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Am I the only one who actually finds the Paul Roos / Ross Lyon "defence-fest" really entertaining? I mean, I could do without chipping it 40 metres backward for no apparant reason (but then again so could Paul Roos I bet); but other than that I find it much more tactically interesting than the 30 goal a game alternative that I'm "supposed" to like.

Maybe I am just no that concerned with the situation - I don't know why this doesn't bother me. LeBron James has an opt-out clause he can use in a few weeks and he has steadfastly decided not to talk about it. Just because Frawley is not smart enough to give the old 'no comment' doesn't mean I damn him for it. If he stays, he stays. Great. If he goes, we will move on. But unless he has already signed a contract elsewhere like Scully, this just doesn't bother me. If I was in charge of the FA rules I would make it a rule that you can't re-sign until the FA period begins. Just do not see it as a failure of leadership; clubs do it to players all the time and then the club turns around and demands everything of those players they nearly spurned.

I can't believe Collingwood/Buckley have escaped criticism for the style of game - every time we had the ball every single Collingwood player was sat back in our forward 50, of course we had to chip it around to try and pick out a short target. If that's not defensive ultra-flooding I don't know what is. Don't expect the morons in the media or the sheep in the outer to pick this up though.

The constant criticism of our new game-plan is attracting a lot of negative attention, and i am loving it. We are playing a defensive game that i remember Sydney playing and also attracting a lot of negative attention. Our ruthless defence will pay dividends in a manner that i can finally see making us a really top team. Amongst this, we have an identity. We have an identity that invites a contest, rather than a goal-fest. One of my main criticisms of both the Bailey and Neeld game-plans was other teams ability to destroy us on their offence. I am loving the criticism and i look forward to more "boring" games that finally result in Melbourne getting the 4 points. Bring on the bombers and north.

I find all types of media hilarious... In the space of a week it's gone from "Roos - coaching legend" to "Roos - ruins football". I laugh everytime I hear someone complain about the "state of the game"... It's just very typically Australian of us to hold onto a certain view of the game like we do in society over social issues. The "it's the way it's always been and should always remain" is honestly hilarious... Guess what Sammy K, the game is constantly changing and nobody cares what you think anymore. I loved what I believe it was Wayne Carey said on Talking Footy a few weeks ago, something along the lines of "all these people who talk about how bad footy is and how great it was in the 80's and 90's, what were they watching? I played then and there were still terrible games, everyone remembers a classic and thinks thats how footy was, but 5 games each round were boring blowouts as well." Then he said something like "maybe they mean the 60's or 70's, I don't know but if they are going back to how it was 50 years ago, I think it's time to move on".

Pretty sure the Pies applied lots of defensive pressure and put numbers back too...

I found it anything but boring. Good old fashioned hard at footy from both sides. I don't think a 25 goals to 22 goals game is that exciting. Our soccer friends have hearts palpitating for the whole game in a nil all draw. Some of the best games I have watched have been low scoring affairs and when a goal is scored it is absolute gold. Sam is very wrong here.

And as Tim Lane said on Monday, he couldn't believe the number of Melbourne supporters at the game. He said that is one thing we have over the other bottom teams, such as WB, Saints, Brisbane and the newbies, we have a very loyal supporter base and that will be one of the things that will help elevate and increase our financial standing. It was great to hear them talking about imagine when the Dees are a real force we will be going back to the good old days of having to seat people on the top of the great southern stand.

He is right to the extent that everyone ( including us ) would not like if we played that way and scored 3 goals every week, What that dingbat doesn't understand ( and Bomber Thompson does) is that we are like a baby just learning how to walk. We are 9 games into a new era of coaching for these players. Of course 3 goals is unacceptable but get a grip - these players are just learning what is required of them and I think the progress made has been quite outstanding.

I'd pay more.

As soon as I saw it was Sam Kekovich I ignored it. Serial idiot.

this is one hell of a weird place at times

They could have a lovely chat about offence versus defense. Roosy couldn't help but be impressed by his expertise given how offensive HH can be.

5th largest H&A Attendance this year. We are represented twice in top 11 this year. None in top 20 last year. Last year our average H&A attendance was 24929. After 11 games this year its 31964. its a positive sign.

Can you please explain to me why 'leaders' at a club have to sign mid-season?

I have only one thing to say, 186 never again.

