners ( like Black ) to go unstopped while they are killing us.

5. Any game plan that relies on entry into the forward line, being by bombing the ball from 40 metres in the air is doomed to fail.

6. Our players don't run to position and create space.

7. Our first touch of the football is a fumble.

8. We have senior players who shouldn't be in the side and I will name some Flash, MacDonald and maybe even B & F Beamer and soon Green.

9. Too many players get the ball and without looking just kick it to the opposition.

10. There was no game plan in evidence today but I am prepared to give that time.

11. We allow flooding in our forward line and then one on one in the opposition's.

12. We show no passion in our play or anger towards the opposition or the situation. ( I am not suggesting violence ).

13. Our drafting and development of players appears poor so far over the last few years.

14. We are slow in too many positions.

15. We allow 33000 supporters to come along on a nice day at our home ground against an interstate side and play a game of crap football that is nothing short of disgraceful. BTW I can accept defeat as I have followed the club for 55 years but today was shameful. At least 186 was Geelong at Geelong with nothing really to play for.

It just seems to me that other sides have drafted no name players who have speed and skill and play to the team ethic, while we seem to have not developed players or picked badly at the draft in the first place. We needed quality mids and we went tall for several picks over the last couple of years. Scully was a mid but I am not sure Trengove is. He will be a good player but not a quick mid. Surely Magner highlights the problem when from the VFL he is our best mid on the day and our second best is our number 1 key forward draft pick.

Why do we fumble nearly every possession? Why do we pass 40 metres up in the air? These are major problems.

Feel free to disagree.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

1. Our midfield is slow, both in leg speed and reaction.

6. Our players don't run to position and create space.

7. Our first touch of the football is a fumble.

8. We have senior players who shouldn't be in the side and I will name some Flash, MacDonald and maybe even B & F Beamer and soon Green.

12. We show no passion in our play or anger towards the opposition or the situation. ( I am not suggesting violence ).

13. Our drafting and development of players appears poor so far over the last few years.

Why do we fumble nearly every possession? Why do we pass 40 metres up in the air? These are major problems.

Fully concur especially with above, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.

Still I am always amazed at how quickly a football team can change once the penny drops. Confidence is an incredible fuel. I will hang my hat on this hope for now.

Edited April 1, 2012 by dandeeman

[old dee 23,872]

Try and do a bit of analysis here. I know I shouldn't write so soon after a loss but I feel pretty calm at the moment.

1. Our midfield is slow, both in leg speed and reaction.

2. Our disposal as I have been banging on about for many years is the worst in the AFL. Can't kick to a player or handball to a player.

3. Our general handling skill is poor at best.

4. We allow match winners ( like Black ) to go unstopped while they are killing us.

5. Any game plan that relies on entry into the forward line, being by bombing the ball from 40 metres in the air is doomed to fail.

6. Our players don't run to position and create space.

7. Our first touch of the football is a fumble.

8. We have senior players who shouldn't be in the side and I will name some Flash, MacDonald and maybe even B & F Beamer and soon Green.

9. Too many players get the ball and without looking just kick it to the opposition.

10. There was no game plan in evidence today but I am prepared to give that time.

11. We allow flooding in our forward line and then one on one in the opposition's.

12. We show no passion in our play or anger towards the opposition or the situation. ( I am not suggesting violence ).

13. Our drafting and development of players appears poor so far over the last few years.

14. We are slow in too many positions.

15. We allow 33000 supporters to come along on a nice day at our home ground against an interstate side and play a game of crap football that is nothing short of disgraceful. BTW I can accept defeat as I have followed the club for 55 years but today was shameful. At least 186 was Geelong at Geelong with nothing really to play for.

It just seems to me that other sides have drafted no name players who have speed and skill and play to the team ethic, while we seem to have not developed players or picked badly at the draft in the first place. We needed quality mids and we went tall for several picks over the last couple of years. Scully was a mid but I am not sure Trengove is. He will be a good player but not a quick mid. Surely Magner highlights the problem when from the VFL he is our best mid on the day and our second best is our number 1 key forward draft pick.

