Post Match Discussion - Round 4

[jnrmac 20,305]

16 hours ago, Billy said:

That wasn’t a bad day, that was a total humiliation from a soft weak club
I was born in 64 and can count the number of good years I’ve witnessed on one hand
I travel 4hrs by car about six times a year, have been a member since 89 & have basically lost my love for the team
That was the worst performance I’ve seen by this club, worse than the Geelong game when Bailey got the sack & worse than the Neeld days & that’s saying something, the reason is we have an excellent list.
If there’s not a fierce reaction next week & for the rest of the year l won’t be renewing my MCC membership that l waited 30years for & received it 18 months ago & my MFC membership

Over-egging the pudding.....much?

[beelzebub 23,390]

31 minutes ago, timbo said:

You have it all wrong. You just need to have a more positive mental attitude. It'll help heaps and that.

In reality one need simply realise Football is only an 'amusement' ( unless playing.

Players play, spectators spectate.

Life goes on whether we win or lose which is just as well given our predisposition to losing.

It's only footy. It's just Melbourne.

Though I'd love us to be successful, I'm somewhat resigned to none. It gets the better of me occasionally but I'm not about to change my colours, nor does it seem the team theirs !! 

As OD often suggests...membership is a psuedo charitable contribution.

MFC...the perfect mirror. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Sort of reminds me of some films. They're remade from time to time, different actors , different director, script rewrites...... same shlt B grade result

[DeleteUser 638]

39 minutes ago, old dee said:

Hmm how long have you followed the Dees timbo?

Sarc does not convert well on the line

 

PS : way too long. I blame my cheer squad member mate who turned me off the Bombers in grade 3. Although when the Dees came up and played Macedon in the 80s (can't remember when) and Robbie Flower kicked a goal that then concussed my best mate Mark O'S and knocked him out cold (the image of him being carried I think by Robbie F or his dad, can't remember is burned into my memory), I should have taken that as a sign to run 100 miles an hour opposite direction from the team.

Edited April 17, 2018 by timbo

[Pates 9,687]

Reflecting on the loss (again) one of the things that gutted me the most was the way we showed no fight at the end. How many times have we had other teams 35+ points down only to let them back in the game or let it become nothing more than a scrappy victory. 

To give up like that was a slap in the face of long suffering Melbourne fans. 

[old dee 24,028]

18 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

In reality one need simply realise Football is only an 'amusement' ( unless playing.

Players play, spectators spectate.

Life goes on whether we win or lose which is just as well given our predisposition to losing.

It's only footy. It's just Melbourne.

Though I'd love us to be successful, I'm somewhat resigned to none. It gets the better of me occasionally but I'm not about to change my colours, nor does it seem the team theirs !! 

As OD often suggests...membership is a psuedo charitable contribution.

MFC...the perfect mirror. The more things change, the more they stay the sa

Sort of reminds me of some films. They're remade from time to time, different actors , different director, script rewrites...... same shlt B grade result

Well said bb due to going os and family duties I wont get to many games at the G this year charitable contribution covers it well.

[Mydee 288]

 

I too, am very disappointed, but I don't think our problems are psychological or deep seated. After all  the club at least, at the off field executive level has made enormous strides, We have an excellent CEO and a good president and administration-no more advertising executives, worn out politicians or tennis players, I think the record is a bit less flattering with the coaching staff however.   I am yet to be convinced that a "losing culture" tag bears close scrutiny. Terms like these and "The curse of Norm Smith" are too easy to bandy around and while prattling on about getting rid of a soft or losing culture sounds impressive and provides carrion for the media vultures. it is essentially a very nebulous term because it is difficult to analyse. 

The facts are these: Melbourne had allowed its culture to degenerate to the extent that in the 2000s the playing  group had been allowed to exert far more influence than they warranted, Melbourne had for many years become a retirement village for players in semi-retirement, Pickett, Pitt, Egan, to name a few. The recruiting targeting highly skilled players who were not tough enough, either mentally or physically to make the transition to AFL. Of course we also had notable incidents particularly Brent Maloney's off field exploits as well as those of our Could o'been champion Colin Sylvia. In what was a massive mistake in trying to correct this situation we recruited a disciplinarian, unfortunately he couldn't coach.

But these days things have changed. Very few of the playing group, predate Paul Roos and quite a few would never have heard of Norm Smith, much less his spectre!  Our recruiting has generally improved so much that now we have young men presenting themselves as professional footballers who have few "psychological problems" at least football ones relating to a soft culture. I didn't see too much softness on the day, Brayshaw, in particular was hard at the ball and didn't take a backward step and Jones as always showed what a toughnut he is in blanketing Mitchell.

