POSTGAME: Rd 14 vs Fremantle

[ProperDee 1,698]

5 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Michael Walters is a fairy.

I prefer sniping, diving, posing squib.

[Demonland 65,977]

PRETENDERS SENT PACKING by George on the Outer

 

Fremantle, the Perth pretenders at sixth on the premiership table should have easily accounted for the Demons, sitting barely a game off the bottom of the ladder.  

 

And for the majority of the game, it certainly looked that would be the case, until the final quarter, when the Demons stopped giving the Dockers easy chances, or making plain, dumb decisions. Not that their situation was helped by some simply appalling umpiring during the match, that kept gifting Fremantle easy scores.  

 

The Demons chances were boosted in the first quarter, when former player, Jesse Hogan went down with yet another foot injury, and despite what Ross Lyon has said post game, this is looks very muck like a repeat of his previous ongoing issues that were a contributing factor in his trade back home.  

 

Still, Melbourne has missed his presence up front for 2019, as its own forward line is still utterly dysfunctional.  At ¾ time it was the same old story, many more inside 50’s and marks in that zone than the Dockers, and yet they trailed on the scoreboard.  

 

Tom McDonald couldn’t get into the game early, Sam Weideman barely had a touch, and only for Tim Smith and Jay Lockhart the scoreboard barely kept ticking over.  

 

Then whatever they put in the refreshments in the ¾ time break worked a treat. McDonald went berserk, and after struggling to kick more than 35m in the first half of the season, he nailed a long outside 50 set shot, and the Demons were away.  He followed up with a brilliant snap along the ground from the pocket and the game was as good as over, especially with James Harmes marking and scoring from the goal square, that followed a series of accurate and precise kicks started in the backline.  That in itself represented a first for the Demons in this game, as time and time again, they had squandered chances.  Finally they hit targets and the game was over.

 

The addition of Stephen May to the backline was one of the big positives.  He generalled the players around him, and provided a rock solid wall to Fremantle attacking moves.  Ably assisted by Sam Frost, with some telling intercept marks and dashes out of defence, which he has become famous for, the backline is starting to look composed.  

 

Even so, we have to remember that up to this point in the season we have been missing Nev Jetta, Michael Hibberd, Jake Lever, Jordan Lewis, May himself and Christian Salem from defence at some point or other.  Now we are seeing stability and none more so than Marty Hore, who just keeps popping up with those telling marks at critical points in the game.  He reads the ball and the play beautifully, and when the fully contingent of players become available, it will be hard to overlook him.

 

As usual, Max Gawn dominated in the middle and around the ground.  Even with 46 hitouts, his opponent managed 31, but it was Max’s 20 disposals to Darcy’s 8 and his 8 contested possessions with 7 clearances that was telling.

 

Assisted in the middle by Clayton Oliver with 28 touches (16 contested) and Jack Viney also with 28 (15 contested), they provided plenty of drive.  

 

Unfortunately, Nate Fyfe gave James Harmes a bath, with 31 touches, but it would have been a job that nobody could have done better, as Fyfe was in as good form as he has been since his Brownlow season.  

 

Jay Lockhart was a brilliant promotion into the side, and with a 21 possession, 10 contested, two goal game, he has cemented a spot in the side as that small forward that we have been lacking since the season started. He simply has “football smarts” and knows where to be, when to go and when to sit off the pack.  

 

Harrison Petty did his job again, and while not exemplary, this is what development of young players is all about.  He is finding his feet when surrounded with older, wiser heads, and hopefully by season end he will have a dozen games to his name, and be a more regular fixture in the backline.  

 

Tim Smith likewise did his job on his return, and contributed three telling goals to keep the side in the hunt in those poor first ¾’s.  He at least provides a target and takes a strong defender, especially when Weideman is so far off contributing in a meaningful way.  We probably will persist for the remainder of the season, just to get games and valuable experience into him, but he doesn’t read the ball well in flight, and is too slow to react to movement of the ball at the moment.

  

Before this game Melbourne was four points off the bottom of the ladder, and this win probably keeps it away from this position.  To be sitting three games and percentage outside the top eight is unfortunate, and once again a season of lost opportunities is looming.

 

But the second half of this season also gives plenty of those opportunities to build and showcase and provide hope and expectations for the future, something that was lacking with the horrible injury situation the Demons found themselves in for the first half.  

