bandicoot

It was glaringly obvious today why we failed so miserably against the Tigers. Our game style revolved around kicking to contested packs. Traditionally, every time you kick to a contested pack you have a 50/50 chance of winning the ball. Unfortunately for Melbourne, our weak midfield depth means that our chances are more like 40/60. This results in our players kicking to a pack, losing possession and watching the ball return straight back. Conversely, Richmond kept possession of the football by finding free players by foot, slowly working the ball up the field and only kicking to a contested pack in their forward 50. It is critical that we keep possession of the football and don't give it up to the other team. It couldn't be that difficult to hit up a loose player, moving the ball up the field whilst retaining control. Im no a coach, yet this is a basic understanding of football. Why are we not doing this?

We haven't had an effective kick in strategy for the last 5 years. Why can every other club actually find a target and control their exit out of 50?

Today we lost to a bottom 4 side that was missing their captain and one of the best players in the comp. The players didnt bother turning up today. Not for Jimmy, Not for eachother. Not for themselves and not for the club. We are a joke of a club and are being laughed at by everyone else. YOU ARE PATHETIC MELBOURNE!!!!!

Are they still crying for getting kicked out of the leadership group... Don't cry for too much longer because your careers are coming to a quick end

We have officially hit rock bottom. Worst day this club has has in the last decade.

We will get pumped by port Adelaide. 2012 will be a long year

Now that both Gawn and Spencer are on the long term injury list does anyone else see a potential ruck issue? If Jamar or Martin get injured who is likely to fill in for them? Clarke? Watts? Dunn? Sylvia

I love it!!! Best theme song going around. Fantastic job by Harry from cat empire. The last 4 songs from suns, port, freo and west coast have been horrible.

Outlined below are the 'points for' and 'points against' for the last 4 years: Year PF PA 2008 1629 2602 +5% +14% 2009 1706 2285 +9% +16% 2010 1863 1971 +6% -15% 2011 1974 2315 As you can see we have had a gradual increase in our 'points for' and a gradual decrease in 'points against' except for this years performance. On this basis we can assume an improvement of 7% in 'points for'. This will give us 2112 points I'm confident that our 'points against' can decrease by 20% from this years debacle. This gives us a points against of 1852 2012 should look like: PF PA % 2112 1852 114% in 2010 Carlton finished 8th with: PF PA % 2143 1983 108% With the above result we should be able to sneak into either 7th or 8th. I know some will say that a lot of work needs to happen for this to occur however going on previous years statistics this improvement is achievable. By the way West Coast finished 4th this year with: PF PA % 2235 1715 130% We still need to improve by 13% 'points for' and 25% 'points against'

I saw this in the background whilst watching Barry's interview. Cameron Schwab and Craig Cameron catching up. Does the body language say anything?

How do we compare to the best midfield in the comp - Carlton? 1. Judd 2. Murphy 3. Gibbs 4. Scotland 5. Carazzo 6. Garlett 7. Armfield Judd is a big bodied player that can handle multiple tacklers - our next best is moloney Murphy is a skilled mid with great running capacity - next best is trengove Gibbs is a big bodied player that can kick goals - Sylvia Scotland is an experienced hard body player - lacking at the dees carrazzo is an outside player getting the loose ball - next best is bail Garlett is a quick outside player that creates opportunities - don't really have this type of speedster in our side, maybe bleese/bennell Armfield is more of a wingman come mid - gysberts Looks like the only place we are lacking (except for a Judd) is an experienced 28yo and an outside speedster. 1. Maybe bennell could fill that role? 2. Any chance for green to play the Scotland role for parts of the game?

In round 1 next year Geelong will field a side with 10 players over the age of 30. These players retirement is imminent and will leave the cats with a massive hole to fill. Their fate will resemble that of Brisbane, Adelaide and now st kilda. Let's hope they smash the pies next week because the coming years won't be so pretty. Good luck chris Scott because you will need it.

