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Matthew Stokes on Melbourne

pitmaster
in Melbourne Demons

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https://www.theage.com.au/podcast/the-age-real-footy-podcast/flirting-with-their-form-dees-pick-and-choose-when-to-go-hard-says-stokes-20220725-p5b4fc.html

Stokes argues the attitude is off, the team first ethos has lessened and the Demons aren't willing to play the whole game with intensity.

Some were frustrated even when we were winning that we were doing it with half measures. Stokes seems to think the last eight weeks is the result.

 

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    That's a big hit.

    The way people are talking though you'd think we're getting absolutely spanked every week. 18th for pressure acts and still lead the league in time in front. 

    If they can turn it around, seriously, who beats us?

    Lots of upside atm but Stokes's comments ring true. Especially when you think of May's comments to Melksham and co., and the way certain players go about it.

    I hope they can turn it around quickly. 

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    I listened to the podcast earlier and don't think his criticism was warranted. He didn't provide any examples of the attitude being off and sounded like he was riding off the tail end of the Fritsch-is-selfish critique.

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    Not the only Geelong alumni to begin bobbing up in the media as his side get into predictable home-and-away-bullying mode. 
     

    Maybe I was distracted but I missed their analysis during grand final week last yr.

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    He's right. And at our current level of competitiveness we're not winning any finals. We are back to the old Melbourne of picking and choosing when to go hard. Our 'changed' culture is still a mile away from proud clubs like Collingwood.

    I don't care what anyone says, if Ugle Hagan is kicking 5 goals on you, that is your evidence that we are not hard enough physically. 

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    8 minutes ago, rufus said:
    9 minutes ago, rufus said:

    He's right. And at our current level of competitiveness we're not winning any finals. We are back to the old Melbourne of picking and choosing when to go hard. Our 'changed' culture is still a mile away from proud clubs like Collingwood.

    I don't care what anyone says, if Ugle Hagan is kicking 5 goals on you, that is your evidence that we are not hard enough physically. 

     

    A coupla of points...

    The melbourne of old was rubbish

    Ugle Hagan was in the right spots - Bevo outcoached Goodwin

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    When you've gone from one of the best pressure/ tackling sides to the worst you know this is true and due to this we're not getting the turnovers either. Getting out worked every game at the moment. Won't win any finals with this attitude.

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    In the bottom 4 for pressure, where we were first last year… 

    Thats attitude. I’m sorry to burst your weird reality where we are the Schrödinger's Cat of form - neither in form nor out of form…

    But the players are so talented that they know they can get away with stuff and still win - well welcome to thunder dome because that won’t work against the best nor those with an axe to grind.

    Lift or get left behind.

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    • Like 16
    8 hours ago, pitmaster said:

    https://www.theage.com.au/podcast/the-age-real-footy-podcast/flirting-with-their-form-dees-pick-and-choose-when-to-go-hard-says-stokes-20220725-p5b4fc.html

    Stokes argues the attitude is off, the team first ethos has lessened and the Demons aren't willing to play the whole game with intensity.

    Some were frustrated even when we were winning that we were doing it with half measures. Stokes seems to think the last eight weeks is the result.

     

    Yes it was obvious to the DL faithful during the 10 wins. Going at 3/4 pace and some sloppy mistakes and not 100% focus. Then you play other top 8 teams and whack !! Where’s the pressure and intensity that we saw v the lions. 🤔

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    29 minutes ago, rufus said:

    Our 'changed' culture is still a mile away from proud clubs like Collingwood.

    Your trolling, surely

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    Need to start bringing the heat and i expect we will over the next 4 games. Would be very disappointed if we exit season 22 with a whimper

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    18 minutes ago, BDA said:

    Your trolling, surely

    No. Look at their team. They are so low on talent yet have won 13 games. Every year they win more games than their talent dictates they should, because of their non negotiable competitveness.