 

Melbourne must prove that it isn’t just making up the numbers, that we are not pretenders after a Preliminary final position last year - unlike Fremantle which on Saturday’s effort will struggle to make it to September.

 

Melbourne 2.1.13 5.4.34 9.6.60 13.7.85

 

Fremantle 4.1.25 6.4.40 10.5.65 11.5.71

 

Goals

 

Melbourne T McDonald T Smith 3 Lockhart 2 Gawn Harmes Oliver Petracca Weideman

 

Fremantle Matera Walters 3 Brayshaw Cox Darcy Langdon Tucker

 

Best

 

Melbourne Oliver Gawn T McDonald Viney Lockhart Brayshaw

 

Fremantle B Hill Fyfe Matera Walters Conca Langdon

 

Injuries

 

Melbourne Nil

 

Fremantle Stephen Hill (hamstring) Jesse Hogan (foot) 

 

Reports

 

Melbourne Nil

 

Fremantle Michael Walters (Fremantle) reported for headbutting

 

Umpires Deboy Dore Findlay Foot 

 

Official Crowd 20,211 at MCG

[jumbo returns 6,515]

9 hours ago, old dee said:

Yes SWYL I have had  a wee dram or two on a new one tonight called the Naked Grouse. Very nice little number.

Lovely tipple, od 

Remember to roll the tongue when you pronounce it properly....Nay - Ked  Grooooose!

[Lucifers Hero 37,229]

50 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Loved Gus' tackle on his little bro.  Brought him to ground, kept him there and won a free.

Gus: 1.  Andy: 0

[Lucifers Hero 37,229]

Morning after the game and it is very refreshing to not see a single new thread or resurrected thread to put angry boots into a player.

Of course a win helps but also that all players played their role and some really shone keeps the naysayers at bay.  May long it continue!

[Skuit 9,312]

I've decided that Tim Smith hasn't received anywhere near enough praise for his contribution. 3.3 is possibly our highest number of scoring shots by an individual for the season? Keeps taking contested marks. This is a bloke is his 11th game. If he had a different back story/recruitment path he would be being lauded right now. Unfashionable but currently important.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Skuit

[binman 38,847]

3 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I've decided that Tim Smith hasn't received anywhere near enough praise for his contribution. 3.3 is possibly our highest number of scoring shots by an individual for the season? Keeps taking contested marks. This is a bloke is his 11th game. If he had a different back story/recruitment path he would be being lauded right now. Unfashionable but important right now.

Agree. And on another day he gets 5 or 6 not 3.3 because he is usually an excellent kick  for goal. Terrific technique.

Has had a horrid run with injury and hopefully he can play out the season and build confidence and experience.

I was reflecting that ideally we would have both Smith's in the forward line. Both attack the ball in the air and on the ground and tackle fiercely and provide the sort of forward pressure we have sorely missed. 

[Lucifers Hero 37,229]

12 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I've decided that Tim Smith hasn't received anywhere near enough praise for his contribution. 3.3 is possibly our highest number of scoring shots by an individual for the season? Keeps taking contested marks. This is a bloke is his 11th game. If he had a different back story/recruitment path he would be being lauded right now. Unfashionable but currently important.

Agreed.

Kudos to all this year's additons:  May, Hore, Smith (relatively new) and Lockhart.  Kept us in the game for the first half.

Good to see Frosty get a special mention from Goodwin: 

"His form's been pretty solid and today I thought his game was exceptional. That was a new level for Sam Frost, there's no question about that," Goodwin said.

"We call it (that) he turns our ball movement into 'Frost-ball' and no one knows what's happening – but neither does the opposition".

I laughed at 'Frost-ball comment! 

Edited June 22, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[—coach— 3,470]

10 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

Yes of course he does make mistakes . You see if he didn't he would be perfect. You can play him at full forward and he wouldn't drop the mark or miss goals would he. Just kick it to him. However they all make mistakes and the ball gets turned over.

Gawny  makes less mistakes  and we give him the benefit of the doubt not like some who don't learn from their's they just keep making them. 

Without Gawn we would struggle as a team he is  good at his craft and vital to our cause as we all noticed in 2017.He is the vital piece of the team.

