4 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Brayshaw and Lewis directly contributed to 5 opposition goals on the weekend through poor field kicking and woeful defensive efforts.

I wonder sometimes if this group is really hungry for it, or are they just happy being AFL footballers.

 

Happy to be paid lots.

Drop Brayshaw if it continues. Someone mentioned him as tradebait.

And Lewis. Please can we do something about Lewis.

Warn the entire team if their workrate and effort doesn't lift, EVERYONE IS ON THE TABLE

(Except Max, Mr Total Football, Oliver and maybe Viney and a couple of others).

Sorry for the hyperbole, I'm not feeling well.

Looking at all that, I am now starting to think that minimal changes should be made this weekend.  Every player is on notice, the media are showing our opponents how to beat us (if they haven't worked that out for themselves already).  Some pretty proud players that have been heavily challenged, some for the second/third week in a row.

On paper our team is quite solid, and should be a finals playing team.  The time for individual players to prove that they want to do that in 2018 starts this Saturday.  Line-in-the-sand type stuff for me, and I feel that Goodwin was implying the same after Sunday's game.

On the footage shown is it leg speed issues, fitness or mental laziness? Probably a combo of all three but we certainly our midfielders are one paced, contested ballers, but if they don’t have the ball....

Whatever no wonder the backline is struggling with the ball being run into our forward 50 like that. And we have been seeing oppositions move the ball Coast to Coast in every game where we haven’t totally dominated the midfield battle. 

Spargo, Stretch, Garlett, Frost must be in the mix over the next few games if things don’t improve.

Attitude is a huge part of it, just look at Richmond and how manic they are.

Im not going to name names but my daughter told me last week that she saw two high profile senior players buying smokes at 7/11.

How can you expect to achieve the ultimate if you are not fair dinkum?

Can't argue that we had some workrate issues on the weekend.  The Saints played out of their skin and we just didn't want to keep up with them.  Their spread was good and we didn't want to work hard enough once they got the ball in their hands to ensure that we got it back as quickly as possible.

I also think our set up around the stoppages needs some work as well.  Too often we have all 3 players going for the ball which takes away that outlet handpass, or we get first hands on it, cough it up and they get the clearance.  We need a little more balance in there and also around the ground. 

15 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Attitude is a huge part of it, just look at Richmond and how manic they are.

Im not going to name names but my daughter told me last week that she saw two high profile senior players buying smokes at 7/11.

How can you expect to achieve the ultimate if you are not fair dinkum?

If they are MFC players I demand you name names

2 hours ago, SFebey said:

Who was playing CHB and FB last year when we didn't have Lever and Tmac went forward?

Obviously Omac was one, who was the other and how did we structure up? Was it Frost, cant remember.

Frost was one of our key defenders up until that disastrous loss (we seem to be having a lot them lately) in Hobart in round 19. Then wasn't seen again.

Frost had a mixed year last year but did do extremely well on Tex Walker in our great win over there. I think he needs to replace Petty next week as at least he'll provide pace and a bit of seniority. He'll also provide mistakes, but hey, most players were doing that on the weekend.

 

21 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Im not going to name names but my daughter told me last week that she saw two high profile senior players buying smokes at 7/11.

How can you expect to achieve the ultimate if you are not fair dinkum?

I though the big bloke was off them for good.

17 minutes ago, timbo said:

If they are MFC players I demand you name names

I don’t want to name names, because I care about this club and don’t want the media to get a hold of it.

It wasn’t Maxy by the way.

2 hours ago, Yung Blood said:

And we wonder why our backline look so disorganized........

And still don't some don't get it. Blame the symptom and don't understand the cause. See the tip of the ice berg and not what is under the water.

A back line of  Rance, Scarlett, Hardeman, Silvagni, Jetta and McLeod would not stop us being scored on heavily when:

• opposition players are allowed rebound from their defensive half so quickly because of non existent forward half pressure (making it all but impossible for any mids etc to get back and block holes)
• we make horrendous turnovers at our half forward line and going inside 50 (hello Brayshaw x 3) which given we are sweeping forward allow the ball to ping back the other way, often straight up the corridor
• we make horrendous turnovers in our back half, gifting opposition goals - hello Lewis and TMac 
• our players don't gut run to put pressure on opposition players, allowing them to tic tac up the ground and kick the ball into their inside 50 under no pressure whatsoever 
• we employ the most aggressive forward press/zone in the league that to work requires a team NOT having the four issues above

5 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

I don’t want to name names, because I care about this club and don’t want the media to get a hold of it.

