Cheap Seats

Oh dear what do we say about the last few weeks? I'd like to qualify this post by saying that I am very disappointed and I walked out of the game half way through the last qtr as I'd seen enough..... I also think everyone has the right to be very disappointed as it's very hard to get a grip on where we are at I've done this for myself but I thought I'd share and see what actual thoughts are - hopefully not just whinging about how upset we all are with not being able to play consistent footy (or maybe we have been consistent all year in being consistently poor) Our list from yesterday AFL Games in brackets Backs Garland (129), Dunn (155), Jetta (69), Cross (243), T Mac (76), Lamumba (214), Grimes (92) Mids Jones (195), Vince (166), Tyson (48), Vandenberg (13), Brayshaw (16), Stretch (8), Harmes (3), Michie, (12) Viney (43), Gawn (33) Forward Garlett (123), Hogan (14), Watts (110), Dawes (111), Howe (94) Notable Absentees Kent (32), Frost (24), Salem (19), ANB (5), Trengove (81), Newton (12), Toumpas (27) If I break that list down a little further and this is purely my opinion, make of it what you like Guns - stars Vince, Jones Leaders - played over 200 games but are not stars but solid AFL players Cross, Lamumba, Dunn, (I wasn't sure where to put Dunny he's been up and down but I think has developed in to a solid defender) NQRs - player around 100 games but have flaws in their game Garlett, Grimes,, Garland, Watts, Dawes Developing Nicely - breaking out? Jetta, T Mac, Kids - haven't played enough games to be consistent AFL player the rest - u get the idea haven't played 50 AFL games - need a few years to develop before they start really breaking out My Analysis We are thin of leaders and quality skilled experienced players We're carrying a few plerys in the mid categories who don't contribute consistently Our midfield and Forwards are reliant on kids to perform week in week out - Inconsistencies are going to happen there is some good talent in this team it just needs more time to develop We are a defensive side who tires to rebound the footy but we can't kick so we can't score In trying to move the ball - turnovers kill us Our kids r guns we need some experience to give them support and time to develop - We are gunning some guys down and I don't think they have the support they need I listen to the experts who say 60 - 80 games is when players should start blossoming A couple of the 100 games are real worries with their flaws and inconsistencies There are really only 5 consistent players week in week out playing at the moment - that is a lot of holes on the field Now is this not an excuse for poor kicking and poor chasing and performance - but from my point of view I can understand the inconsistency... We're young - we need to keep developing and we lack real high end experience (apart from our guns). Lamumba may not be perfect but you can see why they brought him to the club. the sad reality is out transformation won't happen overnight like we all hope. I hope we can finish the year off strong! For all our sakes Forgive my rushed analysis - I may edit and it is just my opinion

Agree Chook We had enough opportunities but continually turned the ball over and couldn't convert. The majority of the team are not 100% ready or not good enough Am very disappointed

Cant change the past mate - but I get your point The MFC has been down a while - it's about time we rise

Maybe getting a little ahead of ourselves..... haha but a very handy in

Thanks for the report Jimcor Really sad to hear Frost & Kent have been out all year, I think both will add something to the side. Was Trengove running? Gee some handy in for 2016 - Frost, Kent, Trengove & Petracca

Pretty spot on I rekon.... I've got a feeling some of the younger boys might get a rest... But buggered if I know who Grimes Riley Newton & Too the likely additions

Does this mark the most wins in a season since 2011??

