ANOTHER GIANT PROBLEM by George on the Outer

On top of its injury problems Melbourne ran into an “in-form” GWS Giants at the MCG in a game which, apart from a final quarter junk-time spree served to highlight the club’s current problems.

There’s a virtually non-existent forward line; a plethora of VFL standard players, who might be getting plenty of game experience but most will simply not be up to AFL standard; an inability to kick straight and an ability to waste simple opportunities so that they mustered up only one goal in the first half with the second coming 17 minutes into the third quarter.

These are all giant problems on their own, but there is no light at the end of the Tunnel for the Demon supporters until that injury list is reduced.

Make no mistake, the Giants will be a serious threat to the Premiership this year.  We played last year’s Premiers just a week ago, and took the game up to them.  At no point were Melbourne even close or in the contest with this mob.

A solitary goal in the first half, with yet another goal-less second quarter.  If the Giants had kicked straight, even in the first quarter they could have been 6 goals ahead.  They saved that six goal onslaught for the 3rd quarter when Melbourne were made to look like witches hats at a training session.

The Giants obviously took the foot off the accelerator, put the cue away and saved themselves for their next game at the final break.  This allowed Melbourne to score more in the first seven minutes than it had kicked in the previous 3 quarters!  By the final bell in the last term, it had nearly tripled its efforts from the previous three.

GWS had 11 players with more than 18 touches, and only two who recorded less than double figures.  Melbourne in contrast had seven who only managed a touch or two each quarter.  Small wonder at the disparity of score at ¾ time.

Max Gawn was easily the best of the Melbourne players with 25 touches of his own and 35 hit outs.  A ruck shouldn’t be getting those sorts of numbers, and the fact that he is able to do so is a credit to his willingness and abilities.

Marty Hore filled a vital role in defence again with his intercept marks and 6 contested possessions.  Not much blame could be apportioned to the backline, given the ease of entry from the GWS players and the lack of pressure from the Melbourne players up the ground.

Once again the forward line was completely dysfunctional.  Firstly, with the continuing non- selection of Braydon Preuss.  He is a big body who can be used in multiple roles, and not only provides a break for Max but also can help out the forwards.

At one point in the third quarter, Max was off the ground getting a dislocated finger attended. Tom McDonald was moved up to the wing to get him into the game, and Smith into the ruck.  This left a forward line of Hunt, Garlett, Spargo, Baker, Lockhart and Brayshaw!  A big bodied Preuss would have been nice to stick in the goal square, or even better into the centre square!

GWS must have wet themselves laughing at that line-up, none more so than Heath Shaw who watched Garlett avoid him for most of the match as he sought cheap out the back kicks all game.  Shaw just kept on getting the ball, with 27 touches while Garlett managed only 6 for the day.

Trouble is that Melbourne has nothing with which to replace these players.  Wagner x 2, Stretch, Garlett, Spargo, Lockhart, Fritsch, even Smith and Petty should all be playing at VFL level, but we simply do not have anyone else (apart from Preuss) to bring into the side.

Reports are that Lever has injured himself again to compound the problems and there is no point bringing in Jordon, Chandler, Keilty or Bedford over any of the above players.  ALL the rest are injured!

We have a GIANT problem.  We had another Giant problem in this game, and until some injury list relief happens (and the way things are going that is only a remote chance of happening) then the 2019 season will be a Giant failure.

Melbourne 1.1.7 1.3.9 3.6.24 10.8.68

GWS Giants 2.5 6.8  12.9 14.10.94

Goals

Melbourne Baker T McDonald 2 Hunt Garlett Petracca Lockhart Stretch Spargo

GWS Giants Himmelberg 5 Cameron 3 Whitfield 2 Coniglio Finlayson Kelly Taylor

Best

Melbourne Gawn Hore J Wagner Baker Viney

GWS Giants Kelly Hopper de Boer Taranto Himmelberg Haynes

Injuries

Melbourne Salem (concussion) replaced in selected side by Spargo

GWS Giants Nil

Reports

Melbourne Nil

GWS Giants Nil

Umpires Haussen Gavine Chamberlain

Official crowd 20,023 at the MCG (50% more than Hawthorn could muster!)