Did we not play Collingwood recently when they were massive underdogs and finals were on the line.

Wow ... deja vu so quickly

Banana is killing us.

Out of the last 6 quarters of football we have been kept goalless for 3 of them. 

 

 

Goodbye season 2018. Pathetic effort against a rubbish team.

What a crap game

I think we need to face the fact that this team just can't kick.  Against some opponents our ball-winning will get us over the line, but that disgraceful lack of ball-skills is killing us tonight. 

Same as last week game should have been over at half time, dominated only they just can’t kick no point having that much domination if you can’t hit targets in the forward line, they really should turn this comp into the AFLX format not enough skilled players 

Never seen them play worse 

Clangers kiiled us 2 weeks in a row and Lions next week will put out any hope of a grand final appearance

Coach needs to concentrare on doing the basics right 

Someine should tell them there was oposition  in black aqnd white jumpers the same ones you kicked it too all day

Well ?

That went downhill faster than a MtBuller skiier ?

Never seen them play worse 

Clangers kiiled us 2 weeks in a row and Lions next week will put out any hope of a grand final appearance

Coach needs to concentrare on doing the basics right 

Someine should tell them there was oposition  in black aqnd white jumpers the same ones you kicked it too all day

Against Collingwood....why why why

  On 24/02/2018 at 08:55, Perago Validus said:

Thoughts on the coach? 

Who really knows as his resume looks decent enough  I do worry that skills and development dont appear to improve and after looking at the descision making and execuyon errors under NO PRESSURE in this game I am more concerned about our recruiting to spot the differnce in gifted athletes who can develop football smarts 

Do you have to lose against Collingwood?

Back to the game...

...a very astute observation by Peta Searle:  “Melbourne’s defenders are...playing in front of their opponents and they want to get easy handball receives, they want to get easy ball off the back of contests. So if you can turn the ball over, they’re going to get caught out of position,”

Evidenced by this stat: Scores from turnovers - The Pies 7.3 to Melbourne’s 1.3. That says it all!

Searle's comments seem a bit harsh but its our zone-style game plan which relies on getting possession and quick ball movement.  When the other team plays a physical style we loose possession - we simply aren't good enough yet to play zone and need a balance back to 'man-on-man'.

That is two weeks in a row vs lowly teams we have given up good quarter time leads, had scoreless quarters then lost the game.

Coach has some work to do.

  On 24/02/2018 at 09:06, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

The team have been here since Freo game, almost 40 degrees daily while getting out and about.

 

stupid preparation for a game...

Interesting comment RGRS.

Apparently, Collingwood gave their players ice vests and other means to keep cool during the game and at the breaks. 

Our coach told players to stay out of the sun as much as possible and don't think or talk about the heat!  For him to then say it was lack of work rate (code for lack of effort) is really disappointing and I would imagine quite deflating for the team.

Someone should tell him they aren't robots!

  On 24/02/2018 at 20:54, Lucifer's Hero said:

Interesting comment RGRS.

Apparently, Collingwood gave their players ice vests and other means to keep cool during the game and at the breaks. 

Our coach told players to stay out of the sun as much as possible and don't think or talk about the heat!  For him to then say it was lack of work rate (code for lack of effort) is really disappointing and I would imagine quite deflating for the team.

Someone should tell him they aren't robots!

Well that’s another choke that cost us the season. I’d say it’s mathematically impossible to make it now.

Daisy was quiet and down on form as were a number of teammates. At lest there were a few decent kicks and marks.

One thing you can take from this game was that it was pretty high scoring for a female match.

  On 24/02/2018 at 08:55, Perago Validus said:

Thoughts on the coach? 

When I saw this (and your other posts) last night, I thought some of your comments about Stinear may have been a bit harsh.  But seeing how the game played out you make some valid points.

We have the most talented team in the comp.  Elite players all over the field.  Proven game winners (many are multiple premiership players in the VFL).  Yet Stinear doesn't seem to know how to get the best out of them. 

Nor does he have the game plan to win against the 'blue collar' teams that get down and dirty and prevent the elite players having an impact.  Collingwood shut down our engine room last right and Stinear didn't react.  They were aggressive in their forward half and Stinear didn't react.  Turnover after turnover scores and he didn't react.   It seems he has plan A - let the talent do the work but no plan B when things don't go our way.

To hear him then talk about lack of work rate after the gruelling week the players have had is really disappointing.  Its a team effort and I would have liked to seem him take a more collective line than put it all on the players.

It will be a tragedy if this group of elite players miss out on success because of poor management and poor coaching.  I'm not suggesting Stinear should go but he needs to take a long hard look at what he is doing and work out how to get the best from this highly talented and highly motivated group.

Stinear is being outcoached.