It wasn’t Maxy by the way.

DZ have you got rid of you avatar of Jordon Lewis as a form of protest? 

4 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Can't argue that we had some workrate issues on the weekend.  The Saints played out of their skin and we just didn't want to keep up with them.  Their spread was good and we didn't want to work hard enough once they got the ball in their hands to ensure that we got it back as quickly as possible.

I also think our set up around the stoppages needs some work as well.  Too often we have all 3 players going for the ball which takes away that outlet handpass, or we get first hands on it, cough it up and they get the clearance.  We need a little more balance in there and also around the ground.  

I agree with the stoppages comment, and think this is the main issue we have. In general we haven't had workrate issues like we saw against the Saints.  But in my opinion our stoppage work is really poor and has been most of the season, despite Max dominating.  The big concern is whether the coaches think our stoppage style is a strength because we usually win the clearance count.  Problem is most clearances we win are rushed and scrappy as there are several Melbourne players within a couple of metres of the ball.  Opposition clearances tend to be cleaner with a good outlet handball and then exposing us in defense.  For the Collingwood game we were obviously so hyped up for that game that we looked like Under 8's all chasing the ball, and Collingwood really hurt us from stoppages just through better structure.  That's not lack of effort, but just structure and should be easy to fix.  

1 minute ago, binman said:

DZ have you got rid of you avatar of Jordon Lewis as a form of protest? 

Ha ha yes binman , mainly because of his undisciplined play and turnovers, but he is not one of the guys who bought the smokes.

Starts from the top.

Of the coach doesn't blast them for it then they will cheat.

If the captain doesnt put in the effort most others wont either.

The old saying of the fish rots from the head. That footage was players leaving their direct opponent to take an easier option. 

Doesnt surprise me at all.

2 hours ago, Clintosaurus said:

It's all on the midfielders and half forwards. The pressure applied once the ball turns over is non-existent. Around stoppages it is fine, but once it clears the contest it is too easy for opposition players to get it inside forward 50. Collingwood game and last Sunday were perfect examples. Not enough pace or gut running in the midfield.

I sense we are more strongly committed to the game effort, when we feel our backs are to the wall. (subconsciously)

When we start to feel more comfortable in our-selves and team, WE the Mfc (players and all,,, supporters as well) seem to lose some intensity and fire in the belly,,, and we feel the pressure when we're suddenly the hunted.

 

Then we as a club, switch like a light-switch,,, into Victim mode.  The atmosphere changes from being one of feisty-hunger, into an atmosphere of fear/anxiety and defensiveness.

 

And we go into a negative mentality...  Or reverse if you prefer. 

This mood swing is as bi-polar as Red and Blue are.

 

It happens so often, that its normal for Mfc.

Edited July 3, 20186 yr by DV8

32 minutes ago, binman said:

And still don't some don't get it. Blame the symptom and don't understand the cause. See the tip of the ice berg and not what is under the water.

A back line of  Rance, Scarlett, Hardeman, Silvagni, Jetta and McLeod would not stop us being scored on heavily when:

• opposition players are allowed rebound from their defensive half so quickly because of non existent forward half pressure (making it all but impossible for any mids etc to get back and block holes)
• we make horrendous turnovers at our half forward line and going inside 50 (hello Brayshaw x 3) which given we are sweeping forward allow the ball to ping back the other way, often straight up the corridor
• we make horrendous turnovers in our back half, gifting opposition goals - hello Lewis and TMac 
• our players don't gut run to put pressure on opposition players, allowing them to tic tac up the ground and kick the ball into their inside 50 under no pressure whatsoever 
• we employ the most aggressive forward press/zone in the league that to work requires a team NOT having the four issues above

Agree Bin and that is why I have been banging on on DL for the last few years, to get rid of our ball butchers, as they start most of our troubles. We have recruited the hard body contested players , just about totally at the expense of some skillful and quick players, who can also apply defensive pressure.

