Are We The Mentally Weakest Side Ever?

[faultydet 7,623]

Unequivocally yes. 

proven beyond doubt by 56 years of abject failure.

On 9/3/2020 at 7:55 PM, demonzz said:

Whenever a game comes along when we need to dig deep to make a statement we go to water. We only play well when teams allow us to. The saints played [censored] and everyone thinks we are back in town. We are pretenders. 

Exactly this. So many on here let the excitement get to them and start calling out the doomsayers after a single good win, and yet those of us who have seen it all before are proven right again and again.

 

There is a very deeply ingrained culture of failure, or at least acceptance of "near enough is good enough".  This coach will not be the man who drags us out of it either. Corporate speak and emotionless drones are never the type to motivate a group that is satisfied with just being on an AFL list.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,451]

17 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

In my 5 decades of following the Dees, the only time I felt confident about our mental state was with Northey as coach. I have been on a psychological roller coaster ever since.

Even though Balme had us playing great footy, and Daniher  was an inspiring and natural leader, there has been a continuing underbelly of mental fragility. And it is not only about players and lists, but from Presidents, CEO's and administrations.

But in regards to games, we have a 30-40 year habit or working bloody hard to get ourselves into finals contention, only to mentally disintegrate against very weak opponents. And it has never been worse, than in the years after we sacked Dean Bailey. Even Paul roos couldn't fully get us to overcome it.

And I'm sick and tired of it to the Nth degree.  

It was just as bad under Northey too. Check the results from 88-91 strings of losses (many against non-finalists) coating us double chances every year.

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,942]

The Glen Iris thirds in '78 were pretty fragile. 

[BillyBeane 254]

If you think we are a top 4 list, then of course we are mentally weak. 

But the reality is that we have a mid-table list with low footy IQ, bad foot skills and relative inexperience.  On any given weekend we have a less than 50% chance of beating top 4 teams, 50-50 chance of beating teams between 5 and 14, and a better than 50% chance of beating the cellar dwellers.  Pretty much how it's panned out this year. ?‍♂️. 

If we win 2 out of our last 3 games we will have done very well.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

4 minutes ago, BillyBeane said:

If you think we are a top 4 list, then of course we are mentally weak. 

But the reality is that we have a mid-table list with low footy IQ, bad foot skills and relative inexperience.  On any given weekend we have a less than 50% chance of beating top 4 teams, 50-50 chance of beating teams between 5 and 14, and a better than 50% chance of beating the cellar dwellers.  Pretty much how it's panned out this year. ?‍♂️. 

If we win 2 out of our last 3 games we will have done very well.

I get that, but there are losses where you just aren't good enough, like the doggies game or the Brisbane game, and then there is whatever that was on Thursday. An incredibly flat performance 4 games out from finals with our destiny in our own hands. And it's a recurring theme throughout the years, so it's no wonder people ask the question.

[Mel Bourne 4,537]

Don’t ask Melbourne supporters this question. You’ll never get an unbiased answer. Ask all the other club’s supporters. 
 

They’ll all say “Yes”. 

[DeePressed 114]

1. No natural leaders

2. Coaches stubborn

3. Lack of Intelligence

4. Collective lack of brutal competitive edge

[Ethan Tremblay 31,243]

26 minutes ago, DeePressed said:

1. No natural leaders

2. Coaches stubborn

3. Lack of Intelligence

4. Collective lack of brutal competitive edge

Pretty much sums it up. Goodwin’s stubbornness may be the end of him. 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Ethan Tremblay

[Ethan Tremblay 31,243]

Hi @Lord Nev, not sure why you’re following me around laughing at all my posts, but an explanation would be great. It’s making me feel a little awkward and uneasy, almost as if I’m being stalked. If there’s an issue please take it up with a mod or send me a message. Thanks and regards, ET. 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Ethan Tremblay

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Steven May

I’m not totally against him, but he doesn’t have the creds at MFC yet. He’s had one pretty good season, but it’s easy to stick out in a team full of inconsistent wannabe’s.

[leave it to deever 17,593]

On 9/3/2020 at 8:50 PM, drdrake said:

No, nothing to do with preparation, it is our players skills are flakey and even with out pressure we can't execute the fundamentals of the game.  

