hemingway

Had to chuckle at Tanya's comment in The Age that dear old James was quote.... "dopey......very dopey." Exactly, finally Tanya gets it. Exquisite.

Ridiculous thread but as for Joe he slaughtered us on the weekend. Lead into space, beautiful mark and kicked superbly. We talk about Hogan but Joe has just as much upside. He will be a star.

Dawes is not giving us much. His inability to take a contested and even uncontested overhead mark is astounding. How can an AFL player not know how to take an overhead mark. Both hands up, flat palms like he is playing volleyball.

Sure the kicking for goal was inept but it was the lack of intent or an inability or unwillingness to take the game on at any stage of the match which really got me down. It is so frustrating watching the lack of hard and sustained running from the team. Most of the day players kicked long to a pack. The defender kicking out very rarely had anyone to kick to as no-one lead or ran into space. No-one tried to create space.There was no risk taking, players regularly booted the ball along either wing. The forwards also seemed glued to their opponent. We either had no-one up forward as players ran down the ground to cover opponents or forwards seemed happy to lurk around in a congested forward line and 70% of the time were easily covered by their opponents. Not sure how the coaches ever thought we were going to kick a winning score. Essendon were not much better although they had a forward that was prepared to lead and provide a target with the added bonus that he had his kicking boots on. Despite the poor kicking for goal, the Bombers deserved the win. We did not.

Tom provided run and a target that no-one else had been able to provide. His field kicking was pretty good. His kicking for goal was no worse than many others. Jesse Hogan's and Dawes inability to run into space and provide a target was disappointing . Most of the time, our forwards were immobilized except for Tom's efforts. I don't particularly want to see him up forward but he gave a hell of a lot more than his team mates.

No run, no enterprise, no structure, no idea of what to do. Looked so slow. The reality is that both sides were bloody awful for most of the match but in the second half Essendon wanted it more. It seemed more important to them. Just wish we had a Heppell who sets the example for his teammates. Our forward set up was just terrible. Congested and no sense of where to go. Most of the time they just stood on one anothers toes. Played like a totally dysfunctional team. However there was bright lights particularly Gawn and McDonald and some of youngguys who did not give up. However the lack of a game plan and an inability to change the run of play was worrying to say the least. They played like they had the flu. They played dumb football. Sure we kicked like dogs but the way they played was so depressing

both groups seeking their own high or elevated mood state by different methods. Either pass the prayer book or pass the sugar. I have tried both and nirvana is temporary. I prefer women and whisky.

Happy for you to banish these thoughts to the bottom of the sea. We will see what unfolds. I hope you are right.

My guess is that they will not risk him if there is any doubt. The medicos will hopefully make the right decision. What we appear to be seeing with Jesse is a chronic problem that will have to be carefully managed over his career. You have to worry a bit about how much uninterrupted football he is going to be able to play. He is very young to have a chronic back injury and his physical/pack breaking game style would not help. On the one hand I would like to see Jesse locked away as a Demon for many years. However, this is offset against the risk of doing so with a player who might have a long term injury problem thereby limiting his playing life. Can he afford to play such a physical game as he does? We all remember how David Schwartz had to completely change the way he played after his knee recos. One way or another, we cannot have a forward line that is Jesse dependent.

Dangerfield is a distraction. Forget him.

Irrespective of who is right or wrong I like your fight Lance. You might have taken on the whole schoolyard but you fight well.

He is a beauty. Has there been anyone else cross over from another club towards the end of his career who has given so much to his new club?

Super impressed with that interview with the twins. A really refreshing interview. Their enthusiasm and passion for the MFC and its future was palpable. No guarded comments or footy speak, just full on enthusiasm. Two very genuine boys with no tickets. What you see with these boys you get. No bull merde.

You just have to wonder how much longer Little/EFC will hang on to James. If they were winning and playing good footy it would help Hird and the pro Hird forces. However, I can't see the Essendon faithful and more importantly the Board putting up with a continuation of recent performances. They need to show something to save dear old James. If they continue to play poorly, I reckon he may be gone at season end.

Yep I am happy to accept Jesse as he is. There is no perfect model and everyone has their individual differences. What works for one does not work for another. Jesse has definitely worked on his kicking yet it still has some kinks but it seems to work. Peter Hudson had an unconventional action but was deadly accurate.

Agree Adam, as a developing team we are going to continue the swings and roundabouts. Look at other teams and we can see that with a few exceptions it is very difficult to maintain consistency in regard to effort and intensity from week to week. Hopefully we can manage more wins this season but we should expect losses and in some cases bad loses. We should enjoy the wins when they come and appreciate our improved competitiveness. We all have more hope this season than we have had for many, with good reason when you look at our list and emerging young guns. We should not treat losses as disasters and evidence that we are going nowhere. In fact as the media comments have suggested Paul Roos and others (including supporters) should stop referring to the past. I am concerned only with the current and future. My judgement on our progress will made at season end.

Curry you are a desperado. Just sit back, relax and enjoy curry & beer this weekend. I love the bye, I feel so much more relaxed coming into this weekend. I wish we could have bi-weekly games. This would avoid my weekly mood swings.

I reckon you are right about this. Well at least the bit about making a contest and bringing it to ground. Despite his deficiencies, I like Dawes in the side. He does lead up the ground, does provide a target and takes defenders with him. I also like his defensive skills and aggression at the opponent.

. The last sentence is key and why we should be encouraged. We have stability and a group of coaches that are going to make a difference. My sense is that there are no big egos and the coaches are working well together under the watchful eye of PR

Agree rpfc. he is a guy of great character. That's why he is worth persevering with.

Just so grateful we got Brayshaw. It would have been just too painful to see another Wines slip by us. i am simply astounded at the way he has played this year. a first year player who plays with such intensity, dash and footy smarts. We don't have to worry about whether he will develop over the next few years. He has already arrived. Everything seems to come so naturally. A future star and leader is in our midst.

Love this honesty. Absolutely so true. Last night at our family dinner, I was happy. The family were a bit shocked to see me transform from my normally morose depressive state into the life of the party. Ernest, why are you laughing, joking and being so nice ? Oh no reason I say, just trying to be sociable as I look at my phone to absorb the wonder of this miracle. The mood swings are part of being a Melbourne supporter, however, I could get to like the upswings.

I like the way that many of our emerging young guns are saying that it is exciting being part of an emerging young group of talented players. There is a palpable feeling that they do feel part of something that is building. Jesse Hogan has made these comments and Billy Stretch and the Hyphen also. It seems a genuine thing and not just talk. It can only be good that these guys see a great future and want to be part of it.

Smashing teams is a fair wish for all demon fans, but happy to settle for playing footy like we did against the Cats. Keep doing what we did on Sunday and wins will come. However, with our developing team there will be ups and downs, Seeing the group of talented young kids come through is going to be exciting and a reward for the disappointment of the last 10 years.

Bernie is an excitement machine. Great skills but plays for the team. He inspires his team mates and is a team lifter at important times. Damn good looking as well. Best pick-up that I can remember.