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Goodwin is lost, Jennings is lost, the players look lost, the Leaders are not leading, the club is sick and has been all year. Players in the press basically admitting no one has any idea whats going wrong, Max saying they are a long way from a basic AFL team, Lever saying they fundamentals are not there.. its just bloody embarrassing, it really is, its a total unmitigated disaster and no one can arrest it.

Bolton was sacked in June, we played Carlton in July. Kingy was a big supporter of Melbourne last season and before the commencement of this season, it’s a shame to lose the support of an outsider. Our membership will take a huge hit next season.

I have a theory about our demise this year, and it all revolves around “confidence” ( and a little about injury) Our game plan revolves around “attack”, but we simply do not or can not set up defensively behind the ball when we take it forward. Our attacking players now have the added pressure of knowing that if they miss a target, no one is set up defensively behind them, and it’s most likely the opposition will freely rebound and score a goal. Instead of feeling confident someone has their back, they are simply facing a life and death situation every time they dispose of the ball. In short they sh it themselves and boy does it show. When Roos came to the club his game plan was based on defence. And he slowly taught us how to attack only once we knew how to defend. I think our game plan has put aside the defensive skills (behind the ball) in preference for all out attack - which can only work if we hit our targets. My solution for the rest of the year would be to concentrate on defensive set ups behind the ball, and therefore provide the player forcing an attacking play with the confidence that if he does miss a target , it ain’t gonna be the end of the world. No team of afl standard footballers displays the abysmal skills that our team has displayed this year - not without a valid reason. Our players are not unskillful - they are simply displaying those traits. I think that is due to a lack of confidence, due to defensive faults in our game plan. For what it’s worth. -

FMD. This thread is a disgrace.

Goodwin will not be sacked FFs is it that hard to understand some reading into King's comments and making their own assumptions based on their own wishes. Goodwin will know he's under pressure but his job is safe and the pre season and season 2020 is when he's got to perform or he will be out

It would be an unmitigated disaster for the club to sack Goodwin at this stage. This time next year if we are at the same level, then action should be considered. Of course if our season is anything like as bad as this one, he will go a lot sooner, as media and supporters will be relentless in their demand for it. Just remember our recent history with the strategy of sacking coaches. Let’s not go back there. Goodwin’s appointment was a slow and carefully considered one, there was no time pressure. He then served a 3 year apprenticeship under guru Roos. We narrowly missed the 8 in 2017 and made a prelim last year. This year has been a disaster and I’m hating it as much as anyone, but sacking Goodwin is not the answer. he deserves time and an investment of top level support around him. last think, so many criticise his lack of emotion in press conferences. He is a self declared calm person. I would think that is a great attribute to have when the heat is on in the coaches box. Being calm doesn’t mean you don’t care.

Not so sure about Oscar at number five.

Lots of finger pointing, negative speculation and outright nastiness toward our team from supposed supporters on here... Best example is the old “they’re not working hard enough...” dribble... how the fork would supporters who use this line know? So basically you’re accusing our team and coach of slacking off or giving up, which is [censored] thing to say about our team and coaches. Its obvious to all that it’s not working at the moment, but to lob this kind of drivel at our team when they’re hurting like this makes me ashamed to be a fellow supporter. I believe they’re working there asses off and will continue to, and we, their supporters should be supporting them rather than baying like a bunch of angry old losers for blood, blame and insensitive [censored] talk.

Gawn and May have shown leadership this year they are who i hope are our leaders next year Max (C) May (VC)

Look, I value Nate Jones and respect the bloke. But he's never been more than just a good footballer. Having him amongst the club's greats on the basis on loyalty alone, sure, but if he's classified as one of the club's "greats" well that epitomises how [censored] we've been. No offense Jonsey.

Why do people always attack a commentator when they point out how bad we are? MFC have been extremely lucky so far in how they've avoided their right whack from the media. Only Ox and Lyon have noticed so far, but now, finally, the focus is on us (at least a bit anyway). Robbo has also described us as a 'basket case' in his regular post-round write up. It's not a commentators job to find the answers, it's our coaches.

I'll be absolutely ropeable if we trade pick 2. Anderson is as an absolute beauty and need to continue to balance our list with more fresh young talent coming through.

