Melbourne v Fremantle @ Fremantle Oval - 5th March, 2015

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

Does that mean anything, these days? Most sides have more than three good defenders. Even we have more than three good defenders.

Probably not.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Reckon that's very harsh Franky. Particularly on Garland.

You were pumping up Garland in another thread. I reckon you have blinkers on. His reputation far exceeds what he generally delivers on gameday. He is in his 9th season now, and he still gives away many silly unnecessary frees that cost us goals

[Nasher 33,607]

You were pumping up Garland in another thread. I reckon you have blinkers on. His reputation far exceeds what he generally delivers on gameday. He is in his 9th season now, and he still gives away many silly unnecessary frees that cost us goals

I was commenting on his output in 2008 and 2010 in that thread. It's hardly pumping him up.

He sucked last year and needs to improve on tonight.

Has credits in the bank, though, for mine.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

While Grimes, M Jones, Bail and Mckenzie are anywhere near the stating 22 you're not going anywhere as a football club. 6 wins max if those blokes are getting a game.

The pleasing thing is Newton & Vandenberg are already better players. Hopefully Brayshaw can displace another.

Jamar absolutely pathetic. He and Gawn both seem incapable of being a presence around the ground. Can't see either reaching double digit possessions so I'd get 22 games into Gawn. Missing a shot from 2m out to out your team in front should be the end of Jamar. We need to win anything we can and for an experience player to miss that was just pathetic.

Gawn did a couple of truly pathetic kicks tonight, and as usual he seems incapable of taking a grab despite being a foot taller than his opponent. Frustrating.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I did point out that Vandenberg, after chatting to him and about him with the coaches, was a good pickup,

Cool story.

[Macca 16,603]

A few observations

• All the new players showed a bit (Vandenberg, Lumumba, Hogan, Newton, Garlett & Frost) Although it was sort of expected, Lumumba stood out - he'll be more than a fine acquisition.
• Our general field kicking and kicking to position was reasonably good ... what was noticeable was the hit-up passes often being marked at the highest point (and taken at a good clip too)
• We again came out after half time and had a real dip - in many of the games last year that was the trend (especially in the first two 3rds of the season)
• We played as a team and ran the game out well - the result was unimportant in the whole scheme of things. In close is where we need to improve a lot but we weren't terrible. Our attack on the ball was good.
• The usual suspects made the same sort of errors but that comes with not having a star-studded list. We'll have to make do with what we've got. We can't afford to fade out for a quarter though (against any opposition)
• If we keep up that sort of endeavour and application we showed for 3 of the quarters tonight, we'll trouble a number of sides (mainly those outside of the top 6) Gotta be for 4 quarters though.

Edit: spelling

Edited March 5, 2015 by Macca

[HEMLOCK 39]

liked Vandenberg, newton, garlett mc Donald, frost, worried about McKenzie, toumpas, dawes, gawn,

[Damo 3,238]

Reckon that's very harsh Franky. Particularly on Garland.

McKenzie - should play League, gets it, falls forward. Always.

Jamar - Slowest AFL player, seems brainless. Every D'Land player(except 1 or 2) I bet couldnt watch that shot for goal. Didnt get a tap.

Grimes - as someone else said has never seemed strong. Not AFL level. pisses me off he always is picked.

Garland - asleep at the wheel. Ive never understood all the bouquets he has been given. Might be me.

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

ë

Yeah A bit of an oversight. He was good. He presents tirelessly all game. His best piece of play for me was when he crashed the pack and Kent roved it for a goal. Hogan was better when he pushed up to CHF as he got more clean ball. What I like is the passion he plays with. He gets angry when he doesn't take grab or misses a shot. He is determined. He will be a player. Anyone like Derrrrrrmot who expected he would come in rd 1 and kick ten was being unrealistic. He hasn't played footy in more than a year. He will hit his straps and when he does he will be hard to beat. When the supply to the forward line improves so will his score sheet

Certainly when the supply is better Hogan will be better, it was scrappy coming into him tonight.....but, the thing that is different about Hogan to or other forwards or forwards in general, is that he demands the ball and finds the ball himself. He is competitive, competitiveness the MFC has been missing for a very long time, I would love to see him and Viney in a wrestling contest.

[dazzledavey36 52,718]

That's correct - you don't understand. The coaching staff does.

Moral of the story is me and many other much rather Billy Stretch play then Matt Jones tonight.

