Wiseblood

This is number three. @Nasher is going to have a busy night at this rate. The pressure on Goodwin comes when the bloke gets a fair run at it. He's already lost an AA ruckman for most of the year, we lost our second ruckman halfway through this game and we've had key players missing through suspension. This is just... silly. No idea why he would be under pressure or why you would even insinuate that he would be.

You have to feel for Jake. Finally gets a chance at an extended run at it and he injures himself. Some people have no luck. Obviously if his injury keeps him out then you might assume Pedersen comes into the side to play that role. Jordan Lewis will also come back in as well. So, for me at the moment: In: Lewis, Pedersen Out: Smith, Spencer (both inj)

Here's another panic station thread after a loss. We could have a record of them tonight.

Assign what? What in the world are you talking about?

Have another drink, Dan. He was injured early, stuck it out and still gave us something. Took some fantastic contested marks in the third term and was still able to contribute. Yet another silly, panic button thread after a loss.

You may be right there, and he only had 11 touches and didn't hit the scoreboard, but he also laid 6 tackles so he certainly put on plenty of pressure. He worked his way into the game. If we could combine the offensive skills of Kent and the defensive pressure that JKH brought tonight then we'd really be on to something.

That was the big one for me, RTG. Without Watts as a target we allowed them to pick off many of our forward entries in the third term, and we did exceptionally well to push the lead out to 20 points in the third term. Then we ran out of juice.

So, coach, what should we have done to adjust? Keep in mind we're two men down, one of which means our second tall forward needs to play in the ruck which leaves us with one tall target to kick to. Their ruckman is far taller which allows him first hand on the ball. Go.

How so? We can't plan for having 2 on the bench for the second half. Up until that point we were well and truly dominating and, thus, you would argue Goodwin had made the right changes.

Agree with all of that, red. We had nothing left to give and with Nankervis able to get first hand on the ball it meant they held sway when they needed to. We could do little about it. I'd like to see you adjust when your ruckman goes down, again, and another is sent to hospital with broken ribs. Not to mention Petracca on one leg. Silly comment.

Hunt, Oliver, Neal-Bullen, Harmes... these are the guys who stood up tonight and stuck at it. ANB with 21 touches and 10 tackles, Oliver with the slick hands, Harmes with some good pressure and Hunt is a star. Great return from Hibberd who will only get better from here and Watts put in a wonderful effort in the ruck when he was called upon to do it.

Oh, Melbourne. I could be angry, but I can't help but be proud. 2 men down for most of the night, one of them our ruckman (again) and we just didn't have it in us. We can argue about skills on a slippery night, and a whole host of the usual, but while the loss cuts deep I can't help but be proud. We were totally out on our legs and they ran over the top of us. There was almost nothing we could do. Chin up boys and bounce back next week.

Agree mate. We tired there in the last part of that term but we toughed it out. We just need to give everything we have for the next 30 minutes. I reckon we can do it, and it will be a fantastic win if we do!

Wife said as he came in to kick it - "He'll miss this." Could be the best things she's said all year.

They're going to get another late one here for [censored] SAKE!

Just have to hold here, can't give them a late one.

Why? It worked... it got him the goal...

Clayton Oliver, take a bow. He made that goal through sheer bullock work. Unbelievable.

Yes. What the hell was JKH doing there? So stupid. You're kicking yourself in the foot with stuff like that. Such a big chance to make an impression and you do that.

Amen to that, Clint!

The Tigers are rubbish. Put them away Dees!

And then he goes BOOM! Pick someone else in our forward line to pot, it might work again!

I was so disappointed too as he's started the quarter really well.

Okay.

We're doing everything right... except put that dominance on the scoreboard. Tigers are very average but we've kept them in the game. We need to go out there in the third term and put them to the sword. Lots to like about our side though. We're young and we still lack composure and good skills under pressure at times, but to see names like Harmes, Neal-Bullen, Stretch, Oliver etc as our leading disposal getters can only be a good thing.