"It shouldn't be the end, it should be the beginning"

[rolling fog 1,207]

Apologies if this has been posted, commented on elsewhere already. I had a look around and couldn't find on here yet.

Below article from Caro published on The Age this morning: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbournes-finals-miss-burns-in-the-players-guts-nathan-jones-20170828-gy5rno.html 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has described the collective "shock and disappointment" still reverberating around the club after missing out on the finals "after a season that promised so much."

A shattered Bartlett said it was too soon to take a publicly analyse what had gone wrong for the Demons following Saturday's upset loss to Collingwood but that he hoped the disappointment would "galvanise us as a club."

"It's pretty raw at the moment," said Bartlett. "We're very disappointed. We're very disappointed for our members and for our fans after a season that promised so much. We played some first class footy and so much of it was fresh and it was exciting.

"It shouldn't be the end it should be the beginning. I hope that things like this would galvanise us as a club."

Melbourne was placed fifth after round 14 but the Collingwood loss was its fifth in nine games and the club ultimately missed finals by 0.5 per cent.

•  

Having required only a win at the MCG on Saturday to play a role in September the club expected this week to have provided a launching pad into their first finals appearance in more than a decade. Instead Melbourne players were conducting exit interviews with coach Simon Goodwin and planning a more sombre version of 'Mad Monday'.

Bartlett said the pivotal West Coast victory was witnessed by some groups of players, officials and coaches while others deliberately chose not to watch.

"Our players and supporters were pretty emotional for the season to end like it did and speaking personally it's just a feeling of shock and disappointment."

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones blamed their agonising miss on a season of inconsistency.

"It's obviously a pretty bitter pill to swallow," Jones said. "The players are hurting as much as our supporters would be livid when the opportunity was there and we let it slip.

"It's a culmination of results ... rather than just the first-quarter performance against Collingwood (that) has led us to this position.

"Hopefully it burns in the players' gut over the pre-season."

Sidelined by a leg injury, Jones was by himself on Sunday as he watched their finals spot snatched from them.

"I locked myself down and sat on the couch," he said.

"It's one of the more nerve-racking situations I've been in ... frustration and anger."

Despite the agonising near-miss, Jones is bullish about their future.

"We're well aware of where we sit in our journey, there are going to be ups and downs," he said.

"That can be quite frustrating at times, particularly to our supporters who have been through such a range of emotions and such a downward spiral over the past decade.

"To see us on the improve ... with hope and the opportunity that was there for this season, to see it slip like it has, is a bitter pill to swallow.

"But hopefully it leaves us in a better position as a footy club and as a playing group for the experience.".

Edited August 28, 2017 by the rolling fog
Correct grammar

[jackaub 1,402]

Yayayayayayayaya! Again tired of listening time to switch off

[Sydee 4,205]

The MFC is gifted at carefully crafted statements to deflect from the core problem. That is they are not hungry enough to taste the ultimate success - it's been that way for many many years - I find it hard to see it changing any time soon , if at all. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

The performances of other teams in the final round to "get it done" speaks volumes about the lack of hunger or belief that is deeply engrained.

[What 18,810]

Melbourne was placed fifth after round 14 but the Collingwood loss was its fifth in nine games and the club ultimately missed finals by 0.5 per cent.

 

Same crap thats been happening for 50 years.    Remember when we were on top of he ladder in 2004 after 18 rounds then missed the top 4?

[Dee Zephyr 19,174]

I don't want to hear " Hopefully it burns in the guts all summer."

All I want to hear is that effort was UNACCEPTABLE!!!!

[layzie 33,022]

11 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Melbourne was placed fifth after round 14 but the Collingwood loss was its fifth in nine games and the club ultimately missed finals by 0.5 per cent.

 

Same crap thats been happening for 50 years.    Remember when we were on top of he ladder in 2004 after 18 rounds then missed the top 4?

Yeah that was the first thing I thought of when reading that

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

16 minutes ago, Sydee said:

The MFC is gifted at carefully crafted statements to deflect from the core problem. That is they are not hungry enough to taste the ultimate success - it's been that way for many many years - I find it hard to see it changing any time soon , if at all. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

The performances of other teams in the final round to "get it done" speaks volumes about the lack of hunger or belief that is deeply engrained.

Oath.

The way Jones speaks about us missing finals due to a "culmination of results" during the season is evidence enough.

