Making the finals

[Age 485]

There is only two ways we can make finals this year:

1. Sack Goodwin (not going to happen so rule that out)

2. An ex army sniper Melbourne supporter starts picking off players in every other afl club over the next 6 weeks. (Only issues ia that unless point 1 happens, the top up players that all the other clubs get will still beat us)

 

[Adam The God 30,541]

18 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Even with some over the top statements lately on here, tipping our team to win a game of footy sounds as ridiculous these days.

No basis Sydee, just a gut feel.

We'll lose by a similar margin that we did on ANZAC Day Eve.

12 hours ago, Skuit said:

The strangest thing is the number of posters on here who have just skipped straight to 7. There's the usual suspects at 2 - some of those who have managed to blend their 2 with the comfort of 7 - a very low-level all-pervasive 5, a few nut-jobs at 4 who feel guilty for some self-bathwater fan-influence notion and project that onto the players,  and then the majority who are stationed somewhere between 6 & 7. Technically, 'blame' falls under anger and bargaining, but I believe casting for culprits, or searching randomly for answers (is it you God?) deserves its own grief stage, and that it's otherwise a step toward acceptance.

As for me: a mix of denial and acceptance without any of the interim stages.

I've fallen pretty quickly to 7, but I oscillate between 7 and 2. That's part of the MFCSS crap, following Melbourne teams every week for 30+ years.

[Adam The God 30,541]

Whilst I think we'll finish in the bottom 3 or bottom if our form continues, it's fascinating going through the league-wide statistics.

We're in the top half on most stats and are second for CPs and clearances (and third for Inside 50s). Conversely and tellingly, we're dead-last for DE and Efficiency Inside 50.

It may seem like an easy solution. Clean up forward entries and disposal, and we start to look like a top 8 side again. However, the question really is, how much is our system enabling our dominance in CPs and clearances? Because if our system is the reason for that dominance, time in 2019 won't help us when we look for ways to change our downward momentum.

But if we can change system and maintain our CP and clearance dominance, we would stand a chance of playing finals, especially with May and Lever returning, along with half forwards Hannan and VDB.

I have no faith that the system will be completely revamped mid-season, nor do I believe it can be.

That said, the example of Clarkson shifting gear in 2010 gives me some hope.

And a few other points.

- Fritsch needs to play on a wing. He's hopeless anywhere else.

- Incredibly we'll be third for Tackles Inside 50 by the end of the round. This is majorly influenced by the forward half game we play.

- can we maintain solid team defence with 6-6-6 and attack with weight of numbers on the press and use the ball better entering forward 50 on the slingshot?

Edited April 27, 2019 by A F

[Big Carl 333]

7 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Are they really trying their guts out? Or just trying their guts out to a MFC standard?

We don’t work hard enough as a club, never have

How did 2019 turn out like this after last year or are there “other” problems at MFC that are not apprarent yet?

[DV8 2,271]

44 minutes ago, Big Carl said:

How did 2019 turn out like this after last year or are there “other” problems at MFC that are not apprarent yet?

Well last year we got the supporters fired up early season,  and the Mcc supporters as well... we got them all roaring early season,  with some choice stirring of the flock,  to stop being so proper,  and so conservative, and so polite...

OUR crowd fired up,  in a firey support of the team,  long before the team found it's MOJO.

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

1 hour ago, Big Carl said:

How did 2019 turn out like this after last year or are there “other” problems at MFC that are not apprarent yet?

No idea to be honest. But something is definitely not right for such an epic fall. 

But it has happened almost regularly in the last 5 decades. We cannot sustain a winning culture...

[Ron Burgundy 8,585]

It’s been an absolutely bizarre start to the season. Gold Coast, Freo, Saints - it’s been flipped on its head.

Like everyone here, I have found our performances this far to be absolutely depressing. And inept. And a bit surprising. I had thought we were going to win the flag this year. Right now, we’re sitting last with a percentage of about 16%.

It’s so bad, I don’t even feel aggrieved though - that feeling comes when you feel your club has received the hard end of the stick and deserves much better. For once, that’s not actually been us. We’ve been bloody hopeless.

BUT:

- there are reasons for our performances to date, some reasonable and some entirely inexcusable - injuries, overall fitness, and players out of form (McDonald, Jetta, Hibberd etc) have cruelled us, but I’m concerned the coaches haven’t exactly been at the forefront of some of the changes, which I think was perfectly illustrated in the St Kilda game. Everyone seems to have got way ahead of themselves and departed from the basics, the essence of which was trying hard and not taking anything for granted - it was been ruthless at the contest;

- we have a good list - we really do - it’s a better list than the majority of other clubs right now - but it still has obvious gaps - I also don’t think our team selection has been that inspiring or imaginative prior to the Richmond game; and

- we are now a well run club, i.e. we are not the same club that endured 10 years of simply miserable and heart breaking failure which caused many of us to simply give money to it to ensure its survival. We will be a very viable and competitive team next year. And beyond.

