Go Lordie

So, you're a fair weather supporter? Not sure we need more of those.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this but at the start of one of the quarters in the Essendon game JVR was giving a last-minute rev-up to the forward group. I think Melky had a few words after JVR but, fair dinkum, shouldn't it be players who are senior and have earned some respect be giving the rev-up messages, not a bloke who has had a total of 16 kicks in 5 full games? It looks like he is only in the side to give Max a 5-minute break each quarter. Grundy was doing that AND Grundy could at least take a mark.

We are getting better ar least I effort. Dees1911 is right though, wegive the ball away too easily because of poor skills. Our powerhouse midfield can't hit the side of a barn. Even CP5 stank it up tonight , lthough the effort was there. But, but, but. Bowey is up and firing, Salo has taken a step Chandler has been good ( less so tonight) , Langdon was super, Fritter was better, Melky also. However our fourth quarters are garbage. Question: is it Selwyn Griffiths' fault, or too many spiritless players?

They get the frees because they are first to the ball, generally by leading at the ball carrier. Dear JVR, please take note.

What are you people talking about? He's trying to implement a new plan with faster ball movement, but the players aren't delivering. Kicks straight to the opposition, no-one backing up to take a quick handball, handballs to the feet of team mates, and kicking poorly at goal don't win games. Our skills aren't that good and we don't have enough players who can take a contested mark. Is that the coach, the recruiting department or the development coaches?

How many of the thousands of Nibbler critics are wishing he was still a Demon high half-ward? Come on, own up!

Poor start, yes. But we are going to storm into the finals when we start clicking. We are not done yet.

We were better tonight. In with a chance before another Q4 fadeout.

Please stop catastrophising. Yes, it's bad right now but we still have some powerhouse players. Goodie needs to blend the new guys into the team and its new game plan.

Rebuild? What do you think is happening? Six debutants in two games is not a rebuild? Geelong doesn't rebuild. The Swans don't rebuild. They add to what strengths they have. They don't sell Petracca, Oliver, Gawn and bring in teenagers. Look at Hawthorn, North Melbourne - they are playing with enthusiasm. Our problem is mental, not physical.

It was impressive to watch the Suns move the ball. There always seemed to be a receiver running into position as the team mate with the ball needed to offload. It was a sort of cascading support plan that kept the ball moving in the right direction. Each player knew what support his ball carrier needed. It looked co-ordinated. Something to learn from.

Trac's body language wasn't off ( looking from the MCC member's stand). At times he was frustrated, disappointed at his inability to contribute in his normal manner.

This comment was unhelpful.

So the new coach will bring a group of champions with him/her? Nope, it'll be the same cattle with - as of now - three, maybe four players in form, six kids trying to find their feet and 15 blokes who can't kick straight.

Yes, sorry Dice. I was a bit indiscriminate in my comment. Apologies to XL and Hendo.

Still on an F1 note, it's hard to win with a squad full of rookies. Just like the Dees, all the F1 rookies had terrible gamedays on Sunday, too.

Can we get Oscar Piastri in on a mid-season transfer? At least he knows how to lead...

I thought we'd go Top Four this year. I'm thinking Bottom Four now. I reckon Anzac Eve will decide the wooden spoon.

Here's a thought. Maybe we could buy Oscar Piastri's contract from McLaren so he could play down forward. At least he knows how to LEAD!

Why doesn't JVR ever lead? Petracca goes down there in Q3, leads and gets a free. JVR waits at the back of the pack, waiting for the big bomb, which he never marks ( he's a two-grabber). Turner leads occasionally, but JVR.....

How many times in Q2 did we get run down from behind?

I hate to harp, but we have missed 5 set shots in the first half (Chandler, JVR, Langdon, Turner, Sharp). How are we supposed to win when we kick like that?

What's up with Fritter?

We played pretty well considering how many newbies we had, but that old Gawn bloke cost us the game with his 25 metre miss. Perhaps we should send him to kicking school.

Question for the umps: Is a knee in the back classified as a push in the back? Max often gets the front position, but this just allows the opposition to knee him in the back and take him out of the contest.