Whelan - a major loss

Carroll - had no idea

Holland - backline's only winner

Ward - brief forward thrusts

Bruce - a wasted talent

Bell - loose and unaccountable

Johnstone - needed the run

Davey - arrogant and ineffective

Green - not a whimper

Yze - time has elapsed

Miller - was totally ineffective

Moloney - a welcome return

McDonald - not the worst

Bate - poor ball handling

Neitz - never stopped trying

Robertson - brief magical moments

McLean - hope for miracles

Jamar - has learnt nothing

Johnson - showed some class

Jones - seemed totally overwhelmed

White - gave a contest

Bartram - was not ready

I agree

Davey shouldnt be mouthing away like that

He was bagging Gehrig and he kicked 4 and davey did absaloutly NOTHING

I actually thought Holland was pathetic. He may have had 200 possessions for all I care but he can't dispose at all. A Saint player ( Kosi ) admitted that they let certain Demons have the ball because they know they can't use it and he is the major one. Poor Ferg he may as well leave.

The new game plan, Ha ha !

Daniher - Got Out Coached?

Just got home and needless to say i'm very disappointed

devastated, week 1 all is not lost but that was the first game I've ever been at and walked out before the final siren. I can cop losing but playing a pathetic game style like we played tonight I can't take. we are not Sydney, we are not west Coast, we are Melbourne we have to find our own game plan that works for us and not try to play like something we are not.. I watched Hotter then hell 1998 this morning, ND backed his players, not like tonight. Footy is an easy game all you have to do is outscore your opponent, tonight we didn't try to kick goals we tried to stop our St Kilda kicking goals, defensive midset from the start.

Don't blame Miller or Yze because they are easy targets our game plan is a disgrace and full blame should be placed on ND. Worst coaching performance I've ever seen, trying to make our team something we are not. We are an attacking football team that is best when we control the coridor and kick long to one of the best forward lines in the competition and back our players.

As I said I have never before tonight left before the final siren but tonight was a disgrace.

Miller - was totally ineffective

I don't agree that Miller was 'totally ineffective'. I thought he ran hard and presented well on a number of occasions, and he certainly was not the worst player out there. Sure he made a few mistakes but honestly, who didn't? I think 'totally ineffective' is a bit harsh given that you've said for Johnstone - 'needed a run'. Far too easy on him. Perhaps I've got a selective memory but I can't remember one really positive thing that Trav actually did.

As for Yze I completely agree with you that his 'time has elapsed'... that dropped mark and pathetic shot at goal pretty much summed it up for me. As did his many attempts to soccer the ball off the ground for a quick easy goal, rather than actually getting in there and fighting for it. Just slack.

The two-man bench had a huge impact on most, if not all the players but especially Bate and Jones in particularly in that last quarter. They just looked stuffed. Robert Harvey seemed to do rings around them and he's almost double their age?

As for the umpires - dear oh dear

well said ddrake!

As I said I have never before tonight left before the final siren but tonight was a disgrace.

I did the same for the first time!! To see a Melbourne side which is actually rated as having some ability play such inept football makes me weep and I just couldn't take it any more. If this is repeated again in coming weeks it could be devasting for the club in terms of support and respect from the football community.

Whelan - a major loss

Carroll - worst on ground

Holland - backline's only winner

Ward - usual dodgy kicking

Bruce - one to forget

Bell - average defensive performance

Johnstone - one of best

Davey - pathetic undisciplined game

Green - just went along

Yze - streak probably over

Miller - was totally ineffective

Moloney - our best player

McDonald - where was tackling?

Bate - poor ball handling

Neitz - one of best

Robertson - brief magical moments

McLean - get well soon

Jamar - thoroughly beaten alround

Johnson - showed some promise

Jones - seemed totally overwhelmed

White - a decent game

Bartram - was not ready

First of all, our team was lazy. Our midfield was lazy. Before tonight, I thought our midfield would be our strength this year, but not anymore. We were smashed by an unfit and battered midfield in theirs. I thought we were spuppose to be fitter? Where was the chasing and 2nd efforts?! I just got home from the match, and numerous times their players broke from a pack, and instead of ours chasing they jsut stood there and watched. At one stage, MIller droped a mark, Junior layed a sofft tackle and fell over and just watched (Junior?! of all ppl!), and Travis was left to run back and forth between 3 Saints, with about 3-4 team mates jsut standing and not bothering to help the poor guy.