Good summary My thought exactly - lets just take the win and move on Really need to clean up ball use in the offseason. Made so many costly mistakes which cost us what would have been easy goals. Can we make it 2 in a row? I'm going to stick with no

We have some experience on the park but a good majority are under 80 gamesDepends how deep u want to look and what your personal expectations are

Haha oh dear.... I really need to work on my posting.... apologies for confusing you two (I think I was reading other comments at the time) I don't' know if its an experience thing or a coaching thing, but at the game it felt like the bombers 'turned up' earlier then us. Goddard and I'll have to rematch but Essendon dominated us in clearances, got first hands on the ball and pressured us in to constant mistakes early in the game. We responded well but it felt like Essendon were on until the last qtr. I don't want to give us terrible excuses but I can't work out how to rationaisel how we're so inconsistent and not putting results on the board

That's the 1.7 mil question old Dee It's easy to say a young team but a part of me feels they weren't hungry enough until it was too late

100% spot on I was at the game and felt the bombers were more desperate all day until the final qtr That's just my feeling from watching the game Mind u if we kicked straight in the 2nd or at all we would have won

Add to that DeeZee that AFL games wise - we are still a young side which is going to have lapses on field and inconsistent results. We just need to get games in to our kids - if Brayshaw, Petracca, Kent, Frost, Viney, Toump etc play 60 -80 games each then we may be a decent side.... Scully is a prime example of how a talented kid got better with experience.... He's now playing good footy and has played 100 games. We didn't have the free handout GC or GWS got with unlimited talent, which makes us feel worse. I think it was Bomber Thompson who said - you play your game style, you play it for 80 mins build it to 100 etc... We have a young list which have played 18 months under Roos. I dont' buy the hype just yet But in saying all that the next few weeks (and remaining games) we have winnable games - it will be a big test for they boys - Geez I hope we can snare a few

Haha I look forward to 360 tonight then. I just think the media beat up nothing stories. I like the lethal quote - it's never as good or as bad as it seems. I agree with the anger about losing a game we should have won but we've also won a couple games we shouldn't have. There are no easy answers but I believe under roos and Jackson we can develop a winning culture... It may not happen overnight like we all want thoigh

I agree that the mfc hasn't stood for much in the past 51 years but I wouldn't take to heart too much of what the media experts have to say. Aren't these the same clowns who predicted STK wouldn't win a match all year?

Toump is not a grunt inside type - but I've seen him put his body on the line multiple times.... Which for his size is a lot more then can be said for some others If he can get his confidence up and stop making fumbly errors (which I hope come with experience) then I still think he'll be a handy player Im not too sad he's in the magoos to get some confidence up... Hope he did ok in conditions which don't suit him

Keep playing the kids Might as well now - we can't really get any more disappointing

Haha ahh well there is always next year

2 big kicks in the gut today That [censored] that can't kick straight kicking 4 and not being able to convert or hit targets going forward We lost that..... very disappointing

Excited to see Harms and VB in Got a fair bit of grunt on the ground - I'm excited Go Demons

I know we (as a team) like the contested footy style but does the wet weather favour us or the Bombers? bombers like to move the ball quickly but will the wet keep things tight and keep the bombers in the game? Will be interesting. If the bombers are on today I don't think it will be as clear cut as we hope

Newtons numbers look pretty good as well Would like to know why he's not getting a regular run at senior level. (I am sure there is a valid reason) but I like the kid

Mine B: Jetta, T McDonald, Garland HB: Salem, Dunn, Cross C: Toumpas, Viney, Lamumba HF: Garlett, Dawes, Kent F: Watts, Hogan, Howe FOLL: Gawn, Vince, N Jones I/C: Brayshaw, Tyson, Vandenberg, Spencer/Frost (couldn't decide on the tall)

Bring in some kids I rekon we should aim for wins, but 2015 is all but over for us.... keep bringing in blokes to plug holes for 2016

I've said yes to the poll - mainly because I think as a club we're finally headed in the right direction.... No instability and everyone should be on the same page moving forward as a club If we can keep Howe and Garland in the off season, top us with some classy kids again we really should be pushing for Finals in 2016 As for the next 4-5 games, C&B I would love you to right - WCE in Darwin is a bit of an ask... and Ess on the rebound from Darwin with the Bombers being the underdog for once might be a big ask. My rational side is saying don't get ahead of ourselves as there will still be some a few more disappointment to come this year - but hell to rational, 8 - 8 would be an awesome we should be aiming for - Bring it on Dees! Get on board!!