Post Match Discussion - Round 18

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,192]

Blease and Tapscott did exactly what they have always done. They did not do much but Tapscott had one moment where he played with elite hardness and Blease had one moment that showed elite pace. We then hang onto these moments thinking they can consistently use these facets and become good players ignoring they were but moments of the game.

[Deemotivated 550]

Has ever a group of supporters been put through so much [censored] and anguish as we poor bastards who chose to follow Melbourne?

There was no choice... I was born into this bollshit!

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Has ever a group of supporters been put through so much [censored] and anguish as we poor bastards who chose to follow Melbourne?

I think we all know the answer to that

[Nasher 33,616]

Blease and Tapscott did exactly what they have always done. They did not do much but Tapscott had one moment where he played with elite hardness and Blease had one moment that showed elite pace. We then hang onto these moments thinking they can consistently use these facets and become good players ignoring they were but moments of the game.

Exactly, they both showed why they are nearly good enough to play AFL.

[Buzzy 992]

Gotta question the decision making late in the last qtr when we were leading....

Wtf was Dawes kicking to???

The out on the full by Grimes I believe!

And yes umpiring disgraceful! jones gets tackled & handballs & gets dropping the ball! How many times are players tackled & ball drops out & it's play on!

I couldn't believe that he aimed a kick to the centre of the ground (where we had nobody) when we're up with 2 minutes on the clock.

That's just kid's stuff. It opened up the whole ground for them.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Blease and Tapscott did exactly what they have always done. They did not do much but Tapscott had one moment where he played with elite hardness and Blease had one moment that showed elite pace. We then hang onto these moments thinking they can consistently use these facets and become good players ignoring they were but moments of the game.

Without those moments we would have lost by a lot more.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Everyone's forgetting who we played. Port were in terrible form coming into this match having lost 3 of their last 3 matches (2 of them at Adelaide oval) to IMO 2 very poor teams in Adelaide and the Tiges...and an in form Essendrug.

We have beaten all of those teams this year.

This should have been a decent win for us.... yet we still managed to allow a terribly out of form team to find their mojo a little and kick 6 unanswered goals in the first half. The game was won and lost right there.

Honorable comeback my ass.

Any other half decent team would have won that by 3 to 4 goals and the better clubs in a canter.

oh come on, they are a game away from top of the ladder and had the HG advantage

[Cards13 9,117]

Also I think Kent being the sub was a costly mistake, as was subbing Riley. I can almost forgive the Riley sub since I'm sure he's struggling for fitness, but Kent always has an impact. Tapscott should have been the sub, or, at the risk of being howled down, Blease.

Roos needs to improve on the sub and quickly. He has said twice this year he has struggled with when to use and who to sub. You could easily have said before the game Blease at 3qtr time is to be subbed.

Otherwise, we've come a long way, long way to go. In a couple of years we'll be an exciting team to watch. Hurry up time!

[Deestroy All 14,266]

I thought the Grimes kick was a high degree of difficulty kick, in a situation that required the risk, that was errant by a centimetre.

Some will rue that, some will rue the Jones cockup or the Dawes pass to nobody. I rue the 20 minute patch where they got 5 goals out. Again. We're so, so close, but still walking away with an L to our form. Such a flattening feeling.

He could've put it 5 metres to the front, other side or over the back of Tyson and he would've marked it. That is a massive target that our captain missed by 1cm.

You're giving him a pass for an absolutely shocking and costly basic skill error.

What's worse is we would've had overlap run, and from memory commentators mentioned men on down the field.

It was a coach, teammate and supporter killer.

[What 18,810]

I'll take four close losses instead of fourteen 100 point losses.

6 losses under 20 points

Frustrating but a decent indicator of improvement

[Nasher 33,616]

He could've put it 5 metres to the front, other side or over the back of Tyson and he would've marked it. That is a massive target that our captain missed by 1cm.

You're giving him a pass for an absolutely shocking and costly basic skill error.

What's worse is we would've had overlap run, and from memory commentators mentioned men on down the field.

It was a coach, teammate and supporter killer.

Don't know about giving him a pass mark DA; it's fair to say I'd have preferred he hit Tyson inside the boundary rather than outside it.

[Tony Tea 2,809]

Really, really, REALLY need to know how the umpire managed to ping Jones for a throw despite being 30m directly behind Jones.

And, and, AND that's in a game where 999 throws right in front of the umpire were not paid.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Doing it once is not the answer... He needs to realize he's a big unit and can smash blokes... Even if he gets pinged occasionally.

