Van Demons Land

100% agree with the comments regarding Fritsch. They need to order a taxi for him at half time and tell the taxi driver to just keep driving.

If the Dees think they're going to win this game against Richmond with a slow and methodical style, they need to think again. It's only a matter of time before the Tigers click and dismantle them. Why is Bayley Fritsch back in this team? What does he actually offer to this forward line anymore? Half the game gone and he is no matchwinner. In fact, in the words of Sgt. Schultz, I see nothing. Tigers by 12 if Melbourne doesn't find a way to change things up. They are there for the taking if they keep playing the way they are.

Yes, you are spot on. The assistant coaches methinks are also on the endangered species list. Simon Goodwin might be the head honcho but if he goes, the domino effect needs to happen with the assistants. The team itself is another big headache. A result of poor recruitment, unrealistic contract extensions and an ageing list of key players backed by no clear progression plan. Not looking forward to the Fremantle game, the Demons look lost and clueless.

So, Simon Goodwin reckons he's the best option to turn things around at Melbourne. Well, I beg to differ and just to put a little perspective on just how badly the Demons are performing at present, consider North Melbourne in comparison. The Kangaroos have only won one game (no prizes for guessing who that was against). They were beaten by the Dogs (by 16 points), beaten by Adelaide (by 36 points), walloped by Sydney (by 65 points) and then beaten by the Suns (by 52 points). At the time of writing their game against Carlton is not going well (they are behind by 27 points midway through Q2). So how is it that the largely beatable North Melbourne manages to horse whip Melbourne to the tune of 59 points? Taxi for Simon Goodwin please.

The issues for Simon Goodwin to solve are far deeper than just improving the team and getting a few wins under the belt. For starters the lack of efficiency inside 50 coupled with a poor forward line remains unsolved after 3 years or so. How does he suddenly solve that dilemma? And that's only one of a number of key issues. Don't think so my son. That's too big for you now. Move on and quit while you're ahead. Time for change.

Hardly a surprise to see the club struggling as it is right now. For the last 3 years the writing has been on the wall with so many obvious weaknesses tolerated and unsolved. Such as ... A repeated lack of efficiency inside 50, coupled with a weak forward line. A well-documented and ongoing issue which after 3 or so years still unsolved. Max Gawn. Undeniably, a great servant of the club on field but now an aged competitor. So, what is Plan B? What exactly is the progression plan relating to this key position? The heavy reliance on the once feared and respected Lever/May backline (not so fearsome anymore) The midfield engine including the likes of Viney, Oliver etc. Viney contracted until the end of 2028 and Oliver contracted until the end of 2030. Inspiring decisions or a bit of a worry? Second rate recruitment plan with maybe Lindsay, Langford, and arguably Jefferson showing glimpses of future promise. The rest are simply the fish that John West rejects. This season's recruitment can hardly be described as a masterstroke. On field fitness levels have gone backwards at a great rate of knots since Darren Burgess left the club. And who writes that marketing nonsense which then gets emailed to members and supporters after each round, like the one that just came through after the loss to Essendon and reads "Defeated But Determined". Give me a break. I for one shudder at the thought of a return to the days of mediocrity once again. This respectfully, is where the club has been by and large over the past 50 years, give or take. So now, Simon Goodwin thinks he's the right guy to turn things around. You may as well make that point No. 8 and add it to the list above. Just as well the Dees aren't a rock band because if they were, they would either be called Harrison Petty & The Heartbreakers or Stevie May & The Easybeats

No, I don't think so. Let's just say my face is the same as Christian Petracca's with how the club is playing its football.

I've supported them since I was 8. I'll be 67 this year. Irrelevant that I call them Melbourne, that's their name as a football club. The Demons, Dees, whatever. I say it as I see it and they are in all sorts, unless you see something else when they play?

talking about his presidency not his involvement as a board member. Bad timing for him as this team is in all sorts.

That's a very BIG if. Average game score over 4 rounds for Melbourne is 62. Average score against Melbourne over 4 rounds is 102. Essendon are in a rebuild but Melbourne is in a free fall.

Brad Green, who was a good, loyal footballer for the Demons, played his last game in 2012, and saw the team finish in a lowly 16th place that season. Talk about bad timing. He's not back 5 minutes and already, even 16th place looks optimistic. Simon Goodwin must be on the endangered species list because the only thing that will be gathering after Gather Round, will be a committee of vultures.

Seeing is believing. As a matter of fact, here are Melbourne's last quarter goals for the first 4 rounds this year ... v GWS (1), v North Melbourne (1), v Gold Coast (2), v Geelong (0). That's a total of 4 goals in 4 final quarters. In contrast, Melbourne's opponents recorded a total of 21 goals. That's 21 to 4. That statistic puts some perspective on just how poor Melbourne are so far after only 4 rounds. Add to that a low scoring first quarter against Geelong registering a total of 8 points followed by a total game tally of 46 points and it's very clear that Melbourne FC (which has been going backwards for the last year or so) continues to go backwards, only at a much faster rate. There's no papering over the cracks now.

Why does Simon Goodwin persist in continually picking Harrison Petty in the first team, when he is clearly and hopelessly out of form and out of sorts. Is the list depth so poor that this needs to keep happening. If so, his Bombers forward opponent will destroy him.

Your comments make sense. The so-called dynasty is over, and the club needs to take a long hard look at every player. But here are some of the typical problems with how Melbourne FC views its playing list. As much as I like Jack Viney, at 30 years of age, a renewed contract until the end of 2028 doesn't make a lot of sense, particularly when the game continues to evolve and a player like him doesn't seem able to adapt or adjust to new and/or modern techniques. The same can be said of Tom McDonald. Good player but very one dimensional. But, for some reason, Demon leadership don't see it that way. A good time to be playing for Casey right now methinks. A real opportunity to stake your claim, if you regularly exceed at your craft. Or at least that's how it should roll.

Agree. JVR looks immature and lost in the headlights at AFL level at present. Absolutely nothing to lose by dropping Fritsch as well. Sorry but unless he can regularly kick goals again, he is a yesterday man.