I think our biggest issue at the moment is teams outside the 8 are just trying to take our game away from us and we have struggled a little with it.  The positive is the teams in the finals will look to play their own game against us and we have shown that our game is better than most if not all in the 8

When i saw Clayton with the hollywood handball over his head straight to the oppostion in the first quarter i thought here we go. 

 

6 minutes ago, Mickey said:

Bit harsh, Oliver was our leading possession winner and tackler. He had 11 when 9 players had 1 or less.

[censored] assesment OLIVER our Best Viney our worst and we are still miles of anywhere near getting a premiership! If u cant beat HAWKS

ADELAIDE COLINGWOOD AND GRRAETER WESTERN ZHITHOUSE U re PRETENDERS

The Hawks are mad for getting rid of Clarkson - this result came from the coaches box. He dismantled our game plan. The set shots from Kozzie and Gus were disgraceful. We need more like Spargo that have some footy nous and kicking skills.

I found a couple of positives from tonight. One, we can’t play much worse than that. Two, percentage shouldn’t play any part for the remainder of the season. 

1 minute ago, Deesprate said:

 

Absolutely spot on. Went apoplectic over that non decision

It was HTB, but we had multiple chances after that moment to put the game to bed, but we missed them, Rivs panicked on the wing under no pressure. Whilst a bad miss, not the reason why we drew

Too much inaccurate kicking from set shots .

Not enough kicking to people. DIfference between Spargo & Salems disposal ánd the "bombers". When we play badly we "BOMB"the ball forward. When we play well we move the ball fwd.

It does not matter who the foorwards are if the ball comes in like it did tonight then even Lockett, Dunstall & Coleman would be struggling...........and we do not have any L D & C..

Plus the sides that have worked us out : Adelaide, Collingwood & HAwthorn have played keepings off and taken our tall defenders out of the game !!!!

Thats why I said I was uneasy about our  pregame confidence .Same old same old.

5 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

Absolutely gutted by today, partly because I have seen Hawthorn get the better of us so many times. It really felt like they 'rope-a doped' us tonight.

Small beef irrelevant to the outcome - every time Matthew Richardson does special comments for our games, he spends the entire time barracking for the opposition. Both he and Darcy were pathetic.

And I'm not sure why Bailey didn't go for goal.

I watched the game on mute because of those 2 peanuts 

24 minutes ago, Youngwilliam said:

BOG Spargo, intelligent entries into the 50. Did not bomb it in. 

Well then he will be dropped because that is not our game.

Going to be a very interesting off season. Overall despite likely seeing a first week exit from the finals, it has been a good step forward from the last 2 seasons. And our strong home and away performance might help us to sell high on some guys that don't have what it takes to continue changing the soft culture of the club...hopefully we will be a bit ruthless and try to get ourselves into a window of contention in 5 or so years (may be wishful thinking).

I’m really worried about Viney’s inclusion.

Since returning, our midfield has been beaten 3 of the last 4 games.

Our win against Port came when he had a clear role in tagging Wines. 
 

He offers us nothing. His tackles aren’t getting rewarded and his kicking is a weapon against us. 

40 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

I'm sorry but when are people going to start realising that I speak the truth! This was a bloody disgrace and top 4 is out of the question now. Most likely playing richmond round 1. Good job guys! 

Top four is out of the question yet we’re clear half a game on top? I swear you sit at home and play with yourself whilst hoping we lose. Go back to Bigfooty and post on the board of whichever team you support, it’s clearly not the Demons. 

Edited July 17, 20214 yr by Ethan Trembley

17 minutes ago, faultydet said:

We need to think ourselves lucky that the finals are played by the top 8.

Interesting to hear from anyone who doesn't think this is a mental thing. We murder Port away, then look like this against a horrible Hawthorn side.

Gold Coast would think they are a serious chance next week, and Geelong / Bulldogs would be itching to get their hands on us again.

Bloody confusing and exasperating.

Unless we come up against a side with a heap of injuries and an average games per player of under 20. Bank on a loss then. 

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

What a genuine putrid performance. 

There was 0 positives out of tonight's game. Club drank its bath water during the week thinking this was going to be a walk in the park.

Petracca said last week we had our hunger and drive back. I then see at half time that him and Oliver are having a giggle and laugh at half time. Knew straight away that their minds were elsewhere.

Our mental fragility still lurks in the background.

