One thing I will say is that I cannot stand our aggressive backline zone and I'd much rather we played tighter like other clubs.

We simply don't have the players to be implementing that sort of zone. You need super smart and quick reacting key backs for that. Oscar and Frost are a nightmare. Jetta is way down, Wagner needs to close the gap between best and worst and Lever is in no-mans land because of the utter chaos it is back there when the ball come in.

  On 07/04/2018 at 22:16, america de cali said:

Um, amazing all the negativity, for me this is the best Melbourne side since early 2000 and something. I have been a cynic and skeptic for many years but I believe we are seriously top four material ATM. Only lost 3 quarters, dominate most play around the ground and score heavily despite inefficiency. Other sides seem to be playing reactive football against us. Trying to exploit our weaknesses rather than their strengths. As I said before what we most lack is killer instinct but the mental demons seem to be fading. Goodwin getting caned by arm chair experts is puzzling me. It’s only his second season and we are rising with a bullet. Hard challenges ahead but I believe we at the stage where we can overcome them.

I agree, we still look a bit sloppy but seem to be playing some decent footy. If the "flow" of our game clicks we will be very hard to stop. We've been more inclined to knock the ball on, move it forward at all costs this year which is part of the reason for the sloppy play but our inside 50 differentials have been marked in each game. If we can start converting more opportunities we will be smashing sides off the park. 

Opposition having high inside 50 conversion rates seems to be a by product of the game plan but if we can convert more of ours it won't matter.

  On 07/04/2018 at 22:32, Brownie said:

Johnathan Brown said it was the best game he's seen a ruckman play in the last decade.

Gawn was a beast yesterday. His work rate and effort is beautiful to watch.

If his body holds up this year, he's got to be in the hunt for the brownlow.

Another step forward for our footy club yesterday. A lot of our problems have been above the shoulders. 

While we're on the commentary did anyone else notice that McGuire would always refer to us as "Melbourne" or "The Melbourne club/side" or "the Melbourne Football Club" - he never refers to us as the Demons. Is that his Irish Catholic heritage showing? He'll always refer to other sides by their nicknames.

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:12, Dr. Gonzo said:

While we're on the commentary did anyone else notice that McGuire would always refer to us as "Melbourne" or "The Melbourne club/side" or "the Melbourne Football Club" - he never refers to us as the Demons. Is that his Irish Catholic heritage showing? He'll always refer to other sides by their nicknames.

Didn’t notice that Dr. Maybe u r looking too much into it. 

  On 07/04/2018 at 12:58, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

It amazes me that for someone of Daws size and strength that he can be pushed off the ball or out of the way so easily. 

Good for us but not so much for him. 

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:20, DemonOX said:

It amazes me that for someone of Daws size and strength that he can be pushed off the ball or out of the way so easily. 

Good for us but not so much for him. 

Too top heavy like an upside down bowling pin. Has magpie legs.

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

Dean Kents 2017 was ruined by multiple injuries, and its easy to forget that in 2016 he played 20 games, and averaged 16 possessions and kicked 25 goals.

20 touches and 3 goals on his return, fantastic stuff.

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

Yes. 

His ability to compete has unfortunately left him. 

Still has nous but his value is now severely limited.

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

Yes yes yes. I thought it was just me. It is infuriating indeed. It is his first instinct every time. 

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

Of course, I think almost everyone sees it. Sign of getting old I think. He will still leave a gaping hole when he hangs up the boots though. Unfortunately he is probably the best player at the club in terms of waiting for an option to open up before disposing of the ball and he almost always hits a target with his kicking. We could do with a few more players that are composed with the ball in hand that don't blaze away.

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

Yep. He has lost the little pace he had, and also now his core strength. Constantly falling over. He is only in the side for me because he is Jordan Lewis. I prefer Brayshaw got a game, but I underhand that he brings maturity and calm to the side and he was pretty good yesterday. 

Certainy on his last leg. Unlike Vince who I think has been wonderful this year. 

