3 hours ago, IRW said:

You reckon Friday night might get them angry when all the other losses didn't?

OK..its a "possible" world I guess.

Yes after Geelong MFC rates with the best.

Get to the last game and they are good enough to win it.

Do you still  really believe they are going to string that many good games on a row given they haven't played 3 consecutive championship games all season?

Getting to the Prelim will be a victory of sorts.

Getting a big  forward " general" would give them a shot at 3 flags in 4 years .

Plan B would help as well

Getting a gun big forward would help heaps but we don’t have one. We have make do forwards. Bit hard in season to change that.

We’ve well and truly been in all the games we’ve lost. That says to me not a lot has to change, which doesn’t sound like a write off to me. We win the Collingwood game over 50 percent if you keep replaying it.

the Collingwood loss may be a wake up call that some teams are really going now and if they want it now is the time to go too. 

everything in the future is a “possible” world. We are sputtering to the finish line at this stage but with signs that we arent far off. I think the coaches might be quietly confident with where we are trending. To be having a rough season and still be this close is a great sign. Well and truly close enough to win it all. Not saying we will but we are right there. Lots can happen in six weeks. I think we will run games out better each week from now till the end, whenever that is.
 

not sure I agree with the plan b idea. Depends how drastic you see a plan b being. The bulldogs and Collingwood games were kind of plan b games. We played attacking shoot out ball and I didn’t like it. I like a system team that can make slight adjustments over wholesale changes in game. Defends is built for finals and we aren’t there yet. A couple of players  finding a bit more form and things start looking different again. 

 

2 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

Just confirming - if any team has a loss(es) in Rounds 15-22 - they're not contenders?

So just Collingwood and Geelong right?

That’s right. Like our streak early on. You are officially invincible until further notice at which point the sky is falling in.

3 hours ago, kev martin said:

 

The optimists take indignation at the half empty.

The pessimist expect the worst so their sensitive souls do not crack, and can tell us "I told you so".

The realist see all is possible. 

Me, we have a great chance of getting the cup.

We control much of the game.

The other has to play well to knock us off.

We are finals bound, and that is when we do it for the 4 quarters. 

 Go Dees.

Sheet, pragmatic but I hope you are correct. So far this season, there have been games when we all prayed for this outcome but it did not occur - leaving results to fall short of our buoyant expectations.  

For anyone thinking Collingwood are a flag chance - pump the brakes. The way they are playing now looks great and is clearly getting results, but the reality is finals is a very different game all together and they will be liable to more turnovers from the extra pressure. I’m predicting they will be scored against on turnover in big numbers come September. 
 

Also keep in mind we kept our absolute best footy for finals last year - and so far we’re the only team in contention that has proven in recent history that can find new levels in September. 

The stats we posted on Friday night wins finals games 100% of the time. 

Anyone writing us off at this point is flirting with extreme danger in my opinion. 

54 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Sheet, pragmatic but I hope you are correct. So far this season, there have been games when we all prayed for this outcome but it did not occur - leaving results to fall short of our buoyant expectations.  

I believe the second half fadeouts are more about their heads, then skills.

In finals I can't see them taking the foot of the pedal.

24 minutes ago, Smokey said:

For anyone thinking Collingwood are a flag chance - pump the brakes. The way they are playing now looks great and is clearly getting results, but the reality is finals is a very different game all together and they will be liable to more turnovers from the extra pressure. I’m predicting they will be scored against on turnover in big numbers come September. 
 

Also keep in mind we kept our absolute best footy for finals last year - and so far we’re the only team in contention that has proven in recent history that can find new levels in September. 

The stats we posted on Friday night wins finals games 100% of the time. 

Anyone writing us off at this point is flirting with extreme danger in my opinion. 

Yeah boy

1 hour ago, 1964_2 said:

A key reason our backline is not winning as many contests as last year, is opposition teams have learnt not to kick down the line inside 50 (which use to allow our defenders to peel off and intercept). 

The pies were constantly switching and changing angles, which opened up much more space inside 50, and allowed them to kick to their forwards advantage. 

Teams will continue to do this, which means our pressure needs to be better up the ground. Starting from our forward 50, where we can’t allow easy un-contested turnovers. 
 

I think if you watch the replay, the angle changes didn't actually improve the 1v1s up the ground, but enabled them to move the ball through our zone in the middle of the ground.

Collingwood also kicked down the line numerous times to our talls and we didn't get it done.

