20 minutes ago, nosoupforme said:

Your opinion.  Who has grunt ABN or VDB  Leave it to you. 

As for Smith it is not a popularity contest.    if you think he played a good game and kept him quiet did  tackle Papley with 2 good ones in the last quarter.,game was over by then.  Papley led him to the ball anyway maybe he learnt something there. What do you think?

Smith did not start on him and played on him mainly in the last quarter. 

Do you think that Smith's 4 possessions for the game was enough?  One kick and 3 handballs  and all ineffective !  

Come on  LDvC  it is not a Popularity contest he just does not cut it FULL STOP.! Hasn't the talent.  

In fact he has not got the basics for Auskick.

Thanks for reading my post now watch the game and look for Smith and  CRINGE...... Don't forget l told you so.

Whoah there! I'm not sure I've said anything about Smith. But now that you ask, I thought him being out there meant we played one short. A defender with four possessions hasn't done enough, irrespective of what his man might have have done. I've never been enamoured with Smith and don't see what he offers. Yes, he's athletic, but he doesn't have a footy IQ, so doesn't bring enough for mine. 

2 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Agreed he gets another for sure. I was dissappointed he and melksham laid zero tackles though. When your struggling to impact  tackling is what you start with.

In fairness It’s not really a key forwards role to tackle.  

3 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

In fairness It’s not really a key forwards role to tackle.  

I'm sorry but it is everyone's role to tackle and in my opinion more so mid and forward so ball stays in for repeat chances. You cannot have blokes like Weid, Friita and Melk not putting pressure on and not tackling.

This is a silly statement. Look at Ablett Snr, Carey, Brown, Brereton etc. etc. They did not let players brush past them like our guys do.

Perhaps this isn't totally on topic, but does anyone else think that Nick Reiwoldt looks like a fish?

20 minutes ago, Docs Demons said:

I'm sorry but it is everyone's role to tackle and in my opinion more so mid and forward so ball stays in for repeat chances. You cannot have blokes like Weid, Friita and Melk not putting pressure on and not tackling.

This is a silly statement. Look at Ablett Snr, Carey, Brown, Brereton etc. etc. They did not let players brush past them like our guys do.

All those players would be lucky to average 1tackle a game. I never said anything about letting players brush past you but his role in the team is not to lay tackles 

1 hour ago, P-man said:

Totally justifiable rant. Brereton repeatedly commented on the lack of cohesion and craft in the forward line.

In fairness, it looked like it was starting to click with Jacko in there but since he’s gone out it’s returned to its standard repugnant self. A standout performance from Trac is what dragged us across the line last week. We cant be relying on that going forward. There are obvious concerns with delivery but the forward line has been a proper stinker for a long time. At least T Mac isn’t there to rub salt in the wound.

I’m now also of the opinion that we can’t afford to play both Fritta and Melksham. Not a defensive bone between them. I’d probably keep Fritta of the two.

A new forward coach sounds good to me. At this point it can’t hurt.

I would not have brought Fritsch back in TBH Pman.  A one trick pony that just doesn't get near it once the ball hits the deck and isn't accurate enough to justify a place at this point with just his mark / kick strength.

How Melk hasn't been dropped so far is also astounding.  I get that he has the ability to hit a pass or a low raking long kick inside.  We don't have many that can do so.  Very handy with ball in hand.  He is also pretty accurate at goal.  But with all that he just doesn't pressure or tackle at an acceptable level surely.

Averages one 1%er and 1 tackle per match.

I hear so many saying "Can't have Bennell back he doesn't pressure or defend enough".  Also true, but then his averages are pretty much like for like here with Melk.  So why can't he replace Melk?  And i'm not saying permanently but surely it's time this bloke was sent a message?

He was back to his worst lackadaisical self against the Swans with that awful lazy one armed (don't get down low in the tackle) style he was doing when he first arrived under Roos.  I think Roos finally managed to drive that out of him prior to leaving and it seemed to have gone for good.  But guess what, it's back!  What he delivers on the positive, it's all given back on the defensive side when he/we don't have the ball.

This is Melbourne to a T.  So many half baked footballers who are almost at AFL level, but just not quite right in enough aspects of their game to cause us grief.  Enough to ensure the team/club never takes the next step and is always being shown up by any team that decides to put in a big "team effort" on match day, even bog ordinary ones.

Don't think other coaches / clubs and their analysts can't see these weaknesses and know how to expose them?

They are drilling down and picking off every player, every weakness, every strength.  Devising match ups and strats to try and shut down their strengths and expose their weaknesses both with match ups and team work / methods of exit / entry up forward, middle, down back, blocks, double teaming, 3rd man up, play him on the shoulder, from behind, cover his left side etc etc.

