Leaders. It's all in the leaders.

Last week Vince and N Jones were dominant. This week?

And CB, this is for you - time to drop Dunn. Hasn't played a good enough game all year and his 'leadership' is embarrassing.

Mea culpa.

Go and give yourself a jolly good flogging Gnash!

Time to wield a large axe

OUT: Bail, M Jones , Fitzpatrick, Watts, Howe, Toumpas

IN Riley, Newton, Jamar,or Gawn, Neal Bullen, Dawes, Tyson

Edited May 30, 201510 yr by picket fence

And CB, this is for you - time to drop Dunn. Hasn't played a good enough game all year and his 'leadership' is embarrassing.

The kick in was the turning point, we had all the momentum and he gave it up with that stupid barrel attempt.

Time to wield a large axe

OUT: Bail, M Jones , Fitzpatrick, Watts, Howe, Toumpas

IN Riley, Newton, Jamar,or Gawn, Neal Bullen, Dawes, Tyson

Yeh something like that. Except I'd probably keep Toumpas in. At least he seems to be improving.

What the last five weeks have shown is that we are still a mile off the best midfields in the competition and when those sides get their tails up against us we can't stop them.

Yes there were mistakes and individual errors which can be blamed for the second quarter onslaught, but the source of the problem was the domination of Port around the ball. Boak, Ebert and Gray got on top and just ran rings around us at the stoppages and the ball was pumped forward relentlessly.

Our midfield has improved but it is still just emerging from third world and the top midfields just rip us to shreds.

We were able to stop the Dogs' run on last week because we got back on top in midfield. Same with the Suns when they charged at us in Round 1. But they were sides with middle of the road midfields. Once Port's gun midfielders got their tails up, we couldn't stop them. Same with the Hawks, Freo and Swans against us.

There's absolutely no excuse for our drop off in pressure. Going from a tight, low-scoring game where they really struggled to move the ball to an open uncontested free-flowing style which Port love all in the space of 30 minutes is just not acceptable. But until we can develop that first world midfield we will continue to get pumped by the top sides in the competition.

I won't individualise too much but a mention has to go to Jack Watts. Is it possible he has become weaker over the years? I think so. He is probably in the top 5% of players on pure skill and ability but would have to be the weakest footballer I've ever seen at AFL level. I don't say this lightly either. Unbelievable to find such a contrast in a player.

Edited May 30, 201510 yr by Scoop Junior

Yeh something like that. Except I'd probably keep Toumpas in. At least he seems to be improving.

How many possesions last quarter for him??

Come on mate, give it a rest. There were plenty of other players out there not performing today.

Its not just about today,. its the 100 games of zero effort and not trying.

He needs to retire.

How many possesions last quarter for him??

14 for the game

14 for the game

Hnmm certainly not the worst, but I don't recall a last quarter possession, How many of the 14 uncontested?

Very disappointed!!!

Once again we were good for a quarter and a half then [censored] for the rest of the game!!

Hnmm certainly not the worst, but I don't recall a last quarter possession, How many of the 14 uncontested?

[censored] if I know. Look it up

Meh.

Six or seven players are not up to it.

Simple, really.

When they decided to run, and worked out Spencer's tapping.......put on Joffa's gold jacket. Game over.

This year's trading? Mids, mids, mids....oh, did I mention mids?

Fin.

D'landers, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Edited May 30, 201510 yr by jumbo returns

PS - Bought myself a petrol chainsaw from Masters - $79!

Cuts like a beaut!!!

Note to self. Roof racks on the RR tomorrow. Pray for snow....

Time to wield a large axe

OUT: Bail, M Jones , Fitzpatrick, Watts, Howe, Toumpas

IN Riley, Newton, Jamar,or Gawn, Neal Bullen, Dawes, Tyson

Our problem is our "engine room", not our receivers and flankers.

If we're not winning the ball in midfield, it effectively puts all these guys out of the game.

And in ANY team (yes, even Hawthorn) if your midfield's getting smashed as badly as ours was, your flankers are not capable of making up for it.

Unfortunately our midfield doesn't just get beaten; it gets smashed. That's where it all begins and ends. And there's something seriously wrong there that we haven't got to the bottom of yet.

How many possesions last quarter for him??

If that last quarter alone is what we're going by, then the baulk of the team will be at casey next week.

Our problem is our "engine room", not our receivers and flankers.

If we're not winning the ball in midfield, it effectively puts all these guys out of the game.

And in ANY team (yes, even Hawthorn) if your midfield's getting smashed as badly as ours was, your flankers are not capable of making up for it.

Unfortunately our midfield doesn't just get beaten; it gets smashed. That's where it all begins and ends. And there's something seriously wrong there that we haven't got to the bottom of yet.

Not enough Grunt, knowing where to position ourselves, footy smarts and pace when required!

I am starting to think about the second half of the season. I am fearing the same gutless, dispirited winding down of the season as last year.

PS - Bought myself a petrol chainsaw from Masters - $79!

Cuts like a beaut!!!

At that price expect a Melbourne like letdown soon.

Paul Roos media confidence: "

the loss showed the diff between our best and worst." #AFLDeesPower

As a team, when we think individual - we capitulate."

: "Our best football is good ... but our talent is still building ... There is a gap no doubt."

When our players play on their man - they're up (on scoreboard).

I saw Jeff Garlett's dance but not Heritier Lumumba."

We had a lot of guys down today.

"I thought Col Garland was exceptional.

We were going to sub Fitzy, but Jetta cramped up. To look after him

We played really well last week ... But we were five or six down from round one team

"We enjoy playing here ... Result has no bearing on playing (in NT

I am starting to think about the second half of the season. I am fearing the same gutless, dispirited winding down of the season as last year.

But what about the on field team?

So much for we have improved ,we are being fed total garbage.this team is a repeat of every Melbourne side since 2006 . We have not heart no desire no pride in the club . When a first year player shows the way tries with no support says it all . They are a bunch of overpaid pre madonnas and I can see the demise of this club if this goes on. Roos was outcoached as well. The game plan is years old and will not get us any where

"Prima Donna" was what you were looking for. Sorry but tonight I can't put up with wording/grammar mistakes. I've done it for years on end and tonight I refuse. Sorry it was you.

Agree with your comments on leadership Titan and it is astonishing that Brayshaw shows the way to our 'so called' inconsistent at best leaders. Good leaders put in week in week out. Thought Col Garland was good today.

Not enough Grunt, knowing where to position ourselves, footy smarts and pace when required!

Yes, you're right, but it's in the midfield, not around the flanks.