I remember last week wiseblood called Norf pretenders.

Didnt share his confidence at quarter time.

So stoked with this win.

Another notch on the embarrassing records broken post.

Vintage max.

Aweome jesse.

Powerful trac.

Cant wait 4 viney and tmac but who comes out?

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:40, Petraccattack said:

Dean Kents 2017 was ruined by multiple injuries, and its easy to forget that in 2016 he played 20 games, and averaged 16 possessions and kicked 25 goals.

20 touches and 3 goals on his return, fantastic stuff.

Hes back now. Love his hardness. Tough nut.

Whats going on with vanders?

When Kent tunes in for 100 minutes , runs hard both ways and tackles with ferocity, he’s a beauty. 

I loved that intercept goal from Garlett when the ump called advantage for norf after a sus free.

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

His first touch has been average at best. Fumbles first and goes straight to ground.

A positive that he steadied in the second half and ended up being one of our best thanks to his ball use.

Like so many of our players atm, wildly inconsistent in their performances on game day.

We’re an enigma.

  On 07/04/2018 at 08:05, CityDee said:

One official hoodoo remains to conquer? 

Key forwards kicking straight?

  On 07/04/2018 at 22:19, Brownie said:

it seemed like blatant cheating. we need to lodge something with the afl

Umpire Fleer into the Black Book.

Howler!!!!!!!!

So happy to finally beat North, I had forgotten how much I hate them and how great it feels to beat them.

On the other hand we still haven’t put 4 quarters together. I worry about our forward set-up and the way we are passing into it, as well as being very predictable to defend. Also our backline still has holes and we get cut up far too easily by quick players on transition.

I hope we can rectify these things moving forward. How great is it to beat North!!!

I think Jordie is the conscience of the team. I don't mean in that he is some kind of moral policeman making the team upstanding citizens or humanitarian role models.

He is there to get them to slow down when tempo needs to be retaken and to put egos back into place. I have seen him quoted as saying that the overboard nature of some of our reactions after victories has annoyed him at times and it has been something he has jumped on.

If this is his last year, look for a move straight into the Melbourne coaching panel next year. 

 

  On 08/04/2018 at 00:22, Dockett 32 said:

Umpire Fleer into the Black Book.

Howler!!!!!!!!

Yep he was worse than that reptile nichols.

  On 08/04/2018 at 00:22, Dockett 32 said:

Umpire Fleer into the Black Book.

Howler!!!!!!!!

Howler ? He wasn't that good.

Its amazing how much our expectations can change season to season. I thought we just went yet we broke the hoodoo and strolled away to a 37 point win. Intent at the contest was good and our clearance work thanks to Max sublime. 2 way running mediocre with execution by foot and ball handling poor but use by hand good. We defended well inside the forward 50 and ok in defensive 50 but still too many go for one ball. Of our high quality players Gawn, Hogan, Jones and Trac at expectations while the lesser lights in O-Mac, Wagner, Salem, Bugg and Kent played much better.

Now consider we recovered from a poor start against a team that has mentally and strategically had us for a decade and we turned it around to smash them in every facet of the game aside from the scoreboard. Yet even with the scoreboard it was the highest score of the Goodwin era. 

I left disappointed not in the result but in the fact you can see that we are not far off putting it all together. Next week against the team I believe to be the best drilled side in the comp will be a good assessment. I really do think we need to fast track some speed into the side. I suspect that Kent in was part of that but probably one down back and one through the middle is needed from somewhere. I love him dearly but Jetta looks like he is on his last legs and it will be interesting to see how he goes next week.He is either carrying or has lost his lateral movement over the summer that has previously made up for his lack of speed

  On 07/04/2018 at 23:29, ProDee said:

Anyone else get infuriated by the amount of times Lewis unnecessarily goes to ground ?

He’s old mate and needs to rest where he can!

i did notice this is the first game this season that he didn’t give away a stupid free kick and cost us a goal.