You're allowed to be pessimistic and critical but at least direct it in the right places.

Garlett this year is averaging 1.8 goals per game. Rioli is averaging 1.5. Garlett's also averaging 4.8 tackles per game to Rioli's 4.2. I'm not saying Garlett is better than Rioli but why does he have to be?

As for 'a couple of goals a game', he kicked 4 against Geelong and 3 against Hawthorn and Fremantle - he's capable of hitting the scoreboard. His forward pressure is fantastic (it's not his fault the majority of the rest of our forward line is no good at it). He consistently puts himself in the right places (whether it's front and centre of marking contests, where for the last 5 years we've had no one, or out the back of packs ready to use his pace).

IMO, he's actually one of the few players who regularly puts in four quarters, even when the team isn't - you might not notice him during those kinds of games, but that's often because when the team is down a small forward doesn't get a lot of the ball. And at least the last fortnight, during which time the team has been disappointing, he's been leading the way with defensive pressure - 19 tackles in the last two weeks.

this x1000

At current pace, Garlett is on track to:

- Come very close to having his best season in terms of goals kicked

- Will exceed his highest score for a season (the behinds will push him over)

- Is set to obliterate his previous record for tackles in a season.

He also is currently second on the points kicking tally after Josh Kennedy, but last week excluded, he has been significantly better in the later games than he was early. I suspect he is in career best form. He is playing as well as any small forward in the game is at present. We found him lying in the $1 clearance bin. There's heaps to whinge about about the MFC at the moment, but if Garlett is your target then you're just looking for stuff I reckon.

Jeffy the least of my concerns. How does it go....hard to soar like an eagle.....

You're allowed to be pessimistic and critical but at least direct it in the right places.

Garlett this year is averaging 1.8 goals per game. Rioli is averaging 1.5. Garlett's also averaging 4.8 tackles per game to Rioli's 4.2. I'm not saying Garlett is better than Rioli but why does he have to be?

As for 'a couple of goals a game', he kicked 4 against Geelong and 3 against Hawthorn and Fremantle - he's capable of hitting the scoreboard. His forward pressure is fantastic (it's not his fault the majority of the rest of our forward line is no good at it). He consistently puts himself in the right places (whether it's front and centre of marking contests, where for the last 5 years we've had no one, or out the back of packs ready to use his pace).

IMO, he's actually one of the few players who regularly puts in four quarters, even when the team isn't - you might not notice him during those kinds of games, but that's often because when the team is down a small forward doesn't get a lot of the ball. And at least the last fortnight, during which time the team has been disappointing, he's been leading the way with defensive pressure - 19 tackles in the last two weeks.

Hmm good points

I will have to watch him a bit closer in future.

Maybe I am watching and waiting for Dawes to do something too much and I miss Garlett.

Amazing what I do hear at times!

In the final 5 Minutes of last weeks game in review 2 Players in particular were not in correct position given the status of play and the ball.

Apparently this is not a new situation and has been identified before

I believe the footy Dept has identified this as a crucial element to the possible overall result!

Hnmm Interesting!

Amazing what I do hear at times!

In the final 5 Minutes of last weeks game in review 2 Players in particular were not in correct position given the status of play and the ball.

Apparently this is not a new situation and has been identified before

I believe the footy Dept has identified this as a crucial element to the possible overall result!

Hnmm Interesting!

Where the hell were they Picket?

How many "crucial elements" were there inthe final 5 mins

Surely a "crucial element" to the possible overall result would have been obvious to all demonland watchers.

Would be interesting to find out who you think it was and why.

AND THEN

interesting to see who the footy Dept has identified and why.

I wasnt there and was only listening on the radio nothing stood out but I would have thought the previous 100 mins might have been crucial to the overall result I think theres more to work through than the last 5 mins

Amazing what I do hear at times!

In the final 5 Minutes of last weeks game in review 2 Players in particular were not in correct position given the status of play and the ball.

Apparently this is not a new situation and has been identified before

I believe the footy Dept has identified this as a crucial element to the possible overall result!

Hnmm Interesting!

This is where I would hope on field leadership would kick in. It's a team game - it is everybody's responsibility to make sure everything is in place, but none more so than the leaders of the club.

This is where I would hope on field leadership would kick in. It's a team game - it is everybody's responsibility to make sure everything is in place, but none more so than the leaders of the club.

I think you are right 'Nasher' and I also think it's funny how people making assumptions about us being out coached without really understanding what the plan is and what the players role in it should be.

This is where I would hope on field leadership would kick in. It's a team game - it is everybody's responsibility to make sure everything is in place, but none more so than the leaders of the club.

Sound logic Nasher, except that the two players mentioned are not in the leadership Group!

Believe or not in hindsight we may gone into this game a bit cocky and didn't turn up the intensity untill the last quarter when it was too late.

