THE SPIRIT WAS THERE, BUT ...

[Melb16 458]

I beg your pardon??

He has no pace. Can that be rectified?

He will be a good player at best sadly.

Bartel doesnt have pace. People become obsessed with writing someone off if they arent lightening quick. He's quick enough.

[Guest gidon]

Poor form of the day goes to WYL. Trengove played his 41 st game today and referring to the Bulldogs as heroin dealers goes to show how the great game can bring down ppl.

Very sad

[Return to Glory 7,832]

Sloonie, it's not accepting mediocrity, it's merely stating that this was our best effort so far and there were positives. If you want to list every single negative feel free. We all know there are worries and I was p###ed off that we lost again. But come on man

[Return to Glory 7,832]

Bing 181 - that's a good summary of Cale's performance. He spoilt his performance with clangers....but showed we should perservere without doubt.

[Chook 14,619]

We were better this week than last week. As long as we can say that every week, then I'll be satisfied.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Bartel doesnt have pace. People become obsessed with writing someone off if they arent lightening quick. He's quick enough.

Yes, but he gets around it in other ways.

At the moment, for me this is the one big thing holding Trengove back. It's his acceleration mainly which is the big concern, he needs to work on his first five steps.

[Jerry Lundergard 394]

I was really proud of the absolute tenacious endeavour of our team today. They absolutely threw themselves in.

That's how we managed to only lose by 20 -odd points despite being overwhelmed in possesssion of the footy.

In fact, if we'd kicked straight early, and they'd been twice penalised in the forward line for failing to dispose legally,resulting in goals, we'd have beaten them.

Somehow we stayed in touch despite them having the ball 100 more times. I think it reflects the way our guys gave their all. If our supporters didn't notice how hard and fearlessly our platyers went in, I reckon they weren't watching very closely.

Also, I reckon the sombre pre-match function would not have helped our players to be in a positive state of mind. It had to be done, and was well done, but I felt it left us with a "flat" feeling.

I have didn't question their endeavour today. But endeavour doesn't always get you wins. We are lucky we were playing the Bulldogs, because that endeavour kept us close against an average side, however, against atfreat side we would be slaughtered.

I am questioning our game style/plan and the holes in our list.

Edited April 22, 2012 by Jerry Lundergard

[Sir Why You Little 35,142]

Poor form of the day goes to WYL. Trengove played his 41 st game today and referring to the Bulldogs as heroin dealers goes to show how the great game can bring down ppl.

Very sad

You have never lived or spent much time in the area then..

What has 41 games to Trengove got to do with his lack of pace?

[Sir Why You Little 35,142]

Yes, but he gets around it in other ways.

At the moment, for me this is the one big thing holding Trengove back. It's his acceleration mainly which is the big concern, he needs to work on his first five steps.

Exactly...Opposition players have Trengove all worked out.

[Hardnut 327]

OK, let’s try to put some context into this thread.

Every club’s list consists of players who can play the game very well – that’s why they were recruited! Sure the lists vary in age, experience, depth, relative ability, etc etc.

The game itself is very simple – get the ball and go the quickest (direct) way to goal – the execution is harder!

It is the role of the football department to get the best out of their list – they are the ones who have to produce a game plan that suits their list at the time, and of course, that plan should evolve over time as the list changes. There is no perfect list or perfect game plan in the real world.

People management is the key to success – a flexible approach is required ­­­- anyone who tries to force a particular approach onto players will not succeed unless the players understand and agree with that approach, and most importantly, have the skills that are suited to that approach. Players cannot be changed overnight, but approaches to game plans can be, if football departments are capable!

[dee-luded 2,958]

They looked like they thru caution to the wind & just went at it hunted the footy & when they found it tried to move it on quickly with some structure.

I liked the Intensity they found, by all, Aaron was throwing himself in,,, & the mood across the park 'was have a go'... rusty but nice to see they can play with passion when they really want to.

Theres a lot to work on, but they, 'Had A Dip'.

