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An absolute disgrace. Stripped all the enjoyment from the two wins and the half-decent game vs Brisbane, and replaced it with that feeling of dread and anger that we're all too familiar with. But somehow my anger at the club is being rivalled by my anger at some of the posting here. People getting stuck into Jackson and Pickett, who have played like 11 games between them, or calling out Lever when we was probably our best, or asking Goodwin to make changes on the field. The problems on show tonight are long-standing deep seated problems that we all know about, and they're not drafting, nor are they kids. The way we play is wholly dependent on winning CPs and clearances. When we don't win them, we cannot win. We require high level intensity at the coalface and across the ground. If it falls apart, we have nothing else. We want to play an aggressive forward half game but that doesn't work when you turn it over, and we turn it over an unacceptable amount. And we have a crop of leaders who disappear when we need them and fail to lift or improve us. So let's stop potting our first year players and put the blowtorch where it belongs: on Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes, Salem, Jones, TMac and Melksham. And on Goodwin, for his continued inability to stem the tide or make any permanent inroads into our failures.

I'm not one for going over the top. I like to think I'm relatively measured in my responses. But there was something deeply, deeply concerning about tonight's game. It was almost like a car crash that you couldn't look away from. Every time I went to turn it off I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had to keep watching. Just what in the world was going on here? While we can blame the players and their skills and decision making, this one was lost in the box more than anything. Goody is a very stubborn bugger and tonight it showed. Example one - why, in such slippery conditions, would you play three tall forwards? What was he hoping to achieve? Was he trying to keep Tom happy by playing him? Did he just think our bombing tactics would work no matter what? By playing three talls, two of which are awful at ground level, he took away our pressure game somewhat and we got smashed when the ball hit the deck. Too often Port waltzed it out and made us look silly going the other way. It was a dumb, dumb decision. Example two - favourtism. While I think some players get a run over others sometimes based on their skills and what they can bring to the side, he has stuck by too many for too long and I can't work out why. Melksham stunk it up again. Brayshaw had just 11 touches. Hannan had no influence again. Jones looks absolutely cooked. By playing a few of these guys our team is totally out of whack. He is happy to cut someone like Tomlinson, who was no worse than those mentioned above, but he sticks by others who are in the same boat or worse. Why? What does he have to gain from it? It sends a horrible message. Example three - the gameplan. Now, our players can take some responsibility here. Their skills and decision making under pressure can be catastrophic. But good sides work us out and we have no comeback for it. For not the first time in Goodwin's time as coach, we went goalless in a quarter while having an absolute bucket load of inside 50s. We had heaps and didn't look like scoring from one. We kick to the wrong places, our forwards don't lead enough and we don't get enough numbers around the ball to keep it in there. He might have changed the personnel a little, but the game plan remains the same. It looks poor and we are our own worst enemy. I'm hurting, like you all are, tonight. I'm not going to call for Goodwin to be sacked, or to fling [censored] everywhere, but tonight was one of the worst performances we have put in for a long time. Some might say the four day break hurt, but Port had one extra day plus travel and they had to deal with injuries. We had to do neither. I'm really worried right now about the direction of the club under Goodwin, and for the first time under his coaching, I'm not sure he can get us out of it.

I truly wish I never got into footy as a youngster, I really could’ve done without the misery this club has put me through over the years

Magnificent morning here in East Brisbane just 600 metres from the Gabba. Blue skies and not a cloud in sight. It has been sunny and breezy the past few days so the conditions should be conducive to good football. I am looking forward to seeing the boys live and up close tonight. If we can bring our best game, Port is certainly beatable. Westhoff is my concern. He seems to save himself for games against us. Harmes to lock down Boak would be good to see. Wishing the young bull Tommy Sparrow all the best. I think we will find that we have unearthed another good one.

That was easily the softest physical display by any team this year...and possibly other than some of our own performances it may have been one of the softest across the league for the last 5 years. Beaten physically and no f*&ks given. Multiple players $hat themselves at the physical contact and flicked the ball away. An absolutely disgusting performance by every single player who took the field tonight.

To Hell and Back. What an arrogant bunch of flogs to sell that rubbish to us.

About to head in now! Beautiful night here. Excited and a bit nervous! The usual! Carn Dees!

