Clearly there is no will to finish the season on a high. Players mentally checked out 5 weeks ago but they never really checked in 6 months ago. They play like they should for the first half but there is no incentive to fight the game out. We have little to play for unlike our opposition. A token effort for the most part keeps some supporters onside.  I still believe our list is good but the culture really sucks along with ineptitude from the coaches and management. I’ll just keep on dreaming and look forward to the bounce back next season. This season has been a disaster and contrition and atonement expectations on and off the field are very high for next season. 

Edited August 4, 20195 yr by america de cali

I would like one of the journos to ask Goodwin in his press conference if he thinks our kicking,  handball, tackling, marking, field positioning skills are up to scratch? And if not, what are they doing about it? Why hasn't it improved week on week? Where lies the accountability? 

3 hours ago, DeeZee said:

I thought JKH was a damn sight better than ANB as far as actually doing something with the ball. 

Dunkley will be great, just needs time.

Just need to find a tall Forward and a speedy winger in the off season and have a bit of luck with injuries, hopefully get Vanders on the park and a big preseason for all, with a killer instinct to start off next season.

Couldn't help but think how nice it would be to have a Tom Lynch in our side.

Fritta does remarkably well to be our main goal kicker at the moment with such a small frame.

I feel we have a beauty in Petty. Good hands, hardening body and good positioning. 

I think Baker will be a 100-200 game player

I think Dunkley will be a gradual improver into a very good player.

Another reason I do not want to hear anymore about 2018. I think we will have a lot of different players in our best 22 next year to 2018.

13 hours ago, Jaded said:

At Casey for literally the past two seasons. 

Yes - JKH 5 clearances last night.  He played pretty well IMO. Should play for the rest of the season.

There were some positive signs in that match - there's is no way the players threw the towel in.  I was expecting a belting but it didn't come.

Petty, Baker, Wagner and Dunkley all showed a glimpse of AFL capability, Petty more than a glimpse, against very strong opposition - they can build on this over next pre-season.

OMac was crucified by the umpires - Lynch is one of the worst free kick stagers I've seen for a very long time.

Dusty is just a class above anyone else playing the game.

3 hours ago, sue said:

I didn't read pages 3 to 6 but the earlier negative comments are really laughable.  Some posters just enjoy being miserable. 

Here we are 17th playing a premiership favourite team in hot form.  We lacked 2 of our best defenders, and no big forwards and yet kept with them till it rained.   Most expected us to lose by a huge margin.  Where's the evidence Richmond were playing in second gear - it's easy to say to fit a narrative, hard to prove.  In fact they had lots of motivation to thrash us but didn't.  Yes, we made errors in the first half. But it is not as if Richmond missed shots to keep us in the game.

Sure they may have run over us even if it had't rained, but we don't know for sure - many of the people saying that were also saying we'd be run over from the first bounce (as many of us expected), but we weren't.   

It is also clear that the style of play we had in the first half does not work when it is wet.  So not surprising Richmond took advantage.  Obviously this is something we have to fix (along with much else).

But in contrast with many posters here, I just hope the players look at what they were capable of in the first half and take some confidence from that. 

Yes Sue, I tend not to come on here straight after a loss but wait until the next morning. The more analytical posters start to emerge and are more enjoyable to read.

36 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Yes - JKH 5 clearances last night.  He played pretty well IMO. Should play for the rest of the season.

There were some positive signs in that match - there's is no way the players threw the towel in.  I was expecting a belting but it didn't come.

Petty, Baker, Wagner and Dunkley all showed a glimpse of AFL capability, Petty more than a glimpse, against very strong opposition - they can build on this over next pre-season.

OMac was crucified by the umpires - Lynch is one of the worst free kick stagers I've seen for a very long time.

Dusty is just a class above anyone else playing the game.

I believe in JKH and think he needs to be more confident in his ability. I see a shyness there that shows with him always dishing off to more senior players when he has other options. Build his confidence and we will see improvement. 

