Probably wouldn't have lost the lead if RIley and Newton were playing and Bail and M Jones weren't

Garbage. Why does everyone automatically think they are the problem? Are you even watching?

The problem is that Port were playing cautious low confidence footy. We gave them a sniff, and now their confidence is back. We can reset all we like, but it's out of our hands now, a rout is on its way, and in the space of 8 minutes, Port are back in the season.

Rubbish.

The Dogs piled on a heap of goals last week amd we fought back to win by 39 points.

Are you channelling old dee?

Edited May 30, 201510 yr by McQueen

Yeah, Watts is really not going to make it.

He found a way to give the ball back to them when he just needed to keep his head down and work.

He's cooked.

Roos' big challenge to get some confidence and flare into a now dispirited group

I live in hope.

Garbage. Why does everyone automatically think they are the problem? Are you even watching?

Sorry, I forgot Watts too.

Vince, Lumumba, Jones and others all had good firsts and fell out of the game. Just 54 possessions in that quarter, nowhere near good enough.

Matt Jones 2 disposals

Bail 2 disposals

Howe 1 disposal

I need say no more.

At least one of those will be Viney shortly.

I just hope the players don't drop their heads as completely as some of the posters on here.

2 goals down at half time, the difference being a disasterous 15 minutes going into half time.

Getting a lock onto Ebert would help a lot, too.

This is my read to half time. Melbourne owned them well into first half. Umpires then kicked in with debatable frees in Port's favour. Lead dissolved in a flash. MFC then looked like knee jerk losers. Port started to look like AFL/SANFL elites. Didn't think anyone on our team had suddenly looked like a dud. Started to think about what would turn the tide, possession, Howe screamer, Watts inspiration, Spencer grab, Jones burst, Garlett brilliance, Hogan free kick.... could go on but none of it happened. At half time Port would be feeling comfortable. That is to our advantage.

yes - it is only 8 minutes out of a total 100 - and we get time-out to reconfigure. Put away your razors, show a little of the toughness you want to see in the players!

Lynden Dunn happened.

I agree the timing and decision was woeful and not sure why he does it, except if the game is beyond losing and he can spot a 2 on 1 advantage or something up the middle.

But.... our midfield is the problem yet again. Just can't get their hands on the footy and hang onto it once the momentum shifts. Nothing out of the middle for us in the second half of that 2nd quarter to help stop their momentum.

The mechano man does the odd torp too but he doesn't get lambasted for it as Essendrug's midfield rarely allows such massive momentum shifts (by losing the midfield contest so abysmally for 10 minutes plus at a time). Apart from Viney, who is mostly always injured or coming back from injury, and Jonesy (our only player ranked in the top 100 in the AFL ratings) we just don't have enough quality/animal extractors (yet) to prevent a turnaround massacre in the midfield. Not saying some wont become that (Vanders/Vince/Brayshaw) but at this point we are way off most teams (outside of the bottom 4) in this critical part of the ground.

Their good players' started finding the ball, and our usual suspects all decided to kick it in.

Howe, Bail, Jones, Watts, etc etc.

It's now official Jesse is a gorilla and will lead us for the next 10 years.

This next half will be a good indicator of how far we have come - a chance to show some G & D and fight back.

I fear the damage is done... Port were all over the shop, playing conservative footy, no confidence.. All turned in that 10 minutes, can't see us getting back into the game now Port have their tails up

The problem is that Port were playing cautious low confidence footy. We gave them a sniff, and now their confidence is back. We can reset all we like, but it's out of our hands now, a rout is on its way, and in the space of 8 minutes, Port are back in the season.

And if we do win, what will you say then?

Jones had 11 in the first quarter. Just 3 in the second.

Why is it that we can't win when he isn't firing?

Sorry, I forgot Watts too.

Howe, Garland, Cross, Dunn, Lumumba, Jones etc. How about we start with the guys who should be actually leading the way.

Edit: Vince, too.

Edited May 30, 201510 yr by Undeeterred

At half time Port would be feeling comfortable. That is to our advantage.

Surely you are joking. Our players just conceded at 32 point turn around in half a quarter. Their confidence is low enough as it is, how do you think it will be now?

I fear the damage is done... Port were all over the shop, playing conservative footy, no confidence.. All turned in that 10 minutes, can't see us getting back into the game now Port have their tails up

All I'm hoping for is a competitive 2nd half. I don't want another blow out, like GWS.

The worst part of our club at the moment are the selectors - they are losing us games.

All I'll say is we should proceed with a bit more caution when changing a winning team. We could've used Riley even if as sub again

Melbourne haven't done anything for the last hour so we should be fresh for the second half.

Once again our senior guys who are supposed to lead and calm things down are the same ones stuffing it up!! 7 unanswered goals is a disgrace. When the hell are we going to have leaders who can settle this type of run on.

As for Howe....another cameo last week and now back to his usual putrid efforts.

Spare man in defence when we have the breeze...

You're fucken kidding me!

Shocking last ten minutes, but faith in Roos will have got their heads level in the break

Mate, that is the worst hyperbole of the thread yet.

We'll see.

Matt Jones loves giving away stupid free kicks.