While I reckon we’re pretty well stuffed on the finals campaign this year, I don’t reckon the season is absolutely over. I’m personally looking for a decent run in the second half of the season as and when we regain key players, and some fitness, and hopefully a more astute coaching group.

In short, let’s try to avoid some of the cliched (and perhaps understable) bagging of everyone in the the club at the moment. Everyone’s frustrated. And bloody disappointed. But the future of this club is far better and brighter than it has ever been in the past 2 0or 30 years, which in itself is a great achievement.

 

[DV8 2,271]

18 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

we have a good list - we really do - it’s a better list than the majority of other clubs right now

we are in trouble as a club.

 

imo, we have a sound list,  but definately not better than most.  We have about 6 or 8 good pieces of the puzzle,  but all are a little 'nqr'.  Except maybe Jetta, but he's injured.

Oli, Brayshaw, Gawn all have a ways to improve.  They all waste the ball far too often.  A mental and discipline thing imv.  So I class them as B+ grade.  They aren't the fully Professionals we'd like them to be, YET.

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

28 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

 

- we have a good list - we really do - it’s a better list than the majority of other clubs right now - but it still has obvious gaps - I also don’t think our team selection has been that inspiring or imaginative prior to the Richmond game; and

- we are now a well run club, i.e. we are not the same club that endured 10 years of simply miserable and heart breaking failure which caused many of us to simply give money to it to ensure its survival. We will be a very viable and competitive team next year. And beyond

 

You are all hope here Ron. 

Are we a well run Club, what is actually going on? Nothing has been said 

Something is not right, we have been thrashed 3 times on our home ground. Good Clubs don’t let that happen. 

Our list is average and very unbalanced. Slow and lacking basic skills. 

Why...?

[Fanatique Demon 2,660]

A friend and I had an interesting WhatsApp exchange. He's a Saints supporter. His idea was to merge the two clubs to make way for a Tasmania team in 2020. Not suggesting that's a good idea or would ever happen. But he said the Saints had the better list and he could easily find 13 current Saints players who'd be walk up starts. I thought surely we'll have more than 13 in a combined team with the Saints.

So, who are our 13+ players? On this year's form I found only 7: Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Salem, Viney and Melksham. Add Injured players May, Lever, Jetta in the hope they'll make good recoveries and recapture their form. Now I have 10. Maybe include Tom Mac because he'll put through this slump. So that's 11. After that it gets seriously difficult to find others. Conclusion? Maybe he's right. The Saints have the better list and we have 11 real players and a lot of pretenders. Perhaps we could offer the pretenders to the new Tasmanian team ?

 

[What 18,810]

1 hour ago, Fanatique Demon said:

A friend and I had an interesting WhatsApp exchange. He's a Saints supporter. His idea was to merge the two clubs to make way for a Tasmania team in 2020. Not suggesting that's a good idea or would ever happen. But he said the Saints had the better list and he could easily find 13 current Saints players who'd be walk up starts. I thought surely we'll have more than 13 in a combined team with the Saints.

So, who are our 13+ players? On this year's form I found only 7: Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Salem, Viney and Melksham. Add Injured players May, Lever, Jetta in the hope they'll make good recoveries and recapture their form. Now I have 10. Maybe include Tom Mac because he'll put through this slump. So that's 11. After that it gets seriously difficult to find others. Conclusion? Maybe he's right. The Saints have the better list and we have 11 real players and a lot of pretenders. Perhaps we could offer the pretenders to the new Tasmanian team ?

 

So what youre saying is you want to see a best 22 if the Saints and Demons merged?

@WERRIDEE  is already on the case 

[Gator 17,629]

Why would any supporter want to play finals only to make up the numbers ?  I have zero interest in finals in 2019, not that it matters, because it obviously won't happen anyway.

The club should already have one eye on 2020 and what they need to do to improve the list.  Keep developing young players, strategise structures and ball movement, and improve our field organisation.

Resident Demonland bedwetters won't see a path forward, which is fine. however the core of our list is still very good and one that can bounce back with better health and shrewd decision making.

[Demonstone 23,118]

Was this the recession we had to have?  One step back to take two steps forward?  Jeez I hope so.

[Demon Dude 425]

27 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Why would any supporter want to play finals only to make up the numbers ?  I have zero interest in finals in 2019, not that it matters, because it obviously won't happen anyway.

The club should already have one eye on 2020 and what they need to do to improve the list.  Keep developing young players, strategise structures and ball movement, and improve our field organisation.

