Forest Demon

I tend to agree. Hopefully Roos relishes the challenge and decides to sign for 4 years, and all required players such as Frawley and Hogan can follow suit. PJ also. Unfortunately, I don't think this will happen.

Georgiou and Pedersen were excellent down back. We lost this one in the midfield. 6 - Pedersen 5 - Georgiou 4 - Tyson 3 - Cross 2 - McDonald 1 - Watts

Pathetic effort in this last term

This Mitch Clark situation is a true ball breaker. Completely ignoring his personal issues because I have no idea, but from a purely selfish point of view, we can't afford to lose one of our best two or three (arguably most) best, most important and inspirational players, especially given the lack of quality and heart on our current list.

So many Melbourne players lack the ability to get ball to boot quickly and effectively. Other players have that ability to get a kick off quickly when under pressure, or create a bit of space with sharp lateral movement and quick thinking, while so many of our players just don't have that ability. Fooked if I know why.

He needs to improve his pace/acceleration/agility if he is going to make it as even a middle tier AFL player. These are hard areas to improve, whether he is playing in the firsts or at Casey. My best case scenario is that they come out of nowhere and say Jack is struggling with an ongoing hip injury and is sitting out the rest of year, would at least give me hope something might improve.

Huh? I stated you said he was going through the motions, which he isn't. I then added he has taken his work rate to another level, which he has.

I couldn't disagree with you any more about Nathan Jones, and I think it is a ridiculous assertion that he is going through the motions. He has pushed his workrate to yet another level this year and I think he is unfairly copping your understandable disappointment at the team. But, Jones aside, I definitely agree with your assessment that the list is full of downhill skiers and losers. I wish opposition teams who beat Melbourne, would at least have to cop a physical battering from a desperate side to get the job done. But most weeks it is a case of a 10 to 15 minute onslaught from the opponents and then the rest of game just meanders along. When opposition teams don't put the cue in the rack is when we end up with thumpings like Essendon last year where they just arse whipped us from opening bounce to final siren. EDIT: should add I was lumping Cross in with Nathan Jones as one of the only ones willing to dig in

I think pulling names out of a hat would have been more successful than Prendergast

Nathan Jones was brilliant except two or three poor moments. Most others were shite except two or three ok moments.

A bit of me dies every time Watts 'competes' in a 50-50

Sam Mitchell has great lateral movement, one of the best in the league. And coupled with a great footy brain make him a great player. Unfortunately Jack just looks like a plodder. Not sure where it all went wrong to be honest.

Dunn has to stay back. It would effectively take one of our only currently effective players out of the game.

To be fair to the commentary team, they had to earn their money today. That would have been a ball breaker to call.

We were destroyed in the first quarter because we didn't turn up. We were then soundly beaten for the last three quarters simply because we had no forward line and were just generally shite.

Pulled his finger out after quarter time. Too little too late though.

First 15 minutes were absolutely pathetic.

I dare anyone to watch west coast's first goal and tell me this bloke is giving his all. Thought he was staying until watching him go through the motions in the first quarter. Gutted.

"And we have a game" Dwayne Russell as Melbourne kick a goal to lead Richmond mid way through the last quarter. What a condescending [censored].

As Roos said we haven't had the luxury of letting young guys develop in the VFL. Ideally Toumpas would have played last year almost exclusively at Casey, and start this year there aswell until, as you said, his form was just too good to ignore.

Hawthorn have murdered everyone that has faced them this pre-season and we were certainly no exception. Reality check for the playing group, but perhaps more so for the fans, especially those who are talking percentage against St Kilda.

Huh? playing Hawthorn was not our choice. But even if it was, it is not a bad idea.

Hawthorn have been [censored] hot all pre-season and are obviously the depending premiers with a strong side in, so not expecting a win. Just want the boys to fight and limit the damage, rather than copping a 10 goal plus thumping.

I have a wife and am still doing the same thing. At least you don't have anyone nagging you to get up and do the dishes from lunch.

As much as it sucks, we shouldn't be expecting too much from a kid in his first real year anyway. The lack of fitness for Clark and Dawes hurts more, but at least our midfield brigade is at full strength. That is the most influential area of the ground.