TEN MILES BEHIND ME (AND TEN THOUSAND MORE TO GO) by Whispering Jack

I read somewhere that dreams are "often simple fulfilments of wishes" that rarely work out that way in the real world. You can spend the summer months dreaming, wishing and hoping that a new season will bring improvement to your footy team, that your wishes will be fulfilled and that it will happen instantly but that means nothing when the action starts and the team is neither prepared nor able to fire any more than a few opening shots.

The task wasn't a total impossibility but it was only going to happen if all of the stars were aligned in all of the right places. Such occurrences are rare and more often than not, there will be no spontaneous attainment of success. Rather, it's a slow and tedious process and that's the way it has to be with the train wreck that has been the Melbourne Football Club of 2007 to 2009. The dream might fulfilled one day well into the future but in the meantime, the going will be tough for the Demons in 2010 as the pieces are reassembled and put together.

The good news is that there will be some rays of light in among the darkness and we saw that clearly in the opening game of the season when a hopeful Melbourne took on Hawthorn at the MCG but more of that later.

The Demons took on the Hawks in a game between the AFL's walking wounded. The hope was that they could take advantage of their opponents' injury predicament and give them a run for their money. Well, they did that but unfortunately, it lasted all of four lousy minutes before the wheels fell off.

In that frenetic opening the Demons ran hard, tackled with gusto, generally had the better of the Hawks and had the opening two scoring shots of the game - both of them behinds. Then the wheels fell off and the 2008 premiers went into attack for the first time and goaled.

Then they goaled again ... and again. While this was happening, Melbourne reverted to type and reprised everything that has been horrible during the reign of coach Dean Bailey since he took the helm two years ago in the same place and against the same opposition. Same result too!

The overuse of handball, the hesitancy, the poor decision-making, the errors (often unforced and self-inflicted) and the sheer stupidity soon took on farcical proportions and by quarter time, the game was effectively over as the Hawks had kept Melbourne goalless while ramming on six of their own to take a 36-point lead. This was extended to 56 points at half time with Mark Jamar the solitary goal kicker after the first hour's play for the season.

By then the fans had been exposed to every single component of a football supporter's nightmare. In the first quarter, Brad Miller went for a mark and took out Matthew Bate who left the field dazed and possibly bleeding (couldn't tell exactly because his hair colour makes it difficult to discern).Then Brad Green was stretchered off with what appeared to be a bad neck injury (fortunately, he came back later to kick a couple of goals). Later on, Jared Rivers left the field in pain clutching his ribs.

The season was less than two hours old but already, it was becoming the season from hell.

The pain did not stop at the main break and the deficit was increased further before Alistair Clarkson's men applied their own version of the mercy rule and collectively put their feet on the brake pedal with the result being that the teams broke exactly even in the second half.

By the end of the game, thousands of Melbourne supporters had taken the easy option of departing the MCG early and many of those who remained to witness the excruciatingly painful proceedings were baying for Bailey's blood (as you do when your young and inexperienced side hit by injury suffers a humiliating defeat in the opening round of the season). This is the coach's trial year but surely you can't judge on one game alone.

I guess that most of us simply chose to ignore Bailey's constant warnings about not expecting instant success. As late as the morning of the game, he was quoted in the Herald Sun as saying of his young team that "(you) can see they are going to get better, but it all comes with a degree of patience."

What Bailey has been telling us is that when you dream of team success then you should expect some fitful sleeping because your dreams are bound to be littered with some nightmares along the way. If you hadn't got the message about the extent of the required "degree of patience" before, then it surely must have come home during the first half of the game?

Bailey was by no means let down in the main by his youthful players. If you want to point the finger at anyone then it has to come from the more experienced members of the group. The skipper worked hard and Green was courageous but Cameron Bruce (underdone after an interrupted pre season), Aaron Davey (ditto) and Brad Miller were not up to scratch and most of the 50 to 100 game players failed to step up and some were plain aweful. Of this category, I exclude Jamar, Rivers and Matthew Warnock who all contributed with the latter doing well to keep Roughhead, the Hawks' main go to man, down to only three goals in the face of a four quarter onslaught brought about by the dominance of his team's midfield.

The problem with many of the players who let their team down is that in the heat of action these blokes cannot or will not run to save themselves. The game these days is mainly about athleticism and running. It's said that we recruit players for their athleticism as much as for their football skills and yet, when Melbourne has the ball, you can look at the ground and all you can see is stagnation. There's little or no movement at the station.

And that's where Melbourne's younger brigade comes into the picture. Firstly, they are the only ones who fulfilled some of their dreams during the course of the game. Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and James Strauss did it by making their AFL debuts on the MCG. Rookies Jordie McKenzie and Jake Spencer played a few games late last year and Jack Grimes and Jamie Bennell have had a handful of matches. These are the players who are living their dreams and are at the point in their careers where each of them will tell you, "I have ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go".

