We look spent. Too many underdone players and our midfield is struggling. Gawn having a shocker, Oliver, Viney and Gus extremely quiet. Trac done nothing. 

May and Lever in, Hore and Frost out ASAP. 

Looking like a horrible misjudgement letting Viney play. Hopefully some vindication in the second half.

11 minutes ago, doc roet said:

Should have played Pruess if not just to belt them.

True, but we have 21 other players out there too.  They are clearly targeting Max - every time they do, there should be two Melbourne players slamming them back.

...a bit of the umpires doing their job wouldn't hurt either.

Edited March 23, 20196 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

poor first half, on the positive side we have a lot of players who have the potential to lift. disappointing in the way we let port run the ball out of defence, surely this is not our gameplan.

12 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This is what happens when you dont recruit speed over the summer.

Thanks Dazzle I feel like I am the only one who sees our lack of pace. They just run it down the ground unchallenged. We are slow and still haven’t fixed up our skill problems. How many times have we kicked it or handballed straight to them. 

 

2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Viney looks well underdone. Gawn looks cooked halfway into the first game. Petracca, Spargo and Hunt are struggling to get involved. 

We’re missing too many kicks, including inside 50, and when we turn it over they have too much space and too much marking power (anyone who didn’t already appreciate how badly we need May should know by now). And we’re too slow (by foot but mainly with decision making) when trying to get it out of the backline. 

The first 15 minutes looked excellent so if we get back to that faster, more direct football then we should be able to improve and regain the lead, but if we stay doing what we did that quarter then we will lose and lose poorly. 

Couldn't agree more with all points, titan.  I think we are still well in the game if we get back to what makes us a good side, but we need to stop allowing teams to do what they want and make sure they earn every kick.  We nailed them with big tackles and ferocious pressure early, and then just dropped right off.  When we were up and about they couldn't get near us.  Let's hope the break, and a possible bake, do the trick.

Mmm not a great half... however we really have only played on our terms for 10 minutes. Port have had all the play and only 3 points up. Hoping we come out firing after the break 

trac ,slow and mechanical got a big headed attitude

where are tom

We have no run. Stationary, waiting for the ball to be kicked on our heads. 

Port spoil and hit the contest with 4 or 5 runners. 

rinse repeat. 

For all their dominance that quarter there’s less than a kick in it. When we went missing last year and 2017 we had big tallies kicked on us and were too far back to get in the game. A rest, tactical reset and hopefully we’ll be back in it again in Q3. They spent some petrol tickets catching up with us so hopefully we can build into it again 

30 degrees at the MCG.... fitness will be a big factor in this second half

My MFCSS tells me we're not the fitter side.

Hope our skills make up the difference

Nice to see Watts trying to be a hard man and giving away frees. Loser. 

Viney hopefully just unfit and not the i word

11 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Midfield overated. 

Too many pizzas? 

Or did you mean overrated?

Are Tmac and Tracc playing or even on the ground....

Just now, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Viney hopefully just unfit and not the i word

Well he had zero pre season. So.... 

I can’t see us winning this. 

Viney is strangely quiet

11 minutes ago, Demonised said:

They're being very physical on Max, jumping into him at every opportunity, knees and boots first.

So why aren’t we smashing into Ryder! Too passive!

Jones refuses to chase, poor example from captain!!

The break couldn't have quick enough.

We need to stick up for Max more.

18 frees to 8 our way. Once the eveners start getting paid we might find ourselves in some trouble. Our guys look very tired already and they are fresh. Not great after the first 15 mins. 

 

Time to lift boys 

Frees 18-8 our way you just know that will even up now 

7 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Thanks Dazzle I feel like I am the only one who sees our lack of pace. They just run it down the ground unchallenged. We are slow and still haven’t fixed up our skill problems. How many times have we kicked it or handballed straight to them. 

 

Our fast runners are turnover kings: Hunt and Frost.

This is frustrating but not a huge shock we had a hugely interrupted preseason...Port missed the 8 been training their butts off for a month longer