kev martin

No, but pushing through will help strengthen his mentality, With a stronger mind it becomes agile and doesn't get caught in anxiety, the responses become natural, "in the zone". Being "in the zone" helps hit the mark as well as make the right decision. Hit Max and maybe we win. Be out of the zone and he misses Max. Small things lead to the big picture when the margin for errors is small.

I don't mind him "resting" as a forward, which must increase his game time. Can also help him develop his forward craft in order to be a maestro/elite. I think his best will come. Am looking forward to seeing it happen against Port.

Gee, if he hit up Max in the last (overcooked his pass), we may have got over the line. I think it is about mental strength and mental agility. This can be developed or show cracks in the training process. I see cracks in that regard.

Training standards are important. Light banter is great in the recovery time, but when in the act I don’t think it is appreciated especially when it is about struggling. Not so outrageous an opinion, I reckon, though more of a exaggeration, of an assumption, from a little snippet I also wonder if that kicking is about his mental strength, which could also be reflected in his lack mental fortitude to push through exercises. I agree that he attempts to do too much at times, and that's when he gets a bit panicky. Addit: I don't work, haven't for at least 20 years. We aren't all made of the same stuff. Let's hear it for group diversity. Hip hip, ...

Seem some are having a go about no substance. I think training reflects our gameday performance. What is wrong with the little stuff. Gave me an in to talk about him. Especially since he is doing plenty of media and looking after sponsors, and the team has "dropped off" in performance. When he is peak, we win and I was looking for a cause to his slight form shift. I feel that is the mountain.

What do you mean? Do you mean, I shouldn't talk about Tracc. So many of you attack the writer and not the substance. Something is wrong with that! Humiliate to prove your point, though I don't know what your point is. I wonder who is the pointless one? Me for talking about something a bit obscure, or some who call for nuffies, or say nothing to see here. Hardly any response about; training ethics, complaining when training and the effects on others, Tracc's slight form slump, Tracc missing his hit up kicks into the 50, Tracc having entitlement mind set, playing with smiles and not anger, I could have included our poor clearances and some selfishness entering our game. But many want to say nuffie, irrelevant and we as a collective have proven you wrong through mockery. I still don't know who the we are.

I think he is great at supporting and encouraging his mates. I remember the team song and Chandler, where he was very nurturing, it shows he has high emotional intelligence and empathy. He gets around all of them. My point was more about, is he getting physically lazy or acting inappropriately when the going gets tough.

Since there are no supporters for Tracc. I'll give it a go. Especially when others just give personal attacks or say nothing is "going on". It is obvious he has a big heart and shares it with his team and friends. Often appears to make them happier and included. Bringing high energy to the environment, with his antics. When it comes to a will to work hard, you only have to look at his excursion to the USA and the substantial change to his body shape, his work ethic and the performances he has been producing. He is also very vocal at supporting other hard work. He wouldn't do that if he wasn't doing the same. This season he has had some great games and his ability to impose himself have been enormous. Generally his yips infront of goal have disappeared. He has also gained more consistency this season. I can see him taking the rest of the season with a display that will shut all detractors up. Of course he is professional (other than taking the mickey in the media), has a strong work ethic, and with leadership abilities. I wouldn't expect anything less from someone with such high aspirational goals. He will tear Port apart. Go Dees

It is only a game. Adversity is yours or close people to you, having their life going down the drain, and coping with that. As a Melbourne supporter, I am well aware of where we sit in the AFL pecking order and will enjoy the matches whatever the outcome. Even enjoy watching some of the maestros, and great teams not of MFC. So I don't get your assumptions about me. Until Tracc gets it together, he will be seen as an almost! If I was playing on him, I'd be nicknaming him "plank". Remind him of his unwillingness at every possible moment.

Hang on, why attack me? I'm having a go at Tracc, defend him if you can. There is some truth behind every pun, joke or expression. Could be that he has a lazy nature and may be riddled with middle class entitlements. That should give you (the "we") something that you can rebute.

So you don't think training in a professional way is a reflection of our endeavours in the first halves, or, there is nothing to see here. A professional sportsman and group leader carries on during an exercise program, is reasonable. Again, if that attitude is useful why don't they all complain as they perform the rigours? Who is we? And Am I them? Bloody group thinkers. Have an opinion outside of the "we"and it is attacked. Unless you mean "nuffie" as a respectful name. Why not add something about training methods? Even school kids are encouraged not to winge when exercising.

Not just nuffies, but opposition players could niggle about being both mentally and physically soft, if they watched and listened to him train. If I was playing against him, would whisper, they'll make you plank if you fumble this. Every missed opportunity and its, that pain is effecting you, the track is waiting. All to distract and get in his head. Would love to see him angry and really put some pain on the opponents. He should be an enforcer and give Clarry and the lighter bodies some assistance. Hip and shoulder to the taggers, he is solid enough. Nuffies will have opinions. I take that mantle with the positive gist you may have meant.