More holes than Swiss cheese with too many of our fellas i'm afraid and all the rats are having a lovely feast picking them apart!

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by Rusty Nails

1 hour ago, Docs Demons said:

I'm sorry but it is everyone's role to tackle and in my opinion more so mid and forward so ball stays in for repeat chances. You cannot have blokes like Weid, Friita and Melk not putting pressure on and not tackling.

This is a silly statement. Look at Ablett Snr, Carey, Brown, Brereton etc. etc. They did not let players brush past them like our guys do.

Especially when your down to only 2 disposals for the whole game. At the very least you can lay a few heavy tackles to get involved.

1 hour ago, bingers said:

Perhaps this isn't totally on topic, but does anyone else think that Nick Reiwoldt looks like a fish?

Is a llama a type of fish? 

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Didn't the bandage go right around his leg? I'm not qualified in anatomy, but wouldn't that mean it was on both his hamstring and quad?

Actually on reflection you could be right. If it’s his quad then someone may have got it wrong letting him play.

May to CHF, back Max and the midfield. Patch up the backline, make Lever earn his money. 

These are the players on our list that posters have demanded be dropped so far this year...
Jones
Salem
Harmes
Viney
Lever
Spargo
Brayshaw
Hibberd
Melksham
Hannon
Tomlinson
VDB
Rivers
McDonald. T
McDonald. O
ANB
Fritsch
Sparrow
Kosi
Brown
Jetta
Wagner. J
Smith
 

Just checked the weather and it’s going to be just as windy for this game as it was yesterday.

Lets hope we can adapt to the conditions for once.

Fritsch will get dropped. What a garbage response after getting disciplined the week before.

4 hours ago, bingers said:

Perhaps this isn't totally on topic, but does anyone else think that Nick Reiwoldt looks like a fish?

More like a llama I thought. 

9 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I struggle to understand whether we play a zone defence or not. If we do so, then was it Smith specifically that kept Papely quiet? It seems to me that stating that a particular defender was accountable for the performance of a specific forward runs counter to the argument that we play zone defence. So, which is it? Do we play zone defence or not? (That's a question for anyone, not just you DS, although I respect your opinion on the subject).

We play a combination. The bigs play a set position rather than a specific player, though at centre bounces start on one.

Medium and small defenders more likely to gi with a player. Smith was on papley, and played him close, didnt zone off much at all

Out of interest did we stay in Cairns?

13 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Out of interest did we stay in Cairns?

Yep... Well thats what goody said anyway

12 hours ago, bingers said:

Perhaps this isn't totally on topic, but does anyone else think that Nick Reiwoldt looks like a fish?

No, but I think that Rhys Shaw looks like an alien.

13 hours ago, bingers said:

Perhaps this isn't totally on topic, but does anyone else think that Nick Reiwoldt looks like a fish?

Thanks for the laugh bingers

Out: Oscar, Jones, ANB, Smith, Wagner

In: Kozzie, VDB, Hibberd, Lockhart, Bennell 

14 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

Out: Oscar, Jones, ANB, Smith, Wagner

In: Kozzie, VDB, Hibberd, Lockhart, Bennell 

You might be close. Spargo goes as well. One question.... Why wouldn't we try Smith up forward??? Rest of changes Im happy with!

Edited September 5, 20205 yr by picket fence

Time to give a couple of young blokes a go.

I am reliably informed that Brayshaw and Harmes will miss this game due to injury.

I hope they take a punt and play Gawne at CHF and put Preuss in the ruck.  We don't lose a lot that way in the ruck but you saw what happened when May went forward in the last quarter with a guy who can compete hard in the air.  Brown (as well as he played) just stuffs Weid up and Weid is the future.  We can't afford to take May from defense.   We are really missing Jackson or an improved Petty.

The Defense should tighten up with Hibberd replacing  Smith who I hope never plays another defensive game for Melbourne again.  I don't know who had the great idea of turning him from a promising forward into a hopeless defender.

Its a pity Jordan and Sparrow are unavailable. Probably VDB to take Brayshaw's spot if injured.

Maybe Bennell to cover Jones if he doesn't come up.

No future in Josh Wagner so I'd take Loquart

Neale Bullen  out for Pickett in.

 

 

On 9/4/2020 at 11:06 AM, Docs Demons said:

What worries me about the Weid is his lack of endeavour. Whilst the ball is not coming in well you can still chase, harass and tackle. He did none of these. Him and Fritter just hang an arm out and let the oppo just walz past them. Throw Melk in that also.

As much as Weid has improved he still lacks intensity in his game