Didn't see the game today, only the scoreline. Nice to hear that others here think it didn't really reflect the effort, stats, etc.

It seems after two games (hardly enough of a sample size to base anything off) that we've just moved a problem from the midfield to the forward line. This massively compounds the difficult conditions on the players; they can't just bomb it forward or whatever, but have to use their skills (which are poor) when moving forward.

Hopefully the injection of some talls will help. I wonder if a ruckman will be on the radar in the trade period (haha, only Melbourne supporters talk about trade period in round 2!), an experienced old hand who can just jump in and rotate with the developing ruckmen. If we had more decent forwards all over the ground (and we do, but they're not playing), we wouldn't lose by so much. . .

Ill say it again and again.. Half our list really isnt of a standard to enable an AFL team to perform in a competitive manner. And id include some who youd think id need my head read for.

Tis far easier and quicker to name those that are...its a fairly short list

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:31, Return to Glory said:

The thing that concerns me is that, within 5 minutes it stopped being entertainment and quickly became lions v Christians.

It reminded me of grade 1's vs grade 6's at a primary school massacre.

Nathan Jones made a handball (may have been to Matt Jones?) that went right over his teammate's head and straight to a West Coast player, which about 7 seconds later became a West Coast goal. Dom Tyson, despite being excellent overrall, made a couple of shockers as well. Dunn (who has been our best player YTD for mine) took a good mark on the half back flank and kicked it out on the full under no pressure at all.

It irritates me a little that people seem to only see Grimes' mistakes and none of the other dozens. Just proves to me that people just see what they want to see. Our players are *all* making mistakes, and a lot of them at the moment, and that includes our very best players. Give Grimes a bloody break.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:36, Grimes is Great said:

Trengove is so slow, it's like he's running on the spot. I think he will always struggle at Afl due to a lack of pace.

Shame...

I agree.. it just 'is"

hes effectively an NQR

It's very easy to say 'injuries are excuses', and a lot of the time it's not enough to point to who's out.

But when your three key forwards, your two best ruckmen, a promising young midfielder and your best defender are all out, and you're coming from the low base we are, it's simply an irrefutable truth that our injuries are destroying us.

Nometheless, we have too many senior players who, even with Roos, aren't good enough, and we have too many playera who have been on our list for years but have gone nowhere. How long has Spencer been on our list? Grimes is a 7th year player but still can't kick. Fitzpatrick is into, what, his fourth season? Fifth?

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:25, Bobby McKenzie said:

Good for you deeko! You make very important points and those who cannot see them don't really know their footy very well. You are a loyal supporter and not a knocker. To suggest that our boys didn't try is absolute garbage. One only has to look at the CONTESTED POSSESSIONS count to see that our endeavour was first rate all day.

Yes they had a crack but the skills or lack there of were appalling at times when we were put under pressure. And that is going to happen more often with our chip it sideways game plan. We have so many players who can't kick to position consistently, w ho have pedestrian foot speed and who do not make good, quick decisions.

We just have to trust that Paul Roos can over time make us as competitive as the Swans were under his stewardship. Lets face its a tough challenge given our mediocre performances in recent years.

Its obvious that the players are trying to implement a possession oriented game plan which is almost a 180 degree reversal on the past couple of years. It is obvious that they are not going to master the decision making overnight. Its going to take time. Hopefully we see positive signs this season - maybe when we have some tall forwards on the park. Some players may not have the skill/decision making required.

There are positives.

Vince is the best kick in the team under pressure and has the midfield class that we lack.

Tyson shows signs - a strong contested mark, a nice sidestep, a goal from 50 - to suggest that he will develop into a damaging midfielder with more games under his belt.

Jay Kennedy-Harris looks a natural footballer with a forward's instincts. Used his pace offensively and defensively and had an impact when he came on.

Nathan Jones has a heart bigger than PharLap.

We have to start playing Salem at least he has great skills.

We also need Viney in there, to give us more mongrel.

Watts and Vince were average today, not terrible like some others.

Please another two or three talls next weeks, maybe Dawes, Garland and Gawn?

Trengove still lacks alot, as does M jones and viv Michie, all very disappointing.

Pederson , Fitzpatrick and Spencer are only there because we have no one else. ( they are a bunch of big geese, nothing more)

How the hell does Blease who is our fastest player and loves a goal not get a game?

Please start JKH next week, maybe make Michie the sub.

Last quarter wasnt too bad, but we just dont have any oomph, excitement, it seems alot of hard work for no return.

Not sure if this group are skillfull enough to implement this gameplan.

Eagles are a machine so wait and see what happens over the next three weeks against Carlton, GWS , and Suns.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:37, Nasher said:

Dom Tyson, despite being excellent overrall, made a couple of shockers as well.

I understand the point of your post but can't agree with this, or at least can't remember them. Tyson was great today and lifted even further from his game last week. One of the very few that made calculated and sensible decisions with the footy + having the skill to execute them.

