MORE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING? by George on the Outer

It was looking like another week from Hell for the Demon supporters

Nineteen points down at ¾ time against the other cellar dweller on the league ladder, with a more dispirited and heartless performance on show up to that point. The opening music of Enter Sandman was prophetic as the Demons sought to put their supporters to sleep.

But a Nathan Jones goal early, followed by a Max Gawn grab in the goal-square and suddenly the game was on again, instead of being all over. Even then an unaccountable performance by certain individuals, and a goal to GWS allowed the momentum to be sucked from the Demons, yet again.

Finally it was the two Cols who stood up!

Firstly, Col Garland who decided that enough was enough and marked strongly on the wing against four others. Had he not, the ball was surely to finish up with another GWS score. Then Col Sylvia also decided that enough was enough and burst through the centre pack to connect with Michael Evans and another major resulted. Another attack then repulsed by Garland alone and the life and hope of GWS disappeared as they watched the Demons pile on their greatest single quarter score in the history of the club.

With all the talk about performance enhancing drugs in the past week, it was that old fashioned drug called guts and determination that produced the result. However, if the message had gone out earlier, the pain wouldnt have been so hard to suffer as the 20K of Melbourne fans watched only a couple of solitary gutsy performances by the likes of Nathan and Matt Jones and Mitch Clark that kept the team in any sort of decent position up to the ¾ time break.

In contrast there were some simply appalling displays on show. Cameron Mooney is right to suggest Jack Watts needs to be given an accountable role. He continues to fluff around in the backline, expecting others to do the work, while he refuses to man up when needed. Neville Jetta is in the side for his pace, but his speed today was comparable to treacle moving. He will probably get some time on the sidelines by the MRC courtesy of a stupid hit on Lachie Whitfield.

The Demons were cut to pieces in the middle. Mark Jamar continues to disappoint, and fails to provide any advantage to his team with his hit-outs. Who would believe he did so 31 times today? Trouble was his more junior opponent had 29 hitouts, and were it not for Max Gawn getting twice the number as his opponents, then the ruck contests would have favoured GWS. Mark could find himself as a 3rd option for ruck if he keeps playing the way he has been this season. He could start by jumping off the ground at contests instead of trying to body out, and then not getting a hand on the ball.

The centre-line continues to be problematic. With Jack Viney under some sort of cloud today, we simply didnt have enough talent to put in the centre square. Jones x 2 were superb with 28 and 21 disposals respectively, and both kick the ball when under pressure. Sharp contrast to the handball nellies who almost invariably turn it over. When you have giants of the non-Sydney variety in the goal-square the quicker and easiest way to get it to them is by foot. It shouldnt take brain surgeons to work that out.

It was good to winyes. Yet it was hardly a convincing win when the likes of Brogan, Patton and Hoskins-Elliot werent there. We were taken apart by Tom Scully and the contrast to his 11 possession performance last week against the Saints, demonstrates the lack of pressure that was applied around the packs.

It was good to be able to eke out a win without Clark & Viney on the ground in the final quarter. It was good for the 20K of Melbourne supporters who showed up, yet again, to demonstrate their solidarity.

It was good ... because a win enhances performance. It is the drug that we need to build ANY sort of belief and confidence. The players now know they can turn around and are capable of electrifying scoreboard performances ... if they just set their minds on it.

With the equally impressive performance by Casey against Essendon, there will be plenty of players genuinely vying for senior selection. There are senior players who will be offering their roles to those more hungry than was shown in their performances of the first ¾ of todays game.

It is Guts and Determination that is the drug of choice. There can be no other way.

Melbourne 4.5.29 7.7.49 10.10.70 22.12.144

Greater Western Sydney 3.3.31 8.8.56 13.11.89 15.13.103

Goals

Melbourne Howe 4 Byrnes Evans 3 Davey Gawn Pedersen 2 Bail Clark Jamar N Jones Sylvia Trengove

Greater Western Sydney O'hAilpin 5 Palmer 2 Cameron Giles Greene Scully Shiel Sumner Treloar Ward

Best

Melbourne Garland Sylvia N Jones M Jones Gawn Grimes Clark

Greater Western Sydney Scully Shiel Treloar Whitfield O'hAilpin Greene Ward

Injuries

Melbourne TBC

Greater Western Sydney TBC

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Greater Western Sydney Nil

Substitutes

Melbourne Aaron Davey replaced Jack Viney in the third quarter

Greater Western Sydney Anthony Miles replaced Nick Haynes at three-quarter time

Reports

Melbourne Neville Jetta reported for engaging in rough conduct on Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney)

Greater Western Sydney Nil

Umpires Bannister, Margetts, Harris

Official crowd 20,018 at the MCG

Discuss what happened here ...

Finally MFC have a win.

Last quarter was great to see, but we have to accept it was against a young team that simply ran out of legs.

What gives me hope is our effectiveness, in general, once we get the ball forward. Even without Mitch it showed we have more avenues to goal than we have had for a few years. It means we should always be a sniff in matches, because we can take advantage of opportunities.

What can we take from that? That last quarter was SO good, but was it good enough to forget the previous 3? Is one amazing quarter enough to lift our confidence noticeably? I'm really happy with a win today, but it's left me with a tonne of questions...

Last quarter was great to see, but we have to accept it was against a young team that simply ran out of legs.

What gives me hope is our effectiveness, in general, once we get the ball forward. Even without Mitch it showed we have more avenues to goal than we have had for a few years. It means we should always be a sniff in matches, because we can take advantage of opportunities.

I've been one of the many who has been critical of Byrnes and Pedo, but i think today showed that with another tall target option (Jamar/Gawn) and Howe on song, those guys can surprise.

Positive is trengove, Evans and Gawn get match fitness again.