# And a really nice bit of small forward play by Aaron.

[Return to Glory 7,832]

Why You Little, you are negative to the point of stupidity.

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

We are poor, 0-11 here we come! Il watch after the bye

Edit: I hate being so negative, but without people who can use the ball efficiently we will struggle to move the ball well!

Also Tom McDonald needs to play vfl, fumbled too much and disposal was SHITake mushrooms!

Edited April 22, 2012 by Mad_Melbourne

[Guest gidon]

You so ignorant WYL. It's sad.

[Sir Why You Little 35,142]

Why You Little, you are negative to the point of stupidity.

No, i am actually looking at the opposition teams within the AFL and realizing how far back we now are.

[Striker475 696]

I know it's stabbing at the umpires, which is normally awful, but I genuinely think they cost us the game tonight.

Sure, 20-odd point margin. But I counted 5 ridiculous frees which lead to Dogs goals, coupled with probably 2 or free unpaid ones (Dalhaus dropping the pill 20m out in the 3rd quarter, obvious to the other side of the ground but not to the 2 umpires standing 20m away?!) really hurt us, to the point where it genuinely did cost us the game.

We held our heads up. I was genuinely proud tonight. Another Doggies game, another annihilation by the umpiring.

[Face Your Demons 175]

If Bailey was still there we would have won a few game so far, but we would never have won a flag. Just hope we are on the right course with Neeld

[Sir Why You Little 35,142]

You so ignorant WYL. It's sad.

Jgnorant of what gidon?

What isn't there to see?

[Return to Glory 7,832]

WYL, no you're not. You're rabbiting on about heroin dealers in Footscray and how much you hate the MFC

[sue 8,492]

What's with the ruck? In every game Jamar and whoever else seem to almost always tap it down near their own feet. The result is that even if we get the ball it is congested and we get tackled. It happens so often it must be deliberate tactic, but why?

What happened to hitting it into some space into which a player runs?

[dee-luded 2,958]

Stop!!!!!!!! This was our best performance for the year CLEARLY. Seriously, we played the game out and, you know what, Morton was ok. Some of you need to get a grip. It's as if you can't wait to bag the crap out of your own side.

It's the first step back towards finding as bit of form.

The first sign we've seen this year 1st, 2nd, 3rd qtr, right thru, they played with courage & passion. No hammering copped by us in the 3rd Qtr.

Baby steps, back towards some fight & some vigor. The first things, before pride returns, & then some confidence & better form to follow.

[Return to Glory 7,832]

It's not a big statement at all when one reads your posts. I don't wish to offend you though as you're posts may become even angrier.

[rjay 24,099]

If Bailey was still there we would have won a few game so far, but we would never have won a flag. Just hope we are on the right course with Neeld

Me too

[Jerry Lundergard 394]

It's the first step back towards finding as bit of form.

The first sign we've seen this year 1st, 2nd, 3rd qtr, right thru, they played with courage & passion. No hammering copped by us in the 3rd Qtr.

Baby steps, back towards some fight & some vigor. The first things, before pride returns, & then some confidence & better form to follow.

I like your optimism, but i really think the opposition has a lot to do with that.

When we play good teams, we will be back to chasing tail the whole game.

[titan_uranus 22,912]

This was clearly our best game for the year. We tried a lot harder, for longer, and we looked good. In fat, I would say that for more of the game, we were the better side. We just lacked polish in front of goal, and when they had their brief moments on top, they scored goals. We had to play catch up footy in the second half because we couldn't kick easy goals in the first, and that hurt us. If we'd hit the front, with a bit of confidence and the crowd support who knows what would have happened.

Having said that, there are still a lot of problems. Our skills were shocking. Far too many players can't kick or handpass under pressure, and far too many players also can't kick or handpass under no pressure. We still seem to be playing to a rigid gameplan which we're not comfortable with yet, which removes instinct. And too many of our better players are still underpeforming (Trengove, Jamar, Frawley).

Dunn, McDonald and MacDonald were all abysmal, too.