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SHOOTING BLANKS by George On The Outer

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Demon fans will remember well the classic call of “Bang, bang, bang” from the 2021 Premiership game.
 
However, in a truly disappointing game against GWS in the Alice, it was more a case of “pop, fizz, pfft”.
 
When the coach came out and said, “we failed to execute” it is was the same as a firing squad loading with blanks … they simply fail to execute.
 
Melbourne’s firing squad is its forward line and once again they simply were unable to put scoreboard pressure on the opposition with a pathetic (even given the wet conditions) 5.15.
 
There can be no question that the rest of the side are doing their bit. The backs keep repulsing attacks and provide the springboard for multiple forays forward. The mids win contested ball, and just about every other possible statistic including pumping 73 inside 50’s into the forward line but to produce only five goals for the game is a telling indictment.
 
In particular, the lack of forward craft stood out. The intent of modern game tactics is to bring the ball to ground for the smalls to crumb, but the only crumbing goals came from Jack Bowey and Brodie Grundy.
 
There was plenty of running around, ball watching and generally not getting involved by the small forwards, but kicking goals seems not to be in their KPI’s.  It was even further compounded by momentum killers in James Harmes and Alex Neale-Bullen who, often at critical times, are unable to perform basic football skills. Their actions simply deflate the rest of the side, and negate the fine efforts of those downfield.
 
Once again, Melbourne failed to adapt to wet weather conditions. What is it now? Five out of six losses in wet or slippery conditions. Perhaps it is too hard to expect players to “get in front, kick long, kick off the ground, or just plain kick it”.  Wet weather skills are required, but in this game, the only people who seemed to be doing it for the Demons were the defenders. And the loss of Bayley Fritsch early was critical, since he is perhaps our only reliable goal-kicker. Replacing him with Jake Melksham proved pointless, as he reverted to his usual tactic of seeking cheap kicks out the back, leaving his opponents to play in front (wet weather football). Why he was selected as sub was questionable, since he can only play one position these days. Meanwhile James Jordon gets shunted back to the VFL where he amasses 41 disposals!  Another shot to the foot by the selectors.
 
Last week the coach said “we need more out of Grundy and Gawn in the forward line”.  Another week and another fail in this area.  Yes, it was wet, but four marks around the ground between them , and the solitary goal from Grundy when crumbing the ball in a ruck contest is not why they are being positioned in the forward line. There is something wrong physically with both … Grundy only 62% game time, and Max managing three marks total in the past two games. Perhaps they need a rest on the bench instead of clogging up the forward half, and demonstrating they can’t keep up with defenders streaming downfield.
 
Once again not a shot fired from these two.
 
Finally, thank heavens (obviously not the same type that produces rain and nine degrees for top temperature in Alice Springs) for Jack Viney. Forty-one disposals including 24 contested possessions kept the side in the game, and was probably best on ground for the third week in a row.  He has truly stood up in the absence of Clayton Oliver, but it is a pity his resolve hasn’t spread to others in the side.
 
This game demonstrated the fallacy of statistics alone. They are the numerical outcome of what has already happened, but they are not the indicator of success. Only when there is success do the numbers reflect that, not the other way around.
 
The Demons dominated every possible number, yet lost the game. How does that work? The statistics show we were firing in every possible way.
 
A:  We kept firing blanks.
 
With a now critical game against the Saints, the real positive for the side must be that it will be played under a roof  i.e no wet weather football required.
 
Or can the side, and the selectors manage to shoot ourselves in the foot?
 
MELBOURNE 1.5.11 2.9.21 4.12.36 5.15.45

GWS GIANTS 1.0.6 3.3.21 6.4.40 7.5.47

GOALS

MELBOURNE Bowey Grundy Langdon Melksham Pickett

GWS GIANTS Greene 2 Brown Cumming Kelly O’Halloran

BEST

MELBOURNE Viney Hunter Petracca May Bowey Pickett

GWS GIANTS Coniglio Green Kelly Greene Briggs Himmelberg

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Bayley Fritsch (foot)

GWS GIANTS Nil

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

GWS GIANTS Nil

SUBSTITUTIONS

MELBOURNE Jake Melksham (replaced at Bayley Fritsch in the first quarter)

GWS GIANTS Ryan Angwin (replaced Daniel Lloyd in the fourth quarter)

UMPIRES Matt Stevic Nathan Toner Andrew Heffernan Martin Rodger 

CROWD 3,413 at TIO Traeger Park
 
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