What teams have managed to do is restrict Max's marking behind the ball. And then our guys failed to win the resultant ground ball.

Edited August 7, 20223 yr by A F

Also we were 1st for pressure acts last year.

We are now 17th.

Let that sink in.

There is no magic switch, we just aren't that good.

1 hour ago, COVID Dan said:

Also we were 1st for pressure acts last year.

We are now 17th.

Let that sink in.

There is no magic switch, we just aren't that good.

Source?

I really think it's about qualifying for the tournament right now. If we punch that top 4 ticket, we're as good a chance as any. I don't care what the stats are about 4th never winning or whatever. We just need to punch that ticket, it's a new ball game come finals. 

16 hours ago, TheWiz said:

Source?

Tomato.

But in all seriousness re watch the coverage. It was either last week or this week they mentioned it.

We look tired. We give everything to only get our noses in front, cling desperately to our lead and watch it slip between our fingers. Those moments of dominance where we pile on goals in a short amount of time are almost non-existant. We looked good recently against Brisbane and Freo but neither of those teams pushed us. Every time we come up against resistance we stumble. No come-from behind wins this year. The only games we've looked half decent we have been playing against badly out-of-form teams. This is not the same team or competition as 2021. I haven't been able to see us winning it this year for a while but I keep telling myself anything is possible with this group if only we can get a few things right. I will be very, very surprised if we win the flag this year

I hate it when I'm right.

I don't think the boys can't win it, I just think we're not good enough this year compared to the best.

Defence isn't king in 2022

17 teams wont win the flag this year BUT we are still in it with a big chance.

Sydney are flag favourites for mine. they would have beaten Geelong tonight. 

We’ll probably dodge a bullet by avoiding Collingwood in a prelim, so you never know.

13 minutes ago, COVID Dan said:

I hate it when I'm right.

I don't think the boys can't win it, I just think we're not good enough this year compared to the best.

Defence isn't king in 2022

Really? I would have thought a true supporter would have loved to be proven wrong?

Covid Dan.

Have you still got covid?

What's with your name?

 

 

This is the dumbest thread on DL.  Never has Melbourne been less than $ 2 to win the flag.  Its like playing blackjack and saying I dont think the next card will be queen, king or an ace. You have the odds on your side when you say i dont think X can win. Real gutsy stuff lol. 

The good news is no-one wins 3 straight flags or 3 flags in 4 years the easy way.  Brisbane, Hawks, and Richmond all won a premiership after losing a QF.

Maybe this season will mirror the 2003 season.

Brisbane sat top after 10 rounds with 1 loss.

Then went 4w-6l and sat 6th before 2 late wins had them sneak into 3rd.

Lost the QF to a hot Collingwood.

Won the following week and then met Port who at that stage were the perennial finals chokers and had won 10 straight. Knocked them off.

Then crushed Collingwood in the rematch.

 

 

 

Hard to have confidence given we’re 0-5 against the top 4 sides.

After week 1 finals last year we were 1-0 against Port, 2-0 against Geelong and 2-0 against Brisbane. They were the other top 4 sides of the 2021 season.

Much like our atrocious MCG record against Sydney, short and long term history is against us.

It’s looking like we’re a 4th-6th side this year.

Edited September 2, 20222 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

The year is probably the reality check the team needed. We were far and away the best team last year. Teams have leapfrogged us this year. It's so hard to win flags. 

I am not writing us off yet but I genuinely wonder if Goody changes things up off season on account of our performances this year - evenly if we miraculously win it against all odds it may seem. 
 

 

Pointless season really. We are the only team capable of beating Geelong but we are too basic. We will have to endure similar learnings to what Geelong has. We were fortunate to have a purple patch last year. Liken it that purple patch to Tom Boyd’s final series of 2016. Bullies were satisfied, their window is done now and them finished. We will follow a similar trend unless acknowledge our purple patch of 2021 was just a fluke. It’s all it was.

4 hours ago, KingDingAling said:

Pointless season really. We are the only team capable of beating Geelong but we are too basic. We will have to endure similar learnings to what Geelong has. We were fortunate to have a purple patch last year. Liken it that purple patch to Tom Boyd’s final series of 2016. Bullies were satisfied, their window is done now and them finished. We will follow a similar trend unless acknowledge our purple patch of 2021 was just a fluke. It’s all it was.

Purple patch? We monstered 2021.