POSTGAME: Opening Round vs Sydney

[Dr. Gonzo 24,266]

7 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Great take. Very reminiscent of the Lions game. Our ins next week make us stronger. It’s 1 bloody game. There were 2 points in it at 3/4 time and we were a man down and heaps of rotations short after subbing early. Laurie will never play another senior game for the MFC. 

The problem is the same issues as last year were repeated.

Poor ball movement/disposal

No movement inside 50

Poor entries inside 50

Inaccuracy in front of goal

Too many NQR passengers

Failure from coaches to change things up when not working

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,932]

JVR’s going to have a very poor season if he’s forced to take the oppo’s best defender every week because Schache is the only other key fwd. It’s unfair on the kid and another question mark on our list management at the moment that our number 1 forward is often in the stands injured.

Do we look at BBB for the Dogs game to provide support for JVR?

If Petty returns for Hawthorn and has an injury free run, I think our fortunes will change for the better.

[layzie 33,987]

That game was a ticking time bomb 

[Deemania since 56 6,714]

8 hours ago, Demon_spurs said:

I never pot players and I wont this week either, but some experience players played  some embarrassing footy tonight. And some youngsters tried their hardest. i will say no more except I expect a huge turnaround next week.

 

Indications suggest rather strongly - and sadly - that a turnaround in just one week is too short a timeframe. An alleged comprehensive pre-season has produced no results of which we can be proud. There are no linkages, there are no opportunities to exploit, there seems to be very few coordinated 'systems' to support our players' strengths. We played like a team of individuals and were shown a Swans team system (by foot) that wins matches.

 

[The Jackson FIX 3,210]

8 hours ago, ElDiablo14 said:

If true (to be happy with 3-3) concerning at the least, not what you want to hear from team that aspires to fight for a premiership.

I think the view was tough draw (Sydney, Adel and Port away and then Doggies and Bris in there too) + important players still to come back

[Dr. Gonzo 24,266]

32 minutes ago, BW511 said:

The club keeps telling us culture is great but the players really seem to believe they are better than everyone, they play as if they should win every game and it’s only a matter of time before it clicks.

This 100%.

[John Demonic 5,848]

8 hours ago, Nicko said:

We Have not lost our first game of the season since 2020….i do not like this feeling 👎

I'll take a flag in 2025

[SPC 3,551]

Gee Blake Howes looked really good!!

[Deemania since 56 6,714]

4 hours ago, Jjrogan said:

Not the reason we lost as we were putrid at the start of the last quarter.  But until Judd McVee (or if Petracca kicks well) gets midfield minutes nothing is going to change.  His handball fake and then kicking into the space the FORWARDS ARE MEANT TO BE LEADING TO cannot be taught or trained. Name one other player on our list that does that through instinct (Jake Melksham says hold my beer).   Enjoy the season.  

There is a good deal of common sense in this analysis. I wish such awareness could be a little contagious across most of our players, including our alleged 'stars'. McVee (and to a certain extent Kozzie) are players capable of playing anywhere on the oval due to their 'instincts' and execution.

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,293]

25 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

The problem is the same issues as last year were repeated.

Poor ball movement/disposal

No movement inside 50

Poor entries inside 50

Inaccuracy in front of goal

Too many NQR passengers

Failure from coaches to change things up when not working

Agree with that. Definitely need some changes

[Clintosaurus 7,858]

Wait until we play on a normal shaped ground before going apoplectic. 

I'd also be asking the umpires department about Grundy going straight over the centre line too. Pretty sure that was a free kick last year for not giving the oppo ruck a chance to jump for the tap. Unless the umps made it up at the time. Lloyd Meek was pinned a few times for it.

[Ollie fan 3,468]

I think that the posters who say "Max should be ashamed" are disgusting. No doubt he was beaten by a very good player who we had to let go of because having two no1 rucks didn't work. But Max tried his heart out as he always does. He is a champion and will bounce back.

One thing is worrying, though: he does not handle rough treatment very well. He is simply not built for it.  Mason Cox has known this for years, and obviously other teams are catching on. To me, that means we HAVE to have a stronger backup. I don't know anything about Fullarton. Schache is not the answer. I think it means we have to bring back TMac, as he is certainly strong.

[Deemania since 56 6,714]

46 minutes ago, BDA said:

I had a great night's sleep last night. usually don't after a loss. 

dreadful performance. Reminiscent of the first 3 quarters v the Lions last year (in similar conditions)

our kicking is so bad. aimless hit and hope into our forwards. 

hospital hand passing to the ankles of our teammates. no cohesion or fluency to our ball movement

what has McQualter been doing over the preseason?

We just looked awful. I'm struggling to see what is going to change.

McVee with the one bit of class to find Fritschy in the 3rd. he played well. Liked Windsor and Howes (after a tentative start)

Viney tried his heart out and i thought our defence held up well (albeit poor kicking brought trouble on ourselves). May did well. Lever not bad but again, his field kicking was poor.

For such a brilliant player, trac always looks hurried. he has more time than he realises and doesn't make good decisions. Maxy is a champion but had his colours lowered last night. Clarry undercooked. 

My new season confidence has taken a serious hit cos i saw the same old problems last night. let's see how we go over the next month.  I hope we can sort things out but i thought that is what the preseason is for.

Disappointed but i'll be getting along to the G next sunday to cheer the boys on. We badly need the win.

Go Dees

It really is time - across the board for our team - for Goodwin to show some adaptive adjustments including improved skills applications for many of our players, stuck in a framework of uncertainty and clearly evident interactive restriction.

