POST MATCH DISCUSSION - Round 2

[ILLDieADemon 804]

It would have been boring to watch if we won it easily. 

We would have rolled over in the third and lost that game last year so good on the boys to keep at it and come away with a win. 

[poita 3,573]

Shocking and frustrating game, redeemed only by the fact that we won. We would have (and did) lose that game last year, so it is encouraging that we are now a side that can play badly and still win. It is incredible that the team could play a certain brand of football so well one week, and then completely go away from that the next week. And there was no reason for it, we controlled the game in the first quarter but absolutely refused to move the ball quickly and efficiently and give our forwards a chance to compete one out.

Gawn was huge when the game was in the balance, both McDonalds were excellent, Jones was fantastic. I'm not particularly a Jetta fan but he was very good today. Salem was great, Garlett's touches were huge. Oliver's effort is massive, but he needs to kick the ball more rather than just drawing the tackle and handpassing under pressure.

Viney was horrible, both with his disposal and decision making. Lewis was poor with the ball, but most damning was his complete refusal to be accountable for his opponent for most of the game - it was almost as though he thought it was below him to follow Curnow inside defensive 50. Petracca needs to be more selfish and take the game on some times, rather than doing the team thing. Harmes should never play in defence, his disposal is too ordinary, but his forward work was okay. Melksham is a VFL player. Hannan looked out of his depth today, hopefully it was an aberration. The inconsistent efforts of Weideman and Watts are frustrating, I don't think we have the right forward line setup at present. Brayshaw looks lost. Stretch is another who needs to kick more. Neal-Bullen just looks a level below an AFL player.

[Stretch Johnson 2,568]

34 minutes ago, Deelirium said:

Surely there has to be a happy median between "dees are back and ready to play finals" last week, and "this is the worst game I've seen in a long time" can't please many on here, even when you start 2 - 0 

Yup.

I think we were outcoached today.  

Couldn't break from the contest forward with any speed and over possessed the footy. Carlton got numbers back and we did not enter the 50 consistently with any conviction.

Still we found a way.

Edited April 2, 2017 by Stretch Johnson

[pineapple dee 2,892]

I guess we are past the point of potting the umpires. But goodness me some of the decisions to both teams were dreadful. If the AFL is happy with what they do week in week out, it's not satisfactory for the bulk of fans. They should focus on applying the rules evenhandedly and not arbitrarily change rules on the go because of a" vibe " No one knows what is going on which is why the perception that they have lost the plot is so strong.  

 

And, no I couldn't do a better job of it but I'm damn sure they should be better. 

Ps Since when is a mark allowed to a player after an opponent has clearly touched it ????? 

[mattjm 151]

how bad was his dropped mark in the 1st quarter and dinky 3m kick that resulted in a carlton goal... rank

[Lucifers Hero 36,983]

Goodwin said at half time that we were over-possessing the ball and we should be tapping the ball forward more (and not try to take possession). 

We had reverted to 'slow play' - tried to pick up the ball, take on the opposition, go back to take a mark, go backwards etc.  I hate to say it but the worst offender at taking on players was Viney' - its a habit he is finding hard to break. 

Last week we ran and tapped and pushed the ball forward and reaped the rewards.  That is our brand.  When we take slow play options we are vulnerable.  I'm sure Goodwin will be working on that this week, especially going on to the fast deck at Etihad.

[Mgdee 319]

2 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

I found that many of his handballs today got us into more trouble than what he was under.

Quick handballs is one thing, but not to put the next bloke under more pressure. I prefer Clarry taking the game on and wanting to kick it more.

Thought he was as bad as Tyson today for causing turnovers early on. Both players played better as the game went on. Both will definitely be there next week barring injury. As will O Mac who I thought was solid today. 

[Skuit 9,109]

What happened to Nathan Jones? I don't recall a Demons player improving their kicking so much in one off-season as to turn it into a genuine weapon. I don't think it's the extra protection around the ball - he just seems to be really backing himself in. Meanwhile, Jordan Lewis . . .

[Demon Disciple 10,899]

50 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Well never let it be said I don't acknowledge a good performance. I THOUGHT OSCAR AND ESPECIALLY TMAC WERE VERY GOOD TODAY!!

PF The discerning man's critic!

Picket Fence.......................Drinks his own bathwater, must be a demon player!

[titan_uranus 22,219]

There is a perverse sort of growth evident in today's game. When Carlton took the lead and had it at the start of the fourth, the same inevitable feeling started to creep up, just like last year's games against Essendon and Carlton.

