29 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Not sure why people are losing their minds over a loss to a much stronger Bulldogs side.

 

Adjust your expectations kids. We will not be competitive against any top 8 side with 3 of our best 4 mids missing, and we are not a top 4 quality side. Stop torturing yourselves.

The problem is fd that the forward line will not change much for the first game or the first few sadly. Yesterdays forward line will struggle to kick a winning score against every team. I am praying that both the browns will be back soon or our year will be over by June.

16 minutes ago, Tom Dyson said:

sorry if others have said it, but josh mahoneys assertion of sticking with the talent we've already got i.e. baker on the wing and not pursuing tom philips when the pies were giving him away for a bag of chips is looking like a positively idiotic move at this point. 

I'm confident we either couldn't afford Phillips without successfully offloading TMac or he just said NO to us.

Dogs had the ball yesterday we didn't. We were missing some key mids and it was preseason. I am not going to get that down about yesterday.

Injury avoidance is the main thing in these games. Hope May is ok 

 

49 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Not sure why people are losing their minds over a loss to a much stronger Bulldogs side.

 

Adjust your expectations kids. We will not be competitive against any top 8 side with 3 of our best 4 mids missing, and we are not a top 4 quality side. Stop torturing yourselves.

 

Losing their minds? Or rightfully concerned about worrying patterns and trends that are clearly visible when we play good opposition?

How many times have we played sides who are missing a host of senior players only to either just scrape a win or actually lose the game?

The fact that we lost without some key players is not the issue. It's that many of us have seen Melbourne lose the game in a quarter of football in exactly the same fashion, even with our best side in. 

Did you watch any football at all last year? What was your excuse then? We had one of the best runs with injury and still came up short?

We are losing due to an ineffective/inconsistent game style mixed with an underskilled and one-dimensional midfield and half-forward line. Not a thing has changed for three years other than the addition of Langdon and Tomlinson, (who is now playing as a third tall defender). So consider that a fail.

Practice game or not, your assessment is that of a happy-go-lucky Melbourne supporter who refuses to dig a bit deeper.

 

Edited March 9, 20214 yr by JimmyGadson

3 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

Dogs had the ball yesterday we didn't. We were missing some key mids and it was preseason. I am not going to get that down about yesterday.

Injury avoidance is the main thing in these games. Hope May is ok 

 

My father used to tell me that thoroughbreds get injured the slow ones run around ok for years.

33 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

 

Losing their minds? Or rightfully concerned about worrying patterns and trends that are clearly visible when we play good opposition?

How many times have we played sides who are missing a host of senior players only to either just scrape a win or actually lose the game?

The fact that we lost without some key players is not the issue. It's that many of us have seen Melbourne lose the game in a quarter of football in exactly the same fashion, even with our best side in. 

Did you watch any football at all last year? What was your excuse then? We had one of the best runs with injury and still came up short?

We are losing due to an ineffective/inconsistent game style mixed with an underskilled and one-dimensional midfield and half-forward line. Not a thing has changed for three years other than the addition of Langdon and Tomlinson, (who is now playing as a third tall defender). So consider that a fail.

Practice game or not, your assessment is that of a happy-go-lucky Melbourne supporter who refuses to dig a bit deeper.

 

Had to laugh as I read your reply.

You are absolutely 100% spot-on in everything you said.

 

It's the fact that all of those things are true that makes me say we are not a top side. I hope that is clearer.

Game 1 down. Ive been correct on Luke Jackson not being a forward. 

 

1 hour ago, Demon Dude said:

because they're probably not concerned with tagging anyone in a pre season hit out, let alone in the first qtr.

True, not interested in tags - particularly Spargo - more interested in the one or two chances across a game to go for a run with the ball looking like a rebounder or feeder. I was waiting for demonstrations of his alleged footy smarts. Still waiting after the practice game. He is not a good quality footballer and what he does not do actually proves that situation. My money would be on other smalls to tag and explode away. 

 

A few observations:

Caleb Daniel played a quarterback role of HB in the first.  I see Salem taking this role for us and was badly missed on the day.

The midfield we used just kept rotating  - apart from Harmes, most combos changed each bounce it seemed.  Harmes did OK at extraction but the midfield group were thrashed.  Trac didnt seem to spend too much time in there??  Or just unsighted??

