Practice Match - Melbourne v Hawthorn @ Casey Fields

[DeeSpencer 26,408]

Since we now have different training regimes for different players it's now time to modify Watts. During pre season he should have built up a base level of fitness. I think Watts would benefit greatly from two, 1 on 1 boxing sessions a week through out the home and away season. Not only will boxing help maintain his fitness levels it will hopefully give him/teach him some courage, self confidence and find some inner aggression. He is blessed with extraordinary skills but is constantly held back by his fear of the contest. His training should be held away from the rest of the players and should include supervised sparing on a weekly basis. I don't see how this could be seen as a bad thing and we are basically running out of options.

To be honest I wouldn't be opposed to giving him a few more rounds of the Brock McLean treatment.

[DeeSpencer 26,408]

just curious how a few players went today as i couldn't watch the game

Jack Trengove

Jack Watts

Jack Viney

Jimmy Toumpas

any info would be greatly appreciated

Trengove had little impact. Viney came on in the third and played forward, saw him in and under but didn't see a lot of result. Toumpas runs to space and no one gets him the ball. Doesn't have any power in or out of a contest. Watts had a couple of ok possessions but a lot of time just spend standing in space watching the world go by. Didn't see any speed or much running to space to get the ball. Got the ball under pressure and got tackled hard and got up was maybe his only positive. A few times he had a chance to run hard at the ball and do something with it but instead waltzed towards it spun around a bit and coughed it up. One ok spoil and free kick in the first quarter. But really nothing defensively. Same with Toumpas. Not commitment in tackling.

[DemonOX 8,837]

I think playing in NT may have taken more out of the boys than they realised. We never play well after a game up north not that we have played well for the last seven yrs but u know what I mean

Hawks are premiers for a reason and we r a bottom 2 side for a reason.

The class was always going to be miles apart.

Remember where the Hawks have come from guys and that is in the exactly the same position we r in now.

Keep the faith ( as hard as it is )

[Akum 2,660]

Since we now have different training regimes for different players it's now time to modify Watts. During pre season he should have built up a base level of fitness. I think Watts would benefit greatly from two, 1 on 1 boxing sessions a week through out the home and away season. Not only will boxing help maintain his fitness levels it will hopefully give him/teach him some courage, self confidence and find some inner aggression. He is blessed with extraordinary skills but is constantly held back by his fear of the contest. His training should be held away from the rest of the players and should include supervised sparing on a weekly basis. I don't see how this could be seen as a bad thing and we are basically running out of options.

What!!!! No fight-to-the-death-in-a-cage!!??

You're getting soft.

[alpha33 325]

BTW if you want to know whether we sustained any injuries from today's game the details will be up on the MFC site around 23rd March.

[Hannibal 5,814]

It is what it is.

We tried to play the Hawthorn way and got exposed and shown where we're at. They chopped us up on the outside, but I thought our endevour at the stoppages was OK. Roos will get far more from this loss than the win against Richmond.

Also, we went head to head all day. It was a practice match and Roos didn't try to rein in the loss. We know where we're at and it will do the players good to know where we need to get to.

Seemingly I'm not as upset as others.

[Deez 298]

hawks beat a top 8 contender by nearly 70 points. I think we were always going to lose by at least that amount.

They're a class act at the complete end of the spectrum. Playing a team closer to our abilities would be a better assessment of where we are at.

Rd 1 will give us a better idea of where we are really at.

[bing181 9,425]

Rd 1 will give us a better idea of where we are really at.

After today, we already have a better idea of where we're really at.

[Slartibartfast 18,031]

It is what it is.

.

Oh god, we'll have the reality bus next!

[Ted Lasso 19,550]

We gave Geelong abit of a push and they're a good team, it might play out that the Hawks are just scary good and they are going to belt most sides

[PaulRB 6,435]

It will take a while for our new midfield to gell and be able to function under intense pressure.

The Hawks midfield has been a stable and successful unit since before 2008 (I.e. OVER 6 years) when they won their first flag with this team, whereas ours has been together for two practice matches.

[Pennant St Dee 13,406]

I saw Clark at half time reving the boys up the guys worth every cent of his $800,000 a season contract, he's the best off field player Iv ever seen, FMD it's amazing how people hold there hand out and take the money.

Since you are such a hard man mjt I would have thought you would have confronted him face to face on this matter rather than typing a post about it to demonland. You amaze me does your mum and dad know you figured out their password on their computer

[PaulRB 6,435]

Bizarrely I am still excited about the season to come...

[DeeSpencer 26,408]

I know his turnovers would've frustrated as well but I think we are a better side with Bail than with Byrnes or Toumpas at half forward. Didn't stay for the last quarter to see much of JKH but I'd take a shot on his clean skills and smart footy brain as well.

Blease didn't get much of the ball but he actually laid a few tackles today, looked improved in that area at least.

I'd probably go with Blease, JKH and Bail with one of them as the sub in the round 1 side.

Down back Terlich seemed to get stuck on better forwards after turnovers (so did Grimes). Georgiou came on after half time and was at the far end to me but maybe looked a little surer around the ball. Strauss didn't have many opportunities by foot, was ok by hand, one on one spoiled ok but never seems to intercept mark or attack the ball and win clear possession where that's Terlich's strength. If I'm picking the best 6 defenders I'm not sure. Matt Jones and Michie both spend time at half back as rotations in to the back 6.

