We can still make finals. We can still make the top 4. But we won't do either because we're not good enough.

We are fantastic at some things, but really poor at others.

Hopefully we'll keep improving, but right now, we're simply not good enough.

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:32, timbo said:

It's funny you spent time noting the quantum of the loss I expected /quoted then when we lose by less you challenge me that I should be happy we lost by less. Allow me to disabuse you of the notion that your logic is based on a sound axiom

 

Maybe you should just stop posting negative [censored] predictions. First it was ten goals then another 186 flogging was on the way.

Now you’re upset we lost by 2 points.

Make up your mind.

Gawn going off with the blood rule didn't help. Bad timing

We could have been 4th 

Edited July 21, 20186 yr by dees189227

Who knows if Trac had tried to pass it that the Geelong boys may have intercepted, they were up for the final minutes whereas we were not. Trac tried to get the ball as close to our goals as he could trusting our forwards to get it or hold it in. again we lost it with our poor kicking for goal.  At the moment we are still a possible finals chance, possible, none of the teams we play is we certain to win as we have shown recently with our form against port and Saint Kilda. hope that we do play finals this year, if we do scrape in I doubt we will go far given the way we fold under pressure.  I wasn't expecting us to win the flag this year, just make the finals. I hope one day these guys will start to realise they have to play the full 120 minutes, and no matter how far ahead you are you keep trying to keep attacking

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:45, Roost It said:

Goose 

Nah mate, reality. Sorry to say it. We ain't making finals and once again it's entirely our fault. How can anyone defend 4 losses under ten points? 3 losses that were 3 points or less, one of which was against St Kilda? 

Question. The final kick  does the player still only get 30 seconds for his kick at goal. Or can he take as long as he want because the siren has gone. 

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:36, The Swimming Dee said:

This is an awful post. Lewis hardly put a foot wrong tonight and if you think differently you have no idea about football.

Jones also had an OK game. If you expect every player to hit every target every time you are living in a delusional world.

We didn’t lose because of these 3. We lost because the intensity around the ball dropped off and Hawkins got on a roll. Young players being relied on in the middle lost it for us. They will learn and this group will become a premiership group.

I am terribly upset but chill out with the huge calls man.

I have no idea about football. Now I've put that on the table every DLer can discount whatever I say

 I'm not the only one down on lewis

and jones! Omg!!! But you're right of course. "Ok games" in such a serious match are acceptable from 255 gamers/100 club captains . I invariably grit my teeth when he gets it. Not always invariably . 

Happy to be corrected . Constructively

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:29, Radar Detector said:

Mate, our season is on life support and being sixth is a mirage. At this stage will go into one game for the remainder of the season as favourites. That would leave us on eleven wins and missing finals.

worse than that, if we’d just taken care of business tonight and against the saints, we’d be a lock.

Spot on, some just don't get it do they....

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:45, Roost It said:

Goose 

Why. If we don't beat Swans we won't have to wait for round 23 for the news. We miss finals by round 22.

Hard going ...

Omac is most definitely not going to make it as an AFL player, if anybody seriously thinks he will go ahead and make your case.

Overall the team worked hard, Harmes, Melksham and Petracca led the way, Petraccas brain fade late was bad but he was ver good and you can’t look at one incident for a loss, if you could then plenty of Oscars non competive efforts on Hawkins or maybe Brayshaws ridiculous tap back to three cats 10 metres from goal would certainly take the cake for brain fade of the day.

Hard loss to swallow because like the Port game we were the better team most of the time but need to iron out a few of these passengers still.

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:38, whitito said:

Unsure what everyone is ashamed of? 

They had a brain fart for the last 20 seconds. 

If you think they aren’t improving you are delusional. 

I am gutted we lost but a lack of effort is inexcusable and you could not doubt that.

the journey is a long and winding road.

They are not improving treading water

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:46, Beetle said:

Maybe you should just stop posting negative [censored] predictions. First it was ten goals then another 186 flogging was on the way.

Now you’re upset we lost by 2 points.

Make up your mind.

Fair point. You have a problem with me despite me not being the only one making similar predictions. So I guess the question is what's your problem 

We have kicked 149 points more than the next highest scoring side Richmond and we still lose all the close ones. Pressure kills us every time. 

Just shattered. More shots at goal again, more inside 50's. Round 1 all over again....

Don’t hate me for saying anything this but:

1. Frost really improved

2. Oliver’s hands are amazing

3. Fritch tried all night (enjoy your 2 week holiday Hawkins)

4. Melk, ANB and believe it or not - Trac really stood up all night - well done Trac

5. Goody failed to call junk time 1:30 out from the siren to hold the lead...

FMD’s, the boys did well, the coach failed.

