NAB Challenge 2 - Melbourne v Geelong

[Nasher 33,607]

Vince, Tyson, Cross, N. Jones our top 4 posession winners (34, 32, 29, 27 respectively). Thank heavens: 1 AFL class mid has become 4.

[hardtack 10,440]

Oh yeah Dream on

you are a troll aren't you

[Little Richard 6,219]

Glad I got home from overseas today, in time for this match. I was really disappointed after missing the win over the Tiges but I was impressed by the improvement.

Michie, Tyson, Vince and Cross all look like fantastic recruits. Jonesy was great, as expected, Watts was good, Howe played well up forward and Hogan was pretty solid for his first hit out and a couple of the other boys were okay.

The nail biting, profanity gushing moments were still there (the turnovers in particular, hand balling to no one etc) but there were less than last season.

We'll knock the Saints off in round 1.

[Nasher 33,607]

And also; for the sorry folk like me who had to suffer the game on the SEN broadcast: my sincere commiserations. No idea who those yobbos were that were commentating, but that was genuinely the worst commentary I have ever heard. The sooner the broadcasters of this game work out that professional commentators are the go and not ex-footballers, the better.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Most of our consistent turnovers came from players outside of our best 22.

Yep.

[Jaded No More 68,692]

And also; for the sorry folk like me who had to suffer the game on the SEN broadcast: my sincere commiserations. No idea who those yobbos were that were commentating, but that was genuinely the worst commentary I have ever heard. The sooner the broadcasters of this game work out that professional commentators are the go and not ex-footballers, the better.

AFL subscription on the iPad/iPhone. Best thing ever.

[rjay 24,688]

Have not read any thing prior. Been watching the game and enjoying the positive intent but boiling with frustration. Dan Nicholson, Rohan Bail and Matt Jones ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Proven. Play youngsters instead.

Michie and Tyson excellent particularly considering how few games they have played and how good is Hogan. Go for the future.

I think you are spot on, mainly because I just said exactly the same thing to a mate 20 mins ago.

[Axis of Bob 11,362]

And also; for the sorry folk like me who had to suffer the game on the SEN broadcast: my sincere commiserations. No idea who those yobbos were that were commentating, but that was genuinely the worst commentary I have ever heard. The sooner the broadcasters of this game work out that professional commentators are the go and not ex-footballers, the better.

I listened for a bit. Then I decided to just follow the scores and watch the replay later.

I'm comfortable with my choice.

[Return to Glory 8,398]

you are a troll aren't you

A troll or a poster with the uncanny ability to contradict himself with blinding accuracy

[Deespicable 2,691]

The windy conditions made it tricky for players who went short across goals - Matt Jones and Jimmy T had probably the two best howlers.

It also wasn't a great night for our small forwards - Blease didn't get it enough, Byrnes made a couple of major blunders again, Dom Barry only played a bit but one terrible touch for the night isn't going to win him game time this year.

Hopefully that means JKH firms in the betting for Rd 1 - even though Roosy doesn't like playing kids early, he may make an exception.

The other plus tonight was that Hogan, after an ordinary intraclub last week, had a really good big man lead-up game and even if Dawes is fit for Rd 1, you'd have to think he has wrapped up his spot injury permitting.

Our newlook midfield was also a big winner and by that I mean Tyson (BOG), Vince, Cross, Watts and Michie. Together with Jonesy and Trengove that's the midfield rotation for Rd 1 and with Steven out along with Montagna, we may not need to even play Jordie as a tagger.

Our defence was a worry all night - the windy conditions meant they couldn't switch with confidence and we really missed the long clearance kicks of Frawley and Strauss to back up Dunn.

But overall we were heaps better than we've been for six years and we still have to find room for about six guys.

[DeeSpencer 24,969]

Selwood pulling out was a huge help obviously but clearances at least number wise and after a very very slow start to the game came up pretty well. Hopefully we can get Jack Viney back in there soon to support the clearance mids. Tyson, Jones and Vince still looked our best shot of winning a clearance. Cross might have lost a step in close and Michie needs more time at AFL level. Trengove....hmmm I'm still not impressed with him as a clearance mid. Showed his talent in the second half (and some speed on a nice pick up turn and kick at pace from half back) but he doesn't impress me in close.

[Nasher 33,607]

AFL subscription on the iPad/iPhone. Best thing ever.

