On 5/27/2017 at 8:36 PM, dees189227 said:

Currently at a restaurant where the boys must be staying.  They are in the pool for a quick recovery.  Watts is limping but hopefully the week off will help. Players a bit embarrased as they walked through the restaurant with melbourne fans clapping them. Told jonsey great 2nd half by him.

Looked like he tweaked his groin when he took that mark in the 4th Q

On 5/27/2017 at 8:36 PM, dees189227 said:

Currently at a restaurant where the boys must be staying.  They are in the pool for a quick recovery.  Watts is limping but hopefully the week off will help. Players a bit embarrased as they walked through the restaurant with melbourne fans clapping them. Told jonsey great 2nd half by him.

Can you drill a hole in the wall for Saty?

I know Oscar played a decent game and this is nitpicky, but i would just once like to see him dissapointed with himself over a poor kick/turn over. Just looks like he accepts it as part of his game and doesn't look like he strongly desires to make amends. Of course no point dwelling on mistakes too long either.

1 hour ago, dieter said:

I think the Watts baggers/haters are way off the mark. This year he's been expected to be a ruckman and a forward and a swing man. No wonder he looks and plays sore some of the time. What I like about him is that he puts in and contests and when he does get the footy he does something with it. Glory be if Lewis, the McDonalds, Jones, Melksham, Tyson, the Buggar and Harmes could boast this level of efficiency.

Totally agree. I think he is understandably knackered. When we have maxy back - he will be much freeer to concentrate on where he should be playing and as a fan base we should prob look back and thank him for being a work horse (one that cops a lot of flack at times) that kept in games when we had zero rucks. I thought he was great on the weekend but does look knackered. I think he's one of a few that really need the break this week.

13 hours ago, Skuit said:

A Rising Star nominated game. Often think people forget he's also just a kid/there's unfair prejudice based on his draft number. If he continues to clean up his disposal, he has all the other attributes to make it. Did everything yesterday that Kent should be doing.

I think a lot of it was based on his poor ball use and decision making. He has some tools though and it was always about cleaning up these areas of his game. He becomes a weapon if he can perform consistently and use the ball well. His running and hardness are great assets to our forwardline and midfield.

Not a great game but we won and kept our % up, so at the end of the year, how we played will be irrelevant. Mind you if we make finals and play like that we won't last long. We play a hard brand of football now, so I think the break has come at the right time and hopefully we will get a couple back shortly after that. 

Thought Harmes was good and hope he stays in the side, he cops some criticism but he's only 21 and hasn't got a lot of games under his belt. He runs hard he splits packs, he's got a bit of speed and he is tough and doesn't shirk it. 

11 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

bit of a disappointing crowd..... 5000 was reported on the TV.

A bit of a difference from the crowd at the MCG last night.

Cannot understand how the NT government can justify the spend .... bread and circus for the masses but the masses don't attend

As you can see I don't like these peripatetic games. For those who can remember it we pioneered the selling of home games when we sold our soul (home game) to Brisbane. Believe it or not the biggest complaint was from other clubs who objected to us gifting another win to the then all powerful Lions

On a separate note... time to really pressure the AFL to relocate the Suns to Tasmania. A second team in the Brisbane greater area is an almost certain failure from a following viewpoint. A 30K stadium in Hobart a la Kardinia Park would be a great venue

If we can get close to 5,000 NT members, that's a terrific effort, remembering we've got a game in Darwin too. Given our ordinary recent history that is a great return and will only get better the more we start winning.

And if Hawthorn can play in Tassie through their premiership years, we can certainly play in the NT through ours. We pocket a handy $500k (is it per game?) and I presume additional monies from the NT government. I'm sure it's a key pillar of our financing strategy over the next 10 years and probably more likely to succeed than anything in Casey. Still, it's good to have multiple irons in the fire, I always say.

10 hours ago, Webber said:

Melksham looked to be playing more wing than halfback. His efficiency and metres gained were excellent. His best game yet, and based on that, is in our best 22 easy. Harmes was good. Took his chances, and plays the physical running and playing on game that Goody likes. He plays like that, he's in the team. As we know though, he has quiet/sloppy games. ANB was excellent. Lots of 1% acts, lots of defensive actions, and used the ball beautifully. He might be part of a fringe group of players, but you'd never know it from yesterday. 

Melksham could potentially offer us a really good additional string to our bow. If he can consistently gain meterage, break the lines and offer an outlet in the corridor or on the flanks, he makes us and Hunt far more unpredictable. It means we don't have to rely on Hunt either. 