CAN’T STAND THE HEAT by Ruby Tuesday 

Melbourne’s hopes of winning AFLW silverware in 2018 melted away dramatically in the 37 degree hear at TIO Traeger Park when it wilted after holding its opponents scoreless then losing its grip on a game for the second time in the space of less than a week.

This time the Demons suffered a complete mauling at the hands of previously winless Collingwood who applied power and pressure against a team that was a premiership fancy just seven days ago. 

After the first break, the Magpies embarrassed and outscored them by eight goals to winning 9.4.58 to 3.6.24. The fact that the team was on a six day break on the road and in the heat was no excuse for the sloppy play and capitulation to a team that was sitting on the bottom of the ladder.

The Demons’ playmaker Daisy Pearce was well held, leaving much of the hard work to far to few. The best of the bunch were Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea but it was disappointing that so few stood up against a tough Magpie outfit that had all of the answers. 

The Dees were somehow still in the game early in the last quarter when down by 17 points but in the end they were far too easily brushed aside. In particular, the defence was easily ruffled and gave away too many easy goals. 

The team returns home this week to regroup for a must win game after another six day break against Brisbane at Casey Fields on Friday night.

Melbourne  2.2.14 2.2.14 3.4.22 3.6.24 

Collingwood 0.0.0 3.2.20 6.4.40 9.4.58

Goals

Melbourne Hore Mifsud O'Dea

Collingwood Hope Edwards 2 Barden Bernardi Chiocci Hutchins Kuys 

Best

Melbourne Paxman, Downie O'Dea Cunningham Jakobsson

Collingwood Bernardi Lambert Chiocci Bonnici, Hope King

Injuries

Melbourne Cranston (hand) Smith (concussion)

Collingwood Nil

Reports Nil

Umpires Galbraith, Crosby, Broadbent

Estimated crowd 2,000 at TIO Traeger Park

After the Freo game started to have doubts about the coaching

With the wind kicking into the dead pocket both quarters

not learning from the First quarter mistakes

On a other thought does Rocky remind anyone other than me of Diamond Jim Tillbrook in full flight

same kicking style too

Are they over-complicating the game plan?

As other have mentioned, we just need to get the basics right.

Last weekend they were trying to pay along the boundary all the time when the better option was to get the ball into the corridor.

I haven't seen the last couple of games, but the signs were there in the GWS game.

We want to play a possession game, but the majority of our players are poor kicks. Far better to boot the ball forward through the middle of the ground, and create a contest down the ground (and we are a very good contested side), rather than chipping backwards and sideways.

Our defenders are not great in 1 on 1 contests, and I'm not sure that they read the game particularly well. Can we afford not to have Hickey playing in defence?

I feel for our forwards who suffer from slow ball movement and poor delivery. 

I have concerns about the game style and out ability to play the game on our terms, both of which are a reflection of the coach. Having said that, there is really no excuse for a lack of effort at this point in a short season.

If this club fails to make finals this year, with the playing list it has, it would be an absolute disaster and a clear sign that changes are required at the top. I assume the likes of Paxman and O'Dea would be prime recruiting targets as marquee players for the expansion clubs - we desperately need to give them reason to stick around.

Very disappointing. That's easily the worst performance we've put in yet.

The complete lack of a plan B was frustrating. I understand the thinking behind 'sticking to the process' (Stinear's words at 3 quarter time) as a way to instill belief and confidence, but at some point you have to try something different. Like when your season's on the line.

Our defenders looked really loose (due in part to the game plan). Trying to guard space in those conditions is way too taxing mentally - much easier for defenders to stick next to their player and put their energy into the spoil/intercept. Which, when you've got Downie and Jakobsson down there, who've proven they can read the play well, just makes sense. Bernadi tore us apart.

Our midfield didn't get the service they're used to from the ruck, but that happens. They weren't hard enough in winning the ball, pure and simple. I felt like we were too intent on preserving players rather than putting the best in when the game needed steadying in the second quarter.

There were way too many times when the ball was at Hoare's feet and she was battling to pick it up rather than the players who we want to have first use. Too many players trying to break tackles ineffectively (Hickey). We've been good in this area in other games, but when it's not working, again and again, you have to try something else.

Forwards had few chances and didn't make the most of those that came. Mifsud looks much slower and less dynamic than last season - is it just me who thinks this? A bit underdone?

On the positives - I liked the looks of Cordner in flashes. Took a great mark in (I think) the last quarter. Rocky showed some good energy in the forward arc. Cunningham tried hard but has a bit to learn in marking contests, she'll get there.

We'll really see what we're made of this week. Backs against the wall, will we turn up?

Not really surprised with the result.

A six day break after travelling to Perth and then having to play in 37 degree heat! No wonder the girls had nothing left in the tank.

Fixturing was appalling and time of match was even worse.  Anybody knows you don't go to central Australia in summer.....except obviously the AFL.