POST MATCH DISCUSSION - Round 8

[Adam The God 29,685]

4 hours ago, A F said:

Yeah, one down moment in 2 hours of football. It didn't cost us. Thought he was AA-like (as usual).

Watching the replay, I noted that Hibberd was actually on Betts a number of times or at the very least zoned off onto him and beat him. He too should be given a lot of credit for restricting Betts.

[Adam The God 29,685]

3 hours ago, Macca said:

Fearless football on show and who needs a ruckman? 

All things being equal we're back on track for some September action. 

Whilst we're in the midst of footy's version of that Seinfeld episode where we do the opposite, we could leave T-Mac forward when it suits and possibly play Hogan at CHB (in bursts) when he returns.

Vince should be used as a tagger whenever applicable and when Gawn returns, we'll be even better.

Our combined midfield is now quite capable of dominating games (as we saw last night)  Petracca in there adds another dimension. 

Exciting times ahead.

I wonder if we'll use the tagging option if Gawn is playing. I suspect we'll back our mids in. But for the moment, I love the idea of Vince tagging most weeks. I'd get him to play a slightly more offensive, but also defensive role on Higgins or Ziebell.

2 hours ago, Abe said:

Jacobs had 70 hit outs and the crows were the best clearance/contested ball in the comp and we smashed them out of the middle. 

I still can't wrap my head around how that's possible beyond Jacobs taps were average and our mids read the ball a lot faster than the crows 

And we were a lot tougher around the ball. Our manic tackling pressure meant that the Crows mids had no outlets and once you take away the Crows half backs (ie. their outlets), you completely restrict that fluid ball movement that we saw from them across the first 6 rounds. Laird got a lot of it, but so many of those disposals were rushed and hurried handballs and kicks.

3 hours ago, jnrmac said:

The stats are there for anyone to look at. We did have Adelaide kick 5 in a row. IN every other game we have had quarter blowouts. Not sure why you are looking for an argument against that fact.

Yes the backline played well but OMac's intensity is still bad. Jetta and Hibberd were simply incredible. Salem was very good and even Wagner, who I am not a fan of, played some very good footy.

The defence collectively was outstanding and, as you say, against a side that had previously averaged 127 points

This had very little to do with the 'defensive unit' per say, and more to do with our mids completely dropping away in intensity and tackling pressure. It seems the 'defence' is usually blamed if scores are kicked against us and equally lauded if scores aren't kicked, but if ever there was an example of why football 'defence' is a team game, then it was last night's effort. Our mids rarely let them have clean disposal and shut down space, which meant they panicked with the ball and often we were able to cause a stoppage from there.

The commentators noted our lack of tackling pressure early in the second quarter. What I found so impressive was our ability to wrestle back the momentum after we handed it to them in a 15 minute patch of lower intensity.

[What 18,810]

Got the replay under the belt.  Thought Josh Wagner played a very solid game.

[P-man 13,366]

Those who have seen the game on tv will note the sound of the lone Melbourne supporter near the comm box shouting "woo hoo hoo" at different stages during the last quarter. 

Gave me a chuckle hearing a lone voice in a sea of silent Crows fans.

[Ted Lasso 18,923]

I didn't realise how quick Clarry is!? Is there anything this 21 gamer can't do?? Eddie bets goals, running down quick opposition players, 30 touches every game, 80 plus % disposal efficiency 

very big man crush forming. 

[Cards13 9,117]

6 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Got the replay under the belt.  Thought Josh Wagner played a very solid game.

Tidy up the disposal and he is handy

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

Dunno how many times I've tuned in to a game on TV or radio with us up, and then the team proceed to leak goals and the match. It's like they know I'm there.

But this time I tuned in during the second. Crows kicked two and that was the night for them.

Some very un-Melbourne things in that win:

* Leaking goals at end of quarter -- this time we got the late goals (Crows had their chances but fluffed them)

* After the game is iced, letting the opp get some easy junk time goals to make the win look less convincing and hurt our percentage. But we won it going away

Second half, every goal they got, we answered quickly

Those things make this game seem more of a turning point than our other previous turning points.

GO DEMONS!!!!

[McQueen 17,864]

9 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

Sloane is their leadership. Not much Tex can do while he's up one end wondering how many rings Frost is going to run around him. 

 

Agree though, surely after 15 minutes you start blocking and sticking up for your best mid, especially after it just happened the week before. Sloane is such an inside/outside gun, the rest of their midfield is no-names that live off him. These 2 weeks have put big dent in the Crows campaign. @McQueen was right after all that North exposed a glaring weakness. 

Told you so.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I still haven't seen the whole thing. 

At what point was Clarry's run down tackle? I want to see it.

[Lucifers Hero 39,074]

11 hours ago, Abe said:

Jacobs had 70 hit outs and the crows were the best clearance/contested ball in the comp and we smashed them out of the middle. 