Resident Demonland bedwetters won't see a path forward, which is fine. however the core of our list is still very good and one that can bounce back with better health and shrewd decision making.

I agree. And I also want to see someone take over from Misson sooner rather than later. Big fail from him this preseason. 

I also want a shake up of our assistant coaching staff and to get a new strategist to get some fresh ideas, in the off season. Preferably we poach someone from the hawks or some other successful club that know how to play at the MCG, because we certainly don't.

 

[Delusional demon 82 1,197]

49 minutes ago, Demon Dude said:

I agree. And I also want to see someone take over from Misson sooner rather than later. Big fail from him this preseason. 

I also want a shake up of our assistant coaching staff and to get a new strategist to get some fresh ideas, in the off season. Preferably we poach someone from the hawks or some other successful club that know how to play at the MCG, because we certainly don't.

 

Let’s hope this is why pert has been noticeably silent during all of this , he should be already orchestrating this behind the scenes 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,368]

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

Why would any supporter want to play finals only to make up the numbers ?  I have zero interest in finals in 2019, not that it matters, because it obviously won't happen anyway.

The club should already have one eye on 2020 and what they need to do to improve the list.  Keep developing young players, strategise structures and ball movement, and improve our field organisation.

Resident Demonland bedwetters won't see a path forward, which is fine. however the core of our list is still very good and one that can bounce back with better health and shrewd decision making.

I agree with you although the Bulldogs flag is always in the back of the mind - all you have to do is make finals and then prepare yourselves for 4 weeks of blitzkrieg footy.

Won't happen for us this year though. 2020 we will bounce back as long as we focus now on getting our players fit for round 1 2020 and we attack the draft with at least 3 or 4 guys with pace and skill who can slot in (a la Duursma, Rozee, Butters at Port)

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Of course we can still make it.  Until we can't mathematically do so, then I'll continue to give us a chance.  

And anything can happen in finals.  I would still expect the club to be thinking long term around what has happened in the first six rounds, how we fix it, what players we might need to draft/trade for and beyond, but I still believe we have a side that can get a run on and sneak in.  There are no standout sides, and clubs like St. Kilda and Gold Coast won't keep winning games and sticking around the pack.  We can overtake those sides.

[Gator 17,629]

22 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Of course we can still make it.  Until we can't mathematically do so, then I'll continue to give us a chance.  

And anything can happen in finals.  I would still expect the club to be thinking long term around what has happened in the first six rounds, how we fix it, what players we might need to draft/trade for and beyond, but I still believe we have a side that can get a run on and sneak in.  There are no standout sides, and clubs like St. Kilda and Gold Coast won't keep winning games and sticking around the pack.  We can overtake those sides.

Oh dear...

[Wiseblood 24,637]

1 minute ago, ProDee said:

Oh dear...

Probably.

But I don't give a stuff.

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

30 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Of course we can still make it.  Until we can't mathematically do so, then I'll continue to give us a chance.  

And anything can happen in finals.  I would still expect the club to be thinking long term around what has happened in the first six rounds, how we fix it, what players we might need to draft/trade for and beyond, but I still believe we have a side that can get a run on and sneak in.  There are no standout sides, and clubs like St. Kilda and Gold Coast won't keep winning games and sticking around the pack.  We can overtake those sides.

“Sitting on a Cornflake, waiting for the van to come...”

[Adam The God 30,541]

53 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I agree with you although the Bulldogs flag is always in the back of the mind - all you have to do is make finals and then prepare yourselves for 4 weeks of blitzkrieg footy.

Won't happen for us this year though. 2020 we will bounce back as long as we focus now on getting our players fit for round 1 2020 and we attack the draft with at least 3 or 4 guys with pace and skill who can slot in (a la Duursma, Rozee, Butters at Port)

I reckon we need to improve our system and recruit players who compliment what we're trying to do with that system.

That's how we'll bounce back IMO.

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

31 minutes ago, A F said:

I reckon we need to improve our system and recruit players who compliment what we're trying to do with that system.

That's how we'll bounce back IMO.

Yes it is amazing how many people on here truly believe this diabolical situation we find ourselves in, will just “turn around”

last years model has been torn open and fully pulled apart by our opponents. 

When i saw Lewis and Jones lineup on the wings of the MCG a few weeks ago i realized our Coach was in a world of pain...

[bing181 9,348]

Apart from anything else, what's happening shows how highly tuned successful teams are. It doesn't take much for the wheels to come off big time. Consequences have causes, but not all major consequences have major causes.

[Little Goffy 14,670]

Seems like everyone has forgotten that this is an odd numbered year.

We never had a chance.

[Demons11 7,061]

On 4/26/2019 at 10:26 PM, Moonshadow said:

Need 13 wins from 16, plus %

With the ladder the way it is, I am not sure that will be the case this year.