Deemania since 56

He must be wise with the bickies he's paid. Good on him. Shows great common sense not to fall for the exclusive 'car' syndrome at his age.

'Anyway, he will be selected for the team based upon pre-season form', says Goodwin. Comforting....

At the end of the day (season), you are probably correct about this. It still is a formidable combination of players. But sometimes, I just wonder how, with this profile of footballing equipment, the team might be coached and selected by: Roos, Daniher and even the very successful Ian Ridley? ( Roos' defensive emphases is what is needed right now. )

You betcha, they were clean. Over surprising distances as well as close-in. Easy goals were the killer - had these been stopped, we would all been drinking a few too many beers this week in celebration. There just was next to nil running from our backline so the ball was pumped back in for another scoring mission by Geelong.

I get your meaning Praha. And Ding, these matters are not about 'right or wrong' but more the thoughts and observations internalised by an astute interpreter of the game. We do not need to criticise one another quite so much on DL - and yet we all continue to so do - as it is one base of support for the team and Club. Opinions matter, varied as these may be.

The game, entirely through, was very winnable for Melbourne. By the middle of the last quarter, had we stuck to a plan that covered Geelong's momentum and challenges, we should have been a good deal further ahead than we were, and the critical scoring that we are capable of should have prevented Geelong's surge. Yet, we let them stay with us on the scoreboard, to come back through miskicks, loose play, hopeful disposals and other coverage considerations for the 4 quarters. Now those elements must be reinforced as negative lessons for the whole year - that was the implication to which I referred. It is difficult to posit a more accurate analysis on this conundrum of our play due to the number of variables that the game of football can herald. It was there last year, the year before and the year before that and yet, it is lesser now than it had been previously. That does not say that it no longer exists, mind you. It does indicate that there really is quite a way to go in terms of playing defensive football when it might count towards the neck of the bottle - the final siren outcomes. This is not negative football in the slightest, it is 'shutdown' football that encourages offensive action and further scoring because we might be in a position to take advantage of the domination of the game itself. I speak in 'ideals' because that might represent the control of circumstances to enable success. I look forward to such levels of play and success in future matches to come, as I guess most MFC supporters would. It does not lessen the importance of mere, ordinary performance; this must be better controlled across a game. Tolerance of such is not the domain of a keen supporter and the belief that the coaches will bandage such characteristics of play invalidates supporter expectations and hopes. Positive performances do not necessarily need to be mentioned here as we all acknowledge those contributions in real time and on post-event reflection.

Some good things happening there. Some good discussion, too. Think that I would like Melksham to replace Hannan - but this could be the week that Hannan kicks a bag! Salem needs a bit of toughening and is often lost in gatherings around the ball - possibly needs some AFL time to hone his game but skills are excellent. The bench will be critical, again, for success. I must admit, it would be great to see something of Baker or Spargo. I'd think on form shown across the 2nd half against Geelong, that Wagner might be a good bench warmer to come on in a mid/fwd slot when players are tiring.

That was impressive, yes.

Spoke with Oskar on the way to the ground. Looks a fit, strong and keen member for the team, heh?

Thanks

But have the players learned anything? Around 6 players went missing quite frequently, losing their opponent for some other objective that left the team exposed and in some parts of the ground, undermanned. I'd like to think that one lesson could cover the gaps and lapses. Until Viney, TMac return, it is going to be very tough at best. Are we too good to have a place for Brayshaw, Tyson. Frost?

Yep, quietly is the big word.

Thought it was pretty good, with OMac on the bench, as well. Hey, don't talk too much about this in case the other team finds out.

Out: Maynard, OMac, Garlett, Hannan In: Frosty, Brayshaw, Tyson, Bugg, I/change Bench: Spargo

Most unlikely with this little black duck.

The game, in a nutshell. Don't give it an elaborate name folks, 'Uncontested...", just call it '...run into space..." all over the place. Lead your opponent to redundancy.

Not sure that I am any richer for reading all of this thread, and obviously, the protagonists are not any richer for taking part in this thread. Think I will go to have a pot of tea, a scone and a short nap for the hell of it.

