POSTGAME: Rd 13 vs Collingwood

[Pates 9,536]

2 hours ago, Nelo said:

The actual gameday experience was also a disappointment. Trying to talk to my kids and the breaks was near impossible because of the music and the expletives going all day was disgusting. I told one person to stop saying the F bomb and was looked at and told what's the problem. My 12 year old actually said after the game he doesn't want to go back again. That's how horrified he was of the behavior.  

It might be time for the AFL and the MCG to create team areas that you can book so Melbourne fans sit with Melbourne fans and Pies fans sit with Pies fans. We had a real nuffy jerk right in front of us who was trying to bait myself and another Melbourne fan behind me. Made the experience really unpleasant and frustrating, I don’t mind us losing and I don’t mind an oppo fan having banter, but being a [censored] about it is unnecessary and pathetic. 

Sorry to hear your son had such a bad experience, I hope he gives it another go. 

[von 1,212]

2 hours ago, poita said:

It's amazing how quickly things turn to [censored] as soon as Goodwin signs a new contract. First 2019, now 2022. Sure he can't run around and kick the ball for the players, but he has presided over the declining standards over the past two months, played unfit and out of form players, and failed to accept the need to change a game plan that has been worked out by every other team.

Failing to rest players through rounds 9 and 10 was a horrible, horrible error of judgement. Did it matter if we beat North by 5 or 8 goals, if we were in a better position through rounds 11 - 13?

I'm amazed that so many people are fixated on us are giving up quarter time leads. In recent weeks we have had 1.6, 1.5 and 0.5 kicked against us in the first quarter. If those teams had kicked straight we would have deservedly trailed on each occasion. We've plain and simply been poor for the entirety of the past three weeks.

The first player I would drop is Lever. He offers no leadership, can't / won't defend his opponent, and offers nothing with ball in hand. He spends more time lying on the ground than standing next to his man. He is playing like 2019 Lever with the arrogance of someone who thinks he is untouchable because he was good in 2021. Playing Turner was the equivalent of playing Petty in 2018 - you're just hoping to fast track a player who simply isn't ready.

I'm sick of players such as Sparrow, Spargo and Salem who hold the ball up for 10-15 seconds looking for the perfect kick, then dink a 15 metre kick sideways. Take responsibility yourself instead of lumping it on your teammate. By the time we are finally ready to go down the line all our forwards have led and are out of position, and the opposition have flooded back. No wonder we end up turning it over. 

Sparrow, Spargo, Bowey, Jackson all need a rest. Petty and Gawn injured. Langdon and Salem underdone. Harmes, Neal-Bullen, Lever MIA. Forward line abysmal. We're in a world of trouble. At the moment we look more likely to miss the 8 rather than finish top 4. Goodwin and the supposed leaders of the club have ten days to turn around this sinking ship.

 

 

So then who comes in and how much more do we lose by?

[DeePressed 114]

Midfield is a shambles, plain and simple, that includes Wings and High half forwards.

Flatfooted and 1 dimensional. Zero spread and spatial awareness. This has been all year not just last 3 weeks, we've been able to cover it up prior.

Handballing to a stationary player or a player running into an oppostion tackler. It's like we're playing with no respect for the opposition like the oppo won't  put pressure on the ball carrier or something. So many caught with the ball, either a free kick or a spill and turnover. 

Can't blame the lesser lights, ANB, Spargo, Harmes, MBrown Hibberd. These boys are only good when we're good. 

Been outcoached, out classed and out manoevered mid game. 

We've folded last 3 weeks really really easily, that's my biggest concern. That's a 'give in' attitude. Doesn't bode well. I am embarrassed.

 

[Fork 'em 6,507]

1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

We definitely don’t look as hungry or as intense as last year .

For those that say we are just cruising through and will explode in the second half of the year, I really hope so, because the current mindset is not that of a premiership team.

Nope.
Last 3 games we've simply rolled over when challenged.

[Demon Dynasty 15,203]

1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

Our biggest problem has been and still is connecting with our forwards.

