Gator

Thanks. Yes, that's jogged a memory.

He rejected us. The Hawks don't "outbid" anyone. Like Geelong, you go there for success, not coin. But, EVEN if they did offer more, it's obvious who was more attractive and why he chose the Hawks.

I really like Prestia as a player. He's a better talent than Nathan Jones. However, along with Jones, Viney, and potentially Stretch and ANB it represents a very short midfield, especially when the grain has been going the other way. That said, he's an exceptional player and I've always held the view, if you're good enough you're tall enough.

I think most supporters agree that Roos was the right man to galvanise the club at the time. But some, like Scoop, sheet home nearly all of the blame to the players. Perhaps they think he's got the most out of the group and that they're performing at the level they should be - at prerequisite levels. I can't agree. I believe they're performing below expectations and that the game-plan is either too complicated, or deficient. In the preseason there was evidence they were going to use the corridor more and focus on faster ball movement. Clearly, this was short lived. Either the players can't follow instruction or the message isn't getting through. Ultimately, this falls at the feet of the coach. The boys from Champion Data show that Melbourne start their attacks from near the last line of defence. Simon Goodwin acknowledged this a few weeks ago in a prematch interview and stated we wanted to start attacks from near the middle of the ground. It's not happening. I acknowledge we have talent deficiencies, who doesn't, but I also see a club like the Dogs, who sacked their coach and CEO, had their captain walk out, and lost their best mid with a knee. Are their talent levels so superior to ours, or do they have an easier to understand and implement game-plan ? The answer seems obvious to me. Roos may not want to coach like Beveridge, I get that, but I also remember him in year 1 stating that by round 6 supporters should start seeing what type of footy we were going to play. Yeah, I see it and it's unedifying. Roos would rightly accept the accolades if we were winning. Conversely, it's a nonsense to absolve him of criticism when nearly 2 years in we're regularly seeing performances like the weekend.

The only reason (and I mean only) I took the journey from the Mornington Peninsula on a bleak, cold and wet Sunday afternoon, at the ridiculous television inspired time of 3.20 pm, was to watch no.1 in action. But the game-plan and the dills who implement it cruelled him. We had 77 more handballs than the opposition. We defend when we should attack, we attack when we should defend and we handball when we should kick. Put simply, our players have no idea what to do with the ball when they get it. Nearly two years in isn't that Roos' fault ? They also pick and choose from quarter to quarter how intense they'll be. I appreciate we're a stoppage team, which requires numbers around the footy, but why does Roos allow us to lose all of our forward structure when the ball is in the opposition's forward half ? Hogan, the poor ba®stard, spends as much time on a half-back flank as he does in the forward-line. I appreciate that's the "modern" way, but can't we try and occasionally hold the semblance of a forward-line ? We start our attacks from so far back. And when he is one out, or wants the ball kicked in long and quickly it invariably never happens. Or it happens too late as the bail out kick and he's already swamped. The Dogs may not have our defensive attributes, but at least they kick goals, play with some flair and take the game on. I'm sure their defensive elements will improve as they continue to hone their game-plan. They're also winning.

I can't agree. Nearly 2 years in and his players don't know what to do when they get the ball. There's no cohesive game-plan to move the ball forward effectively. We also pick and choose with our intensity, while the Saints play in a far more constant fashion. Poor bloody Hogan. He must hate playing for this mob. Whenever the ball is in the opposition's forward 50 he gets sucked up the ground to a half back flank. This is instructional as we're a stoppage team that relies upon numbers around the ball. But we over do it. Other teams hold some semblance of a forward structure, but we lose ours completely, so naturally when there's a turnover the players hold up play, while we desperately run back. We handball when we should kick and we take the wrong option regularly. We play with no freedom or flair. Teams can have a rock solid defence, but still know when to pull the trigger. In a short time Beveridge has his team playing attacking footy. Their defensive structures may need work, but they're at least exciting their fans and winning games of footy. Richardson at the Saints also has a side far more drilled than ours. I'm over Roos and can't wait for Goodwin to take over.

Hogan has received votes in the AFL Coaches Association award for the 4th time, which is almost a third of the games he's played. Extraordinary for a first year key forward. And each time he's received votes from the opposition coach, not just his own. Against Brisbane it was the first time he's received the full 10 votes to be judged BOG.

I read the negative comments last week and didn't comment, because he's not above scrutiny and everyone is entitled to their view. However, some of the reactions towards one of the best key forwards to enter the game in the past 20 years was astonishing. Apparently, some of you didn't like his "attitude". FMD. That's what makes him the player he is and will be. Of all the things to moan about some chose Hogan. It beggars belief.

I think it's the worst game of football I've ever seen. The game as a spectacle is the pits.

If only it was as simple as you portray it. Melbourne weren't fined for a joke.

Footy is all about matchups and for this reason I would have played Fitzpatrick yesterday to line up on Daniher. It was an error at match selection. But I wouldn't choose Fitzpatrick this week, because there's no obvious matchup. Brisbane don't have dominant tall forwards. And I wouldn't choose Fitzpatrick just to release McDonald to the forward-line. An occasional foray forward is fine, especially when you can catch the opposition off guard, but he's a defender first and foremost; albeit one who leaves you with your heart in your mouth.

Can't believe what I'm reading here. There is zero problem with letting your hair down and having a few beers after a game - win or lose. I like the fact that these young guys clearly enjoy each others company and their bond will only get stronger. Armchair amateurs upset with another insipid performance expect the players to wallow in their misery until it suits them. Sorry, it doesn't and shouldn't work that way. And to draw the conclusion that they're not hurting as much as you because they can still function as likeable humans post-game is a visceral reaction at its finest.

Useless campaigners.

He's just put together the best 4 week block I've seen from him, but let's hope the selectors keep one eye on the weather; as Watts is the worst wet-weather footballer in the history of the game.

Roos was more versatile. I remember him as a 19 year old starring on the wing.

Why do you care what others think ?

They were playing one man short with Watson. Now we know why. He's no loss for them.

I hope Roos reminds the boys that the week after we lost to Hawthorn by 105 points, and had 20 less scoring shots, we came out and beat Footscray the next week by 39 points.

They've never had a rivalry. They've always liked each other. Naitanui was at Watts' family home after the draft in 2008 for a celebratory BBQ.

If you have no "prior", but merely place the ball on the ground in an attempt to dispose of it you will rightly be pinged. What annoys me is that some players with no prior opportunity get wrapped up and are unfairly pinged. Also, at he beginning of the year I loved the new interpretation of holding the ball. The umpire didn't give a player an inordinate amount of time to get rid of it. If he had "prior" and got caught they quickly said holding the ball. That has gone out the window and they're back to the same rubbish they've been doing for years. Players can get caught and take forever to get it out.

You mean it wasn't the best 8 possession game you've ever seen ?

Simpson is getting the most out of a bog ordinary group. They're well drilled. And better than us - at the moment. The competition has never been more even. There's not a lot separating top and bottom and there are very few good teams.

Clearly, he has some attributes, but you NEVER want the ball in his hands.

If he's ready, he's ready, if he's not, he's not.They certainly won't be "resting" him.