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Agree - he has also perfected the reckless jump into the pack without noticing that a Melbourne player is about to take an uncontested mark. He did it to Gawn in the last quarter which led to Cripps' sealing goal. For a player who showed so much promise and has now been at the club for nearly 10 years, it's simply astonishing that he has gone backwards as a player. I think the game plan is pretty clear. It has been evident in our good performances. It is heavily based on the contest and relies on intensity at the ball, winning the contested footy and putting pressure on / tackling the opposition. I don't mind this style of footy as that is how finals are played and won. The Richmond and Bulldogs games this year are good examples of us nailing our game style. The problem is when we don't bring the right mindset we get exposed. Badly exposed. We don't have the class to compensate for a drop off in intensity. At these times the game style completely falls apart - there is not a coach in the world who can get his team to play well when the fundamentals of the game plan are so disgracefully neglected. I don't think it's a fair criticism of Roos to say we don't have a game plan. However, it is fair to say that at this stage he has not been able to implement it consistently enough. I can understand a few bad games over the course of a season but we have had far too many and they're not just bad games, they're downright disgusting performances. Whether the coach or players are responsible for this can be debated, but for me it's a player issue and especially a senior leadership issue. For example, where was the intent at the start of the game yesterday? We were playing the bottom side and there wasn't a hint of aggression - it took until the third quarter for a player (Jones) to come off the line and take someone out in the centre, for Dunn to get aggressive with Watson, for the team to lay some crunching tackles. It should happen right at the start! What did Lumumba do to set a physical tone? What did Garland do? To me it just showed pure disinterest on the part of the players and a complete lack of respect for the supporters. PJ has spoken about winning trust back from the fans. I trust the club, but I've just about lost trust in our playing group (primarily the senior players as a whole as it's not the job of the younger ones to set the tone). 5 tackles in the first quarter. In my mind I'm actually starting to divorce many of the players from the club. They are not the MFC, they are just temporarily representing it. I love the club and always will - but I don't have to love many of the blokes who are disgracing the club with their insipid performances.

I received a thoughtful response from PJ. I won't post it, but it acknowledged what we rusted on supporters have had to put up with and confirmed that there's more work to be done, that will be done. Off field, the Club is clearly in good shape. I don't think I would want to be an underperforming player at Melbourne in a fortnight's time.

He is hurting like all of us. I am now sick to death of putting all our blame on the coach. Happened too much during the Bailey years. The finger pointing needs to go on the lazy players who are already booking their holidays. Sick of half ass efforts from Garland Grimes Howe Watts from time to time. He wants to see this club rise and thats why he wants to stay on because he is PASSIONATE to see this once proud club up and going again. The players should be ashamed of themselves for putting in [censored] weak efforts and tarnishing his reputation as a great AFL coach.

I'm as disappointed with the last two weeks as I could have been, like every other supporter, but I can't believe the reaction of supporters. Bloody hell the answer is not sack Nathan Jones (3 time B&F winner)has had 2 really bad games but has given a hell of a lot to the club and will again. When will people learn that players are human and have ups and downs in their lives. Are we becoming like Richmond supporters and burning our memberships in the microwave? or dumping chicken [censored] at the club? Are we better than last year?....Yes Are we in the bottom four?.....No Have we beaten Collingwood, Richmond, Geelong, Bulldogs(most heading for finals)?.....Yes Have we had some very disappointing losses?.....Yes Did the sun come up this morning?.........Yes it did. I understand that this is the place to vent your anger but really some of the comments are like 4 year olds tossing out the toys from the cot and temper tantrums. See you all next year (Memberships in hand)

Quoted myself for context. From Paul Roos. I am sure you don't need a long winded response full of excuses. 2013 was the 4 th worst season in AFL/VFL history by any team. Clearly we have many areas we need to improve on . I can't speak for the players but I can apologise for my performance . My job is to get the players ready to play , clearly that didn't happen . You do deserve better . I agree . Paul Roos

I understand where you are coming from 'Curry', my emotions are feelings of anger and other times depression. It's totally illogical I know, I mean I don't play for the club, have a tenuous link to say the least but it still sucks me in. ...footy should be enjoyed and take you away from the problems of life for that 100 or so minutes a week the games on, but for me it is anything but a release and has in fact been an unhealthy way to spend my limited free time. I would like to walk away, I'm totally disgusted with the club, the game and the AFL but I'm one of those stupid 'welded on's' that the powers that be like to s...all over.

This mess is all on the players...