The delivery is woeful.

3 times yesterday in a 5 minute period we kicked straight to Cox (twice), and Darcy Moore.

This has been a common thread in all 3 of our losses.

Long bomb panicked kicks and ignorance of shorter options.

At one stage Sparrow had Langdon 30 meters ahead of him , but he chose a long kick to a 3 on one where we were easily out marked.

Its also a work rate issue up forward to some degrèe DZ.  Forwards need to make multiple hard leads on occasions. When i watched BB i see him sitting deep for long periods calling for the long kick in.  Those opportunities dont allways present.

A leading prescence often needs to be happening higher asking for the ball to be given around 50 for mids to bail or kick to under heat.

Our two forwards also often lead to the same pocket instead of splitting into diff lanes making the opp second guess.  There's no guessing with our forward play.  Far too often coming in wide and bombing into a pocket/flank.

You can still bring it wide along the boundary...but how about using the angles on occasions and hitting up a forward leading straight up and in front like we saw the Pies do yesterday on at least one occasion?

Far too predictable and the Talls not mobile enough IMHO.

And doesnt have to be a tall always.  How about hitting up a small or Fritta leading into space on fat side on occasions a la Harmes to Fritsch in the GF?

Edited June 14, 2022 by Demon Dynasty

[layzie 28,491]

3 hours ago, binman said:

I'm confused.

Do you want nev to facepalm - but only if he is a coward?

But if he were to facepalm your bemusing post, given your challenge, wouldn't that be courageous?

But if facepalming your post is courageous, then he would not be a coward in doing so..

So then can't facepalm because he is not a coward.

Personally, if was nev, o would use the laughing emoji. Because the post, like pretty much every one of your posts, is pure comedy gold.

By the by, on the topic of cowardly posting behaviour, I don't recall you posting much, if at all, during our run of 17 straight wins.

But, now, with tge cover if 3 losses you suddenly appear with more of your, we are woeful, contributions.

So very courageous. 

Not.

I am also confused.

But then again, I'm pretty sick right now so everything is confusing to me. Including bombing into the 50. 

[old dee 22,809]

I believe it is time a few got a rest to Casey they need a spell in the lower grade to show spots in the senior team are not guaranteed and to regain some confidence. e.g. Jackson and Kozy. I know he is young but Jackson has no mongrel in him, we saw Gawn constantly attacked yesterday and no one did a thing. It's time someone ran through a couple of these thugs. Jackson obviously ain't up to it. 

[old dee 22,809]

3 hours ago, binman said:

I'm confused.

Do you want nev to facepalm - but only if he is a coward?

But if he were to facepalm your bemusing post, given your challenge, wouldn't that be courageous?

But if facepalming your post is courageous, then he would not be a coward in doing so..

So then can't facepalm because he is not a coward.

Personally, if was nev, o would use the laughing emoji. Because the post, like pretty much every one of your posts, is pure comedy gold.

By the by, on the topic of cowardly posting behaviour, I don't recall you posting much, if at all, during our run of 17 straight wins.

But, now, with tge cover if 3 losses you suddenly appear with more of your, we are woeful, contributions.

So very courageous. 

Not.

I consider a face palm from LN a badge of honour. One day he will explain his face palm. 

[DubDee 20,338]

We are only 2 wins ahead of Collingwood in 8th spot coming into the bye

Sweet mother of god the last 3 weeks have been brutal!

[Nelo 813]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

It might be time for the AFL and the MCG to create team areas that you can book so Melbourne fans sit with Melbourne fans and Pies fans sit with Pies fans. We had a real nuffy jerk right in front of us who was trying to bait myself and another Melbourne fan behind me. Made the experience really unpleasant and frustrating, I don’t mind us losing and I don’t mind an oppo fan having banter, but being a [censored] about it is unnecessary and pathetic. 

Sorry to hear your son had such a bad experience, I hope he gives it another go. 

Thanks for the words. Yeah I totally agree with your suggestion. That would make a huge difference.

[WalkingCivilWar 31,124]

39 minutes ago, layzie said:

I am also confused.