To turn it around showed, I think, increased maturity and improvement to pull it out when we needed to despite being way off our best.

Carlton went ultra-defensive though, a tactic that I think only the weaker clubs are going to employ (e.g. Fremantle, GC and Brisbane). Other clubs will play a more attacking style and won't focus on just getting numbers back to clog up our movement - such as St Kilda, and we saw how that went last week.

Contrary to some, I thought Hogan was great today. His work rate was fine, his ground level pick-ups were incredible, and he was really a team player. His two easy misses hurt, though. Tyson started awfully but worked his way into it and his fourth quarter helped us win. Watts' first and fourth quarters were great, the middle two were terrible - he's better than that sort of inconsistency.

It's also good to know we can win with a bunch of passengers - Viney the leader of that pack (but add Lewis, Melksham, Hannan and Petracca).

7 minutes ago, poita said:

Shocking and frustrating game, redeemed only by the fact that we won. We would have (and did) lose that game last year, so it is encouraging that we are now a side that can play badly and still win. It is incredible that the team could play a certain brand of football so well one week, and then completely go away from that the next week. And there was no reason for it, we controlled the game in the first quarter but absolutely refused to move the ball quickly and efficiently and give our forwards a chance to compete one out.

Yes, there is a reason - Carlton's number one focus today was stopping us from scoring, with their own scoring being secondary to that task. St Kilda last week was the opposite.

I expect Geelong to play us more like St Kilda did and that will suit us.

6 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Yup.

I think we were outcoached today.  

Couldn't break from the contest forward with any speed and over possessed the footy. Carlton got numbers back and we did not enter the 50 consistently with any conviction.

Still we found a way.

We weren't outcoached - indeed, Goodwin worked out a way to get us back in front without having to concede the game first.

Bolton came into it focusing on stopping us. We could have blown them out in the first but we were far too cute, that gave them some confidence and they stuck to their task for three quarters, shutting down our movement. Bolton did well to do that, but Goodwin did well to work out how to fix it to ensure we didn't lose.

[Earl Hood 5,787]

1 minute ago, Skuit said:

What happened to Nathan Jones? I don't recall a Demons player improving their kicking so much in one off-season as to turn it into a genuine weapon. I don't think it's the extra protection around the ball - he just seems to be really backing himself in. Meanwhile, Jordan Lewis . . .

I think the new game plan and personnel line up has released Nat to be able fulfil his potential. He is not spending 90% of his time under the packs taking possession just to keep us competitive; he is now moving on the outside and looking great. 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

15 minutes ago, poita said:

I'm not particularly a Jetta fan but he was very good today.

That's like saying "I don't like eating restaurant quality food, I prefer to eat leftovers from the bin."

 

[juzzk1d 1,354]

That dropped mark by Brayshaw in the last quarter right in front of the sticks from Garletts kick was nothing short of amateur. [censored] like that needs to be stamped out of the game. 

[Demon Disciple 10,899]

1 minute ago, Clint Bizkit said:

That's like saying "I don't like eating restaurant quality food, I prefer to eat leftovers from the bin."

 

Enough with the innuendo, it's like saying "i don't think Jetta is good, but Jetta is good"

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

5 minutes ago, juzzk1d said:

That dropped mark by Brayshaw in the last quarter right in front of the sticks from Garletts kick was nothing short of amateur. [censored] like that needs to be stamped out of the game. 

I don't normally rely on stats, but I have made note on here of just how few possessions Brayshaw gets (even if playing as a forward) and then I decided to compare his figures with another Melbourne high draft pick.  It's not pretty.

Brayshaw v Toumpas

Edited April 2, 2017 by Clint Bizkit

[Dr. Gonzo 22,398]

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

At the start of the game we had them on the ropes but overused the ball and played too cute.

This allowed them to get back into the game and get their confidence up.

Allowing opposition teams to play spare defenders in our forward line is unacceptable.

They got on top in the middle and co trolled the game from there. We couldn't win a clearance in 2nd and 3rd quarters. I said last week I'd be interested to see how our gameplan stacked up if we were beaten in the centre. Well today we saw it, fortunately not to many ruckmen will be able to nullify Gawn.

So happy with the last quarter though, we just found a way to win when we had to. The Mac's were solid down back all day and Hogan kept running up forward. Salem was phenomenal all day and Garlett was the difference with 3 which was sweet too.

