4 minutes ago, Sylvia Saint said:

Not getting carried away with a game worth 0 Premiership points but our squad is starting to shape up nicely. Depth has improved to the point where the likes of Terlich and M.Jones (and Bail in previous years) won't be getting regular games. Heck, even Jones was pretty good today!

It's funny - I agree, yet Jones was very good today and Terlich apparently has been very impressive this pre season.  So maybe these 2 previous top 5 B & F player WILL add real depth this year.  So often players that have been around a while blossom when they go to another club. Why can't that happen without changing clubs if there is a changing of the guard, added skilled players and the team is playing better and with more confidence as they develop and learn. 

Gawns tap work has improved. 

He was dominant but actually tapping the pill to his teammates more than I've seen all last season. 

Hopefully it continues into the real season proper. 

eventhough its preseason it's nice to win especially on their turf. 

As SWYL says we need all the wins we can get  

Keep it up boys. 

Really enjoyed today's game and super impressed with Watts, Viney, Garlett, Vanders, Gawn and Kennedy. Amused reading through the posts on my return from the pub to find so many posters initially slamming Kennedy and  Bugg; they typify the attack on the ball which is going to make a big difference this year. Liked the way Kent, Harmes and M. Jones attacked the game today as well. Final eight is a Monty this year if they play like they did today!

1 hour ago, Palace Dees said:

Agreed.  Pleasantly surprised also.  He scraped into my best 5 along with Kent who hit the Port players really hard.  Coaches would have loved his game. 

FWIW - no surprises with top 3 - Viney, Gawn & Vander.  Watts unlucky to miss

That's what upset them!!

Not bad from the newbies 

Bugg 14 and 7 tackles,

Kennedy 15 and 1 goal 

Oliver 11 and 4 tackles
 

good start keep it up. 

55 minutes ago, Biffen said:

The umps missed about 10 for big Max. Should be shot.

A few to Hogan as well

52 minutes ago, nutbean said:

We are not far enough evolved to be able turn on form at will like a Hawthorn. As Dunstall said, we need to get used to winning. spot on - we need to expect to win be it a training drill, a practice match or the real season. 

That's about the only thing he said worth listening to!!

Out today and didn't see the game so just caught up on 15 pages!

Going on the posts I wondered if Viney went to sleep after running out as Captain.  Then I read the Age game review and saw this:  Jack Viney (28 touches, 11 clearances)!!  Well done Captain:  1 from 1!

The other thing I read is that we had 10 goal kickers.  That will create a few headaches for opposition backs especially if our on-ballers continue to hustle in and around the stoppages.  Keep Hogan down and others bob up!  He won't mind that - he doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting!

Should be a good atmosphere at the Family Fun Day at Luna Park tomorrow!

22 hours ago, jnrmac said:

They have nearly a full strength side including a very strong midfield. We have 2 key mids out.

They have also played a full game and its their own dung heap.

If we win it will be a tremendous victory. If we don't it will be all about how we play and whether we play for 4 quarters.

Personally I'd like to see an obvious game plan and for us to stick to that throughout the game. A strong attack on the player and the footy. And good two way running.

Finally, no injuries.

Posted this is the pre-game thread. It's a tremendous victory!

Shame about the Brayshaw knee but from all reports it is relatively minor....

Terrific win for the boys.  It's not worth any points but it will certainly lift their confidence and belief in the coming weeks.  

What impressed me the most was our pressure in the forward half.  Garlett, Kent, Kennedy and Frost are very quick and, coupled with hard working midfielders like Viney, Vanders and Tyson, we were able to pressure them into mistakes and turnovers, particularly in the second half.  If we can continue to do this we will certainly improve on the 7 wins from last year.

I was also impressed with how well we tightened up defensively after we allowed some easy goals in the first quarter.  It's good to see that Goodwin is able to make a few tweaks and changes to fix this.

Overall it's a great first up performance, now to back it up against the Dogs next week!

Toump played alright.

This could be his year.

After speaking to a lot of the players last week, I expected us to be competitive after a slow start, same as intraclub, blow the cobwebs out and settle into gsme style   if they stuck to it expected them to win   some of the comments in the early parts of the thread were pathetic  supporters?   and Matt Jones say hi

And Viney pantsed Wines.......

I enjoyed the game thoroughly but apart from that my highlight was the fact that the players ran out in proper attire and a jumper recognisably connected with the MFC.