But then again, I'm pretty sick right now so everything is confusing to me. Including bombing into the 50. 

Get well soon, Layzie 💕

…and remember: drink plenty of water. And rest up as much as you can.
Oh, and eat your greens! 
End of mum lecture. for now  😁

[leave it to deever 15,157]

I think there have been quite unaware of Tmacs influence. 

Even without scoring he will worry most defenders.

M.brown is not the answer .

Maybe Weid again . It's a merry go round.

Or we simply put Kozzie at ff like Toby Greene.

Gee we were lucky with injuries last year.

We could try Tomlinson or Petty when May is back 

[Mr Steve 3,820]

I think we did exactly the same thing last year only against poorer sides and got away with it. 

 

[Ben 217]

3 hours ago, Pates said:

It might be time for the AFL and the MCG to create team areas that you can book so Melbourne fans sit with Melbourne fans and Pies fans sit with Pies fans.

I agree, and I wish people would stop pre-drinking so much that they're already off their heads at the first bounce. This guy in front of me stood up at any moment the Pies had a near mark or chance in the second half. I kept telling him to sit down and that I'm trying to watch the game, he gave me the evil eye and mouthed some profanity. Is it too much to ask that people at the footy proritise watching the game, and respecting others around that are trying to do the same?

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

19 hours ago, praha said:

Somehow, magically, we've still conceded fewer points than any other team. And will remain like that until round 15.

Our worst three weeks in a while and we are still the best defensive team in the league. Goes to show how far ahead we were in the first 10 rounds.

Attitude, bravery, faith, positivism ... you have it all, praha. Well done. Time is our partner in the struggle to win the Premiership this year.

[D4Life 2,299]

40 minutes ago, Mr Steve said:

I think we did exactly the same thing last year only against poorer sides and got away with it. 

 

Did you watch the finals last year against the best teams?

[Pates 9,536]

20 minutes ago, Ben said:

I agree, and I wish people would stop pre-drinking so much that they're already off their heads at the first bounce. This guy in front of me stood up at any moment the Pies had a near mark or chance in the second half. I kept telling him to sit down and that I'm trying to watch the game, he gave me the evil eye and mouthed some profanity. Is it too much to ask that people at the footy proritise watching the game, and respecting others around that are trying to do the same?

I think the team only areas at least need to be made available, and while I know it’s not going to stop it (there’s a few foul-mouthed dheads in the Melbourne reserved area) it at least stops this kind of baiting which can lead to fights. Myself and the other guy laughed it off, what happens if I was a puss loaded Melbourne fan who takes a swing at him for baiting me? Australia has a problem with booze, hate to say it but it’s true. Drunken behaviour has been laughed off and normalised for too long. 

Sorry to derail the thread. 

[Deemania since 56 6,119]

5 hours ago, John Demonic said:

I'm not too worried about Lever. He is absolutely at the mercy of what happens up the ground. Sure he makes a few glaring mistakes that stand out, but so would all players that aren't at the AA level of a Steven May type - Perhaps we need to re-adjust our expectations. Lever is only 15 months older than Weideman, when you consider how Lever has basically kept his spot in the team on merit for the past 5 years, that's a pretty extraordinary effort. The real story here is not Lever, but how fantastic Petty has been over the past season and continues to grow, overshadowing Lever. If we can get May & Petty back into the team as our foundations down back, then we can worry about whether Lever or Smith take that 3rd tall role, and how much/if any of their mistakes are mitigated by all of our other key pillars.

Petty has been great but given too large a role when injured/sore. The bye, and a week up forward would help. Familiar faces need to be built back into the backline in general. As for the forwards, it is time to get JSmith fit and raring to go in front of goal. Daw needs to reduce the overwork of Gawn and Jackson, but particularly, needs a spot as a fwdpocket ruck presence who leads to space and utilises tap-downs to the crumbers. BBB needs a rocket and should be encouraged to re-evaluate his role and FFwd contribution early before the long bomb descends. Fritta can lead, kick and scramble groundwise - and a pronged forward line approach needs consideration every time the ball enters the 50m arc. Spargo one side, Kozzie the other, with Bedford up the guts to interfere with any opposition rebound. Game plan adjustments all around. The only surprise packet from the Filth game was the performance put in by Jordan - and it was a beauty! 