What has happened to Oliver's game, a few weeks back unstoppable breaking tackles running with the ball and kicking.  He is back to fumbles, turnover kicks and 1m handballs

I would suggest rocking up to this northern city a couple hours before the siren reflects poor prep. Agreed on flakey skills. Our tackles didnt stick, players didnt chase, poor positioning and shocking instinctive hospital airtime handballs when we had a breeze behind us.

The swans flooding our frwd zone when we had the wind didnt help.

 

[Fork 'em 7,046]

48 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Don’t ask Melbourne supporters this question. You’ll never get an unbiased answer. Ask all the other club’s supporters. 
 

They’ll all say “Yes”. 

And then laugh.

[drdrake 3,203]

30 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I would suggest rocking up to this northern city a couple hours before the siren reflects poor prep. Agreed on flakey skills. Our tackles didnt stick, players didnt chase, poor positioning and shocking instinctive hospital airtime handballs when we had a breeze behind us.

The swans flooding our frwd zone when we had the wind didnt help.

 

If it was a once off you can look for excuses but it is reoccurring.  The swans just put in standard blue print to beat the dees, Sit back and wait for long bomb or turnover then attack from there.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Hi @Lord Nev, not sure why you’re following me around laughing at all my posts, but an explanation would be great. It’s making me feel a little awkward and uneasy, almost as if I’m being stalked. If there’s an issue please take it up with a mod or send me a message. Thanks and regards, ET. 

Just putting it here on record that you're accusing me of being a stalker while sending me threats through my work email. Have previously tried to DM you to call a truce but you ignored it and continued with the personal attacks, which have clearly now crossed a line.

In your words, I'm "calling you out" on this behaviour as it's appalling.

 

[Ethan Tremblay 31,243]

8 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Just putting it here on record that you're accusing me of being a stalker while sending me threats through my work email. Have previously tried to DM you to call a truce but you ignored it and continued with the personal attacks, which have clearly now crossed a line.

In your words, I'm "calling you out" on this behaviour as it's appalling.

 

No idea who you are..but if you just created that to get to me then I suggest you get some assistance. Last time I’m going to reply to you mate. All the best. 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Ethan Tremblay

[Lord Nev 13,512]

8 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

No idea who you are..but if you just created that to get to me then I suggest you get some assistance. Last time I’m going to reply to you mate. All the best. 

It's clearly you given your comment, the fake email you used and the timing.

It's honestly a bit scary when people cross the line like this and I hope you realize how serious this could be.

I am still open to chatting on DM to clear the air as I have previously mentioned, but you have ignored.

[Ethan Tremblay 31,243]

38 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

It's clearly you given your comment, the fake email you used and the timing.

It's honestly a bit scary when people cross the line like this and I hope you realize how serious this could be.

I am still open to chatting on DM to clear the air as I have previously mentioned, but you have ignored.

Mate, I’m sure you could have quite easily sent that to yourself to ‘get one up’, I have no idea but certainly wasn’t me. Give it a rest, we both support the same team, this is getting silly and no one enjoys it. 

[Lord Nev 13,512]

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

Mate, I’m sure you could have quite easily sent that to yourself to ‘get one up’, I have no idea but certainly wasn’t me. Give it a rest, we both support the same team, this is getting silly and no one enjoys it. 

Have tried to DM you multiple times and have commented to let you know about that too. That's the best way to clear the air IMO.

Clearly now this has crossed a line that is not ok. I'll say again, I'm open to messaging to call a truce. I don't want the drama, and I certainly do not want this crossing over into my personal life again like it now has.

 

[picket fence 17,992]

16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

You're kidding right?

Viney isn't a captains [censored]. One of the most selfish players on our list and only has one thought during games and that's himself.

I know Goody doesn't have the balls to do it, but he should be dropped on performance alone. Has been poor the last several weeks.

Best decision the club made was taking the captaincy off him. Shouldn't even got it in the first place.

Agree 100% Viney's first instinct is to run headlong into tackle after tackle after...... Never gives it of to first option just wants to play Rugby time and time again. Just dumb footy. I would not bat an eyelid if the club traded him at years end. 

Edited September 5, 2020 by picket fence

[dazzledavey36 55,912]

17 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Agree 100% Viney's first instinct is to run headlong into tackle after tackle after...... Never gives it of to first option just wants to play Rugby time and time again. Just dumb footy. I would not bat an eyelid if the club traded him at years end. 