Harmes is another who I suspect the FD think could play this role if required too. 

We're building really good flexibility in our list and our 22.

24 minutes ago, A F said:

I think a lot of it was based on his poor ball use and decision making. He has some tools though and it was always about cleaning up these areas of his game. He becomes a weapon if he can perform consistently and use the ball well. His running and hardness are great assets to our forwardline and midfield.

No doubt. And this is why I prefer he doesn't play half-back. Also had an very ordinary JLT so didn't deserve to be in the selection mix early. But I would say a lot of his poor disposal has been rushed or unbalanced - he goes at 100mph (and this largely why I'm fond of him), so basically lacking poise, yet, people have been quick to write him off and I think that was a combination of forgetting he was a young developing player (or dismissing his potential due to his draft number).

He - along with ANB - has been one of the few players to have stepped up their intensity in our close final quarters. To date, they haven't had the skills to turn the match, but if everyone had followed suit we would be sitting much prettier right now, and these will be invaluable attributes come finals time. Maybe we got a taste of it yesterday - as Harmes was a lesser lauded but equally important member of our 3rd quarter purple patch. 

5 hours ago, Ted Fidge said:

A work of art, no doubt. Firing out that right leg behind him like a rapier, extending like a man possessed, his heel work, his leg height, his développé follow through ......

If only he could hit a target!!!

do you remember frawleys kicking in early years puss nuts? he has forged a pretty good career... just saying

8 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

You've been pretty quite in your critique of Pedo too PD, since he has returned to the side and is quietly getting the job done whilst having a real impact.

Personally, my only reservation with Pedo is that he is around that 30 y.o. mark and how long he can continue to produce the goods may be limited.  Still if we can get another one or two years out of him at his present output whilst younger KPFs and the team in general  develops, I think it's winners all round.

I don't mind Pedo but he was bog ordinary yesterday. People seem to be overlooking that this week.

12 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Id like to single out one for the moment.

He's been around a whiles and to be frank thought his participation at times over rated despite his enduring desire to be otherwise.

As a leader  quite frankly I didn't see it often on the ground as all i saw was grim determination not always accompanied  by, though he undoubtedly wanted better , results from his efforts.  They sometimes seemed more appreciated by the opposition receiving his tardy disposal.

There was one crucial and mandatory ( for mine ) quailty i had yet to witness. It's where someone takes a very bad situation and changes it manifestly by their own efforts. 

Yesterday was the day, the 3 qtr was the moment. Enough is enough must have been the impetus as he stepped up. Not just his own game but for the first time for this observer it had a wave effect. His charges followed suit. 

I haven't always been your greatest fan but out there in the middle , of the middle, you found your Excalibur, drew it , raised it and took it to your foes. 

Well done Nathan Jones. You appeared to grow into a King, a General among your legion, not just in name but now in effect.

There was much to cringe at especially the first half but you showed your team the right stuff.

I often highlight the scoreboard as being essence of the story of a game but the prize of our torrid plight against the Coasters was not the win for me, though I'll take it happily , it was the arrival of something I as a Melbourne supporter haven't seen for a long while, affirmation.

Dont drop the sword, it's yours. Weild it well.

"don't drop the sword. its yours.   Weild it well"   fu%k me.

6 minutes ago, A F said:

I don't mind Pedo but he was bog ordinary yesterday. People seem to be overlooking that this week.

Bog ordinary? I think he took the most marks and was the only one that hit every target in the first half, bunch of tackles too. Was as good as he's been just minus the goals. 

Bog ordinary is a fair stretch. 

Just now, Deestroy All said:

Bog ordinary? I think he took the most marks and was the only one that hit every target in the first half, bunch of tackles too. Was as good as he's been just minus the goals. 

Bog ordinary is a fair stretch. 

He laid 5 tackles, yeah, but was murdered in the ruck and failed to take a contested mark once moved forward. 

I may have to check the tape, because maybe he did take some marks in the second half, but I certainly don't recall any.

I would like to know what Omac's disposal efficiency was. After a mark he still puts his teammates under pressure with [censored] kicks. We really need Hogan to come back so Tmac can push back. Even though Tmac's disposal is average at least he's a much better defender. Would love to see Steven May in Dees colours next year  

1 minute ago, A F said:

He laid 5 tackles, yeah, but was murdered in the ruck and failed to take a contested mark once moved forward. 

I may have to check the tape, because maybe he did take some marks in the second half, but I certainly don't recall any.

Murdered in the ruck goes without saying. FWitts is 9 feet tall. Witts took 3 marks around the ground. Pedo 9. 