Tommy McDonald got beat on the deck more than in the air (although it did happen) by Roughy. Riewoldt is a much better fit for Tom as he's not nearly as dangerous when the ball hits the deck (nor does he have the rampant attacking fleet of forwards around him like the Hawks guys). At this stage I'd probably just go for McDonald on Riewoldt although I'd be feeling a lot more confident about it on the MCG than Etihad where he'll be inside 50 more.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

I'm surprises you guys could see that much. The ground is quite flat so I struggled to see who was who. Bloody warm down there and the parking was utter chaos

[dees189227 12,453]

For us, we know where we're at. You saw the premiers play against a team that won two games last year, and that's the difference." Roos summed it up there.

By the way we got thrashed by a hawks team coached by Cameron Bruce. Who would have ever thought that. Stand-in Hawks coach Cameron Bruce said first indications were that Stratton's injury was not serious.

[Jarka 767]

Obviously it's not a great result but at least the club know that they're still a long way off so hopefully they'll be completely switched on for round one. I was starting to get a bit worried that we were going to go into round 1 and be overconfident, at least this way we're going to be ready.

[DemonOX 8,837]

In hindsight I am glad it was not on tv!

[Ted Lasso 19,550]

I wonder if Cameron Bruce would be worth considering for the heir for Roosy, he's had a couple of years under Clarko, been involved in a flag, add a couple of years under Roosy and he'd be ripe for the picking i reckon? thoughts?

[picket fence 18,013]

You would have to be JOKING, I'll tear up my membership if that ever happened!

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

What!!!! No fight-to-the-death-in-a-cage!!??

You're getting soft.

I could actually do with a few 1 on 1's my self. My constant working away from home has me sourcing the best pubs, this has its upside as well as it's downside.

[picket fence 18,013]

I think after today reality might be setting in from many reports from those who were at the match today.

I refer to the continuing poor form of Jimmy Toumpas.

I ask honestly and in the spirit of ROBUST DEBATE

have we picked poorly again??

I can't have players that only run one way to Cale Morton like spaces, who only have one speed and who's attack on the ball could be called questionable! And before the smarties on this forum jump up and down and point to him getting whacked last game, well one what should have been uncontested mark was not and the resulting Geelong player was duly reported.

What I cannot understand is blind optimism from some supporters who say yeah well he's young, coming of ops, etc yadda yadda

Ollie Wines is so far ahead of this kid its becoming a mute point!

Get the hard ball son, do some hard running otherwise if you don't the inevitable comparisons with Ollie Wines will remain, and our recruiting strategy although from previous admin will also be heavily scrutinised and so it should!

And people like me so long suffering, will and should be sceptical until we see something, anything!

End of rant!

[Generation dee 1,336]

I think playing in NT may have taken more out of the boys than they realised. We never play well after a game up north not that we have played well for the last seven yrs but u know what I mean

Hawks are premiers for a reason and we r a bottom 2 side for a reason.

The class was always going to be miles apart.

Remember where the Hawks have come from guys and that is in the exactly the same position we r in now.

Keep the faith ( as hard as it is )

It's bloody tough but you are right!

[DeeVoted 583]

I wonder if Cameron Bruce would be worth considering for the heir for Roosy, he's had a couple of years under Clarko, been involved in a flag, add a couple of years under Roosy and he'd be ripe for the picking i reckon? thoughts?

Lara Bingle could have coached them today, the result would have been the same, except she has better legs than Bruce but not so much up top. All I can say about today, it was free to get in. They tried hard, but were outgunned all over the ground. Pretty hard to swallow when Cheney looked good. Just proves its much easlier to play in a good team Spencer tried his guts out all day, he cant hold a pack mark to save himself.

[Ted Lasso 19,550]

I think after today reality might be setting in from many reports from those who were at the match today.

I refer to the continuing poor form of Jimmy Toumpas.

I ask honestly and in the spirit of ROBUST DEBATE

have we picked poorly again??

I can't have players that only run one way to Cale Morton like spaces, who only have one speed and who's attack on the ball could be called questionable! And before the smarties on this forum jump up and down and point to him getting whacked last game, well one what should have been uncontested mark was not and the resulting Geelong player was duly reported.

What I cannot understand is blind optimism from some supporters who say yeah well he's young, coming of ops, etc yadda yadda

Ollie Wines is so far ahead of this kid its becoming a mute point!

Get the hard ball son, do some hard running otherwise if you don't the inevitable comparisons with Ollie Wines will remain, and our recruiting strategy although from previous admin will also be heavily scrutinised and so it should!

And people like me so long suffering, will and should be sceptical until we see something, anything!

End of rant!

Jimmy Toumpas is a born leader, Captain of the SA under 18's had been playing against men for 2 years before we drafted him and winning games in the SANFL, he was rated higher than wines by alot of recruiters and he is still very young i have absolutely no issue with the decision to draft him over wines, i think he will be a great player for us, today he was outclassed by better opposition as was most of our side.