I'm glad a few people have mentioned Garland. He often gets left alone on here and I know he's rated by the club, coaches, etc., but I find him utterly hopeless. He's either giving away frees with contemptibly stupid decisions, or turning it over with skill errors. I shudder whenever he goes near it.

I think people need to stop looking at supercoach and dreamteam scores and look at the actual impact a player has on the game. Michie is our best Goal assist player, largely because he's the only mid we have who has even the slightest notion of how to kick to a forward. He also rarely sells a teammate up the creek the way most of his teammates do. His fundamentals are far better than the rest of the team. His output has steadily increased as he gets more time in the senior side. There are about 18 players in line to be dropped before him at the moment.

I feel you mate. Today I have just been miserable. I have tried so hard to remain positive all year but the last 8 matches have been disgraceful overall and have chipped away at my resilience until I just broke today. It is getting extremely hard to see us ever turning around what seems to be an ingrained cloak of failure that surrounds us. I feel like I have been cheated in a way for all the misery this club has made me suffer. The game of Aussie Rules is supposed to be enjoyable, how can it be when you are asked to remain strong through torture after 9 years and no end in sight? I actually stormed out at half time cos I couldn't take it - the idea of doing that even a few years ago would have been laughable, but this is how much they have broken me down. I have been to 1 non-mfc game this year when in previous years I would go to 15 easily. This mob is killing me. I have read tonight a great deal of people talking about how today represents the last straw after long periods of unconditional support and inevitable disappointment, and I cannot blame anybody one little bit.

We are extremely slow. Need more natural speed. Not Roosy's fault.

I was not going to come to D Land this week after I turned the TV off at the end of the first quarter yesterday but I have to make an exception. I always liked Riv and wish him well. Nice that he mentioned the Dees fondly in his parting comments. All the best for the future.

I'm thinking that I will take 2016 off from football. I will buy my membership, but I will not attend games, I will try not to watch games (Melbourne or otherwise) and I will stop posting on and reading here.

I left at half time and tuned in to Gold FM, can't be fcuked anymore!

yes agree, Watts was one of our better players, along with McDonald, don't know what some on here expect Watts to do every week but get sick of the twats giving it to him for no real reason.

I want an apology from my old man for helping make me a Demon. I also will have to forever apologise to my kids for making them Demons

I don't normally rant and rave and start threads complaining but today is the last straw. I want an apology from the playing group and a proper explanation to why they decided to give up or not try against the bottom of the club side. There is no pressure no taclking no running and no leadership. After years of being a member and watching every game I've had enough and I won't renew my membership unless I get an apology from the club players. This performance is utter [censored]

Awesome effort and will be 200 of the toughest (mentally and physically) I've seen. Not many have done what Jones has done, through such a dark period. Hoping he has a blinder after a few quiet ones.

For those questioning Roos commitment need to watch him now on 360. You can tell he is really hurting inside. He just looks flat as i have ever seen him. I trully believe now that he is trying everything in his power to try and rectify on whats going on on field.

I'll be there because I'm an idiot.

Taking my 81 year old Dad to Etihad for a thumping by an expansion club probably doesn't scream 'Happy Fathers Day'. More abuse of the elderly than anything.