If you can’t run - speed and endurance - and can’t reliably hit targets and don’t have big men to create a contest then you can’t create any kind of game plan that works. It’s a big game of chess and our pieces stink right now. Go through the 22 on the weekend and you’ll find very few who are fit, strong and skilled. Our game plan, work rate and skills (apart from goal kicking) all looked very good against the Eagles. When the Saints got their outside running game going at their home ground, with a fresh coach who’s freed their minds we found it hard to go with them and from there everything falls apart. Panic sets in with the skills, indecision at the contest, self preservation at the contest. Watch the first 10 minutes against the Saints where we were full of confidence and trusting the plan and we looked very good. As soon as fatigue and doubt crept in the side dropped away.

Denial will get us nowhere We should have learnt that by now

Injuries aside, because all teams have injuries. It’s culture, it’s soft culture that has not been fixed. It’s a leadership issue on and off field. I firmly believe Gawn is the most visible leader we have got on a list of 42. He is working his guts out every week and not getting support from the coaches in their pig headed approach to game style. Jones and Viney not cutting the mustard with in game leadership. In a seriously underperforming team, Goodwin gives them cuddles and changes nothing. Our culture is putrid and until this is forced upon Goodwin to change the culture and leadership, the club will still be laughing stock. Get the leadership group right. We need a Hodge or Selwood type. Our mob just don’t get leadership right. That is the MFC problem.

Why didn't you stay to finish the job, Roosy???

People are acting like he's demanded 800k. Not like Demonland to overreact I guess... How about we just treat him well and let the bloke finish his career, whether it's 2019 or 2020, with the support of the fans who seem to have forgotten that for a decade he was the only thing we could trust about the club. Honestly think there's a Melbourne supporter condition that seems to manifest itself in delighting in our bad times, wanting us to fail so they can have the 'I told you so' moment and trying to rip down anyone who has shown heart for the club, while simultaneously decrying our lack of 'heart and soul'.

If you're Nathan Jones i'm not sure why you wouldn't take the 260k and hope the extra money that is opened up can help bring a Brad Hill in so you get one last chance at a Premiership

About time the blow torch was on us. Bring it on.

Have you listened to what Max Gawn said after the game? Nathan Jones talked about players splitting into groups..the reason i will never like 2 Captains Nathan has seen it before, so he obviously is not the man to pull the team together. The players may want to work their asses off, but they are not fit enough to do it. We play well in 5 minute bursts and then break down...that has been happening all year.

This is an outcome of something being wrong within the club. Are the players rebelling? Is the game plan overly confusing?

Not when they're a reason, albeit not the only reason. Under your "theory" does every player in the AFL have the same level of skill? So there's no difference between Patrick Dangerfield or Jordan DeGoey and the 44th player on the Gold Coast Suns list? If you don't recognise that, I guess you won't admit that having to bring a significant number players into your team who are not normally in your best 22 will have an effect. For an illustration, look at Colingwood's current injury list and the downturn in their play.

It looks like he's learning fast too. I'm looking forward to watching his development.

Just heard him tee off at the team and Coaches on SEN Agreed with all of it, as did a few callers The Podcast will be up soon no doubt Goodwin is not safe, nor should he be

Agreed. i would almost say Lewis as a forward offers us more value than Nathan Jones as a rotation, though i wouldn't support chopping Nathan Jones given what he's done for the club.

Anderson is a good kick, good decision maker, good mark, hits the scoreboard regularly, plays mid or forward, smaller than Bont at 189cm but has more of a burst of pace. Match winner. Stands up in big moments when game is on the line. Very exciting prospect and I’ve been super keen on him all year! Rowell safe bet but lower ceiling, similar to Sam Walsh but more inside. Certain to be a good player, but unlikely to be great.

Tom Morris is a snake journalist and has insiders at the Dees. He is kicking us while we are down. This is an attempt to completely unravel us. That [censored] president and the CEO need to get towgether with the FD and unify. We need to hear something

It does on Demonland.

I seriously doubt it. i think they'll get their first pick, an end of first round pick and some other help. i don't think the AFL will like the precedent it'll set to give them that pick.