What reason would you give for is slight form slump? Early in his career, was seen as carrying some weight. Now he has his long term contract he may fall into habits of not doing all that is necessary and a bit more. To be the best you really have to want it, as well as work hard off the field. If he hit his passes into the 50, I would be still saying he is our saviour. I question whether he is working hard enough (or has the will to do), on the track and not for sponsors and broadcasters.

Would rather they help him reach his potential. Has fallen off his high standards, on the field and perhaps off it. Early in the season he was compared with the best. Hope he can get back to that, as it will go a long way to the team being dominant again.

You can pay me to train, if you like.

As a leader, could be setting an example. Do we want the lot of them carrying on. He could be pushing himself more, not just getting through. Lead by example, train as you would play. Then take the training into game day.

No. Just would rather see a positive attitude to training, not complaining. Why not enjoy pushing your body. Develop some mental strength.

They are shuffling their feet. Going before the umps call play on. Early in the season they would get a 50. Sometimes the umps are slow to call stand.

Since seeing Tracc miked up at training, a little thing has been gnawing me. “I hate these things”, or something like that, he said when planking. I wonder why he didn't use more positive language. Such as; This will help me break through the pain walls. I'll do another minute, that way I'm sure to get the better of “add oppos stars”. I'll push through easily, then when you are under pressure Clarry, I can make skittles of your opponents. Not only that, but I can't see how the negative helps. Drains himself and others of energy. I know some of it was with humour, “I'm shaking”, but I expect our leaders to go the extra miles and drag the younger ones with them. Someone needs to take him aside and tell him about how to help push himself and others through the pain.

I can feel a panic. We should be getting better, not worse. Even the old problems are there. Not wanting to play 4 quarters, falling off in the time on periods, not converting from the numerous times we get it in the 50 arc, not getting the ball, allowing teams to go quickly through the middle, and most importantly not having a functional forward line. Hard to kill off bad habits. Hoping mental weakness doesn't come back as our label. Bathwater and getting ahead of themselves, has. They can't pick and choose when they want to go hard. Our leaders were able to change the style of game or switch the momentum during the quarters in the early part of the season, now we have to wait till the half-time rev up. It is good that they believe they can chase anyone down, but the other teams are getting full fitness and can now run out the game as well. We shouldn't get ourselves in that position. What happened to play angry? Looks like play "happy". Hoping it is just two steps backwards and we are now ready for a some improved development of our skills and game plan. Really we could be fine tuning but we are searching for answers. Panicking, because losing can be just as contagious as winning.

Don't agree, he gets plenty of looks at it. When he has a close job on his opponent, he gets the ball off them. When he has no close opponent he is still in there getting the ball. My problem with him is, the decision making. Often, he takes "them on" too much, trying to break tackles or his timing puts pressure on himself or the receiver. Needs to speed up and leave less margin for errors. Would be good if he ran or delivers to space when he has the ball (not alone in that area). A few need to be smarter when they have the ball. Agree with this. Vines can be a match winner or can turn the momentum our way when he is going. He also has a great connection with Gawn, give him time. Gawny is very flexible because of his marking ability. With a proper tall at full forward he can offer an extra tall in there, or play that defensive keep it in the attacking 50 game, or support the backline when needed. Play him everywhere. The small forward line isn’t working. We aren't smart enough to lower our eyes and kick to advantage. Bring in a stay at home tall. Not sure we have a like for like Hibbs replacement, Maynard retired. Possibly AVB, but they may be setting him as a mid.

We seem to want a wrestle before the ball goes. This keeps us close to the opponent, usually infront but with heat or the opposition read where we are trying to run to and shark it. Would like to see us run from them, so they can't get a touch on us, and when the ball goes, we push through/around the rucks and hope Max has the skill to feed us without preconceived plays. This may allow us to hit the ball with pace and also make it difficult for the opponents to read.

I can see us beating them. When we want to play, we can outrun any team. It is a shame we don't bring the grunt for the four quarters. I expect us to do that on Thursday. With a 5 day break the players won't have to dwell on our performance against GWS. Fire them up coaches. Show us we are improving and not going backwards as the season develops.

Are we getting big heads. Where was that final quarter effort in the first half? Need to play with endeavour and desperation right from the start. So many times they broke tackles. Where has our clean ball handling gone? Some passengers in the team. A confused Hunty, is he forward or back? Where were the regular small forwards? I like our game when we go fast. That should happen more during the early parts and then have tempo control. We are not playing to our strengths. Defensive structures are still working, and until the opposition works out how to pierce them, we will be there about. (Thought Petty did well, especially in the first half.) Good play Max, Langdon, Salem, Fritta, River, May, Lever, Jackson. Hoping we fix up our conversion from the inside 50's. Set shots need work.

When our stars get the ball, nothing gets going. They have to cause an impact, ending with goals. We need to make more opportunities and the forwards have to convert. Petty getting better. Hunt, Langdon and Salem doing alright. Max and Jackson playing well. Oliver and Tracc need to lift. ANB and Saprgs ok, where is Pickett. Hope the smiles are gone and we come out with fire. Win clearances make the turnovers. Go Dees.