NO MORE PROMISES ... JUST SEND THE APOLOGY by George on The Outer During the week, the Melbourne supporters were regaled with the near weekly promises of “improved performances more focus, tougher and harder”. It all means nothing because we have been promised this for at least the past seven or eight years and at the end of it we can barely muster half a dozen wins in a season. We all remember Cameron Bruce trotting out the same mantra, over 5 years ago, and we can be sure that Jack Watts or Max Gawn or Tom McDonald will be called out this week to perform a similar task. Honestly the club must think we supporters are sheep, deserving of nothing better. Worse is now this week, the Coaches have taken up the mantle of spin-doctors. Jade Rawlings promised us that: “We’ve certainly amped the players up this week for what we expect and with the chats they’ve had among themselves – they certainly know what to expect from each other.” Paul Roos promised us this week: “From our point of view, we’ve got to reset for the three [remaining] games,” And the players response to being reset and amped up … another five goal first quarter deficit, two lousy goals to half-time and a seven goal match total ….again! And this, against the bottom side on the ladder who had only managed three wins this season. It was a good thing they came into the game so fired up, or the result would have been a lot worse! What we the Fans want now is an apology. Demonland has rightly demanded this after yet another wasted season of miserable performances and downright disgraceful efforts. Do these same players think that we cannot see you running at half-pace while your opponents run away freely? Do you think we cannot see when you prefer to avoid a marking contest? Do you think we cannot see how slow you are to move the ball? Do you think we cannot see when you don’t honour the hard work of others to get to space? If there was ANY sort of positive from today it is with the likes of Brayshaw, Viney, Hogan, Jones and Vince. They are the only true footballers in the side today. Sadly three of them are mere kids who should have been rested long ago in this hard season, but we have no-one to replace them. NO-ONE! When Casey has the likes of Fitzpatrick, Jamar, Riley, McKenzie, Bail, M Jones and Terlich running around, unable to get into a side like ours at the moment, you start to appreciate the extent of the problem. When we have to play Stretch, Harmes, ANB, and Newton in our starting 18 then the problem is of even greater magnitude, as these kids should be undergoing an apprenticeship not being destroyed at senior level. Sadly, Daniel Cross has reached the end of the road, despite his big heart and efforts. Another hole that we should be filling for next year. Garlett despite a good haul of goals for the year, simply goes missing for most of the games he plays in. Chris Dawes cannot take a mark and is useful only as a big body. The holes in the playing list are monumental and potentially getting worse. Where is the hope for the future that a Club needs to sell to supporters? Nathan Jones is obviously carrying an injury and has been for a good part of the season. However, it doesn’t stop him trying his guts out every week. It must break his heart to see the efforts of others in his side that are simply not up to AFL standard. Jack Watts put in a more than serviceable game with 9 marks, 3 tackles and 19 disposals. Viv Michie probably saved his career with a 21 disposal effort. Tom McDonald was simply fantastic as once again he was thrown into the ruck to relieve Gawn, and finished up playing a ruck-rover type of role for the greater part of the game. How long has it been since a Melbourne player took 10 marks in a game? Max Gawn has cemented his ruck role in the side as number 1 with another 39 hit outs against the much vaunted Matthew Kruezer. When he builds a bigger engine, he will be a really potent force, but without decent support around him, it will all be for nothing. With next weeks game against Fremantle in Subiaco potentially being another shellacking, the only real hope is that Fremantle rest a dozen or more of their side as they have done in the past, in the lead up to finals. They cannot lose their top 2 spot, but even with half a side they should still easily defeat the Melbourne side that has been turning up for the past couple of months. No more promises, just apologise. *Apologise to those on the bus who travelled from south Gippsland to watch the day's performance. * Apologise to the young Chinese family decked out in Demon colours who want to be part of our Australian culture. * Apologise to the tired old blokes in faded Demon outfits who have been watching the game since Ron was running around the field. * Apologise to those kids who will be laughed at and taunted tomorrow at school, again. AND DON’T MAKE ANY MORE PROMISES … BECAUSE YOU DON’T DELIVER! Melbourne 1.2.8 2.3.15 6.9.45 7.13.55 Carlton 6.2.38 10.2.62 11.3.69 12.6.78 Goals Melbourne Dawes Garlett Gawn Grimes Jones Newton Watts Carlton Kreuzer 4 Walker 3 Cripps Everitt 2 Watson Best Melbourne McDonald Michie Watts Newton Viney Carlton Cripps Kreuzer Tutt Curnow Murphy Docherty Changes Melbourne Nil Carlton Casboult (knee) replaced in selected side by Watson Injuries Melbourne Heritier Lumumba (ankle) Carlton Menzel (shoulder) Murphy (shoulder) Jamison (concussion) Kreuzer (back) Substitutes Melbourne Heritier Lumumba (ankle) replaced by Alex Neal-Bullen in the second quarter Carlton Marc Murphy (shoulder) replaced by David Ellard in the third quarter Reports Melbourne Nil Carlton Nil Umpires Foot Ryan Hay Armstrong Official crowd 33,962 at the MCG

I blame the AFLPA (only half joking). The players should be embarrassed to pick up their fat pay cheques after insulting a once proud jumper the way they did on the weekend.

This is a way off as Nathan's form at the minute. Wasn't saying this nonsense a few weeks ago. This is yet another travail on our travel back to relevance - Jones will bounce back and so will the club. Been through tougher spots than this.

Probably one of the greatest covers of all time.

Yeah, he was trying to grab it but Gawn reached up from behind, spoiled him, and then Cripps picked it up and cantered off with it...

He may be a problem, but how would you know? Their fitness didn't excuse that first half. Or the first half last week. I know it's fun to look for The Cause, or one The Few Reasons, why we are like this but they don't seem to me to be so easy to point out. Nathan Jones' form has been the patchiest it has been in 4 years. Who do I blame for that? I can think of one bloke...

You are just settling old scores and trying to justify the hate you had for a bloke that has pulled his finger out. He was one that actually wasn't in Bali yesterday, why he gets added to your list only you know.

