Engorged Onion

My take on our inability to ‘crush’ teams is that it will come and maybe only 3 or so times a year. Reason being, the game and how defensive set ups are resolved this days even compared to 3 years ago don’t allow for blow outs - which is great from a competitive competition point of view. It’s not like the late 00’s and early 01’s of GEELONG and hawthorn. And unfortunately when gcfc and GWS were blooding their youth - we had no development. I would have assumed GWS would have annihilated Collingwood based purely on paper - was not to happen. So it’s not just us... it’s every team - and I think supporter expectations (and maybe success starved Melbourne ones) are out of wack with the reality of the game these days.

Not to steal someone’s ip - but thought it was a cracker of a thread last week. 1. Hogan’s endurance and pressure 2. Hibberd was sublime 3. Somewhere somehow the momentum stopped - previously the other team would have got a goal or two in front. And then to jag 4 goals was a sign of something different.

Correct weight sir...

Funny, I am starting to warm to Wagner, yep the odd error, but I think he's getting a few consecutive games to get his head around it. Bugg presents really well and hassles (and I can forgive that miss, because every other player has also missed that kick) and Harmess, well, he can take a mark, I don't think he has too much of an ego, and is better than 'serviceable'... theyll come on in the second half (but then I guess they're just down hill skiiers)?? Agreed, let's hope the consistency comes for the second half.

its dewey... i doubt he's lazy about snagging a clean posession....

he tightened up with that first kick... i want him to do well, but jeez he turns it over proficiently in the middle of the ground...

many on here, who think he is as soft as butter...

thats fine mate... i think dew is quite relevant. Comme ci Comme ca.

A dewey ground...

The statements aren’t for the rest of the forum really... it’s to help themselves reduce their expectations so they can’t be disappointed... self protection psychologically. And that’s fine by me - 50 plus points - Fritsch to jag 3 and OMAC to waltz down from full back and tumble one through from beyond 50

The centre bounce drill would involve the rucks tapping the ball down to the mids and then a pass on to the forwards. A lot of the forwards ran under the ball, Just marrying up a couple of themes from what has been observed by those who attend training and the GFC match. Don't know what to make of the data (anecdotal evidence) but I'm sure someone can find a way to slate the coaching staff...

Each round is a danger game...but thats the same for every other side in the comp...

Nice work @Clint Bizkit

This is a stat that gives a warm glow... when was the last time we had a forward that kicked numerous goals against a particular opposition. I reckon maybe Brad Miller v the Saints early in his career for a couple of years...and maybe Neita prior to that. Mind you...the game has changed...lower the eyes lads.

Nice follow up, I was always a Darren Pritchard, Spiro Malekalis kinda guy...

I take your overall point...but Harry a success as a forward? Not even Harry would concur.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-27/how-the-crafty-cats-plotted-levers-downfall really helpfully article in being able to make sense of certain dynamics. Someone has already posted that - the defensive structure that underpins Jake is either a 7 man unit OR having someone that can beat bigger opponents in one on ones - in 2017 both TMAC and FROST both were the lowest ranking in this statistic in the top 50... the coaching panel clearly have some work to do, structurally and developmentally for Lever to play his best.

Ahhh, I only got to watch it from about 20 seconds before wagers tackle... if you've got a link -- id love it.

Hear Hear @Nasher. 184 < 3 - I'd rather lose by 3 points and have cliches thrown at the team such as 'brave' 'honourable' and 'was ours to lose' - than get smashed. As someone rightfully said, 4 points is more meaningful - but so is % as this is a marathon, and we just had a little calf strain.

1. Wagners tackle on Selwood 2. Wagners tackle on Selwood 3. Wagners tackle on Selwood

Thats the way it falls sometimes - if we won by 3 points the same issues are there to work on - FWIW I am happy that it wasn't a blow out, and presumably % at the end of the year will be meaningful.

pre game warm ups - as you run out to play...not the pre - pre game warm up, if you follow me

@Rusty Nails , not just rusty.... hard as...

3.20 start ESDT? Feels like the clock is going half pace - I’d hate to be a player...

The opposite of love isn't hate - its apathy - and I can see there is still so so soooo much love for Jack on this forum... keep kicking goals Jack, for you are the gift that keeps on giving! And my own personal view is - 10 years into his career - Jack needed a change of team (environment, culture, coach, teammates) for him to give himself the opportunity to be more consistent. It was never to happen within the team of Melbourne - the factors that drive the inconsistent behaviours are well spoken about, from development and support, but its not MELBOURNE as an entity that did this, its a range of individuals over a decade, including Jack himself .