A LITTLE WIN by The Oracle

It doesn't happen often that a team can lose a game by a margin in excess of 15 goals and still describe it as a "percentage booster" but such is the mediocrity of the Melbourne Football Club at the present time that this is precisely what happened when the Demons took on the West Coast Eagles at the MCG for their Round 3, 2013 visit to purgatory.

Not only that, but the game afforded coach Mark Neeld the opportunity of claiming "a little win" which was how he described Melbourne's response to a week that began with a train wreck crushing at the hands of a team of suspected druggies, was followed by the public execution of the club's CEO at the bidding of the AFL, a disappearing trick when the lads bonded at the Hotel Sorrento followed by a closed training session at Casey Fields and a rousing final training run at Gosch's Paddock.

The result was another tragic, unacceptable soul destroying loss but at least it was by less than 100 points. The team looked reasonably competitive for most of the first half, led by 9 points halfway through the second term when Jeremy Howe goaled, trailed by only 10 (points) at the half and even booted its highest score for the season but it also bled profusely in the third quarter giving away 11 goals to the rampant Eagles.

Which brings me to Hotel Sorrento which is also the name of an Aussie movie about a family forced to confront their own demons and in covering that subject the film takes us through an exploration of the word "melancholy" - one that a reviewer claimed "perfectly suits Hotel Sorrento's tone and pace".

The word also perfectly suits the place in which the Melbourne Football Club and its supporters are situated at the present time. We are deluded if we think that after two games in a season, the removal of the CEO by a hatchet mob is going to achieve anything. Make him responsible for failings which you can sheet home to him if they exist but the heroics of those who anonymously attacked him behind keyboards and secretive firewalls is not going to achieve a single thing on the field but weaken us off it.

What Melbourne needs is more players with the ability to run and spread, with skills, determination and mature bodies to compete for 120 minutes and not 45. It won't happen overnight and perhaps Neeld is right in claiming his tiny victory but there are not enough of the vital ingredients that instil success at the present time to make enough of a difference. The signs were there when the Eagles were able to score freely at the end of each of the first two quarters that the landslide to come was inevitable.

In the early stages, Nathan Jones was the instigator wininng 17 disposals up to half time on his way to 28 for the game. Jack Viney again showed his great potential despite an early ankle injury. The inclusion of Rohan Bail and the return after more than a year out of Michael Evans have the team some more run. Neville Jetta, while not outstanding, added the grunt and determination. The team was more balanced this week but it needs more oomph from the likes of James Frawley and Colin Garland in defence. I don't understand the exile to the stands of Jack Watts before moving him forward at least one time to see if he can do something in the place where he once earned # 1 draft selection. But then again, I don't understand much of what is happening at the Melbourne Football Club lately. All I know is that next week we need to see a win and it must not be tiny.

Melbourne 4.1.25 9.2.56 10.3.63 13.5.83

West Coast Eagles 5.3.33 10.6.66 21.9.135 27.15.177

Goals

Melbourne Clark 3 Sylvia Trengove 2 Byrnes Davey Evans Howe Sellar Tapscott

West Coast Darling Kennedy 5 Cox Hams LeCras 3 Sinclair 2 Cripps Embley Gaff Hill Hurn Masten

Best

Melbourne N Jones Sylvia Viney M Jones Grimes Terlich

West Coast Kennedy Cox Darling Priddis Masten Hurn

Changes

Melbourne Nil

West Coast Waters (calf) replaced in selected side by Jacob Brennan

Injuries

Melbourne Bail (concussion)

West Coast Hams (lower leg)

Reports Nil

Umpires Harris Pannell Fisher

Official crowd 18,571 at the MCG

For this we sacked Cameron Schwab ... congratulations!

Post match discussion/Head coach job application thread

What annoys me most is that the main areas where Melbourne are rubbish (effort, running, spreading, tackling and teamwork) have nothing to do with talent.

In the basement last week. Where are we now?

Enjoy GWS Jack Viney and Jesse Hogan...

