GAME DAY - round 20

[watchtheeyes 1,210]

Its amazing how much of a difference Cross makes, what a legend. Is a good advertisement for getting O'Keefe in. Been fairly pleased with Barry's effort too, despite Hills impact.

Dawes is a major disappointment. He plays like he knows he is meant to be the 2nd up forward.

Very happy with Gawn, so critical for our shape in transition in the years to come. Would like to see more impact from Michie, he needs to attack the contest harder, a la Viney.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

Unfortunately we're still making abysmal mistakes.

JKH at one point literally stood still and watched his man run past him for the handball receive. Very lazy.

Before the game Roos took Howe and Watts aside and said something to them. Whatever it was, ome has responded nicely and one is turning in an all-too-familiar regressive performance.

Hill toyed with Barry that quarter but Barry's shown a lot so far. Another pre-season will do him wonders.

Jamar's been immense, Gawn great as a forward. When Gawn rucks though we get beaten up.

Those are two things that stick out to me. Yes, we are out classed. Yes, the Hawks are in a different league to us. But someone like Barry running around with Hill, getting his hands on it a bit and being involved, is a real positive. Hill might have kicked a couple and beaten him to a few contests but I'd rather Barry in there learning than Terlich at this point in the season.

Gawn has been excellent up forward, he just needs to clunk more of those marks.

[Binmans PA 26,072]

Our ball movement is too slow and we try to do too much when we have the ball. It's been pretty painful so far.

[watchtheeyes 1,210]

you are so far off the mark

People dont care if Watts is a good player or not, just that he has a dip and shows some pride

Which will never happen because hes a soft liability

I can't cop that Watts makes no effort, it is completely inconsistent with everything we hear from the coaches at the club. Hardness? Sure, Effort? No way.

Watts has also had several quality involvements in attack, so to say we need to hide him to limit how detrimental he is is ridiculous.

[Hellish Inferno 992]

you are so far off the mark

People dont care if Watts is a good player or not, just that he has a dip and shows some pride

Which will never happen because hes a soft liability

I've come to the realisation that he actually does have a dip and tries hard.

The problem is that him 'trying hard' is the same as Jordan Lewis having a jog at training. He just doesn't have it in him.

He's had far too long to correct this and whilst is definitely more improved, is still far below the standard of intensity and physicality required. Non negotiables

[Binmans PA 26,072]

Those are two things that stick out to me. Yes, we are out classed. Yes, the Hawks are in a different league to us. But someone like Barry running around with Hill, getting his hands on it a bit and being involved, is a real positive. Hill might have kicked a couple and beaten him to a few contests but I'd rather Barry in there learning than Terlich at this point in the season.

Gawn has been excellent up forward, he just needs to clunk more of those marks.

He's been better today. Will be a fantastic player once he builds a tank and starts to throw his weight around. If he's playing as a forward, he needs to kick goals from directly in front, 40m out.

[rjay 23,912]

Unfortunately we're still making abysmal mistakes.

JKH at one point literally stood still and watched his man run past him for the handball receive. Very lazy.

Before the game Roos took Howe and Watts aside and said something to them. Whatever it was, ome has responded nicely and one is turning in an all-too-familiar regressive performance.

Hill toyed with Barry that quarter but Barry's shown a lot so far. Another pre-season will do him wonders.

Jamar's been immense, Gawn great as a forward. When Gawn rucks though we get beaten up.

Yeah, Maxie really has to use his height better. Another year or so and he will nail McEvoy to the wall.

JKH didn't think quickly enough on that one, to busy watching his own man and got run past within arms length.

Depends on what the long term effect on Barry is and Roos would know, if he can stick it out I would leave him on Hill. He's struggled to get enough ball at Casey, watching how you go about it from Hill might be the making of him.

[Grint 30]

Why don't they say have watts float through the centre, dawes stay at true half forward and have the resting ruck man play out of the square with Kennedy Harris and Barry hanging round their feet? Keep Howe back and send Frawley down there. Make sure the first five players mentioned stay in their zones and on the turn over we have targets forward of the ball. Obviously it's the midfielders job to protect the ball carrier upon the turn over and follow up to help the next target. If you want the rest of the team to stay behind the ball so be it but we will never get anywhere if we don't keep targets forward of the ball.

We might get thrashed but surely it's worth a shot - would force us to play more direct footy at the very least when we got the ball...

[rjay 23,912]

Our ball movement is too slow and we try to do too much when we have the ball. It's been pretty painful so far.

If Dawes would make the right positions and lead up to the ball it would help.

[What 18,810]

1 goal 3 behinds for Max.. arghhh

[rjay 23,912]

Lead and hold your position Chris Dawes...

[Jaded No More 57,879]

Chris Dawes has done nothing for over a month now. Not good enough for a senior player getting paid plenty.

We are on track for another 100 point loss.

[Toorak 108]

Maxy what are you doing!

[Wiseblood 24,636]

Great play there from Dom Barry! Keep working boys!

[Deemotivated 550]

Here we come haha

[What 18,810]

Gawn is really doing well

Starting to come of age

[Matt Demon 1,385]

Well done Barry & Maxy, both have shown good signs today.

[Demon Dynasty 15,440]

Going with a hawthorn mate. What I really don't want to see is us being physically intimidated. The hawks and cats have done this to us for years and essendon went a long way to winning that grand final with the same approach (more blatant thuggery, actually). I never want to see a Melbourne player smashed like Pedo was without 17 men running to fly the flag.

Frankie i would like to have your positivity on the physical front but honestly, i haven't seen an MFC team who go hard at the man and pill consistantly for 4 quarters without fear or favour since Swooper was in charge. And that's a mighty long time ago now.

We are miles away from being a bruising team.

One of the reasons i'd love to see us go after Robinson very hard at year's end, along with Garlett for some run and carry and super speed off HB and through the middle, decent delivery i50 as well and can kick a goal...something we desperately need more of!

Edited August 9, 2014 by Rusty Nails

[Chook 14,487]

Gawn wins the tap handsomly, taps it straight down in front to where a Melbourne player SHOULD be. Only problem is...the sole player there is in a Hawthorn jumper. As the ball cannons down the field for another Hawthorn goal, Gawn puts his arms out as if to say "Where the hell is everyone?"

[Wiseblood 24,636]

How good on the lead is Roughy? Helps he gets some sublime delivery but the bloke is unstoppable when he gets a run at it.

[Deemotivated 550]

How good on the lead is Roughy? Helps he gets some sublime delivery but the bloke is unstoppable when he gets a run at it.

He'd still be a gun in our team

[Chook 14,487]

Why isn't Tom McDonald cracking Roughead's rough head open every time the ball comes in. The AFL says this is okay to do.

[Demon Dynasty 15,440]

Lead and hold your position Chris Dawes...

Unforturtunately apart from Dawesy's 2nd and 3rd efforts when he loses the contest (which is most of the time), he's had a shocking year.

We really are placing alot of hope in the Hulk coming on and at this stage just getting himself onto the park.

Need another big marking star player up forward IMO. Dawes is just a structural fill in.

[Chook 14,487]

Derm: "I'm surprised Cam Pedersen got dropped for this week."

What a f*cking moron.

[Mr Steve 3,820]

As bad as this is, it's still not as bad as Eddie and Dermott Brereton calling of the game