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I'm just too emotionally invested in this club that games like this absolutely suck every ounce of happiness out of me. This ridiculousness of handballing to teammates when they are in no position to receive it just has to stop. It cost us the game today - particularly in that first qtr. Just gut wrenching. Another opportunity lost.

I really wish this game was at Etihad, that's a real fortress for us.

I know posters are mixed with Stretch, but we really missed his run and decision making today. He needs to come in next week.

Honestly we play JKH over Trengove, Kennedy, Stretch, Kent Who anywhere would think he adds more value then these players?

Make no mistake the Hawks are in a corner and will come out fighting.

Ahhh, 10am Gameday. Confident, nervous, reading everything, anxious, ready, not ready, sensing a win, sensing a draw, sensing a flogging, posting on Demonland, groaning at other Demonlander's posts, too much coffee already, already thinking about my first Shiraz, cider or Dalmore 18yo scotch.... , what time is it x 100, constantly checking the pathetic AFL app for updates. Love/hate Gameday.

Seriously mate [censored] off

Fantastic second half coaching Goody. Positional moves at the half, plus a 100% lift in intensity on the field, almost snatched an unlikely victory. Like everyone reading this, I'm absolutely gutted. It seems that four quarters too much to ask.

Big day for the club ... Pink Lady Day for Breast Cancer Awareness and 40,000 members for the first time. Playing at home with the prize for a win being a place in the 8.

Geez that stings! Can't expect to win many games when we bring the intensity we did in the first quarter. We are a 3/4 team at the minute. I think the Kennedy Harris and bugg careers at the mfc might be just about over. Seriously even jack Trengove with his speed issues would offer far more than either of those two

Got a funny story to tell. So there was a lot of north supporters at the game today because north sent an email to their members mentioning the game at hoppers crossing had free entry. I was standing next to a bunch of them, and because I was wearing my MFC gear plus I told them Keilty was my brother we had a bunch of friendly banter throughout the game, was a really good day. Lindsay Thomas had a quiet game until the last quarter, and given the dirty hit on Maynard I was giving them lip about Lindsay, which they enjoyed because they knew the hit was dirty. When Werribee was walking off the ground, I yelled out "Enjoy the holiday Lindsay!" to which a bunch of the north boys laughed. Then all of a sudden an official for Weribee, who was wearing a suit, started having a go at me, yelling and pointing "You are a clown mate" to which I said "But he tried to kill someone today mate!" We had a bit more of a laugh whilst the rest of the supporters were looking at me trying to figure out what was going on. It was pretty crazy.

Today was a bad loss, lost that game purely from not turning up to play. How you can come up and get jumped by the team on the bottom of the ladder is behind me. They should've walked onto that ground ready to boost percentage and show the competition they are a serious football team. Instead they are losing from the opening bounce and you could see within a few minutes that lots of the players out there couldn't care less. Being competitive is no longer acceptable. This group is now behind where it was last year despite having an easier fixture without leaving Melbourne for two months. Really disappointing that 2017 seems to be another 'development' year without playing finals. This list is capable of playing top quality football. Why can't the coaches get them to do it for a full game. They are professional athletes who spend their lives training and preparing, why can't they do the job they're employed to do? Next week JKH has to go. Kent straight in. JKH gives no defensive pressure, another 0 tackle game. Difference between him and Kent is JKH doesn't hit the scoreboard, ever. At least Kent kicks a few goals even if his defensive pressure is inconsistent. Waste of a spot out there. Don't wanna see him in red and blue again.

If I had the choice to end the North Korean military regime OR end the hawthorn football club.... you'd never see the brown and gold again.

Why I continuously let this soft team ruin my weekends is beyond me. 18 years I've watched us get destroyed by Burgoyne. Why the [censored] don't we man up? And why oh why do we insist on being the dumbest bunch of players who handball to stationary players? We have no leadership, no killer instincts. We let a team who is down and out come out and destroy us in a half because mentally we are weak. And it doesn't help that we are too [censored] stupid not to have 9 players go for a pack mark and NOBODY STAYS DOWN. I can understand inconsistency but I can't understand stupidity. We do the same thing over and over again and we don't learn.

