THE SPIRIT WAS THERE, BUT ...

[Axis of Bob 11,836]

Where did I blame Morton for the loss?

Morton was good. He was good last week too. A skill error is not laziness - it's a skill error.

Give the mindless Morton bashing a rest.

[Sir Why You Little 37,049]

He's about as quick as Hodge.

Now that is a fanciful comparison.

[dee-luded 2,959]

We are sooo slowww. We seem to have the slowest midfield in the history of the game and I don't just mean foot speed it's our reaction time as well, when we win a centre clearance we just hack the ball forward whereas the opposition, every team we've played this year, has time to unleash a series of handballs and they are away. We chase but never have a chance of catching. Some have said that we recruited for run and carry, well let me tell you if we did none of the players we have recruited can run and they certainly can't carry, you need to get the ball before you can do that. At one stage today there were about 4 unmarked players screaming for the ball in the centre but the player with the ball ignored them and kicked to a contest down the line, madness. We are turning any player we had that had any ability in to hacks. Something is wrong, this side is playing the worst football I have ever seen a Melbourne Football club play and I've seen some bad ones.

Intuitiveness grows out of Belief & confidence. Intuitiveness gives quick reactions, speed by mind.

[Sir Why You Little 37,049]

We were the most dishonest football team in the competition under Bailey....................today was one of our most honest games for a long time.

The skills were infuriating at times, but I left that game today content that if nothing else, they had a genuine crack.

Dishonest players clearly aren't being played at the moment, many of which were playing last year.

We are on the right track, but there is going to be some pain!

I will agree with that...Todays effort was honest...there are positives to work from, but it is hard to take, just how far back this team is, and how it was allowed to get so bad...skill levels drop with confidence that i can understand, but the natural instinct to get the ball. Where has that gone?

[Guest Checker]

Wear the #4 on my back each week, but Watts was soft as butter today. Goes to ground every time if he doesn't mark the ball and his second efforts are non existent. He's obviously got the ability, god help us if he never finds the heart. I've always defended him but it's time to be realistic.

Morton is a spud, just want to close my eyes every time he gets the ball.

Love Mitch Clark. Throws himself at every contest and gives 100% no matter what. Missed a few shots but at least he's making himself an option.

Tip of the hat to Bater, he gave everything today. Would be in my 2 best today with Riv.

Frawley looks a different player to the All Australian from 2 years ago. Has he put on bulk? Looks considerably slower to me.

My two cents, hopefully won't be so negative next week.

[Wizza 170]

Joel Mac should never put on the jumper ever again. I'm sure his a nice guy but just not up to standard.

Turning point of the game was the dropped mark by Watts in our defensive 50. 1 point down, drops the uncontested mark and bulldogs goal.

Never got back into the match after that.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Now that is a fanciful comparison.

Wyl go away & take a Bex.

Come back when your not depressed, & can actually see what your talking about mate.

[Jaded No More 68,965]

Morton was good. He was good last week too. A skill error is not laziness - it's a skill error.

Give the mindless Morton bashing a rest.

How is it mindless bashing?

I've always been a Morton fan and said nothing about his performance last week because he did ok given it was his first game of the year.

He is talented and his engine is exactly what we need to pull off this game plan. Doesn't mean that I don't want to bash my head against a wall when he consistently turns it over under no pressure.

I expect it from Macdonald and Bartram but they bring something else completely to the table. Morton should be much better than that and he is, so he infuriates me. Doesn't mean I don't want him in the team or doesn't think he'll be a good player, but he deserves to cop it for his mindless turnovers just as he deserves praise for working hard.

Supporters complain because Watts dropped a mark but it's mindless bashing if I call Morton out on some [censored] disposal? He isn't a kid anymore, he's been around long enough and should do better. I doubt he would disagree.

It was the most frustrating thing today from us a whole, working hard to win the ball then turning it over. Morton was, along with some others, one of the worst offenders.

Edited April 22, 2012 by Jaded

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Intuitiveness grows out of Belief & confidence. Intuitiveness gives quick reactions, speed by mind.

I doubt that a bit of "Intuitiveness" will make our slow by foot players any faster.

[Crackers 67]

Given the conditions, was anybody else surprised that we played Sellar?

he did give Jamar a chop out in the ruck. Was better than Martin last week so I thought their decision to play Martin was fair. Good to see Morton try to make a positive improvement. Seems like he has. Better attitude. Not saying his performance is great but heading in the right direction.

Lots of players performance not up to scratch but sure who u drop them for. Not sure about Bartrum, never been great with footy in his hands and know he seems to be struggling to shut down his direct opponent

[Choko 493]

Morton was good. He was good last week too. A skill error is not laziness - it's a skill error.

Give the mindless Morton bashing a rest.

Oh please. If Morton was good, then good is the new crap.

We cannot and will not win a game of footy with Bartram, Rivers MacDonald and McDonald in the same backline. Too many poor kicks.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Joel Mac should never put on the jumper ever again. I'm sure his a nice guy but just not up to standard.

Turning point of the game was the dropped mark by Watts in our defensive 50. 1 point down, drops the uncontested mark and bulldogs goal.

Never got back into the match after that.

Joel Mac is simply not up to AFL standard that's why Brisbane got rid of him. His skills are appalling and I've never seen a player of his experience miss so many simple, stationary targets, when he's not under any pressure.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I doubt that a bit of "Intuitiveness" will make our slow by foot players any faster.

What? Really? Think back thru the memory goggles of amber. Remember one off the slowest by foot, Diesel Williams. Speed of mind thru composure, toughness, & Intuitiveness.

