100% Heart and Will to Win is all we ask!!

[The Backyard Charizard 1,202]

Well done to the boys on their efforts today! No question of heart in my opinion.... Skill and decision making on the other hand is still a major problem but, after an effort like today, I am willing to put that aside for this week!

Tried hard all day and even when the Bulldogs replied and upped the ante, we never once dropped our heads and we fought to the end.... That is the Melbourne Football Club I am proud to be a member of!!

Sylvia = Well done mate... Your 2nd half and in particular last qtr was what we have been waiting for! Keep improving and the doubters will start to believe

Bell = You are one of the highlights of this appalling season!

PJ = See what a bit of game time can do! Leave Jamar at Sandy and let PJ play out the year! I like the work around the ground and the link-up play.... Defensively also a handy big man!

Flash = Welcome back! Finally people will once again realise that an Aaron is better than an Alwyn :D

TJ = Continue to prove me wrong fella.... I like it! The silk may be back?!?!

To the other boys in the Red 'n Blue that I have left out = Play with that same heart and intensity every week! Please! It is why we live and breathe the MFC!!

[45HG 1,539]

top call!

that's why i follow this game! for players with intensity and people that respect it. it'll turn around, that heart will take us far

[Pates 9,624]

Our boys are giving it their all, we are still about 3-4 players out from our best 22 and some of the energy being shown by the kids is really encouraging. Bulldogs are a better side than us atm, but you wouldn't have known that today. We matched them in just about every facet of the game and i couldn't be prouder.

I'm now just hanging out for the breakthrough win.

PS: The support today from our fans was really disappointing, every one of the Dees fans that were there were doing their best to lift the team but we need more coming out! Anyone that can make it, should make it. The team needs you!

[Doggo 32]

Spot on KrazyJay... all those guys played great games.

I really liked PJ's ruck-work today. A lot has been said of his lack of rucking ability, and also overhead, but he took a couple of nice marks and rucked really well against the Darcy/Street combo. Street was always going to be the most difficult ruck-tap player to beat today, but i thought PJ played that #2 ruck spot superbly, and more than held his own against him in the centre. 16 hitouts from probably less than half a game on the ground is a fair effort. White only had 15 for the day, and not too many to advantge, and was smashed in the middle by Street, and Darcy in the boundary throw in's at times also! PJ was really our best 'tap' ruck today IMO, and was pretty useful around the ground too. Loved him taking Aker on today right in front of me on the flank. Couldnt imagine Jamar doing that... Days could be numbered for the big russian, but, without any malice, cant say that i'm too upset about that.

Bell, love the boy. I think he's endeavour and hardness is just superb. Not to mention his closing spped... And he seems to only be getting better and better by the week. Still makes some bad decisions and lacks awareness at times, but i believe that will also improve in time with experience.

Flash was just magical today. Would not surprise me at all if he gets the 2 or even 3 votes in the Brownlow for that match, despite losing. Superb all day. Career-best game.

Sylvia's second half, TJ's 4 quarters, Bruce's second half, all were very good. TJ, i too was doubting earlier in the week. I'm just glad he proved me wrong, and hope he continues to do so. Bruce, while his disposal wasnt the best (again), was really the major catalyst, along with Davey, in our 3rd qtr comeback. Was just in absolutely everything! Really liked Bate's game, and also thought Brad Green was pretty good after a short lay-off.

All in all, despite the loss today, it was nice to see the boys (for the 2nd week in a row), believe that they can win again. A win really is just around the corner. And with a lot of big names to come back, we may even start a little streak.

My non-Melbourne supporting mate (goes for the Bombers) said he still thinks Melbourne will finish reasonably high (considering) this year. Not finals, but in the 9-12 bracket. Why? His reasoning was simple. Melbourne are a 'streaky' side, capable of winng and losing several games in a row. I told him, despite the poor start, that i think we still will probably finish above the 'Bombers. He said nothing.

