Leaderboard

Tom Browne just said that Essendon are getting very frustrated with the demons who are aggressively chasing both Hibberd and Hurley... Giddy up Dee supporters!

Would make a great goal umpire because his marking action is same as a 9 pointer super goal

Played on one of the best forwards in the comp and broke even, even tho we go our arses handed to us on a platter in some of the centre clearances. But hey, if he saved 90 kids from a burning building you'd still pot him for tripping over on the way out. As for Nate Jones getting slammed, all I can say to you is shame. Shame on all of you. Yes he made disposal errors, but he is always under pressure, always the first on the bottom of every pack, and has carried this pathetic excuse of a team for so long. Show some respect!

Watts post game: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-07-03/rd-15-jack-watts-post-match Both his tone and his words indicate frustration and pain over the loss. Who remembers "I move on pretty quickly after losses"? As sadistic as it is, it's refreshing to hear players express some self-frustration over not quite getting the job done. Watts to me in this interview came across as a player who believes in himself and the team and believes they're good enough to win, and anything less is unsatisfactory, even if the effort was there. It's such a stark contrast to the despair and deflation you would hear in their voices after matches in the past.

He might have, but because his news is positive on Hogan, I'm happy to say that Ralph is always spot on with his sources. Last week? He was always wrong and hadn't got any rumour right in 5 years.

I strongly disagree with you on Stretch.I thought he was very influential. I also think he will have a big career.

Tempered with proviso that nearly everyone saw Watts as a potential gun . Keep backing Dawes Stuie but the supporters are over him and wish him well in the legal profession. He achieved the ultimate in football and nobody can remove that from him but he is too slow, can't mark and fairly useless at ground level as well as the ruck. I'll be surprised if he goes around next season.

Wont be playing finals, time to look to the future but still winning as many games as possible this season. In - Hulett Out - Dawes

Geez that's a fl0g of a post.

I hesitate to ever rely on anything John Ralph says as he is often no more than a parrot. But he just said on SEN that the comments coming out of Melbourne is that they 'are certain' he will stay!. Truly hope Ralph is parroting correctly!

I'm not ashamed to say that I'd cheer them. Their careers may not have worked out how we hoped, but they still gave their all for the jumper, and I'll cheer that regardless. Its a shame you couldn't do the same.

Roos on our better players yesterday: “I take joy because I’ve seen how much he (Watts) has got bashed in the three years I’ve been here,” Roos said of Melbourne’s much-maligned 2008 No.1 draft pick...I’m loving watching him play..." "...Jeff Garlett (four goals) had returned from a stint in the reserves to play a “cracking game” yesterday..." “He (Hunt) was just exceptional in the contest, exceptional getting across the ground, helping his teammates, creating scoring opportunities, kicked a goal himself,” Roos said. That sort of public praise must do wonders for their confidence. Last week Watts credited Roos with 'saving his career'. Jack is repaying the faith!

Strech is great at buying time in order to find a target. So many times when he gathered the ball on our half back and looked up there wasn't a single Melbourne player in sight. His ability to dance around and bork a few opponents until a team mate is free is a great asset Billy has.

Every week, someone pots him, and to be honest, I am completely dumbfounded by it.

So impressed with Watts. He has become a really consistent player with sublime skills.

Seriously anyone who doesn't think McDonald is an incredibly valuable commodity to this team, is kidding themselves. He is the only serious quality key position defender we have left on our list. Lose him, and our defence will turn into an even bigger goal-enabling machine!

Hes a spud.

Or you could just make up some stats and then cry about it or like I said not read them.

I could not agree more Nasher. I had exactly the same thoughts when i watched it last night. He also nailed the reasons why we lost - mistakes, turnovers, silly errors. But was also quick to point out how that we were hard at the ball all day. Terrific and insightful comment that the top teams, the Geelongs and Hawthorns, don't let a team smash them out of the center 5 times in a row as we allowed to happen in the third (which is precisely when we lost the game) and that we would have to find a way to do the same. A more balanced and accurate analysis than some in this thread. I also really liked his comments about his own game. Acknowledged he played well without going over the top and said he still made some errors. my take was that it was close to the best game i have seen him play. Played well from beginning to end. Marked well, ran hard, cracked in, hit the scoreboard, got 23 possessions, stayed switched on and in the contest (eg i'm pretty sure he touched the ball Jacobs shanked to Gartlett setting up a goal, though in the highlights the coomenatotoes didn't say so) used the ball beautifully (god, didn't it stand out when compared to some of the howlers - OMc, Dawes, TMac and Hogan's chief among them. How was that kick across his body to Hogan running towards goals that Hogan should have swallowed) and had numerous score involvements Dare i say it but he sounded like a leader. Perhaps that's the next evolution of Jack.