The trouble with this is that it costs us in young talent and pushes our rebuild back. Many complain that we are not matching it and falling behind the Saints and Dogs, they don't see the value of the senior players these clubs have that lead the way. It's much better if you have senior players who have grown with the club and are part of it's fabric who can show the way. We don't have these players and have to buy in. It's a long road ahead and it angers me when I think of the mess our club has been left in. What an absolute f...up created by the previous admin.

From my best 22 the missing players were: Tyson vandenBerg Frost Kent Petracca Jetta That's a few for sure, but all teams have injuries and no matter who is playing the non-negotiable things such as tacking, chasing, sprinting, talking and shepherding should be ingrained into every player who pulls on the jumper.

If the mother of his children has guts and determination perhaps a father son in years to come.

I have a theory that whenever Grimes plays well we have a whole played badly - he's not the player you want having oodles of possessions as he's simply not a good enough user of the ball. I maintain my dream trade scenario outlined above is still the dream...however unlikely it may be. Also, what's all this about Hogan being likely to request a trade at the end of this year or the next? Couldn't blame him, I would not want to play for the rabble that is the MFC either.

Now I know that you are talking shyte, no Lada has ever done 300,000 unless it was on a ship for 8 years.

We have disagreed on a few issues recently, but I absolutely agree with you on this.

We got one in Cross and he played his worst game for us. We have a 3 time B & F Captain who had 5 possies at half time. Bernie who could win this year's, likewise 5 possies. Also Our hardest young mid had 50% disposal efficiency on his 14 touches. Everyone misses goals from gettable shots. Our goal sneak hasn't had a touch at half time. 5 tackles in the first quarter when the game is on the line.

A typically pissweak, soft and gutless performance by a bunch of individuals who are an embarrassment to themselves, the club and the competition as a whole. Yet again they pick if and when they will come to play. And sure enough the club will come to us in two months time looking for money to pay the salaries of these pea-hearted bludgers. Grimes and McDonald were the only two who tried for the entire game. Stretch was okay in parts, and Michie did some okay things. The rest were poor or worse. Special mentions to Garlett and Dawes who would have contributed more by staying in bed for the entire game. Lumumba had 1 touch in 29% game time, but his second half was close to his best of the season. Cross combined his usual poor disposal with butter fingers and directly caused about 5 goals. Garland was abysmal, the only time I saw him was when he was conceding goals. Gawn has been flogged for three consecutive weeks since signing his new contract. N.Jones is in the worst form of his career. Vince and Viney did nothing of note - why Viney was not tagging Murphy is beyond me. Harmes gets caught holding the ball more than any player I have ever seen, and has poor skills. Brayshaw should have been rested after the WCE game - his form has gotten worse ever since. Hogan at least tried, but was well beaten. We have roughly a zillion dollars worth of coaches on payroll, what do they all do? There is zero sign of a game plan, zero indication that any consideration is given to player matchups or match day tactics. The players have no skills, no decision making, no game sense, no confidence, no intensity, no workrate. We don't even do the basics well - tackle, chase, shepherd. Roos doesn't play, but he has contributed to this malaise by refusing to drop serial offenders such as Lumumba. He is happy to drop the likes of Toumpas and JKH after two quiet weeks, but tolerates continued mediocrity from senior players. Plenty of people will tell you have improved this year. We have won more games because we have brought in players such as Hogan, Brayshaw and Vandenberg who are better than the guys they have replaced. Big frigging deal. We are still miles off being relevant in this competition, and our worst football is every bit as bad as it was under Neeld with a much weaker playing list.

Roos: "You're looking at habits and patterns... clearly there's patterns we've identified. What's the result of that? It's fairly obvious what happens. Melbourne people are sick of the same excuses. They'd come and expect more from the first half." On the scars of the past: "I don't really care what it is, anymore, to be honest. It's just about performance. We've got to improve our performance as a footy club, and while I was sympathetic to the club and where it's been, the coaching group has been here for long enough now that it's not about where we've been and more about where we're going."

Think Roos had a pretty telling comment in his post-match today. It would seem the conservative delistings the club intended is off the cards now. Looks like another 1/4 list exodus this off-season after today's effort. Seems pretty clear that Roos and his coaches had a certain tolerance for poor performances over the first year, but those credits have been exhausted now. Would like to see a tangible response instead of just hot air from Roos.

It aint Misson It's player attitude once the game starts Dave has worked with Olympic Squads GET SOME LEADERS on field

Based on what? Lol, ridiculous comment. You wouldn't have a clue what his methods are.