Team - can get stuffed

You can sometimes forgive a lack of planning, strategy, structure and even talent if you have the intensity and emotional investment from a team, but when you have absolutely none of those things it's more than just a slap in the face of supporters it's a genuine indictment on a club and a sign that things are deeply wrong.

Off to the game soon. Let’s hope we have a better result than last Sunday. Go Dees.

I wasn't sure, but just received this missive from happy Garry Baker avatar: G'day bin, I hope you are well in this tricky times. Convince your betting partner to back the dees at the +6.5 line tonight (20 units @ $1.90), to win by more than 24.5 points (5 units and should get $8) and over 39.5 (2 units @ $15). Why? Because the odds for this match are out of wack. I'd have this match at even money, so $2.25 for the dees is way overs. And as i keep telling you punting is all about getting value. On the game i think we will win, and win well. Why? We played well last week, and got stronger as the game went on The power got over run on their home deck and looked out of gas We are fitter and have close to a full list to choose from Port are looking a bit cooked, rely on three young players for much of their spark and energy and one of them is not playing Whilst we have a four day break and they are coming off a five day break, they had to fly out from SA and we caught a bus home Playing the gabba is practically a home game for us I was never super confident last week - the lions are a serious side, but more the point they have very similar strengths to us - intensity, good at the contest, and a strong midfield The opposite is true of port - our mids will smash theirs and with Maxy giving ruck lessons we will dominate clearances They don't have two big monsters - or with Lycett out, even one - whose sole job is to smash into Maxy all night Their strength is how well they move the ball when on - and when they are on they play an attractive, free flowing game, which is what they will look to do Which perfectly suits us as our all team zone defence will frustrate their ball movement (and players) and a fast game will create space for us on the counter - our game plan works best when opposition teams go fast A weakness of theirs is their defence as it relies very heavily on their zone to work, in large part because Jonas is their only decent big defender Watch our forward half set up - we have had a big focus in the last few weeks to set up very wide of each other, which stretches opposition zones, creates one on ones (which we have been looking for with long kicks to the pockets) and creates space that allow players to lead into We have worked really hard to use that extra space to put that last kick inside 50 to a player in the corridor, like the one Oliver kicked to Melksham/Langdon last week - port will struggle to stop this kick as well as the lions did I wasn't sure about Tmac coming in but he he will give us much more physical grunt than Harley and three big forwards will stretch them on what should be a beautiful night for football (though perhaps a bit dewy in the second half) Tmac wil also provide another option for the down the line kick - which Maxy will appreciate With Marshall a (key) out they rely on Dixon - who is in awesome form it must be said, love how he plays and love his beard - but in May we have the perfect foil and Lever and Omac will look to spoil at every opportunity Defensively our weakness is smalls and mediums - but whilst Gray is ok he is not the threat he once was and Rozee is quality but hibbo can deal with him The Burgess 4 day factor - we will be ready to roll and i love the fact they have made noise about this - smart and a great message to send to opposition teams. it is no coincidence they chose burgess to to do the talking points interview this week, and no surprise that he directly spoke to our preparation for 4 day breaks (the planning for which commenced in the covid break and even after it seemed there would not be a need for a compressed fixture) They didn't pick jack Watts Dees by 31 points

Seems I’ve only just responsibly recycled the empty Shiraz bottles after last Sunday’s disappointment- and here we go again We’ve had a couple of near misses so we need to win this one to stay in the contenders column The side looks good but it is a pity we couldn’t pick Vanders I reckon it will be a physical affair. You would hope mids learnt a bit from the Brisbane game and ..... surely Weid couldn’t kick so shizen again Tmac was showing a bit prior to his injury so I reckon he’ll be hungry to make a contribution Jackson looks the goods and is growing in confidence If he could snag one early it would give Port’s defence an ugly moment One good thing to come out of this Corolla business Demons by a couple of goals

So much to be gutted by. Too raw to be get my head around that.game. So I've just got one thing. Tom McDonald is not in AFL shape. Physically. Or mentally. He is miles off. It's not a form thing. It's a physically not up to an elite sport thing. He was beyond a liability tonight. On a fast deck his complete lack of mobility and speed was shocking. Exhibit A of an alphabet of examples. His inability to get close to marking that pass in the second quarter from Salem was laughable. Sure it was yet another rubbish kick but he would have got to it in 2018 Which is not my issue. If he is not in shape he is not in shape. Allll of the above had to have been apparent to goody. As fans we trust the club to know that as we cant watch him.train or plsy VFL. I fully expected him to be in ripping nick and raring to go. Or why else pick him? My issue is how could goody arrive at the decision to pick him ? We had a near full list to choose from. And we pick a player not in shape. And a third tall firward to boot. I simply don't understand.