Do you know what the parasite to the competition is? 9 melbourne clubs in a city that can't support more than 4. It's time for everyone to stop their emotional nonsense and get a grip on the 21st century. AFL has caught up to every other sport in the world. Like I am free to leave my job and start another, so is Tom. Yes the competing has thrown up a once in a lifetime anomaly (introducing 2 new teams in successive years) but this isn't the norm. Once their well deserved handicap passes everything will be back to normal. If one 2nd year player leaves (and we get 2 top 20 picks) then so be it. Stop living in the past and keep expecting the game to be stuck in 1964. By the way let me explain to you what happened back in your day: Players were being poached all the time by the richer clubs There were constant lies and deceit There was no draft to keep the competition even Rich clubs stayed on top There was no salary cap

"football isn't the game my dad used to take me too" Do you not believe that there were under the table deals and secret hand shakes done back in your dads day. If you believe that everything was above board back then, then you are deluded. I believe football has less corruption and lies now then 40 years ago. It's near on impossible to breach the salary cap and there is full disclosure. Go on, have a dig at the afl. Without their initiatives the mfc would not exist. If it means that each club has to sacrifice a little to get a lot then so be it.

Richmond are at exactly the same development phase as Melbourne. We beat them by 30 points early in the year and lost by 1 goal today. Sounds about right.

He is the last player we can afford to lose next year. In a team full of slight body players there is no substitute for strength.

We lost by 1 goal... And we beat them by 30 points earlier in the year. There is no doubt Bailey lost the plot this year with a lack of a functioning game plan however a good football department will quickly Correct our course... I actually enjoyed the game and thought both sides fought it out well. Look forward to our battles in the finals

By the end of next year Melbourne should have 11 players that have played between 50-100 games. 5 players between 100-150 and still only 2 players over 150 games. Premiership sides have a balanced mix of 5 players (under 50 games), 5 (50-100), 6 (100-150), 6 (150+). These 11 players are the future of the club and will be the core going forward. Any major expectations of this young side should be reserved for 2013 when we have a more even spread. A lot has been said about our experienced players. My definition of experienced players is 150+ games of which we have 2 players. The rest are still learning the game.

Colin Sylvia BOG Cale Morton gaining some confidence Frawley beating Reiwoldt Bartram nullifying Cotchin Another game into the 11 under 50 gamers

Molony's spoil in the back line with lynch running at full pace...

It's such a shame. The guy gives it all week in week out. He runs all day, tackles stick and can keep an in form Kerr to 17 possessions. His descision making has actually improved this year. Would love to know which junior footy coach tought this kid how to kick. It's not like he is a 6 foot 6 ruckman

Frawley with 28 possessions and best for Melbourne Bartram keeping Kerr to 17 possessions Howe With 10 marks and 3 goals Martin and jamar outplaying cox and nicnat Blease showing some real confidence and dash 40 more disposals Finally some real passion and want for the ball

Playing a game in new Zealand would be less taxing on the players. I'm sure the kiwis would match what the NT is giving. I bet our 'physio and recovery' departments are secretly scathing at having to play up there. It would be interesting to see how flat footed we are next week. I hope I'm wrong but I'm not expecting too much

To make the 8 we will need 12.5 wins. Anything under that will not do with so many clubs fighting for the last spot. This will mean 5 more wins from the next 7 matches. It's time to say goodbye to 2011 and look forward to 2012

We are risking too much as a club by selling our home games to Darwin. I'm all for selling games but the negative effects of a Darwin game outweigh any monetary benefits. The game that's played up there is massively taxing on the players and not only has an impact for the following week but possibly for the next month. Players are totally exhausted and there are some guys that lose 4kg. Our season turned south last year right after our Darwin game. I attribute a large portion of this to the Darwin game. I would be furious as I Richmond supporter. They Have sold 2 winnable mcg games to Darwin and cairns and lost both. They would be sitting in the 8 if those games were played in Melbourne. To make matters worse, their players take a month to recover from these conditions. We have to stop these Darwin games ASAP before it has a negative impact on a premiership winning season.