This is not to say that all of these youngsters played games you can write home about. Spencer was rarely sighted, Strauss had some good, bad and ugly moments and Bennell was patchy. Grimes started slowly but worked his way into the game as did Trengove and Scully.

For my money, the top two draft picks of 2009 were the best two Melbourne players in their debut games simply because they showed the rest of the team that they were prepared to run into the right spaces to make the play and to get the footy and, in that respect, they showed up their more experienced team mates and put them to shame.

When two debutants can inspire the making of such a statement, then despite the frustrations of days like these, the fulfilment of the dream of those next ten thousand miles will be well worth the wait.

Melbourne 0.3.3 1.6.12 4.9.34 8.13.61

Hawthorn 6.3.39 10.8.68 15.14.104 17.15.117

Goals

Melbourne Green Miller Petterd 2 Jamar McKenzie

Hawthorn Brown Roughhead 3 Hooper Moss Osborne 2 Hodge Ladson Morton Mitchell Peterson

Best

Melbourne Trengove Scully Jamar Green Warnock Frawley Grimes

Hawthorn Hodge Lewis Birchall Ladson Mitchell Gibson Roughea

Injuries

Melbourne Green (neck) Rivers (ribs)

Hawthorn Renouf (groin)

Reports Nil

Umpires McLaren, Stewart, Kamolins

Official crowd 45,615 at the MCG

Postscript: I would like to dedicate this to Carole King and James Taylor whose brilliant performance I attended last night at the Rod Laver Arena. After enduring a game like Road 1, 2010 Melbourne v Hawthorn it was a pleasure to see the creative energy that has seen them retain legendary status in their craft for over four decades. CK and JT keep racking up the miles in their thousands and Sweet Baby James was the source and the inspiration for the title. I hope to see the dream fulfilled.

I can accept a loss as long as they as a team are competitive

I cannot however not accept a thrashing

I cannot accept constantly winning the ball, working hard for no return by constantly turning over the ball

No cohesion No game plan Great Coaching

The question was asked previously why did Melbourne give Bailey a Contract when they didnt need to ???

Its dejavu all over again 3 years of this rubbish and we start the season the same way

As I post this it is 3/4 Time score is 33 to 104

Im now turning off the radio turning off everything so I no longer have to feel the pain.

Even if by some Miricale Melbourne becomes competitive in the last quarter it doesnt change how woeful they have been for 3/4's

Some real soul searching needs to be done and Im not talking about player level, the buck stops at the top and we know who is at the top on game day.

Sorry Guys yes I am Pis....

Ive had this cra......

Dont start talking about the positives we can take out of it, because they really dont exist not after this loss to the Dawks

I think that quite a few Melbourne fans were optimistic about this season. I was one of them. I was hoping for a 6-8 win season, but I'm very disappointed by today. They were dispicable.

If this club wants to be coupled with the Fremantle's and the Richmond's for the next decade, then so be it. Because after today's performance, it's quite obvious we haven't improved as much as we though we had.

The issues that have plagued us for the past 3 seasons still remain. They haven't been rectified in the slightest.

I think we are still another 2-3 years off a finals appearance to be honest. I'd be surprised if we make the finals before 2013.

Edited March 27, 201015 yr by calabreseboy

What went wrong?

My dad bought me a Melbourne Jumper when I was a kid

We actually re signed Bailey!

What went wrong?

My dad bought me a Melbourne Jumper when I was a kid

Bravo!

1)Dean Bailey is the master salesman, the guy has people brainwashed but he cannot coach or develop players to save his life. It seems like he just cant motivate the players. Hawthorn had a younger average age than us today so i dont want to hear excuses about youth. Its about attitude, skill, game plan and we dont have any of these things and haven't improved on them in any respect since 2007. Its going to be hard for people to argue optimism to me today, the evidence was there for everyone to see.

2)Miller played a vintage miller game. How much longer do we have to tolerate this? 3 possessions and a 50 metre penalty at half time when we were desperate for a forward to impose himself on the game and at least contest. He lacks physical presence and when he does impose himself on a contest it at an inappropriate time which ends up resulting in an injury or turnover.

What went wrong, is that we are crap..............

Like usual nothing has changed. Same old tripe.

What went wrong?

My dad bought me a Melbourne Jumper when I was a kid

hahaha...my sentiments exactly.

I think that quite a few Melbourne fans were optimistic about this season. I was one of them. I was hoping for a 6-8 win season, but I'm very disappointed by today. They were dispicable.

If this club wants to be coupled with the Fremantle's and the Richmond's for the next decade, then so be it. Because after today's performance, it's quite obvious we haven't improved as much as we though we had.

The issues that have plagued us for the past 3 seasons still remain. They haven't been rectified in the slightest.