And when we get names like Robertson, McLean, Whelan, Rivers, Pickett, Petterd, Bartram etc all back... it doesnt look so unreasonable.

[Gorgoroth 12,697]

pretty much agree with what has been said

[deanox 9,641]

White only had 15 for the day, and not too many to advantge, and was smashed in the middle by Street, and Darcy in the boundary throw in's at times also!

white had 22 touches around the ground, PJ8. darcy and street only had 22 between them, white was good around the ground. at the boundary throw-ins, white was unfairly treated as he was grabbed and held all day without getting a freekick. he seems to have found his leap again at the centre bounces though which is good....

[Gorgoroth 12,697]

agree deanox, i thought white was stiff today from boundary throw ins, darcy kept an arm back to hold him so he couldnt leap

[godees 811]

My non-Melbourne supporting mate (goes for the Bombers) said he still thinks Melbourne will finish reasonably high (considering) this year. Not finals, but in the 9-12 bracket. Why? His reasoning was simple. Melbourne are a 'streaky' side, capable of winng and losing several games in a row. I told him, despite the poor start, that i think we still will probably finish above the 'Bombers. He said nothing.

And when we get names like Robertson, McLean, Whelan, Rivers, Pickett, Petterd, Bartram etc all back... it doesnt look so unreasonable.

I can't wait to get those players back - it is quite an impressive list. And your mate is right. After the WCE game we have a lot of winnable games in a row and I can see us winning quite a few there, especially with Whelan, Rivers and Petterd all potentially returning next week. Plus although Neitz is playing he is still yet to return to his old self.

I know the season is over but I would just LOVE to see a few wins. It must be so disappointing for the players as well. I'd imagine we probably will win more than we lose for the rest of the season and end up with about 9 or 10 wins and at least we will get a good draft pick to add to what is an impressive group of youngsters. Despite the 7 losses I'm quite up beat because of our youngsters. We have the nucleus of an outstanding midfield with McLean (21), Jones (19), Petterd (18), Moloney (23), Bate (19), Bartram (19), Bell (22) and Sylvia (21). Plus Davey (23), Dunn (19), Rivers (22) and Frawley to come. The performance of our youngsters this year gives me the confidence that next year with a decent run of injuries we will be up there again and really challenging.

I can't wait for our first win and thankfully I'm sure it is close. Go dees!

[Doggo 32]

white had 22 touches around the ground, PJ8. darcy and street only had 22 between them, white was good around the ground. at the boundary throw-ins, white was unfairly treated as he was grabbed and held all day without getting a freekick.

They (the umps) really had a bit of selective vision in regard to the jumper holding and hands in the back rule. I can think of at least 5 occasions where White was clearly manhandled out of the contest by Darcy, where no free's were given.

I thought around the ground today, our ruck duo was better than Street/Darcy, though i must reiterate that i do think White was clearly beaten in the ruck contests for most of the day. But he owned Street and Darcy around the ground, as did PJ for short stints.

In fact, i thought we were pretty good on all lines for the majority of the match, bar the second half of the second qtr.

[Rogue 585]

Despite the 7 losses I'm quite up beat because of our youngsters. We have the nucleus of an outstanding midfield with McLean (21), Jones (19), Petterd (18), Moloney (23), Bate (19), Bartram (19), Bell (22) and Sylvia (21). Plus Davey (23), Dunn (19), Rivers (22) and Frawley to come. The performance of our youngsters this year gives me the confidence that next year with a decent run of injuries we will be up there again and really challenging.

I agree that much of our youth look really promising, and I've noted this before.

However, how many of those you've listed are KPP's or Rucks? No rucks listed, and the KPP is Frawley [who hasn't played a senior game] and Rivers if you swing that way.

[Rogue 585]

Our boys are giving it their all, we are still about 3-4 players out from our best 22

3-4? Hrm...

McLlean, Rivers, Whelan, and Robertson would give you the four. No room for Pickett?

Bartram played virtually every game last year and Petterd has looked really good in his two games.