Defensively we were rabble.  Couldn’t stick a tackle (Jetta popping an arm out should not could as a tackle stat).  We failed to close down their ball movement chains and create real contests.  They smashed us when the ball was in dispute and seemed a class above in terms of ball handling and delivery right across the park.

May and Lever.  Would have been 100+ points without these 2.

Razor Ray - hopefully better for the run.  Umpiring was inconsistent and Ray likes the sound of his own voice.  Never going to win the free kick counts trailing to contests and not really tackling.

Jetta looks like to has passed him by.  With Lockhart injured for the foreseeable future, we will need maybe Bowie to step up.  Can see why Smith got added to the list.

A few lost souls out there.  Looking forward to the inclusion of many first choice players for round 1.  Bullies were going for full dress rehearsal and not sure we were.  Different standards, but definitely need to get in the habit of going hard regardless of the circumstance.  THis shows a problem with the ‘mental stuff’ they have been harping on about.

Forward line may take until round 7 or 8 to get it together.  Just hope we can kick enough goals and defend better until that happens.  Want to see how we go with a proper midfield in place.

Why wouldn't Goodwin try Harmes with a run with role on Macrae.  It's this sort of lack of adventure that drives me nuts with Goodwin.

2 hours ago, old dee said:

The problem is fd that the forward line will not change much for the first game or the first few sadly. Yesterdays forward line will struggle to kick a winning score against every team. I am praying that both the browns will be back soon or our year will be over by June.

PS we kicked 93 points last week!!

Get the mids back and Kossie  plus Salem and we are a different team.

5 minutes ago, 58er said:

PS we kicked 93 points last week!!

Get the mids back and Kossie  plus Salem and we are a different team.

That's what I was wondering...what were the main differences between Dees v Richmond and v Dogs?

And what concerns were the same?

I didn't see either game unfortunately, just some highlights.

Having read all the reports here - thank you everyone, much appreciated, even though wrist-slitting material at times - I get the strong impression it's most of the usual faults that were visible - but in both games?

I concede that I may have been wrong about young Spargo - but not yet...not yet...

Edited March 9, 20214 yr by Spargonicus

Oliver would beat Jordan every day.  Petracca would beat sparrow every day.  So its no wonder they were beaten by a talented midfield of Bulldogs that has about 10 players that go through there including the wings

But if they are behind Oliver, Viney, Petracca, Langdon, Brayshaw, Harmes (and apparently Picket) they become numbers 8 and 9 instead of 3 and 4.

I wouldn't be too hard on them until we see a few games with them all together.

But I certainly don't see much optimism in our forward line.   Apart from being small and slow, who apart from Fritsch could kick more than 3 goals consistently.  The guy who had the highest average goals last year was Hunt, with 2,  and he's playing half back.

3 hours ago, Pollyanna said:

Smashed in the clearances 48-24, by 51 in contested possessions and that resulted in 64-41 i50s - it's a long time since that's happened to us and it's hard to win when it does.

Adem Yze moved from the speed ball and the bag to the ring against an opponent two weight divisons above and found out the hard way.  James Jordon head-to-head with the Bont, OK - a pre-season game is a good place for a man to find his limitations I guess.  Macrae, Bont, Dunkley, Liberatore, Hunter racking up the numbers.  Apparently Adem is replacing Simon Goodwin when we're 1-4 - but it's very hard work when you're missing Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw up against that midfield.  Baker is not up to finals-level football and I'm hoping we play Melksham on that wing when he comes in.  I saw him and Jones put in a heavy running pre-season at TBO and I think he'll be ready to go.

The backline held up very well - May and Lever really enhanced their reputations, Salem and Hibberd will make good additions and Bowey warmed to the task and showed he has the tools with some good decisions and execution by hand and foot.

The forward line has been maligned in most of the commentary, but they made equal conversion rate of the less effective entries they received.  We took just as many marks inside 50 as the Dogs and Fritsch was clearly the most dangerous marking forward in the match.  I actually thought TMac and Jackson were OK - generally providing a contest.  Yes it would be a cause for concern in the long run if we didn't have B.Brown, Weid and Pickett to return.