Not a game you'll go back and watch down the track but for now very happy with the 4 points and 2-0.

[picket fence 15,046]

4 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I don't normally rely on stats, but I have made note on here of just how few possessions Brayshaw gets (even if playing as a forward) and then I decided to compare his figures with another Melbourne high draft pick, it's not pretty.

Brayshaw v Toumpas

Clint, waaay of mate, Two totally different types of players for a start Gus Grunt plus, Toumpas ............ There is nothing there at all! Sorry poor comparison!

Edited April 2, 2017 by picket fence

[At the break of Gawn 3,474]

19 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Righto, I've had a couple hours to fully digest the game. 

- The McDonald bros were both good today. No major glaring errors today. For what it's worth, OMac is currently ranked seventh in the league for 1 percenters 

- Jack Watts had an ok game today. Maybe not great, but I think many posters are overreacting by saying he should be dropped. He kicked two and set up a least another couple. 

- Yes, Dom Tyson had some incredibly iffy moments with his disposal. But 32 touches, 11 marks, seven tackles and a goal is as elite as you get. He really stood up in the final quarter as well.

- For everyone concerned about Brayshaw, not all of our young guns are immediately going to find consistencey with their game. Give him time, he'll be alright.

-  Salem and Oliver are absolute guns. 

- Weideman had some great moments today, especially that mark and goal in the first. He just needs to learn when to not play on following taking a mark as he gets caught a bit too often.

Don't waste your time typing Demon Jack. Some of the posters on here have got no idea.

People saying Jack Watts had a poor game are delusional. Had 19 disposals, kicked 2 goals, 8 marks, 7 scoring involvements and got one massive punch in the head by Rowe. I can't recall many games pre-2016 that JW had that much of an impact on a win. 

Tyson was also a bit rusty but still racked up possessions and started to use the ball better in the last qtr.

Both teams played really well defensively which is why it was so low scoring. Carlton actually held us up a lot better than the Saints did. The Saints were basically witches hats after qtr time last week.

Anyone listening to MMM today with Paul Roos doing special comments will have a much better appreciation of today's win.

Still unsure on Melksham though. Really doesn't use the ball well. Brayshaw just had a bad game - not much went his way. Nothing to worry about though. 

[dazzledavey36 48,642]

5 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I don't normally rely on stats, but I have made note on here of just how few possessions Brayshaw gets (even if playing as a forward) and then I decided to compare his figures with another Melbourne high draft pick, it's not pretty.

Brayshaw v Toumpas

I remember last year i said that his disposal was quite poor and got howled down for it. He was simply poor by foot today. Do we continue to back him in and gift him games??

Sometimes he reminds me of Jack Trengove the way he plods around too. 

Those stats are not pretty.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Just now, picket fence said:

Clint waaay of mate, Two totally different types of players for a start Gus Grunt plus, Toumpas ............ There is nothing there at all! Sorry poor comparison!

Different players no doubt and for the most part a far better talent than Toumpas, but it all came about because I noted how few possessions Brayshaw was getting. 

Statistically, he is at Toumpas levels.

[Bigred 494]

Good teams win ugly games

We win

We are learning how to win

Ill take that

Jetta is very underated

Watts the same 

Edited April 2, 2017 by Bigred
Spelling

[pinkshark 935]

2 hours ago, olisik said:

Anyone else concerned about Brayshaw?

yeah sack him.  he's no good.  

you idiot.

[Cards13 9,117]

34 minutes ago, ILLDieADemon said:

It would have been boring to watch if we won it easily. 

We would have rolled over in the third and lost that game last year so good on the boys to keep at it and come away with a win. 

Yes mate Melb fans would fk ing hate a run of 2 games in a row where we just rolled over sides who have had the wood over us...  

Edited April 2, 2017 by Cards13

[Dr. Gonzo 22,398]

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Our decision making was worse than our skills.

We were too cocky and played too cute at the start, we should have been ten goals up by half time if we played smart direct football because we were clearly a class above.

We have to learn to snuff teams like this out by half time, foot to the throat kind of stuff. You give them a sniff and they'll lift a cog. But you know, baby steps. Last year we would've lost this 

[picket fence 15,046]

1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

We have to learn to snuff teams like this out by half time, foot to the throat kind of stuff. You give them a sniff and they'll lift a cog. But you know, baby steps. Last year we would've lost this 

This !!! Yep and yep again!! Gonz right o the money!