Nasher

Ability to reflect positively on a game - especially a loss - comes after the initial emotional stab dissipates, but only if you allow it. Plenty on here don't. I usually stay off this site for a few hours after a bad loss to avoid posting anything rash. I can't relate at all to anyone who claims not to feel disappointed after losing.

It's generous to put a player with one game to his name in that company.

I agree on really enjoying the game last week, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't care at the time that we didn't win. And I could have been looking in the mirror when I looked at my 8 year old son who had his hands on his head with a grimace on his face when Gawn missed, and I know his level of emotional investment is well below mine. I'd much prefer the feeling of victory over the disappointment of a loss.

If Brisbane unexpectedly field a competent side, then I'll settle for a hard fought win too. I'm expecting them to field the team of pus they fielded last week though. Make no mistake, they are a hopeless side.

I know exactly what you mean, I just made a conscious decision a few years ago not to allow myself to be conditioned. I see so many Melbourne supporters on this forum who are broken (spend some time in the match day threads if you get a chance), and I refuse to let that happen. Like everyone else, I went through the Neeld era always knowing wins were unlikely and I reckon my love for footy would have petered out long ago if I was still looking at everything through that lens.

I'm just waiting to be told about how my attitude is what causes us to drop these games. Pretty disappointing response so far!

We will win this game by 10 goals or more. You lot are off your chops if you think they will get near us.

If Brown kicks 10, the whole team has probably spectacular failed. Or if he kicks 10 but it's their only 10 and we've kicked 20, it would be an outstanding result. The key defender really only needs to be the closest match for strength. The rest is about intelligence from the rest of our team, the whole team but particularly the defensive group.

Mate, you should have seen the first half. I felt like washing my eyeballs with bleach. I missed the third quarter but at least North had the decency to turn up for the last quarter.

OMac is a better defender than Frost, it's just that some people have invested so much in to bagging him that they'll never see it.

@Demon77

As a football supporter you have to be prepared that reaching that type of ongoing dynasty level like that Geelong side experienced may never happen. Since the turn of the century there's probably been four teams that were clearly stronger than the rest. In many season there hasn't been a standout side, the last few years included. This isn't an issue only for Melbourne supporters. Honestly mate, we all want to win a flag and watch our team dominate. The feeling of winning is truly addictive, that's why some people go mad seeking it (see: Australian cricket team). Just don't attach your mental health to this team's success or otherwise you will suck all the fun out of it for yourself.

It's football. Your team disappointing you comes with the territory. Every single team, even whichever team wins the flag, will have moments in the season where they suffer massive disappointment. And I would have thought this loss, for a Melbourne supporter who got to enjoy the early half of the Bailey era and the entire Neeld era, this one was a pretty moderate pain to endure compared to the past. Despite the overwhelming disappointment, I really enjoyed the actual game of footy.

Out: Maynard In: Tyson Hannan and Garlett safe under the "nobody obviously better" rule, especially with the VFL not in action yet (side note: it's a huge nuisance that the VFL start so much later). I don't see Brayshaw and/or Bugg as a significant upgrade at this point and I don't agree with constantly shuffling fringe players in and out. No interest in dropping Wagner from me. Lifted in the second half and his tackling and general pressure was significant.

It really doesn't.

It doesn't even matter whether they're angry or not anyway. Anger isn't the only motivator and in my opinion it's a poor one. It just seems to be the only one some people understand, but I've never seen anyone do their best work while angry.

Thought it was a gripping and entertaining game of footy. Props to the usual bunch of drawing long bows from short sample sizes - no, we don't yet know if we are "same old Melbourne". Besides, I thought we showed spirit after half time to get back in the game and nearly clinch it. Also an honourable mention to the usual "this is going to be a blowout" crew at half time in the match day thread. You guys seriously crack me up. You know who you are. The Lewis 50 was a disgraceful example of leadership. However I thought his assistance in the back half of the ground was significant in our second half improvement. I don't know how to weigh the two factors off against each other. The Gawn miss was a huge letdown, but the call above to drop him for it currently leads the race for the most absurd post in this thread. That would clearly be harmful to the team as he was on top all day, and there's no punitive/education benefit either: I suspect he may already realise he might have been better off kicking the goal and doesn't need to be dropped to get the point. Nobody misses on purpose. Wagner has copped some criticism but I thought he lifted significantly in the second half. His pressure was first rate. Petracca is going to be a star and Oliver already is. Overall, very disappointed to have lost, but it hasn't done much to dent my optimism for this season.

Serious tip: Geelong by 15. We get our shizz together in the second half but the damage done.

Has Danners gone last shot instead of full rebuild again?

In lieu of being at the ground, I watched the player tracker on the AFL Live app and it looks to me like Lever is always the spare defender at stoppage setups, but by the time the ball arrives in their 50 he's always been forced to take someone. This suggests that we're not getting back as quickly as Geelong are getting forward - this to me is a whole of system failure rather than an individual. I accept this is a lot to extrapolate based on watching dots move about a phone screen.

Dees by 5.

Colin Garland missed all but one game of 2009 with a foot injury after numerous setbacks, and came back to have one of his best seasons in 2010. We've seen that foot injuries are notoriously hard to manage because of the amount of force the foot is required to bear, everything can seem fine until it comes time to put heavy load on. I don't think the club has been lying, rather that there was no certainty around it. This is clearly disappointing news, but I'm still prepared to reserve my outrage or panic for the time being.

If Goodwin has resigned then I'd say we would be on the hunt for a new senior coach. Just going out on a limb.

I think even amongst our own, we forget that he's still only 23. It feels like he's been around forever, but he should still have a lot of development left. Can't wait!

*looks at watch*. 5:02 Gah. Going to be a long 1:28.