1 hour ago, Maldonboy38 said:

TMac in, Gus firing,  Oliver Hogan and Petracca firing - AND Viney to come in. The light at the end of the tunnel is no longer the headlights of an oncoming train. 

The issue is that apart from Carlton, every team has played some decent footy and only Richmond have any consistency. Each week is a nightmare for tipping and form seems to be more quarter-by-quarter than game-by-game. The QB clash against the Filth will be pivotal.

IF we are to play finals, the last 5 rounds are the most important to me. We need to find increasing form 5 games in a row to build momentum for the finals. Looking at Adelaide (A), Gold Coast (H), Sydney(H), West Coast(A) and Giants(H) I see a really difficult path to the finals, maybe winning only 2 of these but we might snatch the Sydney game. 

Must have missed Petracca firing. Only just a game. Still waiting for his breakout alluded to here on DL.

Can he please spend the week practising kicking for goal

9 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

We are presently playing far below our best, but starting to find some form again after loosing our way against the Hawks and Tigers.  I recon Viney back will be huge tipping point once he's up and back in full flight.

If we can't beat most of the sides presently above us in the remainder of the home and away, I don't want to make finals.

I must admit Maldonboy, that yesterday's game made me more optimistic. The pressure we applied yesterday was pretty good.  We can possibly snag a couple of those difficult away games if we play to the best of our ability. As every MFC supporter knows, its difficult to be confident

17 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Let’s just focus on what could be a tricky road trip to Brisbane, followed by a game against a side we invariably struggle against, first. 

Good joke. We already did that once this year, and won both games.

After round 16, I think we will be 10 wins 6 losses. Challenging thereafter with 5 games against top teams. Cats, Crows, Eagles AWAY and Swans & Giants at home (also play Suns at home). Need to win 3 from last 6. 

Edited May 7, 20186 yr by spirit of norm smith
C

4 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

After round 16, I think we will be 10 wins 6 losses. Challenging thereafter with 5 games against top teams. Cats, Crows, Eagles AWAY and Swans & Giants at home (also play Suns at home). Need to win 3 from last 6. 

yep... our second half draw is horrendous... on the upside we will certainly deserve our place if we make it

Talking of runs home, Collingwood’s draw is absolutely comical.

With their draw, on current form they will finish with around 14 wins.

On 5/7/2018 at 5:44 PM, btdemon said:

I must admit Maldonboy, that yesterday's game made me more optimistic. The pressure we applied yesterday was pretty good.  We can possibly snag a couple of those difficult away games if we play to the best of our ability. As every MFC supporter knows, its difficult to be confident

We are actually the No.1 team for contested possessions over the first 7 Rds from what I understand, so I don't think our poorer performances have been so much about lack of intensity or desire as they have been about defensive positioning, system and ball movement.  At times (Richmond and Hawks in particular) we've actually had too many trying to apply the defensive/pressure acts and not enough clear of the contest to make use of or defend the ball movement clear of the congestion.

Edited May 10, 20186 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

7 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

We are actually the No.1 team for contested possessions over the first 7 Rds from what I understand, so I don't think our poorer performances have been so much about lack of intensity or desire as they have been about defensive positioning, system and ball movement.  At times (Richmond and Hawks in particular) we've actually had too many trying to apply the defensive/pressure acts and not enough clear of the contest to make use of or defend the ball movement clear of the congestion.

i think this is a huge problem for us, I have noticed it and a few commentators have as well. They are all trying to hard. I don't know how many times 3 or 4 Melbourne players launch to spoil a high kick inside 50 and the crumbers kick a goal.

 

No surprise they try harder against better opposition and get exposed more

Just on the same theme, statistically we are 4th for quarters won this year, so 17 won, 10 lost and 1 drawn. Only WCE, Tigers and I think Adelaide ahead of us. 

Edited May 10, 20186 yr by Ouch!

On 5/7/2018 at 8:41 AM, Maldonboy38 said:

TMac in, Gus firing,  Oliver Hogan and Petracca firing - AND Viney to come in. The light at the end of the tunnel is no longer the headlights of an oncoming train. 

The issue is that apart from Carlton, every team has played some decent footy and only Richmond have any consistency. Each week is a nightmare for tipping and form seems to be more quarter-by-quarter than game-by-game. The QB clash against the Filth will be pivotal.

IF we are to play finals, the last 5 rounds are the most important to me. We need to find increasing form 5 games in a row to build momentum for the finals. Looking at Adelaide (A), Gold Coast (H), Sydney(H), West Coast(A) and Giants(H) I see a really difficult path to the finals, maybe winning only 2 of these but we might snatch the Sydney game. 

Agreed, our run up to round 17 us actually pretty good we get Dogsx2, Sunsx2, Saints again. After round 18 it heats up Cats in Geelong, Crows in Adelaide, WCE in Perth, Swans, GWS - tough run home.

Edit - just checked, our return match vs Suns is in that home stretch.

Edited May 10, 20186 yr by Dr. Gonzo

42 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Agreed, our run up to round 17 us actually pretty good we get Dogsx2, Sunsx2, Saints again. After round 18 it heats up Cats in Geelong, Crows in Adelaide, WCE in Perth, Swans, GWS - tough run home.

