Dee-tonator

If Goodwin survives this utter humiliation, it proves that he is unsackable. Maybe only a coordinated fan boycott would bring the board to its senses.

Sorry, but all this praise is nonsensical for a team which has just suffered one of the most humiliating and shameful collapses in the history of Australian rules football, against a dud team at that. My three-word summary would not be printable.

Votes? After that pathetic, gutless, half-hearted, dismal, catastrophic display of ineptitude by the coach and players? Not likely. All I would add is that, based on the first three quarters, Gawn, Pickett, Langford and Fritsch did not deserve to be on the losing side. But even they were putrid in the final demolition quarter.

9-2-56 to 0-4-4. That surely must be the worst quarter ever played by the Melbourne Football Club. And Goodwin just stood there without a clue as to how to stop the avalanche. Surely he can't stay on for next season now.

Nothing left to play for except pride, and suddenly we look like a top-four side again. Magic from Fritsch, Petracca dominant, Oliver lively and Chandler lifting his game. Just forget the (justified) moans about Kellie Underwood, folks, and enjoy the Dees showing a bit of genuine class. Of course, one has to add the caveat that this is Melbourne and there are two quarters to go ..............

If May had been playing for Collingwood we would no doubt have had a different decision.

Round 2: Melbourne 66 North Melbourne 125. What does that say about us?

Two dud teams. We were the bigger duds. Onward and downward we march to the tune of Goody Goody.

Gambling plus sport = corruption. Just take a worldwide look at the many players and officials in cricket, soccer, boxing and even tennis who have been banned for illegal actions related to betting. Organised gambling is often a form of organised crime.

Lever already ruled out, according to the AFL website's injury list.

"I didn't mean to knock him out. I was trying to fracture his sternum". Those weren't Xerri's exact words but they more or less sum up his bizarre defence. Perhaps he isn't the brightest star in the AFL firmament.

Excellent summary. Maybe TMac deserves a special mention as well after his inexplicable recent exile.

Luckily he wasn't 15 metres out directly in front of goal.

Even Goodwin must surely see that TMac is currently an asset and Lever a liability.

Bowey – solid as usual. McDonald – fully justified selection. McVee – Struggled at times. Turner – becoming defensive kingpin. Lever – slow and ineffective. Langford – another classy display. Lindsay – some neat touches. Rivers – gained good ground. Salem – accurate with disposals. Langdon – did his job. Gawn – outgunned Xerri decisively. Viney – our midfield terrier. Sparrow – good work rate. Tholstrup – contributed very little. Oliver – looking hungry again. Petracca – superb final quarter. Melksham – matchwinning forward craft. Pickett – pace and style. Chandler – useful goal contributions. Fritsch – showed welcome accuracy. Van Rooyen - improved general play. Jefferson – impacted in contests. Windsor – had few opportunities.

6 Melksham – matchwinning forward craft. 5 Gawn – clearly superior to Xerri. 4 Petracca – superb second half. 3 Langford – cool and classy. 2 Pickett – mixed pace and skill. 1 Fritsch – some accurate kicking at last. Just missing out: Oliver and McDonald.

Both teams seem intent on making more mistakes than their opponents. Goal-kicking has, as usual, been atrocious.

Master of the one arm MISSED tackle.

AFL-listed players under-performing all season: Oliver, Petracca, Fritsch. AFL-listed players past their prime: May, Lever, McDonald, Salem, Viney. Younger players struggling at AFL level: Van Rooyen, Windsor, Jefferson, Tholstrup, Sharp. Casey players knocking hard on the selection door: None. In a nutshell, that's why defeat this week, coupled with a St Kilda win, would drop us into the bottom three. The Bombers must be looking forward to this year's draft.

There is a nasty personal edge to some of the attacks on Goodwin that I do not like. Some people are quick to forget that he is our only premiership coach in six decades. And since 2021 we have lost at least four key players who have not been adequately replaced ---- Jackson, Hibberd, ANB and Ben Brown ---- while for various reasons others such as Oliver, Petracca and Salem have declined from stardom to mediocrity. Also, May and Lever no longer form the formidable barrier they once did, with the last two years clearly showing the effects of advancing age. All in all, the list has clearly deteriorated, despite hope that the likes of JVR, Windsor, Lindsay and Langford have plenty of future upside. But with all that said, it may be time for Goodwin and the club to sort out an amicable parting of the ways if possible. All coaching stints eventually come to a natural end through factors such as burnout, lack of flexibility as game plans change, and the need for fresh ideas. So yes, there is a case for saying Goodwin has lost the plot this season and it's time to go. But whenever he does leave, he will go with my thanks and respect for some wonderful memories in 2021.

Our situation highlights the key problem with long-term mega-contracts. For reasons we all know, since 2021 the supercharged Ferrari version of Clarry has been replaced by a Holden Commodore with dodgy steering. He is still a reliable possession winner, but most of the time his aimless kicking hands the ball straight back to the opposition. Given his history of off-field issues, and the fact that he will turn 29 next year, it would be hard to find a club willing to risk a huge financial gamble on him. If it turns out that he does want to leave, the club should just play hardball and refuse to pay any part of a new contract elsewhere. With all that said, I hope he stays and puts in a real effort to regain the form which once earned him the admiration of every Demons supporter.

Umpires, like players, make mistakes. Fans always remember with anger the decisions that go against their team and conveniently forget those that favour their side. It's called human nature.

To sum up our dire selection situation: May on the decline, Lever poor since his return from injury, Fritsch fading fast, JVR and Jefferson below standard, Tholstrup struggling, Petracca and Oliver nowhere near their previous levels, Salem going through the motions, and TMac probably in his final year. And, worst of all, no youngsters at Casey knocking on the door for selection. Right now, who would even want to coach this lot?

Melksham - top class performance. Pickett - flashes of brilliance. The rest - poor and disjointed.

Yes, he accidentally kicked a goal.