I still can't wrap my head around how that's possible beyond Jacobs taps were average and our mids read the ball a lot faster than the crows 

It seemed that Jacobs tapped the ball to where Sloane was supposed to be (Bernie knew where that would be from days of old).  So Viney and co knowing where that tap would go and that Sloane was being stopped went straight to that spot.  Result a clean clearance.

The other crows mid fielders expecting Sloane to get the tap down didn't fill the space or back up.  Nor did they do what the Hawks did:  let us get the clearance, attack the ball carrier and run away with the spilt balled.  So last week we won the clearances but couldn't get the ball out but this week we did.

My conclusion is the Crows mid field isn't very smart.  They didn't adjust during the game.

[Deestar9 1,576]

9 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I still haven't seen the whole thing. 

At what point was Clarry's run down tackle? I want to see it.

Check AFL highlights Adelaide v Melbourne ..it is on that

[Little Richard 6,219]

10 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

Just had a look at the Adelaide big footy post Mortem on game. Gee they seem to be a little upset about the result. I think a demonlander has infiltrated their post game chit chat. He / she said " It's a comforting feeling when apathy replaces passion" 

Love it !!!!! 

I just had a look too, literally amazing. Posters talking about giving up after 20 years of supporting the club, saying that their season is done, their list is trash... and they're on top of the ladder! 

What a pathetic bunch of 'supporters'.

[pinkshark 949]

Its all over for Brayshaw is it not?

[pinkshark 949]

Its all over for Brayshaw is it not?

[McQueen 17,864]

13 minutes ago, Luther said:

I just had a look too, literally amazing. Posters talking about giving up after 20 years of supporting the club, saying that their season is done, their list is trash... and they're on top of the ladder! 

What a pathetic bunch of 'supporters'.

Sounds like this place after we lost to Freo and Hawks. Emotions run high immediately following a defeat to a team you thought was going to be a win.

Mind you, the Crows have been spanked two weeks in a row now.

 

[faultydet 7,594]

12 hours ago, Abe said:

Jacobs had 70 hit outs and the crows were the best clearance/contested ball in the comp and we smashed them out of the middle. 

I still can't wrap my head around how that's possible beyond Jacobs taps were average and our mids read the ball a lot faster than the crows 

Tackle count.

 

When you hunt as a team like we did, you win more of the ball.

 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

9 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Got the replay under the belt.  Thought Josh Wagner played a very solid game.

Until he kicked it.

I like Wagner, he's an upgrade on Melksham but he butchered it a fair bit under little pressure.

[Little Richard 6,219]

1 minute ago, McQueen said:

Sounds like this place after we lost to Freo and Hawks. Emotions run high immediately following a defeat to a team you thought was going to be a win.

Mind you, the Crows have been spanked two weeks in a row now.

 

Absolutely, but they've been decent for quite a while and remain on top of the ladder.

We've been tripe for 10 years.

[Deeoldfart 8,001]

9 hours ago, A F said:

.....................................................................................

The commentators noted our lack of tackling pressure early in the second quarter. What I found so impressive was our ability to wrestle back the momentum after we handed it to them in a 15 minute patch of lower intensity.

I agree Adam.  The critical thing for me was that we got things back on our terms mid-quarter.  When we've regained the initiative in earlier games, it has generally been at the breaks, when the coaches have re-set things for the next stanza.  To wrest the momentum back mid-quarter was a sign to me that our list and on-field leadership is learning and maturing.  Hope I'm right!

[Skuit 10,015]

1 hour ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I still haven't seen the whole thing. 

At what point was Clarry's run down tackle? I want to see it.

Never mind the tackle. If it's one I'm thinking of it shouldn't have been holding the ball and while the chase was fantastic the result came about because the Crows were in disarray at the time. Instead, look out for a centre clearance toward the end where he puts on a casual sidestep as he collects to release a clean handball to the open runner. A thing of beauty.

[DemonOX 8,743]

13 hours ago, Macca said:

All things being equal we're back on track for some September action. 

Lets c how we perform this week against the Roos first.  One week at a time Macca cause we just never know what we r going to get. 

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

1 hour ago, Luther said:

I just had a look too, literally amazing. Posters talking about giving up after 20 years of supporting the club, saying that their season is done, their list is trash... and they're on top of the ladder! 

What a pathetic bunch of 'supporters'.

I did wonder what had happened to MFCSS.

Seems it doesn't die out, it just wanders to another club.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

1 hour ago, pinkshark said:

Its all over for Brayshaw is it not?

Take the rest of the year off and have one last roll of the dice next season.

For every Steve Bradbury in sport, there are lots of deserving Brayshaws.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

1 hour ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I still haven't seen the whole thing. 

At what point was Clarry's run down tackle? I want to see it.

It's on the MFC site under the highlights reel. It's pretty bloody good

 

[DemonOX 8,743]

8 hours ago, P-man said:

Those who have seen the game on tv will note the sound of the lone Melbourne supporter near the comm box shouting "woo hoo hoo" at different stages during the last quarter. 

Gave me a chuckle hearing a lone voice in a sea of silent Crows fans.

What I liked was how stoned face the crow suppotters were. Classic.