Why do we fumble nearly every possession? Why do we pass 40 metres up in the air? These are major problems.

Feel free to disagree.

I would love to be able to Redleg but alas nothing more can be said.

[jnrmac 20,186]

How is it that McGrath can run through the midfield take two bounces get tackled, not dispose of the ball and it's play on Brisbane goal.

As my wife said "if that is not holding the ball what is?"

I counted 4 marks awarded to the Loins in the fwd line where the ball actually hit the ground!

WTF was the recall of Mitch Clarks goal on the boundary line for?? Luckily he slotted the second one as well.

Maggots were appalling.

[bing181 9,328]

Sorry to just dig into one player, but I thought Jamar was absolutely pitiful today. He won two taps for the entire game from memory ...

27 taps actually.

[Redleg 41,443]

How is it that McGrath can run through the midfield take two bounces get tackled, not dispose of the ball and it's play on Brisbane goal.

As my wife said "if that is not holding the ball what is?"

I counted 4 marks awarded to the Loins in the fwd line where the ball actually hit the ground!

WTF was the recall of Mitch Clarks goal on the boundary line for?? Luckily he slotted the second one as well.

Maggots were appalling.

They could have worn red and blue jumpers, they performed that badly.

[bing181 9,328]

The ball in dispute between Blease and a Lions player, and instead of Blease manicly diving in low and head first in desperation to win the ball. he lets the Lions player get there first and then tries to tackle him. It probaly happened plenty of times yesterday, so it may be unfair to single Blease out

Perhaps not, after all, he was the one subbed off. In fact, if my memory serves me well, Blease now has the dubious distinction in his last 3 games of 1 Rising Star followed by two consecutive subbings off after having hardly touched the ball - he was subbed in the last game last year against Port I believe.

Wild swings and roundabouts.

[old dee 23,872]

They could have worn red and blue jumpers, they performed that badly.

And what is it with the grey army shorts.

Did the AFl get a cut price from the disposals store

[old dee 23,872]

Perhaps not, after all, he was the one subbed off. In fact, if my memory serves me well, Blease now has the dubious distinction in his last 3 games of 1 Rising Star followed by two consecutive subbings off after having hardly touched the ball - he was subbed in the last game last year against Port I believe.

Wild swings and roundabouts.

It does not say much for your ability when you are subbed off against the two sides that finished second and third last in 2011.

Not much light in that tunnel

[sue 9,145]

How is it that McGrath can run through the midfield take two bounces get tackled, not dispose of the ball and it's play on Brisbane goal.

As my wife said "if that is not holding the ball what is?"

I counted 4 marks awarded to the Loins in the fwd line where the ball actually hit the ground!

WTF was the recall of Mitch Clarks goal on the boundary line for?? Luckily he slotted the second one as well.

Maggots were appalling.

He had to kick it twice because an umpire on the far wing blew his whistle for the blood rule on a lions player just as he was kicking the first one. Imagine if an important game's outcome was affected by such foolish timing....

[DemonWA 3,936]

Tried to stay away from here for a long as i could - knew demonland would be on suicide watch!

The loss last year at Subiaco was as bad as i have seen. Hoping for a bit of fight next week

[DemonWA 3,936]

Its crazy how quick people are calling for Beamers head!

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

What has happened for too long in this club is that 'potentials' have been given endless time to reach there potential - but unsurprisingly they never actually get there because they know they'll get a game either way. And the other problem has been too many years getting rid of the wrong players.

Think about it in terms of a team like Hawthorn - 'Look Col Sylvia, we know you've got talent and your close to a break out game, but you've been given two years, see ya later.' 'Look Wattsie - your just not up to scratch mate, see ya later.'

We continually accept mediocrity because we endlessly hold faith in players that have never quite got there.