I don't have an iDevice

[PaulRB 6,305]

I think with Clark and Dawes out we lack the long boundary hugging get out kick when the switch options were covered.

Players like Matt Jones, Nicho and Bail get told if in doubt bang long down the line to Mitch or Chris.

we lack genuine line breaking speed without nicho and Bail given Blease and Watts struggled turn it on with any good effect.

Edited February 28, 2014 by PaulRB

[rjay 24,688]

Watts didn't have too many cringe-worthy moments, which is a blessing. Although the way he went to ground after running past the ball near the wing in the first quarter annoyed me no end.

Keep your frigging feet, especially under minimal pressure.

This is one of Sam Blease's biggest problems. Can run the legs off anyone in the comp but goes to ground way too often, hard to beat someone on your hands and knees.

[jackaub 1,402]

To quote another poster who hit the nail on the head:

End of story.

Exactly will never realise his no 1 selection

[DeeSpencer 24,969]

The windy conditions made it tricky for players who went short across goals - Matt Jones and Jimmy T had probably the two best howlers.

It also wasn't a great night for our small forwards - Blease didn't get it enough, Byrnes made a couple of major blunders again, Dom Barry only played a bit but one terrible touch for the night isn't going to win him game time this year.

Hopefully that means JKH firms in the betting for Rd 1 - even though Roosy doesn't like playing kids early, he may make an exception.

The other plus tonight was that Hogan, after an ordinary intraclub last week, had a really good big man lead-up game and even if Dawes is fit for Rd 1, you'd have to think he has wrapped up his spot injury permitting.

Our newlook midfield was also a big winner and by that I mean Tyson (BOG), Vince, Cross, Watts and Michie. Together with Jonesy and Trengove that's the midfield rotation for Rd 1 and with Steven out along with Montagna, we may not need to even play Jordie as a tagger.

Our defence was a worry all night - the windy conditions meant they couldn't switch with confidence and we really missed the long clearance kicks of Frawley and Strauss to back up Dunn.

But overall we were heaps better than we've been for six years and we still have to find room for about six guys.

I'd play McKenzie just as a midfield/forward rotation round 1 and tag if needed. He was actually pretty good with ball in hand and getting it going the right direction.

I thought it was a decent effort for Blease. I was almost impressed by him (which I rarely am).

And Byrnes found a heap of footy (as far as our forward line goes) but just made so many woeful mistakes you don't expect from an experienced player. His MFC career has been a tease. He's often shown a lot of things he's good at only to stuff up the simple things

[Whispering_Jack 29,369]

The remarkable thing is that we exceeded 400 disposals for the second time in a row but had far less inside 50's (31 to 62).

If Paul Roos can work out how we can translate 444 touches into a lot more than 31 inside 50's, we might have something going for us. Part of the answer is to do away with a few of the less skilled players and therefore reduce the abysmal disposal and bad decision-making that results in bad turnovers and another part is to inject a few key talls - Frawley and Garland into the defence and Dawes and Clark into the forward line. The Roos style will get better and with the right personnel would give us a good chance against all but the top sides this season. We could be looking at up to 10 wins.

[jackaub 1,402]

This is one of Sam Blease's biggest problems. Can run the legs off anyone in the comp but goes to ground way too often, hard to beat someone on your hands and knees.

runs too far beore he thinks Thinking is his problem

[hardtack 10,440]

runs too far beore he thinks Thinking is his problem

The voice of experience!

Edited February 28, 2014 by hardtack

[Strapping Young Lad 227]

[hardtack 10,440]

Exactly will never realise his no 1 selection

And to put it in perspective, the rest of the quote you failed to include:

DemonAndrew, on 28 Feb 2014 - 10:10 PM, said:

watts finished with 18 disposals at 68.2%.

i was impressed by his running to present, and his eight marks thanks to his workrate.

considering he was only on-field for 76% of the game i think that's a pretty good game personally.

[jackaub 1,402]

you are a troll aren't you

No hardy I am not a troll I just watch the game like you A lot to like tonight as much not we are devleoping well,and perhaps I expect too much sometimes. Look forward to smashing the Saints

[Return to Glory 8,398]

The voice of experience!

Gold. But I don't like being beaten to the punch.

[jackaub 1,402]

So Hardy you reckon after 5 years he is still going to realise No 1

[rjay 24,688]

On Watts...he was ok tonight. There was a $10mill man playing last night who struggled to get a touch. First run, ok.