18 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

Surely the official training sessions aren't the only opportunities to practise shots. Some players may have put in hours away from the public over summer.

They may have done, but if they did, it hasn’t seemed to have served them particularly well.

It’s something that I find somewhat bewildering, that clubs don’t seem to engage in properly targeted, structured, and individualised goal kicking practice.

Little disappointed that there didn’t seem to be any leading in the forward line.

Looks like that’s Roo‘s job, and if he ain’t there, nobody has the correct tickets to do it. Could be a demarcation dispute if somebody tries.
Let’s hope both Roo and the team can get some traction in that part of the ground.

Thought he played ok around the ground but is there a worse kick at goal than Billing’s?

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

Nah I was only joking sucked you all in. Pretty disappointing effort by Chandler thought Jefferson could take his spot.

Naughtiness against senior citizens.

2 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Really not on his man - where he belongs - right across the first half of the game. When employing closer checking, his game improved from whence he could create spaces to utilise the ball. 

Whence. What a great word.  And who ever went to the effort of apostrophising Billings needs to reassess. 

1 hour ago, Devil In Disguise said:

I'll be feeling more positive when Jake Melksham & Judd McVee return from injury. I've seen enough of Billings goal kicking & Howes poor disposal to believe Casey the best place for them. And I've yet to see Adams contribute enough down back to suggest he is even AFL standard. As for Bowey, does he even look when he kicks the ball? He gets plenty of it but unlike his 2021 debut year, his disposal is bloody horrible. 

Yes Forwards always work better when Melksham is there to run the show. TMac must be played ahead of Howes or Hore 

Fritsch close to stay in 50 mt arc JVR to CHF

Howes No

Billings No 

51 minutes ago, Sesto said:

They may have done, but if they did, it hasn’t seemed to have served them particularly well.

It’s something that I find somewhat bewildering, that clubs don’t seem to engage in properly targeted, structured, and individualised goal kicking practice.

We're talking small samples though. Did one player miss 6 easy shots? Maybe Billings missed a few. But even he can turn it around if today was the aberration.

3 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

My hot take.

We are not fun to watch. 

If I didn't support Melbourne I would not watch our games.

Nah, not a hot take. My Ethiopian mate even jokingly messaged me saying we sweat more than Ethiopian slaves.

The amount of effort we exert just to take the ball forward 50 meters opposed to Collingwood or a Sydney at their absolute best with skill and precision makes me envious. We always follow up with strong defensive efforts, but we aren't as polished by foot, which is why we often chip the ball 15-20 meters trying to find an opening while the opposition closes the exits.

Watching us over the last 3 years, often grinding out wins even the most horrific of opposition (think that round 11 match last year vs St Kilda where we blew them away in the first QTR with 11 scoring shots to 1 and only winning by 6 goals) has been tough watches. 

 

 

Edited March 2Mar 2 by VNightCityLegend

1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

Thought he played ok around the ground but is there a worse kick at goal than Billing’s?

Thats why I've nicknamed him [UNPAID] Billings 

2 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Bowey was fine? Had 27 touches at 70% DE. Ideally he would be at around 75-80%, but it was a practice match so I’m sure his touch will improve 

He had 7 clangers, the most on the ground.

Edited March 2Mar 2 by Fanatique Demon
Spelling

1 hour ago, DiscoStu17 said:

Or being crammed up in one of those ****ty little plane/bus seats for hours.

Fn AFL. Let’s fly a team over on a 4 hour flight then put them in another 2 hr bus ride. 

4 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

He did some good things but he seems to have mastered the panicked dump kick turnover that can be so costly, as it was today. He didn’t have that in his game in the early days. 

I thought Bowery looked troubled by the heat and just couldn’t get himself going. He seemed a step off the pace, which is very unlike him. He’ll be much better once the real season gets under way.

Edited March 2Mar 2 by hardtack

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Troy Chaplin just said that JVR will be fine for round 1.

Not doubting him but I did hear that same thing about two other injuries this weekend from clubs which later released a statement that said that player was out for 6-8 weeks. 

3 hours ago, Satan said:

I fear for roos flight home with a sore back

It’s ok, they’ll let him ride in the aeroplane this time.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

he would have simply played today or at worse named as a emergency. 

I’m pretty sure he was named as an emergency, but yeah, I agree he’s probably not quite there yet. I do want to see him get a run at some point, but in the meantime, I really liked what Johnson brought… he’s not a particularly elegant player with lots of tricks, but rather a meat and potatoes kind of a player who brings plenty of physicality into the contest, creating a little chaos that sees the ball spilling loose, giving our smaller forwards something to crumb. He’ll only get better and will contribute goals.

1 hour ago, GS_1905 said:

Fn AFL. Let’s fly a team over on a 4 hour flight then put them in another 2 hr bus ride. 

That’s something I couldn’t understand… wouldn’t it have been easier as well as financially more sound, to have had all of these non Victorian club games as home derbies? 

4 hours ago, biggestred said:

1.8 from set shots in the first half killed us.

Field kicking not great but hopefully will improve due to rust 

Freo are very good

Still being undone on the quick transition/turnover which isn't great

The wind looked to be the main issue here.

 

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Jefferson has none of that.

Embarrassingly kept getting out marked last week against North and has no second efforts or physical intent.

You keep banging on about how well he trains or how good hes been, yet the MFC coaches beg to differ otherwise he would have simply played today or at worse named as a emergency. 

He was neither. That's damning for a 3rd year key forward taken as a first rounder few years back. What does it say on him when the coaches prefer a guy that's toiled away at VFL level and can come in today and already look like that he belongs at AFL level and yet he's only been at the club for 5 minutes. 

Um he was named as Emergency!  Johnson is not the answer with a very limited skill set!  Also, if you want to call out intent and physicalty you should also call out Fritsch then??  Sounds like you are calling Jeffo a bust ????

Edited March 2Mar 2 by picket fence

4 hours ago, DiscoStu17 said:

Little disappointed that there didn’t seem to be any leading in the forward line.

Looks like that’s Roo‘s job, and if he ain’t there, nobody has the correct tickets to do it. Could be a demarcation dispute if somebody tries.
Let’s hope both Roo and the team can get some traction in that part of the ground.

That's something Fritta should be able to bring.

It was nice to see the midfield back in order but jeez the forward line still looks like a dogs breakfast.

I must say I don't understand the Windsor and Langdon moves at all. We don't launch our ball movement off the HBF and that's actually often been the role of the wings, so we move our two best wingers into roles they're totally unsuited for? 

Langdon is a workhorse who kills you with gut running, I don't see what he offers at CBAs. Windsor has awesome burst out of contest and would be better suited to that role of we're going to move him. We've taken away both their best assets for what exactly?

Don't know why B Howes hasn't been given a go as a forward 

9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Haven't watched the game but is it me or has Bowey gone backwards since the premiership.

Since his collarbone injury, yes. Hasn’t been right since.  

Johnson didnt do his round one chances any harm

9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Troy Chaplin just said that JVR will be fine for round 1.

But if he has a lingering or recurring back issue he should never be asked to do ruck work at centre or around the ground. 

I think they didn’t show their hand of the game plane entirely, i would be concerned on our defending, leaking 16 goals which is what we built our premiership on