On 08/04/2018 at 07:05, jumbo returns said:

There's no such thing as the 'perfect' game

You are so, so embittered and damaged, that you don't allow that glimmer of hope that's in your chest, rise to the fore

This is a bloody good team and they beat another better than 'ordinary' team

Carry on....

 

I'm providing the counter to your posts and posts of others.

It creates balance on demonland. 

Cheers.

 

  On 07/04/2018 at 11:37, Jaded said:

Exactly. If I die today, at least I died watching us beat North! 

#lifewinning 

Jaded can you pls let us know what you were drinking when you booked the flight!??  Would have to be a rip snorting drop that!

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:13, stevethemanjordan said:

 

I'm providing the counter to your posts and that of others.

It creates balance on demonland. 

Cheers.

 

Actually, you don't

You make outlandish predictions

Don't worry, keep your dollar

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:15, jumbo returns said:

Actually, you don't

You make outlandish predictions

Don't worry, keep your dollar

Like Watts being a "star"?

Enough now Jumbo.

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:05, jumbo returns said:

There's no such thing as the 'perfect' game

You are so, so embittered and damaged, that you don't allow that glimmer of hope that's in your chest, rise to the fore

This is a bloody good team and they beat another better than 'ordinary' team

Carry on....

North's not "better than 'ordinary'".

Let's not get too carried away here. 

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:09, stevethemanjordan said:

I understand the difference. 

5 goals and 3 behinds in a quarter against a team who are in a bottoming out period is a problem imo. They scored only 5 goals for quarters two and three and 3 goals in the last. 

The positives are that we're winning. Even if ugly. But if we perform like we did against even Hawthorn next weekend, we won't be winning.

Oscar has two jobs. Beat his man and be an option as part of an attacking zone. He was utterly useless on Brown yesterday. He either gave away really dumb free kicks directly to Brown or was way too easily beaten in contests that he just should have killed. He gets way too much protection on here. Brown was the only player forward for North who was actually a threat which means Oscar failed yesterday. 

I'd also prefer not to be conceding 5 goals in a quarter to a bottom 4 side, but if we're going to break the season down into quarters we are 9-3 in that regard. Which is where the margin within a quarter becomes more important - losing one quarter to Geelong by 30+ points lost us the match. Conceding 5 goals in a quarter to North didn't, given our improved effort for the rest of the game. 

As much as we hate Brown, he's a good footballer. OMac isn't half the player someone like Rance is, but I really don't think his performance yesterday was that bad. I think our bigger issue is our defensive unit generally - the way we zone, the way we transition from offence to defence, the way we send too many up and the way we find ourselves regularly out of position. I think if we fix those, that helps OMac, and/or it helps us hide OMac's ongoing weaknesses.

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:17, stevethemanjordan said:

Like Watts being a "star"?

Enough now Jumbo.

Or North will finish bottom three?

Stick to the topic

I'm done too, Steve

  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.

All I heard him talk about was Majak Daw. 

  On 07/04/2018 at 12:17, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Matty Nicholls had him blackballed after this.

 

 

  On 07/04/2018 at 12:21, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

The MFC hierarchy need to approach the AFL for a "please explain'' on the above mystifying decision.  Imagine this in a final or GF and it's was a potential match winning mark for the win or sealer.

If we let the above go we are going to be on the receiving end of more rubbish like this from at least the umpire in question, No.26

  On 08/04/2018 at 06:35, stevethemanjordan said:

You might want to watch closely again.

Look, there are many problem areas right now imo both in individual performance and the way we play as a defensive unit. Oscar has been okay without being outstanding in his first two games of the season. But yesterday, he was awful both in the contest against Brown, (his number 1 job) and secondly as an option when playing in that aggressive zone which is clearly what's required of all our defenders. He had 8 touches for the game and provided the least amount of pressure acts. 

I'm happy to talk more broadly about our issues as a side rather than concentrate on Oscar, I just like nipping every now and again. 

 

and Lever's game. Can you provide a critique on that

  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.

Dr we haven't referred to ourselves as "the Demons" for about a decade now.  Why would anyone else?

We only have the mascots, there is nothing else in our official marketing logos, products or from the club itself on game day etc that refers to us as "the Melbourne Demons" any more.  We have taken on a ""We are Melbourne" mantra for years now.  I for one hate it.  Their market research must have told them that a Demon is too scary for the little ones or something similarly stupid, directed and driven from someone (one or more) inside the club who is/are politically correct nuff nuffs.