Edit - just checked, our return match vs Suns is in that home stretch.

We can beat Geelong at the G, Swans @ G and GWS. At our best we can beat all those teams

Our finals (and top 4 chances) took quite a leap this weekend.  Not only from our own fine efforts but thanks to Ess and Lions taking care of Cats and Hawks (and some of their percentage) - two of our competitors for those slots.

Of our remaining 13 games only 6 are against current top 8 teams:  Crows * 2, Port, Cats, Syd, WCE.  Obviously they are all 8 point games - there are some challenges but we will win some of them.

Of the 7 games vs teams outside the 8, the main threat is GWS in the last round by which time they will have their injured and elite players back.  Lesser threats are Bulldogs * 2 and Pies.

We have stopped drinking our bath water, sorted out our defence, play out 4 quarters, and put teams to the sword so it is hard to see us not making the 8 and pushing for top 4.

WCE don't play the G well and Richmond don't win away from the G.  Final ladder positions and 'home ground' will be crucial to a teams chances of making it through to GF.

So, it will be another wide open finals series.  And to pinch the 2016 Bulldog's mantra:  Why not us!

7 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

s outside the 8, the main threat is GWS in the last round by which time they will have their injured and elite players back.  Lesser threats are Bulldogs * 2 and Pies.

 

I was about to post to correct you that we only play the Doggies once. But you are indeed right, we have them twice within 6 rounds.  

I never understood the angst about our 2nd half draw.  It looks ok to me, and we are hopefully now at the stage where we can beat anyone anywhere.  And that includes Adelaide in Adelaide, Geelong in Geelong and the Eagles in perth.

I have believed we will win 14 games this year. Win our next 3 and we go into the bye at 9-3. That means fifty fifty over last 10 rounds. Maybe we can do better or am I drinking bathwater from beating bottom sides.

1 minute ago, dl4e said:

I have believed we will win 14 games this year. Win our next 3 and we go into the bye at 9-3. That means fifty fifty over last 10 rounds. Maybe we can do better or am I drinking bathwater from beating bottom sides.

I think we'll be able to answer that question in seven days time.

Great teams beat the poor teams, however so do average teams.  The Adelaide game will let us know where we are and where we're heading.

Let's just see how we go. I think our run at the moment is similar to last seasons, just lesser quality opposition. We shaped up to the Cats, Tigers and Hawks and lost. We could've won 2 of those game if we had just been better with the ball or had a much better set up, all of which has changed since this run started. 

I'll take what the players say at face value. They said they learnt a lot from Hawthorn and it feels like this team won't let that happen again.

9 minutes ago, MurDoc516 said:

Let's just see how we go. I think our run at the moment is similar to last seasons, just lesser quality opposition. We shaped up to the Cats, Tigers and Hawks and lost. We could've won 2 of those game if we had just been better with the ball or had a much better set up, all of which has changed since this run started. 

I'll take what the players say at face value. They said they learnt a lot from Hawthorn and it feels like this team won't let that happen again.

I'd be interested to play all those 3 again with our new setup/strategy. I suspect all 3 going very differently, with 2 wins.

12 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

I was about to post to correct you that we only play the Doggies once. But you are indeed right, we have them twice within 6 rounds.  

I never understood the angst about our 2nd half draw.  It looks ok to me, and we are hopefully now at the stage where we can beat anyone anywhere.  And that includes Adelaide in Adelaide, Geelong in Geelong and the Eagles in perth.

Agreed. 

We are a flexible team now and can adapt to different ground shapes.  It was always going to be and still is how much the players want finals and beyond.

On that note, Viney seems to have taken last year's missed finals to heart more than any other player.  In last week's interviews I noticed a serious and very steely resolve. 

He will make sure teammates want finals as badly as he does and he is desperate.

I look at all these teams and expect to crush them now, how things have changed.

A fun thread to read again.  How things have evolved as the team has!

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Agreed. 

We are a flexible team now and can adapt to different ground shapes.  It was always going to be and still is how much the players want finals and beyond.

On that note, Viney seems to have taken last year's missed finals to heart more than any other player.  In last week's interviews I noticed a serious and very steely resolve. 

He will make sure teammates want finals as badly as he does and he is desperate.

You’re certainly right about that. I loved hearing his “voice of the game” commentary on the weekend, he really is a natural leader. Despite obviously being limited in his first game back, his on-field leadership was still there and as good as ever, constantly encouraging and seeking the best out of his teammates. Such an important figure to our club.

We have beaten 4 rubbish team so its hard to know how good we are.

One thing I know is that we have a perfect run at this season now.  no injuries, players in form, genuine stars dominating. After the last 4 weeks, importantly the players will have begun to believe. Believe in the game plan, in Goody, in themselves.

We have a great opportunity to grab this season by the throat.  the next 3 weeks will be fascinating

If Gawn had kicked straight, we’d have a win over Geelong under our belts and at least some of the discussion about our credentials wouldn’t need to occur right now. 

But he didn’t, and so valid question marks remain. 

Adelaide is the first chance to test ourselves, but they’ve been absolutely belted by injuries. 

The real tests will come post-bye. Our opponents are better, and we have repeat travel (Adelaide x 2, Geelong, Perth, Darwin) - that’s 50% of our post-bye games out of Melbourne.