layzie

Unicorn round

I'm also convinced that the club thought they were losing Kozzie in late 24/early 25 and were expecting some picks in this year's draft. Going off our trading behaviour last year they either expected to be back in the first round this year or over-estimated our talent and midfield talent coming through.

I wouldn't have a clue. We are bereft of up and coming leadership. If Trac was here long term I think he's the guy. At this stage I wouldn't even mind throwing the keys to Viney again until someone steps up and takes the brass ring.

The 3rd quarter would have baffled me if it wasn't a regular occurrence now. To start with that ripping Kozzie goal and then GC proceeding to kick the next 4 was checkmate. Not all parts of the game are created equal and when you find yourself 46 points down at 3QT, the contest is over and the life is sucked from it. The stats can get spun any way people want to take positives out. And I won't ignore them totally, but when that football game was on the line we were found wanting. I found there was a similar division on this board after the Carlton game last year. Half the people slamming our no goal to 6 first quarter and saying that they mostly had answers for us until the last quarter and others praising the comeback and accepting whatever came before it. Almost an identical game really.

Yes waynerussell it can be. However sometimes the get out card of not giving up and rallying can be a stock answer as well. It's not nothing the way we fought back and I'd rather a team that fights it out to the end but the question I always have after these kind of results is how much can you realistically take out of them? How much is influenced by the other side tapering off? The truth is that when the game was there to be played, GC had the answers for us and we never pulled it back within 2 or 3 goals. The damage of the first quarter effort unfortunately mitigates some of the positive to be taken out of the way we finished in my opinion. I just can't see how an AFL football team can come out in a game like this, after a bye, wanting to support their under pressure coach who they all apparently love with an effort like we saw in the first quarter. It makes you sick. Forget gameplans, ball movement, skills. The bare minimum you bring each game is effort, there is never a reason to not be ready for an AFL game. If the Suns could have kicked even a little better we would have been blown off the park.

If you're CEO of this mess, you'd probably like to start earlier.

Selection is the least of our worries..

The team just looks bang average. A shadow of the elite side that it once was, there was once a time when it was very hard to see holes in the list. Now, despite some good young talent, our list is quite unbalanced. We end up relying on guys like Jake Melksham to kick a winning score, we play future key forwards like JVR in the ruck, we still have no competent back up for Max. Can we fix these issues in one trade period/draft? Realistically how far away are we now from our next shot at success?

You would be forgiven for feeling like a total stupid moron for thinking that this team would use the bye to their advantage and then come out with fire in this game. For a few years running they come out of it looking like they're at the beach. As bad a first quarter as you'll see. Only Melbourne could let the other side be inaccurate for a change and not take any advantage of it whatsoever. 22.6 inside 50s for GC was the limpest effort seen for a while and that's saying something. We finally bring some effort in the 2nd but aren't able to make enough in-roads because you know, when you give the other side a 6 goal head start, it apparently puts you on the back foot. We did have some unfortunate moments, the Howes and Petty concussions were very unlucky and hurt our rotations for the rest of the game. Plenty of MRO work this week and I'm actually sick of seeing these guys get into fights off the ball. Remember when we were system first and nothing else? Remember when it was too hard to fly the flag for a team-mate who got polaxed because were were guarding grass or holding width or whatever fanciful term you want to use? Those days are completely gone now and we are a very, very undisciplined team. People will point to umpiring and have at it because I'm entirely sick of having that discussion with you. The unsaid truth is that we actually give a lot of free kicks away, whether they be dicey or correct. Tackles that slip a little high, carelessly sitting on an opposition player's back when they're on the ground. We do it to ourselves, we don't create our own luck and we like to play the game against the grain. The game plan is in flux. We do not look like we know what we're doing and it is impossible as fans to see what we're trying to achieve. Big decisions needed at the end of the year, need to get bold at the trade table, possibly move on a great servant and improve our list. People were rightfully overjoyed when Kozzie signed but the list is no longer in a position to rest on its laurels. There is very good talent but there are holes, big holes. The coaching staff needs a revamp, some good experienced minds to ocme in. Not first year coaches fresh out of the game looking to learn their chops. If the rest of the season is this carp week after the week then its going to be very very hard watching.

Pickett Melksham Petracca Gawn Viney Petty (At least he came to play from the start) Goodbye

Wake me up when September ends.

What a joke

Last thing we need if we're playing junk time games is him not playing in them. Need something to hang our hat on.

Someone will credit us for not giving up, just watch

Turner hurt now

Yeah let's make a charge now. Are you kidding me Melbourne?

Our best ideas for ball movement come when the game is over

Much needed laugh. I saw quite a few 2000s Zebras games

The jokes that come out when we suck. "Must be at the snow" "They came for the cheese platters" Hello darkness my old friend.

Getting steamrolled now. Witches hats

This is actually getting painful now

Did you guys know Bayley Fritsch was playing?

That's it Kozzie

A decent quater from Melbourne work rate wise and some in-roads made. I could have and probably should be another goal or two better though. If you're one of those people than gives us a pass and bemoans bad luck then more power to you. Salem's pass then Melksham wasn't quite able to mark, Trac's brilliant intercept followed up by kicking it 2 metres into the man in front of him, good teams don't do these things on a regular basis. You need to create your own luck in this game. Instead of Clarry sitting on King's back in defensive 50 and whinging about it you need to be first to the ball so some spud from the other team can make that mistake. Probably not skilled enough to mount a serious challenge today but might see some good stuff if we stick with the process and attack the middle.

If we outscore them this quarter by a couple of goals I'll take it