We don't deserve to be sitting on top.

Sorry but if you have beaten every top 8 side you have played you deserve to top the ladder. Full stop.

5 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

barracking for the opposition

I would’ve too if I was neutral. They’re half a team of VFL footballers, second from bottom, giving a brilliant account of themselves. We aren’t any of that. Do you think we deserved praise?

I watched the replay of the last three minutes over again and it was horrific. Just needed some steadiness and smart football and we had all of the opportunities in the world to save the game and wasted the lot. 

We really need to sort out clearances. Gawn roving some of his taps but the rest just easily collected by Dawks.

The Melbourne midfield is so disjointed with Viney, slow, selfish and a momentum killer. The difference when Harmes rolls through is so positive.

Can someone please tell me why inside 50 and in general play Brayshaw kicks off his left for goal, I can't remember a time when I ever felt confident when he kicks on his left..... and well the set shot to kill the game...... Bradshaw you will never take the next step if you don't convert....... just a good footballer but not great.

3 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I think our biggest issue at the moment is teams outside the 8 are just trying to take our game away from us and we have struggled a little with it.  The positive is the teams in the finals will look to play their own game against us and we have shown that our game is better than most if not all in the 8

Our structure holds up against a game plan

We crumble under tackle pressure

8 minutes ago, Undeeterred said:

Any chance of occasionally taking the 2018 approach and just belting an awful team?

I’m not asking just much, just the odd win against a bottom four side will do. 

We cant do it coz we aint all that good unfortunately. Are we the flakiest team ever to be too of the ladder????

We can't win the flag because we have to many players that can't kick.

Our midfield is good at getting the footy terrible at kicking it.

The worse thing is most of us went into this game expecting this.

Edited July 17, 20214 yr by drdrake

The experienced players all failed us tonight.  Zero leadership across the board.

Any way you look at it that's a huge win for the Hawks and a terrible loss for this club.  Yet another to a bottom 4 club.

Clarry has a chance to go wide to a possible advantage side when no one was straight ahead in front of the square and possibly lock the ball in our 50 with 3 min to go.  Where does he go?  Front of the square.  Guess what....ball comes straight back out.

Lever takes an intercept with 2 min to go.  Player or two miles in the clear on his left that he could kick to and have us maintain possession on the fat side (MCC flank) but instead doesn't even look and goes straight down the line for a contest and the turnover.  Back it comes for their goal to draw the game.  Who would of thought.

Second to the ball far too often at the ball ups/ins.

Viney was constantly drawn to the inside of his opponent allowing him to get to the outside and clear the ball/run off into their forward half.  He has lost half a yard (this season ...probably due to the injury) and is for the most part ineffective.

AVB in was a fail for mine.  He just doesn't have the legs at this level to damage anyone at any stage.  He'll provide a contest when ball is in close but that's about where it ends.  Bring Melk in and him and Kozzie can share the role.

The sooner Harmes is available the better.  He is a must in for Viney who unfortunately adds zero to our inside / outside mid set up (much needed requirement). 

I would bring Oskar in for Gus (anyone can play a kick behind and fill a gap...it's what you do with it from there that counts) and Chunk (if he can get fully fit) in for ANB who gave us absolutely zero tonight and had to be shifted off the oldest guy in the Hawks line up.

I would also drop Lingers and give Joel Smith a few matches.  Lingers is now playing losing footy (since returning) and needs a reset/rocket.

Nice ride so far but too many holes and fumbly/second rate players when the heart is turned up.  Too many who can't kick accurately and/or make the distance from 35/40 out .

Finally, Goody was severely out coached by the master tonight.  How you allow your two KFs to play mostly from the goal square and mostly from behind flying for the same long bombs time and time again tonight (especially at center square bounces) is beyond the pale.

Same with the mids who were like bears to a honey pot and got sucked in to the contests far too often. But not only that very few were first to the ball.  I reckon Maxy would have gotten to more contests than most today!

On a PF day IF we were to make one, which i highly doubt, these are the poor set ups, methods that kill you.  Along with a lack of desperation and clean ball use most of the night.  Too much headless chook panic fumble footy to beat a decent opponent in a big final from here for mine.

Edited July 17, 20214 yr by Rusty Nails

 

Tough result but I am happy for Dr D. The doc would be wetting his pants with excitement over this result. No idea who he follows But