3 minutes ago, praha said:

Rowe, Range and Thompson have all been part of finals teams. McDonald was a KPD in one of the worst teams of the past century (2013), and a non-finals team his whole career.

Stupid selective stats.

Exactly.  How is it since 2014?

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This is quite alarming

Here we go again. We were historically bad back then, and he's about the only defender aside from maybe Jetta who's played majority of games since 2013. Stupid stat. 

Just now, Nasher said:

Exactly.  How is it since 2014?

Fox showing the stat in the first place was pretty dumb (although to be fair who knows what they said about it, could have defended TMac).

Dazzle trying to use it to make some sort of argument against TMac is laughable, though. Absolute garbage from him.

51 minutes ago, John Dee said:

Statistics say that when it is 22 V 21, the 22 wins. When it is 22 V 20, you have very little chance. We are a better side than Richmond, and I don't know who is going to play in the ruck next week.

P.E.D.O!

at least now that there's no option but to play him on Sunday, one selection squabble will be put to bed.

Tonight's loss was hard to cop but without a ruckman for most of the match, it was always going to be tough.  We actually did quite well in the 3rd quarter (all things considered) but we were completely spent going into the last quarter.  Nankervis got 60 tap-outs and had a an absolute field day.  They killed us in the clearances late in the game.

Goodwin's plan is to blow teams out of the water but we lack a bit of composure, finishing skills & poise.  Add those vital areas in and we would have been out of reach going into the last quarter.

I'm not too concerned looking ahead - when it all comes together we'll be a very good side.  We're on the right track with regards to our effort, energy, attitude, attack on the ball and our endeavour.  There's a lot to like despite the frustrating losses.

 

I wasn't sure what Goodwin was going to say after the match but I'm pretty happy with this part of his response:

"It's a tough balance as a coach. You sit here and you're so proud of the way they played, and the way they fought, and the way they scrapped and the way they gave everything they had for a large part of that game," Goodwin said. 

"But I reckon when you become a really good team you actually find a way to get the result you need. And we're not at that point yet. We still need to have more composure at the end of quarters and stop the opposition scoring better."

He's right on all this, I think.

Also has anyone else mentioned that Cotchin is a dog?

1 minute ago, titan_uranus said:

Fox showing the stat in the first place was pretty dumb (although to be fair who knows what they said about it, could have defended TMac).

Dazzle trying to use it to make some sort of argument against TMac is laughable, though. Absolute garbage from him.

This is why our main priority has to be Steven May because McDonald isn't a number 1 defender at all. He is better suited to that floating 2nd or 3rd defender. 

A big solid defender like a Tarrant or May would make McDonald a bettet player.

I just looked at our fixture again. I generously see us getting to ten wins this year now. #finals2018

18 minutes ago, ding said:

And still we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

Yes we're good at that. For 53 years.

5 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I wasn't sure what Goodwin was going to say after the match but I'm pretty happy with this part of his response:

"It's a tough balance as a coach. You sit here and you're so proud of the way they played, and the way they fought, and the way they scrapped and the way they gave everything they had for a large part of that game," Goodwin said. 

"But I reckon when you become a really good team you actually find a way to get the result you need. And we're not at that point yet. We still need to have more composure at the end of quarters and stop the opposition scoring better."

He's right on all this, I think.

He is dead right. As long as the young guys don't blow a fuse losing these games

 

5 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Also has anyone else mentioned that Cotchin is a dog?

Yes. Another Velvet Sledgehammer

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This is why our main priority has to be Steven May because McDonald isn't a number 1 defender at all. He is better suited to that floating 2nd or 3rd defender. 

A big solid defender like a Tarrant or May would make McDonald a bettet player.

What is?

Because Tom has conceded a lot of goals?

He was actually good tonight, if you remove your anti-McDonald bias (just like ADC and others pot Hogan for the absolute wrong reasons).

Having said that, I don't necessarily disagree with you that we could use another key defender. 

1 hour ago, deebug said:

How far away is Max King from playing AFL? Two ruck man down in the same year, did the boys walk under a ladder or something?

Max is a least 11 months away. He would need to be redrafted later this year as he was delisted at the end of 2016.

Why do I bother?!

 

3 minutes ago, xarronn said:

Max is a least 11 months away. He would need to be redrafted later this year as he was delisted at the end of 2016.

Does he mean Mitch King?

9 minutes ago, Macca said:

Goodwin's plan is to blow teams out of the water

Sounds like Bailey's game plan...

We are too easy to score against, maybe part of the reason is we are not putting enough scoreboard pressure on when we have the ascendancy with inside 50's...

The forward line is not functioning well and the backline leaks like a sieve...

Just now, rjay said:

Sounds like Bailey's game plan...

We are too easy to score against, maybe part of the reason is we are not putting enough scoreboard pressure on when we have the ascendancy with inside 50's...

The forward line is not functioning well and the backline leaks like a sieve...

This whole "backline leaks like a sieve" thing is a classic Demonland myth, we saw it last year too.

We're currently 9th for points against, could drop to 10th depending on what Collingwood scores tomorrow.

Our percentage is still over 100% despite being 2-3 so the scoring isn't that big of a problem.

The real issue is that we dominate general play for longer than our opponents but we don't convert that dominance onto the scoreboard. If we fix this problem, which comes from more efficiency in the forward half, many of our other "problems" such as this leaky sieve which doesn't really exist will be solved too.

2 minutes ago, rjay said:

Sounds like Bailey's game plan...

We are too easy to score against, maybe part of the reason is we are not putting enough scoreboard pressure on when we have the ascendancy with inside 50's...

