Nasher sums it up best:

3 hours ago, Nasher said:

Thought about posting in the match day thread at half time that we were certainties to win. It was almost classic 2017 version Melbourne. A period where the opposition gets ahead in the second, a late quarter evening, run over the top in the third. I never felt at any stage we couldn't win. 

We had our lapse - the second quarter, in which they kicked 6 goals in about 20 minutes or something like that.

We fell our standard 20-30 points behind.

And then, when we clicked, we flipped the game on its head, played much better football than our opponent, and clawed the deficit back. Getting the lead in the third quarter was helpful to our momentum and confidence in the fourth.

Petracca was incredible, OMac's second half gives us all something to at least get excited about (with the likely exception of @stevethemanjordan), Oliver lifted as the game went on. 

Hibberd is an absolute star, his spoil is what got the ball to Watts for the sealer and was just one of a series of important things he did.

And as for the umpiring, that is the exact narrative Collingwood wants to drive post-game: that we "stole" it from them because of free kicks. That is rubbish. We won the game because we were better than they were for longer periods. They were on top for one quarter, we won the other three. We had a more even distribution across the ground, we learned from our mistakes and won the clearances in the second half, and we were cleaner with the ball than they were. Yes, there were some decisions which clearly went in our favour (Dunn did not chop TMac's arm, Hibberd didn't handpass it, etc.), but that's not why we won (just like it's never why we lose).

We've now played 6 games since Spencer went down (with Gawn already injured), for a 4-2 record. Whilst the only strong side in that 6 was Adelaide, we also beat Essendon, GC and Collingwood, three sides who are thereabouts and fighting with us for a spot in the 8. So I rate our past 6 weeks, ruckless (and largely Hogan-less) as exceptional.

And a shout out to Goodwin who made some key changes at half time. The biggest one IMO was moving Melksham off Pendlebury. Melksham was in at centre bounces in the first half which had us playing with only two real midfielders and I think that contributed to their clearance dominance. Not that I thought Melksham was that bad, and certainly Pendlebury was quiet, but I think we set up better in the stoppages after half time (moving TMac into the ruck and Pedersen forward was also important).

2 hours ago, dimmy said:

A few notes from the stats:

• Grundy was close to best on ground today because he gave the C'wood midfielders a free ride in the 1st half but Tom's bullocking efforts around the sdtoppagers enabled our mids to get back into the game.

I thought he was pretty average actually. We've seen some ruckmen get the better of us this year (e.g. McEvoy and Goldstein) but IMO it wasn't Grundy, it was their mids (and Treloar and Sidebottom in particular).

I think taking Melksham off Pendlebury and getting three midfielders in there, coupled with our mids learning to read Grundy more as the game went on, is what shifted things. And around the ground I didn't think Grundy did much.

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

Because every game pretty much feels the same this season with a few slightly different final-quarter outcomes - may as well merge the the threads into a giant Post-March Discussion. (Rhetorical: is there a match yet where we haven't been down by exactly four-to-five goals at some stage? ).

IIRC, only two: Carlton and Essendon.

I'll double check but I am confident in each of the other 9, we've been down by 20+.

35 minutes ago, Brownie said:

collingwood big footy saying our players were inciting their fans.

hysterical

Melbourne players inciting the crowd | BigFooty
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/melbourne-players-inciting-the-crowd.1168293/

Gold

 

 

Worth laminating

6 minutes ago, Crompton's the man said:

Not being mean but ....

 

Sean Smith ?

Shaun's little bro?

4 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Umpires helped us a lot.

Oscar was VAFA in the first half but All Australian in the second.

Fitting that Watts kicked the sealer, an excellent goal at that.

Tyson does himself no favours.

Team selection still wrong despite the win.

On a personal note, Mini Bizkit was born a few days ago, bought her membership last night so today she was our good luck charm.

 

Gee tough I thought Oscar good all day!

6 minutes ago, Crompton's the man said:

Not being mean but ....

 

Sean Smith ?

Yeh might not be popular for this but I think he has him covered in terms of pure height of leap

38 minutes ago, Brownie said:

collingwood big footy saying our players were inciting their fans.

hysterical

Melbourne players inciting the crowd | BigFooty
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/melbourne-players-inciting-the-crowd.1168293/

Haha have a whinge. 

They're just upset that they don't follow a successful club. 

4 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

That is Jack Watts, I assume?  Re Jack Watts, not bad effort given he played on a bad ankle and went off in the 1st quarter with a back problem which he carried thru the game.  Hopefully no-one pots him for lacking courage...

Truer words were never spoken,  herculian effort Jacky Baby!!!!!!!

4 minutes ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

Yeh might not be popular for this but I think he has him covered in terms of pure height of leap

What a leap!! Insane...