He deflects and defends the performance. I don't understand.

It should be viewed in the exact opposite way. The culmination of results during the season got us into a position whereby we would make finals if we won our last game of the year.

A game against a Collingwood side who were missing Pendlebury, De Goey, Wells, Ben Reid, Varcoe and Greenwood.

For all the posters who do nothing but defend on this forum and you know who you are, I have this to pose:

If you believe it's a furphy that our club has serious deep-seated issues in what real success, ruthlessness and genuine understanding of moments of importance  look like then it must be a player thing.

And if it's a player thing, why do you lot defend the players who are rightfully criticised in games that are played in a similar fashion to the game against Collingwood?

You can't have it both ways. It's one, or the other. Or a little of both.

 

Edited August 28, 2017 by stevethemanjordan

[rolling fog 1,207]

That whole "Melbourne were placed 5th after Round 14" flies in the face of Goodwin's "where you are after Round 23 is what counts" mantra. 

I reckon we were pretty satisfied with 5th at Round 14 and what happened after that shows.

[praha 11,131]

Don't get too worked up over this stuff. It's pointless now. Move on and focus on next year.

[Go the Biff 3,360]

6 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

 

You can't have it both ways. It's one, or the other. Or a little of both.

 

How does that work ?

[chook fowler 19,266]

I'm happy with Bartletts response- after all what more could he say. The only thing that counts now is a ruthless trade period and a preseason from hell for the players.

[layzie 33,022]

As the president and figurehead of the club, there really isn't anything else he can say. I thought it was fine

[deelete my account 1,194]

Im tired of "i hope" it galvanizes our playing group or "i hope" it burns in the guts. Jones said it too. It either will or it wont, and for anyone that it wont, they should be on the trade table or out so its not applicable. So "IT WILL" galvanize our group and "IT WILL" burn in the guts of every player was something forthright i was hoping to hear from both.

But on the other hand, theyre being media managed to not provide black/white soundbytes for the media and opposition to use against you. So its not a big deal. 

"I hope" internally there is a "YOU WILL" do x y snd z type of bruntness going on now and Goodwin is channelling Malcolm Blight from his playing days with a more authoritarian (but fair) approach. It appears 18-30 year olds need constant reminding and motivating of the tasks they need performing. Perhaps the cotton wooling of independent young men who will make their own mind up if they will let it galvanize them' is not the right approach now.

Edited August 29, 2017 by Wrecked Owl Dees Function

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

20 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

How does that work ?

I'm talking about those who defend the club and suggest that neither are problems.

It's my position that it can only be one, the other or both.

Edit* (I could have worded it betterer).

 

Edited August 29, 2017 by stevethemanjordan

[jumbo returns 6,703]

Poor Jonesy - sent out to give some fluffy motherhood statement...

Enjoy your holidays, boys - take a footy with you wherever you go and handle the fkn thing 1,000 times a day!

[chook fowler 19,266]

1 hour ago, jumbo returns said:

Poor Jonesy - sent out to give some fluffy motherhood statement...

Enjoy your holidays, boys - take a footy with you wherever you go and handle the fkn thing 1,000 times a day!

As opposed to handling themselves

[steve_f 40]

On 29/08/2017 at 8:39 AM, the rolling fog said:

Apologies if this has been posted, commented on elsewhere already. I had a look around and couldn't find on here yet.

Below article from Caro published on The Age this morning: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbournes-finals-miss-burns-in-the-players-guts-nathan-jones-20170828-gy5rno.html 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has described the collective "shock and disappointment" still reverberating around the club after missing out on the finals "after a season that promised so much."

A shattered Bartlett said it was too soon to take a publicly analyse what had gone wrong for the Demons following Saturday's upset loss to Collingwood but that he hoped the disappointment would "galvanise us as a club."

"It's pretty raw at the moment," said Bartlett. "We're very disappointed. We're very disappointed for our members and for our fans after a season that promised so much. We played some first class footy and so much of it was fresh and it was exciting.

"It shouldn't be the end it should be the beginning. I hope that things like this would galvanise us as a club."

Melbourne was placed fifth after round 14 but the Collingwood loss was its fifth in nine games and the club ultimately missed finals by 0.5 per cent.

•  

Having required only a win at the MCG on Saturday to play a role in September the club expected this week to have provided a launching pad into their first finals appearance in more than a decade. Instead Melbourne players were conducting exit interviews with coach Simon Goodwin and planning a more sombre version of 'Mad Monday'.

