58 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

We're terrible moving the ball partly because the players aren't on the same wave length.

In 2023 we didn't have Windsor, Lindsay, Langford or Kolt. All much better users of the footy than Viney, Oliver and Petracca.

They're also 12 years old.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

Maybe, but had we kicked straight in 2023, it could be a very different story.

Playing our old method, minus Trac and half fit Clarry, we lost to Port by 2 points (prelim finalist), GWS by 2 points (semi finalist) and by 5 points against the eventual Premiers in Brisbane after a soft free was paid to hand them the winning goal.

Put Trac back in that team, a fitter Oliver (apparently not), allow our guys to play the contest game they've honed; add the ball use from Langford, Lindsay, Windsor and McVee; and exploit the greater pace on the list from Lindsay, Windsor and Kolt, and away we go.

This is why I was buoyant going in 2025. I thought we'd play essentially the same game style with a greater emphasis on being able to score off turnover.

We've gone away from this trying to play something that has clearly killed the instincts of the players, to the point where there is no identifiable brand or game style on display now and the players appear confused.

We should return to contest, stoppage and defence. We should even consider playing a hybrid of the territory game.

The next evolution of the game will be defensive and that is what we've built our success on and built our list for.

Exactly. We needed to clean up going inside 50 not throw the baby out. Get some better users on the outside and let the grunts do what they do. It’s a staggering misstep by the club and that’s on the coaches. Finals football is all that matters and that was our one wood bar our last kick inside 50. Now we’re muppets all over the ground.

Edited Monday at 10:164 days by Roost it far

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

We're terrible moving the ball partly because the players aren't on the same wave length.

In 2023 we didn't have Windsor, Lindsay, Langford or Kolt. All much better users of the footy than Viney, Oliver and Petracca.

I don’t think Viney had one positive possession, not one, he was actually a total liability. Clarry wasn’t too much better. Tracc again was poor with his disposal but slightly better than the other two.

The latest tidbit on Kosi in the Herald Sun is pretty promising. It’s vague and it’s Ralphy so don’t take it to the bank, but the fact a long term deal at Melbourne is even mentioned as a possibility is better than one might have hoped.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

We're terrible moving the ball partly because the players aren't on the same wave length.

In 2023 we didn't have Windsor, Lindsay, Langford or Kolt. All much better users of the footy than Viney, Oliver and Petracca.

Well if there is a silver lining in all this mayhem , we are currently rated #5 moving ball from back to forward half. So something has improved. Better than Hawks.

Some interesting viewing on the couch which I commented on the game day thread was the burning of players in centre clearances. Saw it time and time again where there was a forward handball on and the players elected to kick to the top of the square. This has to be some form of coaching instruction because it beggars belief how obviously flawed that tactic is.

10 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Well if there is a silver lining in all this mayhem , we are currently rated #5 moving ball from back to forward half. So something has improved. Better than Hawks.

Some interesting viewing on the couch which I commented on the game day thread was the burning of players in centre clearances. Saw it time and time again where there was a forward handball on and the players elected to kick to the top of the square. This has to be some form of coaching instruction because it beggars belief how obviously flawed that tactic is.

Fix this and we will be a much better team, and start scoring more heavily... someone please forward the tape to Goody n co. And add in Garrys comments on 360 when he spoke about JVR

32 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

The latest tidbit on Kosi in the Herald Sun is pretty promising. It’s vague and it’s Ralphy so don’t take it to the bank, but the fact a long term deal at Melbourne is even mentioned as a possibility is better than one might have hoped.

That would be a staggering back flip

Maybe we know we'll have $5 mill in the cap next year to force Kozzie's hand!

7 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

With Kozzy out the door at season's end guys, the old question arises a la LJ in 2022 whose body was on the field but heart & mind wasn't...

Should we be getting games into the likes of Brown (he's ready now) and Culley (if he hits some serious form / fitness at Casey at some point) from here on in instead?

In 2022 we were fighting for a flag. Right now, we're fighting for a win. But by all means drop Kozzy - arguably our best player - for a couple of guys not setting the world alight at VFL level. Great way to increase his trade value and keep kids engaged at the footy.

34 minutes ago, Rednblueriseing said:

Fix this and we will be a much better team, and start scoring more heavily... someone please forward the tape to Goody n co. And add in Garrys comments on 360 when he spoke about JVR

I have posted several times, we are killing JVR by rucking him and it needs to stop now.

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I have posted several times, we are killing JVR by rucking him and it needs to stop now.

Agree and also get him a proper forward coach ffs seems obvious to us!!

2 minutes ago, Rednblueriseing said:

Agree and also get him a proper forward coach ffs seems obvious to us!!

In his first couple of years I would’ve said his ability to draw the footy and compete were his two main strengths. I’m not as high on him as others but we are definitely stifling his development by not supporting him with other talls up forward and terrible delivery.

