Practice Match - Melbourne v Hawthorn @ Casey Fields

[dee-luded 2,959]

... with Rhonda

Rhonda?

Rhonda hoo?

Edited March 8, 2014 by dee-luded

[manny100 1,569]

The AFL website summary says the difference was the efficiency of the Hawks forwards. Any comments from those who attended??? Did not mention inability to get the ball etc.

Dunn, Vince, Cross, Howe and Spencer named as our best players.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I left at 3/4 time.

Hawthorn's pressure and spreading was amazing. They were far more composed and their skills were brilliant.

Funnily enough we had a crack today, but were simply outclassed. We over possessed and the lack of forward targets really hurt.

It didn't feel we were as bad as the scoreboard suggested, but others may disagree. Roos and co now know exactly where we need to improve. It's onwards and upwards from here.

I need to add that we got the rough end of the umpiring. As usual.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Hannibal

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Hawthorn have murdered everyone that has faced them this pre-season and we were certainly no exception.

Reality check for the playing group, but perhaps more so for the fans, especially those who are talking percentage against St Kilda.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Did you guys actually think after a couple of good NAB games we were going to compete with the best at the moment?

Welcome to reality.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I left at 3/4 time.

Hawthorn's pressure and spreading was amazing. They were far more composed and there skills were brilliant.

Funnily enough we had a crack today, but were simply outclassed. We over possessed and the lack of forward targets really hurt.

It didn't feel we were as bad as the scoreboard suggested, but others may disagree. Roos and co now know exactly where we need to improve. It's onwards and upwards from here.

I need to add that we got the rough end of the umpiring. As usual.

if you put your head over the ball and get the footy first the umpire will always reward you.

[Deeoldfart 8,033]

Searching for (small) positives:

• confidence here (DEMONLAND) and on the field will be badly bruised by this outing, but at least we weren’t playing for four points;
• I wonder if our boys got ahead of themselves on the back of a couple of encouraging performances. If that’s the case, coming back to earth with a thud in a practice match won’t do any harm at all (except maybe for Grimes and Frawley);
• we still have time to work on some of the deficiencies on display in today’s practice game (obviously there were a heap of them); and
• no doubt Paul Roos will have some important data stored away for future reference.

[Hannibal 5,814]

if you put your head over the ball and get the footy first the umpire will always reward you.

I'm talking about poor decisions.

But thanks for your input.

[Still Waiting 94]

Another dose of embarrassment!

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I'm talking about poor decisions.

But thanks for your input.

no worries, it's funny how thats the aim of a forum. To give input.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,241]

My world is back to normal - For a while there,I was getting excited and optimistic about footy!

[Gorgoroth 12,963]

I was hoping we would keep it to a 10goal loss but wasn't surprised especially with no forwards the hawks had to pay any attention to.

Bring on round 1 and the start of Roos reign.

[Akum 2,660]

My world is back to normal - For a while there,I was getting excited and optimistic about footy!

Back to bitter, I suppose

[Demoneyes 562]

Nearly 10000 at the game? Does that sound right to those who were there?

[DeeSpencer 25,717]

Thought before the game - who would get a game from Hawthorn from our team today. Backline - Frawley, maybe Dunn in from. Midfield - Consider Spencer v McEvoy, Vince, Tyson. Forward line - only Howe. And it showed.

The players fought it out in close for the first quarter when assisted with the wind. But the second quarter the Hawks just opened us up and from then on it was a procession. We just have too many players with glaring gaps in their game that will take a long time to fix.

Issues:
- Midfield spread was shot

- Backline didn't have confidence to attack and defend

- Forward line couldn't work out how to get to the right spots

- The handballs around the pack broke down due to pressure

- The kicking from half back broke down due to lack of work rate to run from all 22.

Positives

- Few and far between. Spencer, Dunn, Frawley, Howe probably beat their opponents. Vince plays at a higher speed than most of our mids. Tyson wasn't physically intimidated in close.

[Guest]

if you put your head over the ball and get the footy first the umpire will always reward you.

Not if you ask Jordie McKenzie after the Geelong game

[Akum 2,660]

Thought before the game - who would get a game from Hawthorn from our team today. Backline - Frawley, maybe Dunn in from. Midfield - Consider Spencer v McEvoy, Vince, Tyson. Forward line - only Howe. And it showed.

The players fought it out in close for the first quarter when assisted with the wind. But the second quarter the Hawks just opened us up and from then on it was a procession. We just have too many players with glaring gaps in their game that will take a long time to fix.

Issues:

- Midfield spread was shot

- Backline didn't have confidence to attack and defend

- Forward line couldn't work out how to get to the right spots

- The handballs around the pack broke down due to pressure

- The kicking from half back broke down due to lack of work rate to run from all 22.

Positives

- Few and far between. Spencer, Dunn, Frawley, Howe probably beat their opponents. Vince plays at a higher speed than most of our mids. Tyson wasn't physically intimidated in close.

Thanks master. Was the wind a factor? Executing our game plan is gonna be a problem in windy conditions.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,241]

Back to bitter, I suppose

Never really leave it TBH.

[CBDees 3,167]

Is anybody staying for the Casey vs Box Hill Hawks game?

[Brayshaw Self 847]

I'm hoping the players were just really tired from playing in Alice Springs...........

[Akum 2,660]

Never really leave it TBH.

Yeah. "Excited but optimistic" wouldn't be right.

[Carrot Top 947]

I am shocked and appalled that the worst team of last year (minus a forward line) couldn't compete with the premiers of last year.

This is a disgrace and I call for a Royal Commission into this.

[Disco Demons 92]

not even clark, dawes and hogan could account for that margin

sounds like the demons players gave up again. once a team gets a run on melbourne we go into our shell

wasn't at the game...interested to know if we stuck to our game plan the entire time or at any stage did we change to 'man on man' ?

when getting smashed it best to play man on man? or in our case...man on boy

[Steve13 457]

Clarkson has been building his side for 8 or more years, Roos has had less than 5 months. Have some perspective people. This is a 2 win side playing the premiers. I have little doubt that we will be much improved this season, however we can not expect to be anywhere near hawthorns level this early into the process.

[whatwhat say what 22,775]

I similarly left at three-quarter time.

We simply could not get our hands on the ball. They were dominant taking it out of the middle, their run and spread was superb.

By comparison we simply didn't get near it.