Gone for mine: Davey, Green, Morton, Jetta, Watts, Joel Mac, Bartram - close Col Sylvia. Think about it - would other teams trade for these guys? Time to get cut-throat. If your not up to scratch see ya later.

Mitch Clark is here for one reason - the coin. Tom Scully went probably for more reasons than the coin. I still sit wondering how different things would have been if we'd picked up Nat instead of Jack and Trengove/Dustin Martin instead of $kullduggary.

[Red Demon 67]

5) Umpiring - ive never resported to ever EVER putting umpiring as a factor but they need to lift their game too. 4 bounce recalls (on a fine ground), the whole Clarke double take goal, 2 bs lions 'marks', a couple of holding the ball cases gone unnoticed and it was all fairly one sided.

That is ridiculous. If there ever was a game where umpiring wasn't to be blamed it was yesterday. We were probably gifted 3 goals from the umps plus easily got the rub of the green for at least the entire first half. Think Magner's initial free kick, then another kick at goal, the 50m penalty after being called on, Trengove's HTB decision and goal after he had the ball - we may have well as been playing with 21 on the ground and we still couldn't get up. Can't believe we're at a stage were we are blaming the umps after that display.

Agree with the last comment as well. We (rightly) have a crack at $cully for taking the coin - Mitch Clark has done the exact same thing yet we don't seem to see the similarities. Always dangerous grabbing a player who has one motivation - the cash.

Edited April 1, 2012 by Red Demon

[Tankey 2]

I sat near the boundary at the game, there was 1 moment were Stef Martin was chasing down someone (Can't recall who) Brisbane were all talking, Stef was putting his heart and soul into it without any help, without any talking from any dees players at all. Of course this is when we were down and out, but having a sulk when the game isn't over is only going to make it worse.

Just on a side note, we need to trade Jamar for a big defensive presence and put Stef Martin in the ruck. Nothing against Jamar, he is great, but I think we need a big man to go down back. It's hard for frawley and rivers to beat someone like Jonathan Brown or Lance Franklin. And I think Stef's talents are going to waste.

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

With the exception of the first 10 minutes if the first quarter, the first half was a good game of footy. There was effort, physical accountability and some good marking by both sides. But even in the first half melbourne showed poorly in two areas:

• At stoppages
  
• Our senior players - Moloney, Green, Davey and Rivers were horrible. Rivers did some good solo efforts but his fumbling and kicking were way beloe par.
  

I thought Trengove, Magner, Watts Howe and Jones were all OK, and Tynan was OK in the first half.

[Whispering_Jack 30,672]

I agree that we deserved most of what we've copped from the media after such a limp effort but I must say that some in the media must have agendas against the Melbourne Football Club.

1. I heard Leigh Matthews on radio discussing Jack Watts with a caller and Matthews bagged Watts mercilessly and unfairly. He was by no means anywhere near our worst player - in fact I had him in our best three or four.

2. The SEN commentators describing the Bulldogs as brave after losing their game today. I thought they were as pathetic as we were yesterday but their 49 point loss was apparently a brave defeat.

[old dee 23,872]

I agree that we deserved most of what we've copped from the media after such a limp effort but I must say that some in the media must have agendas against the Melbourne Football Club.

1. I heard Leigh Matthews on radio discussing Jack Watts with a caller and Matthews bagged Watts mercilessly and unfairly. He was by no means anywhere near our worst player - in fact I had him in our best three or four.

2. The SEN commentators describing the Bulldogs as brave after losing their game today. I thought they were as pathetic as we were yesterday but their 49 point loss was apparently a brave defeat.

WJ we give them plenty of ammo.