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:36, Rusty Nails said:

Dr we haven't referred to ourselves as "the Demons" for about a decade now.  Why would anyone else?

We only have the mascots, there is nothing else in our official marketing logos, products or from the club itself on game day etc that refers to us as "the Melbourne Demons" any more.  We have taken on a ""We are Melbourne" mantra for years now.  I for one hate it.  Their market research must have told them that a Demon is too scary for the little ones or something similarly stupid, directed and driven from someone (one or more) inside the club who is/are politically correct nuff nuffs.

news to me  ... but please elaborate

on another tangent the Nrth Melbourne cheer squad chant of "Let's go Kangas" is so little Lleyton it is painful.

(BTW Lleyton earned my respect thoroughly by the time he finished his career but that chant was so nuff.)

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:48, Diamond_Jim said:

news to me  ... but please elaborate

on another tangent the Nrth Melbourne cheer squad chant of "Let's go Kangas" is so little Lleyton it is painful.

(BTW Lleyton earned my respect thoroughly by the time he finished his career but that chant was so nuff.)

Isn’t three words the maximum a North supporter can string together?

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:10, beelzebub said:

We almost need another emoji in the "like' selection

The ' thinking man ' This would denote you  might give the post worthy consideration.may neither agree nor disagree...but made you think further on the matter

?

whatta bout an ostrich, Bellz ?

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:31, Pennant St Dee said:

and Lever's game. Can you provide a critique on that

Yeh sure.

The reality for Lever is that he's walked into a team whose weakness is its defence. Adelaide have Talia and Hartigan as two key backmen. They're strong, mature bodies who are experienced one-on-one players and give so much confidence to the rest of their unit. We have a baby giraffe playing as a key defender at the minute in one of the most aggressive defensive zones in the entire AFL. There are a whole lot of problems with our defensive unit and I can't be bothered going into them.

Because of our 'system' and the lack of confidence our defenders have in Oscar's ability to beat his man, we seem to nearly always have too many defenders going up in a contest to try and spoil when it really only needs to be one. That player should be Lever. As a team whose traded for the best young intercept defender in the game, we are doing him no justice by the way our defensive unit is currently structured and playing.

As for his individual performance and execution of the basics, I am happy to admit he has been well down on what I expected and he's definitely been disappointing in that area to date. Yet among the disappointing elements to his game on Sunday, he also showcased some skills that not many his age possess. 

The good thing for him is that he has money in the bank. We've all seen what he's capable of. And I'm not in the slightest bit worried about his form or ability. I'm more concerned about the way we're playing as an entire defensive unit including our undersized key backs in Frost and Oscar. One doesn't possess the footballing smarts to play as a key defender in our particular zone. And the other is a slow to react key defender playing in an aggressive zone that requires players to move and react quickly and be strong and aggressive in the contest.

I can see Oscar being a decent one-on-one player down the track in a defensive unit that plays much tighter to their opponent. But there's no way he's suited to the way we're playing now. Likewise Lever. Although I'm more confident he has the ability to play in our zone than Oscar's.

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:15, Rusty Nails said:

Jaded can you pls let us know what you were drinking when you booked the flight!??  Would have to be a rip snorting drop that!

I don’t book my own work flights. I just tell the travel agent what dates I have to be home so I don’t miss footy! #priorities

  On 08/04/2018 at 07:19, AmDamDemon said:

All I heard him talk about was Majak Daw. 

He called him 'a specimen of a man'. And you could almost hear his blood pressure drop wondering if the butchered phrase would see him back in hot water.

As to @Dr. Gonzo's question re. the 'Melbourne club'  - I think Eddie is just a canny marketeer and is emphasizing the blue-blooded angle. I recall he even dropped in a few rib-ticklers of the nature.

  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.

Kent played a good game, The game he needed to play. But don't re-write history. He tackling, second efforts and kicking for goal were poor for some time. I am glad he had a good game because he has the skills. For me its between his ears. Had too much arrogance about his own skills. Is much better when he plays a team game like he did yesterday.  

  On 08/04/2018 at 01:02, Stretch Johnson said:

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.  

We know we have a chaotic game-style but I imagine most of us want to see better organisation going forward and down back.

In saying that, we've scored the most points across the league to date, we've won the most quarters, we're second in contested, and top-four for clearances, marks inside-50, assists and tackles.

