Post Match Discussion - Round 15

[Sir Why You Little 34,599]

I wanna see agression, big bumps, bone crunching tackles, footy often comes down to who wants to win more

"Failure requires no preparation"

Anyone can lose

Only those who work hard shall prevail....

[drdrake 3,038]

Spot on.

I am genuinely suprised that this fragile state of mind still permeates through the club with PJ as CEO.

But it does. People still hope someone else will do the hard work when the heat is on....'

I don't buy into this fragile state of mind, but the rest of your statement is spot on, to many want someone else to make it happen.

On another note, The heat is on Howe but his other mate that hasn't signed isn't much better. Garland is woeful and has been for two years

[old dee 22,928]

I don't buy into this fragile state of mind, but the rest of your statement is spot on, to many want someone else to make it happen.

On another note, The heat is on Howe but his other mate that hasn't signed isn't much better. Garland is woeful and has been for two years

The will both be elsewhere in 2016 dr so you will only have to worry about them once or twice a year.

[praha 10,287]

Our forward line is excellent on paper only.

Really, all areas of the field have good quality. Our midfield has improved from N Jones, M Jones, Viney, Terlich and Nicholson in 2012, to Jones, Vince, Cross, Viney, Brayshaw, VB, Gawn, Tyson.

Backline is steady but erratic.

Forward of Garlett, Hogan, Howe, Dawes, it's a perfect combination of heigh, pace and marking capacity that we don't take advantage of.

This "team" has a great collection of individuals. But as a collective, it is not a good team.

[Slartibartfast 15,817]

I've not read any of the thread as I fear it involved a lot of emotion and some less than logical thinking. Understandable because I would have been the same shortly after the performance.

I'm disappointed at the loss but not our progress. We have "held up" against all teams in our "zone" this year. We have beaten two in the top 8 and Geelong at Geelong. Our progress is clear but we have a young team subject to significant differences in output from week to week as well as the vagaries of form which all teams suffer from.

We have had two really disappointing losses. Essendon and Saints. They were disappointing because we had chances to win and should have taken them. But from where I sit whether we won by 2 points against the Saints or lost by 2 doesn't matter. I went hoping to win by 40 points to show we had moves out of the "bottom" bracket. Same principle with Essendon. But we are still there with a group of about 6 other teams.

But against Essendon we controlled the majority of the game, we had 25 scoring shots (our average last year was 17.5 per game and this year is 20.5) and whilst we lost we were clearly the better team. The number of scores against Essendon were more than our best scoring shot number in 2014.

Whilst I would have preferred to win more games I'm happy with how we are tracking as a whole. We have clear improvers on the list and those that need to go are becoming more apparent. Whilst I'm far from agreeing with all Roos does there is no doubt our best is good, the club is no longer an undesirable destination (that isn't saying we are "first choice") and we are generally competitive with teams other than the top 4 or 5. And I think we have a depth of talented youngsters not many others have and that under the guidance of the best development group we've ever had we can look forward to some joy in the next few years.

Having said that I'm sick to death of losing and the longer it goes the more difficult it becomes.

[Sir Why You Little 34,599]

I don't buy into this fragile state of mind, but the rest of your statement is spot on, to many want someone else to make it happen.

Selfish or fragile state of mind

Same result

It is the exact opposite of Roosy's Swans

So i am genuinely suprised it still exists

We are not a TEAM yet and we should be

At least Casey are winning regularly.

[old dee 22,928]

Selfish or fragile state of mind

Same result

It is the exact opposite of Roosy's Swans

So i am genuinely suprised it still exists

We are not a TEAM yet and we should be

At least Casey are winning regularly.

Sir WYL You are ignoring the fact that we are still way behind on skill.

Our list does not have the require average skill level to win most games.

There is still a number of players to be replaced before that overall skill level rises to a point where are a good side.

No amount of effort in the final analysis can compensate for a serious skill shortage.

[Scipio 5,868]

I wanna see agression, big bumps, bone crunching tackles, footy often comes down to who wants to win more

I'd have to say at this point, my concerns are more around hitting up targets and being smart with the ball once we have it. The things you mentioned haven't been as much of a problem for us so far this year.

[Fork 'em 6,525]

I wanna see agression, big bumps, bone crunching tackles, footy often comes down to who wants to win more

Thats what I'm talking about.

Throw in some Sam Mitchell corkies and Taylor Adam knees to the head and I'll be wrapped.

