A LITTLE WIN

[Harrisonrules 273]

Go back and look at Clarkson's, Hardwick's and Ratten's results in their first couple of years.

Sacking the coach now would be utterly ridiculous. Where would that get us??

True but there is a point when keeping a coach demoralises players and supporters. Its a difficult dillemma

[Binmans PA 26,590]

I would drop Frawley, play Sellar as key back and bring in Gawn, Sellar is a better option than Frawley.

We might actually be able to do that, now that Patton has done his knee. One less tall target for GWS. I think we could play McDonald and Sellar as key backs, with Garland as the third tall. Give Chip a week on the sidelines.

[waynewussell 4,146]

I mentioned elsewhere that WC received at least 6 free kicks inside 50.

Kennedy 4 Frees For and 5 goals

Darling 3 FF and 5 goals

Clark 0 FF and 3 goals

Davey 0 FF and 1 goal

I think a couple of the WC inside 50 FF were questionable and I know for a fact that a couple of the marks inside 50 were questionable. However, the thing that gets up my nose is the blatant holding the ball / incorrect disposals by WC players inside our 50 that the umpires ignored completely

[Dannyz 2,345]

Matt Jones was fantastic today - Poise i tell ya, he has it!

Biggest difference was pressure acts, often unrewarded.

Well done Melbourne. Another step forward next week and I'm happy.

Also worth noting I'm enjoying Neeld's far more 'caring' approach to 'HIS' players too.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

Sylvia was good today.

He did some good things going forward - still useless as [censored] on a bull once the opposition gains possession. If he doesn't realise by now you can't pick and choose when you want to chase he never will.

[Robot Devil 1,895]

I mentioned elsewhere that WC received at least 6 free kicks inside 50.

Kennedy 4 Frees For and 5 goals

Darling 3 FF and 5 goals

Clark 0 FF and 3 goals

Davey 0 FF and 1 goal

I think a couple of the WC inside 50 FF were questionable and I know for a fact that a couple of the marks inside 50 were questionable. However, the thing that gets up my nose is the blatant holding the ball / incorrect disposals by WC players inside our 50 that the umpires ignored completely

Also, Mitch Clark being dragged down during a marking contest - no free kick.

WCE player being paid a "mark" in the goal square after four other players had touched it.

Umpire #28 was clearly biased against us or in love with the Eagles.

[48 Year Now 50]

I walked to the ground in a happy mood. The adrenelin had cut in an I was confident ofma good show. By the time I left I concluded that the problem is much broader. I feel there at least four Melbourne clubs that will never win an AFL flag in my lifetime. Today we played agsinst a powerhouse of an AFL club. They destroy us in so many area of criticism and debate on here. Recruiting, player development, conditioning, fitness, coaching. Thats before you ever look at home advantages and the attraction for young guys to live in Perth. Meanwhile we debate bringing in Magner and Coach.

Merge is a dirty word but so is Pederson, Byrnes, Gillies, Rodan,Sellar and the new lot of uncaring mercinary hacks we will recruit at the end of this season.

[biggestred 4,401]

Jetta chase and tackle on the wing, play on? Really? Horrible call

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

What did we expect, the worst team in the afl at present playing a top 4 team. A team with one high qualitymidfeilder against a team that has 7. A forward line that has one good tall option against a team with 1. A team with an all australian ruckman that still is elite against one that is facing time at casey.

They gave us hope and we got suckered in, we just dont have the talent and mental strength to play 4 quarters of afl footy.

Excuses excuses. It's 18 v 18 (or 22 v 22) that's all that matters.

[48 Year Now 50]

Dr Gonzo.

I remember my under 15 coach saying a similiar thing agsinst the best team I ever played against. After telling us they are only flesh and blood with two arms and two legs we lost by 30 goals......

[drdrake 3,058]

Excuses excuses. It's 18 v 18 (or 22 v 22) that's all that matters.

You must be kidding, at some stage talent comes into play, and we just dont have enough talent

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

One other thing, I know it's been done to death, but I nearly cried every time Darling kicked a goal, how stupid are we?

Too soon to judge - talls take time and Cook should be coming on any day now.

Would help having Talia down back as well.

Edited April 13, 2013 by Dr. Gonzo

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

Dr Gonzo.

I remember my under 15 coach saying a similiar thing agsinst the best team I ever played against. After telling us they are only flesh and blood with two arms and two legs we lost by 30 goals......

You should have tried harder.

[monoccular 16,513]

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

.......well firstly it is not up to him, and secondly would he like a third try at appointing a new one???!!!

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

You must be kidding, at some stage talent comes into play, and we just dont have enough talent

No doubt but you can't tell me we are 100 points worse in just over half a game than West Coast, 150 points worse than Essendon and 80 points worse than Port. Those kind of drubbings come down to mentality and effort.

Edit: And coaching.

Edited April 13, 2013 by Dr. Gonzo

[48 Year Now 50]

Dr Gonzo.... Wonder if your the bloke I called a nark at the game.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,682]

Dr Gonzo.... Wonder if your the bloke I called a nark at the game.

Haha nah don't think so unless you said it under your breath?