Bartlett said the pivotal West Coast victory was witnessed by some groups of players, officials and coaches while others deliberately chose not to watch.

"Our players and supporters were pretty emotional for the season to end like it did and speaking personally it's just a feeling of shock and disappointment."

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones blamed their agonising miss on a season of inconsistency.

"It's obviously a pretty bitter pill to swallow," Jones said. "The players are hurting as much as our supporters would be livid when the opportunity was there and we let it slip.

"It's a culmination of results ... rather than just the first-quarter performance against Collingwood (that) has led us to this position.

"Hopefully it burns in the players' gut over the pre-season."

Sidelined by a leg injury, Jones was by himself on Sunday as he watched their finals spot snatched from them.

"I locked myself down and sat on the couch," he said.

"It's one of the more nerve-racking situations I've been in ... frustration and anger."

Despite the agonising near-miss, Jones is bullish about their future.

"We're well aware of where we sit in our journey, there are going to be ups and downs," he said.

"That can be quite frustrating at times, particularly to our supporters who have been through such a range of emotions and such a downward spiral over the past decade.

"To see us on the improve ... with hope and the opportunity that was there for this season, to see it slip like it has, is a bitter pill to swallow.

"But hopefully it leaves us in a better position as a footy club and as a playing group for the experience.".

A bit of a jackass for concentrating on the last match.  We missed out by 0.5% X 1934 points =  10 points.  We could have easily gone sleepy-bye-byes later in any of our wins to earn this.

Edited August 29, 2017 by steve_f

[Dee tention 611]

Get over it! The result is fact now...

This will be a springboard to sustained success...

I think Jones and Lewis have responded well to the week and season that was...

The club needs to be ruthless in trade and drafting. Player development needs to step up. 

Possibly gain Lever (need to concrete our back 6). Outside running/goal kicking midfielders required (I believe Melksham can develop into a very good one). A ruck/forward who is deficult to match up on (trade in Mason Cox).

Do we trade our 2018 1st Round pick this season? 

[jnrmac 19,905]

1 hour ago, steve_f said:

A bit of a jackass for concentrating on the last match.  We missed out by 0.5% X 1934 points =  10 points.  We could have easily gone sleepy-bye-byes later in any of our wins to earn this.

Not that it matters but it was 9 pts that we missed by......

[Big Demon 197]

Clique [censored], nobody cares

[DemonOX 8,710]

I still gutted from the weekend but since Roos took over we have overcome a lot of our issues and we all know there were a lot to deal with. 

Maybe this is the last major issue that the players need too overcome. By that I mean the mental lapses in a game which normally last for a quarter like the first against the collywobbles. 

I  struggling to remember a game where we played 4 quarters. I'm sure there was one but for the life of me I can't remember.  We won most of our games based on playing 3 quarters. 

If we can turn it around next season and actually play 4 quarters more often than not then imo we will be a really good team. 

That's a big if though. Lets hope (and i know that's all we've had for a long time) that the players feel this and act on it starting this preseason. 

Time will tell. 

Edited August 31, 2017 by DemonOX

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

I'm as gutted a anyone about missing finals but i swear this forum gives rise to a lot of irrational sooks. Suck it up people, there is no magic wand, we are building for long term success and i think the future looks better than it has in a long time. 

Sure there are problems, but we were an utter basket case and we are now trending the right way. I don't think there is any upside in crucifying the club because they don't word their anguish in a way that resonates for you specifically. 

[Nasher 33,607]

On 29/08/2017 at 3:32 PM, Go the Biff said:

How does that work ?

Steve has this view that if you're not attacking the club then you must be defending it. If you're not ranting and raving, you must be happy with how things are. I'm surprised anyone even bothers replying to him anymore tbh.

[Demonstone 21,849]

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

I'm surprised anyone even bothers replying to him anymore tbh.

I think that's why we have an 'ignore' function, thank Lucifer. 

[steve_f 40]

On 8/31/2017 at 2:53 PM, Nasher said:

Steve has this view that if you're not attacking the club then you must be defending it. If you're not ranting and raving, you must be happy with how things are. I'm surprised anyone even bothers replying to him anymore tbh.

I do not make that assumption but I am not accomplishing anything and obviously be annoying so I will stop.  Bye bye.