Welcome back Moloney. I thought you were our best tonight, and it's great to see someone in our team with some form of passion for the jumper and the game.

Davey was pathetic tonight. In all honesty, I couldve got more touches out there tonight. I counted 3 kicks the whole game, and he was playing on a debutant. Pathetic. Carroll was F*CKING PATHETIC tonight. Gehrig wouldve had 9-10 if he didnt kick so inaccurately. As it stands he still kicked 4.6 or something. Carroll was lazy. He turned his back to the ball numerous times, and was beaten for pace and strength at every contest. I dont remember him sucessfully spoiling a ball tonight. Me and my mates were joking how he was the new Nicholson. Difference is Nicholson wouldve spoiled a few He's lucky Rivers is injured, because I personally would drop him after tonight. Worst performance I've seen by a defender in person EVER. And I've been going to the footy for 15 years or so now.

Stop this run and carry sh*t. If we cant beat an underdone Saints at OUR HOME, then its not worth pursuing. Imagine if theyd kicked accurately and Reiqolt had played. W wouldve lost by 100 points!

Pathetic performance tonight, and I pray we come out and ebat the Hawks next week, or it's gonna be a long year.....

You got most of them spot on, but I can't agree about Miller and Jamar.

Miller was average, and he did drop some sitters, but when everyone else stood and crapped themselves, Miller actually KICKED!

He did some clever things, even when he couldn't hold the ball. The delivery to the forwards was so poor though, even Neita and Robbo couldn't hold their marks.

Jamar's ruck work was good I thought. The thing is, he is hardly being utilised when he isn't rucking. Making him run and fill holes down back is not the way to use him IMO.

Kudos to Dutchy, who while looking awfully awkward doing so, played the rebounding defender role to the best of his ability. But if I need to see him run and bounce ever again, I might cry.

3 words huh....

What the..... ?

Did Daniher coach ?

Bad Demons...bad !!

Jaded' comments accurate

WHY WHY WHY ???

where's my skis ??

and of course.......

Always next week :-)

Daniher - Got Out Coached?

Just got home and needless to say i'm very disappointed

AGREE!!!

Whelan - a major loss

Carroll - had no idea

Holland - backline's only winner

Ward - brief forward thrusts

Bruce - a wasted talent

Bell - loose and unaccountable

Johnstone - needed the run

Davey - arrogant and ineffective

Green - not a whimper

Yze - time has elapsed

Miller - was totally ineffective

Moloney - a welcome return

McDonald - not the worst

Bate - poor ball handling

Neitz - never stopped trying

Robertson - brief magical moments

McLean - hope for miracles

Jamar - has learnt nothing

Johnson - showed some class

Jones - seemed totally overwhelmed

White - gave a contest

Bartram - was not ready

I agree with most of your points but you are way way out in your rubbishing of Jones. He had 11 possessions in the first quarter alone which is not the usual indication of an overwhelmed player. ( "Totally overwhelmed" in fact according to you.) He kept on putting himself in and set a shining example of guts to some of his more experienced mates. Give the kid a break Joeboy, he's going to be an out and out champion for the MFC.

Jaded' comments accurate

Always next week :-)

I agree with you BB, Jaded's comments are accurate.......

And yep there is always next week, I'm just not sure whether to be thrilled or terrified ?!!!

Yze-Back To Sandy

Davey-Anger Management Classes

Holland - backline's only winner

Bruce - a wasted talent

Johnstone - needed the run

Davey - arrogant and ineffective

Miller - was totally ineffective

Neitz - never stopped trying

Robertson - brief magical moments

Johnson - showed some class

Jones - seemed totally overwhelmed

One view from the old red seats:

Holland: Our best player

Bruce: Has he heart?

Johnstone: Bad office day

Davey: Conceded unnecessary frees

Miller: Can he mark?

Neitz: Missed crucial goals

Robertson: Lacked the service

Johnson: Had no idea

Jones: Pushed too early

You've got most spot on, and many of the ones I have listed complement rather than contradict.

A couple of quick observations.

Bruce: Why tag Blake?!

Davey: In wrong position

Ward: Positive ball movement

Holland: Unfortunately Melbourne's best

Jones: Positive ball movement

Moloney: Positive ball movement

Miller: Not AFL standard

Neitz: Had no crumbers

Robertson: Had no crumbers

Green: Leave him forward!