No rather our loss, relates purely and simply to faults with the senior coaching staff and the lack of adaptability in our game plan.  I did some research into this and came upon an excellent snippet on how to play wet weather football by the Richmond Assistant coach Craig McCrae. He talks about the need to adapt the game plan in wet weather. Players are drilled so extensively that reactions become inbuilt so that it isn't easy to adapt. Richmond uses their runner to reinforce the need to adapt to the situation. We didn't, and without singling out one player for criticism, it was particularly notable with Petracca who played dry weather football with disastrous results. From a champion last week to a fumbling fool in the wet.

So how should we have played? Well according to McCrae Richmond plays wet weather football with the following dictums:

1 Never go backwards, especially handballing -handball kicking, dribbling or tapping the ball forwards is the go,

2 Kick at the goals, not to a player or pack around the goal square from a long way out It is likely that the ball will skid through.

3 Constantly reinforce the change in game plan through the runners.

 

I saw none of this in evidence last Sunday. I also same a lack of defence on the rebound. This is in part down to the coaching staff.

That, in my opinion is why we lost. However if the proponents of the soft culture myth have any spells or potions to counter this wizardry please let us all know

[gregdemon 628]

13 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Still under therapy after witnessing such an horrific event,  live. So I have been advised by my medical team not to comment further, nor indeed to even think about what happened. 

Perfectly summed up.    Only cure win next tuesday.      Mrs thinks I am mad as staring into space for 2 hours on Sunday night.    They have done it to me again !!!!        hurry up Tuesday

[What 18,810]

Just trying to have some perspective, its very rare for even the top teams to go through a whole season wtihout one or two really bad performances

 

Last years grand finalists

Adelaide - 

Lost Round 7 to the Kangaroos by 59 points... 

and backed it up in Round 8 with a 41 point loss to Melbourne at home.  

Richmond -

Round 6,   76 point loss to Adelaide

Round 16, lost to St Kilda by 67 points!!!

Edited April 17, 2018 by Petraccattack

[Dr. Gonzo 24,459]

16 hours ago, Unleash Hell said:

Robbo on AFL 360 thinks we're [censored].... phew I'm not so worried anymore.

But on a serious note, I am not going to Panic until Round 10. We should be 6 - 4, maybe 5 & 5 or it could be worse and season over.....

But if we manage to be 6 and 4, get Viney and T Mac back I won't be too upset

Truth sadly is we struggle without No.7. Our kids haven't stepped up just yet.

Viney is not our best player but he is easily our most important. Hopefully he is back sooner rather than later. TMac is a massive loss too, every team has players missing but having these two out after Gawn and Hogan last year is a massive kick in the balls.

[old dee 24,028]

21 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Viney is not our best player but he is easily our most important. Hopefully he is back sooner rather than later. TMac is a massive loss too, every team has players missing but having these two out after Gawn and Hogan last year is a massive kick in the balls.

I actually think T Mac is the biggest loss, he can play both ends of the ground and makes a fairly good job of the ruck role.

we need him desperately but before July seems wishful thinking.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

From Titus O’Reilly for those that don’t subscribe.

Hawthorn (115) v Melbourne (48)

In a shrewd move, Melbourne decided to hide any progress they’ve made in recent years, by giving up entirely at quarter time, despite leading at the time.

It was less taking your foot off the pedal and more throwing the car into reverse and flooring it back to 2009.

It was an interesting move that I’m sure is part of some clever long-term plan.

How else would you describe a performance this inept? This lacking in heart?

The Dees would only kick one goal after quarter time, against a Hawthorn team that seemed to only have injured players.

Hawthorn though were trying, and the cruised home in this one by 67-points in a brutal display that at one stage had the Melbourne cheer squad replace their normal flags with white ones to signal the surrender.

It was as if the Dees had seen Brisbane’s and Carlton’s performances and felt their reputation as the most embarrassing team in the competition was under threat.

Simon Goodwin has shown this season that he’ll drop non-performers, with Jayden Hunt being dropped previously, but now he faces dropping almost the entire side if he sticks to his guns.

A lot of people faulted Goodwin after Clarkson did some magic coaching things at quarter time and the Dees didn’t respond, but I’m not sure any coach should have to tell players to do things like run or tackle, these are basics.