Of course. I just feel sorry for him that he finally does the thing we want him to do, which doesn't come naturally to him, and he gets pinged for it. Hopefully Roos shows him that and says that is exactly what he should be doing, and you cop the odd dubious decision.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

I'll take four close losses instead of fourteen 100 point losses.

We've won 4 matches out of 17. Thats 13 losses. Its still pathetic. No matter which way you try and dress it up we still suck. Not saying it isn't an improvement either but its many miles away from being AFL standard.

The fact that we struggled to stay in touch with a badly out of form opponent in the first half tells the tale of where this club is at atm. Don't kid yourself...without another injection of serious talent at year's end, this club is going nowhere fast.

Roosy is well aware of this... hence why he's taking a look at every possibility from here...both from a "retention" and a "moving on" list management point of view.

The axe will fall and fall harshly for some once the season ends for us in 5 weeks. Many of these blokes are playing for their AFL carreer right now.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Rusty Nails

[Demon Blood 46]

Gutted...

Tyson was just awesome and after watching Lenny Hayes highlights yesterday I think we may have our own version.

N Jones needs to stop thinking he can do it all, he is a cog in the machine

Vince is hurting with the hard tag

Watts was MIA in the first half but it was no coincidence that we started to turn around in the 3rd as he started to influence the game, need more of that 3rd qtr more often.

Dawes has planks for hands and needs to stop leading to a place with 2 extra opposition backs

Frawley's kicking wouldn't be out of place on a rugby field with guys flying for the high ball but his lead up work was good

Jamar has been enormous for us this season and had another good game against a solid ruck

Kent & JKH give us some spark and danger in the fwdline while a lease should be given a couple more games to get into the speed of afl

McDonald, Grimes and surprisingly Garland all make me hold my breath with the ball in hand

Pedersen just keeps working which is great to see but needs to be more damaging

Reily & Tappy, I liked both their games in parts and both show positive signs and Nev Jetta has started to become one of the best small backs we have had since Wheelan.

While I'm gutted at the result and the influence of the umpires, I am very pleased to see the boys respond to the Geelong game in such a way but we need to start winning some of these close ones

[Guest]

I'm not big on the messiah complex BUT it would help if Hogan was in the forward line. I hope Roosy gives him the debut that Watts should have gotten in 2009 (smaller venue, not much on the line) but a decent option besides Dawes (who is a damn good second option at his best) and Chip (who is most likely on his farewell tour) would help.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Posters forgetting Chip's game.

I think he's a good, strong forward.

Huge body and very quick.

Gave his all today.

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

Just had a port supporter tell me the wingard free was there because watts got him after the ball, I just said so watts should have noticed wingard was there and known not to go for the ball?

[Sir Why You Little 37,046]

Throwing the ball is now a rule is it. Is that a TV directive??

Thanks Vlad. Your legacy

How many times did players just throw the ball away.

IT'S NOT F$&@ING RUGBY

FFS.

[Adam The God 30,267]

Jetta and Garland were fantastic in defence too.

[CityDee 738]

Riley was subbed because the game was opening up and outside run was needed.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Riley was subbed because the game was opening up and outside run was needed.

Yep, that and he was tired. He is still getting back full fitness. Threw everything he had in the first half and looked good but disappeared after half time.

[jackaub 1,402]

Garland on robbie Gray was Fantastic Also Jetta so cool under pressure always beats hs man and clears the ball

[JV7 2,351]

Had to go for a run to let of some steam... Given the tragedy that occurred only a few days ago, losing a game of football doesn't even compare... We must look at the bigger picture for this football club, we have taken it up to port twice this year and shown glimpses against other top sides. We just as roos says every week, learn how to play 120 minutes of football... A half last week against the cats, 1 & a half qrts against the dogs, a half against essendon, 20 minutes today. This side will learn how to play a full 4 qrts. Loses like this will reiterate that message.. If we won today maybe they don't realise you cant go to sleep for 20 minutes and still win a game of football. 6 losses under 20 points, we are on the right track. Give us another 12 months and those close losses turn to wins and were a side challenging for the 8

Edited July 20, 2014 by JV7

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

6 losses under 20 points

Frustrating but a decent indicator of improvement

Like many downtrodden MFC supporters.... too easily pleased with 2nd best.

Should've beaten the Saints.... should've beaten the Dogs (twice), should've beaten Gold Coast, should've won today etc etc.

I think what we are seeing is this list performing about or close to its potential albeit with some upside still to come with some of the younger boys like Jetta, JKH, Tyson, Vince and possibly a few others.

Hopefully we recruit well in the pre season and don't let the careers of these young men go to waste by continuing to give games to some of the very average talent around them.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Rusty Nails