Gawndy the Great

Where has our energy gone? Last year we would run over teams and have some in store. Every team hunts us around the packs and outnumber us in the contest, forward and backline and we look flat and uninterested. Maybe the belly is full? We lose this and we fall back to the pack. Our game plan looks sketchy and our execution is slow and predictable.

This umpiring is driving me absolute bonkers

I was expecting a much more manic Melbourne around the ball. Pies look to be taking a page out of the Swans book. We are lucky to be in front.

Makes you think.

It’s not Noble. Well not entirely. The team has no culture and is devoid of leadership. They lack effort and intensity. The first thing any replacement coach would want to do is clean up the list again. If Noble does go, I hope Yze doesn’t put his hat in the ring there. The Norf situation is only territory for successful coaches who know how to rebuild an entire club. Only coach I know that has the creds is Clarko.

Who plays on Rainer next round?

He was there . Big smile and happy!

Not liking all these frees. A lot of soft ones

The intensity we need to bring should be comparable to what we delivered in the PF & GF games. Nothing less. We have a week to recover so nothing short of sustained pressure over 4Q is a pass, especially given the slander and negative press the club has been exposed to. If we can bring that, then i would agree with the OP. However, do not underestimate the intensity the Pies will bring. They will be playing high on confidence, they will be expecting a response so they will be ready. Challenge is to blow them out of the water early and put them on the back foot and questioning themselves. First quarter will decide the game.

The suspension was for drinking when he shouldn’t have been. Seems to be a pattern of behaviour but agree it will likely not change. Simple solution is to make sure he stays fit so we can avoid breaking this rule once again.

I am less concerned than I was previously. The ‘banter’ was in ill taste but it wasn’t as vulgar as what the media has made it out to be. Why let the truth get in the way of a good story? The violence is the only issue I have with it. They had a few, made a bad decision and are now sorry for it. I’m sure similar scuffles can happen on the training track as well.

If that’s what was said then this thing has been the biggest beat up yet. Yes there was a fight but all that nonsense about finals creates a fracture/division in the playing group etc is BS. The only thing was the brawl and that was dealt with swiftly. Sounds like they didn’t even get to eat. They probably should have had a Mars bar on arrival to settle the hanger.

My thoughts exactly. Hope Caroline is there in person.

A lot of players have to be on notice inc BBB, Sparrow & Spargo. As long as our forward line brings the ball to ground and the smalls hit the packs we should at least get some forward turnover goals. This was the main thing missing last week - something like 5 pts from turnovers the whole game when our whole game is about scores from turnovers shows how off the midfield and forwards were.

Its mind games. he will play.

I disagree. He unlike TMac or BBB can take a strong contested pack mark so would actually work well with TMac as the roaming forward.

If there was ever a time to let our footy do the talking now is it. No more [censored] around with this and that. We are approaching the business end of the season and we need to put the foot down and work our butts off.

He would be a great acquisition but why would he leave the Lions other than wanting to come home? Brisbane are not far behind Melbourne in the chance to a premiership so the only way we get him is if we pay overs, which we all know is unlikely unless someone is squeezed out. But with our forward line debacle I’d be willing to consider a few that I wouldn’t have previously.

Geez Gerard is a bit of weasel. I never had him as someone to continue to back up over a story. Robbo at least acknowledged Max’s leadership.

Apparently May had a crack at J Smith and Melksham stuck up for him… media really clasping at straws now.

If we ever had a post of the year thread, i would nominate this hands down.

That was a viscous and completely disproportionate and disrespectful performance from the media. I could only conjur images of seagulls to chips on the beach. Really shameful and disappointing. And Tom Browne what an absolute [censored] for incessant questioning on details which are not helpful in anyway whatsoever other than slander and headline grabbing. Max did such a great job in responding and i can see he's blood is boiling. I am pretty confident that an immense response will be on display on Monday.

i have no doubt it will be released 24-48 hours before the game. We deserve it tbh, however i do hope which ever media platform that gets ahold of it considers the impact it will have on the Big Freeze and that whatever they do will detract away from such a positive/worth cause and pursuit. I'm not holding my breath.

That’s strangely good journalism from Ralphy - wonder how our old mate Morris would have run with this.

Do you know which platform?