We just look more balanced with Weed in the side, even if he doesn’t mark the ball as he creates a contest we can feed off and always has good second and third efforts.

 

9 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Why is it these teams pull out their individual best against us Bullard, Rankin etc.

Great win Dees, baby steps but alot better.

 

That is what Ballard brings every week, he is a good intercept player with dodgy skills.

Rankine replaced Rowell and had a similar impact on the game. He is the reason they never should have got those concessions last year (luckily Anderson looks very vanilla)

All we can ask for is growth and a positive response to the week's criticism. And that's what we got...so proud of the boys.

We played like a bottom 8 side (rather than a bottom 4 side) but given how far we had fallen you can't expect a flawless performance.

Attack on the ball carrier was up, as was the composure with the ball (particularly Viney, Oliver, Langdon), and even some more proactive coaching (Harmes in the middle, Melksham moved around, May sent forward, Max pushed forward).

Still a concern that the Suns backs took so many intercept marks, but this will be a focus for the whole season.

Looking forward to the Hawks game.

Brilliant win. Hard effort but big improvement. Media criticism did get back to the group and coaches. You could tell they settled down and were more efficient with the footy. Not excellent but better. 

Thought O-Mac was terrific, and is the reason he was one of the core in 2018.

He is never going to be a superstar, but his ball use is solid, he competes and allows others (Lever) to play their game.

Enough with the temptations to play the more athletic Smith, I think O-Mac had Day for large parts of game who has been handy so far in 2020. I don’t think I heard his (Day’s) name.

Well done Oscar 

 

Only Melbourne can have you tearing your hair out with frustration and swearing at every stupid mistake and then so happy with a couple of minutes of good football to win the game. If only the rest of the game wasn't so blindingly awful!

Sometimes you need an ugly win. I'll take it

2 minutes ago, loges said:

Forgot to mention, Umpires terrible.

Goes without saying...

Yeah, stacks of spot on comments here this week, like all weeks. Still, too many errors, but general improvement. They looked a better balanced team with the talls and Benell. All we are saying is give Weid a chance. Maybe bring in Sparrow for Melksham.

Good to CP5 nail the clincher. He’s coming into the player we always wanted. Sloppy by foot tonight but still massive. He’s the type that want to step up and win games. 

Mays disposal is starting to be a real concern, some horrible errors. but he  was there in the clinches at the end along with lever. Kozzie looking like SUCH a prospect and dare I say it, we are definitely a better side with Omac back in the team 

Good to get a win.. maybe it’ll help build some confidence.. however i’m just not convinced at all.. there was more to not like than like.. it was still a bottom 4 performance imo.

We are still alive

Who would have thought choosing a better balanced team (although it could still have been better) would lead to an improved result?

Goodwin really is a genius.

In all seriousness, that was more like the way we played in 2018; not good composure and a lot more chaos but eventually weight of numbers prevailed.

Is this a long-term winning strategy? No, but it's better than losing, especially when we are likely to gift the number one pick to North Melbourne.

Viney just didn't stop chasing all night

14 minutes ago, —coach— said:

Seriously though, Weid, though I thought he was average, needs to play every game for the rest of the year. 

Agree and disagree.

Yes needs to play every game for the rest of the year but don’t agree he was average. Gave us a leading target and despite a slow start, hit packs and brought the ball to ground. Also had to play most of the game as our only tall target along with Gawn.

That game from OMac was better than Smiths whole career output. Experiment done. OMac is no superstar, but he can shut down a tall and allows others like Lever and Hibberd to get free and intercept and provide drive.

Similarly, Weid is no superstar but he provides a target and straightens us up. Always chimes in with a few goals too. 

We look much better with them both in the side.

In the future Kossy and Harley are going to have opposition back men pizzing in their pants trying to control this pair.

might even be later this year, bit they need to be played together..

Great Stuff.

Hibberd, AVB and Viney great  stuff in the 2nd half   Great to see   Go Dees

6 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

Good to CP5 nail the clincher. He’s coming into the player we always wanted. Sloppy by foot tonight but still massive. He’s the type that want to step up and win games. 

Mays disposal is starting to be a real concern, some horrible errors. but he  was there in the clinches at the end along with lever. Kozzie looking like SUCH a prospect and dare I say it, we are definitely a better side with Omac back in the team 

Yep agree on all fronts.

Just wanted to add CP5 was out best creativley last week and made somw terrible decision tonight.

Glad he slotted that one in the last.

Kozzie and Bennell are rhe class we are crying out for.

May is interesting, might be handy up Forward with t mac out? I am hopeful with time May will settle and not make as many mistakes.

It sounds weird but May is still new.

A very pleasing, if imperfect, win.

Some of our good was great. Attack on the footy was excellent.

There was a lot of just basic, good ordinary football skills, and all of a sudden the gameplan looks ok.

Some bad skills and decision making continue to frustrate, especially when under no pressure. Add the lack of composure kicking.

The Weed and OMac exclusions to date are mind-boggling. Neither were match winners or match savers but of boy, the difference they made. 

And I hate to say it, but I think Nev has lost his edge. I am a massive fan, and for a long time believe he and Max to be first picked. His response time is.5 of a second too slow and the young guns are running past him.

But I got to hear the team song - with Max!

Just now, Lord Travis said:

That game from OMac was better than Smiths whole career output. Experiment done. OMac is no superstar, but he can shut down a tall and allows others like Lever and Hibberd to get free and intercept and provide drive.

Similarly, Weid is no superstar but he provides a target and straightens us up. Always chimes in with a few goals too. 

We look much better with them both in the side.

O. McDonald was very good, just about his best game.

But don't give up on Smith, he should be played forward.

Scores level 1/2 way through last and to win with such pressure is a good result. However we still play some dumb footy. A win is a win.

7 minutes ago, Grr-owl said:

Yeah, stacks of spot on comments here this week, like all weeks. Still, too many errors, but general improvement. They looked a better balanced team with the talls and Benell. All we are saying is give Weid a chance. Maybe bring in Sparrow for Melksham.

Is Sparrow with the squad? Im guessing not: we left 12 behind and only 13 haven't played a game this year.

3 minutes ago, Beetle said:

Agree and disagree.

Yes needs to play every game for the rest of the year but don’t agree he was average. Gave us a leading target and despite a slow start, hit packs and brought the ball to ground. Also had to play most of the game as our only tall target along with Gawn.

He ran under the ball a few times and let Ballard mark it. I think with some confidence and consistency that shouldn't be an issue though. The whole forwardline certainly looked better though with a tall target down the line.

I'm already looking forward to playing Hawthorn next week. We are playing Hawthorn at the right time. Go Melbourne