Viney was hand fed well today. Watch the replay. He had a good game but made his fair share of mistakes but the good outweighed the bad today. Please be more constructive with your post.  I won't be answering any of your questions again.  

I absolutely love Gawn but I don’t believe that we would be stuffed without him. In 2017 the facts are this:

- When Gawn played we won 53.8% of our games (7 wins/6 losses)

- When Gawn didn’t play, we won 55.5% of our games (5 wins/4 losses)

[binman 38,847]

19 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Agreed.

Kudos to all this year's additons:  May, Hore, Smith (relatively new) and Lockhart.  Kept us in the game for the first half.

Good to see Frosty get a special mention from Goodwin: 

"His form's been pretty solid and today I thought his game was exceptional. That was a new level for Sam Frost, there's no question about that," Goodwin said.

"We call it (that) he turns our ball movement into 'Frost-ball' and no one knows what's happening – but neither does the opposition".

I laughed at 'Frost-ball comment! 

Goody also bristled a bit at the question (which I think was suggesting frosty has been poor) and responded with a bit of an edge. Said something along the lines of 'I think you're being a bit harsh there ...'

[binman 38,847]

2 minutes ago, —coach— said:

I absolutely love Gawn but I don’t believe that we would be stuffed without him. In 2017 the facts are this:

- When Gawn played we won 53.8% of our games (7 wins/6 losses)

- When Gawn didn’t play, we won 55.5% of our games (5 wins/4 losses)

He was nowhere near the player in 2017 that he is now.

[—coach— 3,470]

Just now, binman said:

He was nowhere near the player in 2017 that he is now.

Totally agree, but no soup was referring to 2017 as if we we struggled without him, which we did not.

As good as Gawn is, it’s not the main factor in whether we win or loose (unless we need him to kick the winning goal, in which case we will loose). He’s been epic in a number of games where we have been well beaten in the past two years, so obviously our foturnes don’t rest on his shoulders.

When you loose the best ruckman in the game, you change your approach to ruck contests. Instead of assuming you will win the contest (and set up around the ball accordingly), you assume you will loose the contest and again set up accordingly. We have been beaten by teams with C grade ruckmen this year because they have simply taken the tact of “just crash into Gawn as hard as you can and our midfielders will shark his tap”. It’s a tactic that workes, and we did it in 2017.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

Winning - I like it. ...ALOT!!!

The winning had the edge taken off it a little for me though, as I was watching the game with about an hours delay and my Foxtel recording died 5 mins into the third quarter.  Endless minutes of my life wasted on the Foxtel not helpful line to try to get my IQ3 working so I could at least download the game last night resulted in nought and I had to wait until this morning to watch the last half already knowing the result.

Bye bye Foxtel - hello Kayo Spot I think.

[Nasher 33,133]

The label Frost-ball and its subsequent definition are just classic. It’s so true. Honestly, I’m still a coronary risk every time the ball is in his vicinity, but I love it when his complete unpredictability is working in our favour. It’s exciting to watch if nothing else.

[dazzledavey36 49,029]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Agree. And on another day he gets 5 or 6 not 3.3 because he is usually an excellent kick  for goal. Terrific technique.

Has had a horrid run with injury and hopefully he can play out the season and build confidence and experience.

I was reflecting that ideally we would have both Smith's in the forward line. Both attack the ball in the air and on the ground and tackle fiercely and provide the sort of forward pressure we have sorely missed. 

Deserves a 1 year contract. As you say, hasn't had continuity at all. When he is on the park he's made an impact.

[Willmoy1947 3,808]

5 hours ago, ProperDee said:

I prefer sniping, diving, posing squib.

Interesting to watch/listen to the lagging that was going on during last nights shellacking of the Cats, from both sides. 

If not from deliberate out of bounds to being too mean to "Danger", Ablett would have dobbed everybody on the ground in for doing something, while the little robot brothers, when they weren't too busy kicking in the wrong direction, were appealing for the usual "frees"

[Dee Dubya 220]

58 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Winning - I like it. ...ALOT!!!

The winning had the edge taken off it a little for me though, as I was watching the game with about an hours delay and my Foxtel recording died 5 mins into the third quarter.  Endless minutes of my life wasted on the Foxtel not helpful line to try to get my IQ3 working so I could at least download the game last night resulted in nought and I had to wait until this morning to watch the last half already knowing the result.