 

[danielE288 779]

Dissapointing after last year's final debacle. Should have known better than to fork out $600 coming up here. Ground is a [censored] though, well be better at the G, hopefully.

[58er 6,538]

2 hours ago, Surfer Dee said:

Were there any discernible coaching moves by Goody tonight throughout the game? NO REALLY. Like as the game got away from us or as we were failing to capitalise on f50 entries? Genuine question.

No Rivers could/should  have been injected at 3/4 time at least at the bounce (Oh for Kossie) and probably around the ground to lift us. 

I’m treating it with caution but re Maxie it did not look good tonight. He was I feel cooked by 3/4 time and didn’t go for one of Stephie’s long kickout bombs in Q4 through exhaustion and they got a goal. 

The big  drop off was only ONE  quarter  really so the humidity may well have been a substantial  reason after all. 

Nothing has.changed re the forward line except Fritta was easily our best with others miles behind but the defence was unusually under complete pressure with the breakdown of the mids in the final term when the Swans went up at least 2 notches as we coincidentally dropped a couple. 

And Brody won the big man battle by honest good rucking. Don’t think JJ was a major player but his total of 18 possessions was more than some of our counterparts in that position. 

BTW it does no good saying so and so has played his last game and never to play again. Sport does not generally quantify that way thank goodness. And nor should MFC only give one chance to any player also. Many fumbled or weren’t at their total best so the same slack and opportunity is afforded to all but some are needed to step up their skills and urgency to AFL standards back at the G next week or the Dogs might at long last repay our scoring feats of the 2021 GF and humble us in Round1. 

A Swan (Swallow/ Sparrow) does not a summer maketh remember. It’s only about really ONE quarter and this group of players have a pretty decent record since halfway through 2020 on that score. 

A repeat and alarm bells will be ringing all across the Melbourne  ( Victorian and Aussie landscape ) nevertheless. 

 

[deegirl 1,578]

7 hours ago, layzie said:

One minute people say we can't kick straight then the next minute it's our gameplan that stinks and doesn't get us enough opportunities in front of goal?

Choose an argument and stick with it otherwise it's just complaining for the sake of complaining. It's not just here either friends of oppo clubs are saying it too 

Bro we’re trash at both 😁

[Where Demons Dare 250]

People People chill... round 1 hasn't even started yet! let's not get our [censored] in a tangle already...

[58er 6,538]

8 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Things not to like:

Ball handling

Lack of quality crumbers

Kick out strategy

Giving first option

Ruck craft

Goal kicking.

 

All changeable within a week it’s just that a couple have been perennial offenders for nearly 2 seasons now.  

[GM11 782]

13 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Wait until we play on a normal shaped ground before going apoplectic. 

I'd also be asking the umpires department about Grundy going straight over the centre line too. Pretty sure that was a free kick last year for not giving the oppo ruck a chance to jump for the tap. Unless the umps made it up at the time. Lloyd Meek was pinned a few times for it.

Watch for a quick interpretation change.

The AFL won't like the look of that.

Most of the umpires can't bounce either so get rid of it.

[Tolstoys Nudge 1,733]

9 hours ago, Demonland said:

The Dees were fumbly and lacked forward cohesion but held on for three quarters before ultimately going down to the Swans by 22 points in the Opening Round of the season at the SCG. 

Not sure fwd cohesion was the issue tonight — we got beaten at the coal face and on the outside in strange conditions, that rendered Max redundant and gave Grundy the best of chances to shine. We lacked the game turners that can make something or of nothing, with Trac off a little and fumbly, Kos would’ve been a MASSIVE advantage given how clean and quick he is but that’s footy.

 

I took solace in May performance, Fritta overcoming recent mini-yips is huge & I think Howes was superb, composed and showed PLENTY. Clarry better for run, overall we will know much more after next week I feel!

[beelzebub 23,382]

13 minutes ago, Where Demons Dare said:

People People chill... round 1 hasn't even started yet! let's not get our [censored] in a tangle already...

Despite what any [censored] at AFL deems... Round 1 has indeed started.

What is.....is 

[picket fence 17,462]

8 hours ago, Demonsone said:

The whole Grundy trade was a disgrace the way both Goodwin & club handled this! I just wonder did Max loose the selfless & become selfish??  I luv max is our only living premiership ruckman and a  champion but I just wonder was either it’s me or him you choose???? Yet he’s 32 and 1 bad injury from retirement 

Totally correct! The most incompetent thing I have ever seen was not selecting him in last years finals! Just totally negligent and costly!

[binman 43,704]

10 hours ago, biggestred said:

Terrible handling of the wet footy. Cost us 4 or 5 goals. Was an issue last year too.

Has been an issue for several years.

As has been a pattern not to adjust our method.

Ironic that on a night we should of been kicking long for territory, we were linking up with hands. 

Again, our poor kicking was a massive factor.

Slippery conditions exacerbate our kicking iusues because it exposes poor technique.

Which made the decision not to start billings even more perplexing. 

And slippery conditions expose how much we rely on maxy's marking. Did he take a mark last night?

Such a frustrating game to watch. Infuriating 

Edited March 7 by binman

[drdrake 3,185]

It was bad, no hiding away from poor skills a slippery footy will always find out players with poor skills.

The amount of time we had multiple players going for the same ball, Sydney just let us and circled the contest on the outside, as soon as we turned it over they pounced.

Positive we had 2 very good young players debut, negative these 2 young players played better then a large percentage of our team.

[Roost it far 8,570]

Goodwin has no plan B, never has. Apply pressure to our kids and we revert to bombing it long.