I think we are still another 2-3 years off a finals appearance to be honest. I'd be surprised if we make the finals before 2013.

1)Dean Bailey is the master salesman, the guy has people brainwashed but he cannot coach or develop players to save his life. It seems like he just cant motivate the players. Hawthorn had a younger average age than us today so i dont want to hear excuses about youth. Its about attitude, skill, game plan and we dont have any of these things and haven't improved on them in any respect since 2007. Its going to be hard for people to argue optimism to me today, the evidence was there for everyone to see.

2)Miller played a vintage miller game. How much longer do we have to tolerate this? 3 possessions and a 50 metre penalty at half time when we were desperate for a forward to impose himself on the game and at least contest. He lacks physical presence and when he does impose himself on a contest it at an inappropriate time which ends up resulting in an injury or turnover.

well said mate, Bailey should be a politician the amount of spin he spouts. Where is the gameplan? where is the passion, i dont rate him and never will, we are going backwards under this man and its about time others on this site realised that. today was horrible, poor Jimmy would've been mortified looking at that, the poor man is busting his arse to get members and the team and Bailey throw up that drivvle, they should be ashamed.

Bailey talks about winning quarters and improving on last year? WTF? When is that going to happen? Has he lost the players?- maybe.

Do they know what they're meant to do?- most definitley not. that is down to the coach.

terrible mistake extending his contract, he should've been given this year prove his worth.

this is killing me!

I will admit that today was disappointing. The first half lowlights included Dunn dropping a chest mark on the half-forward flank putting enormous pressure on his team-mates and Bruce running blindly into a dead-end on the half-back flank and hand-balling to 4 Hawthorn players rather than taking the hit over the boundary line. There are many more that I could list but I won't.

The positives:

Scully & Trengove will be stars

Grimes was super especially when the "going was tough" in the first half

I will be crucified for saying this but Jones is presently our only hard-bodied running player (Moloney having had a shocker today); yes, Jones does try to do too much but he's trying to be three players

The real positive: Jordie McKenzie. Premiership teams obviously have high round-1 draft picks but need to have at least 2 unexpected "finds" among lower picks to set them apart from other sides. I'm hoping McKenzie & Tapscott are our's.

Strauss has been criticised on other threads. He made obvious mistakes, got monstered by Brown in the goal square, but what a tough initiation. He has skills and will learn. Same for Bennell. Lovely one hand pick-up by Bennell on the back flank in the 3rd quarter.

Yes I'm finding a few specks of gold in the dross that was today's game. But before today, we needed to "get 50 games into these guys". After today, we only need to get 49 games into them. We're still on the right track.

I have to be an optimist. I live in Adelaide and barrack for everything "Red & Blue": Melbourne lost by 56pts which was better than Norwood, who got beaten by Glenelg by 76pts in Nathan Bassett's first game as coach. So my first round of football in 2010 has resulted in an aggregate loss of 132pts. Please allow me to stay positive. The alternative is suicide, or worse ... becoming a Port supporter.

Edited March 27, 201015 yr by norwood_demon

jones tried his guts out...we need him so badly.

Jones always tries his guts out. As far as flat footers go, he certainly isn't one of them.

Ah, a "positives" thread. Thankfully ... there's only so much self-flagellation a man can stand.

I only saw the second half on TV, and apart from some sloppiness at the beginning of the third quarter, the boys were starting to look OK. Of course, the horse had bolted, blah blah blah, but the problems looked to do more with nervousness and inexperience than anything else. We were over-run and overawed.

We're just desperately missing a couple of Hodges, Roughheads or Abletts that would lift everyone else 200%, and make them look so much better.

But ... still a lot of games to come, and they WILL start to get it together.

Sylvia back next week, maybe Garland, that's already something to be positive about, but they're better than this. Let them play together for a while.

B

Ah, a "positives" thread. Thankfully ... there's only so much self-flagellation a man can stand.

I only saw the second half on TV, and apart from some sloppiness at the beginning of the third quarter, the boys were starting to look OK. Of course, the horse had bolted, blah blah blah, but the problems looked to do more with nervousness and inexperience than anything else. We were over-run and overawed.

We're just desperately missing a couple of Hodges, Roughheads or Abletts that would lift everyone else 200%, and make them look so much better.

But ... still a lot of games to come, and they WILL start to get it together.

Sylvia back next week, maybe Garland, that's already something to be positive about, but they're better than this. Let them play together for a while.

B

What changed from the first half to the second. Part from the first 10 minutes of the third, we played alot better.

Would like to see Scully and Trengove starting in the middel. They are all class. Would love to see Gysbert in. Green has to play forward - really did straighten us up.

Hopefully watts won't be far off.

Wouldn't be dropping Strauss too soon. The more games he, Sculls and Trengove play will be beneficial in the long run.

