Jones must be learning from Lewis. In the last quarter lowered his eyes and hit up a couple of dinky passes inside 50 for shots at goals. Normally he blazes away.

30 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

 

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

I think there is a better than even chance of this. 

1 minute ago, Stretch Johnson said:

I think there is a better than even chance of this. 

Was the third year designated as coaching or is it more of an unwritten understanding that would be the case?

Equal third B&F last season and consistently one of our best players. Who could that be? 

A lot of us are seeing the same things,  holes in the side, disorganisation down back,  unsettled 22, form issues etc.  

On our side is that no team looks dominant at this stage and history,  especially recent history shows that it is all about timing your form.  

4 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Was the third year designated as coaching or is it more of an unwritten understanding that would be the case?

No I am basing it on nothing other than a feeling that both club and player will see this as the best way forward at the end of the season. 

Lewis is a proud player and he will be aware of his limitations.

Lewis got the hard ones when he had to, slotted the calming, leadership goal, doesn’t mind the hard stuff at all.

Sadly time is catching up.   

Been very useful for us, like Bernie.

Lots to offer blokes like Bugg, Frizer and the young blokes.

Hope he tickles a few Hawks up next as a reminder.

Grateful he came to us. Shows he’s also smart.

 

Just now, Dockett 32 said:

Lewis got the hard ones when he had to, slotted the calming, leadership goal, doesn’t mind the hard stuff at all.

Sadly time is catching up.   

Been very useful for us, like Bernie.

Lots to offer blokes like Bugg, Frizer and the young blokes.

Hope he tickles a few Hawks up next as a reminder.

Grateful he came to us. Shows he’s also smart.

 

And still has nearly 2 years left on his contract FFS

3 minutes ago, SFebey said:

And still has nearly 2 years left on his contract FFS

After this year, he has one year left.

My understanding is that he came to us so he could eventually move into coaching. As stated above, the third year could be converted into an assistant coaching role.

2 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

After this year, he has one year left.

My understanding is that he came to us so he could eventually move into coaching. As stated above, the third year could be converted into an assistant coaching role.

Lol yes, seeing we are only 3 games in he still nearly has 2 whole years. This will be his last hopefully

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

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

Yes and maybe it's just me, but I thought his first half was horrible. His second half was much improved.

3 minutes ago, SFebey said:

Lol yes, seeing we are only 3 games in he still nearly has 2 whole years. This will be his last hopefully

My point is that he will see this year out either way. That will leave one year where he may not play. And that is a big if as he clearly has been a great player over a long period of time. 

That potential non playing third year will be spent in the coach's box.

We will get value out of the contract. 

1 hour ago, stevethemanjordan said:

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.

He and Bugg are the worst fumblers.

2 hours ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

That's nice, but why were you sitting with the North Cheer Squad?

Hahah becuase my 4.5yo likes to get the footy before and during the game when it’s kicked over the fence behind the goals. That and I thought it would be good for her to experience the game surrounded by a bunch of opposition fans who were going nuts. I’m so proud of her, everytime we kicked a goal she jumped up on her seat and waved her flag with gusto not giving a [censored] about the drunken rabble around us going off at the umps, their own team and of course our boys! At the end of he game she sung the song over and over again sitting on my shoulders surrounded by the sullen hoards!

A day I will remember for the rest of my life ❤️

Lewis does go to ground too much in contests but I never imagined he would have to do as much as he is currently doing. Last week he had the most intercept possies (Hibberd? Lever? Where are you?) this week he gets 20 (!) uncontested possies (ANB, Melksham, Harmes? 10, 10 and 9...).

Lewis is being asked (or just does it like the leader he is) to do more than he should be because our next tier mids-link players are not travelling that well tbh. Our midfield depth is so overrated...

5 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

No he didn’t.

It wasn’t just the softness of the free kicks but the inconsistency of the umpires to pay them the other way, especially against Brown.

This is what I dread at our games from umpires. See my post on Rnd 3 review. 

2 hours ago, 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.

Doesn't like Melbournefc, so labels us in the formal tones.

IMO its a sort of wannabe takeover from eddie, to drown us so the Pies step into our shoes.

2 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Lewis does go to ground too much in contests but I never imagined he would have to do as much as he is currently doing. Last week he had the most intercept possies (Hibberd? Lever? Where are you?) this week he gets 20 (!) uncontested possies (ANB, Melksham, Harmes? 10, 10 and 9...).

Lewis is being asked (or just does it like the leader he is) to do more than he should be because our next tier mids-link players are not travelling that well tbh. Our midfield depth is so overrated...