If I have to watch Tom McDonald attempt to football again I’m gonna throw up. Not figuratively speaking either. I will physically vomit as he lumbers out onto the ground. He can take an uncontested mark. Provided he doesn’t have to jump more than half a foot in the air. And he can run a long distance. Very, very slowly. That’s it. That’s all that is left of T Mac the footballer. Everything else is beyond him. Please god. Please. God. No more.

I can feel that numb, dead feeling circa Neeld era starting to wash over me. I just don’t care anymore.

They should! To be honest my 34 year old friend is currently on a ventilator fighting for life, not because he was partying, refusing to wear a mask or social distance, but because he is a doctor who helps dozens of sick people every day, some of which have done the wrong thing. So you'll excuse me if my tolerance for people and their [censored] is at an all time low right now. Name, shame, blame, throw in jail, do whatever it takes to stop people from being the selfish disgusting wastes of oxygen that they appear to be. I've never been more embarrassed to be a human being.

This is utter rubbish. They wouldn't be allowed to do any of that if they were back home in Melbourne, so WHY be selfish and do it on the Gold Coast and risk the season? This is your livelihood. You are being paid by the AFL to be with your partner who is earning money to keep your family going. Why then are you blatantly disregarding the rules? The selfishness and stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me. Never moreso than during this pandemic. 700 odd new cases in Victoria today, many coming from aged care residents who will likely DIE from this, all because people CANNOT FOLLOW SIMPLE RULES. Stay home you flogs.

COVID19- Destroying our lives. MFC - Destroying our lives. AFL- Destroying our lives. Umpires- Destroying our lives. 2020- Can wrack off. Life- No enjoyment left.

Nervous as hell for this Realistically we should win comfortable, irrespective of the ladder position, given the 2 teams form the last month but part of me thinks we’ll stuff up this game too

If we kick the first few goals then stay in front from there, we should win.

Trouble is what is Max doing with his hit outs? His hit outs aren’t going to our guy’s advantage that often. Contrast the tap work of NicNat on the weekend and how he tapped to his teams advantage.

One thing that is completely infuriating and something i can't understand is why we have the best tap ruckman in the comp who always wins the hitouts and hitouts to advantage and yet still we get murdered in the clearances. I just dont understand. I'm not sure i can watch next week. I love this club so much that seeing them go this badly actually hurts me in my heart. Everyone else on here that's hurting wouldn't be angry if they didn't actually love the club. If we didn't care, no one would post in this thread. I just so badly want them to go well but they just aren't going well. This really hurts because i love the dees so much.

'gutted' and 'ashamed' are the first polite words that come to my mind.

Players didnt look suitably gutted enough for mine. Unlike the suppporters.

That's the way guys, let's get stuck into the 7th gamer when all of our core leaders are playing poorly. You muppet, he's possibly one of about 2 of our players who are playing well.

Well the ground is very empty but Got great seats GO DEMONS

I really hope Goody has the team fired up to jump in and get around Maxy if they target him again like they did all game last year. It was a real low point seeing no one going in to fly the flag around him.

Anyone else feeling quietly confident about tonight's game? I know that's not a normal feeling for Melbourne supporters as we probably have a closer relation to the feeling of dread, but I think we can knock these guys off. That's not to say they aren't a good side but it feels like we match up pretty well on paper. Dixon has been in red hot form, but we brought Steven May to the club for this very purpose. He is the perfect match up and I can see him continuing his excellent form tonight in keeping him relatively quiet. And while they've only had a few days to work on it, I'm hoping we have a few different plans up our sleeve for the centre square and how we rove to Gawn's taps. Brisbane planned very well for it on Sunday and with Lycett out of the side, we need to take full advantage. If we can at least break even then we win. It's as simple as that.

Shocking coaching move! Use bloody Harmes as the tagger, he is struggling in the backline! Put Brayshaw in the middle at least 50% of the time, he’s not a wingman!!