I can see how it would be considered boring watching on the TV where you're forced what to watch by the lens of the camera, but I was there on Monday and everyone was on the edge of their seat for the first 2 and a half quarters. The score might not be entertaining but by God the contest was.

I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks so I'm neither here nor there on that. However the game plan, as frustrating as it was on Monday, is exactly what a good team is built on. The Swans, Freo and Collingwood have all led the way with defensive pressure, Saints under Lyon too. Geelong and Hawthorn have been well drilled for years defensively even though their first to the ball and quick ball movement style is what they're known for. (Will be interesting to see how Port go against a top team at their defensive best) The huge difference is Paul Roos has had to work wonders with what I think was one of the worst teams ever that were poorly developed and completely void of confidence. He has worked wonders so far. Just keep drilling this into them. Adding attacking flair can come when we have the cattle on the park to execute it.

Hogan

Please read last week's "changes vs Collingwood" thread and re-consider whether people thinking of removing Gawn for team balance reasons is "knee jerk".

It's clear he has lambnesia.

boom tish...!!! lol A bloke that lies on the lam until someone pokes him with a stick. All ribbing aside, as ewe suggest its wise to give him a WIDE berth . He's obviously a bone to pick and hes one to often chew the fat but he wont pull the wool over our eyes with his in-ewe-endo's. As others suggest hes just trying it on , like a good woolly jumper but I think hes got stitched up with the wrong cable !! well that's all for now. I'm Beelzebub...you know I make sense

An exercise it keeping your name in front of the public.

think the poor chap might be one chop short of a rack these days

Can you argue your points without constantly name dropping? Much of what you offer I find worthwhile, but much is grating. And according to your own standards assessing a player as having the "occasional shocker" is "unwarranted criticism' and "writing him off". Tommy Mac is fixable, he is still learning his limitations ie choosing the best percentage option applicable to his level of skill. I agree with Saty's first line, he is learning on the job, give him time.

Whilst Tommy looks awkward at times he rarely gets goals kicked on him. I think he is a player who we forget his age and focus more on what he can't do than what he can do.

very simply put: we have been slowly improving, and been very solid for a month, we had a bit of a dip in that improvement this week. You can't expect a constant, unbroken, upward trajectory without exceptions. This year, e might only end up 3 spots or so higher than last year but I am very confident we will play finals next year. You have to take a long term view

The Orifice, more like it.

You do know that Skilton sacked him saying he was going on a youth program and Alves wasn't in his plans even though he was the Captain. Sound familiar. He got a call up from Barassi to go to Nth and couldn't believe his luck. He wouldn't have played anywhere that year without that call. He told me this himself.

This is the first season after 7 seasons from hell, where we have shown some commitment to the contest and witnessed substantial signs of improvement. As it is the first season in a long time since we have seen this, it is going to be a case of one step forward two steps back, at least in the short term. I would rather that, than the tripe served up particularly under Neeld. While not wanting to predict results, I reckon our 2nd half of the season will see some more encouraging displays, before the year is out.

We are still a rubbish team that has won a whopping 9 games in 3 seasons and still got 70,000. Sure, this year it was a highly defensive game and not all like watching these sort of games. So what! Bigger crowds and more offensive games will come as we improve. There is no risk of losing QB at this stage.

If people don't like games where very few goals are scored, the so-called World Game is in a lot of trouble. And given that soccer is doing fine, I think AFL will survive the occasional low scoring affair, too. I'm with those who found Monday's game compelling, rather than boring. The advantage of a low scoring game is that either side still has a chance to win until quite late in the contest.

If they are "dropped" it should be made very clear that it is part of player management and not a Neeldish reaction to a defeat. The problem with "resting" them without a Casey game could be that they will not have an opportunity to stake a claim for re selection, and assuming that some fringe dwellers have a great game at Casey, then re selection of either or both could give a perception of "special treatment" which appears a bit un-Rooslike. Nice dilemma though - they have overall performed at senior level, at this stage, beyond the expectations of most I would suspect, especially JKH.

*sad*

Im sorry Cale Morton

There are posts everywhere which include what are now embarrassing comments. It's time we made an official list of humble pie statements. I'll start: Lynden Dunn - I apologise for repeatedly stating you weren't worth keeping on our list. I was wrong, and so horribly wrong. Neville Jetta - I apologise for claiming that you're a great trier but too slow. I was wrong Cameron Pedersen - I apologise for stating that you weren't up to AFL standard and that the only time you showed anything it was in defence. I was wrong.

