1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Bringing in Hunter (shame he was cooked, should’ve stuck with our poor kick plan and gone for Acres, the most Melbourne player to never play for melbourne).

Drafting: Rivers, Bowey, Laurie, Howes, McVee.

Attempting to move Harmes. Seemingly not been all that keen to keep JJ.

Training 3 second or less ball movement all summer.

Switching a lot more this year and even attempting more corridor kicks.

I think they know exactly what’s wrong but there’s no point throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Contested footy still dominates finals and neither side had more than moments with a fraction of space tonight.

Last week was our big chance and we made too many errors when we had options to open space and convert. 

Tonight we gave absolutely everything and had a disgraceful amount go against us and did everything but win. 

Healthy key forwards, a sprinkling of class and some fresh legs in the running players and the balance of the game style will correct itself a lot, whilst keeping our strengths. 

Yeah agree with that. Said to my

better half when the ball fell our way early in the first quarter I commended that it hadn’t happened for weeks. Then it stopped happening. Umpiring too, intentional or not they were awful in the 4th. Anyway, point is Schache aches me as that selection (plus not using him) made no sense at all. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

plus, offseason….. lads. This is the aflw team. They kick between the big posts. The two taller ones. Let’s see what they say and practice it. You will win more games on actual score if you can emulate it…….

14 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

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?

Goodwin’s greatest ever coaching blunder. I was calling for TMac to be subbed before half time. My mate said they’d see if we copped an injury in the 3rd and then do it. Nup. Not us. Let’s leave the titanic turning in the Yarra out there for a little while longer. Pathetic management 

Flat as everyone else here. 

Think this brings to an end the 2021-2023 era. One flag, 2 x 5th place finishes. Think we will see quite a bit of list turnover.

Out: Grundy, Harmes, Jordon, Tomlinson, Melksham, Hibberd (Brown and TMac both contracted I believe so not sure what we can do there) 

We need to transition a few guys in - Turner, Woey, Howes, Laurie, AMW.

We have 3 picks inside 25. 

Petty and JVR will be our key forward talls next year. 

Need to find a cheap back up ruck. 

Hope Gus is ok

McAdam in 

Reason for optimism. List profile still good. Max and May still have some time left. 

Enjoy the summer all. 

2 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

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.

They clearly had him as sub as insurance in case Max went down because they needed another ruck option but didn't want to name Grundy in the 22. Just dumbfounding decision making by the match committee, they should have brought in Grundy, dropped TMac and put Hibberd or another runner as sub.

8 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

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.

Totally bizarre, I expected that if Tmac was having a stinker and the scores close he would have been replaced at3/4 time at the latest. Tmac had no touches in the last. Tmac’s history shows he is notoriously slow in regaining form after injury. He should never have been selected to start with.

 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by John Crow Batty

6 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

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. 

That's exactly what I was saying before about going to the footy week in week out, enjoying some wins etc but really it's not too far fetched to feel like it was all for nothing in the end. After all, what are we playing this competition for?

Season squandered, 4 finals at the G lost. Umpiring and injuries not great but there comes a time when the excuses need to stop.

I spent most of my anger and disappointment earlier in the week, so really not shoving hot pokers into my eyes (just yet).

It was a relief to see most of our entries into foward 50 that were not bombed consistently onto the top of players heads tonight, but we were finally forced to play that way with the lack of personnel. Key learning, Simon!

Maybe JVR will now learn decent forward craft from Melk in the off season, instead of simply pack crashing. 

 

Didn’t Goodwin rock up to his press’er?

no vid on AFL app 

1 minute ago, Gunna’s said:

Didn’t Goodwin rock up to his press’er?

no vid on AFL app 

 

The umpiring was disturbingly bad, that is a fact. (The four umpire system was a complete failure all year and sadly, I think it is here to stay)

 Bad kicking is bad football, we not only lost this game that way, did the same last week as well (and a couple more during the year. That also is a fact. So frustrating! Theoretically an easy fix. Kick straight ffs!

You need an element of luck with injuries to go all the way. In 2021 we were lucky. 2022 we were the walking wounded.  This year our forwards didn’t fare well at the end. (Nor did Gus). This really hurt us at the pointy end.

I’m very disappointed but for some strange reason not totally gutted. I am  looking forward to next year (but will totally enjoy being away from it in the coming months ahead). 

For the next fortnight ABC. (Anyone but Collingwood or Carlton)- if the GF is between these two, go the Blues (their supporters are almost pleasant when you compare them to the filth). What an absolute contrast between last week and tonight.  The filth are really the filth.  

Will always remain a rusted on Melbourne supporter. GO DEES!! 

 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Wodjathefirst

3 minutes ago, DemonicFinalFantasy said:

I spent most of my anger and disappointment earlier in the week, so really not shoving hot pokers into my eyes (just yet).

It was a relief to see most of our entries into foward 50 that were not bombed consistently onto the top of players heads tonight, but we were finally forced to play that way with the lack of personnel. Key learning, Simon!

Maybe JVR will now learn decent forward craft from Melk in the off season, instead of simply pack crashing. 

 

I'm shoving the poker sticks into the fire. 

13 minutes ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

Flat as everyone else here. 