Can't mark. csnt kick goals. if your highest paid key forward can't do those two things then what's the point?

We had 34 more disposals, 15 more contested possessions, 24 more uncontested possessions and were basically even in clearances. They were cleaner with ball delivery into the forward-line, but I don't think the margin flattered us. In many respects, I reckon we should have won that game.

Found him.

Not sure about the Stretch review. He is developing with every game that he plays. He makes the right decisions with the footy and he has the skills to execute.

Should have easily won that. Fell asleep in the 4th quarter. Now time to blood Weideman and Hulett and get Dawes out of the team permanently.

Unfortunately not mate, says he has no idea. He reckons we've gone from a place nobody wants to go to one of the most desirable clubs in Victoria, which isn't exactly groundbreaking but still good to hear. He also swears black and blue that Clark is a good bloke, which I can't have.

Daisy put to bed any thoughts they may or may not have been having. She will play for us, there is no way around it now. I think she caught Gill off guard a bit though, was great to watch.

Update on Roos plans. In a 3AW interiview, Roos has said: - he and Tammy will start a Leadership and Wellness company - thinks Simon will be a fantastic coach - looking forward to the Dees doing well and will be a Dees fan after he leaves - he and PJ have had chats about next year but decided to focus on the next 8 weeks - would enjoy coaching our women's team. - his prior role at Sydney Academy was discussed (...we have a Multicultural Academy waiting to be developed) - doesn't see him self going to another club - you become wedded to a club eg watching players like Watts and Jones develop Would love to see Roos still be involved with the club, somehow.

Picket, do us all a favour and buy yourself a dictionary and look up "fact" and "opinion". You're welcome to give us your opinions, but please don't confuse them with facts.

Tom mis-kicks a few times a match and because of where he plays it's looks and is costly. But he sets up a lot of creative play too which gets overlooked by many here. It's not decision making errors it's execution errors which he can continue to work on. He's a terrific player and his intercept marking is great.

People on here cant continue to live in the delusion that we are going to just magicaly get another KPD in the trade period. We might have a slight chance but we have no way of knowing this, we are not a destination club yet. Hurley is just about a pipe dream he has far better options than Melbourne right now assuming he wants to leave at all. Suggestions Trading Tom robs us of all we have... I would rather have Tom give up a couple of goals a game and stop countless others than throw him to Sydney were he can help them win another flag and we can give up another 4/5 goals a game just to satisfy your bloodlust. I know people say that an intercept mark is not worth much but I cant understand why. Its a turnover. Meaning if he takes 4 intercept marks thats forcing 4 turnovers! Add his spoils and effort at ground level that result in turnovers and I can guarantee you that he causes us to gain the ball far more frequently than he gives it up. No, that doesnt excuse his poor disposal, but it does make it worth putting up with when we have no other option. If we are lucky enough to get a KPD then having that magical person and Tom will be fantastic. He has no support he makes a mistake we are done for, give him a backup and suddenly his mistakes wont be so bad.

Why Stretch? He along with Hunt were the positives. They provide run and speed which we will need against the likes of Walters Pearce and Ballentyne.

The Alistair Nicholson of the forward line.

I reckon Dawes for Spencer. Gawn is really starting to look done and I don't blame him he has rucked over 90% in every game we have played. Just play on really deep, they couldn't be any worse than brick hands

This gets thrown around here a fair bit but I'd be interested in having a look at who is being referenced? Aside from the Bulldogs making a considerable jump the only other side to move strongly since 2014 is GWS - and I think we can all agree that the draft concessions offered them are extraordinary (and we should all be VERY grateful GCS stuffed up their recruiting). It's also a very different playing field now with Free Agency. In any other era Geelong and Hawthorn would be paying for their recent success, but now they top up and go again. To move up the ladder other teams have to move down too. I often hear the phrase 'It took me a decade of hard work to become an overnight sensation' in reference to success. It's a slow build and for a very young list that's great. The last thing we need is a team that thinks it'll come easy to them. And if you ask smart footy people about how Bevo ended up with such a strong team at the Bulldogs they'll tell you that Brendan McCartney did some great work with their developing players. He backed them in at the expense of some senior players and the senior players sooked (which cost him his job). I think McCartney's been proven right. Their rise has been built on their younger players.