Rubbish. As I have said all year, this will be the most even season in living memory. It's not a great position to be in but far from over.

3-4 2x close losses to hawks and dockers, should have won both, dominated cats but didn't kick straight injuries saved the tigers we are much better than our record suggests but our consistency is the big issue. as frustrating as it is to lose, posters who don't see the improvement either don't know much about footy or they're letting their emotions talk. We are good enough to beat the crows if we play four quarters

There is still a lack of trust in your team mate in this group. Too many offensively and defensively jump for the same ball. Too many run to the same ball and then we are forced to do 2 metre handballs to stationary players to try and escape. This year is so frustrating because our best is sublime but we don't play with that trust and dare an attack consistently that good teams do. That's a lack of maturity and a lack of leadership. JKH, Bugg not up to it. Hannan not up to it at least yet. Change them up. Reset and go again.

Can our defensive coach tell Jetta to not jump for marks when the macdonalds are around? Having 4 players jump for balls happens every game

I think this gets lost in amongst the negatives. Their talls can dominate us and, even if we win some, inevitably they'll take some strong marks or repel our forward entries. It really hurts and the fact we are battling on so well is a credit to our boys.

When we learn it only takes one player to spoil thE easy goas when 4 of our players fly for a spoil back your teammate. We can't win games playing 1 quarter if football

But Saty told me hes really good at pressure acts and stuff.

Season done, that's a shame thought I'd get to view some finals but that's over.

I thought Hannan's disposal was supposed to be his strength? Unless he's within 15 metres of goal he is absolutely woeful. Can't kick because his ball drop is horrible and he handballs with jelly fists. Seen enough of Bugg now. Thought he had a place but he doesn't. Give me Stretch's safe kicks every day of the week. Bugg thinks he's [censored] Matt Suckling kicking into the corridor, only difference is his loopy, hit in hope [censored] to 1 on 3's. Get out. JKH, that's the best he'll ever play, and that's not very good. 0 tackles lol. Wonder how impressive his corralling was. Who gives a [censored]. Jones and Lewis' worst first halves of their careers. That's where the damage was done. The positves. Viney, made some mistakes under pressure but he's got his mojo back and really drove us forward. Hogan. Should've had 4 free kicks that weren't paid. He gets raped in the air and gets nothing. He worked hard and earned his goals. Hunt, Petracca and Goodwin. This combo got us back into it. One of the more obvious coaching moves that has turned a game. Frost could become our best defender. Not that he's competing with much.

I've come to accept the fact we are still at least a year off it... People forget we are in year 1 of Goodwin, yes he might have been pulling a few strings last year but it was still up to Roos. IF roos was still around we would have a better win/loss recored not because Goodwins not a good coach but because we would be in year 4. We have a new coach & learning a more attacking game style which was never going to be achieved in 1 year as much as we all hoped & wished it would. We are the youngest side in the comp week in week out.. We are not a top 8 side yet as we all hoped & expected, we will hopefully match last years 10 wins & the lessons learnt this year will project us up starting next year. The sooner we all accept where we are at the better, which is a young side who are not quiet up to it atm.

Is that a coaching issue? Instead of continually saying we have a coaching issue (whether it was Bailey, Neeld, Roos or Goodwin), I'd have thought it's far more likely it's a player issue. We just aren't capable of bringing AFL-level intensity for four quarters. Despite being 3-4, our percentage remains over 100%, so I don't think we have a defensive problem. There is a solid argument we should be 7-0. We haven't been "out" of any of our losses. I don't think anyone can say we've got something fundamentally wrong with our defensive system or our gameplan or something like that. When we're "on", we're really, really good. We just cannot stay "on" for four quarters and we're losing games because of it.

The same Adelaide that was down 64 points to 0 at quarter time? Righto. This competition is ridiculously even, more even than I've ever seen it. The only club I fear at the moment is the Melbourne Football Club.