44 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Ha ha yes binman , mainly because of his undisciplined play and turnovers, but he is not one of the guys who bought the smokes.

Maybe you could change to Hogan or Petracca

11 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Agree Bin and that is why I have been banging on on DL for the last few years, to get rid of our ball butchers, as they start most of our troubles. We have recruited the hard body contested players , just about totally at the expense of some skillful and quick players, who can also apply defensive pressure.

Everything in time RL.   

There is an smart order for things to happen, starting at station 1/ with the culture, and the physicality of the team ethos.

Once that gets rolling and entrenched as a proud model, then move into next phase.  If not, the old weak ways will still survive in the club.

 

It's sort of like the finer skills come last, in building the temple.  A topping off sort of stuff;,, and these finer skilled types have to be made to really earn their spots the hard way, so we do not forego the new physical culture.

1 minute ago, timbo said:

Maybe you could change to Hogan or Petracca

The download limit is very small , Ive tried multiple images with no luck.

5 minutes ago, DV8 said:

Everything in time RL.   

There is an smart order for things to happen, starting at station 1/ with the culture, and the physicality of the team ethos.

Once that gets rolling and entrenched as a proud model, then move into next phase.  If not, the old weak ways will still survive in the club.

 

It's sort of like the finer skills come last, in building the temple.  A topping off sort of stuff;,, and these finer skilled types have to be made to really earn their spots the hard way, so we do not forego the new physical culture.

What are you talking about, this is not a personal development seminar. It's a football club. 

57 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Ha ha yes binman , mainly because of his undisciplined play and turnovers, but he is not one of the guys who bought the smokes.

No i know. I had very similar inteI.  Was assuming the protest was related to on filed performance.  

Jordan Lewis is a guy who was a champion mid at Hawthorn, but the pace of the game has gone past him now.

We are hiding him in the backline, and he does have his good games, but he is too slow and seems to give up goals every week due to errors and undisciplined play.

Id rather develop an Oscar Baker down there as we are desperate for some run off half back.

29 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Agree Bin and that is why I have been banging on on DL for the last few years, to get rid of our ball butchers, as they start most of our troubles. We have recruited the hard body contested players , just about totally at the expense of some skillful and quick players, who can also apply defensive pressure.

Agree 100%. We have been a terrible kicking side for at least a decade, more really. its killing us. No matter what style of footy is in vogue there will ALWAYS be a premium on kicking skills. It is the key reason i questioned trading Watts (not wanting to open up that argument btw - i fully understand the decision, particularly given Fritsch is just about our best kick)

Look at the last quarter of the Cats and saints games. Turning the ball over costs us both games. Both games drove me spare. 

 People remember the turnovers that result in opposition goals but the ones that break scoring chains are equally damaging and often go unremarked. But it not just the turnovers.

My pet hate is players who don't have the basic footy skill of  weighting or direct the ball properly to maximize a forwards chances of marking the footy. it is a key reason why we have so many fruitless inside 50 entries. 

Ok we kick the ball long to packs as a system but how many times on Sunday (every week really) was the ball put on top of forwards heads rather that out in front allowing them to jump forward. Hopeless

.

Edited July 3, 20186 yr by timbo

Lyon used game footage to show the blinding obvious.

We commit too many players to the contest leaving their opponents in acres of space waiting to receive the ball and we have no one in space to handball to.

Our midfielders are simply not accountable to their opponents. Jones, Brayshaw, Oliver etc.

And we're slow on the outside.

Brayshaw as one example tracked an opponent through centre square but lost concentration, wandered towards contest on flank, letting the opponent run unchecked into their forward 50. Opponent got the ball in space 20 metres out. 

Jordan 'Major Tom' Lewis's renowned footy smarts don't extend to picking up a free opponent waltzing into out defensive 50 when he is the spare in defence. He is elite at guarding space I will admit.

Goodwin needs to lay down the law. If you keep going to the contest when its not your role you play for Casey. If you don't apply manic pressure to opponents you play for Casey. If you're a one paced inside mid not part of centre square rotations you're not a winger so you play for Casey.