The talent is there. Talent alone does not equal outcome.

51 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Jones must be learning from Lewis. In the last quarter lowered his eyes and hit up a couple of dinky passes inside 50 for shots at goals. Normally he blazes away.

This is the sort of thing that explains the getting of Lewis. Better thinking >>>better results

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

I've been pretty positive this year, however, I left the game a little disappointed.  It was a bit of a reality check for me.  We need to get a lot better if we're going to be a serious challenger in 2018.  We have far too many ordinary players.

Our skill level still isn't great and teams still get out the back far too easily, which means our defensive structures still need plenty of work.

The only saving grace is that there are no real standout teams.  All teams have issues and ordinary players.  But we're a fair way off being a really organised unit.  There are way too many holes and our ball movement needs a lot of work.   

That said, I think Viney will make a big difference around the ball when he gets back in.  We miss him around the stoppages.

I know I'm being a little negative and I expect we'll continue to get better and more familiar with the tweaks in the game-plan.  I'm just not sure we've got the personnel to do much this year.  I certainly don't see a top 4 side.

Pretty much my sentiments too. There were a couple of moments after the first quarter where our midfield completely switched off and it became a training drill in ball movement for North. The top sides don't switch off like this, however, I see enough room for improvement and with a bit of luck with injuries, we could still be a top 4 team if things click at the back end of the year.

3 hours ago, juzzk1d said:

I said to my friends at half time at the game that Oliver needs to be played and isolated at full forward as he was getting held well by Jacobs. 

Why did it take Goodwin up until 3 minuets left in the last quarter when the game was iced to tactically make this move? As soon as he did as well, he kicked two goals. Baffles me how Goody didn’t proactively do this earlier. 

Probably because Clarry was still winning clearances. But I agree, I would have tried it earlier too.

 

3 minutes ago, DV8 said:

Doesn't like Melbournefc, so labels us in the formal tones.

IMO its a sort of wannabe takeover from eddie, to drown us so the Pies step into our shoes.

seriously ???

we are simply irrelevant to Eddie and the other power brokers of the AFL.

If anyone challenge the Pies financially it will be Richmond, Adelaide or WC.

6 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Yep., good to recover as we did but for all the Dees' spectators around me in the Northern Stand -  balanced,  reserved, experienced and mature people -  the first Qtr umpiring was atrocious as North were "given" three highly questionable frees in front of goal, keeping them in the game at that early point.  Brown is a stager of great skill and in the first order.  He plays for frees all game.  He gets frees,  all game. This 'advantage' for North was a considerable low-light of the game and a very noticeable hurdle affecting the expected justice administration by umpires of the rules of the game.  It persisted into the 2nd Qtr until there was limited credibility in any umpiring decisions left and at that point,  the excesses of the umpires ceased,  and the Dees came from well behind to stake their interest in proceedings. It reminds us all that at times,  umpires regard themselves as pre-race weight handicappers to enhance the excitement of the moment and to even-up their perceived differentials between the combatants. Too often, the public perception is that umpires settle into '... Making correct calls... '  as payback for early indiscretions, costly exaggerations and blind-eyed favouritism. 

Would love to have actual stat on goals from frees yesterday, looked like 7 of Norths 13 came from frees or down field relays.

Brown gets a dream run, elbows someone in the head nothing!

2 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

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?

Viney goes in for Wagner (stiff) or ANB and Tmac comes in for one of our small forwards.

Goodwin and co are only experimenting with the smaller forwardline at the moment out of necessity. 

With those two guys available you'll basically see our best 22 and our 'ideal set up.

29 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Lewis does go to ground too much in contests but I never imagined he would have to do as much as he is currently doing. Last week he had the most intercept possies (Hibberd? Lever? Where are you?) this week he gets 20 (!) uncontested possies (ANB, Melksham, Harmes? 10, 10 and 9...

I agree with all of what you say but the reason that he gets those is because of the role he plays..and clearly because he has a fair bit of nous and experience. 

Fortunately he plays the role well,  unfortunately it is about the only role that he is capable of playing at this stage of his career.   If the game demands that he play a more accountable and combative role he can't cut it anymore. 

No slight on the bloke,  it's just the way it is now.   But it does put Goodwin and co in a difficult position, especially leading into the business end of the season. 

I actually believe that if you gave HIbberd the role he would do it far better and be in the best every week. 

 

Reading a truckload of negativity from the usual suspects

Make no mistake, this was a bloody good win against a team that plays hard and fast