3 hours ago, red and blue forever said:

Hrm... everyone seems to be saying Salem had a good game   I thought it was scrappy myself  interesting how perception can be different

 

Commentators thought he was terrific. Got it a lot

Max Gawn  is the Melbourne team. The vital cog.  He is back to AA form and l believe he holds his form well. Missed him most of last season and now he is in  fine form and has been all  year. He must be close to the  Best Ruckman going around at the minute. 42 HO today.

However he might be the best banana kick  for goal as well.    My week is made. 

4 hours ago, timbo said:

Good win and I am longing for the day we kick on and cross the Chris Sullivan line  + 30%. Should have flogged them by 10 goals. Missing merciless killer instinct

????

4 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

"There’s no excuse for failing to roll back and help the defence, and there’s no excuse for being flat footed leaving your teammate to be the only one trying to rebound.

There’s no excuse for ignoring the state of the senior players and their lack of fight when it doesnt go their way.

We are down hill skiers. We are more Melbourne than Melbourne"

 

I just took the above off Bomberblitz. I started to think about it but it spun me out.

FMD! 

Are they referring to the most unlikeable  player in the AFL, Goddard?   I wonder which of his team mates he blamed today?

3 hours ago, sisso said:

We’re at an interesting stage as a side, seem to be able to handle the weaker sides pretty comfortably now, but struggle when a more experienced side really brings the pressure and tackling. Signs of maturity at least we can put away teams we are meant to beat (finally!)

We looked powerful after half time even though I acknowledge Essendon were bad. St Kilda will be more challenging as they have bigger bodies in the midfield to go up against our guys: the Bombers are very light on in this area.

Anyone still think we should have picked Parish over Oliver??

2 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Based on what evidence?  We are six game into the season.

If you wanna go back to last season well flat track bullies don't beat Adelaide in Adelaide.

.... or WCE in Perth. 

Edited April 29, 20187 yr by monoccular

4 hours ago, timbo said:

Hogan's change in body language is very interesting 

A year since his dad passed this week.

 

I liked Jones’ aggression today. Any idea what spurred it on? Looked angry. It was a much better leaders game by him today although I wish he’d lower his eyes and not bomb it.

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

We welcome your input into the discussion on today’s game.

 

I'm surprised that one matter seems to have been  overlooked these past two weeks before today.

we are an " on top of the ground "team. We played awfully well the first 20 minutes v Hawks . Then it rained and we were horrible . Against Richmond we played on a slippery track. It was drizzling 45 minutes before the ganpme. Right from the start players including Oliver and Petracca fumbled. Confidence receded. Then we played the most negative Q2 I can recall. This occurred because we were too frightened to take a risk in the conditions. On another site it had been pointed out that Stretch repeatedly made position on the Outer side, but the ball was only kicked to him once, and of course, he buggered it up. We need to handle the ball  securely  to enable our play on style to work. I asked one of our players what the conditions were like. He replied " bloody slippery at the start and again just after half time". Did anyone notice that Cotchin changed his  boots at quarter time?

of course the conditions were the same for our opponents. Playing in wet or just slippery conditions involves different techniques and tactics, for some reason we haven't mastered them. As an example, Garlett has always been poor when he can't grab the ball and move quickly.  Experience in the wet  counts for a lot, these days teams play v little in non dry conditions.

 

5 hours ago, Demons11 said:

He was enormous I thought. 

Brayshaw kicked into gear after half time last week.

I think he's going to be a great player for us. Maybe its just taken a while for him to get his touch and confidence back to bust through those packs.

Go Gus

47 minutes ago, SFebey said:

I liked Jones’ aggression today. Any idea what spurred it on? Looked angry. It was a much better leaders game by him today although I wish he’d lower his eyes and not bomb it.

sick of losing I reckon

 

1 minute ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

He’ll get 4 weeks for that no doubt 

1 hour ago, SFebey said:

I liked Jones’ aggression today. Any idea what spurred it on? Looked angry. It was a much better leaders game by him today although I wish he’d lower his eyes and not bomb it.

No idea if there was a catalyst, but he got involved in a scrap and we won. I’ve pointed it out on Demonland before - when Jones gets into a fight/scrap, we win. 100% success rate. He usually gets into scraps when he’s playing with confidence and it always galvanizes the boys around him. Just wish he’d start more fights, it’s a proven method for us winning!

1 hour ago, Farmer said:

I'm surprised that one matter seems to have been  overlooked these past two weeks before today.

we are an " on top of the ground "team. We played awfully well the first 20 minutes v Hawks . Then it rained and we were horrible . Against Richmond we played on a slippery track. It was drizzling 45 minutes before the ganpme. Right from the start players including Oliver and Petracca fumbled. Confidence receded. Then we played the most negative Q2 I can recall. This occurred because we were too frightened to take a risk in the conditions. On another site it had been pointed out that Stretch repeatedly made position on the Outer side, but the ball was only kicked to him once, and of course, he buggered it up. We need to handle the ball  securely  to enable our play on style to work. I asked one of our players what the conditions were like. He replied " bloody slippery at the start and again just after half time". Did anyone notice that Cotchin changed his  boots at quarter time?

of course the conditions were the same for our opponents. Playing in wet or just slippery conditions involves different techniques and tactics, for some reason we haven't mastered them. As an example, Garlett has always been poor when he can't grab the ball and move quickly.  Experience in the wet  counts for a lot, these days teams play v little in non dry conditions.