Of course - but the point is what in the hell right do our players have going into ANY game cocky? They've been a laughing stock for a decade! You don't overturn that with one win. Surely the players know what the competition thinks of them and are determined to eradicate that with YEARS if not entire CAREERS of hard nosed performances. Where is the killer instinct? The taste of blood in the water? Who is getting inside these guys heads? Why didn't the coaching panel pre-empt this when every single Melbourne supporter new what was going to happen?

I just don't get it. Even playing juniors we never wanted to let up or go into a game cocky, if we were beating a team we wanted to win by 50 or 100 points. We wanted to grind the opposition into the ground. Where is the will to do that from our players, a group of PROFESSIONAL SPORTSMEN!!!

I am no big fan of Garlett he is a one quarter a game player a worthwhile pick up but

Rioli he ain't

Rioli usually only plays a quarter or two too. Very overrated player. He's an impact player like Jeffy. Probably more talented, but they're not that far apart.

EDIT. Brilliant posts, TU and Nash.

Rioli usually only plays a quarter or two too. Very overrated player. He's an impact player like Jeffy. Probably more talented, but they're not that far apart.

EDIT. Brilliant posts, TU and Nash.

Can we swap?

Can we swap?

Jeffy also gets injured less. Rioli gets injured every four weeks.

Jeffy also gets injured less. Rioli gets injured every four weeks.

Well he would fit right in.

Oh come on, who was the spare Richmond player...and at the time they were nearly as disenchanted as Melbourne are now??

Who was the spare Collingwood player? Who was the spare Essendon player?

Essendon were just as disenchanted last week as we are now.

You can only give 100% and play cohesively when you know what you are expected to do.

When the opposition step outside the 'expected norm' the Melbourne guys don't know what to do or how to react as they are too scared to step outside the Thursday night game plan, which looked great on paper!

That's why on 'game day' Melbourne are out coached more weeks than not! All an opposition coach has to do to gain the ascendancy over Melbourne is...throw one behind the ball, pressure their half backs/mid field, force them to bomb it inside 50 and your spares sitting back will clear it and transition the ball from half back to half forward without any pressure to a forward leading up at the ball!

Stop making excuses for the players. I said many times under Bailey our platers are either the laziest or stupidest in the comp. Judging by your post above nothing has changed.

I think you are right 'Nasher' and I also think it's funny how people making assumptions about us being out coached without really understanding what the plan is and what the players role in it should be.

I think you are right 'Nasher' and I also think it's funny how people making assumptions about us being out coached without really understanding what the plan is and what the players role in it should be.

So whats the plan Rjay?So what are we people missing ? Pray tell

So whats the plan Rjay?So what are we people missing ? Pray tell

http://www.theguardi...russell-jackson

I think we're missing a lot 'jack' and I include myself in this.

The thing I do know is that it's not as simple as going man on man anymore. So if you can find a replay of the Buckley/Roos session on 360 last Monday where Buckley talks about manning up Broadbent, it gives just a glimpse of how the coaches are thinking now.

Garlett's been fantastic. Complaining that he's not Rioli is futile. Even if we got Rioli he might have gotten lazier and not had Garlett's approach. He's the sort of player we've been missing for the past 3 years, a fast small who actually has a ping at the goals and constantly applies forward pressure.

Also, he and Hogan haven't yet been goalless this season, that's quite an amazing feat for one, let alone two of our players

Garlett's been fantastic. Complaining that he's not Rioli is futile. Even if we got Rioli he might have gotten lazier and not had Garlett's approach. He's the sort of player we've been missing for the past 3 years, a fast small who actually has a ping at the goals and constantly applies forward pressure.

Also, he and Hogan haven't yet been goalless this season, that's quite an amazing feat for one, let alone two of our players

Did Hogan kick one against the Eagles? I had a feeling he kicked a poster.

Did Hogan kick one against the Eagles? I had a feeling he kicked a poster.

Kicked one in the last I'm pretty sure.

Did Hogan kick one against the Eagles? I had a feeling he kicked a poster.

He got one in the last 5 minutes when everyone had tuned out

Garlett's been fantastic. Complaining that he's not Rioli is futile. Even if we got Rioli he might have gotten lazier and not had Garlett's approach. He's the sort of player we've been missing for the past 3 years, a fast small who actually has a ping at the goals and constantly applies forward pressure.

Also, he and Hogan haven't yet been goalless this season, that's quite an amazing feat for one, let alone two of our players

Rioli also has the luxury of elite midfield delivery and mates delivering forward line pressure. If he played for us he might end up like Howe with only an occasional highlight reel cameo every other game.

This must be close to a record the Post match discussion thread is still going strong five days after the game ended.

That result sure stirred up some passion.