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.

This.

That we could find the resolve and determination to fight back from 19 down at three quarter time to win the game (let alone by 41, ignore that for now) is the most pleasing part of today. How many times under Neeld would we have rolled over and dropped our heads? Yes, it was only GWS, which brought the possibility of a comeback into consideration, but it's not fair on the players to simply put it down to GWS and say we're still no good. It takes an effort, no matter who you're against, to fight back from three goals down at the last change, and the heart that was shown today was really fantastic.

Other positives include finding a way to goal without Clark, not falling apart when down to two rotations, Evans, Byrnes, Gawn (he's going to be a star if he stays fit), and just the confidence boost that the players surely will get.

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.

Agree, but the pressure etc. in the first quarter was also good. Those couple of "lucky" O'hAilpin goals made their score a bit more respectable, but on all the stats at 1/4 time, we were well in front.

Also, we managed 86 tackles, which weren't all just in the last quarter. Interesting stat actually - no team has managed 86 tackles against us this year, highest was WCE with 78.

Just back from the game;

Col in the first 15 minutes and last 30

Terlich - V gutsy

Evans - Ran ALL day

Big Maxy is a jet

Flash looks interested again.

These aren't 3 word appraisals deliberately by the way.

Go Dees

You can only beat who you are playing on the day.

Forward line and team functioned better without extra tall. Next week leave Howe forward and play only one of Clark or pedersen depending on fitness. No Dawes yet.

The midfield obviously started to run all over them but the difference was also a fresh jamar and Sylvia and co stepping it up in there.

After the midfield stepped up and forward line functioned the backline hardened up. Col garland was horrible for 3 quarters but great in the last. He stepped up, terlich and jetta were ok most of the day and all of a sudden watts started playing. McDonald was unlucky but also got a good lesson today in playing full back. Next week will be easier for him.

All in all we need to bring mckenzie in for a tall forward and I think we'll get some forward line function. The backline in particular should enjoy the confidence boost and back themselves more. They have the talent when supported by a midfield.

Big shout out to Shannon Byrnes who kept us in it with really hard work in the first 3 quarters.

It's not wise to read much into a GWS game but it was errors and confidence that continued to erode our play until 3/4

Time but the last quarter showed character

Jus got back I'm happy. The first quarter showed the pressure we can create but we aren't fit enough to maintain it.

When we have gawn and Clark playing forward we need to cut out the handballs and kick it high and deep. This gets byrnes and davey involved at ground level as well.

Big Mitch was frustrated all day by the lack of quick kicking into the forward lone. He could of had plenty of we weren't trying to kick goals from outside 50 every time in the first half.

We still suck so bad in the clearances. It kills us every time.

Terlich is a fantastic pick up and Evans,gawn and Howe got me excited all day.

Jordan bannister is a [censored] of the highest order.

Edited April 21, 201312 yr by cowboy_from_hell

One win out of the eight guys. Hey I take whatever I can get from a win.

It almost seemed that the team was de/shackled in the last 1/4.

Very very bizarre. I think the last quarter performance shows we have very good talent in our team. Why we are not allowed to play like that every quarter is one more reason to suggest that neeld is not getting the most out of our players.

This.

No. Not this.

RR has out the blinkers on and has unfairly had a go at Watts for a merely adequate performance today. He had 4 or 5 poor moments but who didn't in those first 3 quarters? He also had just as many good moments that revealed some intensity and finesse.

He doesn't do it enough, fine. He doesn't. But outside of Jones, Grimes, Viney, and Matt Jones - who does do it enough?

I want more from around 20 players and Jack is one of them but destroying the kid for what he did today is not warranted.

The FD gave him a game they should not have but he played in a backline full of ne'er-do-wells and the overworked.

I know we love our scapegoats at Melbourne, but Watts was not the cause of our malaise in the 2nd and 3rd quarters so stop crucifying him as if that were the case.

Can't defend Watts today. His timidness is really starting to [censored] me, as are the halfhearted tackles and chases. All the skill in the world doesn't make up for those.

RR has out the blinkers on and has unfairly had a go at Watts for a merely adequate performance today. He had 4 or 5 poor moments but who didn't in those first 3 quarters? He also had just as many good moments that revealed some intensity and finesse.

You lose one RR, another just pops up.

Also wanna give credit ti Cam Pedersen, for a couple of couple of brave acts he did, especially after the bad media he got after round 1

No. Not this.

RR has out the blinkers on and has unfairly had a go at Watts for a merely adequate performance today. He had 4 or 5 poor moments but who didn't in those first 3 quarters? He also had just as many good moments that revealed some intensity and finesse.

He doesn't do it enough, fine. He doesn't. But outside of Jones, Grimes, Viney, and Matt Jones - who does do it enough?

I want more from around 20 players and Jack is one of them but destroying the kid for what he did today is not warranted.

The FD gave him a game they should not have but he played in a backline full of ne'er-do-wells and the overworked.

