hemingway

If this is the case, Preuss will have decided that he joined the wrong club given all the pre-season hype about him forming a partnership with Max. He will be disappointed and frustrated.

The reason that the PF keeps getting mentioned is that it is the coach himself who said that he did not discuss the match with the players due to the fact that the result was due to the team not playing our brand of footy. Simply put, the defeat was due to the team not executing its game plan rather than our game plan being exploited. Many have quite justifiably questioned this assessment. In all matches this year, opposing coaches have done the same thing as the Eagles. Other factors may be at play as well such as 6/6/6, injuries, unavailability and poor form, but rightly the game plan is being seriously questioned and discussed. I agree that the final judgment will come at year end. Bagging individual players or the coach is poor form, but most posters have objectively tried to comment on what they have seen to-date. Some go overboard but that's human nature. Most of us were anticipating great things this year. Perhaps we had unrealistic expectations, but it is understandable that supporters are very disappointed with the results so far and the way we have played. And this website is a vehicle for comment and discussion.

We don't know the full story but if Goody and the coaches did not review the PF, it is quite remarkable. A little like a tech company (Microsoft or Apple) or any company for that matter not reviewing the reasons why a business or product has failed, and, just as importantly, not making any changes or not introducing a new, improved or better initiative Even more so, given the change of rules over the off season. Any individual or business that does not consider the impact of a change in tax rules or other external regulations, is, at very least, naive, and, at worst, stupid. You are heading for rocky shores if you are going to do the same thing knowing it has failed or knowing that the rules have changed in a way that will affect that past practice. I know many of you have said much the same, but, I still find it incomprehensible if true. And now 3 games in to the season, we appear to have a game plan that has failed in each game by varying degrees. So we will see a change or modifications made to address the problem? Despite form and injury problems, I find it difficult to blame the players who are simply trying to implement a game plan that looks by each passing week to be severely compromised.

Your a shocker BB

Sadly, I suspect that dropping any of the aforementioned players is not going to benefit anyone. It is what it is or they are what they are. Perhaps KK needs more games under his belt so perhaps he could do that at Casey. Unfortunately we have no one from Casey that is going to set the world on fire, and they are more likely than not to struggle. We have to wait and be patient. For what, for how long, who knows. This is looking like a long-term job just like the shock you get when that little reno on the house turns out to be a major rebuild because you discover the foundations, floors and walls have termites. .

Good comments. Hibberd may be down on form, but he is far from our worst and I have far more confidence in him than I do with his team mates.

With Demonland friends you don’t need enemies. I’m incredibly disappointed but posts on this site are appalling and reflect the worst aspects of social media. It’s a bloody game for Christ’s sake. Constructive comment, analysis and criticism is fine but personal attack on players is disgraceful. Sure express disappointment but save me on the vitriolic personal abuse. Your worst feelings should be kept to yourself. If you don’t want to support the side drop off and stop filling these pages with hate mail for the sense of common decency.

Oscar McDonald, what a disaster. Being totally dismantled.

Most of us are feeling sick !

Unless he can run and find space and his team mates can kick the pill on to his chest, with bullet like precision, CP would be completely smothered and left standing on the rebound.

Lyon has zero credibility. He’s trying hard to get it back but he has a long road ahead.

Disagree, there's only one Max against two or more opponents. Don't think there will be only two ruckmen targeting Max. Max's game is based on his reach and his run. He is not a ruckman that plays a tough physical game, one where he uses his body or strength to crash into his opponent. He plays an attacking game not one where he is trying to negate his opponent. He did play against two ruckman last year but he also got very tired during the season. This year the opposition is much more Max focused and intent on giving him a battering. But there you are, we will see what happens tonight. Hopefully he dominates and has the support of his team mates.

The Bombers have made it clear that they intend to tag team against Max. And it is likely that every side will do the same. No Gawn no Melbourne approach. And Max is going to get very tired or injured from the physicality of his opponents. So Preuss's non selection is surprising. Obviously concerned about slowing us down (and Preuss has not shown great form in his few outings) but this lack of leg speed is almost offset by nullifying Max in ruck duels and around the ground marking. As well as having a big bloke who can act as a shock absorber for Max.

I have faith Doug is that not enough!

As I said, I understand your thinking and I hope you are right.

Agree, and they will need their kids to play well because the older players are getting slower and slower. Hopefully, they have peaked early! There are no prizes for a dominant first half of season other than consolidating themselves in the top 4. But I agree, I reckon they are still vulnerable in September just like 2018.

Goody's coaching skills, nous and tactics are going to be closely examined. Unfortunately, he has problems with injuries and form, which makes his job that much more difficult. Our games todate make us look well off the pace. So he does have valid excuses. Our injury list and form are not figments of our imagination. I understand your sentiments but I think he could have chosen more appropriate words. We lose and his comments are going to hurt. And it is so early in the season.

I have faith rather than hope.

It’s a very ordinary side. In fact poor to ordinary when you factor in form and selection. Can’t see us beating many or any sides with this line-up. Have zero confidence of a win looking at this line-up unless the Bombers are even worse. Very very depressing.

Goodwins comments will look good if we win, but if we don't he can assured that no-one from supporters to the media will be accepting excuses. I find it a strange comment, perhaps reflecting the pressure he is under to turn it around. Two games in and he is talking about no further excuses, it sounds a little desperate after two games. Mid season or end of season, I could understand. Better to simply state, we expect to see improvement this week or we are going out expecting to win.

Ho hum Barrie I agree, but it may take far too long for a complete engine overhaul. Remember those handwritten signs on the back windows of cars, saying "running in, please pass."

Sounds underwhelming Robbo but a humid morning and it is a day before the game so a tune-up is in order. We will need run and sharp skills to beat the blood stained hirds.

so is ho hum or Yossarian would say hI ho

It may be a requirement but that does not mean its a good thing unless you are addicted to social media and want to watch or listen to anything associated with the club. And I can't imagine too many players enjoy the media circuit. I assume players are allowed by the club to talk about themselves, injuries or general themes but there are no go zones such as criticism of club, coach, teammates, disclosure of specific game plans etc. They probably can't win, because if they are told what to say in broad terms, the message comes across as a scripted message and players get criticised for not being honest. On the other hand, if they said what they really thought all hell would break loose, the media would have a field day and clubs would have to go into damage control. So what we are left with is a pretty bland melange that pleases no-one. Ho-hum.

Lack of forward and defensive pressure. If any of our current defenders were playing in Norm Smith's days, they would never get another game. You quite rightly say that chaos needs unpredictability. Perhaps the problem is that very unpredictability means that it is also unpredictable to Melbourne. Defenders not knowing where to kick and not kicking to targets and forwards not knowing where to run. Our ability to get the ball moving quickly is also far too slow and easy for the enemy to cover our poor old forwards. Our forwards have the worst job in the world (at the moment).