Does anyone remember how much trouble the GWS side had getting it through our defensive zone in the first quarter? Think hard now. You'll have to delve back a little further than the very last thing you remember. That was good, right?

I blamed the players last week for our fade out, so it's only right that I give them credit for the good stuff this week. Namely, sticking to our structures in the first quarter and doing all the things that led us to just go gangbusters in the last. Likewise, I'd love for the Neeld bashers to give him some credit for the good things we did this week (even if you only think our last quarter was our sole piece of good performance today).

Edited April 21, 201312 yr by Chook

Evans: hadn't seen anything in him until today, he was superb.. same goes for Tapscott, apart from the two shocking shots on goal. Byrnes was excellent too.. MJones, Terlich, big maxy, Bail even Pedo did a few quality things.. there is nothing more pleasing than seeing these second shelf types prove themselves

I can't believe people aren't more pumped, 12 goals in a quarter without Clark and Dawes, dodgy video reviews, dogy ump calls, some shocking luck (eg the ball bouncing striaght over tommy mac to setanta) some stupid frees/50s against Clark and Jetta, we should have won by considerably more than 41. We also conceded 5 goals in 12 minutes in the second when they completely lost focus.. but they got it back big time. Playing what is likely to be another winless side next week, let's all stop wallowing and get fired up

Who else feels rejuvenated?

I might even watch the Brisbane vs North match to see what our chances are next week!

Go Dees!!! Yyeeeeww a win is a win.

Frightening middle of the game but great ending. Build on it from here, please build on it boys.

Really hope Clark is not injured but if so got to bring in Dawes.

Clark out (if injured) - in Dawes

Watts out - in Dunn

Out Jetta (suspension) - in Blease

We lacked spread soooooooooo badly in the first 3 qtrs (GWS really showed us up)

Try and make few changes and give the boys a chance to back up the 4th qrt performance

It was a great quarter but its one quarter against a terrible team.

It highlights what we can do when we play a decent structure, go man on man, and back ourselves to kick the ball and attack.

It also highlights that we aren't performing to the best of our ability each week and that is a massive worry.

Really hope Clark is not injured but if so got to bring in Dawes.

Clark out (if injured) - in Dawes

Watts out - in Dunn

Out Jetta (suspension) - in Blease

We lacked spread soooooooooo badly in the first 3 qtrs (GWS really showed us up)

Try and make few changes and give the boys a chance to back up the 4th qrt performance

Dawes said on MMM today he's still a few weeks away.

Pretty sure Dunn didn't play this weekend.

Watts wasn't as bad as is being made out, may stay in.

Blease was just ok for Casey, will be 50/50 but McKenzie a chance to come in.

I put todays result down as a Test of resolve and Character

They certainly had their backs against the wall and if it had been any other team then GWS, the result would most likely have been different

But in saying that remember we went into the last quarter 19 points down

Not only did the players show their determination and resolve but some Character as well.

Question is where has it been till now?

But they did not just scrape over the line they rammed it home in the last quarter setting a new club record for the highest score kicked by any MFC team in a last quarter, at least I believe that is what they are saying

But one thing I do know !!!

It was good to see the boys get a win under their belt regardless and see some of the pressure that has been on them finally released it would have felt good.

As a supporter I can say it really felt damn good to me but none of us can get carried away by this win when we consider the first three quarters.

Someone switched the light switch on maybe it was GAWS !!! But as they say better late than never!

Lets just hope they have taken the first step along the road to redemption not only for their sakes but ours as well

Is it too early to say that the Gawn has arrived.

It was a great quarter but its one quarter against a terrible team.

Maybe, but no other team has kicked 12 goals against them in a quarter this year.

We didn't overrun them just because they were terrible.

It was a great quarter but its one quarter against a terrible team.

It highlights what we can do when we play a decent structure, go man on man, and back ourselves to kick the ball and attack.

It also highlights that we aren't performing to the best of our ability each week and that is a massive worry.

Exactly - It's a glass half full/glass half empty situation.

You can look at it and say - its a worry that we have not been performing to the best of our ability

or you can see it as an opportunity - we can play better!

And Howe, take a bow. What a find.

Not to mention Terlich and Evooooo

Who else feels rejuvenated?

I might even watch the Brisbane vs North match to see what our chances are next week!

Shades of 186 for Brisbane right now. I have to say I'm not feeling too depressed about it.

Maybe, but no other team has kicked 12 goals against them in a quarter this year. We didn't overrun them just because they were terrible.

No other team has kicked 12 goals in a quarter this year against anyone. Jekyll and Hyde. Which one will we see next week?

No other team has kicked 12 goals in a quarter this year against anyone. Jekyll and Hyde. Which one will we see next week?

Both, because that's how it goes when you're at this stage of development.

86 tackles that's what I like to see

Next week is the test now. Brisbane have barely whimpered since the NAB, if we knock them off up there we will not only silence some of the media but also probably turn the heat up on Vossy.

Watts wasn't as bad as is being made out, may in.

I am really sympathetic to way Watts has managed by the FD but that has to be one of the most timid and soulless effort I have every seen in a red and blue jumper.

He should not be back in the AFL until he is focused on football.

He is masquerading as a plater today.

Maybe, but no other team has kicked 12 goals against them in a quarter this year.

We didn't overrun them just because they were terrible.

GWS were part of the reason. They are a young team that ran the white flag up the pole in the final quarter.

There day will come. They have some really good young talent.

Scully is still a scab though.

I know Barry Prendergast for the most part was a horrible recruiter who fluffed most of our prized early selections.

But he found an absolute gem in Jeremy Howe.

Let's hope we get to see the kid in September one day because he's a marvel to watch and (I predict) would be a big game player.

That running mark and goal from 50 on the boundary when the game was still in the balance. Superb!!