DemonDoug

Your spot on dees64, we are frustrated, and we have every right to be. Whatever anyone says MFC does not give its supporters 100% so I fail to see how it can expect the supporters to keep the faith all the time. I would go to more matches if I knew I was going to see a totally committed team not committing basic skill errors, win or lose. However criticism and rehashing a littany of gripes about the team and coach achieves little, we have to deal with reality. I do not see the point of speculating about the next coach, ND will no doubt do the best he can, lets hope there is another twist in the MFC story this year, perhaps starting this week. One win will make us all feel much better.

If two teams are going at it, and giving 100%, and both playing to their respective skill levels with the players on the field, the final result should in my opinion not be more than a few goals. That is what we should have lost to Sydney by, not over 8 goals. Therefore their skills and hardness are lacking. If we played that way each week, giving it our all, we will sneak a few wins because other teams will start to take us lightly, but somehow I doubt we will - back to the culture thing !

I can remember the game MFC played against Port in 97, which was the match that directly led to Balme's departure. It was the worst display of footy I have ever seen, makes their play this year look polished. They were undermanned but gee, what have they learnt in 10 years !

This game is the FINAL chance to resurrect any hope this season. A win could turn everything around, however no point risking Neitz or Green, unless we genuinely believe finals is not out of the question. How many times has it been shown to be folly to play players less than 100% fit. The backline is the major weakness, Brown has to go, Bizzell worth another chance or maybe Ferguson I think. We have to find a competitive backline. CJ would be stiff to go after only one game back. Newton & Buckley worth a try, Jamar MUST go, I have not seen him do anything worthwhile all season. PJ seemed more effective than Jamar when he went into the ruck. We have been slaughtered in the ruck all year so one less lumbering ruckman will only improve our chances. At worst we will still having one more running player and still get slaughtered in the ruck ! Have to turn the team over until you get a competitive side. There should be big changes, we did lose by 49 points to Sydney, I thought it was a shocking performance. I'm sick of hearing the line about being 'competitive after a poor start' In: Bizzell, Newton, Buckley, Warnock (Neitz, Green, Ferguson) Out: Jamar, Brown, Garland (Bate, CJ, Godfrey)

Perhaps the kicking standards of the rest of the team is rubbing off on Cameron Bruce ! At least Bate can kick long, the way their kicking has been they may as well just kick it as long and stright as they can and hope the forwards can apply some pressure and keep the ball from rebounding immediately. What is the point of chipping it around then turning it over as they have done all season ?

I've followed MFC for 37 years. I totally agree there is a culuture at this club that tolerates mediocraty. It has frustrated me so much that I have become much less avid in my suppoorting the team and instead follow the game in general. I like to see underdogs do well (e.g the Roo's and Bulldogs) and I like both those teams culture, the way they keep fighting no matter the odds against them. When was the last time MFC crushed Geelong at their home ground. Before this season you would have compared the MFC more than favourably with the Kangaroos, and they lost their first few games also, but look how they have bounced back. We just don't do that. We accept our losses because we are 'under strength'. Its not that I expect or even want MFC to win every week, but I would like to see them having a real go and maintaining their skill level despite the superiority of the opposition. There have been so many different excuses for their poor form over the years, this years excuse is injuries. But the team was full strength in round one and still played terribly. I don't see how injuries cause players to kick to the opposition and fumble the ball and not go 100% into every contest and to consistently allow opposition teams to string goals together. It is a mental thing. Changing coach will not help, wev'e 'been there and done that'. I don't see any answers, its just the way they are. But premiership material, this team, you have to be joking !!

and which planet do you live on ?

Totally agree, they seem to have forgotten basic footy skills. If they don't get the basics back on track they will be lucky to win a game this year, even Richmond would have killed us based on todays form

Petterd in his first game showed up many of the other player's deficiencies - he was accurate in disposal. How can professional footballers like Bell & Jamar miss shots at goal from 30 m directly in front. Bell at least justifies his inclusion with his endeavour, Bate kicked a great goal with a long kick. Davey's disposal was miles above the rest of the team, apart from Petterd.

PJ showed a lot of endeavour and if you have to keep one of him & Jamar, he is the one, but I cannot actually recall him doing anything to HURT the opposition. Sydney players were far more skillful & accurate in disposal and they hurt us with their kicks into their forward line. Melbourne players seem unable to kick to a forward with any accuracy

How could anyone tip MFC to win a game the way they are playing at present. You have to have a game plan and be able to kick before you can win an AFL game. We will be 0 - 8 in a few weeks I suspect

They are playing such insipid football. They were NEVER in tonights game, Sydney just put the foot down now and then to pile on a few quick goals using direct, pinpoint football (which MFC have not done all year). They are further from a win now than at any other stage this year. Small consolations with the form of Petterd & Davey. How can professional footballers be so indirect and inaccurate in their kicking. You may as well drop Jamar & PJ because what is the point of having ruckmen on the ground when we got absolutley slaughtered out of the centre anyway. Going to be a long, dark winter.