Every year I post about how my son gives the Dees another chance , and every year we let him down . I talk about how we are on the up, but like a broken record,I lose his trust. He is fifteen now, and he has probably witnessed four of five wins in his life. The last six years have been terrible and , whenever football is talked about with family or friends he is genuinely angry about being made a Demon from birth, like its a curse that he could change if he could. Today I took him to see us play the Blues, surely we were a big chance to win? Nope, rotten luck again, just like the Stkilda and Essendon games we went to this year. I am totally gutted at how this pathetic lot have made a kid growing up feel....I resent them as a club....and I take it personally when they put on that sort of effort, like they did in the first half today. Surely they realise the hell they are putting us through,with their insipid displays? I feel sick in the guts.....every damn year.

I really think we have the young core to go somewhere, the older heads are what concern me, Brayshaw, Hogan, Viney, Tyson, Petracca, Neal-Bullen, Tmac, Gawn and co should make a decent core to take the club forward, but while the teams leaders are blokes like Chris Dawes, Jeremy Howe, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes how can we really expect to move forward I personally would be really keen to see Dawes, Grimes, Toumpas, Howe, Garland all leave the club over the off season either via trade of Free agency. if we could somehow get something in return that'd be great.

Jones - [censored] [censored] [censored] Dunn -[censored] [censored] [censored] Hogan - [censored] [censored] [censored] Salem - [censored] [censored] [censored] Watts - [censored] [censored] [censored] Dawes - [censored] [censored] [censored] Viney - [censored] [censored] [censored] Lumumba - [censored] [censored] [censored] Brayshaw - [censored] [censored] [censored] Gawn - [censored] [censored] [censored] Stretch - [censored] [censored] [censored] Cross - [censored] [censored] [censored] Newton - [censored] [censored] [censored] Garland - [censored] [censored] [censored] Michie -[censored] [censored] [censored] Vince -[censored] [censored] [censored] McDonald -[censored] [censored] [censored] Neal-Bullen -[censored] [censored] [censored] Grimes - [censored] [censored] [censored] Garlett - [censored] [censored] [censored] Howe - [censored] [censored] [censored] Harmes - [censored] [censored] [censored] Like This

Roos isn't the problem - the problem is the list he inherited. Look back on the last 10 drafts and see the quality of players we selected or traded into the MFC. And don't start me on Neeld and co selections.... Hawthorn in 2004 finished with 4 wins (the list that year had Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Trent Croad, Campbell Brown, Chance Bateman, Brad Sewell to name a few and they picked up Roughead and Franklin at the end of the year), 2005 finished with 5 wins (picked up Xavier Ellis and Grant Birchnell), 2006 finished with 9 wins (got Cyril), then 2007 finished with 13 wins. They have actually done well with the trades into the club with Gibson, Burgoyne, Gunston. Some of their other draft picks ended up being no good. But they started off with a good base of players Roos has already got rid of 22 of the original 44 on the list and more will go this year. He is also trying to change a game style and attitude at the same time. Which players of the original group are B or above quality...Jones on his good days, Kent maybe, Watts getting there now that he has the Roos influence, ...and now I am starting the struggle. Lots of C grade players He has added a number of good players already to the list and developed some of the others - the whispers also have a couple of interesting targets to be traded into Melbourne. Remember without the AFL help of getting in Jackson and Roos the club would probably have just about folded by now.

Well, goddamn. Just got back from the game. I suffered through the entire debacle. We hit all our performance indicators today. Come out meek and insipid instead of breathing fire after a thrashing? Check Weak start giving the match away by quarter time? Check Make Carlton look like they're West Coast? Check Play 15 minutes of decent footy just to show that they can? Check Play the oppo's junk forward into form? Check Fall over at every opportunity? Check Deliver the ball to teammate about to get poleaxed? Check Deliver ball behind teammate? Check Save time by just delivering ball straight to opposition player? Check Carlton. Effin Carlton. Or do I mean, effin Melbourne.

Exactly. As if the OP is going to go "yeah no worries, all good mate" if the club apologises. I remember Matty Primus looking down the camera and apologising for a Port performance when he was at the helm and it made him look like a complete amateur. Besides, it may feel it in the heat of the moment, but the club is not trying to hurt you personally. We're all frustrated; it's part and parcel of team sport. If teams apologised to their fans every time they played poorly it would become a trite platitude very quickly.

He wasted 120 this afternoon dc what is another 2?

Results speak? His results have been impressive, especially considering his age, lack of experience, and woeful quantity and quality of service he gets. He had a stinker today, but the above comment is absolute drivel.

Very limited footballer. Take what you can get and move on.