4 minutes ago, frankie_d said:

that needs petty and may to take the contested marks, freeing lever up. we’re one tall short in the backline. opponents are playing through levers man. 

Agreed. We can't afford to play Hibberd, Bowey, Salem, McVee, Rivers & Brayshaw all through the back-line. Drop one of McVee, Bowey or Hibberd for someone like a Dan Turner or Tomlinson.

Edited May 27, 20231 yr by Seraph

3 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Everyone happy with the umpiring?

A typical Melbourne supporter response, blaming umpires. Yes they were very poor (#6 was making Nichols look like a superstar), but werent the reason for the loss.

Our 4 quarter efforts have become 1.5. That is on the coaches. This club is now severely lacking in passion.

 

Gawn/Grundy combination not going well.  It’s like they play in their own individual bubbles who randomly float, flop and bounce around the ground. Cant dominate centre clearances or stoppages or even break even and their marking contests are predictably crumbed by the opposition ad nauseum. The game looks like moving past these former greats. 

Have been out and was hoping to come home, see that we'd won, and put the replay on.

Sigh.

Amiss and Treacy 5 goals and 23 disposals. JVR and TMac 2 goals and 14 disposals. We can't keep doing this.

Lever was in AA form at the start of the year when we had three tall defenders. Since moving Petty forward and not replacing him in defence, Lever's form has deteriorated. I doubt anyone on here thinks that's a coincidence.

We don't need all of Salem, Bowey, McVee, Rivers and Brayshaw. We don't need all of Chandler, Spargo, ANB and Pickett, either. Our structure is out and it's time to see the FD step up and make the changes we need to revitalise our season.

The season is not lost at 7-4 and 133.9%. That is a solid enough foundation to attack finals/the flag. But what we're doing right now isn't working and needs to change.

Gawn is cooked

40 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

There are no words to describe how incredibly disappointed and down right [censored] off I am. 
Everyone from the coaches to the players (bar a small few) should be ashamed of this gutless performance. 

Absolutely! Interesting to note that you - like me - reckon that the coaching needs scrutiny, as well. There are some blokes out of the game who are busting to get a run - it is high time we gave them one or two. Of course, had Clarry been in the team today, we would have had a picnic of opportunity in that last quarter - and a very good win, no doubt. We are much better than that performance indicated, today. 

And to the 24k odd Melbourne supporters that put in the effort to show up, the 2021 flag is for the likes of us. Those that could’ve but chose not to go, that fickleness is why you’re not worthy of our 13th premiership.

For all my loathing of the Filth, at least their supporters continually turn up

5 minutes ago, frankie_d said:

that needs petty and may to take the contested marks, freeing lever up. we’re one tall short in the backline. opponents are playing through levers man. 

I remember marks. I think.

4 minutes ago, Dee-monic said:

Points to ponder:

Is TMac the slowest player in the AFL?

Can we afford to play Pickett, Spargo and Chandler all in the same team?

 

To get 2 goals out of those 3 plus ANB is a joke. Why have all these forwards if we can't get it to ground?

We have too many players whose career has passed. Where's the succession plan for May, Tmac, BBB and Gawn? Grundy is excellent but our ruck stocks cannot count passed 3

JVR is struggling, our small forwards cannot capitalise, Lever is a shadow of his best. 

I can't see a young key back, forward or a promising young ruck developing at Casey with high hopes

We are a hot mess going south quickly

Might have a fire sale at seasons end if we have 2 firsts, a second and young Brown coming in. Himmelberg as FA would be a great addition too

Apparently expected scores were 80.3-63.5 in our favour.

Our early season accuracy has faded. Not helping.

1 minute ago, titan_uranus said:

Have been out and was hoping to come home, see that we'd won, and put the replay on.

Sigh.

Amiss and Treacy 5 goals and 23 disposals. JVR and TMac 2 goals and 14 disposals. We can't keep doing this.

Lever was in AA form at the start of the year when we had three tall defenders. Since moving Petty forward and not replacing him in defence, Lever's form has deteriorated. I doubt anyone on here thinks that's a coincidence.

We don't need all of Salem, Bowey, McVee, Rivers and Brayshaw. We don't need all of Chandler, Spargo, ANB and Pickett, either. Our structure is out and it's time to see the FD step up and make the changes we need to revitalise our season.

The season is not lost at 7-4 and 133.9%. That is a solid enough foundation to attack finals/the flag. But what we're doing right now isn't working and needs to change.

I know it, you know it, everyone on here knows it. opposition coaches know it and laugh at us when we dont.

The FD though are on a different planet. 
 

4 minutes ago, sisso said:

I must be the only one who thinks just coz we’re lost a couple of close games it’s not season over….the boys can lift 

I appreciate your uplifting post, but I think we are a b grade side with one of the worst coaching groups

[censored] game !