Effort, given injuries today & players out already 9/10 Yze 10/10 Skill levels 2/10, many many poor turnovers, missed handballs & kicks. You cannot blame this just on lack of players, these guys should be fit enough to run out a game. You have to feel proud of their efforts but we are still looking at a fairly dark few weeks until the team is stronger. By that time the finals will be out of the question.

But even players with limited talent can apply pressure, and attack the ball. I will be happy if Melbourne do that week in, week out, even if they lose. (Of course I'd prefer if they win !). Look at Sydney, not the most alented bunch of players around, but don't they have a go. I just wish Melbourne had that attitude.

"Hear -hear" totally agree with your sentiments, that is what is missing from the Dee's

I have to agree with you, Schtacker, are we serious quoting Winston Churchill !, this is footy, a game, but a lot of people get very passioate about it. But having supported MFC for 38 years I have found the passion being ground down by poor performances time and time again. Name another team which has such dreadful lapses of form, both shocking performances in games and strings of losses together, look at how we have imploded in the last 2 seasons just when the top 4 or end top of ladder was within sight. When we play well everyone is happy but I despair of the way the team plays when things are not going well. Other teams have injuries, that is part of the game. The last game I went to was the Geelong - Melbourne final the year before last. After a heroic last few games to the season we made the finals and I went to that final and after that game I wanted those 3 hours of my life back. They were woeful. And that was a final. I doubt I will attend any games this year.

Yep, this is really crunchtime, lose this match and it will be a long dark season, win and we still have a chance to get back on track, although I doubt we will repeat last year. But you never knw, but we HAVE to start this week ! If they can't put in 100% this week then I am despairing for what will make them do so

Our backline will never win us matches, at best they can just hold a team. We have to win it in the midfield and start delivering the ball forwards with some accuracy. I give us only a 30% chance of winning this week, I am not sure we have seen the worst of this bad run yet. A win would be fantastic but I really thought they would make a stand against Geelong and they did not. With more injuries our only hope is that some incusions can spark the team.

Michael Voss seems too nice, Melbourne coaches have always been too nice, Northey was good because he really got stuck into them, they need someone tough who will not tolerate mediocre performances. No-one comes to mind but lets hope the team can pick itself up and do well enough to make this speculation unnecessary.

I have to agree with most of what you say. I have tried hard to support another team (Sydney) but you can't get away from the team you support as a kid. You are lucky in that you saw them win a flag, I followed them for 18 years before they even made the finals (87, but that was fun). Problem now is that if they sack ND and go for young new players we will be looking at another 3-4 years before they will be in a position to threaten the top 4. I really thought before this year that they had a good list. How has this happened. It does appear there is a losing culture. Other teams seem to get better under adversity, but not Melbourne. I don't expect them to win every week, especially with injuries, but you want to see them having red hot go and not the appalling basic skill errors.

Can't drop them all (mmm, not a bad idea though !) , but we need several changes so players who are not performing realise there is a price to pay. Bizell, CJ, Byron P in plus one new player is worth a try. Pity if Sylvia is injured and Moroney ! Can things get any worse !

When you support MFC it pays to have a long memory so you can remember the (few and far between) high points. Like the 1987 finals ! I must admit today at half time I expected a 100 point flogging so I guess the fact that did not happen is some small consolation ! But we did win 11/12 last year so we must have been doing something right then. (But we lost twice to Carlton !!). Freeo are under pressure at 0/3 too so both are in the same boat, lets beat them next week and at least get some hope for later in the season.

I'm used to this type of performance having followed the team since the 70's. If you want to support a team that puts in 100% for 100 minutes don't follow the Dee's. They are all too nice and accept sub standard performances. However things will turn around this year, I suspect this is rock bottom. Probably would be better if we did finish bottom and get some draft picks. Maybe this year we will have our slump early and not lose the last 5 games !

Have enjoyed reading all your posts having just found the forum, as a Dees follower since 1969 I have seen all of this happen before. MFC has a culture where its best is very good but its worst is very very bad. It is very frustrating to follow them ! However we all need to take a deep breath and accept that the next few weeks will be tough. It will turn around but we will be lucky to be in the run for 7th or 8th place at best this year. Once we get a win or two on the board things will look a bit better. They are better than they are showing now. But ND has to try something different, running around in circles handballing to each other won't do it.