The dogs were playing a top four side we were playing a bottom four side

There is a difference

[Dr. Gonzo 24,300]

Exactly - I also feel that the criticism of Watts may be warranted. He WAS one of our better players, in the first half at least. The problem is he still didn't IMPOSE himself on the game. He didn't create many goals, he didn't kick many goals. He did get to where the ball was and rack up some possessions but did he really damage the opposition? I see Matthews and others criticism of Watts akin to Barassi's criticism of Keth Greig (amongst others) back in the day. He hounded him the most because he had the potential to be one of the best, but wasn't.

Edited April 1, 2012 by Dr. Gonzo

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

I agree that we deserved most of what we've copped from the media after such a limp effort but I must say that some in the media must have agendas against the Melbourne Football Club.

1. I heard Leigh Matthews on radio discussing Jack Watts with a caller and Matthews bagged Watts mercilessly and unfairly. He was by no means anywhere near our worst player - in fact I had him in our best three or four.

2. The SEN commentators describing the Bulldogs as brave after losing their game today. I thought they were as pathetic as we were yesterday but their 49 point loss was apparently a brave defeat.

WB would have "pantsed" us with their "pathetic" effort today.

[Biffen 12,947]

I sat near the boundary at the game, there was 1 moment were Stef Martin was chasing down someone (Can't recall who) Brisbane were all talking, Stef was putting his heart and soul into it without any help, without any talking from any dees players at all. Of course this is when we were down and out, but having a sulk when the game isn't over is only going to make it worse.

Just on a side note, we need to trade Jamar for a big defensive presence and put Stef Martin in the ruck. Nothing against Jamar, he is great, but I think we need a big man to go down back. It's hard for frawley and rivers to beat someone like Jonathan Brown or Lance Franklin. And I think Stef's talents are going to waste.

Stef only came good last year Jamar the year before .We'll trade those who have shown their best is behind them or have never had the right stuff .We must put this game behind us and stop talking trade week in round one .

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

We seem to lack players who can run and carry and consistently break lines. Whilst I really like Neville (he gives it a red hot crack), I think we got the wrong Jetta (Lewis).

Yarran's goal against Richmond was sensational - Jurrah aside, we just don't have too many players who can do that stuff (perhaps with apologies to Petterd, Howe and Sylvia).

With 40 or so players on our list, and heaps of decent draft picks in recent years, it's bordering on bizarre that we don't at least have some truly elite players.

[Biffen 12,947]

Not surprised at the typical Demonland meltdown - it's nearly as bad now as when we lost to West Coast last year.

Agree with BRFE's sentiments. It's not all doom and gloom. Our backline is solid and a forward line that could potentially have Jurrah, Petterd, Howe, Watts, Clark and Martin playing together is a real weapon.

However Jamar, Davey, Green are not cutting it, and our midfield is truly god-awful. If your midfield's this bad, it makes your entire team look woeful. Not very excited about Bate, Blease, Bartram, McKenzie and MacDonald being in the one team. That's a lot of one-trick ponies (although I'm not sure of Bate's trick yet).

Bates trick is to win contests on nearly every occasion .The disposal of all these guys can be poor . Bate gets the pill at least .

[boydie 655]

I agree that we deserved most of what we've copped from the media after such a limp effort but I must say that some in the media must have agendas against the Melbourne Football Club.

1. I heard Leigh Matthews on radio discussing Jack Watts with a caller and Matthews bagged Watts mercilessly and unfairly. He was by no means anywhere near our worst player - in fact I had him in our best three or four.

2. The SEN commentators describing the Bulldogs as brave after losing their game today. I thought they were as pathetic as we were yesterday but their 49 point loss was apparently a brave defeat.

The Bulldogs played Good football for 3 quarters

We played 1 OK quarter and 3 pathetic 3 quarters, the dogs also played exciting footy. The only exciting thing yesterday was going home.

[east gippsland demon 7]

We were pissweak at the clearances and stoppages, you lose as many as we did today you are never going to win. Jamar was slaughtered, the Russian looks like he is really struggling at the moment.

I thought he was poor as well and yet pick up the herald sun this morning and hes named as our best player!!?? We were well beaten in the ruck .