THE BELL TOLLS by George on the Outer

Who were those fat, bald blokes running around at half-time? What were they playing?

The rules seemed to be if you cant kick it directly to one of your team-mates, then the opposition gets the ball.

Well those same fat, bald blokes might just as well been playing in the main game, because the same theme was being followed. The clangers that were happening as both teams turned the ball over, and finally the winner of the game was the one who simply capitalized on the errors of the other.

So it was the Saints who ran out winners, despite the Demons having just about more of every possible statistical measure ... more kicks, handballs, possessions, inside 50s etc.

Now for a team that struggled to even get the ball inside 50 last season, this was a major step up, and to have a mid-field who can get the ball, there should be some sort of positives to draw from the game. But when opportunities are squandered and simply bald, fat bloke type kicking efforts see the ball whisked down the other end for yet another score, the bell will surely toll for some in the coming weeks!

Sadly the early loss of Fitzpatrick, a calf injury to McDonald (and you have to wonder why on earth he was left on Riewoldt for another quarter and a bit when he obviously couldnt run) left the Demons without key forwards and backs.

But then the Demons were already without key forwards and backs before the game had even started, so sadly we will see the same clanger kings getting another game next week, simply because there will be no-one else!

While not a great fan of Jake Spencer, he certainly held his own against a rookie ruckman at the Saints, and managed to nullify the opposition both in the middle of the ground and around it. Surprisingly he had the endurance to remain in the battle wherever that was happening, and this was also a dramatic step-up from last season, when he would have been struggling for air, especially without any real assistance for the game.

Tellingly, St.Kilda blew the game open with 3 goals in the 3rd quarter in the space of 5 minutes and even more tellingly, Jake was off the ground during that time taking a well earned 5 minute break. His replacement might as well have stayed in the forward line for all the value he provided.

Like last season the Demon fans turned out, and by any measure outnumbered the Saints supporters at their home game.

Well poor Peter Jackson wont be getting too many of those lost supporters to sign up when the same sort of trash is dished up by the same old sinners as they did last year. Yet again, a winnable position was thrown away. And against a team that was simply decimated with 7 players missing from their line-up last year.

There was no hope to be gained from the game. This is a team that simply doesnt know how to win any more.

The Bell tolls for some in the side, but even after one game the Bell tolls for the MFC as well. Another soul destroying outcome, and the prospect of meeting a full strength WCE next week ... rather than re-gaining lost members, there might be more joining them!

Melbourne 2.2.14 2.10.22 4.11.35 6.15.51

St Kilda 1.3.9 4.5.29 8.6.54 10.8.68

Goals

Melbourne Byrnes 2 Terlich Toumpas Tyson Vince

St Kilda Riewoldt 3 Stanley 2 Armitage Geary Gwilt Saunders Templeton

Best

Melbourne N Jones Vince Spencer Watts Tyson Dunn

St. Kilda Riewoldt Jones Ray Hickey Dunstan Curran Saunders

Changes

Melbourne Nil

St Kilda Nil

Injuries

Melbourne Fitzpatrick (concussion) McDonald (corked thigh)

St Kilda Jimmy Webster (groin)

Substitutions

Melbourne Jay Kennedy-Harris replaced Jack Fitzpatrick in the second quarter

St Kilda Jack Billings replaced Jimmy Webster at three-quarter time

Reports

Melbourne Nil

St Kilda Nil

Umpires Scott Jeffery Chris Kamolins Heath Ryan

Attendance 31,657 at Etihad Stadium.

A bit harsh and too heavy on the pessimism George. We're not always going to score 10 behinds straight and that alone, even aside from the injuries didn't help matters.

we generated 12-13 genuine goal scoring opportunities without our key forwards, smashed them in disposals, it was the injury to Tommy causing the burst from Roo and our indecision, poor decision and finishing that cost us, not a massive error in our structure, and not a lack of effort on our part

which is a big step forward

and he did his normal coaching job of keeping the oppo to less than 90 points.

we havent been able to do that with our best 22,let alone an average 22 with 3 injured.

I'm not happy about the resulr grrrr..... but at the same time I can see some good signs for the future.

I think the injury to Tommy Mac and Fitzy basically cost us the game so cannot do much about that. I thought that Tyson looks like he will be a star. Vince is a way better mid than Sylvia (so we are a mile in front there) and Toump finally looks as he may well develop into a good highly skilled half forward/mid.

Can't wait for Dawes and Hogan to force their way into the team - surely they will at the very least straighten us up and provide targets. Vinry to come in and Gawn. Not to mention Garland.

I thought they had fat bald guys playing at half time because St Kilda players are not allowed to be near children.

I think it was a fairly good display of football, consideringhte injuries to our key forwards and backs.

We were thinking our way thru the game, albeit a few turnovers, and you can see the structure and style of football Roos wants us to play. the game style is a bit like chess, however, we really need a key forward to cp it all off and give us some strong direction.

Overall, even tho we lost, I am fairly upbeat about things and am looking forward to round2.

We looked for the first time in ages as if we were playing to a game plan. Past efforts had seen players still trying to learn a game plan years after it had been implimented. "Oh it will take them a while" and "still learning the game plan" were things that were trumped up time and again. We had defensive pressure in our forward line too. WE looked like we COULD hit the side of a barn with our passes. It looks like we have learnt a lot of the BASICS which we had been struggling with.