Warnock it the big worry. We need Garland back asap.

yep, nice to see a positives thread, after all, it was not totally hopeless, i mean it was pretty hopeless, but not all is lost.

Apart from the positives in scully, trengove, green and mckenzie, i thought when we did move it quick, without stupid stationary handballs we put pressure on the backs and scored.

the best thing about footy, is we get another go, and it will tell alot about the groups beleif by how we respond.

"I only saw the second half on TV, and apart from some sloppiness at the beginning of the third quarter, the boys were starting to look OK."

I wish I'd only watched the second half on the TV...sitting through the first half at the ground waas EXCRUCIATING

Unfortunately, if the second half looked positive on the Tele, it didn't in real life.

Only positives were performance of 3 kids, 9, 13 and 31...rest of it was shite

Edited March 27, 201015 yr by Retrospective

9, 13, 16, 18 and 31. I thought Frawley battled manfully and of course Jones.

I think, however, that without a forwardline that will be the norm

Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Green, McDonald, McKenzie.

I will be crucified for saying this but Jones is presently our only hard-bodied running player (Moloney having had a shocker today); yes, Jones does try to do too much but he's trying to be three players

Sorry to ruin the positives, but Jones has tried to be more than he is for 3 years now. He can't continue to play football thinking he is Gary Ablett. He isn't, and either he or the coaches need to drill that into his brain.

But at least he runs.

Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Green, McDonald, McKenzie.

Sorry to ruin the positives, but Jones has tried to be more than he is for 3 years now. He can't continue to play football thinking he is Gary Ablett. He isn't, and either he or the coaches need to drill that into his brain.

But at least he runs.

No point running and taking on three players. Better of just roosting it forward. His turnovers are really killing us.

My positive is simple. Looking ahead 12 months my best team is as follows:

FF: Green Watts Jurrah

CHF: Morton Bate Syliva

C: Blease Grimes Davey

CHB: Strauss Garland Bruce

FB: Rivers Martin Frawley

Foll: Jamar Trengove Scully

Int: Gawn Gysberts Tapscott McKenzie

The team above has 10 players who weren't on the G yesterday.

I've certainly not given up on Bennell, Petterd, Jones, Wonaemirri, Jetta, McNamara and Spencer but have serious concerns about Moloney, Rivers, MacDonald and Warnock going forward. Dunn was a selection mistake. Rivers and Warnock provide us with defensive depth but I'm not sure they form part of our premiership push. Newton, Bell, Bartram, Meesen and Johnson are surely just marking time. Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease and Gawn are obviously all 'blue chip' but the first three based on draft position should all have a good chance to develop in to 'first 22' players. Despite the obvious disappointment of yesterday, Grimes, Scully and Trengove give us genuine reason for optimism. If Gysberts, Blease, Strauss and McKenzie can all develop we'll have a very good running team in the near future. Bate will be better for the run and the addition of Syliva and Garland will give our team some much needed class and composure.

Every time I look into the crystal ball and consider the make up of our team I keep coming back to one key point - Jack Watts simply has to make it!

Edited March 27, 201015 yr by Goodvibes

Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Green, McDonald, McKenzie.

Sorry to ruin the positives, but Jones has tried to be more than he is for 3 years now. He can't continue to play football thinking he is Gary Ablett. He isn't, and either he or the coaches need to drill that into his brain.

But at least he runs.

Agreed.

At his best Jones plays like a battling suburban footballer. He should come off the bench to provide some hard tackling minutes. He cannot be a central member of a mid field that intends to distribute the ball effectively to forwards in motion. He just can't make smart decisions and his skills are uncoordinated.

No-one should ever question his integrity.

We lost the first three games in 2006, and ended up 5th at the end of the year.

Don't despair.

I am by nature an arch-pessimist, for good reason (46 good reasons) and I get angry at myself for seeing good games from players, and good days by the team and assume that's the bench mark - when in fact it's our peak.

Knowledgeable comments in this forum list all the potentials which will bear fruit within three years.

As for yesterday's (vs Hawthorn) disappointment we were (a) defeated by a good team and (B) that team was about 10%-20% better than us. Statistically, there are days when a match like that will mean we'll be beaten by 10-20 points, and there are days when a match like that will mean we'll be beaten by 100 points. In other words, in the worst of scenarios, we lose almost EVERY contest for the ball 'by 10%': we're thrashed; at other times we lose 10% of total contests, and lose by a respectable margin.

It's the latter scenario which has deceived supporters for many long unproductive years: (a) good games were not bench marks, but the best possible, and (b)narrow losses were ALWAYS going to be losses, not near-run things.

Happy days will come fairly soon. But not a flag - not till we get three strong, tall 'A'-list players.

Give me a team with guys like Jones any day.

They give everything ther've got, dont leave anything in the tank.

If 0ur senior players had as much heart( Brad Green) exception, we would'nt be where we are now.