The forward line is not functioning well and the backline leaks like a sieve...

Yep. Whilst half our midfield almost can win us games!!

when it all clicks..

18 minutes ago, Macca said:

Tonight's loss was hard to cop but without a ruckman for most of the match, it was always going to be tough.  We actually did quite well in the 3rd quarter (all things considered) but we were completely spent going into the last quarter.  Nankervis got 60 tap-outs and had a an absolute field day.  They killed us in the clearances late in the game.

Goodwin's plan is to blow teams out of the water but we lack a bit of composure, finishing skills & poise.  Add those vital areas in and we would have been out of reach going into the last quarter.

I'm not too concerned looking ahead - when it all comes together we'll be a very good side.  We're on the right track with regards to our effort, energy, attitude, attack on the ball and our endeavour.  There's a lot to like despite the frustrating losses.

 

Spot on mate

We have a frustrating period to get through to get to that side but i believe we'll get there.

It is bloody frustrating though know even with all the errors etc we were still a better side then those f l o g s.

Just so much bad luck atm.

How good was trac though 

The loss stings pretty bad, but can't help feeling positive about the season overall. So impressed by the effort each week so far produced by this extremely young group. Personally, I only really rate a team's performance on the effort. I can forgive everything else. This Melbourne team always delivers in this area now. This is what gives me real hope, not false hope like times gone by.

In fact, even after 3 losses, I have never felt more confident that this is the time that the Melbourne Football Club fight for premierships again.

I don't see tonight's loss as McDonnald related, I think for the most part he competed well when required and didn't do any face-palm stupid acts. 

Our losses have all come from not making the most of our chances when in control of a game. Up to 3/4 time we killed them in inside 50s but made little use of them, we gifted up stupid mistakes to give them shots on goal when we should've had the ball. In the end I could see from the start of the final term our injuries were coming back to hurt us. The players had completely run out of puff and were running on fumes. 

As Goodwin said though, good teams find a way to win those. We need to start finding a way to win these or we will fall behind. 

This was the only game I'll be able to see this year, it was a great contest, and a successful night for the future of this contest. But FMD, it hurts. 

Everyone now know the reason we went out and got Melksham and Hibberd. Did anyone notice the expression of determination and "pushing yourself" on his face after he kicked that goal and was running back to position, i did.

Couple of observations, Hogan, enigmatic sook, the world doesn't revolve around you mate, much as i hate to say it, take a leaf out of the poser FF up the other end, who, when he cannot get kicks goes down the ground and picks them up himself. My god he knows how to play on as well.

Backline,disorganised rabble, and i hope blokes like Jetta and Hibberd and Lewis can get it back in the next couple of weeks.

Umpires, mind bogglingly pathetic. Example, in all my years of football i have never seen an umpire give a brazen, overjoyed smile when in the  TV closeup as Caddy kicked his only goal in the last quarter. Wonder who he barracks for.

Rule question When a boundary umpire throws the ball in from the boundary, i thought he had to throw it in in line with the Centre circle? not any more folks. These Boundary Umpires were gaining more yards for the "Tigers" than any player on their side!!

My rant, by the end of the year i'll say it again. This side will be vastly different  by the end of the year. I think we will be building this side around two blokes with barely fifty games between the two of them Oliver and Petracca. Provided they stay on the park....

 

12 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

What is?

Because Tom has conceded a lot of goals?

He was actually good tonight, if you remove your anti-McDonald bias (just like ADC and others pot Hogan for the absolute wrong reasons).

Having said that, I don't necessarily disagree with you that we could use another key defender. 

Yes we need another key defender. It's a must get for season 2018.

We especially need to stop playing our 2nd best KPF in the ruck as often as we have this season. ( A bit of luck might help with this. ?)

Disapointed as, but I enjoy watch the Demons play Bruising, hard at it, uncompromising football.

Please don't play JKH next week 

Bring on Brisbane and Mitch Robinson...

46 minutes ago, Boots and all said:

We are just not a good side yet, hell I can't remember the last time we won 3 in a row. We will be though, I have seen better patches of footy from us this year than any time in the last 5. 

We dominated most stats up till 3/4 time but by then our ring around the rosey over use resulted in too many turnovers around the stoppages. We started showing signs of severe fatigue coming into the last 10 minutes of the third. The 2 men down obviously playing a role and we saw the Tiges run us ragged in the 4th and got out the back at stoppages far too often.

However, Richmond also played more direct, efficient wet weather football.

'Kicks to Handballs Ratio' tonight .........

Tigers 1.55 , kicks to every handball

Demons 1.08 , nearly one for one

Handball happy players in the mid field tonight for the Demons (eg., significantly less than 1 to 1) ...

Demons

1. Clarry  0.33 (kicks to handballs ratio)

2. Jones 0.41

3. Viney 0.44

4. Tyson 0.60

The above equals not enough meters gained for the energy/output around the pill. With such over use in wet weather you are bound to have far too many turnovers, especially in more dangerous parts of the ground. Allows the opposition to get the ball into their forward 50 quickly without the opportunity to get enough numbers back.

vs The Tigers Mid Field (and a few mid/forwards thrown in)

1. Prestia 0.82 (only mid field offender significantly under 1 to 1)

2. Lambert 1.0 (Mid/Forward)

3. Caddy 1.1

4. Castagna 1.20

5. Butler 2.0

5. Dusty 2.2 (mid/forward)

 

Coaching, training, execution for wet weather ie., less handballs more direct football. Where was it and why didnt we attempt to change to this style at some point? Maybe we did and i didn't notice!