Think this brings to an end the 2021-2023 era. One flag, 2 x 5th place finishes. Think we will see quite a bit of list turnover.

Out: Grundy, Harmes, Jordon, Tomlinson, Melksham, Hibberd (Brown and TMac both contracted I believe so not sure what we can do there) 

We need to transition a few guys in - Turner, Woey, Howes, Laurie, AMW.

We have 3 picks inside 25. 

Petty and JVR will be our key forward talls next year. 

Need to find a cheap back up ruck. 

Hope Gus is ok

McAdam in 

Reason for optimism. List profile still good. Max and May still have some time left. 

Enjoy the summer all. 

Bit of real talk never hurts.

I think there's a chance it knocks us back a peg as well. Teams are getting better all the time so we can't just expect another top 4 finish.

However with tweaks to the gameplan and list changes we could be back in there. Need ball users and some kind of forward.

I think it’s fair to highlight that our forward line was decimated by injuries. But I also think it highlights our list inadequacies when the 2 most important injuries to our forwards were to a guy who played most of the season in the back pocket, and another bloke whose 32.

We simply need to get 2 more forwards in, and one of them needs to be a marking target. Good luck with that task. 10 other clubs need the same thing.

9 minutes ago, gs77 said:

 

Thanks for sharing. 
Per usual nothing insightful. But did recognize we need to be better. 

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Bringing in Hunter (shame he was cooked, should’ve stuck with our poor kick plan and gone for Acres, the most Melbourne player to never play for melbourne).

Drafting: Rivers, Bowey, Laurie, Howes, McVee.

Attempting to move Harmes. Seemingly not been all that keen to keep JJ.

Training 3 second or less ball movement all summer.

Switching a lot more this year and even attempting more corridor kicks.

I think they know exactly what’s wrong but there’s no point throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Contested footy still dominates finals and neither side had more than moments with a fraction of space tonight.

Last week was our big chance and we made too many errors when we had options to open space and convert. 

Tonight we gave absolutely everything and had a disgraceful amount go against us and did everything but win. 

Healthy key forwards, a sprinkling of class and some fresh legs in the running players and the balance of the game style will correct itself a lot, whilst keeping our strengths. 

What the hell happened to that, kick it in 3 seconds or a turnover? Did it in the practice games and looked great. The amount of missed passes we had going forward because we hesitated wasn’t greet tonight. I know it was only pre season but I was excited to see them moving it so quickly. We stuck with it for a bit and then got slow. 
 

What was the reason behind that?!

3 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

I think it’s fair to highlight that our forward line was decimated by injuries. But I also think it highlights our list inadequacies when the 2 most important injuries to our forwards were to a guy who played most of the season in the back pocket, and another bloke whose 32.

We simply need to get 2 more forwards in, and one of them needs to be a marking target. Good luck with that task. 10 other clubs need the same thing.

I’d love to see Naughton in our jumper next year. Not the best kick but suits or dump kick in style as he contests hard. 
 

Naughton, JVR, smith, Pickett, ANB and chandler/spargo/anyone else who pinch hits (trac, Petty or resting ruck)

That should scare and stretch defenses.  

1 hour 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. 

May and Lever were huge (Lever especially early) and McVee was solid. Not blaming them for the loss just pointing out those that had zero tackles.

Getting mighty sick of this. Deja vu...

 

 

2 hours ago, DutchDemons said:

Can we talk about Gawn spoiling Oliver's shot on the line? What the hell was that.

It probably would've been touched by the Blues player but he should've shepherded it through.

One of Pies, Lions, Power, Blues and Giants will win the flag. Gross.

Go Giants?

I’m guessing out of the 96k that went to the game it seemed they had 60k and we had at best 36k.  Sort of sad.
 

4 minutes ago, Nascent said:

One of Pies, Lions, Power, Blues and Giants will win the flag. Gross.

Go Giants?

Any side so long as it is not one the Victorian sides…. in my opinion 

Was cringing of the idea of listening to this next week. Now i'm embracing it with open arms (and ears).

 

 

Edited September 15, 20231 yr by Great Northern Summer

We can't hide from it, our goal kicking is just terrible. Like last week we weren't beaten by a better team, we just could not get the goals. We did not deserve to win that game.

This was not our season, there is no way we would have beaten the Lions to make it. I wish Carlton the best, we know what it is like to be down for so long.

I never say much about the umpiring but it was disgusting. The AFL has to improve the standard of umpiring, it is just not good enough. 

7 minutes ago, Wodjathefirst said:

I’m guessing out of the 96k that went to the game it seemed they had 60k and we had at best 36k.  Sort of sad.
 

I don't agree. We had more supporters there than what we appeared to have.

The thing with our supporters is they are dead silent. The finals last year against Sydney and Brisbane, we probably had 70% of the crowd, but the opposition fans appeared to outnumber us because they were still louder.

I went to the St Kilda v GWS game last week and couldn't believe how loud the St Kilda crowd was. I honestly couldn't remember a Melbourne crowd like that, especially when the crowd was as partisan as you'd ever get. 

It could well be down to our supporter demographic. I'm totally guessing here, but I suspect our average supporter age is somewhat older than most if not all other Victorian clubs. The older someone is, the less likely they are to be animated and loud, I would have thought.