• Played in 4 of the 5 Grand Finals
  
• Won 3 flags
  
• Lost a champion in Ablett
  
• Champion Premiership players retired, Ling etc
  

But yet their hunger continues to win games against a great team like the Hawks

Sure they have great skills, but the words DESIRE, LEADERSHIP,WORK for EACH OTHER & CULTURE

Lets not forget some 6-8 yrs ago most of their list were not going anywhere, handbags etc

Lets get behind Neeld & his team to support him as this will take time as seen with the cats

Absolutely spot on dees64. They play for each other but I would also add, they were given time to gel as a group.

Hawks were afraid to win that game. Geelong were absolutely brilliant, and completely got into the heads of the Hawthorn players. As a Melbourne supporter, it was great to see the Hawks make fearful mistakes at the hands of their bogey side, just as has happened for years at Melbourne Hawthorn games.

Glad someone brought this up - Geelong is still streets ahead of anyone else - MFC should be aiming to emulate the Geelong game plan, but adapt it (not copy it) to suit their own needs. If you don't take risks in football, if you don't keep improving, if you stand still, you go backwards. Time for MFC to wake up!

It's not the game plan. We need their heart, determination and sheer will power...

The cats are still AWESOME without Ottens and Ling. what a team they are. We are half there size right now...just like we have been since that rainy friday night in 2008....

Let's also not forget the journey they went on to get where they are, and how long it took.

I'm not blindly happy to wait that long and hope it'll be ok - but I am aware that even if things are done well, in the right way, that it will still probably take that long.

It's about following a deliberate process, maintaining integrity in all facets of the club, and not taking any shortcuts.

Dare I say it: setting elite standards and demanding elite compliance.

Understand Benno (and agree), but a basic game plan is essential - we're talking about two different sides of the same story.

They wouldve beaten anyone the way they plyed today. Did you see Selwood get smashed then stand up and bark orders. LEADERSHIP.

They wouldve beaten anyone the way they plyed today. Did you see Selwood get smashed then stand up and bark orders. LEADERSHIP.

YES! He had no idea where he was, but knew he was still the captain...that is where Benno is coming from.

The best football team I've ever seen...

Granted I haven't seen the Hawks of the 80s up close. Or us in the fifties.

But I put these guys ahead of Bombers in 2000, Lions in the years following...

A few years ago in a night match MFC defeated Geelong in a good game which promised much for both clubs - Geelong went on to win three cups and MFC collapsed - MFC got it horribly wrong and should learn from that experience.

They have an amazing WORK ETHIC, and a great group of ON-FIELD LEADERS. Things we sadly lack.

Also of course a great balance of hard bodied mature players and up and coming youngsters. Things we sadly lack.

On top of that, I guess it all comes down to the fact that they really WANT to succeed, and not just would like to.

Success has to be player driven - coaches, fitness folk etc can only do so much -- it is ultimately won in the heads of those privileged to represent the club on the field on the day, once the basics are there. Division and bickering never wins the prize.

And as far as today is concerned, Buddy needs to reserve those smart arsed dribble shots for when the result is secured -- a sense of "poetic justice" that he missed those two and they lost narrowly.

Edited April 9, 201213 yr by monoccular

A few years ago in a night match MFC defeated Geelong in a good game which promised much for both clubs - Geelong went on to win three cups and MFC collapsed - MFC got it horribly wrong and should learn from that experience.

2006? Remember that well. Sat very close to both coaches boxes.

They have an amazing WORK ETHIC, and a great group of ON-FIELD LEADERS. Things we sadly lack.

Also of course a great balance of hard bodied mature players and up and coming youngsters. Things we sadly lack.

On top of that, I guess it all comes down to the fact that they really WANT to succeed, and not just would like to.

Success has to be player driven - coaches, fitness folk etc can only do so much -- it is ultimately won in the heads of those privileged to represent the club on the field on the day, once the basics are there. Division and bickering never wins the prize.

All things that generally need to be developed within a club.

I dare say all the players at Geelong don't necessarily adopt these attitudes, but they know that it is expected of them and that nothing else will do, and that standard has been set from day one, so they comply.

We need to work to make that the standard to work towards, then once we reach it, ensure it is maintained.

We have players that set those standards for themselves, but we need to make them permeate the entire club. As it has at Geelong.

I have to admit to tipping the Hawks for this, but was very happy to see the Cats get up in the way that they did... brilliant and such a hard team, which makes it all the more impressive considering the reputation for hardness the Hawks have. And to think Bomber Thompson was on the verge of getting the boot before it all came together for them and that there were whispers of Hawkins being directed to the trade table just a couple of years ago. This gives me hope for us.

I dream of the day that people will look at a Melbourne team and admire them for the sort of guts and determination I saw from Geelong today. They don't know how to lose.

• Played in 4 of the 5 Grand Finals
  
• Won 3 flags
  
• Lost a champion in Ablett
  
• Champion Premiership players retired, Ling etc
  

But yet their hunger continues to win games against a great team like the Hawks

Sure they have great skills, but the words DESIRE, LEADERSHIP,WORK for EACH OTHER & CULTURE

And also lost Bomber Thompson at a crucial time. Just goes to show that if the culture is right, the rest will take care of itself.

I dream of the day that people will look at a Melbourne team and admire them for the sort of guts and determination I saw from Geelong today. They don't know how to lose.

And let's be honest Hawthorn were just as hungry. The last kick after the siren went through. So close.

Hawkins' kicking is worse than TS! All credit to Geelong, they had not won a flag since '63 under Bobby Davis, despite maintaining an attractive style of football. Have stayed thereabouts over this period and survived four heartbreaking flag losses in late 80's and 90's and now are reaping the bounty of their brilliant footballing style. it is not a matter of demanding standards; the players demand it of themselves, and it shows. i would like to see their new recruits lined up beside our draft-assisted assets over the last few years, incredibly they would come out ahead.

Just a subtle difference - Geelong were more hungry than their opposition, but they were also prepared to take more risks, in short they backed themselves to win any contest.

A few years ago in a night match MFC defeated Geelong in a good game which promised much for both clubs - Geelong went on to win three cups and MFC collapsed - MFC got it horribly wrong and should learn from that experience.

I’ve always found it funny that we were trading blows with Geelong in 2005 and 2006 – even beating them at Skilled Stadium. At the start of 2007, Melbourne was touted as the best side in Victoria and Thompson was one bad season away from losing his job. The rest is history.

Hawkins' kicking is worse than TS! All credit to Geelong, they had not won a flag since '63 under Bobby Davis, despite maintaining an attractive style of football. Have stayed thereabouts over this period and survived four heartbreaking flag losses in late 80's and 90's and now are reaping the bounty of their brilliant footballing style. it is not a matter of demanding standards; the players demand it of themselves, and it shows. i would like to see their new recruits lined up beside our draft-assisted assets over the last few years, incredibly they would come out ahead.

those Geelong kids would murder our lot right now, even our captains would be under the pump The exact reason why Tanking should never be considered a weapon again. I don't care what other teams plan to do. For the MFC it feeds the losing mentality we have allowed into the club since the 60's

Bartell is the best player in the comp IMO.

When the game is to be won for the cats have a look who stands up.

9 outta 10 its Bartell.

Hawkins' kicking is worse than TS!

Well, I wish we had someone who could kick so poorly and contribute 3 goals.