These are the stats I'm certain Goody is aiming for and is of the belief that the weight of numbers will eventually win out. Our kick-to-handball ratio has also improved and our percentage is in the right bracket. We've also done enough to win each of our matches.

So this may be what it is. And with a fraction better polish (I read our DE% is improving but I find it hard to believe just yet) and a lift in individual form it may be good enough. We could be in for a highly frustrating but successful year.

 

I know I'm not contributing anything meaningful here, but just by judging the AFL LADDER - we are kings of the victorian clubs at the moment... 

  On 08/04/2018 at 06:53, stevethemanjordan said:

We did dominate in most areas stat-wise. Especially inside 50's. We won. So we should have, against North who are in a bottoming out period.

The second key forward issue is separate and again was worrying. We had one key forward who also played right up the ground and amassed 25 touches thereabouts. Yet our players entered our forward 50 the same way they have for the first two rounds. Extremely wasteful and thoughtless about their disposal going forward. You'd think if the coach makes a noticeable change structurally, your midfielders would follow suit in the way they use the ball going forward. 

It was more of the same. 

We won because of our grunt.

Still issues with how we kick the ball forward but a second forward would have straightened us up a lot and nullified loose Majak Daw.

Regardless of the quality of the opposition. ......stopping a17 voodoo streak must be applauded and not underestimated. 

  On 08/04/2018 at 08:21, DV8 said:

whatta bout an ostrich, Bellz ?

Yeah ...better have one of those too

  On 08/04/2018 at 08:37, stevethemanjordan said:

Yeh sure.

The reality for Lever is that he's walked into a team whose weakness is its defence. Adelaide have Talia and Hartigan as two key backmen. They're strong, mature bodies who are experienced one-on-one players and give so much confidence to the rest of their unit. We have a baby giraffe playing as a key defender at the minute in one of the most aggressive defensive zones in the entire AFL. There are a whole lot of problems with our defensive unit and I can't be bothered going into them.

Because of our 'system' and the lack of confidence our defenders have in Oscar's ability to beat his man, we seem to nearly always have too many defenders going up in a contest to try and spoil when it really only needs to be one. That player should be Lever. As a team whose traded for the best young intercept defender in the game, we are doing him no justice by the way our defensive unit is currently structured and playing.

As for his individual performance and execution of the basics, I am happy to admit he has been well down on what I expected and he's definitely been disappointing in that area to date. Yet among the disappointing elements to his game on Sunday, he also showcased some skills that not many his age possess. 

The good thing for him is that he has money in the bank. We've all seen what he's capable of. And I'm not in the slightest bit worried about his form or ability. I'm more concerned about the way we're playing as an entire defensive unit including our undersized key backs in Frost and Oscar. One doesn't possess the footballing smarts to play as a key defender in our particular zone. And the other is a slow to react key defender playing in an aggressive zone that requires players to move and react quickly and be strong and aggressive in the contest.

I can see Oscar being a decent one-on-one player down the track in a defensive unit that plays much tighter to their opponent. But there's no way he's suited to the way we're playing now. Likewise Lever. Although I'm more confident he has the ability to play in our zone than Oscar's.

Well Gollleeeeeee

Asked and answered....and pretty good precis imho.

Sitting in fourth with a healthy percentage clear of fifth is nice.

  On 07/04/2018 at 07:32, Colin B. Flaubert said:

 

I cracked the sads 10 minutes in after they got 4 goals up. Can anyone tell me how much we lost by?

Decent win and showed that the past is that. The past.

Best game I've seen Gawny play. You could see that they got some momentum up when he went to the bench exhausted.

I think Jordie summed it up brilliantly when he said that the issue is with some of our younger stagers needing to know when to slow it down. They did it perfectly in that last quarter.

I was also encouraged by the reaction at the siren. While I reckon that it was wise to acknowledge the elephant in the room, the fact the boys were happy but didn't go overboard was reassuring. 

In other news, I deleted my Facebook account 2 weeks ago (with the deletion becoming permanent tomorrow).  For the entire time that I used it (I created the account at the end of 2006), we never beat North. Maybe there is a coincidence to be found there?

And finally, if there was anyone who has a license to be pessimistic, it's you @old dee

It is, as they say in pro wrestling, your gimmick.

 

I have never done facebook, After all who would want my face on their Book!!!??