[Dee Zephyr 17,305]

Thought Cox was very good against the Hawks the week before and was building some form, but I didn’t expect him to build enough to get the 10 votes from the coaches yesterday.

Edited June 14, 2022 by Dee Zephyr

[Macca 16,173]

Nathan Jones hinted on radio today that we could be in the loading phase

So if it is true then that explains a lot. I'm hoping that is the reason but we still have some game plan issues and we still need to fix our forward line woes and our speed & delivery into the forward line

As others have mentioned, we need to take the game on more with quicker movement going forward and we need to make greater use of the corridor

We've looked a bit tired & listless (to varying degrees) from the North game onwards (mainly in the 2nd half) Up until then we've looked good in nearly every 3rd quarter and then closed the games down in the last quarter's

We'll soon find out about our ability to come out strong in the 2nd half of games as next up is Brisbane.  Better to be tested right now

The dilemma the selectors have got is do we persist with 2 key forwards along with Fritsch & a resting ruck in the forward line or do we play a decent medium sized player forward instead of Mitch Brown (who plays like a medium sized player anyway but doesn't get the ball enough)

We have to persevere with Ben Brown as even though he's not in great form, the alternates are worse (or unproven)

[layzie 28,491]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

I think there have been quite unaware of Tmacs influence. 

Even without scoring he will worry most defenders.

M.brown is not the answer .

Maybe Weid again . It's a merry go round.

Or we simply put Kozzie at ff like Toby Greene.

Gee we were lucky with injuries last year.

We could try Tomlinson or Petty when May is back 

We really were, we're a very good side but a lot went right for us as well last year. Dream run with injuries and a lot of players who happened to be in career best form at the same time. 

[Mr Steve 3,820]

46 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Did you watch the finals last year against the best teams?

Talking about our mid season slump. We come out of it and no team could go with us.

[Vipercrunch 2,800]

18 minutes ago, Macca said:

Nathan Jones hinted on radio today that we could be in the loading phase

 

https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/show/1940?theme=light&episode=1008299

Hopefully that link works to the Nathan Jones segment on Dwayne Russells (🤮) show.

Poor Dwayne wanted Jones to say something negative about Melbourne but Nathan gave him very little.  Basically says yes they would want to be playing better but it's June so no need to panic.  Definitely hinted loading off field may be happening.

[binman 37,765]

42 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Thought Cox was very good against the Hawks the week before and was building some form, but I didn’t expect him to build enough to get the 10 votes from the coaches yesterday.

I said to my mate yesterday that my idea of hell would be attending a big game, like a final, at the G, have cox go off AND the crowd chanting USA, USA- such as occurred in the 2018 preliminary.

Cox then started dominating - even kicked a goal on the run from 50!

I thought to myself that at least the crowd didn't start chanting.

Then walking down the stairs at the back of tbe ponsford a big bunch of pussed young blokes, all pies fans, start chanting 'dees are [censored]', followed up with, you guessed it USA, USA.

Jesus wept.

[Demon3 2,541]

not one for inside word, but a coterie member we sometimes cross paths with, has said the team is really battling fitness at the moment. Langdon is no where near fit, his ribs (broken) not right, Petty is multiple injections to play last 3 weeks, Petracca has had a flu that has stuck around and is really causing him to labour.. a couple of the covid players from earlier are taking longer than usual to find 100% .

Also Salem looks off the pace which is to be expected. 

SO while im sure its not THE problem, i am sure its A problem. Hoping a decent break, mentally as well as physically will do the team wonders. 

The thing i hold my hat on is that we are a good side and we know how to play good footy, so that doesnt go away, form is temporary.. class is permanent and a few players will return to top form which will dramatically help.

Edited June 14, 2022 by Demon3