Jamar: Did he play?

Yze: Was not worst

So much for Neale saying it was Friday night, on the big stage, the season opener, being thrilled to have all eyes on Melbourne....

Embarrassing.

A couple of quick observations.

Bruce: Why tag Blake?!

Davey: In wrong position

Ward: Positive ball movement

Holland: Unfortunately Melbourne's best

Jones: Positive ball movement

Moloney: Positive ball movement

Miller: Not AFL standard

Neitz: Had no crumbers

Robertson: Had no crumbers

Green: Leave him forward!

Jamar: Did he play?

Yze: Was not worst

All of this deomstrates clearly that "game plan" is totally wrong!!! The run and carry style did not work last night or against the Hawks! It does not use our players strengths or skills. Ball handling was poor and unsure!. Players were either not ready or disintrested. Perhaps they dont believe in it either???? I agree I thought Jamars tap work was OK. Major failing was TOTAL lack of any adjustment or reaction when flow of play went against us. Same issue in year 10 ! NO planBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

NO planBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

No forward line!

We have all known (except for those conservative few) for over a month now that "runs and curry" doesn't work.

Last night however, the players were forced to use this stupid tactic because there were no options up forward. Either there was literally no one within the forward 50, or the forwards were out-numbered.

old55 would have been very "happy" with last nights game.

"I'll be happy if we have 17-15 in your forward 50 and my FF against your 3 defenders in mine."

Neitz was out-numbered three on one on many occaisions last night.

It worked well...

Johnstone - one of best

Miller - was totally ineffective

First of all, our team was lazy. Our midfield was lazy. Before tonight, I thought our midfield would be our strength this year, but not anymore. We were smashed by an unfit and battered midfield in theirs. I thought we were spuppose to be fitter?

I know u luv Travis but he was not good last night. We all know his got silky skills but too many times he'll go for the impossible. It's called impossible for a reason. It's creeping into his games n sure he'll get applauded when he does something magical but something like 1 in 4 is pathetic.

The disappointing thing about Miller is we can't give, Dunn a chance. Mayb PJ could fill the key role. He surely couldn't do that bad.

The midfield should be our strength with 10-12 good playas running thru but like last year, we got smashed by the good teams there. Lazy n disspirited.

Daniel Ward - ignored everyone's leads

Daniel Ward - Meaningless DreamTeam Stats

Seriously people bag Miller but at least he was running hard and presenting.

It doesn't help when players like above ignore you five times and then kick it over your head to your direct opponent when you're ten metres away.

I don't give a [censored] if he gets 5 zillion disposals whats the point if he keeps butchering them.

I don't agree that Miller was 'totally ineffective'.

I'd call one kick and one handball each quarter and one mark for the game as having no impact on the result. This isn't much worse than what we've come to accept and it simply is not good enough.

personlay I didnt understant what was happening last night...I just didnt get it.

When the Saints apply the flood from the midfield we cant play it..why on earth why wernt we applying teh same pressure. Shouldnt it have been a mirror image of what they were doing.

Unfortunatly for us, every team in the AFL just witnessed how to pump the Dees at the G..and apparently its quite simple. Just chuck a whole heap of blokes into the forward line.

It is only round one...and I would much rather loose this end of the season as long as it means we can come good by the 2nd half...thats the only hope I am hanging onto.

Given the supply Gehrig had i though Carroll was OK.

Bruce was way off his game. Green could have been better. TJ not special. These three should be major team drivers. If they are not then we will struggle.

Ward turned the ball over but has great pace. Doubt if he can get much better at his age in the disposal area. But he gets plenty of it.

Bartram was underdone.

Will Jamar ever step up?

CJ just went but at this stage of his development not ready for forward roles. Did you see his play in the last Q running down the field. He ended up caught. But at one stage he changed gear and put his foot on the pedal and really showed he is quick. I always thought he was slow. Why doesn't he use that level of pace more and back himself.

Our midfield was thrashed soundly and embarrassed. To many handballs went to players who did not want to revceive.

Miller will improve i have no doubt. Needs to run, run and run. He has a big motor and he should use it to his adavantage. He played his best footy continually presenting. That is his game. If he keeps doing this everything will eventually fall into place.

Still i think we can improve over the next couple of weeks.