layzie

I’m surprised we had 6 players that made such a positive impact on you!

Not exactly like for like but it will be good when he’s back.

The game plan is sound. It may need some tinkering here and there but it is solid. I think that in terms of execution of the game plan we are not at full capacity. Maybe about 75-80% of what we can do with it. It can’t happen overnight and we are making progress with it.

He was terrible today but he has to play on next year for mine. We’ll never know the full extent of the impact he’s had but I reckon it’s definitely more than what the eyeball test shows. Plus we do not have replacements for that position, not yet anyway.

David King is good.

I also said we don’t need wholesale changes Wise, I know the ‘big change’ sentence was a bit misleading but it was more to the point of a big change is needed to avoid the results of yesteryear but that this big change is currently happening. I apologise for not being clear on that one. We are on the right track, this setback is hard yes but we will be better for it. I will stay positive but I do think it is important to acknowledge that nothing is guaranteed. We can only hope.

It’s difficult understand how you could miss the part where I said it was misreported a fair bit..

My word I’m proud. They’re our boys. They have restored a lot of pride in what it means to wear the red and blue jumper. There’s a pulse in this club again we’ll and truly.

Finally got home. It’s been a tough one. A few conflicting emotions but will try to keep it as consistent as possible. This was a lifetime game personally, I’ve been this nervous and pumped for maybe half a dozen other days in my life. It felt like the final frontier. And just like that, it was over. Nice while it lasted, but as Melbourne fans we know all too well that nothing has ever come to us easy. We looked so nervous before the game. The build up, the drama it all got too much I think. Oliver needing to go the bathroom before the bounce was a sign of that. We got slaughtered in contested ball from the word go, and that was it. This allowed them to take over with their skill and outside game with uncontested marks. Hawthorn threatened this a little last week, West Coast took it to levels beyond belief. By half time it was 11 inside 50 marks to 1 and it’s already been documented about the tackle count. Turnovers killed us. West Coast were way too good. I’m actually not going to nit pick too much on individuals because there is no point. As a team we failed. Lewis had a complete honker, worst game I have ever seen him play. At least 6 players with a 0 for tackles. But really, it was a bridge too far anyway. First finals appearance in 12 years and two great finals wins, this moment was coming as it does with most young teams/teams in this position. In the history of the game I would be shocked to hear than a team who hasn’t won a flag for over 50 years and then hasn’t made the finals for 12 years has waltzed in and won the flag. This is JUST NOT POSSIBLE, it cannot happen. You have to go through this hardship and get the experience. Someone will n doubt point out that Collingwood hasn’t made it for 5 years and could win it all well that’s great! Do you want a medal or a showbag? They will learn from this. They have to. They have a duty to go on with the narrative that they are setting up, the Demons are finally relevant again and we have people’s attention. The season ended terribly but we took a big step. I believe now that this is the team that is going to get us there, I believe now that this is the coach that is going to get us there. I want to now point out some things said so far that he’ll sum up how I feel, because there are a lot of emotions. I think these are all good points: In Harmes way - “It’s a long time to same time next year. What a disappointment.” It certainly will. I felt this when we just missed last year and it burned like buggery. No guarantee we’ll even be there either but all we have is hope. DSP - “We are still are way off top 3-4. Big difference.” Yeah I never thought we were top 4. Top 6 was about right and there are a few things that need to be rectified to break into it. SWYL - “Natural improvement isn’t the answer” Unfortunately the pessimist in me agrees with this. To think that we’ll automatically be in a prelim next year is wishful thinking. At the end of the day we may well have blown our best chance with a lot of teams like Essendon and Brisbane ready to get a rifle and pick off teams in this year’s 8. SWYL - “But this club has history of not getting up after being belted” Again SWYL isn’t wide of the mark. Severe beltings seem to have a lingering effect on us. You are quite often left wondering if that was the moment. Gonna take a big change to right it this time. Titan Uranus - “Our game starts and ends with contested ball” It certainly does. We play in the phone box most of the time. Break even with us there and you’re a chance. Being a great contested ball side is awesome and I’ve really enjoyed it, but we must be able to run and spread to the outside a bit. These guys are humans and although they are great at winning hard ball, all it takes is 1 off game like this to go to water. Nasher - “I'm perpetually frustrated at the way people become irrational and grossly exaggerate the magnitude of the problem after losses (and get told I don't care as much or I'm a happy clapper or whatever), but that's how people cope so fair enough.” Yep, too right Nasher, I’m done with it. Don’t get me wrong, happy to critique but there is just no point at all demanding 1 guy gets the chop because he had a howler like everyone else did. It’s stupid. I do not believe we need to make wholesale changes, yes we need re-tooling but that is it. The game plan, while solid is also not being executed to its full capacity yet and I believe another season or two will see it firing. The quick ball movement through the middle is great but still erring with that one handball too many or putting a guy under pressure. Keep refining this and it is going to be very hard to stop. I say at this point in time I’ll probably head to somewhere for a getaway next week but who knows. I have never not watched a Grand Final apart from in 2002 when I was on a remote island in Greece. Sorry to all the Victorian marks or people still annoyed at today but I hope West Coast goes on with the job. They are a good side and have great forwards. Please smash Collingwood back to the Stone Age. Lastly, Peter Jackson. Your efforts will never be forgotten. All the best and live life to the full, you deserve it.

Wasn't bad was it! Some real good wineries were down there. A lot of them more than happy to help drown your sorrows!

Let the smoke settle. Gonna check out this wine tasting thing next to Fed.

Seriously considering a trip away next weekend. To a secluded location..

This stinks

Crappy grand final coming up. Sorry to offend the purists but I'd rather have seen GWS and Gold Coast

He has, but someone will pipe up no doubt.

This last 15 mins is crucial. You always remember these games. Let's take something out of it

Please smash him

Shown up

Playing for pride.

I don't know what's gotten into Lewis

There should be a moratorium on judgement of what is said in this thread today. People are saying things they may not mean, myself included. Hold fire on attacking posters and remember that we are all hurting deeply right now.

I was. What of it?

How about 1 goal? And we'll walk off.

They are neither mentally or physically there today.

The psychological effect of this could be bad. Really hope not though.