Mark Jamar, Colin Garland, james Frawley, Jimmy Toumpas need a rest in the seconds. Simple as that. Nothing personal but did not do enou

Ah, screw it all.

For this we sacked Cameron Schwab ... congratulations!

Without a doubt, it saved us from an embarrassing triple figure loss.

Who's the next scapegoat?

It's damning that the Dees lost the disposal count by 70, but also lost the tackle count by 22. Five of the top 6 tacklers on the ground were eagles - Selwood had 12 alone.

Surprisingly, Melbournes top tackler was Jamar with 6. He also convincingly won the hit out count (not sure how many were to advantage, though). He was absolutely rubbish around the ground though - 5 disposals for Jamar, while Cox racked up 24 and 3.2. That kind of trouncing puts a side at a huge disadvantage these days. It's as if the opposition have an extra player on the field in open play.

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by cfe

if we are asking ex players to help, can we get robbie to come back? what could it hurt?

Has there ever been a player so devoid of peripheral vision as Garland?

And can we please play Gawn or Spencer. Jamar is done.

Very worrying second half.

The bottom line is that we have at least 5 (probably more) players running around that are just not up to AFL-standard.

Mark Jamar should have his contract torn up and be shown the door. Fed up with him. Cox is a superstar but the amount of times he was in a paddock forward of the centre was ludicrous.

Players today who earnt their stripes, or went up in my estimations as AFL players were Tapscott, M. Jones, Terlich.

Players who I think we need to stop kidding ourselves over, and realise are probably not AFL-standard anymore (or perhaps never were): Byrnes, Garland, Sellar

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by Sylvia Saint

if we are asking ex players to help, can we get robbie to come back? what could it hurt?

Do you think his boots would still fit him? Hope so.

Without a doubt, it saved us from an embarrassing triple figure loss.

Who's the next scapegoat?

Judging from today's comments, it's definitely Mark Neeld.

Can we please just give the guy a year. Changing coaches every couple of seasons is not the way to win a premiership. Surely that's obvious to everyone?

It's damning that the Dees lost the disposal count by 70, but also lost the tackle count by 22. Five of the top 6 tacklers on the ground were eagles - Selwood had 12 alone.

Surprisingly, Melbournes top tackler was Jamar with 6. He also convincingly won the hit out count (not sure how many were to advantage, though). He was absolutely rubbish around the ground though - 5 disposals for Jamar, while Cox racked up 24 and 3.2. That kind of trouncing puts a side at a huge disadvantage these days.

Cox beat Jamar in the hitouts when they were against each other.

Garry Lyon just said if Melbourne lose next week he would sack Mark Neeld.

Very worrying second half.

The bottom line is that we have at least 5 (probably more) players running around that are just not up to AFL-standard.

Mark Jamar should have his contract torn up and be shown the door. Fed up with him. Cox is a superstar but the amount of times he was in a paddock forward of the centre was ludicrous.

Players today who earnt their stripes, or went up in my estimations as AFL players were Tapscott, M. Jones, Terlich.

Agree, although Terlich needs to work on kicking. I know I'll be shouted down but there were some ok signs today.

We NEED MAGNER - just put anyone on the LTI list. I know he is not the classiest player but he will put in 100% no matter what the score.

Right through the Nab cup and Casey games he has been a standout. He knows how to find the footy (shown by his 30+ touches in the last 2 casey games) and he will put his body on the line.

It all starts with the center bounce!

Edited April 13, 201312 yr by Young Dee

I would not let G Lyon have anything to do with the Melbourne Football Club.

I thought Evans was ok early and we've found something in Jones. McDonald is looking better.

Garry Lyon just said if Melbourne lose next week he would sack Mark Neeld.

Did he say who he would then choose the next time around to coach?

mark jackson

The club will be much better when GL becomes irrelevant. He loves being seen as a kingmaker IMO.

Judging from today's comments, it's definitely Mark Neeld.

Can we please just give the guy a year. Changing coaches every couple of seasons is not the way to win a premiership. Surely that's obvious to everyone?

He's already had more than a year.

4 wins from 25 games.