The composure problem seems to be at the centre and chf areas. Given timely and triangulated fast leads, this could be augmented by the three good runners and passers that we have (Hunt, Melksham, Harmes and now, Wagner) aided and abetted by Mr Conflict Resolution: Bugg. Our forwards need to do the same ... triangulated leads for the likes of Garlett, Hogan and now, Fritch ... aided and abetted by Hannan and Pedo. I cannot see the likelihood of any team beating that style of combination. Other players could just join in with their contributions, as required. It would sure beat the current system of sitting on your heels trying to guess where the 'bomb' is going to land and then running into a congested pack mentality to shoot at goal from any residual angle - if at all. These leads, particularly those not selected as an avenue forward could realistically act as shields against defenders left, right and centre, whatever the case in need might be.

Absolutely and the lack of talls was highly evident, even for spoiling. Frost had to be in the team against Geelong. TMac was sorely missed. Of our smalls, if Brayshaw had been in, and Tyson, and Kent, I'd reckon we would have spoiled far better and prevented many of the little chip-kicks that the Catty Puts succeeded in to keep possession and then progress goalward. We could have been celebrating a win - it was that close - but for poor selections at both ends and across the midline. Someone, please take Goodwin aside and let him know his mistakes...

1. Selection without Brayshaw, Frost, Bugg, Tyson is fraught with danger in a weakened team 2. Kicking and moving with accuracy needs immediate improvement 3, We actually won the game except on the scoreboard, it was a great game except for the biased umpires, we had too many passengers across the game.

Nope, the discrimination between the two past rules is still too close to establish - perhaps deliberately - and one cannot rely on an umpire to get it done correctly, nor the vast numbers of fans who realise that if in possession of the ball with a delay holding onto the ball once tackled/legally held, and then illegally releasing the ball without kick or handpass it hits the ground WTF does an umpire spread his arms, low down as if it were a dropped ball, not a throw and for holding the man, why does the umpire grab his shirt at the hips? Dropping the ball is now ' illegal disposal' and the semantics no longer matter to the purist. Any other interpretation gives a distinct advantage to that rotten sod who is in possession of the ball and who cannot legally release the ball so he drops it like a hot-cake and so often gets out of gaol - particularly if he plays for Essendrug, Carlscum, the Filth or in this case, the Catty Puts. Stating the obvious, there is no 'dropping the ball' so depending on how much the umpire wishes a particular side to 'win or be evened up' it is either recognised or it is not recognised; that is the gambol that the player in possession exploits against legal disposal protocols.

It was a great game, ignoring the outcome, if possible. Umpiring was atrocioius, however.

Bugg would have had a field-day against Geelong. The kind of rough 'n tumble that he thrives upon. He stop a few along the way, too.

Absolutely stupid use of the ball to 'bomb' and it is costing us heaps of scoring certainties. Our forwards have legs and require passes to space. As for Wagner, he was orienting himself to the game in the first half and through some excellent decision-making came out after half-time with resolve and determination. I thought his second half was 'inspirational' as well; in fact, I was amazed at his skill development, poise and placements. This guy is a driver for us that needs a few more games to bring it out across an entire game - through confidence. I have three of these types in mind to be almost unstoppable: Harmes, Hunt and now, Wagner. Mobile storm-troopers to feed the forwards.

As noted earlier in re-capping the match, I was right behind Lewis when this 'trip' occurred. The umpire, deaf as blazes due to the crowd protests for the exaggerated penalty, must have thought Lewis swore at him. Hence, the severity of the penalty. In other words, umpire error once again. No MFC player would ever swear on the field, anyway. It is noted as a general observation - even amongst some Geelong fans nearby - that these two umpires did everything that they possibly could to keep Geelong in the game from the start of the first quarter. This 'evening-up' of the game reached its first climax across the second quarter and then, in highly questionable decisions in the third quarter from which they did not score. It happened again in the final quarter and was represented by not recognising 'holding' and 'dropping the ball' decisions against some very desperate and rule-abiding MFC entries and defensive play. It left one wondering how could a brash new-comer like Melbourne do that to our beloved team of champions, Geelong?