You're right in that he took no marks up forward, but he wasn't outmarked like Watts and whatever Tom was trying to do. 

He was quite good old Pedo, check that tape!

9 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

Bog ordinary? I think he took the most marks and was the only one that hit every target in the first half, bunch of tackles too. Was as good as he's been just minus the goals. 

Bog ordinary is a fair stretch. 

And a sublime i50 in the second quarter when no one else could manage.

However, if you had told me four years ago that the only available/selected survivors from our list overhaul besides Jones and Viney for yesterday would be Cameron Pedersen in the ruck, Neville Jetta as our best shut-down defender, and Jack Watts and Tom MacDonald as our KPF/second rucks, I would have followed Neeld right on out that door.

Smith Jnr every day of the week over Omac. Showed more in a quarter of footy than Omac has shown all year. Omac super lucky we don't other alternatives at the moment.

3 hours ago, A F said:

I don't mind Pedo but he was bog ordinary yesterday. People seem to be overlooking that this week.

What?

9 hours ago, DominatrixTyson said:

I know Oscar played a decent game and this is nitpicky, but i would just once like to see him dissapointed with himself over a poor kick/turn over. Just looks like he accepts it as part of his game and doesn't look like he strongly desires to make amends. Of course no point dwelling on mistakes too long either.

I'm just watching the replay now and in the third quarter he had 2 consecutive disgusting kicks. These were totally unpressured direct turnover kicks. Defensively he has promise but his disposals are an absolute liability and he costs us goals. 

This must be a focus for our coaching staff if they are persist with him. I'm not asking him to be able to spot up a lead 55m away but he should be able to kick it 15m under no pressure. 

20 hours ago, Redleg said:

FWIW, that free against Harmes for a throw, near the end of the game, gifting the Suns a goal, has also been paid several times in games against Oliver.

To me it is a blatantly incorrect interpretation and decision.

A handball is hitting the the ball off a stationary hand by clenched fist. If the ball holding hand remains stationary, as it did, then it is irrelevant if it is hit with the fist/ knuckles or gap or fleshy part of the hand around the clenched thumb and forefinger. Oliver does this often punching the ball off his stationary hand and is pinged.

IMO that is incorrect umpiring and it needs to be sorted out.  It is certainly costing us.

yeah that was definitely the wrong decision. Derm was going on how it was always a free kick, then one of the other commentators questioned him about why. I think he basically said just cos....

Oh and some of Derms best comments:

On Bugg's kicking lining up for goal, "he's usually a very good kick is Tom Bugg". 

After Watts kicked a goal, "he's not a renouned goal kicker, Jack Watts".

Last time I checked Watts was predominantly a forward who last year kicked 38 goals, and Tom Bugg is one of the worst kicks in our team! Very special comments there!

5 minutes ago, Pates said:

Oh and some of Derms best comments:

On Bugg's kicking lining up for goal, "he's usually a very good kick is Tom Bugg". 

After Watts kicked a goal, "he's not a renouned goal kicker, Jack Watts".

Last time I checked Watts was predominantly a forward who last year kicked 38 goals, and Tom Bugg is one of the worst kicks in our team! Very special comments there!

Dermie often commentates by emotion, or the vibe of the thing, at least as it sits in his mind. Facts are for others. 

13 minutes ago, Pates said:

I'm just watching the replay now and in the third quarter he had 2 consecutive disgusting kicks. These were totally unpressured direct turnover kicks. Defensively he has promise but his disposals are an absolute liability and he costs us goals. 

This must be a focus for our coaching staff if they are persist with him. I'm not asking him to be able to spot up a lead 55m away but he should be able to kick it 15m under no pressure. 

I noticed both those kicks on the back flank near camera side. He seems to have problems when he needs to shirt pass, similar to some players when they're close to goal (Richo and Cloke were notorious for it). Players try to guide the ball with their foot instead of kicking it/kicking through it which means there is no power behind it and it is difficult to control direction. He seems to have fewer problems with his longer kicks.

Didn't like first half, loved our second half! We won, so I get to wear MFC tie to work. If Watts has a groin injury might explain lack of leap (and make some posts here look lame)

14 minutes ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

If Watts has a groin injury might explain lack of leap (and make some posts here look lame)

I don't think there's anyone at the club happier to have the bye. He's been rucking so much more than expected and he's held his own, but he must be nursing some pretty sore legs. Having said that in the third quarter he was one that really helped turn it for us. He wasn't brilliant but he was competitive when he needed to be and mostly pretty clean. 

He's still one of our best ball users even when he's having an off night.