waynewussell

I share the frustration of late goals!!!! JVR is now better in the ruck than as a MARKING forward a few clever contributions by Melksham Turner, hold that mark!

I have my favourites too, they tend to be players that consistently get 30+ possessions, win B&F's, Norm Smiths, Coaches Awards and Premierships!

Kynan's issue is poor disposal. If he fixes that, he's in!

Bowey Langdon Langford Sharp Chandler Oliver

I agree with those who have criticized our flat-footed, chip-it-around tactic. In pre-season training, the emphasis was on short kicks and changing angles coming out of defence, but at SPEED! There was lots of movement to provide the ball carrier with options. Everyone was moving! This is not what we are seeing on game day! To put it simply, the players aren't executing the plan.

Very good games tonight by Harmes and Baker (until injured).

6. Chandler 5. Oliver 4. Lindsay 3. Salem 2. Bowey 1. Henderson

It can turn around quickly! In round 1 PA lost by 91, in round 2 they won by 72 In round 1 Geelong won by 78, in round 2 they lost by 7 to St Kilda (who lost by 63 in round 1) In round 1 WC lost by 87, in round 2 they lost by three goals to the Premiers away from home!

It's not often that we are as uncompetitive as we were in the second half. A lot of what happened can be fixed. We were definitely tired from last week's slog. That's no excuse for bad play, but it was a factor. need to freshen up in a hurry.

Obviously haven't recovered from hard slog in wet last week. We had to play Campbell on the bench with Max struggling! Worst games I've seen in a long, long time from Max, Langdon, Viney (he tried), McDonald & Fritsch

Lindsay was good Oliver can hold his head up Chandler's best game for a long time Struggling after that!

Two 'lucky' goals was it? Watch the game! First was a clever & clean roving the contest action, topped off by a lovely snap on the run. Second was a set shot into the wind with a greasy ball when others found it impossible to score a goal at that end. This second goal came at an extremely important time for us to maintain ascendancy. He also created a goal-square, off the turf goal when he cleverly kept the ball in on the Southern Stand pocket, swung the ball one-handed past the opposition, then quickly sent it to the goal mouth. He had other moments that were classy and effective as well. A pleasant surprise in those conditions!

I said this at the game! Our most senior umpire gets sucked in to the 'second ' free, when Petty seems to pull his opponents arm down at the end of the contest!

6. Petracca 5. Gawn 4. Salem 3. Lever 2. Lindsay 1. Bowey

Not a driving tackle, a falling tackle! Most impact on opponents shoulder which hit the ground, then Brown milked the free by kissing the turf and holding his head like he was in Dealey Plaza in 1963!

2029

Colourful language, Macca: "dysfunctional", "lumbering giants". I suppose GWS had "perfect pitch", and "nimble principals" before "crushing" us by three points on the back of "superior intelligence" and "immaculate conceptions"!

We'll just ignore that he remained our leading goal kicker last year! You call that liability??? Yes he can improve on his weaknesses, who can't? Constantly calling for him to be dropped is childish. He will be dropped if the coaches think he failed to play his role on Sunday. I would give it another try in better conditions. There may be a chorus of supporters baying for his blood, Im not one of them.

I don't think moving Fritsch upfield is a good idea, short term. Short term, I want the sneaky 2 or 3 he seems to conjure from minimum disposals. Long term, I think the coaching panel are attempting to make him a better player! That is why I don't think they are going to revert on Fritsch after one game.

So, talking as if he has been a long term liability is superficial... So?

This should read "GWS are good but we had our chances to win the game". GWS were a top 4 team in 2024, lost to the two eventual GF teams by a goal or less, and are coming off a game where they doubled Collingwood's score!

Howes getting subbed off was also part of the juggle required to introduce Langford to the midfield.

This is the bloke who has more goals in 150 games than any other of the 'modern day' Melbourne forwards (including Neitz, Schwartz and Robbo). He was also our leading goal kicker in 2024!

Those that have attended pre-season a number of times can assure you that Langford is much more than a 'big junior'! Langford played 20% game time for 5 disposals... extrapolate! That's three less than Toby Bedford who played 89% of game time. For talents like Langford, anywhere within the white boundary line IS their comfort zone!

If supporters think that the coaches are going to throw out everything they've trained for in pre-season after one game... rocks... head etc. Rivers will not meekly return to the backline. Petty will not be catapulted into a key forward position. Fritsch will not be playing out of the goal square. Jefferson will not be dropped!