Max Gawns injury has cost us the season

I missed seeing the first half, that's obviously where we lost it. We won't make finals this year, we're too inconsistent and Gawn is so important to our team. There were so many centre bounces that the Hawks were able to easily break free that just wouldn't happen if we had a recognised ruckman. We're going to take a step backwards this year I feel, the core of the side is still young and susceptible to varying levels of intensity. The competition is also very tight so I feel we'll get some good wins along to way but we're going to get some bad (and stupid) losses as well. Strangely I don't think I'm angry, more numb. I've seen us going through so many rebuilds and crap times, I really thought this year was going to continue the upward trend. Now I just can't get my hopes up for this year, I'm just going to do what I do every year: ride it out, enjoy the good moments and push myself through the bad ones. Hawks had leaders who stood up when needed. Gibson, Hodge, Burgoyne, and Roughead were able to steady the ship when it counted. Viney and Jones were good in the second half, as was Lewis. I can't imagine what a train wreck it must've been in the first half, I'll never know as I won't put myself through seeing it. Gutted, numb, sick of this feeling I've had for about 90% of my Melbourne supporting life.

Great to see the red and blue colours far outnumbering the yellow and gold on my train, from what I can see. Passing through the heartland at Glenferrie soon. I'll try to arrange a carriage door malfunction.

If we lose this game I will go to the tip to get my scarf back that I threw out when we lost to Fremantle just so I can throw it out again.

And can Oliver please square up on Rioli. Just don't get rubbed out.

You mean a hip flagon.

Cant wait to hear the bells tolling and the Dees running out looking pumped and ready to raise hell. Go Dees.

If ever people don't understand why a player is not selected we only need to read this: "It's all about tough love...He holds us to account," Salem says of Goodwin....It's one thing asking for something and not rewarding or punishing, but he's really set on his standards and we all love that about him...If we're not doing the team thing, or what he wants at that time, it comes down to selection." http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/christian-salem-at-the-heart-of-demons-rebuild--brick-by-brick-20170506-gvzm6m.html Therein lies a culture the likes of which we haven't seen at our club for a very long time - Goodwin 'walks the talk.'

How, after all these years, the letdowns, the heartaches, the coaching changes, and list changes... how can this group of players still come out with a terrible attitude and not give enough, is absolutely beyond me. We have everything to play for, yet we didn't turn up for the majority of the game. I've been OK with some of our losses, especially when we lost players during the game. Today Hawks were a man down, and we still lost. I felt like I was back in 2013 watching players not giving a damn, not chasing, not sticking tackles, not manning up... basic [censored] that you think professional footballers with a desire to win would be proficient at doing. Sometimes it feels like this ride through hell will never end, and sometimes you see glimpses and you think "one day we'll be great", but that one day never comes. That light at the end of the tunnel feels like an oncoming train!

Just watched Goodwin's Press Conference he was really angry, but held it together well but i bet a few players will be challenged hard this week. Go hard Simon. The players have killed far too many coaching jobs at the MFC since '64 Line in the sand.

A different perspective! I went along today with my adult son who has inherited my illogical passion for the team with our city's name. A Hawthorn supporter sat behind us, and although I didn't agree with all his calls, I'm sure he didn't agree with many of mine! Late in the day I heard him tell another supporter that it was the first game his little daughter had attended. The first AFL game I attended was a Hawks v Demons game in 1963. The one thing I remember from that game was No. 9, Brian Dixon, dashing down the wing in full flight and wobbling a flat punt 40 metres in the right direction. I hope the little girl behind me today remembers her first game as vividly in 50+ years! I was at high school (just!) in 64 when Melbourne's Premiership was acknowledged and applauded in the quadrangle at Assembly time. I remember thinking, "Gee, this is easy come..." The bit I didn't pay attention to was "... easy go!" Enough with the introduction... Today at half time I was confident that our team would make a better fist of the second half, and we did. The third quarter was all about why we love our team and love our players, and love football! The final quarter was a grind. We never really snatched the game from the Hawks grip.... but we were Gallant! I know most here don't want to hear about Gallant, they want wins now! Starved for success, we want success now! It will come, and sooner than the despairing think! ... 2017 has been a lot better than most are prepared to admit. We have been right in every game, no matter the opposition. I think we agree, we were in a winning position in every game! You would have to go back a long way to find a similar start to a season. It's happened perhaps three or four times since 1964! So, I don't look toward Adelaide next week as an opportunity to be flogged. I look forward to another opportunity for our young stars to rise up. Next week is winnable! I'm backing the Dees! Today was frustrating, but the signs are good! We are more competitive against all comers than we have been for a very long time. Stop looking for a scapegoat and understand where we are at. We are on the cusp of a great rise! I'm not bitter about today, I look forward to the next challenge, and I'm sure our players do as well. Get behind the Dees!