Agree 100%. It takes two to tango - Collingwood to me seemed to accept it was going to be a defensive low-scoring game and adjusted their game accordingly. They got numbers back all game and backed their class to be able to kick enough goals to win, which they did. You don't concede 3 goals for the game without an extreme defensive focus. I find it amazing how quickly the media forget previous games and focus so intensely on one match. The week before against Port was a cracking match when most commentators expected a blow out, the Richmond game before that was tense and tight and entertaining and before that the Bulldogs game was a fairly high scoring affair that went down to the wire. After being almost unwatchable last year we have served up some great contests this season. Yet all of a sudden, after one low-scoring contest which both teams contributed to, some people have a dig at Melbourne. Some people just have unrealistic expectations. Each game is different and that's what I find intriguing about it - you don't know exactly what you're going to get. I have seen plenty of hyped-up EPL games between top sides end in dull 0-0 draws, whereas other times it may be a memorable 4-3 win. That is sport. The more a governing body tries to promote a certain playing style though rule changes means the game becomes more artifical and contrived.

Where's the loyal country lad in all of this ... or is that just some pathetic smoke screen?! That he hasn't yet signed up to the club - as a leader of the club - is absolutely hopeless in my opinion.

Well i cant recall if i have ever made any comments about current players here but there is something i would like to apologize for, I would like to apologize to all of the MFC fans for my actions. In 1994 i bought my first MFC jumper and promptly put my favourite player on it. Number 5. We all know how that season(s) ended up. In 2001 I purchased a new jumper and changed to 22. In 2003 another jumper but this time number 11 as im a tall lanky thing i thought i might go for Jolly. In 2009 once more another jumper and went back to number 22 In 2011 another one and as many of us did i put 24 on the back And last year i purchased the "new" playing jumper with the MFC embossed on the front and as Mitch was a monster of a man and i had a massive man crush i put 11 on the back. I have noticed a couple of things. I have a addiction to buying MFC gear, that’s one thing and the second thing is whatever number i put on tend to be cursed. I saw this trend last year but i thought the number 11 was a safe bet. For that guys i am truly sorry and don’t worry i wont be buying any jumpers for a few years and if i do then i wont put a number on the back.

I used a hammer. Messy, but it worked eventually.

I would rather have a defensive mindset and be "boring" than get our arzes kicked every week. Last season the media were saying how bad we were cause we leaked so many goals and this season we r boring cause we r so defensive. FFS u just can't satisfy some people.

I have no problem with maintaining possession. My gripe is there have been a number of times in the last couple of weeks when we could have taken the game on by providing a quick hand pass or even kick forward with very little risk. We didn't. We usually kicked backwards. We got no run and put very little pressure on opposition backs. I think it was very revealing on Footy Classified interview with Buckley when they asked him about the "worrying" excess Melbourne had over the Pies in centre field possession, particularly marks. His reply? Well "when the opposition almost always kick it backwards or cross field it doesn't become a problem for us". He is right. The game was played at a snails pace: less contested possessions, less uncontested possessions, less marks, less frees, less goals, less of almost everything. In other words a thoroughly boring game. On here it has been argued "I don't mind how boring it is as long as we win, or it is a contest". Well after half time it was not a contest, and I might remind everyone we kicked 3 goals for the entire game. At least against Port we took the game on. There was none of that Monday in the most important game of the year when we had the opportunity to stamp our brand on how we wanted to play (something Roos has been very big on). I believe we have won over a large part of the footballing public with our fighting spirit and the genius of Paul Roos this year. it was an opportunity to gain a number of people who might like to choose a team. Monday was a huge lost opportunity IMHO.

I don't reckon there boring, just enjoying watching us have a crack every week

Serves you right for being in the AFL members area and not the MFC members area!!

the umpire was a dlck....only logical conclusion

I, personally, will never again write off any player as being unable to eventually make it, not while Paul Roos is coach.

How many Inside 50s did we have? And how slow did we move the footy?

They were promising but their output can be replaced by Riley, McKenzie, Kent, Michie, and maybe even Blease, Tapscott, and Strauss. Especially their output on Monday. I think it is time to reward some form and let Salem and JKH earn their way back.

It was 4 until the game was destroyed.

What's rewarding about winning a flag without doing the hard work to get it?