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

Just a reminder for posters to leave the grammar policing to the grammar police  

This thread is for discussing the match. 

I did upvote this as normally grammar police are pains in the backside, but under the circumstance a discussion on the use of the subjunctive may be more enjoyable than talking about Melbourne

3 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Still asking myself why Fritch has only just gone forward when the season is dead?

See post #133 in this thread

It was good to see Melbourne play so well in the first half, i had real hope that we could win this until the rain came. As usual our turnovers kill us. so often when to ball is sent high into defense you will have 3 or 4 melbourne players all flying for the ball while the opposition scouts the packs. When we hurriedly kick out of defense we seem to always kick to an opposition player as all of our players seem to get sucked up the ground into and around the contests instead of providing an outlet up the ground. when May comes back and hore comes back i would like to see frosty move to the win and jones to the forward line. we have too many players all jumping to punch the ball away from everyone including their own team mates, so put frosty where he can run. jones to the forward line because he is not a great asset in the backline,  but still can offer something around the goals a bit like Lewis has. Hopefully Jones and Lewis can help better organise our attack.

I liked a lot that we did last night but disappointed in simple kicks and handpasses that miss their mark still.Preuss needs more time and confidence of the club to play him. It was mentioned earlier in the threat that Max was not considered too good when he first started, which is what i seem to recall, played some games did a knee, played some games did a knee and was not seen as the brilliant player he has become. Preuss should start in the goal square, he has shown it can mark and kick give him time, he is still young. if he does start to mark these he will be a huge asset up forward. even if he does not mark he should be able to take help bring the ball down to the ground where one day we may actually have someone crumbing.JHK did not set the world on fire but a serviceable game, a much better option than ANB at this time. we should be playing for next year by getting games into those players who need the experience or are on the cusp of keep or let go at the end of the year.

 

Can we just start banning people who suggest Frost on the wing? It's absolutely ridiculous. 

1 hour ago, Mydee said:

I did upvote this as normally grammar police are pains in the backside, but under the circumstance a discussion on the use of the subjunctive may be more enjoyable than talking about Melbourne

Hahaha.  Pleasant relief from reality.

But seriously....

Wots a subjunctive?

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Can we just start banning people who suggest Frost on the wing? It's absolutely ridiculous. 

It wouldn't be too bad a suggestion for next year, but only if Jordan Lewis could remote control his leg movements from the coaches box.

Edited August 4, 20195 yr by John Demonic

22 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Gawn's ability to never give up never ceases to amaze.  Oliver is an able accomplice and Fritsch has clearly improved since being moved forward.  Lewis did a solid job on Grimes, and Frost tried hard.  I didn't mind Dunkley's effort as well.  Preuss looks a long way from the standard required. He's not Robinson Crusoe though.

Watching Fritsch yesterday he has become a best 22 player this year. One of a few bright lights now, especially up forward

8 hours ago, zeldacat said:

I would like one of the journos to ask Goodwin in his press conference if he thinks our kicking,  handball, tackling, marking, field positioning skills are up to scratch? And if not, what are they doing about it? Why hasn't it improved week on week? Where lies the accountability? 

They have & he’s stated we are not executing well , connecting between forwards & mids, backs & mids.. basically said we have spuds playing 

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Can we just start banning people who suggest Frost on the wing? It's absolutely ridiculous. 

Frost on the wing I'd like 2 c that

Has anyone suggested that it might be worth trying Frost on the wing?

it feels to me that the club didn't give the prelim loss enough respect. paid for it all season

 

19 hours ago, Demonsone said:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-08-01/clubs-addressing-all-issues-bartlett

 

 

Yes The only thing he didnt say was the board has full confidence in the coach!

The rest was Carp. Only two weeks ago there was no need for a review just some tinkering.

Club and the board still look weak and out of touch. The club needs another external review. Move on all the assistant coaches and rebuild the footy department as a matter of urgency. Why wait till round 10 next year.

