31 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Yeah I WAS at the game and I'll stand bu my opinion! I thought apart from those two misses he was very solid!

Not often that I agree with you Picket Fence but I'm of a similar opinion. Even though he had a frustrating night he still found other ways to positively impact the team. 

Really needs to work on his set shot routine though, it clearly is not fluid. 

48 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

Yes it wasn't Hoges night and that's not surprising given that Rance would have been fired up to play on him after Hoges torched him last season. But the good thing was that Hoges didn't sulk, didn't stop running and worked hard even though he was pretty ineffectual. But sometimes when you have the best player on the opposition on you, you have to just accept that you have a role to play, even if that means it's not going to be your night. It's a team game after all and I don't recall Warren Tredrea dominating the 2004 grand final, even though he was Port's best player for the whole year.

I don't think Rance beat him though. He was getting the footy but didn't use it well when he did. He did compete well though. 

Maybe I am being too hard on Hogan, it was definitely an off night. The two or three turnovers stuck out though and his decision making seemed off. Seems he tries to find the perfect option instead of the first option too often though.  

I feel many of you have forgotten the great debt of gratitude we collectively owe to Michael Malthouse.

 

Surely there's a members bar somewhere we can name after him.

A few observations

• For the 3rd game in a row we didn't have a poor player ... even those who didn't impact the stat sheet played their part.
• Our teamwork and spread was a highlight - mistakes occurred occasionally but we're a work in progress.
• The players are running for each other and all our players are looking to bring their teammates into the game.
• Our clearance work (starting with Gawn) is a step up from what we've previously seen - the systems are working well.
• We're far more direct and our kicking to position has improved to a large degree.
• Our forwards are fighting for the front position and we weren't caught out playing from behind very often
• We're first in for the ball and the teamwork in close is coming together ... the final release was gratifying to see and it happened quite a lot.
• Our kicking for goal was another highlight ... you'd take 20.9 in a game like this in a heartbeat.
• 2 of our 'boom' recruits (Hogan & Brayshaw) had quiet nights (but weren't poor) yet we seemingly didn't need them to be influential ... and the other boom recruits (Petracca, Oliver & Trengove*) are waiting in the wings.  Augurs well for the future.
• We've toughened up and are much harder at the contest and the ball - even the new blokes.
• Another 4 quarter effort ... every time we were challenged, we responded.

All in all, a very satisfying win.  Bring on the Saints.

*Trengove could be seen as a 'new' recruit and he is a former no.2 draft pick.

3 hours ago, pinkshark said:

ridiculous comment

Brayshaw with only 63% TOG, he'll be the first to go if either Oliver, Petracca or ANB come in. 

2 hours ago, Buzzy said:

Not good.  Looks well down on confidence and zip.  That error where he didn't commit to the mark, then got caught holding the ball was one he won't want to watch on the replay.

Tyson on the other hand... He was to be my designated whipping boy for the season and goddamnit he's become one of our best.

Gee his first goal was alright though wasn't it??..set the tone for the match I thought......

I love it when the 'G is lit up like this. Fortress Melbourne:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/alex-rance-reported-for-striking-melbourne-star-jack-watts-in-the-head/news-story/52ac193d6b3ace208288474389677243

Two things i especially like about that article.  

1.  The title says Melbourne Star, Jack Watts (my emphasis).  At last he is receiving due praise.  

2.  The tweet references to Rance's hit as Dog Act, Cowardly, Weak, Ordinary.  Not even Hardwick defended him.  

No longer can Jack be bullied or cowed. He answered Rance in the best way possible: a goal and then in his face about it...just to finish off the serve he was given by the terrier, Viney! 

Extra kudos for Watts - i read a post game review that said he had back problems during the warm up but played on regardless.  That's toughness.  As for Rance, he is just a pea hearted, sore loser.

Suprised noone has mentioned Morris throwing his head backwards when he got tackled around the waist in Richmond's forward fifty.

I absolutely hate seeing this and I went mental at the ground when I saw it happen. Players should get a warning and if it happens again suspended for a week. 

5 hours ago, Macca said:

A few observations

• For the 3rd game in a row we didn't have a poor player ... even those who didn't impact the stat sheet played their part.
• Our teamwork and spread was a highlight - mistakes occurred occasionally but we're a work in progress.
• The players are running for each other and all our players are looking to bring their teammates into the game.
• Our clearance work (starting with Gawn) is a step up from what we've previously seen - the systems are working well.
• We're far more direct and our kicking to position has improved to a large degree.
• Our forwards are fighting for the front position and we weren't caught out playing from behind very often
• We're first in for the ball and the teamwork in close is coming together ... the final release was gratifying to see and it happened quite a lot.
• Our kicking for goal was another highlight ... you'd take 20.9 in a game like this in a heartbeat.
• 2 of our 'boom' recruits (Hogan & Brayshaw) had quiet nights (but weren't poor) yet we seemingly didn't need them to be influential ... and the other boom recruits (Petracca, Oliver & Trengove*) are waiting in the wings.  Augurs well for the future.
• We've toughened up and are much harder at the contest and the ball - even the new blokes.
• Another 4 quarter effort ... every time we were challenged, we responded.

