Like everyone I’m disappointed with the loss. We did everything to win, but like last week let ourselves down with execution. Umpiring didn’t help either, and JVR + Gus missing was very costly.

I find it baffling that Schache has been given a contract, if they don’t trust him to play a role in an emergency he’s just a list clogger. Last year I was furious they didn’t try Petty forward. This year I’m more accepting that we ran out of options. Funnily enough we had one more option but they didn’t roll the dice.

We have some contested ball beasts and that’s taken us so far, but we are crying out for elite decision makers and ball users especially forward of centre. I’d be tempted to draft Duursma as a point of difference. If there is a key forward available then we should target one as well via trade, I guess we all know that though and there is probably not much available.

I’m still proud of the club despite the result, we just weren’t good enough and ran out of soldiers in the end. Grundy could have been an option but they had tried that and it didn’t work so I’m accepting that boat had sailed. I’m sure if they had their time again they’d go a different trade to Grundy. 

We didn’t create our own luck, and had some terrible run of injuries. Just not our year, if we are wise in the off season we have the chance to balance the list and contend again. I realise most here are [censored] off after tonight but we are in a good position still if we are wise with our list management.

17 minutes ago, Pirlo said:

Has anyone mentioned Langdon running away from them in the D50 as they were stringing handballs together for a goal? In Q2, I think. Grateful to him for his role in 21, but it has been clear for 18 months now that he has interests outside of footy and isn't totally committed to the cause now that he's achieved a flag. He shirks body contact constantly. You can't carry guys like this, we need to be ruthless. 

 

Shocking first three quarters.  A complete liability.  Thought he turned  things around a little in the 4th.

Can't recall sighting Sparrow much in the first half either.

And what's happened to Viney!!??  Three of his last four finals appearances have been ordinary to say the least.  And the other was barely 'ok' compared to his usual H&A standards.

He had an amazing 2021 finals series and has pretty much turned to crud since.

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

Just back at The Manor.

Had to suffer scum supporters on the train trip and then drive with my own ****ty company.

When I walked in the dogs whined and jumped and licked me.

Made my think. "What the [censored], it's only a game".

22 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

May Lever and McVee are not why we lost. In fact our backline once again must be fuming. Work so hard to keep the opposition to a low score and then watch our forwards butcher their chances. Incredibly frustrating. 
 

Fritta had a finals campaign I think he’d rather forget. And Langdon a season I think he won’t be happy with. 

Same old story really, backline keeps us in it, forwards fry us. 

So proud of those guys though 

One word - Gutted! 

Just got myself home from the G. Boy was that a major disappointment! I'm angry/sad that we gave away so many chances at goal. :-(

at least we have Choco on board for next year? He knows all about handling the chokers tag. It’s going to take a fair bit, and ultimately success deep into finals, if not a flag to shake that tag. 

3 minutes ago, layzie said:

Same old story really, backline keeps us in it, forwards fry us. 

So proud of those guys though 

Imagine having a dopple ganger of May up forward who could kick straight... ughh

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Langdon and ANB must have slipped over 25 times between them

 

wtf? Youre professional athletes. Fix your boots 

Viney slips over as much if not more than those two 

2 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Let’s get behind GWS and the Lions

anyone but the CFCs

ABC

Anyone but Collingwood (and Carlton)

1 hour ago, mauriesy said:

Put Brayshaw, Petty, Melksham and JVR into tonight's side and we win.

But we don’t. That’s the point. We’d still kick a heap. Of points. Had then during the year and we kick terribly inaccurately. 

2 minutes ago, leucopogon said:

Viney slips over as much if not more than those two 

Needs to be a stat. Seems to happen at the most crucial moments. They must have had 2 - 3 centre clearances due to slipping over. 

Thoughts:

1) not making a prelim 2 years in a row after finishing 2nd and 4th is underperformance. 2022 was excusable due to injuries, we got run over the top of as key players were walking wounded. This year not so much, we should’ve won both games and choked.

2) window is closing fast, Gawn and May have 1-2 years left. Running Gawn into the ground while we had an all-Australian ruck in the 2s is a failure on the part of coaches as well as Max. Everyone can see we need another key forward but we also need a replacement for May. 

3) key players need to look at themselves a bit - Max needs to stop trying to carry the team and share the load with another ruck. Trac needs to get off his food channel and focus on executing in games, blazes away at goal and bombs it on top of the forwards. He’s a freak but his freakish skills don’t show up enough in games and we get to see lazy wasteful disposals. Ditto Oliver but he was out for 10 weeks so gets a pass imo. 

4) purely a vent with no logic or reason (I’ve been into the whisky): I’m sick of seeing [censored] football at the G. Yes the game plan is effective at grinding wins and finishing high on the ladder but scoring is painfully hard and painful to watch. It’s now 5 years since I attended a winning final in person and that pisses me off. Maybe this game plan wins us the next flag but I’d hoped to see us piling on goals and stomping on the faces of those teams that had thumped us and mocked us for so long. I want to revel in their pain, instead when we win it’s by 2-3 goals, or we lose in ****house fashion like tonight and I can spend the next 6 months getting kicked again. 

