Melbourne looked disinterested today. We were very flat and lacked urgency. We couldn't counter the Bombers fast overlapping handball chains to break lines. I think we were complacent coming into the game thinking we'd just walk over the Bombers. Looking forward to getting Gawn, Lever, Salem, Hibberd and Brown back soon. They are all key outs from our best side. 

25 minutes ago, brendan said:

Starting to think maybe we just aren’t good enough still seeing the same problems from second half of last season, too inconsistent forward line dramas and when pressured by the opposition we fold, I’m not convinced we are a top 4 side anymore, just like the dogs in 16 we won our flag in 21 off a perfect month of footy 

Look, I get the feels, but you clearly don’t remember that season well. 

Would like to see some hungry VFL players get a turn. 

We didn’t play the wet conditions well but wow, how many intercept and forward marks did they take - in the rain!

Tomlinson was not alone today don't be going at him alone.

We were outhunted and outsmarted today, once the rain came the damage had already been done.

Stagnant and no spark and joy and The Engine (Spargo, ANB, Chandler) was impotent and hampered of course with injury. Even before the 50+ mins without a goal, we piled on in two flourishes and were trash around that.

Look arrogant tbh. And waiting for someone else to do something.

This is what happens when you are off, you get punished in this league.

Umpiring absolutely putrid, epitomised in the last with the 2 non - frees. Hind caught HTB by Viney, and then the deliberate OOB with no bomber within 50m.

Would have only lost by 3 goals if we were given a fair crack. Should write to the AFL and demand an explanation.

Blake Howes should have played today.

1 minute ago, KingDingAling said:

Would like to see some hungry VFL players get a turn. 

I think that's right. Look - the team is dominated by the big 3: Gawn, Oliver, Petracca. Fortunately the latter two are durable. Can you imagine the team without them? North Melbourne.

We underestimated this Bombers line up, I can't stand the crunt but Brad Snott has got them organised and they now have a steely resolve.

Having said the we played like billionaires today chippy, chippy, no substance to our play at all.

Edited April 15, 20231 yr by YesitwasaWin4theAges

Well hopefully Steven May has gotten that out of his system and he never plays like that again. 

Some really worrying signs. Exposed early by two ruckmen. We are ineffective if Oliver quiet.

We have a talls problem. Petty's form this season a concern.

TMac couldn't get a touch.

Grundy's lack of defensive nous was telling.

We don't know how to use Brayshaw.

Tomlinson is terrible in the air and should never be asked to play key position defence.

There appeared a overly relaxed approach to the game.

Hated how Hunter and Bowey refuse to put bodies on line.

Couple of selfish pings at goal by Melksham, Fritta, Petracca, etc.

 

Gawn and Levers leadership can’t be underestimated, but we just didn’t seem mentally prepared for this game.

Bombers outworked and outran us all day and attitude, pressure  and workrate are a huge part of footy, no matter how talented you are, if you lack in this area , you’ll get picked off every time.

Brayshaw had been very average so far this year. He was AA level half back last year.

 

When you don't bring the appropriate intensity to play AFL football that's what you get. Turned it off half way through the last quarter but could've done it half an hour earlier and not missed anything. 

3 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Hated how Hunter and Bowey refuse to put bodies on line.

I dont know if you have noticed but Bowey doesnt have a body to put on the line.

One, maybe 2 out in defence we can handle. Not having Gawn to fall back and take some of the pressure off was telling.

We lacked leadership both on and off the field today and that resulted in being dominated in all aspects of the game. They applied more pressure, were harder at the man and the ball and were better organised. Without proper leadership on the ground we had no direction or drivers. 
 

Our coaching team were out thought and lacked imagination to try and arrest the momentum. This is in the face of all the talk about the way they have worked on this aspect of the game over the off season. We had a back line that was misfiring and a forward line that was also a shambles. We have players able to switch between those positions but the coaches did not use them. Early on the midfield was getting beaten and we persisted withe the same setup. 

individually there were some below par efforts. May and TMac come to mind as they are more experienced players that should have a solid baseline to work from in these situations.

Gawn and Lever are strong on field leaders in two critical areas of the ground for us and we need them back as soon as possible. 
 

disappointing game and we got the result we deserved given the rubbish we dished our today. 

Brayshaw is a smart business man.

Cons the club into giving him a 6 year deal on big money and has dished up SFA since.

I like his hussle..

We got violated by Essendon - it’s peak!
Let’s hope we turn up against the Toigs…

Stevan May looked like someone got him out of bed 3 minutes before the siren. I hear Disco was flown over late. He should have played instead. May was completely out of sorts the whole game. I think there were more players who wouldn't have played had we rated the opposition, but we didn't.

Time to make an impact Sparrow - no really!

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Brayshaw is a smart business man.

Cons the club into giving him a 6 year deal on big money and has dished up SFA since.

I like his hussle..

Stealing a living on today’s performance 😒

2 minutes ago, Roger Mellie said:

Stevan May looked like someone got him out of bed 3 minutes before the siren. I hear Disco was flown over late. He should have played instead. May was completely out of sorts the whole game. I think there were more players who wouldn't have played had we rated the opposition, but we didn't.

Time to make an impact Sparrow - no really!

I thought May looked proppy from the start - walking quite stiff-legged. Perhaps the old trap if playing injured players?

Edited April 15, 20231 yr by Ollie fan
Typo

That was an insipid effort by all 22 guys that started out there. Very concerned that we served that up three weeks after a similar performance against Brisbane. Do we really want it this season?

Brad Scott was the main factor (not the only) in why we were beaten today. Completely pulled Grundy’s pants down and exposed that he has virtually no defensive impact. I think we can cope with one of Gawn/Lever/May out of our backline, but not two of them. Took out the confidence of our backline to even attempt to intercept, which is our biggest strength back there. 
 

They also just worked way harder than us. Had options every time they got the ball and just like the Brisbane game, they also had time and we had none. They basically ran harder and played harder around the ball. 

Our kicking into F50 mostly to their defenders advantage and the fact that they ran so hard meant, even if they didn’t mark it in their forward line(which they did a lot) there were more Essendon players at the drop of the ball than Melbourne players. 
 

Mostly disappointed that we were so outworked.