Our problems have been evident since 2017. Plenty of possession, plenty of forward entries, rock all reward. Back then it was the better defences who shut us down; now that everyone has had a look at us, all the sides are shutting us down. It's easy. Zone up across our back-to-forward running lanes and because we get too many players behind the ball, we have too few players to take the ball from half back to half forward. The problem is compounded by having appalling disposal, and forwards who cannot find space. The wonder of the season is the number of times we have played dreadful footy, but still stayed close. It's for that reason I give Goodwin a year's grace. If we can somehow find some polish, fitness, cohesion, and above all, confidence, next year, we'll have a good year.

i think Trac is definitely there. Much maligned and has done well with very poor supply. His 3 goals on saturday and his assists were very good. About time he gets some cudos.

I actually believe Preuss is an above average tap ruckman already but needs to work on his fitness and agility. He’s only 24 (I think ) so his upside is immense considering most ruckmen, including Max, don’t really peak until mid to late 20’s. His attitude is impressive ,as evidenced by his best on field performance for Casey yesterday, despite having just been demoted. i think we’ll be raving about our twin peaks sooner rather than later

Just not working hard enough to provide options to those under pressure, therefore seeing too many turnovers. Its also vice versa where we are not putting enough pressure on the opposition. A lot of it comes down to work rate to create space.

Yep. The comments by Max tell the story i have never heard a player talk like that

This quote is thrown about a bit in England but it's very relevant for our 2019 season “It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand. John Cleese (as Brian Stimpson in the film Clockwise)

Remind me again, how many games has Lever played this year?

His dad was a man mountain, so Austin could fill out nicely.

Mate, you'll be saying that no matter who we lose to for the rest of your life. #perspective

I’m no Level 4 coach so forgive me if I am missing something, but my game plan would be: 1. Win the ball 2. Hit a target 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 I know it’s a bit complicated, so it will take a bit of adjusting to, but I reckon we’ve got about 6 months to adapt for next season. Happy if someone wants to pass this onto Goody.

I worked out a complete gameplan drawing inspiration from a combination of Macedonian combined arms, the Roman cohort organisation, the aphorisms of Sun Tzu, and modern blitzkrieg breakthrough tactics, and the anthropology of pre-historic weapons and warfare. I'm not kidding. So now at least everyone knows I am just as frustrated as they are, even though I'm usually the one saying it will all be ok in the end.

Defenders, play on your man, forwards play in front, mids help out in defence and build a wall at half forward when we get it inside F50. That's my under 11s game plan. Worth a shot?

Damn, I thought this was going to be the official announcement that they’re remaking the 2007 family comedy hit ‘The Game Plan’ starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. My game plan for next season is to have a year off the football.

I have come to the realisation that next year will be no different. For those that say we came in under prepared and had no pre season, how have the druggies been able to turn things around after their issues. We are talking about professional sports people. They are required to play 2hrs of football a week! We have major issues, something that pick 2 ain’t going to do a brass razoo to address. MFC great way to completely snuff any delight my family of five had for this club.

I think we need to go on a camp.. ..and as someone else suggested, have more banners to run through that ask people to not to send hurty tweets

Can't understand the point of playing Preuss as a tap ruckman against no competition when we know he can do that. It's holding marks in the forward line and kicking goals that will make him useful while Max is around. We run Casey now, let's use them to our advantage.

It is said of Sun Tzu that he applied for a senior coach's role during the Tang dynasty. He was politely asked to prove his credentials. So he got the son of a club legend, made him captain, and said "now attack the ball hard as you can". The new captain grabbed the ball, ran into trouble, tried to bullock his way through, kicked off the side of his boot out on the full, and got done for holding the ball. The emperor said: "how is this? You claim to be an expert!" Sun Tzu said: you're right. [censored] this for a joke. And drew his sword and sliced the new captain's head off. Then went to GWS in an assistant coach's role. GWS won the next year's premiership. True story.

I think this is the game plan that we are trying to emulate. I went to the Richmond v Port game last round and the Richmond style was similar to our best footy last year. The main differences were that the Richmond mids ran hard both ways and spread so well. No stupid hand balls to stationary targets and aimless punts up the field. It’s chaos ball without the chaos. Also - having two quality talls to hit up definitely helps, as do the legitimate pressure forwards and crumbers.

♪ I closed my eyes Drew back the curtain To see for certain What I thought I knew Around the world ♫ Dees fans were weeping But the coach's sleeping Any plan will do I saw our boys ♪ Handpass to strangers Kick the ball to danger Run without a clue And in the box Ideas were missing While the crowd was hissing Any plan will do ♫