Queens Birthday Redemption: Jack is deserving of getting into his fluro skwosh pants, doing some blow, doing some dough and calling some grrrllls. 

42 minutes ago, Brownie said:

collingwood big footy saying our players were inciting their fans.

hysterical

Melbourne players inciting the crowd | BigFooty
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/melbourne-players-inciting-the-crowd.1168293/

Collingwood fans are all class on that site.

"Umpires won it for Daniher." 

Just a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. 

I couldn't be happier for Jones or Watts. Sixth place! 

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Will be very interesting to see where Hogan fits into the forward line when he comes back. 

What is his optimum role..?

Replacing a bloke called Bugg who would struggle to kick a goal if the world depoended on it! 

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

Collingwood fans are all class on that site.

"Umpires won it for Daniher." 

Just a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. 

I couldn't be happier for Jones or Watts. Sixth place! 

Pathetic mentioning Daniher and Stynes. Scum

6 minutes ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

Yeh might not be popular for this but I think he has him covered in terms of pure height of leap

Maybe it's nostalgia but I reckon his mark vs Sydney is still better. Bloody fantastic leap, I think Sean Smith's is still better by a whisker.

I liked Howe, wasn't stoked we let him go but at the same time I'm not worried that he's something we're lacking. That said, fact we got Ben Kennedy shows we are definitely the loser in that deal.

No complaints about umpires from me this week, very unassuming display on their part. This season not good for my heart, especially winning tight against the mortal enemy.

 In fact people ringing up to see if i'm ok after these close games. Real team effort was required to win that today and Daniher/ Jones was a great moment.

52 minutes ago, Brownie said:

collingwood big footy saying our players were inciting their fans.

hysterical

Melbourne players inciting the crowd | BigFooty
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/melbourne-players-inciting-the-crowd.1168293/

Hilarious.....gee they like the word "fl-g" don't they....I suppose English language not a strong point.

Before the game this morning I watched the replay of last years QB match.  It was a fantastic performance, and the guys were clearly excited to play well and win on a big stage.

One thing I found interesting was Trengove.  I know Demonlanders say he's not fast enough etc etc, but his decision making is excellent and he is a beautiful kick who doesn't turn it over.  These are 2 things we could do with.

I think we have to acknowledge Goodwins coaching. I think he has been great so far especially on game day. He makes timely moves, gets good match ups and seems to get the team to lift when they're down.

50 minutes ago, Brownie said:

collingwood big footy saying our players were inciting their fans.

hysterical

Melbourne players inciting the crowd | BigFooty
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/melbourne-players-inciting-the-crowd.1168293/

Too funny! The Pies fans were have always been into Watts and booed him when he kicked the sealer, I hope it made it hurt even more for those idiots!

I dare someone on here to make an account and start a thread entitled "Who replaces Bucks?" Will that incite them? 

3 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Jordan Lewis is almost done. He will still be useful to keep around. But the speed of today's game was too quick for him. 

were you saying that in the first month of footy ?

Just now, chook fowler said:

I think we have to acknowledge Goodwins coaching. I think he has been great so far especially on game day. He makes timely moves, gets good match ups and seems to get the team to lift when they're down.

I don't know if he always get his match ups right from the get go but I think he's showing great adaptability to situations. Trying different things to motivate players and he seems to get his message across in a very clear manor.

Still early days but I think we've got ourselves a very astute coach here.

dunno   some fella called jmac70 had it right...thread>>>> Pathetic

6 minutes ago, Pates said:

I liked Howe, wasn't stoked we let him go but at the same time I'm not worried that he's something we're lacking. That said, fact we got Ben Kennedy shows we are definitely the loser in that deal.

Actually, we also got the draft pick that we traded (along with our first rounder) for pick 3. With pick 3 we selected Clayton Oliver.

So, in essence, we traded Howe and a first rounder for Oliver (and Kennedy).

1 minute ago, Axis of Bob said:

Actually, we also got the draft pick that we traded (along with our first rounder) for pick 3. With pick 3 we selected Clayton Oliver.

So, in essence, we traded Howe and a first rounder for Oliver (and Kennedy).

Oh well in that case, play on!

wow the pies fans are all class aren't they. 

They've lost to this "tinpot" club four times now, they mouthed off all week about how they are a "successful club" and we aren't and they couldn't back it up. 

They lost today because when we lifted our intensity, they weren't good enough to match us. They have grundy who is seen as the best ruckman in rhe minute vs pedo and we were plus 8 in clearances in the second half. 

We were first in, they couldn't match it. 

I can't stand the arrogance of the pies supporters because they seemingly can't see that their emotional connection to a. Club legend is causing them to make horrific off field decisions and has led them to the start of what I suspect will be a decent period of mediocrity until they finally sack him

How good is that Hibberd bloke. Quietly goes about his business. Super reliable.

Recruit of the year I would have thought.