DERAILED by Whispering Jack

There's a certain sameness creeping into Melbourne's 2012 campaign. It starts with the team striving hard but playing patchy football punctuated by some glaring mistakes for one and a half quarters. Then the wheels fall off for the next one and a half quarters so that by three quarter time, we've all given up the ghost and might as well head homewards because the game's over.

And when it's really over the statistics tell a lamentable tale. The Tigers ran all over the Demons from the midpoint of term two when the scoreboard had Melbourne up by a goal. This was the pivotal time in the game when the Richmond midfield really took over, lifted a notch and ran over a soft languid opposition.

Whereas hitherto the Demons were in the game despite multiple skill and decision-making errors, suddenly it was the superiority of the Tiger on ball division that allowed them to change the dynamics of the game and to turn it into a one horse race. Melbourne looked a spent force and played that way until the final siren sounded to end another tragic day's play. 

The statistics that mattered overwhelmingly favoured Richmond which led disposals 427-268, inside 50's by 65-30 and tackles 75-53. Melbourne came close in contested ball but the remaining statistics indicate deep seated problems in the way the team is structured and that virtually nothing is being done during game day when the wheels start falling off to turn the game back into the team's favour.

That happened predictably at the mid point of the second quarter when the Richmond midfield simply took over and ran their Melbourne counterparts off their feet. I have been watching the midfields of the other clubs in various matches over the early rounds and even the new franchises are already superior to that which is being presented by the Demons which is nothing short of shambolic. Even in the days of tanking, things were not so bad there and, unless some run can be introduced to help Nathan Jones, things will only get worse.

It's a major worry that the club's season has effectively been derailed after just three rounds. I have nothing more to add.

Melbourne 2.3.15 5.6.36 6.6.42  11.8.74

Richmond 4.4.28 6.8.44 15.11.101 20.13.133

Goals

Melbourne Clark Dunn Howe Trengove 2 Jones Sellar Watts

Richmond  Cotchin Miller 3 Conca Deledio Nahas 2 Grigg Houli Jackson I Maric Martin Riewoldt Tuck Vickery

Best

Melbourne Howe Frawley Jones Watts

Richmond Grigg Tuck Conca Foley Nahas Cotchin

Injuries

Melbourne Jack Grimes (concussion)

Richmond Nil

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Richmond Nil

Reports

Melbourne Jack Grimes for rough conduct on Daniel Jackson

Richmond Nil

Umpires Schmitt Armstrong Mitchell

Crowd 49,826 at the MCG

WOW!!!

Against Brisbane I thought our problem was that we couldnt execute the brave new plan

Against West Coast I thought the new plan might not be a good plan

Now I see that we actually don't have a plan..... just 18 blokes at a time strolling around the park for a couple of hours (except when we have 19 blokes out there)

So what happened over the last year..cant even compete with Toiges.....just smashed everywhere....DISGRACEFUL

Bring back Shane Woewodin!

What in the world has happened to Rohan Bail and Colin Garland??

We could see 186 smashed apart in round 6 if we are still playing like this

Said it on the game day thread, but Howe was the only Melbourne player in the top 15 possession getters.

Crazy.

Here is my post match summary: we are the worst team in the competition outside the two clubs who have been around for 2 years.

Port Adelaide and Richmond have both passed us by.

It's sad to say but it's true:

We could actually field a really solid Basketball side. We have more skilled basketballers than footballers.

NBL 2013- Andrew Gaze as coach!

when does the cricket start?

What in the world has happened to Rohan Bail and Colin Garland??

But what has happened to any number of the players? They're still young, you would be expecting them to progress, not go backwards. Howe, Jones and a few others have come on, but most have gone the other way.

Hard to fathom - perhaps there are just too many changes around the club. One of the assistants spoke of "over-correcting" during the week, they just don't have any confidence or a particularly strong sense of purpose.

But what has happened to any number of the players? They're still young, you would be expecting them to progress, not go backwards. Howe, Jones and a few others have come on, but most have gone the other way.

Hard to fathom - perhaps there are just too many changes around the club. One of the assistants spoke of "over-correcting" during the week, they just don't have any confidence or a particularly strong sense of purpose.

Neither robust enough.

After Rd 3 I'm looking forward to the draft and trade period where the possibility of 10 exiting.

Neeld knows what he wants and he'll go after that type of player.

I can't wait.

Time for the whole playing group to have a big heart to heart session, this list is not playing to any game plan and from what I have seen the first three weeks have not been lost by game plan. The game plan will work if players are willing to run, spread & chase.

It is the lack of run from the players and the lack of willing yourself to the contest to back your mate. Confidence is way down but that doesn't stop you running.

After Rd 3 I'm looking forward to the draft and trade period where the possibility of 10 exiting.

Neeld knows what he wants and he'll go after that type of player.

I can't wait.

Substitute Bailey with Neeld, and that is the same line I heard being trotted out 5 years ago.

I am over it.

I think the sub is the right position for Dunne, Howe was good, young Tom Mc Donald didn't disgrace himself, but the stoppages and midfield in the third quarter. Bloody hell. Where were they? The onball group must surely pay at the selection table. Exactly the same as last week and totally unacceptable.

Time for the whole playing group to have a big heart to heart session, this list is not playing to any game plan and from what I have seen the first three weeks have not been lost by game plan. The game plan will work if players are willing to run, spread & chase.

It is the lack of run from the players and the lack of willing yourself to the contest to back your mate. Confidence is way down but that doesn't stop you running.

Also need to add if Neeld knows what he wants you've given them 3 weeks now just do whatever it takes, identify on the list who is willing to do the hard yards delist and/or trade the others and go out and get those you need

can't be arsed with this season any more, call me a quitter but I can't bear to keep having my hopes dashed along with my enjoyment of the weekend every single week. I reckon we'll get done by 200+ points at least once this year and I think we'll end up with 1 win against GWS at home.

Time for the whole playing group to have a big heart to heart session, this list is not playing to any game plan and from what I have seen the first three weeks have not been lost by game plan. The game plan will work if players are willing to run, spread & chase.

It is the lack of run from the players and the lack of willing yourself to the contest to back your mate. Confidence is way down but that doesn't stop you running.

What game plan?..... I defy anyone watching that game today to identify our plan. Unless it is

• be unaccountable,
  
• turn the ball over,
  
• stop trying after half time
  
• put too many blokes on
  
• drop your head
  
• get smashed by a bottom four team and hope they get tired
  

Can someone please clarify what selections we'll get if we finish 16th? Picks 3, 4 and about 11? Which pick for Viney?

As for the game, Howe, Jones, Watts and Clark looks like competent footballers. The rest don't, and that includes our captains.

Even the Facebook group is kindly asking people to not swear. Dear lord.

Richmond had 160 more possessions, 140 of which were uncontested.

We are talking Richmond here. Not a Hawthorn or Geelong.

Total rebuild required. No bones about it. 5-year plan time.

I still do not see what Bate offers the side.

Nor Morton.

When we are getting flogged in the clearances do you think the rucks maybe could belt the ball away from those tigers players at their feet.

What a [censored] side we have, I feel for Neeld, we looked stuffed 3/4 way through the 2nd quarter

Can someone please clarify what selections we'll get if we finish 16th? Picks 3, 4 and about 11? Which pick for Viney?

Contemplating a 16th finish is optimistic in the extreme given today's events

i thought we were suppose to be the fittest a MFC team has ever been? could have fooled me!!

absolutely no effort after half time

gee i feel sorry for Clark and the lack of supply he gets