My last post (saying you should have tried harder) was a joke by the way

[Deemotivated 550]

No doubt but you can't tell me we are 100 points worse in just over half a game than West Coast, 150 points worse than Essendon and 80 points worse than Port. Those kind of drubbings come down to mentality and effort.

Edit: And coaching.

Funny that we got smoked by port and with today's effort and intensity we'd have destroyed them by half time...

Mental fragility as much as lacking a few genuine A graders is our biggest issue right now.

[deanox 8,876]

An 80 point loss in a half is unacceptable. We can't keep churning out this vomit inducing rubbish. Something has to change.

I saw Essendon players last night embracing Hird. He is a coach they would die for.

Our coach can't even get the players up for a half of footy, when we are 10 points down in the main break. It's seriously a joke.

I am greatful for both Nathan and Matt Jones, Clarky, and I thought Evans and Bail made a big difference to our overall effort. Terlich and Viney too. But it's just not good enough that senior players like Jamar and Byrnes are running around like headless chickens.

That first half was a case in point that we can and should be competitive. That a simple game plan goes a long way.

What happened in the second half sits with the coach and our senior players. Not bloody anywhere near acceptable.

One more loss and it's adios Neeld. 18k turned out today. How many next week?

Can't afford to keep this up.

Jaded, you're observations are spot on but imo your draw the wrong conclusions.

You highlight that only some of the players can compete for the whole game. We saw in the first half that the players can if they want to, but in the second they weren't interested.

In 2013, after the season we've had and the pressure on the players, if they don't have enough motivation to play four quarters, then that should rest with the players.

The first half showed me that the coaching staff have prepared the players sufficiently, unless Neeld tried to change things significantly at half time this all lies with the players.

My opinion is that bad luck and poor umpiring in the first 10:30 of q3 robbed us of momentum and confidence. Good teams, successful teams, teams with confidence would have come back, lifted their heads and turned it around. After the last two weeks, once wce had kicked 4 or 5 we lost all confidence on field where Neeld couldn't help.

Rate Neeld on the first half today where he was able to motivate players after the lady two weeks. Judge Neeld on how we respond next week, but he could do nothing about the on field loss of confidence today.

Edited April 13, 2013 by deanox

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Ok back from the game after a lot of scotch. I sat up the back today and not in my reserved seat on level 2 so I could see everything going on.

Jamar is done. How can a paid professional not want to kick the ball? He is terrified to kick it. He never leads for a contested mark. He taps and that is it.

Mitch Clarke I love you. Same with jones and viney. Bail was good and Tappy looked good with very little oppurtunities. Sylvia had a crack all day. So did T Mac. Good to see Evans back. He looks to run through the middle everything he got the ball. The players without the ball make our player in possession look stupid. Mitch is the only one who presents. We need another lead up target. It should be jamar but he is useless and doesn't present any type of threat around the ground.

Toumpass needs a full run in the two's. He gave us nothing at all.

Last WE ARE NOT FIT. The last 5 minutes of the 2nd quarter we were spent and never recovered.

[fired up 77]

Only if they could have mirrored the first half.

A loss against GWS should surely kill what is left of the confidence of the players. I don't care if Melbourne beat GWS by 1 point or 186, we all want 4 points, I want to hear the song... I really want to hear the song.

You will not hear it. GWS are competitive and will come out hard.

[Strapping Young Lad 227]

Well I went to my first Demons match since 1999, bought myself a membership too!!! I liked what was happening in the first half of the game.... but not hitting targets is a huge flaw in our game.... Kicking over the heads of players and good lord it shat me when we crossed our own goals are missed our targets and gave away goals like an old man in a hiace giving out "free candy" near a play ground. Mitch Clark is worth every penny and in my opinion should be captain of the club! The two guys we have now are good players, but we need a leader like Neitz someone who can have an impact and rally the pea hearts in the team. Next week will tell us exactly where we are at and I am looking forward to it. But can someone tell me why we run out to Metallica...... Run out to the club song or run out to silence.... Not that shite example of metal! That wouldn't even inspire me to have a decent bowl movement, let alone a game of footy!!!!

[timD 994]

I also thought we were out coached. It was like rope-a-dope. They played two behind the ball. Their midfield wins, we get the ball back on our back line and work frantically to get it out...only for it to bounce back in again. Again and again and again. But we are caught. If we don't play more blokes back or on the ball, they will carve us up.

[tonatopia 278]

Neeld is not respected. He came to the club and immediately [censored] in our face. Clubmen like moloney and rivers could smell it from the start.

Neeld is not our man, how bloody obvious does it need to be.

We desperately need new leadership.

This week neeld, next week mclardy. It's not about scapegoating, we need a complete cleanout.

A new start, a new spirit, a new determination.

Get Roos!

[Gorgoroth 12,369]

Neeld is not respected. He came to the club and immediately [censored] in our face. Clubmen like moloney and rivers could smell it from the start.

Neeld is not our man, how bloody obvious does it need to be.

We desperately need new leadership.

This week neeld, next week mclardy. It's not about scapegoating, we need a complete cleanout.

A new start, a new spirit, a new determination.

Get Roos!

I think you got his slightly backwards, Moloney came in and [censored] on the bar.

As many people have said, why the hell would Roos want to give up a [censored] load of money, move his family from Sydney to Melbourne and take on this team?