As always with Melbourne, the players are the problem and within them lies the solution, there’s no messiah coming, no super coach. With the talent they have, there’s no way they should kick one goal in three-quarters of football.

This is all on them.

[Deemania since 56 6,773]

17 hours ago, picket fence said:

And have been for a million years ex of 87 which was just sheer bad luck and incapacity of Umpire Howlett to hear a siren!

Yep Mentally very weak 

Would Not, Could not commit to a training camp!! 

Well Goody as Alice Cooper once sang!

"No more Mr Nice Guy"

Either he becomes like Barrassi or he will be confined to the mediocrity of so many coaches we have had since Norm Smith 

( Apologies to John Northey who was ahead of his time in people management!)

Well Simon???

Yep, Northey was a great coach. 

[DV8 2,271]

20 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Why don't they show us what a bunch of nervous nellies we are, and fight off a Collingwood reserves team? Put the issue to rest.

Or put a team to the sword when we're 5 or 6 goals up? Percentage boosting smashing.

Or put up a credible fight against Hawthorn?

Why don't they do those things?

God knows they've had plenty of opportunities.

Maybe it's not us.

Because its so hard to rebuild and regain confidence in today's footy..... without 1/2 the team full of experienced seniors who know how to penetrate the press.

Its a LOT more difficult today's footy Re the press, for young teams,,, to learn and succeed with these structures in place.  Nowhere near the 80's 90's where the game was open for creativity.  It was a natural flowing game, where youngsters could show their skills in one on ones, or in space before they grew big powerful bodies.  They only struggled against bigger bodied players on the occasions.

 

At that same time, young teams likewise, could do well usually until later in the season, when the big boys came out to play. Then the young sides would fall away, as the mature players took over.  This was much better for supporters who were left with a sense of hope for the future, real hope.

 

Today's press aids the already experienced power clubs to maintain there advantage in the top half of the ladder, so re-emerging clubs really struggle, as they lose senior players from their list, and fill up on juniors.

 

So with this in mind,  its super important for us to re-energise our young players on match-days,,,,,  and to not tear them down during the game.

 

If we must be negative at all,,, leave it until we get home after the game, and/or thru the early part of the the week. That's the time to question the players or the running of the club.

 

We can help the team on match-days when at the game,,, by maintaining a True Positive Aggressive Mood amongst our supporters;

,,, and be real negative and distracting AT the Opposition.

  NOT at our own players.  The days of soft players taking short steps and refusing to chase has past, and they have left the Building.

 

.... reserve that hostility for the odd occasion when someone comes in and will not honor the jumper. 

Like I said. those type players have recently been weeded out, and moved on.

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

 

Because learning to penetrate the press successfully whilst being harassed like the Hawks did, is real tough to do for learning young players.
I'm concerned our players will again develop a jittery underbelly, even those new guys who have recently arrived from other clubs.

 

Getting the Yips can be a lasting curse in ones mind__

For individuals, and for young sides as well.... Its a learned negative Habit, that is as bad and difficult as a full on smoking addiction.

 

WE do NOT want to add to the pressure on our Players on Game-Days, because they're confidence and belief in themselves can be Damaged.

And it can become an ongoing negative in their minds.

 

We really need this group to experience a 'KILL'  a number of so called kills, for want of a better analogy.  They need to get the sniff of Enemy blood in their nostrils.

They need to get the taste for it.

 

So going off at our players/team on game days,,, right now,,,  as we have some very good young players, who are struggling to find form, and more-so, confidence and belief, is the wrong thing to do.

They are trying to develop the confidence/faith.... both in themselves, and also in one another as a team, to grow, and to carry out the team plans.

 

Our Support and Positive Aggression Via our Voices,,,,,  is absolutely Crucial for them right now... this Year !!!

.

Edited April 17, 2018 by DV8

[Johnny Karate 559]

The response now interests me more than the game. Can we set up effectively behind the ball? Can we use it better going forward? Can we not get sucked in to too many contests leaving our opponents free to mop up and spread on the outside? Can this loss inspire us to play better rather than suck the confidence out of us and derail our season? If we manage to beat Richmond can we take it our stride rather than let it go to our heads? 

[jnrmac 20,305]

57 minutes ago, DV8 said:

Because its so hard to rebuild and regain confidence in today's footy..... without 1/2 the team full of experienced seniors who know how to penetrate the press.