Men’s footy can get stuffed, hopefully the women go back to back. 

9 minutes ago, layzie said:

Same old story really, backline keeps us in it, forwards fry us. 

So proud of those guys though 

I feel for the backline.
All their hard work butchered at the other end.

2 hours ago, SPC said:

Not having any talk about us being overrated.. we are the best side in it, should have won last week.

This will be the flag we gave away.. mark my words, our biggest chance blown!

Best side in it, can't win a final in two years 🤣🤣

Delusional

58 minutes ago, everythingsablur said:

Need to also add our fans are shocking. So quiet and sitting there silent with arms crossed even when we kick goals (rare I know)… embarrassing when the entire Blues members erupts for a goal and we only have 6 people stand up!! 

You didn’t sit where I sat. I sat with the most passionate, vocal, unrelenting Melbourne supporters I’ve ever seen.

This narrative about our supporters is hot garbage. We were outnumbered, but we gave everything we could for our team. On the siren that was the most gutted I’ve ever seen our supporter base. 

You can be disappointed in the loss, but it’s simply untrue to say our supporters are ‘shocking’.

As soon as we lost Petty I knew our flag chances were over. Bad kicking is bad football. The goal kicking coach should be shot. If it's Williams get rid of him. Get rid of Stafford too. Surely McDonald has to retire his last 2 years have been deplorable. Had enough of Langdon been a liability this year like to see Howes get a go. Petty, van Rooyen and Brayshaw are back next year along with pick 5 also we should give it a big shake next year. All is not lost.

2 hours ago, Tom Dyson said:

Arc score review gifts carlton another one. They can't win on their own merit. the whole thing is rigged. 

Which one? All the reviews seemed correct tonight

1 hour ago, everythingsablur said:

Need to also add our fans are shocking. So quiet and sitting there silent with arms crossed even when we kick goals (rare I know)… embarrassing when the entire Blues members erupts for a goal and we only have 6 people stand up!! 

Our supporters have been traumatised by how [censored] our offence is. The best emotion a goal can muster is relief.

2 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

Cannot agree. MacDonald wasn't working. Schache should have had a run 30 minutes earlier

TMac had 4 kicks, 2 handballs, 0 scores and 2 tackles. I mean, if Schache can't get subbed in for TMac at 3/4 time with those numbers what is the [censored] point of him?

2 hours ago, Antioch said:

 So 96,000 is not a big crowd?

Yep that was all us 😂

22 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Like everyone I’m disappointed with the loss. We did everything to win, but like last week let ourselves down with execution. Umpiring didn’t help either, and JVR + Gus missing was very costly.

I find it baffling that Schache has been given a contract, if they don’t trust him to play a role in an emergency he’s just a list clogger. Last year I was furious they didn’t try Petty forward. This year I’m more accepting that we ran out of options. Funnily enough we had one more option but they didn’t roll the dice.

We have some contested ball beasts and that’s taken us so far, but we are crying out for elite decision makers and ball users especially forward of centre. I’d be tempted to draft Duursma as a point of difference. If there is a key forward available then we should target one as well via trade, I guess we all know that though and there is probably not much available.

I’m still proud of the club despite the result, we just weren’t good enough and ran out of soldiers in the end. Grundy could have been an option but they had tried that and it didn’t work so I’m accepting that boat had sailed. I’m sure if they had their time again they’d go a different trade to Grundy. 

We didn’t create our own luck, and had some terrible run of injuries. Just not our year, if we are wise in the off season we have the chance to balance the list and contend again. I realise most here are [censored] off after tonight but we are in a good position still if we are wise with our list management.

Your too nice .. Goodwin needs to be held accountable or ever agreed to the Grundy deal! Our 2 most important games & he wasn’t used?? Whilst no contest in the ruck  4-5 times tonight???Yet Schache played 2 games for the season & wasnt used whilst T Mac did nothing! Yze will be gone who was a big part of our premiership strategy. The old Melbourne in me sees a cliff coming 

The chokers tag is bad but it’s not as bad as a 57 year drought hanging over your head.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that none of us supporters will have any optimism for next year until we win a final (particularly our first if we finish top 4). The H&A season will seem pointless until Sept where the real test will begin.

David King bangs on about it all the time but health is your best list. It’s no surprise that the teams left (excluding Port who’ll probably lose tomorrow) have a complete list to choose from. 

But overall it’s a wasted season. We learnt from last year by timing our run this time and we looked to do it. We looked so perfectly positioned but then we failed to execute on the big stage.

This isn’t Essendon 1999 levels but it’s bloody close. 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by At the break of Gawn

Can someone explain the me the reason why Schsche was sub, and then why he wasn’t even used?

Goodwin said in his presser that we wanted a tall option and needed someone to contest and bring it to ground, but were happy with how it was going so didn’t use him. That makes no sense given TMacs output and our lack of cohesion inside 50.

19 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Which one? All the reviews seemed correct tonight

Agree, as much as I hate to say it. 

Searingly disappointing.