Welcome Back to the Bottom of the Ladder

[What 18,810]

So some people think this is trip to the bottom is just a short stop for us.   It may well be, but I remind you this is the Melbourne Football Club.

  We could easily stay in the bottom 4 for the next decade.

[praha 10,270]

12 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

So some people think this is trip to the bottom is just a short stop for us.   It may well be, but I remind you this is the Melbourne Football Club.

  We could easily stay in the bottom 4 for the next decade.

You could look at it that way. It's a highly cynical way. I see us being in this position as being gifted an opportunity to reboot and retool. Other think that "we are better than this". I think it's a reflection of how depleted our depth is. 

The club will never admit it but, aside from salvaging respect and getting some wins, it is already readying itself for the draft, trade period, and season 2020. And I think that's the right choice.

Dump Garlett and bring back Spargo. Keep McDonald forward and make him work for his goals. Give Weideman an ultimatum. Throw support behind Frost and Oscar. We need stability and structure atm to build towards next year. 

Throwing Mcdonald back against Richmond simply extended the inevitable. In the process we had zero targets. It was no worse than when we had McDonald down there.

On Wednesday we played to minimise the deficit. That was 2014 Roos era tactics. 

Goodwin has got to start looking to 2020 and beyond and develop players in positions in line with long term objectives. It also starts with getting Fritsch out of the [censored] backline and onto the wing.

[Sorry kids 635]

18 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

So some people think this is trip to the bottom is just a short stop for us.   It may well be, but I remind you this is the Melbourne Football Club.

  We could easily stay in the bottom 4 for the next decade.

Yes, we will never be a Club until we have . a proper home base. I take my hat off to all those who go to Goschs paddock but ii is an embarrassment. Shame on every previous administration and this one. It is not the only reason, but the Saints are thriving back at Moorabbin. 

[SPC 2,788]

1 hour ago, bringbackthebiff said:

Out of interest - did you post a similar comment at the end of last year?

Only with reference, like most to our one dimensional midfield and lack of small forwards. 

Coaching panel has concerned me for some time. 

[rpfc 27,432]

I think we need to calm down...

We have had a terrible start to the year and I really do think that this group having a month less break/pre-season for the first time in their careers is having a pernicious effect on the group.

We have played poorly but our midfield finally has a constellation with Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes, our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form, and our backline has solid base to build on assuming (yeah, yeah) that injuries are not permanent features of careers.

I don't think we can claw our way back to relevance for this year but we are not what we used to be.

[Binmans PA 25,984]

52 minutes ago, Stormy Dee said:

To be fair I think they’re talking about defence in a broad sense, to include tackling in the forward line and elsewhere, manning up all over the ground, not letting opposition players spread and run free, not just backline traditional defence.

Yeah, but even including the Richmond game where we barely laid a tackle in the forward 50, we're third for tackles inside 50 in the competition. We've been tackling. Our problem is we never convert our territorial dominance. Bizarrely, we spanked Geelong for territorial dominance. They were just way better at using it inside 50, helped by our high press.

[praha 10,270]

14 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I think we need to calm down...

We have had a terrible start to the year and I really do think that this group having a month less break/pre-season for the first time in their careers is having a pernicious effect on the group.

We have played poorly but our midfield finally has a constellation with Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes, our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form, and our backline has solid base to build on assuming (yeah, yeah) that injuries are not permanent features of careers.

I don't think we can claw our way back to relevance for this year but we are not what we used to be.

Gawn literally said fitness wasn't an issue. Like it's one thing to start slowly like, say, the Eagles or Crows, or the Pies last year. But we are a quarter through the season, have 1 win and a % of 69%. This has nothing to do with preparation. 

[Binmans PA 25,984]

13 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I think we need to calm down...

We have had a terrible start to the year and I really do think that this group having a month less break/pre-season for the first time in their careers is having a pernicious effect on the group.

We have played poorly but our midfield finally has a constellation with Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes, our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form, and our backline has solid base to build on assuming (yeah, yeah) that injuries are not permanent features of careers.

I don't think we can claw our way back to relevance for this year but we are not what we used to be.