[censored] result!

[censored] umpiring !

Umpiring did not cost us the game- we [censored] it up quite nicely ourselves.

However, I can only conclude that I have no idea of the rules anymore. I’m just totally confused at how/ why most free kicks are paid or not paid.

44 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Time to ditch Goodwin... He fluked a premiership.

 We needed a fresh start immediately after the Premiership win. New eyes and vocal chords. 

One test failed, three to go. If we can go 2-2 we're still in the hunt for top 2, let alone top 4.

We were pathetic today, but our lack of depth in the VFL (TMac, JVR, McVee and Chandler shouldn't have been playing today) doesn't help the situation.

We looked so fumbly and I've never seen so many dropped intercept marks. I'd say we dropped between 15-20 marks May, Lever and Gawn should have taken. They take them and the pressure value is released. Instead, they drop them, even when they were the +1 behind the ball, and then the pressure comes at ground level.

Even when we managed to cause a turnover, we fumbled and lacked the ability to slingshot. Freo's pressure was excellent and their system (copied from us) behind the ball was very organised. But, our inability to switch, or give to runners was nowhere.

We played down the one wing practically all day and never looked to switch. I can only assume this was an instruction based on either fitness or ensuring our numbers could block up any turnover going the other way. It meant that our ball movement reverted to 2022. Predictable, slow and lacking in ideas. If you're going to kick long to a contest, you have to have players at the foot of the ball for spillages.

We missed Oliver, but he wasn't the difference. They played without Darcy for over a half of football.

I'm gonna say it and people won't like it, but we looked like we'd been flogged on the training track and I wouldn't be surprised if we're in a heavy loading block, building up to the Collingwood match. But we need to get these results going our way, against middling teams like Freo. 

The waning accuracy, poor decision making, poor disposal and lack of attack are also signs of fatigue just FYI...

Edited May 27, 20231 yr by A F

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

Gawn is cooked

Yep, he’s having very little impact on games now. Almost as slow as TMAC.

Id say he should step down from the captaincy, but who would take his place? We are bereft of leadership.

We are starting to slip to a side that is mid table.

Definitely not looking like top 4 right now.

Backline is definitely not as good as it once was.

Outside of Trac and Oliver we really don’t have many top line onballers.

Our forward line is lacking a consistent go to goal kicker that can get us out of trouble when needed, and our tackling and pressure is not as fierce as it was two years ago .

We are thereabouts but far from a dominant football team.

Carlton could even beat us on their day and if Collingwood beats us comprehensively in 2 weeks we will not be worthy contenders .

Next fortnight will be huge and sort out the men from the boys.

16 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

He was pivotal in our 2021 campaign. Outstanding. But he was ordinary before it, and has been ordinary since it. If we’re any chance of a flag, Lever getting back to his best is priority #1 IMO. 

I do agree. I also think May has dropped off to. What was once touted as the games best 2 defenders combo seems to have gone the way of our 2 best ruckman, our forward line and our midfield has now seems to give us the quaddie.

36 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

I think we missed 5 gettable set shots in the second half

Poor goalkicking is poor football

It was painful to watch all day wasn’t it, Spargo from 30, harnes from 35, kozzie 2x oof , jvr and brayshaw crouch goals in a tight last qtr. it’s the gane right there. 

1 minute ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

[censored] game !

[censored] result!

[censored] umpiring !

Umpiring did not cost us the game- we [censored] it up quite nicely ourselves.

However, I can only conclude that I have no idea of the rules anymore. I’m just totally confused at how/ why most free kicks are paid or not paid.

I thought i knew the rules, but i just keep getting the jumpers mixed up

3 minutes ago, SPC said:

I appreciate your uplifting post, but I think we are a b grade side with one of the worst coaching groups

Gotta stay positive it’s a long season and still a lot of footy to go to!

Just now, Demon Disciple said:

And to the 24k odd Melbourne supporters that put in the effort to show up, the 2021 flag is for the likes of us. Those that could’ve but chose not to go, that fickleness is why you’re not worthy of our 13th premiership.

For all my loathing of the Filth, at least their supporters continually turn up

Saturday 2.10pm. 

Before the excuse was night games are too late. Sundays were too Sunday. What now 

11 minutes ago, sisso said:

I must be the only one who thinks just coz we’re lost a couple of close games it’s not season over….the boys can lift 

Our pressure in the past two games has been great but it’s like furiously dog paddling to stop from drowning. We stay in the game but never look like pinching the game. A veil of negativity has closed  over us.

Edited May 27, 20231 yr by John Crow Batty

2 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yep, he’s having very little impact on games now. Almost as slow as TMAC.

Id say he should step down from the captaincy, but who would take his place? We are bereft of leadership.

Clarry when back.