43 minutes ago, Rednblueriseing said:

Fix this and we will be a much better team, and start scoring more heavily... someone please forward the tape to Goody n co. And add in Garrys comments on 360 when he spoke about JVR

Are there links to see Gazza talking? I can’t watch most of the footy shows anymore. It doesn’t make me happier.

7 hours ago, JJJ said:

Are there links to see Gazza talking? I can’t watch most of the footy shows anymore. It doesn’t make me happier.

I just record and fast forward to dees content

8 hours ago, Rednblueriseing said:

Fix this and we will be a much better team, and start scoring more heavily... someone please forward the tape to Goody n co.

Buckley proposed an alternative reading of what they were trying to do: basically, move the ball as quickly as possible, eliminate/bypass the intermediate handball. Not saying it's working for the moment, but there are always 2 sides. At least.

2 hours ago, bing181 said:

Buckley proposed an alternative reading of what they were trying to do: basically, move the ball as quickly as possible, eliminate/bypass the intermediate handball. Not saying it's working for the moment, but there are always 2 sides. At least.

They were highlighting 666 center work and exit / clearance from stoppage.

Buckley did say this but also wasn't in agreement with it being the most effective.

He and Lewis saw it as more of the same old from us. A continuation of long bombs deep into 50, while ignoring / burning your exits on the spread in better positions either out the front or lateral.

By hitting up those players with an extra HB or two you would be changing angles / lanes and giving space / time to those who have spread away from stoppage, allowing them to be (potentially) more effective at hitting up free or leading players inside 50 or around the arch. Or potentially a shot at goal if doing that (linking) when exiting out the front. Similar to bang bang bang bang or what we saw with Clarry in the third quarter on Saturday night. Which unfortunately he missed.

Forwards also then have more ability to work their craft. Timing leads, running their patterns, working off their player into space to present etc.

By ignoring / burning those exits out of stoppage and just bombing it in long so often, you are making it super easy for defenders to just stay back shoulder or run with the forward toward the ball drop and spoil with others peeling off to assist at times and / or gather the resulting crumb and then sling shot out.

The others (Reiwoldt, Lewis and Johno Brown) all agreed and said we are too easy to defend playing that way.

They also couldn't believe that this is still happening and hadn't been corrected under Simon to date after being a problem for so long now. Speculating that this could be instructional from the coaches (to elimnate / bypass and just bomb).

If watching be prepared for a visit to Advance Hair (yeah yeah) afterwards.

Edited Monday at 22:243 days by Demon Dynasty

I’ve never seen a club that makes life harder on itself. How many times since 2021 can you remember a Melbourne forward leading in good patterns and being hit on the chest by a player lowering their eyes? I’d wager Brisbane have done that more in 2025 already than we have in total since 2021

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Pickets manager is the same as Bolton’s, who also denied that Bolton was requesting a trade up until the very moment Richmond made it official that he had requested a trade. I won’t buy any talk from him.

Player agents are full of [censored]. I pay zero attention to what they say.

11 hours ago, Redleg said:

I have posted several times, we are killing JVR by rucking him and it needs to stop now.

And get Fullarton in. I know the word is he can't ruck, but neither can Roo and I'd rather have Roo happy as a leading forward working on his craft then worrying about backing up Max poorly. Fullarton can back up Max poorly, add some height to the forward line and be a foil for Roo and Jeffo when he returns from injury. Then Fritsch can actually be a mobile medium forward, trac and kozz and chin can roam the drop of the ball and the forward line might work. Or get AJ back in as the second ruck/forward, the old bloke can actually ruck a bit.

Edited Monday at 22:503 days by Yarra Valley Demon

On 17/02/2025 at 22:54, GS_1905 said:

That is the only trade I’d consider. Kozzy for Reid and maybe some change to the Eagles to cater for the age gap. 

I’ll bet we’ll start to hear murmurings of Reid wanting to return home this year. If that’s the case I’d be on the front foot to make this happen. If Kozzy wants to be in WA then the club shouldn’t matter. Can’t have your cake … 

We dont need Reid

4 minutes ago, Kent said:

We dont need Reid

I'd take the Murphy variety.

Kozzy will also have to consideration to where he wants to play the majority of his footy position wise.

If he goes to Freo he won't be getting any midfield time you wouldn't think and also their salary cap will be stacked very soon.

If he stays with us he will get a very nice pay day and will also likely be one of our main midfield options moving forward.

9 minutes ago, Kent said:

We dont need Reid

Yes let’s just get players of the standard if your nickname and stay down the bottom of the ladder!!! Great idea Not!!

21 minutes ago, Yarra Valley Demon said:

And get Fullarton in. I know the word is he can't ruck, but neither can Roo and I'd rather have Roo happy as a leading forward working on his craft then worrying about backing up Max poorly. Fullarton can back up Max poorly, add some height to the forward line and be a foil for Roo and Jeffo when he returns from injury. Then Fritsch can actually be a mobile medium forward, trac and kozz and chin can roam the drop of the ball and the forward line might work. Or get AJ back in as the second ruck/forward, the old bloke can actually ruck a bit.

The old bloke AJ is 23.