Its a LOT more difficult today's footy Re the press, for young teams,,, to learn and succeed with these structures in place.  Nowhere near the 80's 90's where the game was open for creativity.  It was a natural flowing game, where youngsters could show their skills in one on ones, or in space before they grew big powerful bodies.  They only struggled against bigger bodied players on the occasions.

 

At that same time, young teams likewise, could do well usually until later in the season, when the big boys came out to play. Then the young sides would fall away, as the mature players took over.  This was much better for supporters who were left with a sense of hope for the future, real hope.

 

Today's press aids the already experienced power clubs to maintain there advantage in the top half of the ladder, so re-emerging clubs really struggle, as they lose senior players from their list, and fill up on juniors.

 

So with this in mind,  its super important for us to re-energise our young players on match-days,,,,,  and to not tear them down during the game.

 

If we must be negative at all,,, leave it until we get home after the game, and/or thru the early part of the the week. That's the time to question the players or the running of the club.

 

We can help the team on match-days when at the game,,, by maintaining a True Positive Aggressive Mood amongst our supporters;

,,, and be real negative and distracting AT the Opposition.

  NOT at our own players.  The days of soft players taking short steps and refusing to chase has past, and they have left the Building.

 

.... reserve that hostility for the odd occasion when someone comes in and will not honor the jumper. 

Like I said. those type players have recently been weeded out, and moved on.

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

 

Because learning to penetrate the press successfully whilst being harassed like the Hawks did, is real tough to do for learning young players.
I'm concerned our players will again develop a jittery underbelly, even those new guys who have recently arrived from other clubs.

 

Getting the Yips can be a lasting curse in ones mind__

For individuals, and for young sides as well.... Its a learned negative Habit, that is as bad and difficult as a full on smoking addiction.

 

WE do NOT want to add to the pressure on our Players on Game-Days, because they're confidence and belief in themselves can be Damaged.

And it can become an ongoing negative in their minds.

 

We really need this group to experience a 'KILL'  a number of so called kills, for want of a better analogy.  They need to get the sniff of Enemy blood in their nostrils.

They need to get the taste for it.

 

So going off at our players/team on game days,,, right now,,,  as we have some very good young players, who are struggling to find form, and more-so, confidence and belief, is the wrong thing to do.

They are trying to develop the confidence/faith.... both in themselves, and also in one another as a team, to grow, and to carry out the team plans.

 

Our Support and Positive Aggression Via our Voices,,,,,  is absolutely Crucial for them right now... this Year !!!

.

I doubt anyone is reading your diatribe. But you can try this it will probably work better for you.....

 

[Demons1858 1,793]

On 16/04/2018 at 9:17 AM, A F said:

Jones tagging did not lose us the game. His ability to shut down Mitchell early and our better efficiency of ball movement and conversion had us well on top at quarter time. We didn't take all our chances there, but the plan was clearly working at quarter time.

Jones and Viney often set the tone for us when we are down. Hard to do when you are tagging

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,825]

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Just trying to have some perspective, its very rare for even the top teams to go through a whole season wtihout one or two really bad performances

 

Last years grand finalists

Adelaide - 

Lost Round 7 to the Kangaroos by 59 points... 

and backed it up in Round 8 with a 41 point loss to Melbourne at home.  

Richmond -

Round 6,   76 point loss to Adelaide

Round 16, lost to St Kilda by 67 points!!!

In 1998, Melb. lost to Geelong by 95 points in round 12(15 goals to 1 at halftime), then the next week lost to St Kilda by 85 pts in driving rain.

We Demon supporters felt similar despair to that we felt after massive losses to Fitzroy in '79, and,later, 186 at Geelong.

BUT.....in 1998, not only did we make the finals, but we beat the eventual premiers(Adelaide) by 8 goals in the Qual Final. If we hadn't played the Friday night specialists, North in a gale in the Prelim., we'd have had a really good chance of winning the flag!!!...after abysmal, abject depression after round13!!!

I'm hoping we'll later look back on the Hawthorn game as an aberration.

[Allus Monk 568]

And in our GF year of 2000 we lost to Carlton by, from memory, 98 points in about Round 13.

[Allus Monk 568]

Before memorably beating them in the Qualifying Final.

[Earl Hood 6,152]

5 hours ago, Mydee said:

 

I too, am very disappointed, but I don't think our problems are psychological or deep seated. After all  the club at least, at the off field executive level has made enormous strides, We have an excellent CEO and a good president and administration-no more advertising executives, worn out politicians or tennis players, I think the record is a bit less flattering with the coaching staff however.   I am yet to be convinced that a "losing culture" tag bears close scrutiny. Terms like these and "The curse of Norm Smith" are too easy to bandy around and while prattling on about getting rid of a soft or losing culture sounds impressive and provides carrion for the media vultures. it is essentially a very nebulous term because it is difficult to analyse. 

