Post Match Discussion - Round 19

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

There should be a team rule - whenever an opponent lays out a team mate with a cheap shot , every Melbourne player IMMEDIATELY runs straight to that bloke. 17 blue and red jumpers in Merretts face today. There needs to be an immediate threat of excessive force. Blokes like Merrett need to know that 'they will be coming'.

Yes Frawley responded, but gee, it was a light bump and a finger point. I want to see every single bloke sprint from wherever they are, ignoring merretts team mates and going with a single focus - Merrett.

[chook fowler 19,735]

How is it that the Lions can get there no names like Close, mcStay plus about 5 others who I've never heard of before to perform and our up and comers seem to take for ever to make an impact. Development still has a long way to go. A lot of radical changes still needed.

[P-man 13,367]

Sorry I never have anything original to add, but I've had enough. Sick to death of the whole thing. Not going to any more games this year. Dunno if I can be bothered renewing my membership. Just sick of being a Melbourne supporter. Kick in the guts every week. Better things to do in this life: read a book, write one. Do the gardening. Watch my local team. Can't convince my kids to come along or take much interest.

Find Demonland the only interesting thing about the game

Was never that excited about Roos. Too defensive (suppose he won a flag being that, but jeez I wish he'd win one for us)

Also feel we've been screwed by the AFL. We bottomed out at the wrong time. They're only interested in the expansion teams, mainly so they can continue to stuff their own bloated wallets. CUBS, the lot of them, from Demetriou down, [censored] in Amani suits.

Us, Dogs, Saints - permanent cellar dwellers.

Apologies for pointless vent. Suppose I'll feel more positive by about February next year.

Don't ever apologise for a vent. Many are feeling the same way.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

How is it that the Lions can get there no names like Close, mcStay plus about 5 others who I've never heard of before to perform and our up and comers seem to take for ever to make an impact. Development still has a long way to go. A lot of radical changes still needed.

Our tall forwards have certainly struggled in recent weeks. Dawes and Pedersen haven't looked anything like the players who were in such good form in the first half of the year. They are having a dip but simply can't get near it.

[Demon Jack 7,155]

Really disappointing today, The addition of Cross in the lineup today may've made a world of difference. Still a fair way to go unfortunately. Hopefully we have another great trade/draft period.

[Eelesie 217]

It's all well and good for roos to promote the high pressure, in close football, but with out the disposal skills to go with it, it will always be a pass to a team mate that is already under pressure or a blind kick to space that we don't fill cause the run is non existent. The skill required to effectively move the ball in this game style is unfortunately above a large section of the players trying to use it.

I'm not saying that roos is responsible for the loss, just saying that you can get the professor to teach, but two year old will still [censored] algebra up!

[stuie 7,374]

Which, in a manner, is what you are now doing. So my analysis of you is that you offer little but lack the understanding that supporters get down after a loss and want to vent. So see ya.

Right so we all vent at each other? Yeah, that will work....

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

I'm not fussed by this loss. Unlike other years, the club is in good hands and by getting a first or second draft pick helps us IMO. We keep losing because of the bottom feeders we have on our list.

Tappy

Terlich

McKenzie

Blease

Strauss

Matt Jones

Nicholson

Bail (has had a good year, but a top 8 team would have him as their 25th to 30th players on the list)

Pederson (see Bail)

Therefore there is too much reliance on our usual suspects and players who have had only 1, 2, or 3 years in the list.

Exactly. We have to consider this year as 2008. the previous 5 years were wasted by poor recruiting/development and we are now back to where we were in 2008 - a shockingly poor list. These people that keep saying Blease or Watts or Tapscott need more time need to realise one thing - the list is shite and without top picks to trade with or use in the draft, the list will stay shite.

We need to forget about 2009-2013 - those years were wasted. We are at the VERY beginning of a rebuild. The last rebuild was squandered so here we are again.