    I hope we've been holding something back, because to be given a game plan that was proven 100% to work (and in fact to be close to unbeatable) provided you bring pressure to your opponent, and then dish up an 18th ranked level of pressure is completely unfathomable. If we bring number 1 ranked level of pressure from here forward we'd win the flag in a canter. It could not be laid out any more simply for the players. If we continue to dish up what we've dished up, this will be one of the biggest wasted opportunities imaginable. This is another weak season on terms of contenders, and our attitude right now looks like it's going to cost us a golden opportunity. 

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    1 hour ago, rpfc said:

    In the bottom 4 for pressure, where we were first last year… 

    Thats attitude. I’m sorry to burst your weird reality where we are the Schrödinger's Cat of form - neither in form nor out of form…

    But the players are so talented that they know they can get away with stuff and still win - well welcome to thunder dome because that won’t work against the best nor those with an axe to grind.

    Lift or get left behind.

    Got it in one rpfc. 

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    45 minutes ago, rufus said:

    No. Look at their team. They are so low on talent yet have won 13 games. Every year they win more games than their talent dictates they should, because of their non negotiable competitveness.

    I hope we've been holding something back, because to be given a game plan that was proven 100% to work (and in fact to be close to unbeatable) provided you bring pressure to your opponent, and then dish up an 18th ranked level of pressure is completely unfathomable. If we bring number 1 ranked level of pressure from here forward we'd win the flag in a canter. It could not be laid out any more simply for the players. If we continue to dish up what we've dished up, this will be one of the biggest wasted opportunities imaginable. This is another weak season on terms of contenders, and our attitude right now looks like it's going to cost us a golden opportunity. 

    Low on talent? Pendlebury Moore Howe Adams Daicos Elliot Maynard Sidebottom Crisp. There’s half an oval of B+ (and better) players before you even look at the underrated ones.

     

     

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    They've all called us out now, better to be called out a month before the end of the season than in the first week of finals when Geelong usually get called out. 

    The boys and coaching staff will know what they need to do.

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    9 hours ago, praha said:

    If they can turn it around, seriously, who beats us?. 

    It’s a big if.

    It’s said that we started our turnaround at a meeting pre season 2021 when everyone bought in to team first.

    Time for that meeting again.

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    Very simplistic assessment by Stokes imo.

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    1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Yes it was obvious to the DL faithful during the 10 wins. Going at 3/4 pace and some sloppy mistakes and not 100% focus. Then you play other top 8 teams and whack !! Where’s the pressure and intensity that we saw v the lions. 🤔

    Yep started way back the first time we played Port Adelaide we turned what should have been a thumping win into just an adequate one., last quarter just let them stroll out of our forward fifty time after time in the last quarter. But that was okay because apparently we were just playing to protect our lead. No tackles in forward 50 last game doesn't lie. We have players in our forward line who get excused for low possession numbers because of the pressure they bring. well where is it? Why have the coaches allowed this to endure?

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    3 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

    Very simplistic assessment by Stokes imo.

    Yet very correct

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    2 hours ago, rpfc said:

    In the bottom 4 for pressure, where we were first last year… 

    Thats attitude. I’m sorry to burst your weird reality where we are the Schrödinger's Cat of form - neither in form nor out of form…

    But the players are so talented that they know they can get away with stuff and still win - well welcome to thunder dome because that won’t work against the best nor those with an axe to grind.

    Lift or get left behind.

    Right on the nail!

    In an sen interview this morning Angus Brayshaw noted two things we need to do to get back to our best:

    • be more ruthless:  it isn't arrogance but unconsciously, when we are 4-5 goals up, players are not ruthless enough in executing their role.
    • need to re-commit to the team

    In other words: Attitude.

    Hopefully, they can quickly regroup and refocus.

    Edited by Lucifers Hero

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    16 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    Right on the nail!

    In an sen interview this morning Brayshaw noted two things we need to do to get back to our best:

    • be more ruthless:  unconsciously, when we are 4-5 goals up, players are not ruthless enough in executing their role.
    • need to re-commit to the team

    In other words: Attitude.

    Hopefully, they can quickly regroup and refocus.

    Angus?

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    1 minute ago, McQueen said:

    Angus?

    Yes

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