dieter

I've watched most of it. I am really impressed by Goodwin. He has looked at the reality check in the eye and is determined to learn from it. I am willing to bet next season will see a turn around. He also acknowledged, for those who fumed our Pre Season was irrelevant, that 2019 was more or less predicated by it.

Dear Dr Gonzo Please give up the habit: you'll go blind...As a medical professional I.E Dr Gonzo, you should know by now...

Could be coz he says sorry so sweetly, do you think?

Most players get off during a final series. Steve O'Dwyer was about the only one who has ever been done. It further proves what a sick institution AFL is.

I stopped watching: the umpires clearly favoured Richmond. They're a disgrace.

Yarrawonka?

Yep, I agree with all of that...That's 18 of our best players hampered by injury and post 2018 season operations...

Keyboard heroes seem to have amnesia about why Fritsch played back: as I recall it was because at various times May, Lever, Jetta, Hibberd, Salem, Hore, Big Mac Junior, were injured....

That's one way of looking at it. They basically did the dirty on a very talented and loyal player. Tell me how many Demons - apart from Moore and Wilson, both imports - have won a Brownlow. Ok, there's the great Jimma, who else?

They were grim times economy wise, recessions, exorbitant interest rates etc etc...

Then again, I noticed he started on the bench in Carlton's Final matches. I had a theory about the mighty Earl, he would take you so far and then he'd leave you in the lurch..

I agree entirely. There are, I assume, factors we don't know about. He did seem to go off the boil towards the latter part of last year - personal matters to do with family by the sound of it - and this season was ruined by 2 shoulder injuries and our woeful forward delivery. If he had been willing I would have loved to see him play on.

I drove him in a taxi in the early 90's and asked why he wanted to leave Melbourne. He basically said he felt he'd gone as far as he could at the Demons, that he needed a change.

I'd be the last one calling for his head but his time is up. He isn't going to get better. The MFC needs to get better, 2019 was a write-off. Players like Jones are NOT the future. Tough times call for tough calls. These are those times....Why pick on the obvious failures this year when the most blatant failure is staring at us and people on this site want to bring up loyalty. I use the term, most blatant failure, because of his lack of leadership. He comes across as someone playing for himself. The fact he ran past Oliver when he was giving Fritsch a spray and said nothing betrays a lack of captain's care. Thank you Mister Jones, I respect your contribution and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Let's now move on.

Nice reply. I agree with your sentiments. Witnessed a great example of this at Nicks Wine Merchants on Friday, A staff member was talking to a customer about the last EFL game they'd both attended, players names were mentioned, one of them had kicked 29 goals this year. LOvely stuff....

It's also how teams play when their confidence has been demolished by that thing called The Losing Streak.

THat's the life of a Demon supporter. I recall my nine year old daughter in 2007 saying, Why do you barrack for a team of losers, dad?

No. But what can you do? I can try to understand it but writing a catalogue of people to blame doesn't solve anything.

No. I get as frustrated as anyone, can't even bear to watch it but I don't spend the week writing posts critical of the players, the coaches, the medical and fitness team, the administration and all the other blameworthy members of the organization called The Melbourne Football Club.

Yes it is, afraid to tell you, full of armchair experts, all expecting MFC to perform to their demands.

Where you driving, Bro? I appreciate your comments because they are basically positive. I get so sick and tired of the negativity on this site. They are mainly 'experts' who probably have never played the game.

I feel sorry for him because he's always shown signs but then, hey presto, he's injured again.

Hey, Rusty, thanks for the reply. I can see you care and are as well informed as can be. I recall however before the season started there were murmurs about his foot/toe. I watched a lot of those early games and he just didn't seem to be moving properly. No doubt - as you point out - he was maybe trying too bloody hard but - like Ray Biffin - I'm not the only one who noticed things were a wee bit awry with the Tom.

He didn't jump, run or move the same way he did last year: that's not form. He had surgery, I believe, over the break...

The basis of our forward line's success in 2018 was Tom Mac. Melksham was not far behind, Hannan was a consistent contributor, and when it mattered - very late in the season, including 2 of the three finals, Weidemann put up his hand. Fritch and Garlett at times, and Spargo were very handy as well. As was Neal Bullen. This season Tom Mac has played injured or not at all - he fired up in one solitary game - Melksham has been injured, ditto Weidemann, Garlett and Hannan. Fritch played back because of the lack of May, Lever, Jetta and Hore and Hibberd at times. Spargo simply went backwards because of the chaos created by our inability to replace our first graders. But that's seen as an inexcusable 'Excuse' by some. It's not an excuse, in my opinion, just the simple facts. It is what it is. I haven't even mentioned the lack of Vandenberg and J. Smith...