 

It's been an issue for two years.  I am hopeful that is a part of being young and inexperienced: wet weather footy is a second gameplan because it is when everyone comes back to the same level. Further, wet weather is about big bodies, confidence in your team mates helping you out/ being in the right spot, nous to draw the free kick or win the contest and the experience to know when you bomb long and when you have time to find space (a very fine distinction). 

 

We are still trying to learn to execute our no. 1 game plan so, and aren't exactly confident we'll win (in the same way a Hawthorn or Richmond squad are). I'm guessing transitioning to an alternative plan is a difficult ask in the short term.

8 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

We were good against rubbish opposition, could we do that against the top sides? No chance.

Spargo had a great debut, Fritsch was excellent, Gawn back to his dominating best and we really missed Tom McDonald.

Just look at the difference in standard between ours and the Richmond Collingwood game to underscore that

Max is in Brownlow/all Australian form and has now re-established himself as the best in the business. His running and work rate is unbelievable. Even now kicking goals, although still wouldn’t bet on him slotting one 30 meters out straight in front. That will be progress if and when that eventuates!

Weid’s game also very encouraging. Gradually establishing himself in the side. Will be very important in our future. 

Tyson is a very annoying footballer. Really good at getting possessions, seems to rack them up without anyone noticing, but his disposal is appalling, not only in front of goal. For that reason doubt if he will make our best 22 when everyone is available.

Spargo’s first game very encouraging, but still think Jeffy is at this time a better player when he is in form. Time for Jeffy to have a couple of weeks in the twos to get it back. Spargo im sure will be a star of the future....

Oh yeah, isn’t it nice to have someone who can kick straight for goal. Fritsch will be another Brad Green, and that is high praise - both excellent kicks although I suspect Fritsch is a better overhead mark, which is a great advantage up forward. We have found one here I think.

Edited April 29, 20187 yr by Dees2014

For anyone that doesn't have time to watch a full replay this YT channel uploads every goals/behind/highlight of Melbourne games.

 

 

6 hours ago, Demons11 said:

 

I thought Salem was excellent today.  He won some very tough one on ones. 

There is 2 poor disposals that were unlike him. 

Just to be clear - I was commenting solely on Red and Blue Forever's suggestion that the game was somehow not that bad. It was. It was in fact atrocious, and a complete blight on the footballing calendar to the point where I derive no joy from being slightly less [censored] than the opposition due to an extra day's break and probably didn't even notice Slalom having a good one.

That said, I'm chuffed we get a free W each year and hope we can somehow regain some confidence from it - because while we have massive fundamental issues, we've shown that we're not actually bad at times so far during the year - and I think our game relies on a fair degree of swagger. I have concerns however that the footy dept. might buy into the win like some on here.

#optimistprime

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

Just to be clear - I was commenting solely on Red and Blue Forever's suggestion that the game was somehow not that bad. It was. It was in fact atrocious, and a complete blight on the footballing calendar to the point where I derive no joy from being slightly less [censored] than the opposition due to an extra day's break and probably didn't even notice Slalom having a good one.

That said, I'm chuffed we get a free W each year and hope we can somehow regain some confidence from it - because while we have massive fundamental issues, we've shown that we're not actually bad at times so far during the year - and I think our game relies on a fair degree of swagger. I have concerns however that the footy dept. might buy into the win like some on here.

#optimistprime

Always negative, when we lose we are no good, when we win we are lucky, the negative old men on here must be always grumpy.

8 minutes ago, don't make me angry said:

Always negative, when we lose we are no good, when we win we are lucky, the negative old men on here must be always grumpy.

I'm pretty sure you won't be getting a job at Cambridge Analytica any time soon if that's how you've you've pegged my profile. 

Edited April 29, 20187 yr by Skuit

12 hours ago, dworship said:

It must be extraordinarily difficult for you going through life believing you are right and constantly being confounded by the facts. You do appear to be a Dees supporter so that probably says something.

What FACTS are you talking about?

8 hours ago, SFebey said:

He’ll get 4 weeks for that no doubt 

He’s just rubbing off some seagull poop on his neck.

Edited April 29, 20187 yr by america de cali

Tom ' The Difference' McDonald Just knows where to run to get the footy. And have we ever had a better run from the umpires, about time.

14 hours ago, timbo said:

 

 

14 hours ago, timbo said:

Hogan's change in body language is very interesting 

Can you please elaborate, I only saw parts of the game on my phone as I was working yesterday. Games recorded on FOX will hopefully get to watch it tonight.

14 hours ago, red and blue forever said:

Hrm... everyone seems to be saying Salem had a good game   I thought it was scrappy myself  interesting how perception can be different

I agree 

Not his best fumbled a lot  was slow to react and his kicking was poor

Much better when moved back and not in the middle

 

11 hours ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

 

- Watching Joe ‘the lip’ Daniher ineffectually flap around like a intellectually challenged Labrador is always a viewing treat! 

 

Labradors might find that offensive. Red setter for mine.

10 hours ago, Brownie said:

Brayshaw kicked into gear after half time last week.

I think he's going to be a great player for us. Maybe its just taken a while for him to get his touch and confidence back to bust through those packs.

Go Gus

Agree and not surprised. He's missed a lot of footy