As bad as we were, don't underestimate the difference Hogan, Dawes, Viney, Garland, Gawn and Jamar vs Byrnes, Pederson, Bail, Fitzpatrick, Georgiou (or Terlich) and Spencer makes.

Gawn and Jamar v Fitz and Spence may not make too much difference. But Viney, Garland, Dawes and Hogan v Pederson, Bail, Byrnes, Georgiou (again, or Terlich) does.

Thought Andrew Welsh was spot on. Our midfielders are combattive with no forward momentum and no real goal-kicking potential. This is not a slight on them as we have gone from E-grade to C-grade midfield in one hit. Combattive midfielders plus depleted forward-line = low score.

We really need speed outside these mids. JKH aint lightening, but he made us look quicker. Blease must come in now surely.

Looks like we need to be patient again; but with Roos at the helm our patience will be rewarded.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:42, DeeZee said:

We have to start playing Salem at least he has great skills.

We also need Viney in there, to give us more mongrel.

Watts and Vince were average today, not terrible like some others.

Please another two or three talls next weeks, maybe Dawes, Garland and Gawn?

Trengove still lacks alot, as does M jones and viv Michie, all very disappointing.

Pederson , Fitzpatrick and Spencer are only there because we have no one else. ( they are a bunch of big geese, nothing more)

How the hell does Blease who is our fastest player and loves a goal not get a game?

Please start JKH next week, maybe make Michie the sub.

Last quarter wasnt too bad, but we just dont have any oomph, excitement, it seems alot of hard work for no return.

Not sure if this group are skillfull enough to implement this gameplan.

Eagles are a machine so wait and see what happens over the next three weeks against Carlton, GWS , and Suns.

Nope, nope and unlikely. Unfortunately

Concerning fun fact of the half-century: last winless team was 1964.

I'll repeat what I said earlier. For the fans and team to hang in there Roos needs to show some solidarity and commit to 3 - 5 years.

Stability and an expression of Hope would go along way at the moment.

Unfortunately our best 22 is our only 22. Our depth is non existent. We have been hobbled by the expansion clubs cherry picking the best over half a dozen drafts and shot ourselves in the foot with poor selections on draft day.

Add to that we are fairly unattractive destination for good free agents and we are going to struggle to rebuild quickly in the short term.

It's a list that's just not competitive enough.

Roos is dealing with it....talking about scars is just a euphemism for....'I can't believe you're on an AFL list.'

Big clean out coming....7 to 10 players.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:47, chook fowler said:

I'll repeat what I said earlier. For the fans and team to hang in there Roos needs to show some solidarity and commit to 3 - 5 years.

Stability and an expression of Hope would go along way at the moment.

If Paul doesn't want to be a 10 year coach of the MFC then fine. That's a huge time commitment.

However I am concerned about the 2-3 year deal. 2-3 years wouldn't be as bad if he said he would then stay on as head of coaching/football but it seems (to me at least) like he is just going to do his 2-3 then hand over.

Paul needs to commit to do the job right not to do the job in 2-3 years.

Jack Trengove needs to find something fast, his speed is a concern, but he is no slower than Sam Mitchell, needs to work on becoming that type of player although i doubt he will ever be in that league.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:51, Sassy said:

Jack Trengove needs to find something fast, his speed is a concern, but he is no slower than Sam Mitchell, needs to work on becoming that type of player although i doubt he will ever be in that league.

Something's wrong when a 22 year old player has been on the decline for the better part of three years

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:50, jumbo returns said:

It's a list that's just not competitive enough.

Roos is dealing with it....talking about scars is just a euphemism for....'I can't believe you're on an AFL list.'

Big clean out coming....7 to 10 players.

wish it could be done now

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:51, Sassy said:

Jack Trengove needs to find something fast, his speed is a concern, but he is no slower than Sam Mitchell, needs to work on becoming that type of player although i doubt he will ever be in that league.

Mitchell has extremely quick hands and has a quick mind which counteracts his slow leg speed.

Trengove is slow by hand, by foot and above the shoulders.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:44, Scythe said:

As bad as we were, don't underestimate the difference Hogan, Dawes, Viney, Garland, Gawn and Jamar vs Byrnes, Pederson, Bail, Fitzpatrick, Georgiou (or Terlich) and Spencer makes.

Gawn and Jamar v Fitz and Spence may not make too much difference. But Viney, Garland, Dawes and Hogan v Pederson, Bail, Byrnes, Georgiou (again, or Terlich) does.

True, and being overlooked/ignored/dismissed too much.

The replacements aren't at a good enough level, though.

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:50, jumbo returns said:

It's a list that's just not competitive enough.

Roos is dealing with it....talking about scars is just a euphemism for....'I can't believe you're on an AFL list.'

Big clean out coming....7 to 10 players.

7-10 per year over next 3 years !!! at minimum

  On 30/03/2014 at 08:54, why you little said:

wish it could be done now

It's a shame we can't get some sort of Draft kick start where we delist all but say 10 of our players and get a heap of first rounders like GWS and GC did, this list is going nowhere in a hurry and we might have 10 players who are still capable of something but how are we supposed to keep them around