Bye bye Foxtel - hello Kayo Spot I think.

Was watching it delayed yesterday on Kayo. Four times the picture froze whilst the audio continued. These companies are quite content to [censored] their products at 90% quality as long as the revenue stream is constant.

Change fl.og to sell.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Dee Dubya
Auto censoring

[old dee 22,952]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Morning after the game and it is very refreshing to not see a single new thread or resurrected thread to put angry boots into a player.

Of course a win helps but also that all players played their role and some really shone keeps the naysayers at bay.  May long it continue!

Interesting that a few of the over the top positives have still not surfaced. I wonder how many wins it will take? Much better Sunday today! I would normally be off to Coburg today but family function prevents me. A win by the CD will complete a good weekend.

Edited June 22, 2019 by old dee

[old dee 22,952]

2 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

Lovely tipple, od 

Remember to roll the tongue when you pronounce it properly....Nay - Ked  Grooooose!

I will keep that in mind jr.

[pitmaster 3,064]

16 hours ago, stranga said:

Wouldn't have won in Freo weren't two players down. 

Now if in previous weeks, say post the West Coast and Adelaide games, you'd made the observation that we played well and did everything but win, and that things aren't as bad as they seem since we were competitive and late in the game in winning positions against two of the competition leaders, I'd grant you this point.

But since I don't remember any such level headed contributions (although you may have made them I just don't have the time to confirm my suspicion that no such offerings exist) I am going to grade your post as churlish and unworthy.

This was a creditable win with two novices in Hore and Lockhart shining, TMac starting to resemble form, and the Weid continuing to develop. May was terrific, Frost apart from early game disposal errors linked up well with his fellow defenders and Petty gave us a bit. And we won despite Freo making up for their injuries with a couple of extras in yellow.

You really did miss the point of it.

[Moonshadow 16,347]

Anyone else notice on the tv coverage Gerard Healey call Harmes "James Magner" just after he kicked the last quarter goal. What a [censored] wit 

[Kent 2,606]

52 minutes ago, Nasher said:

The label Frost-ball and its subsequent definition are just classic. It’s so true. Honestly, I’m still a coronary risk every time the ball is in his vicinity, but I love it when his complete unpredictability is working in our favour. It’s exciting to watch if nothing else.

The epitome of Kaos

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

Still, Melbourne has missed his presence up front for 2019, as its own forward line is still utterly dysfunctional.  At ¾ time it was the same old story, many more inside 50’s and marks in that zone than the Dockers, and yet they trailed on the scoreboard.

Has to be a worry... other than Melksham that is arguably our best forward set up. Imagine if we had our usual inaccuracy.

Hopefully we see more structure next week.

Here's an example of unstructured play.. Gawn has a shot for goal and decides to put it fifteen metres out. Pack flies and knocks it to the 25 metre line where Docker player grabs it and they're off.

Surely Gawn has a pre determined signal to team mates telling them what he is going to do and the crumbers know where they should run to??

[pitmaster 3,064]

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

Has to be a worry... other than Melksham that is arguably our best forward set up. Imagine if we had our usual inaccuracy.

Hopefully we see more structure next week.

Here's an example of unstructured play.. Gawn has a shot for goal and decides to put it fifteen metres out. Pack flies and knocks it to the 25 metre line where Docker player grabs it and they're off.

Surely Gawn has a pre determined signal to team mates telling them what he is going to do and the crumbers know where they should run to??

Excellent observation. That passage drove me nuts.

[Jaded No More 58,687]

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

The label Frost-ball and its subsequent definition are just classic. It’s so true. Honestly, I’m still a coronary risk every time the ball is in his vicinity, but I love it when his complete unpredictability is working in our favour. It’s exciting to watch if nothing else.

My fiancé calls him “that guy you always applaud and then abuse in the space of 5 seconds”. So true. 

His face palming moments are getting lower I think. He does more good than bad now. I certainly didn’t think that in 2019 Frost would be our most consistent defensive performer. Yes a lot of that has to do with injuries, but credit to him for getting better and better. 

Also guys I need to apologies because our shocking win loss ratio is my fault. Been slack getting the lucky charm along to matches. His first attendance of the year yesterday and boom. We win.