The facts are these: Melbourne had allowed its culture to degenerate to the extent that in the 2000s the playing  group had been allowed to exert far more influence than they warranted, Melbourne had for many years become a retirement village for players in semi-retirement, Pickett, Pitt, Egan, to name a few. The recruiting targeting highly skilled players who were not tough enough, either mentally or physically to make the transition to AFL. Of course we also had notable incidents particularly Brent Maloney's off field exploits as well as those of our Could o'been champion Colin Sylvia. In what was a massive mistake in trying to correct this situation we recruited a disciplinarian, unfortunately he couldn't coach.

But these days things have changed. Very few of the playing group, predate Paul Roos and quite a few would never have heard of Norm Smith, much less his spectre!  Our recruiting has generally improved so much that now we have young men presenting themselves as professional footballers who have few "psychological problems" at least football ones relating to a soft culture. I didn't see too much softness on the day, Brayshaw, in particular was hard at the ball and didn't take a backward step and Jones as always showed what a toughnut he is in blanketing Mitchell.

No rather our loss, relates purely and simply to faults with the senior coaching staff and the lack of adaptability in our game plan.  I did some research into this and came upon an excellent snippet on how to play wet weather football by the Richmond Assistant coach Craig McCrae. He talks about the need to adapt the game plan in wet weather. Players are drilled so extensively that reactions become inbuilt so that it isn't easy to adapt. Richmond uses their runner to reinforce the need to adapt to the situation. We didn't, and without singling out one player for criticism, it was particularly notable with Petracca who played dry weather football with disastrous results. From a champion last week to a fumbling fool in the wet.

So how should we have played? Well according to McCrae Richmond plays wet weather football with the following dictums:

1 Never go backwards, especially handballing -handball kicking, dribbling or tapping the ball forwards is the go,

2 Kick at the goals, not to a player or pack around the goal square from a long way out It is likely that the ball will skid through.

3 Constantly reinforce the change in game plan through the runners.

 

I saw none of this in evidence last Sunday. I also same a lack of defence on the rebound. This is in part down to the coaching staff.

That, in my opinion is why we lost. However if the proponents of the soft culture myth have any spells or potions to counter this wizardry please let us all know

Certainly the Hawks were doing dictum 1 relentlessly, just pushing the ball forward at all costs, running in numbers, always keeping the ball in front of them. Once you let the ball through and behind you, you are in trouble and how many times did I see our players overrun the ball? 

[beelzebub 23,390]

5 hours ago, Mydee said:

 

I too, am very disappointed, but I don't think our problems are psychological or deep seated. After all  the club at least, at the off field executive level has made enormous strides, We have an excellent CEO and a good president and administration-no more advertising executives, worn out politicians or tennis players, I think the record is a bit less flattering with the coaching staff however.   I am yet to be convinced that a "losing culture" tag bears close scrutiny. Terms like these and "The curse of Norm Smith" are too easy to bandy around and while prattling on about getting rid of a soft or losing culture sounds impressive and provides carrion for the media vultures. it is essentially a very nebulous term because it is difficult to analyse. 

The facts are these: Melbourne had allowed its culture to degenerate to the extent that in the 2000s the playing  group had been allowed to exert far more influence than they warranted, Melbourne had for many years become a retirement village for players in semi-retirement, Pickett, Pitt, Egan, to name a few. The recruiting targeting highly skilled players who were not tough enough, either mentally or physically to make the transition to AFL. Of course we also had notable incidents particularly Brent Maloney's off field exploits as well as those of our Could o'been champion Colin Sylvia. In what was a massive mistake in trying to correct this situation we recruited a disciplinarian, unfortunately he couldn't coach.

But these days things have changed. Very few of the playing group, predate Paul Roos and quite a few would never have heard of Norm Smith, much less his spectre!  Our recruiting has generally improved so much that now we have young men presenting themselves as professional footballers who have few "psychological problems" at least football ones relating to a soft culture. I didn't see too much softness on the day, Brayshaw, in particular was hard at the ball and didn't take a backward step and Jones as always showed what a toughnut he is in blanketing Mitchell.