INS- stretch, anb & kent OUTS- jkh, bugg, wagner jkh a delist at season end candidate, his 3 weeks in the seniors has been putrid

After the game the Melbourne coach declared the players brought a questionable attitude to the game against Hawthorn on Sunday. AFL website: http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-07/dees-attitude-was-questionable-goodwin My question is, when will we stop bringing a questionable attitude to games???

Keep hearing we are better than our record suggests. We are 3-4 Abe and our record is what it is. To play finals you simply have to have the strength of character to win close games.

I have been happy to give jkh some time but I have watched him live for the last few weeks and he just isn't remotely clean with the ball. Always fumbles, a small forward has to be clean but he is not. He has been given a fair go at it now and simply isn't good enough. Time to move on.

I feel like when I'm 90 I'll be going to Melbourne games yelling "who's on Burgoyne?" I swear it's a recurring nightmare. As is watching our players handball directly into trouble and taking a [censored] eternity to kick the ball into the forward line, allowing every opposition player to get in there then run it out with ease.

It's frustrating to see, but I try not to be too critical of individual plays like that when the players stress level would be through the roof. You have about half a second to decide what to do and the pressure is immense. The limp arsed performance in the first quarter is what I'd be closely examining. It was team wide, and we only seem to be able to play 3 quarters of switched on footy at the moment. I'm tearing my hair out.

Roughead got some frees that were pretty iffy. That one against Tmac in the 3rd when we had all the play just wasn't a free kick.

Sigh. Another close loss, one we could have avoided. It hurts. I don't think we were undone by a lack of effort in the first half as we had more disposals, more clearances and more tackles as well. We just played into their hands and allowed them to pressure us into mistakes. They sat off us, allowed us to stuff it up and pounced. It was vintage Hawthorn. The third term was when we changed tact, and credit goes to Goodwin for that. His changes made a huge difference and we played some of our best footy all season. Then we once again allowed the Hawks to dictate terms and we lacked the composure to stop it. They chipped it around and then kicked long to contest where one of their talls jumped in from the side and marked it. We are a better side than last year but we still lack that killer instinct and ability to make changes on field to rectify a bad situation. Credit to our leaders in the third term as they willed us back into the contest. Frost was great, even if Roughy got some cheap ones, while I thought Hogan made a positive return and Pedersen battled manfully against McEvoy. On the flip side we had some passengers, with JKH standing out. He has to be dropped. Hannan did a few good things but was quiet, while Salem was also quiet today as well. Bugg is another player who I can't recall doing anything positive. Changes will be made. I have zero expectations next week as the Crows will come out firing. I'm worried about that game but hopeful we can stand up.

Leigh Matthews' pro-Hawthorn bias made listening to the coverage nearly impossible. Didn't even try to hide it. Hamish McLachlan tried to hide it but failed (e.g. when Garlett was joking around with Stratton about kicking three goals he was like "a great response would be to say "that's cute, I have three flags"".

That stings.

wow

As I approach the ground, a flock of ravens is being pursued by a single, pure white bird, and a cloud the size and shape of a UPS delivery van passes high overhead. I hear distant music, and its melancholy refrain reminds me of a time long ago, before the deliberate out of bounds rule was ruined. Two small figures perch in a tree overhead, speaking in a language unknown to me. I ignore them. Subtle movements in the earth beneath my feet trouble me, but patterns in the fallen leaves may suggest benign times ahead. The wind cries, 'Mary'. Dees by 24 points.

If you played each Sunday you would have 3 games in 14 days so I don't think we have much to worry about on that score