I know we love our scapegoats at Melbourne, but Watts was not the cause of our malaise in the 1nd and 3rd quarters so stop crucifying him as if that were the case.

He was woeful today, I lost count the number of times he got the ball, stopped then just handballed backwards or sideways to a teammate under pressure.

Given that the last quarter provided some redemption for the middle 2 quarters, a lot of players bobbed up and started to look better. BUT, certain things crystallised for me, particularly given that GWS make people look better than they are against quality opposition......

*Pederson is a poor contested mark, and has very little impact in general. If only Dawes were fit, we'd see the end of him.

*I've been a Nev Jetta fan, but he's just not good enough for the AFL. Just 'not quite' in too many areas.

*Terlich, Evans, Matt Jones.....definite keepers. Loved Terlich's guts today.

*Gawn is everything Jamar isn't. He's a really good mark, is quick and mobile, stays on his feet, creates a presence, brings others into the game, and is a good kick. Spencer should replace Jamar next week, but won't of course, as GWS have gifted Jamar a reprieve he doesn't deserve.

*Confidence is a MASSIVE MASSIVE component to football. And it builds with momentum. Just look at Garland today. A totally different man, and you could see Chip just getting wind of a bit of the same.

Thought Garland had a ripper Q4. Loved Pickles today, top effort

GO DEMONS

ENJOY THE WIN BOYS

1. Great tackling.

2. HUGE lapses in concentration.

3. MFC went missing in middle half of game - Col was missing. He's the barometer.

4. Shannon Byrnes was very solid.

5. Watts was atrocious.

6. Terlich tried really hard.

7. Nathan Jones, marry me.

8. Max Gawn is great to watch.

9. No defensive midfielders at all.

10. Would have been smacked by any other team today.

There's my ten. I'll take the win thanks.

He was woeful today, I lost count the number of times he got the ball, stopped then just handballed backwards or sideways to a teammate under pressure.

I lost count of the number of times out entire backline and midfield did that.

He is masquerading as a plater today.

That's a cheesy post... Olive you know he had a cracker today... Don't wanna be a ham, he should've had more of a dip but he's in a pickle and a few more sausages would've helped him serve it up to those that like to dish it up to him.

Watts had some shocking moments today, where his lack of intensity was appalling.

At same time, in the 2nd, in front of the members, he copped it big time in one passage of play.

He corralled his opponent, hanging off him. If he attacked the player, GWS were away as by committing, the GWS player could have handball end over him they were away. By hanging off his player, he prevented this handball, worked his opponent 10 m backwards and forced him to do a kick over his shoulder.

That kick was marked by a Melbourne player and set up an attack.

It was perfectly played by Watts, all the while the masses were giving it to him!

No. Not this.

RR has out the blinkers on and has unfairly had a go at Watts for a merely adequate performance today. He had 4 or 5 poor moments but who didn't in those first 3 quarters? He also had just as many good moments that revealed some intensity and finesse.

He doesn't do it enough, fine. He doesn't. But outside of Jones, Grimes, Viney, and Matt Jones - who does do it enough?

I want more from around 20 players and Jack is one of them but destroying the kid for what he did today is not warranted.

The FD gave him a game they should not have but he played in a backline full of ne'er-do-wells and the overworked.

I know we love our scapegoats at Melbourne, but Watts was not the cause of our malaise in the 1nd and 3rd quarters so stop crucifying him as if that were the case.

Under "corporate governance" isn't it all Neeld's fault if Watts has a shocker?

It almost seemed that the team was de/shackled in the last 1/4.

Very very bizarre. I think the last quarter performance shows we have very good talent in our team. Why we are not allowed to play like that every quarter is one more reason to suggest that neeld is not getting the most out of our players.

Not trying to argue with you tona but you're right its a massive difference when your winning contested footy and are able to play naturally to losing contests and being defensive all the time

I haven't seen an MFC play as hard as they played in the last qtr for a long time and it shows the talent is there when we can win the ball

Something that hasn't happened in the first 3 games

And hats off to Byrnes and Pederson for solid games in the red and blue - both did some nice things when it mattered

Stuie... love that comment!

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!!

I think he would have pictures of Howe and Gawn up in his pool room. He just choked in the first round it would seem.

I think hed

Watts had some shocking moments today, where his lack of intensity was appalling.

At same time, in the 2nd, in front of the members, he copped it big time in one passage of play.

He corralled his opponent, hanging off him. If he attacked the player, GWS were away as by committing, the GWS player could have handball end over him they were away. By hanging off his player, he prevented this handball, worked his opponent 10 m backwards and forced him to do a kick over his shoulder.

That kick was marked by a Melbourne player and set up an attack.

It was perfectly played by Watts, all the while the masses were giving it to him!

Watts is our new TJ

for every good thing he does it is offset by a poor effort - I think Watts is talented but he comes across as a soft... Needs confidence