Wiseblood

Thanks, I got your point of view the first time.

We need to be careful at the end of the season. With star players re-signing and the few others left signalling intentions to stay or play somewhere that isn't Melbourne we need to evaluate what's left and whether it will be worth it. There will be some young players floating around who might be worth a look, particularly at GWS and Gold Coast. Their star players won't come but there are still come quality players up there who are either not getting a run, out of form or have struggled with injuries who would be well worth a look for the right price. I'm sure if we shake the tree hard enough something decent will fall out. But I agree with the others also that our top priority should be to hold on to the good young kids we already have and that we draft shrewdly again as well. If we look at how we did last year then Brayshaw and Vanders look to be great players for our future, Stretch and ANB are progressing well even if they are still a little green and, once fit, Petracca should slot in nicely. If we can draft 5 worthwhile players and nab a decent free agent or two then we will be looking good.

The last bit is the key. When we can work out how to do it then we will see that improvement and confidence grow quickly. They just need that belief.

Go right ahead and see it that way old dee. I know you like the negative stuff. But if you can't see the difference in our side compared to 2012 and 2013 then you're blind.

Both sides were evenly matched going in at 3-7. St. Kilda's midfield has been in better form than ours, while you might say our defense has been a little better than theirs. Both teams have a great forward who kicked goals and, in the end, it came down to a lack of communication and leadership in the dying moments to get the job done. To suggest we only played well for 1% of the game is laughable and wrong. The game ebbed and flowed all day with both sides taking momentum at different stages in the game. Our last quarter was poor, yet we hanged tough and stayed in the contest. There is no sugar coating those last 40 seconds that will haunt everyone associated with the club, from players to supporters, for the rest of the season, but there is plenty of proof that this isn't the same Melbourne side of years gone by.

Take your negativity and shove it. Add something constructive jnr or let it go. We all see it differently.

This is pretty much it. His taps and work around the stoppages is pretty good and, while his tank is not flash, he generally gets to most contests well. Plus his kicking is the best of the 3 although that's not saying much.

Also - I don't know if this has been mentioned in the thread already, but something has to be done about our kick ins. They are bloody atrocious. We might spot up the odd player once every so often, but our strategy continues to be Dunn chipping it to himself, running a bit and then kicking it to about 60m out on the boundary. More often than not the ball came straight back in and we were under pressure again. Surely, after all this time, we can work on doing something else? The Saints, on numerous occasions, kicked out to free players who then ran and set up play further down the field. I'm loathe to be critical but we are SO predictable in this area. I'd rather see Dunn just boot it up the guts with a torpedo than do what he is now as it's clearly not working.

Absolutely heart breaking stuff. As a club we still make silly errors that no other team, bar Carlton, would make and it's so hard to watch. However... If we choose to look at the positives there is plenty to find. Jimmy Toumpas' best game for the club. Jesse Hogan kicks 5 goals. Viney blankets Steven. Brayshaw smashing tackles. Dom Tyson's last quarter where he ran his guts out. Our backline standing up under immense pressure in the last quarter. Big Max, apart from dropping a few marks, showing that he CAN be the number 1 ruckman at the club (and some of his tap work is sublime). Bernie once again showing he was an excellent acquisition. Howe's ripping second half. Watts backing up from last week with a terrific performance and some wonderful skills. Yes, we had players who struggled but with the injuries it's something we just have to swallow. Riley and Michie, along with M. Jones and Bail, aren't the future. Stretch and Neal-Bullen, still a way off AFL pace, will be better for the run at this level. Tough loss to swallow but we've come along way. We needed better leadership but I feel as though someone like Nathan Jones will learn from today's game. We need to be better in those situations. Bring on the handbaggers next week.

McDonald will play on Riewoldt and Dunn will take Bruce. Howe and Grimes will probably take those mid size type forwards (Grimes on Membrey for example) and that will have it covered. We've made the mistake before of going in too tall and I think this week we've got the mix just right.

What, that he is sooking about games he hasn't deserved to get?

Let's hope they do better than the previous two best mates to run out on to the ground together for the MFC (Trengove and Tapscott). I like the changes as the Saints' strength is their midfield and we've brought in basically five mids to help counter this. We still have more than enough quality, on paper, to beat them. Have a good feeling that we will.

Our run with injuries hasn't helped. Once we got a few there wasn't much else to choose from.

If we can win enough midfield ball then Garlett and Hogan can kick a winning score against this mob. Sounds simple but their backline is nothing to write home about and if we can keep Steven and Armitage relatively quiet then we are a huge chance. McDonald was filthy with his game on Cloke last week and will be much more suited to playing on a guy like Riewoldt. He will bounce back and have a ripper!

Vanders is certain to miss, still waiting on the rumours about Viney. He ran out the game ok so if he has in fact got a fractured leg then he is one tough cookie.

We are giving that effort on a more consistent basis though. Those calling for a massive clean out are a little off the mark though - there will be a clean out, but we clearly have more quality on the list than we have had in years. We still have some handy players to return as well.

I've never seen someone post about the same thing so many times in one day. We get it. Roos didn't man him up as he tried to use the extra man elsewhere, and it didn't work. We just need to hope Roosy realises that he can't do that with the team in it's current form.

Disappointed with the loss, and allowing the loose man across half back hurt us, but I can't fault the team or the direction we are heading in. Our midfield stood up today. Vince, Jones, Cross, Viney, Brayshaw were all excellent. Toumpas had 20 touches and, while he still panics a little with the ball in his hands, he is slowly gaining in confidence. Big Gawny was great in the ruck and is more mobile than Spencer and Jamar and after a poor start Wattsy was better as well. We were sunk by Cloke and a quiet day from both Hogan and, to an extent, Garlett. Our bottom few players out there today didn't do enough either. Newton and Riley has minimal impact and M. Jones offered little when he came on. Hopefully Vanders is fit for next week, we regain Tyson and beat the Saints.

I can't believe it still needs to be said.

Had a big third term Jack. Showing how important he is to our side.

Fitzy with probably the worst rushed behind we're every likely to see. Hopefully not a momentum killer.

Sensational vision from Gawn with the handpass too. Great stuff. Bernie Vince has been IMMENSE today. Got him for Sylvia too. Gold.

Because he was under pressure. Gawn 100% to blame for that turnover. He had 2 options, missed them both.

That makes 10 goals from turnovers now.

Agreed, and there is room to improve. I thought Pedersen lifted in the second and Newton has laid 5 tackles to half time. They are contributing but need to do more in the second half for us to win.