All in all, a very satisfying win.  Bring on the Saints.

*Trengove could be seen as a 'new' recruit and he is a former no.2 draft pick.

And Richmond are gone.

1 minute ago, juzzk1d said:

Suprised noone has mentioned Morris throwing his head backwards when he got tackled around the waist in Richmond's forward fifty.

When that happened a Richmond supporter near me was going off his head because it wasn't paid a free kick. As soon as the replay showed Morris staged everyone turned and laughed at the supporter, in fairness he took it well.

I'm only getting a chance to look over this now, didn't get home from the ground til 12:15 last night.

Viney is a jet,

Garlett brings me double pleasure, please he kicked four and was great and the fact I then get to remind all the carlscum supporters I know that he use to play for them.

Rance is a fIog of the highest order, so much for being a good "Christian"...FIog!!!

Tmac markings was fantastic but once again his kicking and decision making was absolutely deplorable. The coaches really need to explain to him he is not a good kick. He sure as [censored] doesn't realise it.

Hogans kicking was poorish tonight too.

Tyson played a rippa, Kent was bloody good, Pedo took some great marks.

Gawn is heading towards being elite at warp speed.

Watts was fantastic again. 

How good is it that Jones and Vince can play solid games possession wise and we had players to cover and cover well. Jones will love the fact that Viney will cop the closer attention sooner rather than later.

7 hours ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

 

I just get the feeling that Harmes is going to play a solid 200+ games for us.  He kind of reminds me of Junior, not so much in the way he plays as the attitude. 

What I liked of Hunt tonight was that he used that pace in little bursts.  We haven't seen him blitzing down the wing yet, but he's getting the hang of taking a few steps flat out to make a space in which to work.  Also his closing speed no a couple of those spoils was exceptional.

And he's clever with sudden change of direction, in the RIGHT direction!

11 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I'm only getting a chance to look over this now, didn't get home from the ground til 12:15 last night.

Viney is a jet,

Garlett brings me double pleasure, please he kicked four and was great and the fact I then get to remind all the carlscum supporters I know that he use to play for them.

Rance is a fIog of the highest order, so much for being a good "Christian"...FIog!!!

Tmac markings was fantastic but once again his kicking and decision making was absolutely deplorable. The coaches really need to explain to him he is not a good kick. He sure as [censored] doesn't realise it.

Hogans kicking was poorish tonight too.

Tyson played a rippa, Kent was bloody good, Pedo took some great marks.

Gawn is heading towards being elite at warp speed.

Watts was fantastic again. 

How good is it that Jones and Vince can play solid games possession wise and we had players to cover and cover well. Jones will love the fact that Viney will cop the closer attention sooner rather than later.

Someone needs to take Hogan aside and tell him to do a more normal run up to a set shot kick for goal than his current chicken run. He's young enough to change. When I've seen him do a proper run up like most other forwards he is accurate. I know that West coast have another chicken- runner but it's rare that this is successful and Hogan has plenty of years ahead of him to learn.

The pre-game service was all class, very proud of how Melbourne and Richmond have done this the past two years.

Sadly, I wasn't surprised to hear Channel Seven cut short the Last Post to go to an ad, sums them up perfectly.

9 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

The pre game service was all class, very proud of how Melbourne and Richmond have done this on the past two years.

Sadly, I wasn't surprised to hear Channel Seven cut short the Last Post to go to an ad, sums them up perfectly.

Typical channel 7. People need to lose their job over that decision. The AFL should fine them for bringing the game into disrepute.

The replay just started on Fox.

6 hours ago, Seraph said:

Brayshaw with only 63% TOG, he'll be the first to go if either Oliver, Petracca or ANB come in. 

maybe, maybe not, Im not an expert.  I was just stating that 'way off the pace' was ridiculous.  His possessions were important, often composed.  He is a classy player who will never be 'way off the pace'

I just can't believe where this new "goal on demand" game came from. Richmond wearn't too bad but our ability to kick goals as required to snuff out multiple shifts in momentum against us is a revelation. Done it three games in a row. That Essendon loss may be trully the cliche "loss we had  to have" to wipe out a decade of losers mindset. 

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

The replay just started on Fox.

I hope we can get up for a win!

9 hours ago, Buzzy said:

Not good.  Looks well down on confidence and zip.  That error where he didn't commit to the mark, then got caught holding the ball was one he won't want to watch on the replay.

Tyson on the other hand... He was to be my designated whipping boy for the season and goddamnit he's become one of our best.

Holy Moly, an error! The kid has lost it.  

7 minutes ago, pinkshark said:

Holy Moly, an error! The kid has lost it.  

Great avatar pinkshark

Loved Roos press conference last night and loved that they gave Hardwick, Roos left over gatorade. Garlett kicked four but gave way just as many with handballs into the goal square. Hardwick's acknowledgement of Gawn's first half was great to hear from an opposition coach.

Just watching the replay,Bugg is a master of psychological warfare.