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

[Macca 16,972]

When it comes to footy I'm pretty firmly in the play good footy and the stats will follow column, but that's interesting stuff.

I see Lumumba as a running outside type, but there's still contests and therefore contested possessions to be had away from the packs.

The centre clearances and clearance numbers in general do lend me to favouring the 2 rucks set up.

I also did like Garlett's burst from a centre stoppage as a change up as well. Obviously it comes down to the form and fitness of the best guys, but overall I think we have an ok amount of solid, mature clearance winners now. Especially if Jamar is fit I don't think we should be embarrassed at the contest like we were so often at the worst times.

Disposal efficiency and how to move the ball with the right amount of risk and reward is probably where the success is on the line. Chipping it around half back constantly won't cut it this year. Work rate, foot skills, marking, smarts to get in the right spots, structure, team orientated play, speed. So many variables involved in moving the ball fluently from one end to the other these days.

Roos and Lyon led teams are renowned as teams that create stoppages and then in turn, win the clearances. I'm supposing that if the whole list is well drilled with this way of thinking, then it stands to reason that those teams should end up being better at that aspect of footy than those teams who play a vastly different or somewhat different style.

And because so many players congregate around the stoppages these days, a clearance won in that situation can often lead to a score (as long as the ball movement is crisp) As a way of playing the sport, it makes perfect sense if done well.

Many footy fans describe it as ugly footy but with these 2 coaches, it's all about effectiveness and finding a way to win ... where we need to improve dramatically is with our ball movement once we win the ball (that's not necessarily a reflection on tonight's game, more so an overall objective)

[Yossarian 1,820]

The good:

- Jonesy: I reckon most people would throw this down as a given by now, but when was the last time we had a player of his class that we knew would give us an a-grade, if not marquee level game, week in week out? He may not be a star of the competition, but he is the heart and soul of this team.
- Newton: Stoked to see his preseason form show against a top 4 level team. I expected to see him have a dip and give us something on the inside, but did not expect his level of class. Is going to be a gun for us.
- Van den berg... Bloody hell... This guy can can find a football! On top of that, he was damaging with it! Anyone with dream team is mad not to throw this guy in.
- Hoges: First game back and played like he was born for it. Wasn't a superstar on return, but played his role and played it well. Was consistently creating contests the whole night and even if he never improved, which he will, could carve out a respectable career at the level he played at tonight.
- Lamumba: huge presence. Wasn't the best I've seen him play, but brought so much to the team just by being there.
- McDonald and Frost: Could not ask for better pillars in defence.
- Tyson: forgot to mention him because I was gonna throw him in with Jonesy. All class. Not much to say except that this guy is a gun.
- Etc: Offence was much better. Generally impressed with the younger lads' endeavour. Showed a more offensive side of the game.
Dawes: One. Grab.

The bad:

- Grimesy: Love the guy, but is so unreliable at the moment. Hope this improves with more time to focus on his own game.
- Kicking long to Garlett: let him crumb. The amount of time we kicked long to a contest between Garlett and one or two of Freo's taller defenders was just silly.
- Dunny: Nowhere near last year's standard.

There's probably more, but I mainly wanted to focus on the positives anyway. A number of other players showed good signs and bad.

Overall, we've noticeably improved from last year. All the new recruits added to the team and I think losing Frawley has actually made us better.

The most disappointing thing was that we were outclassed.

We looked well coached, had a good balance of offense and defence etc, but we were simply outclassed by Freo. Vince would've helped and if Watts is improving his contested game, then he would've been of benefit as well.

From what I can read into a single NAB cup game, we have finally turned the corner and are reaching towards mediocrity. We won't make the eight, but we will be in the lower echelon of that mix.

Bring on next week.

Edit: First sentence didn't make much sense after I got moderated in the FACE

Edited March 5, 2015 by Yossarian

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

For anyone who was at the game.

Who played on Walters and Ballantyne. Hardly sighted by their standards. Mayne either. I reckon it had to be Dunn, McKenzie, Jetta, Grimes, Toumpas, Salem, Garland and Jones M in.

Bail ran with Walters quite a bit. Jetta had Ballaz first half. Grimes and McKenzie seemed to take over second half.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

For anyone who was at the game.

Who played on Walters and Ballantyne.

Jetta told them not to go near the ball.

[P-man 13,366]

Jones and Tyson did their thing, but I would like to see them use the ball a little better than they did tonight. Tyson especially just needs to show a bit more composure at times.

He is an outright gun in the contest though. His second and third efforts and his evasiveness are a joy to watch.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Well alright then, Demonland.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

A few stats worth noting ...

• We nearly broke even in clearances (28-31) but we did win the centre bounce clearances 10-5
• Inside 50's in our favour (43-37)
• We won the tackle count 67-49 (although that stat can sometimes be misleading)
• Clangers 44-36 in our favour
• Lachie Neale had 9 clearances for them whilst our best was Tyson with 5 (N Jones & Cross both had 4 each)
• Our 4 leading uncontested possession winners were Lumumba (14) N Jones (13) Tyson (11) and Cross (11) ... no real surprises there but those 4 were the best at creating options.
• N Jones (10) and Tyson (9) led the way with the contested possession count but we need a half a dozen of our players around the double figures mark in order for the team to win games consistently.

The Centre clearances count of 10 to 5 was in stark contrast to previous Docker encounters where they seemed to win the centre clearance 9 times out of 10. Very encouraging indeed.

[CBDees 3,167]

The first ten minutes of this game were the best time that I have had at the pub for a long time, the first goal from Newton being the highlight of the night!

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

I attended this game( Thanks a lot to fellow Demonlander EthanTremblay) and was very much impressed with what I saw. Fremantle oval provided a pleasant setting and the ground looked in great condition.

I was mainly focussing on our new recruits performances. What did please me was the attack on the opponent and on the ball. We were relentless. Freo had to earn this win. I was thrilled with the performances of Sam Frost, Harry, Van den Berg and Hogan. Frost and Van den berg were fast, fearless and fantastic. What great pick ups. Hogan could have been awarded a couple of frees as he was being mauled by his immediate opponent. He was also fearless attacking the ball.

Mention has been made of Newton and Kent and how well they played. It must have been up the other end for I did not notice them. This does not mean they did not play well however. Garlett didn't win a lot of the ball but was chasing and tackling well. He will be fine. Overall, a big improvement on last season.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

well I had a great time tonight up until I started to read some comments ==fair dinkum did any of you keyboard warriors go to the game

I did and with me was a solid card carrying still playing good footy MFC member

we both were thrilled at the effort .

and I tell you why

MFC has got better although a few mistakes cost us

we are better in many ways like

our tackling stuck

our closing chasing speed is much improved

our in and under is stronger

our field kicking is much improved NOR do we second guess were its going --we have confidence in the team AND don't play favorites like a few years ago

all new personnel showed plenty

happy to talk about the good and bad

Well spoken mate. I agree with all of this. Particularly the tackles sticking and chasing speed.

[jnrmac 20,091]

Posted 24 February 2015 - 04:03 AM

Trengove

King

Spencer

Grimes

M Jones

Toumpas

Gawn

Riley

McKenzie

Terlich

Fitzpatrick

Jamar (retired)

Cross (retired)

Garland

Will all be gone within 2 years. I doubt Trengove will play again.

Thanks Happy. Someone stole blanket today did they?

[Demonland 72,215]

Well, the first game's over and the cobwebs are being removed - now discuss the fallout on the match review page - NET GAIN IN THE WEST