Gee N

The problem as I see it is we have taken our pace out of our game . Look at Trac he look to have more bulk and has lost some pace . Playing the best ruck in the comp at full forward to start the game hasn’t worked. Picket needs to be told he’s not a star just a fairly good footballer. Look at his stats throughout the season . He’s played maybe 5 good games not good enough. The loss of Burgess has cost us . We have failed to run most games out. We have strength but our pace has gone. We are selecting a team on last year’s reputation and have not changed our game style ,which has become very predictable. No changes are made during games with no plan B or C .We have a lot of talent on the list but it’s not being used enough . We fell into second place with early wins against much less talented sides but that doesn’t win finals.

Geelong are successful due to their approach with young players. Each senior player is given a young player to mentor and help develop. Their club environment is such that no player is really over payed compared to what the bottom clubs pay . GWS is the classic example of money verses success. Most players want a flag and then money comes. There will never be equality until the rules of players changing club is made fairer. All draftees should be on 2x2 contracts with the clubs only allowed to delist recruits after 3 years and players become free agents after 4 if they haven’t played at least 25 games. Restricted and unrestricted rules remain the same except clubs taking these players lose draft picks according to their trade value . Example Geelong would lose two first round picks for Cameron.Then Geelong would have to trade with GWS with the draft picks they have left. The lost draft go back in the draft order . Also no father son , no academy preference or compromise.The draft is the draft as per your position at years end .

We have a number of areas where we need better players. Player with pace but also will to win. Here is my team but as you’ll see I’ve left Pickett out as at this stage his performance so far is a long way from our best 22 Lockhart. May. Vacant .??l Lever Tomlinson ?. Rivers Langdon Brayshaw Vacant ?? Fritch Weiderman vacant?? vacant Jackson Vacant?? Gawn Oliver. Pettracca Viney Petty Sparrow vacant Now this may seem harsh but if you look at this year and last years performances there are players who are at best a little above VFL standard. Melsham can be good but rarely performs week in and week out. Spargo could find a place but he along with Pickett need a lot of development. Tomlinson could fill CHB but that’s with a maybe. Salem is another I have left out a good kick but lacks intensity and tends to be lazy at times. So as can be seen we are a fair way off with the players we currently have.

I have been lucky enough to see our last six grand final wins and when you look back then Norm Smith was a great at discipline and those players who didn’t do it his way didn’t play no matter who they were. He thought outside the square, with a win at all cost mentality, and when in front grind the opposition into the ground, win at all cost. The Melbourne football club sacked him basically for that attitude.We failed from then till Northy arrived only for them to sack him too for a similar attitude. We have been weak ever since and employed soft coaches that don’t rule with an ion fist. Some may remember in the 2000s someone sending chicken hearts to the club. Many will say young players won’t accept that sort of coaching today, well if they aren’t prepared accept that style then don’t play for us. We have o many players with the talent but get ahead of themselves, and yet the coaching staff allow it. Players are gifted games on reputation and turn up to play when it suites them ,but fail when the pressure is on, and the coaches allow it . Just look at the really successful sides and how they can play week in and week out, come from behind and win play for the club the jumper and the supporters.

We need more pace off half back. Salem delivers reasonable well but is fairly slow. Lever should be played of half back flank, Tomlinson is doing ok and play Hunt on the other flank .I agree Hannah on the wing or give Baker some time there ,. But our main problem is congestion in the midfield., all trying to get a kick or a stat being stationary waiting for ruck hit out opposition reads our tap and are on the move pas to the outside runner and clear forward and goal. Happens nearly every week and is why we are so easy to scored against , with pressure always on the defence. Yesterday we were out coached in the third quarter in particular allowing their midfield to use our ruck dominance to their advantage.We also have very few versatile players that can be moved to cover the opposition and still perform.

Having posted previously about Oliver it’s great to admit you are wrong.His game against the crows was probably one of his best since 2018 if not even longer. At last showed he can do more than just handball and kick anywhere, became a far more balanced player and showed can become truly elite. As with Brayshaw in the second half moved back to the centre where he should always play became a real force with glimpses of 2018. Both are must keep . Oliver on the ball and Bradshaw in the centre.

The suggestions to trade either Oliver or Brayshaw has lot of merit. If you look at 2018 Brayshaw played mainly in the centre and Oliver the chaos player. Oliver has been found wanting last year and this and Gus has been shifted all over the ground . Oliver gets a lot of stats for possession but wastes most is very overrated in my opinion. Brayshaw on the other hand has more football smarts than oliver and I feel with more continuity of position offers greater longterm benefit. Oliver would also have more trade currency maybe around pick 19 - 22

I don’t know if I’d leave Brayshaw out just play him where he played so well in 2018 in the centre .

After watching this club for over 65 years yes 65 I think I’m done, been a member at least half of that time, but we never improve even 2000 and 2018 were an aberration. The club asks for financial help we help because we love the club and want success . We recruit so called good players who don’t perform ,we fail to develop draft picks and destroy those with real potential.The club culture does not exist, not a winning one .Anybody who challenges this soft weak attitude within the club doesn’t last long . We live and breath mediocrity . This club will never succeed until we have that win at all cost no matter what attitude that starts with the board down. With a coach that demands a winning, culture, that plays players that not only have the ability but give there heart and soul for this club.A coach who recognises his mistakes learns by them and changes .These are the things that our club doesn’t have . Unless we change now this club is on a path to destruction and oblivion

We didn't lose this game in the last 40 seconds we lost it playing that stupid defensive no scoring game our players are being taught . Don't take the game on and try and win learn to create stoppages slow the game down don't spread handball instead of kicking forward and the saints out played and out coached us like most other sides do. We are two years behind them at least . But with some on field leadership we could have fallen over the line . We also have at least five non AFL standard players in our line up.

This makes interesting read but can show a comparison of the other teams from say bottom 12 this would indicate where we are at this stage compared to other lists including the two new sides eg GWS and Gold Coast

So much for we have improved ,we are being fed total garbage.this team is a repeat of every Melbourne side since 2006 . We have not heart no desire no pride in the club . When a first year player shows the way tries with no support says it all . They are a bunch of overpaid pre madonnas and I can see the demise of this club if this goes on. Roos was outcoached as well. The game plan is years old and will not get us any where