Wiseblood

Pretty much. I think he has a Plan A.5, if that makes sense, where we makes small changes or moves a few players around but it hasn't had the desired effect as yet. If our Plan A is excellent then you don't really need a Plan B as such, but at the moment our Plan A isn't good enough to stand on it's own against the better sides. The good thing is that can be fixed - let's hope Goodwin can do that sooner rather than later.

When was it not making sense before? I've already put forward my feelings and understanding of the matter, which you seemed to accept previously. I don't know what else to tell you.

You finding it that hard to hold a conversation with someone Steve that you've resorted to just quoting yourself... ?

That we didn't win by enough.

That's fair enough. I've posted quite a few times in other threads that I see the flaw in the gameplan and that I'm extremely hopeful that Goodwin can turn things around. I know our press leaves us far too open and I know that our efficiency going forward leaves plenty to be desired at the moment. I get it as much as anyone else. I just choose not to make wild, over the top statements about it (not saying you do, but you get my point.)

And here I was thinking we were starting to get along, SWYL? I could say the same about your views on the club - we could win a flag and you'd still find something to complain about from 1964. But that's life, mate. I see the issues we have with the game plan all too well. I just don't feel the need to make wild statements about them, or talk about Round 23, or the 'Norm Smith Curse' or how it's been happening since 1965. What's the point? It's a waste of time.

Yes, because I was just referring to Carlton in this instance, not the rest of the clubs who, at some stage this year, have had a run of goals kicked against them. Keep self flagellating yourself, Steve. It suits you.

Agreed, but it does go to show that we aren't exactly on an island here. For us, at least, we can see that the issue is fixable IF Goodwin and co. fix it in the right way. We have the personnel and we have the ability to play some great footy for longer periods of time. We just need to tighten the screws better.

I'd say it's stubborn, not dumb, coaching from Goodwin. They would have trained with these structures all summer and it would be hard to just chuck it all in at the sign of a problem. They tried to rectify it in the last term but by then it was too late. It's just as bad to constantly change a structure as it is to just stick with it. Seeing what is occurring and make the correct changes is hard to learn. Clarkson has been doing it for 15 years - when he saw what was wrong in the first term, he tweaked a few things and it made a huge difference. Goodwin is clearly still learning to do the same thing in just his second season and, as the last paragraph states, would have learned plenty from the weekend. His challenge now, and the hope for us supporters, is that he has learned from it now. No doubt he was thoroughly out coached on the weekend and he needs to learn quickly how to respond when the momentum turns, but the positive is that he CAN learn from it and he CAN work with the players to make things better.

We're on the edge of our seat, King of Football. Please fill us plebs in on the problems of the world. (For the record, it's an issue, but how does it compare to other teams? How often does it occur within a game? We're terrific at kicking a run of goals ourselves, so I don't think it's a huge issue, just one that needs to be addressed)

Yep. Particularly someone like the OP who wants to dig at absolutely everything. It's becoming a joke now. I heard the quote and Bernie was clearly having a laugh. Anyone with half a brain cell could have worked that out.

That's fine. If you think his performance has been poor this season then there's nothing wrong with that opinion. I think most of us have been disappointed in the tasteless way a select few have potted the bloke in the face of an injury. There's no need for that.

Jayden Hunt is keeping Jayden Hunt out of the side. From the moment the first JLT game began until he was dropped he was in horrible, horrible form. It had nothing to do with Jordan Lewis.

"I love Melbourne..." We love you too, Gus.

Go back and take a look at the posters who took some sort of delight in his injury. It will tell you all you need to know. Anyone who is happy to see one of our players injured isn't a true supporter of this club.

Probably not a bad thing for him to sit for a few games. He's not in the best form and this allows us to try a few different things without the stigma of him being 'dropped'.

I disagree OD on the basis that each team needs a few players like him. Out of our depth players he is one of the better ones and you need foot soldiers in your side. ANB fits the bill perfectly.

We can't have 22 stars in our side week in, week out. You need foot soldiers, and ANB is one of those. He knows his role, he plays his role and does it well (most weeks). His form has fluctuated a little this season but he's exactly the type you need in the side. Granted, we may have a few too many of those at the minute, but he is in our best 22 going forward.

Yeah, Selwood playing the entire last term through the middle meant he was significantly impaired. Nice try.

My mistake. I should have just gone with the fact that he's out of contract as season's end instead and played it safe. Cheers.

Isn't he a free agent? Sorry, it's late, I must have missed something along the way.

Depends what Freo offer him as a free agent. Perhaps if Freo offer big bucks, which puts us in a position to be compensated with a first round pick, the club is happy to get back into the draft or secure another first rounder to trade with? Total speculation there based on nothing at all, but it's a thought.

Clearly the quote is in reference to the fact that the Hawks held their structures far better than we did on the day. The manner of the loss is proof of that. As soon as the Hawks turned up the heat and we wasted a few chances we dropped our bundle a bit, didn't set up our structures as normal, and got the hiding we deserved for it.

Also, it's funny that Fox have gone with the above story, as the HUN has put an article up about how we're going to be chasing another big free agent at the end of the season. It's all click bait sort of stuff, really. So much water to go under the bridge before we even reach that time of the year.

They'll run with the Hogan story every year for his entire career until he either does the move or retires a Demon. Boring stuff. Brayshaw is the one that interests me, though. Would he be tempted to play with his brother? The club has been really supportive of him with his concussion issues and, in my opinion, handled it very well so that he was able to come back and play again. I'd be surprised to see him move, but in the same breath, not surprised that Fox Footy have put 2 and 2 together in terms of the link with his brother.