The names mentioned above need to be removed as soon as they can be replaced by AFL standard players. Forget about trying to turn turds in to diamonds. Its over. We start again or we fail

[frankie_d 1,471]

There should be a team rule - whenever an opponent lays out a team mate with a cheap shot , every Melbourne player IMMEDIATELY runs straight to that bloke. 17 blue and red jumpers in Merretts face today. There needs to be an immediate threat of excessive force. Blokes like Merrett need to know that 'they will be coming'.

Yes Frawley responded, but gee, it was a light bump and a finger point. I want to see every single bloke sprint from wherever they are, ignoring merretts team mates and going with a single focus - Merrett.

I could not agree more. We've been physically week for a long long time. A grand final was lost, in part, 'cos we didn't strike back. Part of Hawthorn's rehabilitation from their poor pre-Clarkson period was "unsociable football" - we just aren't physical enough - we have players with courage who will put their head over the ball, and that's the most important toughness, but we also need a huge infusion of mongrel.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

I don't dispute any of that.

Personally I'd keep Blease because the ceiling is higher but time is fast running out. I certainly acknowledge Bail works harder.

Blease has had 6 years to reach that ceiling. If it hasn't happened by now, it isn't going to happen.

Bail is a much more complete player save for his horrendous mistakes. If we have to keep one (we don't, they're both OOC, but assuming), Bail is the one closer to being an AFL player. There's just too much Blease cannot or will not do.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Bit harsh to leave Jones out of that, but otherwise you're not far wide of the mark.

I'm with you - Jonesy goes without saying as he busts a gut, week in, week out.

[dazzledavey36 55,992]

Went to the game with a bus full of disadvantage children who have never ever been to an AFL match.

By far one of the worst game I have seen. Why the fk are we so defensive!?

Nev jetta and Dom Tyson were best on for me.

That was lynden dunns worst game.

[1964nowMORE 493]

So very painful to watch, worst effort since Rd 2. Skills were appalling, shocking, laughable at times. very few positives in this one - thank goodness Casey had a good win and showed some form. the number of players who can't hit a target more than 25m is aweful - it means they also don't do the risky 45m pass that opens the game up cause they are scared of stuffing up - Watts is the only guy, maybe with Howe who can have one kick and open the game up - for all his failings this skill is desperately needed.

McKenzie was embarrassing.

Dreadful - and to think we have the Hawks next week!

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

Disappointing loss - keeps with theme of our year to date - close but not close enough!

We should have won that game - poor kicking for goal and bad decision making killed us - the game should have been iced before that last qtr fade out.

But rather then just focus on the obvious negatives from today I thought we were good for 3 qtr (bar obvious errors) and poor kicking for goal)....

If the boys can just clean up their poor decision making and disposal and we can draft another mid or 2, get Hogan in and get a big Maxy Gawn fit, i'd be confidentt we can win games like these pretty soon

[P-man 13,367]

Blease has had 6 years to reach that ceiling. If it hasn't happened by now, it isn't going to happen.

Bail is a much more complete player save for his horrendous mistakes. If we have to keep one (we don't, they're both OOC, but assuming), Bail is the one closer to being an AFL player. There's just too much Blease cannot or will not do.

Again I don't disagree. Although the 6 years includes injuries, but it doesn't detract a lot from your point.

For a team that is absolutely starved for speed and run, if by some miracle we are able to turn things around next season then Blease becomes more dangerous as the cream. But as of right now, I'm not disputing who adds more to the team.

The constant errors and poorly weighted kicks just kill you though.

[ijbfossil 77]

Pathetic. Abysmal. Embarrassing. Take your pick.

I can't remember being angrier watching a game this season. The number and nature of the mistakes was beyond explanation.

Agree totally - big statement but I cannot remember ever feeling more upset after a MFC "game" EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

[waynewussell 6,922]

My son and I decided not to go today because it was at Etihad. We also agreed to turn off the TV with three minutes to go. AFL and MFC, you are losing us. I agree with others who have said that this was the most mistake-riddled effort in living memory. Yes, we were still in the game in the last term, but I would rather be several goals down and witness individual acts of brilliance and see players taking the game on. I could list individual stupidity but what's the point.

[Axis of Bob 11,912]

I don't see the link that people are making between skills and effort. It's like they assume that missed targets are because they aren't trying hard enough.