And by the way, why do you think Robbie Flower was so hard to lay a tackle on?

[Carlos Danger 380]

Hats off to Davey for his 2nd goal, kicking one from the boundary on your non-preferred foot is impressive to say the least.

[jimcor 212]

Better effort today. Still woefully unable to hurt them most when it counted but there weren't many that I saw that weren't having a go. For me, the major difference was that when we made mistakes, they were large ones and we consistently were made to pay a price. We still seem to often have too many players trying to make a tackle or take a mark which leaves us short when the ball goes loose. Tom & Morton made me wince on a couple of occasions with their errors but they were having a go and deserve to hold their places.

Bates & Watts seem to be combining well and both improved on last week. Rivers was a rock at the back against a much taller Doggie.

I don't think we need to change too much for next week other than Grimes back in for McDonald.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

What? Really? Think back thru the memory goggles of amber. Remember one off the slowest by foot, Diesel Williams. Speed of mind thru composure, toughness, & Intuitiveness. And by the way, why do you think Robbie Flower was so hard to lay a tackle on?

Read what I said. I was referring to speed of foot not speed of mind/hand. Fortunately I don't drink so I know what I said.

BTW there weren't any Diesel Williams out there today, wearing Melbourne colours anyway.

Edited April 22, 2012 by RobbieF

[dee-luded 2,959]

Oh please. If Morton was good, then good is the new crap.

We cannot and will not win a game of footy with Bartram, Rivers MacDonald and McDonald in the same backline. Too many poor kicks.

No one was "Good"...

But Morton was a Lot better for him, than he has been. he contributed to almost get the team over the line, nearly.

But remember, some are trying to change the game ways, to grow they're footy abilities. So some are showing a preparedness & some abilities not seen.

[Sir Why You Little 37,049]

Wyl go away & take a Bex.

Come back when your not depressed, & can actually see what your talking about mate.

i saw it today mate....We are so far behind other teams, finding positives in this side right now actually worsens our situation.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Better effort today. Still woefully unable to hurt them most when it counted but there weren't many that I saw that weren't having a go. For me, the major difference was that when we made mistakes, they were large ones and we consistently were made to pay a price. We still seem to often have too many players trying to make a tackle or take a mark which leaves us short when the ball goes loose. Tom & Morton made me wince on a couple of occasions with their errors but they were having a go and deserve to hold their places.

Bates & Watts seem to be combining well and both improved on last week. Rivers was a rock at the back against a much taller Doggie.

I don't think we need to change too much for next week other than Grimes back in for McDonald.

I agree, but better to start off having too many, trying to make Real Tackles, than have none tackling at all or pretending.

Having too many, we can adjust that. Playing without ticker or aggression, well theres no hope they're.

[RudeBoy 164]

It's easy to criticise players for being too slow, for lacking skills, for not contesting hard enough. I reckon the most important ingredient is self-belief. At present the players look slow, hesitant and at times soft, because they are lacking self-belief and confidence. As hard as it might be to believe, the Dees can still turn their season around if they can find some spirit and belief in each other. Find that and they will play instinctive football which looks quick and skilful. I guess it's up to the coach to generate that, but it can be done.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

i saw it today mate....We are so far behind other teams, finding positives in this side right now actually worsens our situation.

Whilst I don't agree with all you've said I do agree with that.

There were no players on our side that could come of the ground thinking they'd done a good job, none.

[dee-luded 2,959]

i saw it today mate....We are so far behind other teams, finding positives in this side right now actually worsens our situation.

Only because you don't understand the little things that happened today, that make no sense to you yet.

The desire to committ the body to lay tackles & to chase & harass with intent, was a sight for sore Eyes. Forget the rabble teamwork stuff today, the rustiness & lack of confidence. The willingness to do the dirty work, even if unco', was, A BIG STEP.

[grant 10]

I agree no gameplan can be implemented when your midfield can't find enough of the footy, which goes to show we need to draft some serious midfields studs and quick.

As for the backline and forward line, they are both young and better than most top 8 sides in the comp. Therefore we need to address a single need (THE MIDFIELD) which should make drafting a simpler task.

Other than Hawks and Pies I wouldnt trade our forward and backline for any other teams in the comp, when considering age, talent and future prospects.

For this reason I'm optimistic. Give it time. If we can develop an elite midfield I have no doubt we can surpise the comp and win a flag out of nowhere. No other holes remain.

[Axis of Bob 11,836]

How is it mindless bashing?

You said "And FFS Morton stop being so lazy you can't be arsed hitting a target by hand 3meters away."

Blaming Morton for missing a handball by saying that he "can't be arsed hitting a target" is completely mindless. What you are saying is that he thought about hitting the target, but instead made the decision to not bother to hit the target. Do you understand how silly this is? You have a default opinion for Morton (that he's lazy) and are just attributing any error he makes as being a result of that. It's wrong and it's mindless. You didn't think about it, you just said it. It's mindless.

Hence it being mindless bashing. You do it all the time.

[dee-luded 2,959]

You said "And FFS Morton stop being so lazy you can't be arsed hitting a target by hand 3meters away."

Blaming Morton for missing a handball by saying that he "can't be arsed hitting a target" is completely mindless. What you are saying is that he thought about hitting the target, but instead made the decision to not bother to hit the target. Do you understand how silly this is? You have a default opinion for Morton (that he's lazy) and are just attributing any error he makes as being a result of that. It's wrong and it's mindless. You didn't think about it, you just said it. It's mindless.

Hence it being mindless bashing. You do it all the time.

Venting.

She's not alone feeling the pain.