Oscar McDonald got torched by a 3rd gamer. And now getting an absolute serve by Lyon for his weak effort in the opening 5 minutes.

Gary Pert Get Clarkson’s Manager on the Phone now Sorry but Simon is not a Senior Coach We need a Senior Coach and Qualified Assistants 9 Years ago i watched the same garbage

You mean bringing in a slow tall and a third gamer that is surplus to our needs wasn’t a great master stroke?

We stink. No other way to put it. That was a dog's breakfast of the highest order, I would rather stick thumb tacks through my eyes than watch a second of that game again. Just an unmitigated pile of crap.

Being a Melbourne supporter for so long I expect these results. Would take years of good performances to have any confidence.

Screw you negative bastards. Jay Lockhart sticking it up the detractors. Great first term from him. That's all I've got...

If people knew they would be named and shamed, would it make a difference to their behaviour? I suspect it would, and therefore I have no problem with idiots being named. But it needs to be all idiots and not just those with the least power and influence. As to the family members who breached the AFL's Covid rules, they should be sent home. Today.

Normally I'd agree, but frankly I have had enough of people breaking the rules, risking the lives of others, and getting away with it. I hope they cop the wrath of both the legal system and society. They are a couple of dumb selfish morons who have now brought the virus to an environment that was virus free, all because they wanted to do what they felt like with no regard for other people. We are ALL suffering. Anyone in Melbourne would know what this has been like, and how hard it is to stay home, not see your loved ones, not be able to make a living in many cases. Why are some idiots exempt? So [censored] them. I hope they cop it left right and centre and I hope they get thrown in jail. I am sick and tired of our lives being continuously put on hold, our livelihoods being at risk and people dying because of the selfishness of a few.

As much as I thought I wouldnt enjoy this season its interesting the emotional pull footy can have. Must be some strange tribal thing.

Now that i know we are not one of the teams involved i say THROW THE BOOK AT THEM !!

Seriously Goodwin is such a fraud

Boak aint woke. Grey no way. Butters don't mutters. Hibbo ringa round the rozee. binman hacked by deeeluded

True Luci , there’s some excellent brews from Heathcote and central Vic However, I must be unpatriotic and say my heart is in the Barossa. Besides the best Heathcote Shiraz is too expensive to slurp

I could get used to these short turnarounds. I’ve already started drinking while working. Because it’s game day. You have to drink on game day.

The people who infringed should be sent back to Melbourne.

Our plan assumes Max will win the hitout so we take attacking positions at stoppages but we have no plan B to defend or block the exits if the ball goes to ground. Without a plan to counter the op dominance on ground ball gets at stoppages it will be Sunday all over again: win hitouts, lose clearances. Various teams beat us this way. Port is one of them. Would really like to see some of our mids on the defensive side of their op. Port had +1 at stoppages vs Lions and were beating them (except on the scoreboard) until Lions astutely evened the numbers at the stoppages to stop the exits.

I agree it is..... But..... they have agreed to go into the Hub and abide by the rules. If they didn't want to hey could have stayed at home.

Like others I'm a bit concerned by the 3 talls. Yesterday Goodwin said (paraphrasing) re the fwd line: "...3 talls is something we have never looked...we may try it at some stage...never know you test and learn..." Experimenting, again! Vs Geelong and Richmond we experimented with a one-tall structure. I was surprised as it was a high risk plan when it hadn't been trained and we hadn't banked many wins. This year the fwd structure has had: 2 talls for 2 games (with several months between games) 1 tall for 2 games 2 talls for 3 games 3 talls this week That is a lot of chopping and changing. Generally settled line ups give teammates predictability and confidence in the i50 and going i50. Our i50 understanding and fwd/midfield cohesion is improving but still embryonic and quite fragile. Our midfield was just starting to find fwds in good positions. To experiment with a never-tried-before 3tall structure without having trained it nor banked many wins is again a very high risk plan. I just hope each fwd understand their own role and each others roles and don't get in each others way. And hope the unselfishness they have played with over recent weeks continues.

An unhealthy sense of entitlement among the campfollowers methinks !

Jackson seems to have a massive tank (see image from Hawthorn game). I wonder if he has the positional intelligence to play the Tomlinson "tall defensive wing" role? He can run, he'll out mark most wingers, and can drift foreard. Not sure if he'll be able to cover defensively to AFL standard, but it's an interesting thought.