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:44, McQueen said:

I’m trying hard to dig myself out the grave I’m in right now. Don’t fuggit up for me..

Unfortunately as dees fans the grave was sealed by a tonne of concrete years ago. We are all in it together though.

I’d hate to be relying on any of you in a pressure situation. You go to water much like your team 

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:48, Big Demon said:

Hard going ...

Omac is most definitely not going to make it as an AFL player, if anybody seriously thinks he will go ahead and make your case.

Overall the team worked hard, Harmes, Melksham and Petracca led the way, Petraccas brain fade late was bad but he was ver good and you can’t look at one incident for a loss, if you could then plenty of Oscars non competive efforts on Hawkins or maybe Brayshaws ridiculous tap back to three cats 10 metres from goal would certainly take the cake for brain fade of the day.

Hard loss to swallow because like the Port game we were the better team most of the time but need to iron out a few of these passengers still.

I know lots are a rap (?wrap) on gus but I'm not

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:49, wizardinoz said:

Just shattered. More shots at goal again, more inside 50's. Round 1 all over again....

Mentally soft.

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:32, Wiseblood said:

We're in it until we're not in it.  We have the ability to beat any team in front of us, with the exception of the Eagles in Perth, which is a huge ask of any side these days.

It might be a mirage to you, but it's pretty clear to me.  This loss cuts very, very deep, but we aren't done just yet.

We have not won a crunch game against a good side since Port Adelaide in R18 last year which is a full season ago. Obviously we are in it mathematically and the team has ability, sure. But I’m yet to see evidence we mentally have the chops to win against any of the good sides. I think Adelaide will be very tough at home despite our earlier clash, WCE is near impossible, GWS are running into form and have the pace to expose us at the G and Sydney are exactly the type of mentally strong team we almost never beat. I applaud your glass half full and wish I had it in me to feel the same right now, but an extended body of evidence has me feeling pretty grim. #MFCSS

Edited July 21, 20186 yr by Radar Detector
Autocorrect fail

This is so bad I don’t even feel like having sex.

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:44, layzie said:

I am absolutely [censored] done with this. How much crueler does it have to get? How much lower to the pits of despair do we have to plunder? The best thing this club has taught me is to never be content with any lead. You lead my 23 points going into the last quarter? Doesn't matter, treat it like its level and try to kick the first goal, then try to kick the next goal, and the goal after that and the goal after that. That is the only way I know how to follow this football club. There is never any room for 'comfort'. You can't be 23 points up and be content when the opposition kicks a goal. No, there is never any God damn room for comfort with this club ever until the friggin full time siren goes and even then you have to hope some a'se wipe didn't take a mark. Seriously, how much more of this dog excrement bullcrap do we have to put up with? I was told repeatedly after Round 23 in 2017 that it would 'burn in the bellies' of these young men. Where the hell was that in the last minute? I don't want to hear any more stupid stories about no pain no gain and 'this is the loss they need to become better' seriously pull the other one. This football club has had enough of those losses and lessons to last a lifetime, it is time for some darn action. 

At half time in the game day thread I wrote that it had a feel about it similar to many of those games that we had the edge in and lost. The port game. I even referenced a game from [censored] 16 years ago where Farmer killed us on the siren at Subi. Seriously enough is enough. I and many others are completely at their wits end with this kind of thing happening over and over again. It's been 12 years and this Mt Everest of a task that teams seemingly make year after year of making the finals is getting beyond a joke.

Melbourne, you will always find the way won't you? You won't snatch it from St Kilda but you'll always find the way when it matters most. I haven't given yo hope. Mate, when you're out of it for 12 years you'll take what chance you can get buf I can not back this team to deliver the goods when it counts.

I am sorry, I know a lot of you have other things in life aside from football like your families and partners. I'm in my early 30s, single and put a lot of my energy into this football club. It really damn hurts just that bit more when you feel you have little else. Criticise me if you want I don't give a toss right now.

FML 

  On 21/07/2018 at 12:50, timbo said:

I know lots are a rap (?wrap) on gus but I'm not

why Doesn’t that surprise me

Having watched the last two minutes, a number of things stand out:

1. JKH's miss was horrendous. He could have straightened up.
2. Petracca's barrel wasn't terrible. It got a good result, a throw in. 
3. Garlett's snap attempt with 50 seconds to go was rubbish, he should have been aiming for 20m out, instead he went for the goal from the pocket and gave the ball back.
4. When Vince spoiled the kick in we should have been able to wrap the ball inside 50 but we failed to do that.
5. Our defensive set-up was too loose, it was man-on-man inside their 50 (someone should have been standing in the hole), Menzel was free, Duncn was able to run past Hawkins (which saved them enough time).

Disappointing is an understatement.  However we can, and should, able to beat the crows, sunscreen and swans to lock in a finals appearance.