Someone does need to play a defensive role on Caleb Daniel.  I can't recall anyone hitting targets like he does.  That one-two on the kick-out and handball receive is going to be hard to stop with the new rule.  Stefan Martin is a very handy addition to the Dogs arsenal.

ANB really enhanced his reputation and was very good, Jones was pretty effective too with good disposals and stuck his tackles and will make 300 if he keeps that form up.  On the other side of the ledger AVB was terrible.

Before I turned the commentary off, because I couldn't stand another second of the insufferable Gaddy, I did hear them say that their inside man at the Dogs said they had set themselves for an all out assault on this game and it looked like it.

Only problem Polly is that Melksham  has not played well since 2018 and is not a one way runner let alone a two way runner which you need on the wing. Let him earn his spot at Casey if he wants to fight for it.
We have a problem with Jets AVB Jonesy and Hibbo if not fit plus Tommo that none are  fast On their feet now.

Speed is vital and movement with the game plan or you are chasing g your tail all over the ground. The Dogs  handball ( 20% are dodgy) Is miles ahead of any other team but if you can pressure them all the time it makes a big difference.

52 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Why wouldn't Goodwin try Harmes with a run with role on Macrae.  It's this sort of lack of adventure that drives me nuts with Goodwin.

Or the bont. Carves us up every single time he plays us  and is probably the best kick in the comp, he was amazing to watch yesterday 

Edited March 9, 20214 yr by Elegt

FoxSports have given our preseason a D-  ... hey its a still a pass right?

 

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-preseason-analysis-report-card-every-team-graded-best-and-worst-performances-melbourne-essendon-latest-news/news-story/765f681449f4348697ec808fc571833e

Nice of them to only include the AAMi games to justify their ratings.

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

Trac didnt seem to spend too much time in there??  Or just unsighted??

 

I'm guessing Petracca had a 70/30 split between mid and forward and had a poor game by his standards. First game he's played as a mid without Oliver and it showed. Also set the tone for a miserable team performance by missing the opening set shot of the day which he should've nailed.

5 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

FoxSports have given our preseason a D-  ... hey its a still a pass right?

 

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-preseason-analysis-report-card-every-team-graded-best-and-worst-performances-melbourne-essendon-latest-news/news-story/765f681449f4348697ec808fc571833e

So beating the premiers is worth......

5 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

FoxSports have given our preseason a ...

I think clicking on any link that follows this sentence is a pretty good diagnostic test for internet addiction.

4 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

FoxSports have given our preseason a D-  ... hey its a still a pass right?

 

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-preseason-analysis-report-card-every-team-graded-best-and-worst-performances-melbourne-essendon-latest-news/news-story/765f681449f4348697ec808fc571833e

The fact that the article says the following, shows how much credit it should be given. They state they are grading the pre-season on one game.
 

“We analyse and grade every team’s pre-season in our AAMI Community Series Report Card.“

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

Why wouldn't Goodwin try Harmes with a run with role on Macrae.  It's this sort of lack of adventure that drives me nuts with Goodwin.

100% Harmes at his best when doing this as well.. 

8 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

FoxSports have given our preseason a D-  ... hey its a still a pass right?

 

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-preseason-analysis-report-card-every-team-graded-best-and-worst-performances-melbourne-essendon-latest-news/news-story/765f681449f4348697ec808fc571833e

Not sure what the point of the report card when he's based the pre season on one game.

However I would give our pre season rating a D- on the basis that we couldn't field half a side one week before the season starts.

The injuries to key players are a major concern. Viney, Brayshaw, Ben Brown, Weideman, Pickett, Melksham and Hibberd will be out or way underdone at the start of the year. Plus May could miss Round 1. I know it is a long season, but a first up win against Freo is imperative.

Also a worry is the lack of development in our younger players. I am yet to be convinced in Sparrow, Jordon, Spargo or Baker. Chandler has a bit of skill but is a midget. Rivers will be good in time, but still makes a few errors. Jackson looks physically great and is timing his leaps but not holding his marks. I like that Bowey has the ability to get off the ground and he looks to have something we lack (skill and pace).

Hmmm, Fox you say?