I want some forken mongrel out there !

Last year they spread Pederson nose all over his face and we did forken nothing.

Nothing but crawled into our holes.

Weak as pizz.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Fork 'em

[old dee 22,928]

Thats what I'm talking about.

Throw in some Sam Mitchell corkies and Taylor Adam knees to the head and I'll be wrapped.

I want some forken mongrel out there !

I suggest you do not hold your breath Fork 'em

[Ethan Tremblay 28,434]

The only real players with a bit of mongrel are Viney and Vanders. I have high hopes for Frost and Kent is this department as well.

Unfortunately I think there's different rules for Fyfe and Mitchell compared to players from less successful clubs.

[Soidee 1,496]

Well folks it's July again......we are stuck on 4 wins since starting in April. Nobody who cares about the Dees are surprised we still languish in the bottom 4 of the competition.

This is the point of the season that the MFC becomes irrelevant to the competition because we are where everybody expected us to be.

The loss to Essendon could of elevated this club out of the bottom 4 and kept some light on us as a club, but noooooo that's too much to expect......once again the fragility of some on our list buckled to a team under extreme pressure.

Let's call it now......this team are and continue to be poorly led by its leadership group when it counts. This team are weak minded and don't appear to have any killer instinct when it counts.

This team have everything at their disposal in the football department and led by a very very experienced coaching group.

Just pause for a second and think what Lyon, Neitz and Schwartz at the Junction oval compared to what the current list have.

Yes it's July 2015 and I'm guessing most MFC supporters are once again not enjoying their football. We are all sick to death of losing and reaching July where we as a club become irrelevant.

[Fork 'em 6,525]

There is still a number of players to be replaced before that overall skill level rises to a point where are a good side.

No amount of effort in the final analysis can compensate for a serious skill shortage.

Relentless pressure sure helps old fella.

Make them panic when they have the ball.

John Northey 101.

[Fork 'em 6,525]

Well folks it's July again......we are stuck on 4 wins since starting in April. Nobody who cares about the Dees are surprised we still languish in the bottom 4 of the competition.

This is the point of the season that the MFC becomes irrelevant to the competition because we are where everybody expected us to be.

The loss to Essendon could of elevated this club out of the bottom 4 and kept some light on us as a club, but noooooo that's too much to expect......once again the fragility of some on our list buckled to a team under extreme pressure.

Let's call it now......this team are and continue to be poorly led by its leadership group when it counts. This team are weak minded and don't appear to have any killer instinct when it counts.

This team have everything at their disposal in the football department and led by a very very experienced coaching group.

Just pause for a second and think what Lyon, Neitz and Schwartz at the Junction oval compared to what the current list have.

Yes it's July 2015 and I'm guessing most MFC supporters are once again not enjoying their football. We are all sick to death of losing and reaching July where we as a club become irrelevant.

Pretty much spot on.

[John Crow Batty 8,258]

Our wins this year.

GC. The worst team in the competition earlier in the year. Should be a top 8 side but internal issues and a shock coach replacement have ruined their season. Have improved in recent weeks and no longer easy beats.

Richmond. Played them at ther lowest point of the season during a period where their form was bad and experiencing a crisis in confidence. Got their game back on track and a chance for top 4.

Bulldogs. Came to play us with no respect. If they were a top side they could have bluffed a win like Hawthorn and WC do who never show us respect. Where we both started the season about equals they have now surged miles ahead of us and are genuine finals contenders.

Geelong. Not as good a as they used to be but the arrogance is still there. They showed us no respect and were distracted by the Enright cellebrations. On previous form an average performance with minimal effort would have blown us away. Likely to miss the finals for the first time since 2007. Still, this game was our best for a long time but we only win games when the opposition let us.

If my membership was not on automatic roll over, joining up again would be the easiest thing for me to forget.

Edited July 13, 2015 by america de cali

[Deeoldfart 7,778]

I've been in the 'clutches' of the Melbourne Football Club for all of my life, and I can't escape that, but bloody Hell, there are times when I wish I could!!

[Fat Tony 4,437]

There is way too much doom and gloom on here today. We lost due to our poor goal kicking and good goal kicking by Essendon. The wet conditions also played a part in keeping Essendon in the game.

We are getting better and our midfield is starting to take shape. Gawn has come on significantly in the last month and the ruck has gone from a big weakness to a possible long-term strength. Brayshaw and Vandenberg look like they will be at least 150 gamers. Watts has had his best month of footy and is finally showing some intensity.

