Ollie fan

So 10 th can sneak in at the expense of 7 th? How is that fair?

He has had two topliner defenders; the rest of our great defence was due to a system and the system is entirely down to the coach. How many times have commentators over the last few years referred to how well Melbourne was set up behind the ball? But in terms of personnel: I disagree with you. And Geelong's personnel were probably better overall in defence - and certainly in attack. Most commentators think that Brisbane and WB have had pretty good lists too.

Looking at the highlights, it is amazing how he could get into space in a lead. His understanding of forward play, and his reading of what was happening to the ground, was exceptional.

Neitz was playing in defence then - but the forward line also had Sean Charles and Martin Pike.

After 1994, the opportunity was lost. Jako was finished, and in the 1995 preseason Schwarz did his knee and Lyon did his back - I think it might even have been in the one training session😭

1994 was the year that got away - I've always thought so. Balme wanted them to "share" the footy - ie handball far too much, and as a result we lost a lot of games before he wised up, and finished in the lower half of the draw for the finals. If we had played to our ability, we would have finished at the top or very close, and not had to go to Perth. Schwarz was injured taking a speccy in the second final we played. Jako was already gone with his back problem. In the two finals we won we showed that we were the best team in the comp. Anyone who can get hold of a replay of the final vs Carlton should watch it - and weep. The 1994 team was magnificent in its personnel - dare I say it, better than 2021. Wasted.

The real question is: why were we so bad in Alice? I don't know what was going on there but that is NOT the benchmark to start from. We can win because our backs are better than their forwards, and our forward line is starting to work- thanks to Kozzie, Melksham and hard work by the others.

If we bring effort to every game we can end up 4th or 5th. Brisbane are not that good and are at best 50/50 this week. The future is all in our own hands.

Next year Will Verrall should be starting to make his way

So underrated. It looked to me like Scott started the game with his very tall forwards going up the ground to draw May and Lever with them, and destroy our defensive structure. And it worked. But Goody somehow turned it around, got our structure back on track, and we kept them to about 3 goals for the next 2 1/2 quarters, until the incredible effort told on our players. He covered the loss of Max by alternating relatively unknown "ruckmen" against Draper, and adjusting our centre square setup, so we held our own in clearances. And as happens so often, there players, who obviously love him, produced an extraordinary effort and showed the opposition up. A totally underrated coach.

Picket fence right behind him. Haven't seen him on this thread yet.

My thoughts exactly. Noone will.

You are crazy. He is competing and contesting and is vital.

Makes up for the gift 50m goal to Langford

This "outstanding list" stuff is so often used to bash the coach. The truth is: we had and still have 3-5 absolute champions, and quite a few good players behind them. But so do our competitors!! Eg Carlton have had Cripps and Walsh, Weitering and Curnow. Footscray have many good players starting with Bont. Brisbane have got many good players starting with Neale but all around the ground. Etc etc etc. We are not the only team in the league and premierships are not given for the asking. And we have had some bad luck at critical times, most notably the injury demolition of our forward line at the pointy end of last season, not to mention what happened to Gus. Time to move on. We have won a flag, we have been consistently right up there, we are regularly pointed to as a model of defensive setup, and we have brought in a heap of good young players to take us forward. Let's support them!

As for the general thrust of this thread: Henny-Penny, the sky is falling, the sky is falling. No it isn't. We will crack in on Saturday night and beat them.

I just don't understand this post - unless Jnrmac is saying that we should have played Jordon and Bedford more often, and thus kept them. The thing is, if they weren't first 22, why would they be picked? Should we have dropped a first 22 player back to Casey just to play an inferior player? And clearly, they weren't seen as first 22 - at the time, quite rightly.

And TMac

The series is great. Vandenberg was a real favourite of mine and his injury was a dreadful shame. One of the many many MFC foot injuries - why is that?

Spot on.

I agree; May was often a metre or two behind. You are harsh on Oliver. He combined with the others to keep Reid to minor impact.

Love this post. 71 to 22 at half time and he finds only things to whinge about.

One thing our players need to learn is how to demonstrate that they are being infringed. I'm not joking about this: eg if you are being blocked, throw your hands up in the air and make sure the umpire sees what is happening. Ben Brown has always been a master at this. There is nothing wrong with it and I am not calling for staging: just making sure the umpire sees what is happening.

This is a joke, right? Fritta is still our leading goalkicker, I believe, and Petty took 5 contested marks.....

5 contested marks, anyone?? He will find his accuracy soon.