SMALL MERCIES by JVM

We should be thankful for small mercies but the amazing statistic from Melbourne's visit to rain-drenched Spotless Stadium was that the team recorded its highest goal tally for the season - a measly 7 goals for the game.

The significant number for the day however, was 79 - the number of hit outs recorded by the Giants' ruckmen as against Melbourne's 37, less than half of what Shane Mumford and co produced. In conditions where you need ruck domination to win the ball out of packs and stoppages, Mumford had 60 to Jake Spencer's 25. The Snake had very little assistance. Jack Fitzpatrick was no help at all with four hit outs: even Daniel Cross managed more with five. The differential goes a fair way to explaining why the Demons lost.

Since the Melbourne forwards started keeling over like flies in a Mortein storm, the mantra has been that no forwards means no scoring power, translating into defeat. Well that was evident again but this time the club's lack of ruck power was more of a factor than anything else. With Mark Jamar back playing at Casey but on restricted time for the sake of conservative treatment for one who has been troubled heavily with injury of late, Max Gawn hamstrung and Mitch Clark's connections possibly looking at an exit strategy, the ruck cupboard is bare when you have to rely on a hardworking but limited big man in Spencil. The club worked hard to add to its midfield depth over the draft/trade period - it would have done well to find a big man like Mummy who it missed out on when he crossed to the Swans from Geelong a few years ago. But that's spilt milk and there's enough of around the club to cry over so why start with the tears now?

At least the Demons got good drive in the middle from Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince but they were battling uphill in the conditions where the opposition rucks were giving their direct opponents an armchair ride. GWS won the clearances handsomely.

Coach Paul Roos lived up to his promise to change the team around. James Frawley and Lynden Dunn went to the forward line but the conditions and Melbourne's scrappy disposal didn't help matters. After a low scoring scrumfest worthy of a second or third grade amateur contest, there was a brief ray of light in the third term when a Jack Watts goal briefly gave the Demons the lead. Then somebody turned of the lights and the natural order returned to see the team succumb for its twelfth consecutive defeat.

Somewhere in the background I could swear I heard the ghost of Mark Neeld mumble something about a reality bus.

Melbourne 0.2.2 1.5.11 5.5.35 7.5.47

GWS Giants 1.2.8 2.7.19 5.12.42 10.19.79

Goals

MelbourneDunn Watts 2 Frawley Kent M Jones

GWS Giants Cameron Kelly Patton 2 Coniglio Mumford Smith Treloar

Best

Melbourne Tyson Dunn Cross Vince McDonald

GWS Giants Mumford Ward Treloar Bugg Shaw Kelly

Changes

Melbourne Nil

GWS Giants Nil

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

GWS Giants Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil

GWS Giants Nil

Umpires Ben Ryan Simon Meredith Ray Chamberlain

Attendance 7,016 at Spotless Stadium

Someone give me one reason why I should watch next week? Every time I take three hours out of my precious weekend, that's time with my family or time doing something productive that I'm not getting, and all I get out of it is frustration and disappointment.

I watch footy for entertainment. The last two weeks have left me feeling so immensely bored that all it is becoming is a complete waste of time. I don't even want to watch the good teams play any more. I'm currently supporting this team out of obligation. I'm not sure how much longer I can hang on.

Again, what can you say?

I am sick of wondering if we will go through a season winless. We deserve better.

Terlich was horrendous. His disposal and decision-making is atrocious. Roos' out-of-character spray said it all

Something needs to happen and happen soon. Far too many loyal supporters have just copped too many kicks in the groin week after week after week. Our next home game i will be surprised if we get more than the poor 7000 that turned up today. Nobody enjoys going to our games anymore and thats not what footy is about....

I'm with you Nasher, it's killing footy for me. It's not the losing. It's watching tree players whole approach to the game change, their heads drop. There is no intent. It makes it hard to support.

For the first time I'm questioning whether this club will be here in five years time.

Big trades this year. We gotta throw them all up.

It is the only way the club can move on from the previous regime.

It all failed.

We have far too many players that are simply not up to AFL standard and no amount of development, will or could change that, it's all about the recruiting.

We are miles away from being even a reasonable side.

Pederson, Terlich, M Jones Bail, Georgiou and probably Spencer aren't up to it. If Frawley wants the big bucks he needs to lift a bit as well.

Too many players who refuse to attack the contest. Too many players who can't make the basic skills and decisions of the game. Too many players ok with losing and collecting a pay cheque. That loss was pathetic.

The AFL need to step in and get us the best coach and best CEO available...money no object.

Lost for words..

We have far too many players that are simply not up to AFL standard and no amount of development, will or could change that, it's all about the recruiting.

We are miles away from being even a reasonable side.

Pederson, Terlich, M Jones Bail, Georgiou and probably Spencer aren't up to it. If Frawley wants the big bucks he needs to lift a bit as well.

In fairness to Pederson he was one of few to win his position today.

Did you see the spray Roos gave Terlich at 3/4 time? I reckon every single disposal he made went to the opposition. I know he looks balanced and poised but he is the turn over king and has no awareness. Surely there is a better back flanker than him in the club.

Murdered in the ruck again, Sydney should be flogged for giving Mummy away. The clearance count and tap downs highlighted just how DESPERATE we are for a ruck man. Sorry Spencer you just aren't good enough and sometimes you need to do more than just be there to contest the stoppage, you need to hit it to our advantage.

Could not fault the effort and noted we took a long time to adapt to the conditions and continued to over handle the ball. I will give credit where credit is due and Pederson proved beyond shadow of doubt that he will never be a forward. He is at best a backman.

would it be better for the club to fold ASAP than to gradually die like this, week by week of sub-standard performances destroying the souls of the supporters?

We have far too many players that are simply not up to AFL standard and no amount of development, will or could change that, it's all about the recruiting.

We are miles away from being even a reasonable side.

Pederson, Terlich, M Jones Bail, Georgiou and probably Spencer aren't up to it. If Frawley wants the big bucks he needs to lift a bit as well.

All teams have a couple of plodders, we have at least 10 per game.

After Chip kicked a goal the whole team stopped.

Disgraceful.

That is the moment they shoul have surged.

I said it could t be worse than last year .... But it is and I see a bunch of heartless footballers

First 3 quarters - whilst not great it seemed like a pass.

But last quarter we just totally gave up (again). It's unacceptable but I don't know what can be done about it.

Strange thing. 2 forwards go play in defense and as good as any of our other defenders. 2 defenders go forward and are as good as our other forwards. So just how bad are the rest. I'm talking Grimes, Terlich, Byrnes, Fitzpatrick

For the first time I'm questioning whether this club will be here in five years time.

Maybe we've had it wrong all this time, and WYL is actually a genius visionary.

In fairness to Pederson he was one of few to win his position today.

You think, he's too slow to make up his mind and I thought he was dreadful today, he's a liability and it's probably only that there were so many worse that makes him look even passable.

Terlich is one of the worst footballers I've seen he simply hasn't got a clue.

Thank god for supercoach and hoping Carlton lose every week or I think I would give up on footy altogether!

The best decision i've made this year, no Foxtel subscription. Not sure i want to watch it. For those who were there or watched it, Is there any light that would suggest i should?

For the first time I'm questioning whether this club will be here in five years time.

5 would be ambitious. 2-3 more likely.