We clearly had effort, but we lack class on the outside. We comfortably won the contested possession but we turned it over. Brisbane were able to do a lot more damage outside packs than we were.

That's where we need to improve.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

I think the cull has to start now - McKenzie should be dropped for missing that goal, Blease for his show pony selfishness, Bail for continually butchering the ball, Tapscott because he's got nothing to offer and Watts to make a statement. Don't care who replaces them as long as it's made clear incompetence like shown today is not acceptable.

The sentiments i like chook but with this list the problem is there's not really any replacements that offer anything other than the same old MFC butchering of ball and continually going sideways and lateral (Edit: this should have read..BACKWARDS) as our first option once we get it. The bulk of this list lacks class, run, speed, finish, sure ball handling in close and over 30 meters on the kick. Poor at shooting for goal. Pretty much everything a half decent footballer needs at least 1 of...or more. No weapons/match winners in this lot whatsoever.

We also have no run and carry ball users off HB/outside middle who can hit targets once in a while or putting it to the favoured side of the forwards etc for them to run onto etc.

The problems are vast a varied but at the end of the day we have a very poor list that's only weapon is being able to defend for 2 or 3 quarters depending on the quality of the opponent. And that 'defend at all costs mentality' starts very early, even before we or our opponent has managed to hit the scoreboard.....which to me makes no sense at all unless the opponent starts getting a run on early (which for us unfortunately happens alot lol).

In the end the weight of numbers out of the middle (which we are still losing most of the time) and off the oppositions HB line following our turnovers (as well as continual missed shots at goals) end up ensuring that we lose most matches, even against horrible opposition such as the Bears today.

Time to turn over the majority on this list or the club will die a very slow and horrible death...continually bouncing along the bottom of the ladder winning 4 to 6 matches max (if lucky).

I don't envy Roos in his present position. He has very very little to work with here. Miracles can happen.....but i certainly can't see any light at this point, not with the bulk of this current list anyway.

[Coq au vin 755]

Disappointing loss - keeps with theme of our year to date - close but not close enough!

We should have won that game - poor kicking for goal and bad decision making killed us - the game should have been iced before that last qtr fade out.

But rather then just focus on the obvious negatives from today I thought we were good for 3 qtr (bar obvious errors) and poor kicking for goal)....

If the boys can just clean up their poor decision making and disposal and we can draft another mid or 2, get Hogan in and get a big Maxy Gawn fit, i'd be confidentt we can win games like these pretty soon

yippee we'll be able to beat a bottom 4 side then!

[beelzebub 23,390]

I blame Watts !!

Sack Roos !!!

taking up macrame

[Eelesie 217]

Dreadful - and to think we have the Hawks next week!

Oh God! I already am on a double or nothing bet for 2 cartons!

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

yippee we'll be able to beat a bottom 4 side then!

Thats not better then we r now??? Some ppl r hard to please haha

But thanks for conributing to the self hate depression site that is Demonland - If I wasn't a Demon myself I'd get a real kick out of this place

[beelzebub 23,390]

I think the cull has to start now - McKenzie should be dropped for missing that goal, Blease for his show pony selfishness, Bail for continually butchering the ball, Tapscott because he's got nothing to offer and Watts to make a statement. Don't care who replaces them as long as it's made clear incompetence like shown today is not acceptable.

Cull, did you say Cull ??

careful the p.c police will have you for that.....

But hey...ive had these thoughts ( as have others I know ) for quite some time. Some cattle need mooving on.

We'd struggle to beat some club's Magoos with our current lot ...really. Many just not AFL standard

[chook fowler 19,735]

I don't see the link that people are making between skills and effort. It's like they assume that missed targets are because they aren't trying hard enough.

We clearly had effort, but we lack class on the outside. We comfortably won the contested possession but we turned it over. Brisbane were able to do a lot more damage outside packs than we were.

That's where we need to improve.

Effort is not just physical it is also mental - maintaining concentration and discipline. McKenzies missed goal I would say was due to lack of effort - if he had taken proper care he would never of missed it.