No rather our loss, relates purely and simply to faults with the senior coaching staff and the lack of adaptability in our game plan.  I did some research into this and came upon an excellent snippet on how to play wet weather football by the Richmond Assistant coach Craig McCrae. He talks about the need to adapt the game plan in wet weather. Players are drilled so extensively that reactions become inbuilt so that it isn't easy to adapt. Richmond uses their runner to reinforce the need to adapt to the situation. We didn't, and without singling out one player for criticism, it was particularly notable with Petracca who played dry weather football with disastrous results. From a champion last week to a fumbling fool in the wet.

So how should we have played? Well according to McCrae Richmond plays wet weather football with the following dictums:

1 Never go backwards, especially handballing -handball kicking, dribbling or tapping the ball forwards is the go,

2 Kick at the goals, not to a player or pack around the goal square from a long way out It is likely that the ball will skid through.

3 Constantly reinforce the change in game plan through the runners.

 

I saw none of this in evidence last Sunday. I also same a lack of defence on the rebound. This is in part down to the coaching staff.

That, in my opinion is why we lost. However if the proponents of the soft culture myth have any spells or potions to counter this wizardry please let us all know

Brilliant

Just thought it deserves another airing

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

7 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Just trying to have some perspective, its very rare for even the top teams to go through a whole season wtihout one or two really bad performances

 

Last years grand finalists

Adelaide - 

Lost Round 7 to the Kangaroos by 59 points... 

and backed it up in Round 8 with a 41 point loss to Melbourne at home.  

Richmond -

Round 6,   76 point loss to Adelaide

Round 16, lost to St Kilda by 67 points!!!

Not a fair comparison. Every team has a shocker every now and then but no team consistently lose when expected to win like we do and have done adnauseum for the past three seasons. And good teams do not lose to mediocre sides when a finals spot is at stake.

Last Sunday I would not classify as a shocker because we started well then slacked off and eventually capitulated. Good teams that have a shocker are almost always off their game from the start. Further Adelaide while being a very good side have been crippled in big and small games by their softness which is an issue with us. If we don’t harden up we might eventually get to a GF and be creamed just like what happened to Adelaide. On the current way we play and approach games, there is no hope to win a flag.

Edited April 17, 2018 by america de cali

[What 18,810]

51 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Not a fair comparison. Every team has a shocker every now and then but no team consistently lose when expected to win like we do and have done adnauseum for the past three seasons. And good teams do not lose to mediocre sides when a finals spot is at stake.

Last Sunday I would not classify as a shocker because we started well then slacked off and eventually capitulated. Good teams that have a shocker are almost always off their game from the start. Further Adelaide while being a very good side have been crippled in big and small games by their softness which is an issue with us. If we don’t harden up we might eventually get to a GF and be creamed just like what happened to Adelaide. On the current way we play and approach games, there is no hope to win a flag.

Fair points.

On a sidenote, still another 7 days before our shot at redemption.    The wait will be brutal.

Edited April 17, 2018 by Petraccattack

[D4Life 2,579]

4 hours ago, america de cali said:

Not a fair comparison. Every team has a shocker every now and then but no team consistently lose when expected to win like we do and have done adnauseum for the past three seasons. And good teams do not lose to mediocre sides when a finals spot is at stake.

Last Sunday I would not classify as a shocker because we started well then slacked off and eventually capitulated. Good teams that have a shocker are almost always off their game from the start. Further Adelaide while being a very good side have been crippled in big and small games by their softness which is an issue with us. If we don’t harden up we might eventually get to a GF and be creamed just like what happened to Adelaide. On the current way we play and approach games, there is no hope to win a flag.

So when Richmond made the finals three years running and lost to the 9th team Carlton, got pumped by Port another year, and lost their other final, then finished 13th;

- they lacked leadership

- were soft

- Hardwick couldn’t coach

- etc

 - etc

- then when they lost to GWS during last year, lacked Leadership blah blah blah

At least we have:

Gawn

Hogan

Oliver

Viney

Petracca will get there!

Don’t give up hope, as crap as we were on Sunday!

We need to fix a few key areas:

- backline structure

- going missing for 5 goal plus streaks

- entry into forward line

- better coaching, e.g. having a plan B and  C

but it is possible to fix!

The Dogs win a flag, so to the Tigggers, improvement in the above areas and it could be the Dees!

[Ethan Tremblay 31,272]

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

On a sidenote, still another 7 days before our shot at redemption.    The wait will be brutal.

It’s a long time to wait between games. The upside is that there’s no possibility of my weekend being ruined.