Melbourne earnt free kicks by being first at the football. 

Tyson got several holding the balls against as he was unable to release it in the stoppage, but I thought he was very stiff as half the time he got the ball and was trying to break free to get it away from the congestion. 

Looked like we were easily opened up too easily early on, but that was usually off a turnover. We eliminated the turnovers and broke the game open in the second half with good ball movement. 

We used a hell of a lot more substitutions, due to it being our first game, obviously next game will be looking at roughly a hundred subs. 

Pederson played well in the last quarter and a half, but we really lacked an option up the ground. 

Oscar McDonald looked rattled and stayed rattled all game. 

Winning is important and so is getting game time into players which the nab focuses on. A practically full strength port Adelaide midfield got decimated by our midfield all game even if we didn't get the results in the first half, highlights the importance of Gawn 

Jack Watts high half forward is the role that makes the most sense. Played well, proved his worth. Hopefully, can bring this form with him to the regular season

Edited February 27, 20169 yr by Mad_Melbourne

Well done Mr Goodwin!

2 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

After speaking to a lot of the players last week, I expected us to be competitive after a slow start, same as intraclub, blow the cobwebs out and settle into gsme style   if they stuck to it expected them to win   some of the comments in the early parts of the thread were pathetic  supporters?   and Matt Jones say hi

Saty, I didn't even bother to read the first 22 pages of this thread but I can imagine there was some concern amongst posters.

Having a dig at them only inflames things.

It was a good win so let's just concentrate on that.

1 hour ago, AdamFarr said:

I said last season Gawn wouldn't make it unless he improved his tank. Well, he ran that game out well. If he can do that consistently, he'll be an A grader. He's so dominant.

Yes, well he's off the fags now, so should be right!

2 hours ago, Ted Fidge said:

They start at 1. Then there's 2, then 3, ... it keeps going all the way to 46.

Thanks for that 

 

It's associating the names that I hear so much about with the relevant numbers that is so challenging 

 

very small all point of order 

it doesn't actually go all the way to 46

because 18 is missing 

 

5 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

After speaking to a lot of the players last week, I expected us to be competitive after a slow start, same as intraclub, blow the cobwebs out and settle into gsme style   if they stuck to it expected them to win   some of the comments in the early parts of the thread were pathetic  supporters?   and Matt Jones say hi

The comments early in the thread reflected how Melbourne were playing.

lol this thread. 

 

I was was happy with the hit out. We're really cementing our game plan of starting games like bags of [censored], before settling in and having a go. It's not frustrating at all and really has a positive effect on my blood pressure. 

I didn't notice much, if any change to our style of game. Looked much like last year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Looks like Gawn and Viney will just improve what we've been doing with their own improvement. 

 

Oliver has it. Moves through the ball powerfully, seems to have time and options. Doesn't imagine that he does, like Tyson seems to. 

I love Dean Kent, throws his weight around. Kent and Kennedy additions will only make Garlett better and opposition defences worried. 

 

I'm not sure how Clint Biz managed to keep posting after vnDnbrg kicked that checkside goal. 

Very happy with the way Kennedy turned his game around in the second half.

Kent and Vanders are guns full stop.

Pederson is my pick for the centre half forward position as I feel he is more reliable than Dawes or Frost and can ruck.

Very encouraging gutsy fightback performance without Hogan or Salem getting a lot of it and with Vince and Jones out.

Oliver will play a lot more games than first expected as he just has that grunt about him.

Gawn will springboard us to a few more wins this season.

Viney will arrive this year as our best mid and one of the best in the league.

Petracca and Trengove up our sleeve....Weideman too once he builds up some muscle.

17 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

After speaking to a lot of the players last week, I expected us to be competitive after a slow start, same as intraclub, blow the cobwebs out and settle into gsme style   if they stuck to it expected them to win   some of the comments in the early parts of the thread were pathetic  supporters?   and Matt Jones say hi

Give it a rest mate.

Just enjoy the win instead of trying to suck other posters into your little tussle's.

The two players who I wasn't sure about best 22 made a solid case today.

James Harmes looked like he belonged and made good decisions.

Ben Kennedy was good and won the 50-50.

Both Harmes and Kennedy set up/involved in MFC good passages of play.

Watching the replay on Fox Footy now.