I also think we have been badly impacted by injuries this year, particularly in players who looked like they might show a great deal of improvement, with Petracca, Frost, Salem, Viney and Kent missing a lot of games.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Fat Tony

[rjay 23,927]

Our forward line is excellent on paper only.

Our forward line looks mediocre on paper to me.

Hogan is the only bright light with flashes of brilliance from Jeff...

Very average and it's a big part of why we lost the last 2 games

[old dee 22,928]

There is way too much doom and gloom on here today. We lost due to our poor goal kicking and good goal kicking by Essendon. The wet conditions also played a part in keeping Essendon in the game.

We are getting better and our midfield is starting to take shape. Gawn has come on significantly in the last month and the ruck has gone from a big weakness to a possible long-term strength. Brayshaw and Vandenberg look like they will be at least 150 gamers. Watts has had his best month of footy and is finally showing some intensity.

I also think we have been badly impacted by injuries this year, particularly in players who looked like they might show a great deal of improvement, with Petracca, Frost, Salem, Viney and Kent missing a lot of games.

We said the same against the Pies.

There is always an excuse, the only one not trotted out so far this week is blaming the umps.

The real position is we are still far from good enough

They had just as many injuries FT

Edited July 13, 2015 by old dee

[hemingway 7,597]

Sure the kicking for goal was inept but it was the lack of intent or an inability or unwillingness to take the game on at any stage of the match which really got me down.

It is so frustrating watching the lack of hard and sustained running from the team. Most of the day players kicked long to a pack. The defender kicking out very rarely had anyone to kick to as no-one lead or ran into space. No-one tried to create space.There was no risk taking, players regularly booted the ball along either wing. The forwards also seemed glued to their opponent. We either had no-one up forward as players ran down the ground to cover opponents or forwards seemed happy to lurk around in a congested forward line and 70% of the time were easily covered by their opponents. Not sure how the coaches ever thought we were going to kick a winning score. Essendon were not much better although they had a forward that was prepared to lead and provide a target with the added bonus that he had his kicking boots on. Despite the poor kicking for goal, the Bombers deserved the win. We did not.

[loges 6,097]

Sure the kicking for goal was inept but it was the lack of intent or an inability or unwillingness to take the game on at any stage of the match which really got me down.

It is so frustrating watching the lack of hard and sustained running from the team. Most of the day players kicked long to a pack. The defender kicking out very rarely had anyone to kick to as no-one lead or ran into space. No-one tried to create space.There was no risk taking, players regularly booted the ball along either wing. The forwards also seemed glued to their opponent. We either had no-one up forward as players ran down the ground to cover opponents or forwards seemed happy to lurk around in a congested forward line and 70% of the time were easily covered by their opponents. Not sure how the coaches ever thought we were going to kick a winning score. Essendon were not much better although they had a forward that was prepared to lead and provide a target with the added bonus that he had his kicking boots on. Despite the poor kicking for goal, the Bombers deserved the win. We did nP

Pretty much agree with everything, although I did think we tried to take the game on in the last quarter. But why wait until then ?

[Soidee 1,496]

What the hell is Dawes giving us? He can't take a grab and is not a reliable kick.

Why not bring in pencil and leave him in the goal square .....he can take a grab

[drdrake 3,038]

Pretty much agree with everything, although I did think we tried to take the game on in the last quarter. But why wait until then ?

Agree, at some stage you need to give yourself a chance to win the game, I said this on Saturday both teams played not to lose rather than trying to win. It was two teams scared to take the game on, the issue is once we go into that mindset we lose, i do blame that on the coaching staff, our players looked beaten early, our ability allowed us to claw back but even in the first half Essendon looked to have us covered, until we gave in during the 3rd which every team expects will happen when they play Melbourne, all you need to do is stick with them then they will open the window for you to win the match

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

I noticed that WC didn't seem to be affected by playing in NT last week.

We just must be a special case!

yes have to agree, but West Coast are older and more experienced. Our young brigade in particular seemed to be out of sorts...

[hemingway 7,597]

What the hell is Dawes giving us? He can't take a grab and is not a reliable kick.

Why not bring in pencil and leave him in the goal square .....he can take a grab

Dawes is not giving us much. His inability to take a contested and even uncontested overhead mark is astounding. How can an AFL player not know how to take an overhead mark. Both hands up, flat palms like he is playing volleyball.