Does playing players who played in a VFL game on the same day as the AFL game really "freshen" the team up much? The intensity at VFL level may be lower, nonetheless Grimes, ANB et al all played a full game of football, just as the AFL players did.

Hunt- Dashing and Daring. Gee I love this kids style and guts. So fast and fearless. I have stated a few weeks ago he reminds me of the great Don 'Dasher' Williams of the fabulous fifties. Like Donny he can mark as well as burn off his opponents. Williams style of play would have fitted into the modern game. I know old dee reckons I'm being a bit over the top in comparing Jayden with Don but GEE, this kid's got the lot. A real star of the future.

Well, it is a rule. How so many people go to the footy and lack a basic understanding of the rules is beyond me. Also, Bernie missed that goal anyway and should have known better than to run through the mark. This isn't an attack on you necessarily jnr, but so many of the people in the members that I was sitting around today just had absolutely no idea.

Nat Jones set shots were beautiful today... at least the ones he snagged! Take a look at all games this 'bye' round. Some respected footballers were very ordinary in their set shots. Jones is scragged by opposition teams for 120 minutes each week. He still comes up with 30 + posies and snags goals that have to be snagged. Stop living your (football) lives through the stat sheet or you will end up like Kingy!

Oscar McDonald drops a crucial chest mark, Tyson drops a crucial chest mark, Vince makes critical mistakes, Frost makes critical mistakes, Matt Jones fumbles at a critical time, Nathan Jones can't hit Hogan on the chest from 20 metres ( very late in the third quarter), Tom McDonald has perfected the art of kicking into the man on the mark, Bugg lacks class, and the list goes on. We should have won that game. I look forward to Oliver, Brayshaw, Weideman and Hulett being staples in this side.

Melbourne Attribute Adelaide 187.2cm Height 187.0cm 86.2kg Weight 86.0kg 24yr 0mth Age 25yr 3mth 69.2 Games 96.6 Melbourne Games Adelaide 10 Less than 50 8 7 50 to 99 5 3 100 to 149 5 2 150 or more 4

He really doesn't 'Wiseblood'....he never has. Opposition defenders know he is not a danger and have always let him go and pushed back to Hogan who is continually double or triple teamed. Hullet is probably more ready but not yet if that makes sense. For mine I would take an extra small/medium in, lower the eyes and create a bit more movement in the forward half.

Yes - I don't think anyone would argue that we don't need to find someone better, and hopefully soon. His spot is not under threat right at this moment though.

That billy stretch holding the ball was disgusting. Cost us a goal and killed all momentum when we were up

First 10 minutes? They kicked 4 in 4 minutes of play. Our players came out asleep and it cost us the game.

Super furious about this loss because it was a game we lost as opposed to Adelaide winning. I know that young teams make mistakes but half a season in and we are still overusing the footy and we are still p!ss poor defensively when we lose possession. I thought our small forwards and Watts were good but Dawes is a liability and Hogan is a primadonna. Both were woeful defensively and both suffered a strong case of butter hands. On the other side Adelaide marked everything coming in, often uncontested as every defender in our team seems to be more interested in attacking than defending. I know this is all part of a learning game plan, but we just pulled curtains on our season because we just have not learnt from previous mistakes. Also can we please play Petracca on the ball more often?

Really liked Stretch and Hunt today. Speed and competitiveness belie their frames.

OP only saw the fumble in the last quarter and forgot the rest of the game.

JAYDEN HUNT. Quickly becoming a favourite player.

I've been one of his biggest detractors, but he was close to our best player in the first half. He was terrific. Faded in the second half, no doubt, and that error at the end was bad, but if we based things off an error like than then many of our players wouldn't get a gig either. Calling it now that he'll be in the side again next week.

I just don't understand why we would continue to handpass the ball on the half forward line when we could kick it long to our forwards and put the opposition defenders under pressure.