17 minutes ago, Kent said:

Yes The only thing he didnt say was the board has full confidence in the coach!

The rest was Carp. Only two weeks ago there was no need for a review just some tinkering.

Club and the board still look weak and out of touch. The club needs another external review. Move on all the assistant coaches and rebuild the footy department as a matter of urgency. Why wait till round 10 next year.

Agreed, a club falling from 4th to 17th in a year should trigger a full review or this crew are not fair dinkum.

 

17 minutes ago, Kent said:

Yes The only thing he didnt say was the board has full confidence in the coach!

The rest was Carp. Only two weeks ago there was no need for a review just some tinkering.

Club and the board still look weak and out of touch. The club needs another external review. Move on all the assistant coaches and rebuild the footy department as a matter of urgency. Why wait till round 10 next year.

Ahhh the ol slash and burn method...hilarious! 

So what you're saying is - the  fact that they say that they are addressing issues, it isnt enough, clear the decks, start from scratch, that's the only way forward?

Deliberate forensic analysis is what is required... only those on the inside know what the problems are and externally, have the skills to do it effectively. 

19 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

Yes - JKH 5 clearances last night.  He played pretty well IMO. Should play for the rest of the season.

There were some positive signs in that match - there's is no way the players threw the towel in.  I was expecting a belting but it didn't come.

Petty, Baker, Wagner and Dunkley all showed a glimpse of AFL capability, Petty more than a glimpse, against very strong opposition - they can build on this over next pre-season.

OMac was crucified by the umpires - Lynch is one of the worst free kick stagers I've seen for a very long time.

Dusty is just a class above anyone else playing the game.

In hindsight I was probably a little harsh on JHK’s performance. He did ok despite awful weather conditions. People keep arguing he isn’t an inside mid, but honestly it’s the best position he’s played in while at the club. He doesn’t have the speed or skills to play outside or as a small forward. Sadly he is now doing well in the one position where competition is so very stiff. I would have loved for Jetta to take him under his wing and turn him into a small defender. I was very impressed with his attack on the ball. 

Petty was superb. He took some incredible marks and just threw himself at the contest. I think it was the only highlight I mentioned at the start of the thread. Just hope they work him hard on his goal kicking as his technique is lacking. 

Lynch is a turd. His sullen look and what about me demeanor disgusts me. 

Just now, Engorged Onion said:

Ahhh the ol slash and burn method...hilarious! 

So what you're saying is - the  fact that they say that they are addressing issues, it isnt enough, clear the decks, start from scratch, that's the only way forward?

Deliberate forensic analysis is what is required... only those on the inside know what the problems are and externally, have the skills to do it effectively. 

Mate I would trust this lot to get a result in a chook raffle let alone a forensic analysis.

Just more and more of the same. You may be happy with the Preses' platitudes and BS there are plenty who are not that happy and are entirely sick of it.

Getting rid of JKH but keeping the likes of ANB in the side would be absolute insanity. JKH actually impacts a contest, wins the ball and doesn't panic with the ball, which is an area he has improved in significantly.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=12&pid1=4067&fid1=S&playerStatus2=A&tid2=12&pid2=3957&fid2=S&type=A

Granted they play slightly different roles but JKH has given us more in 2 games than ANB has all season. ANB is and should be trade bait this offseason.

12 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Ahhh the ol slash and burn method...hilarious! 

So what you're saying is - the  fact that they say that they are addressing issues, it isnt enough, clear the decks, start from scratch, that's the only way forward?

Deliberate forensic analysis is what is required... only those on the inside know what the problems are and externally, have the skills to do it effectively. 

I think the only way to do a deliberate forensic analysis of all issues is with an external review.

Everything on the table.

The only reason for not doing it is if you have something to hide or if your ego is so big you think you have all the answers.

We've been here before.

I fear Sir Humphrey Appleby is running the club at the moment but hope I'm wrong.