The system is broken and our efficiency inside 50 is diabolical. These two things are no longer fitness issues. We're 6 weeks into the season now. I bought it for the first 2 to 3 weeks, you're alluding to even 4 weeks, that time is now up. We're still butchering the footy or playing directly into the hands of our opponents too often from the get go in games for this to be a fitness issue.

[Jack son 5 162]

20 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I think we need to calm down...

We have had a terrible start to the year and I really do think that this group having a month less break/pre-season for the first time in their careers is having a pernicious effect on the group.

We have played poorly but our midfield finally has a constellation with Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes, our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form, and our backline has solid base to build on assuming (yeah, yeah) that injuries are not permanent features of careers.

I don't think we can claw our way back to relevance for this year but we are not what we used to be.

The only relevance is what the deluded media spin. Melbourne haven't been relevant for nearly 2 decades.

[What 18,810]

34 minutes ago, rpfc said:

  our forward line has a proven goal scorer when in form,

And just about every other club has proven multiple goal scorers.   We have 1, whos had one good season in front of goal, and was moved down back last week.

Brandon Matera kicked 5 last night for Freo. A Gold Coast reject.  We cant get 5 from anyone., let alone multiple players.

Thank god for Jake Melksham. He holds our forward line together.

Edited April 28, 2019 by Petraccattack

[Jara 1,149]

2 hours ago, Sorry kids said:

Yes, we will never be a Club until we have . a proper home base. I take my hat off to all those who go to Goschs paddock but ii is an embarrassment. Shame on every previous administration and this one. It is not the only reason, but the Saints are thriving back at Moorabbin. 

Couldn't agree more. Somebody else (maybe it was you?) got bagged for saying this a few days ago, but you're right. Somewhere to take the kids, gaze at the photos and trophies on the wall. Somewhere to bond.

 

Was just reading how the Pies have been given $15 million by the Coalition which will help with their new base (a sports and medical research centre) . Been others over the years (Geelong, Dogs etc) Never seems to come to us. 

[At the break of Gawn 3,486]

Defence is still a problem. We let Richmond had something like 70 inside 50s. That shows poor pressure up the ground and poor defensive work in our forward line. We are a forward half team. Good forward half teams don’t let the opposition get 70 inside 50s

in regards to our forward problems, I see it mainly as a problem with our talls not marking it or bringing it to ground for our smaller players to do the work. Lowering the eyes and all that is great on turn over entries when the opposition defence isn’t set up yet, but it’s like threading a needle when the opposition is fully set up. In those cases taking a big contested mark or getting a good ground ball opportunity from a small forward is a good way to score.

Another thing worth mentioning is that in many ways I think making a Prelim smoothed over for what was largely a good but not great season.

Before rnd22 we hadn’t beaten a top 8 team, and we were still dropping games we were expected to win. E.g. Saints rnd 15, Sydney Rnd 21, inexplicably lost to Cats after being 30pts up.

 

[Deemania since 56 6,132]

On 4/1/2019 at 5:35 PM, Jaded said:

Hello darkness my old friend 

At least the encroaching, blood-sucking competition and rivalry will not draw us asunder. We can concentrate on a short-term future of re-building, re-establishing a capacity for a win or two first, and then lunge into the maelstrom with a little more confidence. After last year regardless of the trade-outs, we needed to take a bitter pill of reality. Almost, but still not quite right. By heavens, Lever and May owe us big time, as do some of our 'talented' footballers of the recent past. 

[Deemania since 56 6,132]

2 hours ago, praha said:

Dump Garlett and bring back Spargo. Keep McDonald forward and make him work for his goals. Give Weideman an ultimatum. Throw support behind Frost and Oscar. We need stability and structure atm to build towards next year. 

Now we're talking....

[Binmans PA 25,984]

43 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Defence is still a problem. We let Richmond had something like 70 inside 50s. That shows poor pressure up the ground and poor defensive work in our forward line. We are a forward half team. Good forward half teams don’t let the opposition get 70 inside 50s

Absolutely, defence is a part of the problem. We let them waltz out of our backline at times. I think they let us do it once for the entire night and even from this position, I think we still stuffed up our chance to score, which was pathetic. Against Richmond we failed to lay enough tackles inside 50.

