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We are on the decline IMO. I can’t see us improving at the rate needed to keep up with the competition. Beyond our inconsistent A graders we are far too vulnerable. Whether this is more a list problem or a coaching problem I’m not sure. I worry it’s both. I can’t see us scaring the eight this year and I don’t think we have the skill set to not need a clean out. Our flaws look to be continuing year on year. There is an apparent issue with the mental side of things and the skill execution area. Beyond Gawn, Petracca, may and possibly lever and Oliver what do we have? Oliver has gone backwards and lever needs a consistent run at it but I think he’ll be ok. Brown may help... it could be a very long year.

Didn’t he try and get out of the original contract not long after signing because an English side offered him something no AFL club can compete with? I assume he will be back overseas ASAP. Why wouldn’t you take the kind of money they’re offering?

No one cared the first time, no one cares this time. It’s been going on forever and everyone knows this is the case. Young men think all kinds of stupid [censored] is funny. That will never change. Its just something to fill five minutes for media segments.

Kind of a relief to know where we stand. That was our test for the season and we didn’t get close. Good sides have made us look fumbly, one paced and predictable consistently this year. Bulldogs had the ball fall into their lap all day which is a little bit football gods and a little bit discipline and adherence to structure, plan etc. I think we could beat the bulldogs given another go but I also think that the result is about right for our season.

No Gawn and Viney makes it hard. Ugly loss coming up. Those two have done so much work for us this season

Retain as much trade value as possible?

It might be my bias but I don’t remember the last time Oliver wasn’t held a a stoppage

Presence is an interesting thing. Good teams have presence. Good players have presence. Where does presence come from? Melbourne doesn’t have any idea where presence comes from.

I really noticed how low Brayshaw is in confidence tonight. It was evident in his body language. It’s a shame. He has something to offer when he’s on. in 2018 the genuine contenders made us look impotent for large periods of time when we played them. This seems to be the case this season although the last quarter was a glimmer of hope. we need to trade aggressively with someone like brayshaw or those on his tier and bring in one more midfielder type with speed and disposal if at all possible.

Playing teams into form for how long now? Also what happened to Oliver? He was better as a 17 year old than he is now. Brayshaw not far behind

We look just like an immature team with a dud coach and have done for a year and a half. Our core are the least professional core in the league. They act like kids and their output reflects it

Salem doesn’t care. He doesn’t care. More interested in his career playing fifa on PlayStation I think.

After today I’m pretty confident we will have a new coach next year if we are serious

Why do we always look less disciplined and unorganised than every other team? Simple things like killing the ball in the backline or being aware of the players in the area you are protecting. We look lost, confused, lacking in confidence and have a horrible inability to use our instincts. somehow we make every kick in an impossible equation while letting every kick in against us a gift. i have to think it’s in the way we train. Players look stunned on game day. Some of these guys once had instinct and used it. Are they being over coached or poorly coached? It’s horrible to watch

It’s very concerning how easy we are to play against. It looks like unintelligent football on all levels. Ground, coaching box etc

It’s about having a consistent foundation to build from.

Good to see we maintained our prelim form.

I find it strange we keep bashing him in the media while apparently offering him up for trade. Makes no sense to de value our asset while taking it to market. So. i don't think we are trading him. The footy department have decided they need to scare him into consistent hard work. Whether this is a good tactic or not i am unsure. the extent to which they've taken the idea is impressive, with players believing he's a goner and the industry believing it whole heartedly. We will knock back offers claiming it's not value enough. He will remain.

A bit of perspective please.

Am I biased when I find it odd that terry wallace rates their midfield ahead of ours?

All attributable to fatigue. no unreasonable negative pains in the ass please.

Bit hard I would have thought. We were dead all of the last. Zero left to give.

Remember last year when Geelong gave us an absolute bath. Remember this year how had we kicked straight we would have beaten them comfortably. Remember the ball movement in round one that we haven't seen in a decade. Remember finding a way to win against carlton. remember pegging back a four goal lead against freo in the last after an absolute avalanche in the third. remember crying out for some offensive flare under Roos. Improvement.

We missed Lewis I think. We looked a lot more organised in the first two weeks. But we got caught out up the ground a lot today with turn overs and over lap. I'm not sure if we were better placed with frost over o mac today. He did a few good things. Although he's not yet up to it yet o mac seems to understand the synergy of the back line better.

That's true. It seems a fine line. I think with hogan in he will get away with more than he was allowed today. The problem i see is our forward line is very short without hogan and weideman.