Coaching staff obviously do team selections and let me tell sometimes they aren't always the right decision.

Tonight was one of them

[HEMLOCK 39]

Hogan will be okay but I would prefer to have freos new forward, can't remember his name

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

McKenzie - should play League, gets it, falls forward. Always.

Jamar - Slowest AFL player, seems brainless. Every D'Land player(except 1 or 2) I bet couldnt watch that shot for goal. Didnt get a tap.

Grimes - as someone else said has never seemed strong. Not AFL level. pisses me off he always is picked.

Garland - asleep at the wheel. Ive never understood all the bouquets he has been given. Might be me.

+1

[Ted Lasso 18,761]

Disagree dazzle, watched Billy train up close and while he has talent I don't think he is quite ready for senior footy, Matt Jones will fill the void while the next wave develops naturally. Billy would have only ever been sub if he had played

[dazzledavey36 52,718]

It's Demonland remember

Personally even though we have a few ravers about him, I thought some of Tyson's options tonight were ordinary, he still got the ball but didn't use it well, probably just rust

I thought we did ok for a team that had that had a few new faces that had to gell and players such as Salem playing in new positions there wasn't anybody really horrible, posters will just go for their normal targets

I did point out that Vandenberg, after chatting to him and about him with the coaches, was a good pickup,

You also did point out and raved to us that Grimes Mckenzie and Matt Jones had improved their kicking skills out of sight.

[HEMLOCK 39]

jamar is our best ruck

[Deestroy All 14,262]

I was commenting on his output in 2008 and 2010 in that thread. It's hardly pumping him up.

He sucked last year and needs to improve on tonight.

Has credits in the bank, though, for mine.

I've always been a fan (but not of last year!), but on form he doesn't make my back 6.

Jetta Frost Dunn

Salem McD Lumumba

Move the 3 talls around according to match ups.

Garland and Grimes have gone backwards whilst that 6 is moving forward. I hope calls are made to keep positions honest, rather than games on reputation.

[dworship 3,342]

said it last year Grimes no good move on confidence completely shot

Have you got any idea what a comma is?

[dazzledavey36 52,718]

Disagree dazzle, watched Billy train up close and while he has talent I don't think he is quite ready for senior footy, Matt Jones will fill the void while the next wave develops naturally. Billy would have only ever been sub if he had played

And a good taste for him as a sub. And if that was the Case i would have dropped Jones and upgrade Vandenberg to a full game. Looked so comfortable straight away.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

It's Demonland remember

Personally even though we have a few ravers about him, I thought some of Tyson's options tonight were ordinary, he still got the ball but didn't use it well, probably just rust

I thought we did ok for a team that had that had a few new faces that had to gell and players such as Salem playing in new positions there wasn't anybody really horrible, posters will just go for their normal targets

I did point out that Vandenberg, after chatting to him and about him with the coaches, was a good pickup,

The thing is, players who offer more and who have excellent abilities in other areas of their game will be let off.

You're right, Tyson did miss a few too many targets tonight. However he also did a lot right and was damaging I other areas.

There's a reason the 'same names' are brought up. Do you really believe all supporters just enjoy hanging [censored] on those particular players?

Seriously, man.

I will not raise my eyebrows at these same players. Im used to it. However, what is exciting is that all of our new recruits showed more and offered more than these 'same names' we've been talking about. Which says to me, our list is again slowly getting better.

[HEMLOCK 39]

I'd have garland over grimes at this point in time, must remember first hit out in hot conditions, will get better

[mo64 5,478]

Viv Michie needs to dye his hair blond, wear white boots and Keith Greig ankle guards. I never notice him until I see the number on his back.

[DubDee 24,306]

Do people forget that garland was an inch away from winning the bluey the year before last?

I am confident he will get his mojo back

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Moral of the story is me and many other much rather Billy Stretch play then Matt Jones tonight.

Coaching staff obviously do team selections and let me tell sometimes they aren't always the right decision.

Tonight was one of them

Did it occur to you that perhaps Stretch is on some sort of program dictated by the qualified professionals working at the club? Or it might just be the fact that the kid is light as a feather and not ready for AFL yet.

[Ted Lasso 18,761]

He looked good, but as Roos said they were going to go with strong bodies, Billy will get his chance this year I think

[Earl Hood 6,057]

Did Frost play forward? Just worrying about McQueen's left nut that is all.