We played with a greatly undermaned side, no tall forwards (Pederson doesnt count) hardly any backs and at Etihad! I know what the result would have been last year.

Sure there were errors and some bad ones, but really in 6 months, really, what do people expect? Paul Roos is a coach, not a miricle worker or Phsyciatrist! Hes got these guys playing with confidence and maning up, being freed up on the flanks and running into space. Weve come from a position worse than Fitzroy in the nineties! Were very lucky to have what we have to go forward. We have hope.

we generated 12-13 genuine goal scoring opportunities without our key forwards, smashed them in disposals, it was the injury to Tommy causing the burst from Roo and our indecision, poor decision and finishing that cost us, not a massive error in our structure, and not a lack of effort on our part

which is a big step forward

Yep, the injury to TMac let Roo off the leash, & then the whole Saints team got their tails up. our lack of potency up front, caused our guys to 2nd guess themselves which made things worse. they're mids started running with confidence.

A bit harsh and too heavy on the pessimism George. We're not always going to score 10 behinds straight and that alone, even aside from the injuries didn't help matters.

No we will struggle to get 10 next weekend.

I'm not happy about the resulr grrrr..... but at the same time I can see some good signs for the future.

I think the injury to Tommy Mac and Fitzy basically cost us the game so cannot do much about that. I thought that Tyson looks like he will be a star. Vince is a way better mid than Sylvia (so we are a mile in front there) and Toump finally looks as he may well develop into a good highly skilled half forward/mid.

Can't wait for Dawes and Hogan to force their way into the team - surely they will at the very least straighten us up and provide targets. Vinry to come in and Gawn. Not to mention Garland.

We were playing St Kilda for God sake wait till we run into a good side next Sunday.

And how many Demonlanders were clambering not so long ago for us to trade Fitzy [because we had Clark, Dawes and Hogan din't we)! Maybe it would not have been too silly to have even kept Sellar now?

I rarely say this but I don't agree with your assessment George. Was an excruciatingly bad game by both teams and we kicked ourselves out of it, when you're lacking in forwards you need to take your chances and we missed some pretty stock standard ones (plus two posters to Vince). There are negatives but I reckon the majority of them fixable, unfortunately not overnight though. Most critical is our injuries to KPP.

Edited March 23, 201411 yr by Pates

There's a theory that twice a year, every team has an absolute shocker with its kicking for goal and twice a year, every team has a day out with accurate kicking for goal.

We've had the first of our bad kicking days.

I mentioned this in another thread, but I am surprised that Templeton wasn't reported for his flying elbow on Watts. They had a lovely slow-motion shot of it on channel seven at one point. He went in to tackle and when Watts stepped him he threw an elbow with his full momentum behind it into Jacks ribs to knock him over the sideline. That has to be a striking offense in any reasonable system.

I rarely say this but I don't agree with your assessment George. Was an excruciatingly bad game by both teams and we kicked ourselves out of it, when you're lacking in forwards you need to take your chances and we missed some pretty stock standard ones (plus two posters to Vince). There are negatives but I reckon the majority of them fixable, unfortunately not overnight though. Most critical is our injuries to KPP.

Don't worry Pates

Pedersen is still fit and available

100% on board with the analysis of the action but differ on the conclusion. As noted, we had our fair share of bad luck - something we couldn't afford given the team that went out on the park. provided the upgraded personnel actually shop up in the next few weeks, there seems to be a real platform to improve and actually play some good footy. Almost certainly not winning more games than we lose - that would be a miracle - but beyond Hawthorn and Freo, I think we'll be in games unlike the past few years.

plus: we may just have a unique talent turning into a unique and good footballer.

Question: Would Bernie Vince have attempted those long-range shots for goal in Q1 if he'd had confidence that a big bloke in the square could take a mark, or at least make a contest? I don't know his game well enough to answer. But each was a stretch and perhaps a lower percentage option than the alternative would have been if a proper KPF was playing. Hence a contribution to the inaccuracy.

Yet again, a winnable position was thrown away.

Yet again? If only we had been in enough winnable positions in recent times to be able to say that.

Crikey, I'm starting to sound like OldDee.

Yet again? If only we had been in enough winnable positions in recent times to be able to say that.

Crikey, I'm starting to sound like OldDee.

Perhaps we've all forgotten how bad we were over the last two years. But at least Saturday night was (a) watchable and (b) we looked like we belonged in the AFL competition (albeit a poor quality team). Last year we were an embarrassment for the code.

Yet again? If only we had been in enough winnable positions in recent times to be able to say that.

Crikey, I'm starting to sound like OldDee.

Glad to see you are improving sue

You are getting the hang of it.

Persistence will win out for you in the end.

Perhaps we've all forgotten how bad we were over the last two years. But at least Saturday night was (a) watchable and (b) we looked like we belonged in the AFL competition (albeit a poor quality team). Last year we were an embarrassment for the code.

I have not forgotten

And it would pay to keep in mind who we were playing.

I wonder how you will feel in six days time?

Yet again? If only we had been in enough winnable positions in recent times to be able to say that.

Crikey, I'm starting to sound like OldDee.

Nah, needs more Eeyore!!