43 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

in regards to our forward problems, I see it mainly as a problem with our talls not marking it or bringing it to ground for our smaller players to do the work. Lowering the eyes and all that is great on turn over entries when the opposition defence isn’t set up yet, but it’s like threading a needle when the opposition is fully set up. In those cases taking a big contested mark or getting a good ground ball opportunity from a small forward is a good way to score.

Disagree with this. Preuss constantly brought the ball to ground against St Kilda, but we were outnumbered at ground level, because the delivery was simply long and to a contest (usually 3 or 4 on Preuss).

We certainly lack contested marks in our forward half, but we also lack instinctive, hard-working crumbers. Garlett is instinctive and can be great on his day, but doesn't work hard enough, regularly enough. Outside of Jeffy, we literally have no other option at the moment for natural crumber. Does anyone know if Bedford is likely to be an option this year?

43 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Another thing worth mentioning is that in many ways I think making a Prelim smoothed over for what was largely a good but not great season.

Before rnd22 we hadn’t beaten a top 8 team, and we were still dropping games we were expected to win. E.g. Saints rnd 15, Sydney Rnd 21, inexplicably lost to Cats after being 30pts up.

I think this was done to inexperience and a lack of leadership at crucial times earlier in the season. But when it came time to stand up and be counted, our guys did it. And won not one final, but two.

[Adzman 2,085]

The Dees are human excrement right now and that's that.

A whopping great stinking pile of it. 

 

 

[Deesprate 1,162]

The next two round will confirm whether we are spoon bound. Up to the bye we play Hawks; Suns; Eagles; Giants; Crows; Pies. The nightmare scenario is 1/11 as I cant see us beating the four big guns before the bye. Even if we lose the one thing I want to see is better transition and forward pressure which has been non existent. Garlett cannot be part of a team that want to exert forward pressure. He must go.

[Sorry kids 635]

1 hour ago, Jara said:

Couldn't agree more. Somebody else (maybe it was you?) got bagged for saying this a few days ago, but you're right. Somewhere to take the kids, gaze at the photos and trophies on the wall. Somewhere to bond.

 

Was just reading how the Pies have been given $15 million by the Coalition which will help with their new base (a sports and medical research centre) . Been others over the years (Geelong, Dogs etc) Never seems to come to us. 

I just do not understand it. Literally pick any senior footy club in Metro Melbourne and at least they have a home ground with a club house, parking area and other facilities. There must be clubs somewhere where we could piggyback on their infastructure. 

[old dee 22,843]

1 hour ago, Deesprate said:

The next two round will confirm whether we are spoon bound. Up to the bye we play Hawks; Suns; Eagles; Giants; Crows; Pies. The nightmare scenario is 1/11 as I cant see us beating the four big guns before the bye. Even if we lose the one thing I want to see is better transition and forward pressure which has been non existent. Garlett cannot be part of a team that want to exert forward pressure. He must go.

So who are you going to put in place of Garlett?

[praha 10,270]

45 minutes ago, old dee said:

So who are you going to put in place of Garlett?

Spargo. 

[old dee 22,843]

5 minutes ago, praha said:

Spargo. 

Oh no!

[bringbackthebiff 637]

6 hours ago, SPC said:

Only with reference, like most to our one dimensional midfield and lack of small forwards. 

Coaching panel has concerned me for some time. 

Fair call. Hopefully players and coaching staff can respond, along with some smart recruiting 

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

1 hour ago, praha said:

Spargo. 

I think I'd rather Aussie Wonaemirri in present physical condition than Spargo.

[drysdale demon 4,146]

28 minutes ago, Matsuo Basho said:

I think I'd rather Aussie Wonaemirri in present physical condition than Spargo.

There is something about you I am not quite sure of, but I reckon I could explain it if I wanted to get a permanent ban on this site. 

[Deesprate 1,162]

10 hours ago, old dee said:

So who are you going to put in place of Garlett?

Our options are not great but I would definitely have Spargo ahead of Garlett. Spargo at least places some offensive pressure whereas Garlett applies zero.