I wouldn't either Pickett.

[kev martin 10,709]

4 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

The Glen Iris thirds in '78 were pretty fragile. 

Especially when they had to travel.

The trip across the creek to East Malvern shattered them.

[Supreme_Demon 3,936]

Yes, the Demons as an entire club has been mentally weak since 1965.

We lost that killer instinct when we let Ron Barassi go to Carlton. The club had grown arrogant from it's success and had too many people on board level that were not willing to make radical changes. The whole of the 1970s was a waste for the Melbourne Demons.

We tried to get back our killer edge in 1981 with the return of the prodigal son Rob Barassi as coach, but didn't have the talent. We basically had to build a list almost from scratch and we had to contend with nationalisation of the competition in the late 1980s.

 

Overall, there is a fundamental issue with the Melbourne Football Club's culture and this needs to change.

We had an opportunity to do that in 2007 but we foolishly ignored the opportunity to take on Kevin Sheedy as our coach and chose a "nice guy" in Dean Bailey (may he rest in peace). I am still bewildered as to why that huge mistake was made but maybe it had to do the the club being in a difficult financial position at the time and not being able to afford Kevin Sheedy? Either way, it was a sliding doors moment for our club and one that still irks me to this day. If anyone could shed light on this utter failure by the club that happened in 2007 with overlooking Kevin Sheedy as the Demons coach it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Anyway, back to mental weakness. This is a big problem for us and this relates to our "soft as butter" culture. Paul Roos never finished the job in rectifying this issue. If you may recall he was only coach of the Demons for a mere 3 seasons compared to almost 9 seasons at the Swans. That was a lot longer to ingrain their "Bloods" culture up in Sydney. So here at Melbourne it was basically a band-aid fix to a bullet wound which really required in-depth surgery to take that bullet out and patch up the wound.

Now we seem to have the same old problems of inconsistency in performance and lack of mental toughness coming back again. Take the disastrous loss to Collingwood in 2017 when a finals spot was on the line in the last game of the home and away season. Another example was the totally embarrassing thrashing by the hands of West Coast in the preliminary final over in Perth. A crucial finals game that should of been thoroughly reviewed but instead was totally ignored and denied. Why did Simon Goodwin sweep this game under the carpet?! As for 2019 the entire season was an utter disaster and a waste as well as one of the most disappointing in recent memory.

As for 2020 we needed to play far better than we did against Sydney. We have a chance to redeem ourselves against Fremantle but if we lose this will be another season wasted and flushed down the toilet. In fact we must win all our remaining home and away games to be a chance to make the finals in 2020.

I have faith that President Glen Bartlett and the Melbourne Football Club board wants to change the club's culture. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has thrown a spanner in our works to sort out a proper combined administrative offices and football headquarters with a training oval.

 

Nevertheless, if Simon Goodwin is not up to it ...and we keep having these constant disappointments...we need to go all out to try and get Alistair Clarkson as our next coach on a long-term deal. Preferably a 5 year contract. Alistair Clarkson's time is almost up at Hawthorn (with the likelihood of him surviving a rebuild very low) and if we can sell it to him to become the Demon's next coach and help us break our Premiership drought then he may relish this new challenge and fresh start.

Either way, the toxic culture at our club needs to cease and this must be driven by the Melbourne Football Club board downwards.  The mental weakness must end or our club will die.

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Supreme_Demon
spelling

[cantstandyasam 700]

5 hours ago, DeePressed said:

1. No natural leaders

2. Coaches stubborn

3. Lack of Intelligence

4. Collective lack of brutal competitive edge

Bingo on all 4 points. I think 5 could be we have players who think they have arrived just because they are on an AFL list.

[Older demon 2,799]

16 hours ago, CYB said:

And who would you have as captain then? 

What about a bloke named Gawn! Do you mean vice-captain?

 

 

[old dee 24,006]

What we are seeing IMO is more a case of a lack quality that appears as poor play in a lot of games. Endeavour  and effort can carry You  a fair way you but When you run into better skill And or you get tired we fail.  We do not have a player list to get us higher than the mid level of the ladder. How many very Good and Good players do we actually have ? I cannot see more than 10 then we drop away rapidly. Add a FD that is gloriously average and the result is an average team who if things go our way means we can sneak into the finals but little else will happen. We still have a long way to go.