RalphiusMaximus

Looking at the VFL review, there is no way they can justify leaving Strauss out again. Looks like he's really hitting his stride. Taggert would be a good shot at a game before the end of the season, but I'm not sure it's this week. We really do need to do something to get the midfield functioning though, so we may see them both in there this week.

20 i50's a game make even the best forward line useless. We need to get the ball to them quickly so they can use their size and speed.

Incidentally, did anyone else notice the way the North players routinely set up for marking contests with a designated blocker to shepard our players away from the contest and allow their teammate to get the uncontested mark? It's 100% illegal, but as with incorrect disposal is something that the umpires only ever call if it is so glaringly obvious that it can't be ignored or it happens to a high-profile player. Why on earth don't our players ever do that sort of thing? When we are going for the mark it's every Melbourne player leaping for the ball. Once again the recurring theme of not working for each other.

I think the best option I have seen is to trade pick 2 for a B+ -grade mid + a top 10 pick. Turn it into a couple of good additions rather than taking one of a more or less interchangeable lot of mids in the top of the draft.

I agree with all of that, hence the mention that he may be hard done by. I just think he was well and truly beaten by a better opponent today.

It was very interesting to watch the two midfields, and seeing the contrast just reinforces the fact that we need a new midfield coach. It's not simply a matter of not having the players, it's the patterns they work off. North's mids run angles, they do quick reversals and changes of direction and generally turn our mids inside-out trying to figure out where the ball is going. Ours on the other hand have two plays, both of which appear to have come directly from the pages of Midfield Coaching for Dummies, and which the Roos not only were able to read but often got to the end of the move before we did. We are not drilling them in the correct running patterns and it is this as much as the skill level of the players that is killing our ability to work in traffic. Sorry Brian Royal, I know you've been at the club forever, but it's time to admit you aren't a coaches armpit and take a desk job. Our forwards were largely stationary for much of the game. I and others have wondered why it is that we seem to have to scrap for every goal while other teams run the ball down, hit up an uncontested mark and nail the easy goal. It really does seem to be a lack of movement which is inexcusable for such a mobile group. I'm not sure if this stems from poor coaching in that they are not being told to keep moving and working to make space for each other, or if it's a lack of confidence in their teammates. It seems that when we have the ball our forwards simply stand and wait to see where the kick will go rather than moving to create an opening for the ball-carrier to kick to. On the few occasions where we actually did have good movement we were able to score with relative ease. It killed me today to see the constant lateral and backwards movement of the ball. I have no doubt that this was in part a contributor to the above lack of forward movement, but it also hurt us in other ways. A number of times we could have put the ball deep into attack and instead tried to spot up short chips and messed it up. The constant crossing through the defensive 50 caused turnover goals repeatedly as well. I just can't see a scenario where this sort of play is actually going to be productive. To me it screams of self-preservation by both players and coach as they attempt to boost their numbers. I don't like seeing them kick mindlessly forwards, but when the opportunity comes to put the ball in a scoring position they have to have the confidence to take it. So what we can draw from the above is that there are some massive fundamental flaws in the side that go far deeper than just "we need some decent mids." A lot of it is due to coaching that is not just poor but ultimately inept, and a massive lack of confidence and trust within the playing group. I have a sneaking suspicion that a new coach and a couple of experienced mids won't be enough to fix this. I also had a damn nice sausage in a bun. Much better food outlets than the MCG. Our tall backs were our best players today. Sadly it was like trying to stop a tsunami with sandbags. Our forwards were sadly stationary and not providing mobile targets for most of the game. Oh, forgot one thing: Sack The Coach!!!!!

There were heaps of seats in the Melbourne member section. Why didn't you join us there?

6. Dunn - Didn't lose a contest and was our best field kick all day. 5. Frawley - Smashed Petrie most of the day. 4. McDonald - Was playing most of the game loose in defence, but he did it well and provided a lot of rebound run. Also kicked surprisingly well. 3. Sylvia - Fought hard and gave us some good attack. 2. N. Jones - The usual. 1. Toumpas - Was elusive and creative. Also took a ripper of a mark. Gawn may be hard done by, but he was smashed by Goldstein in every department. As good as he was, he was given a lesson by a very good ruck today.

No way in hell do we drop Dunn after that game, he was close to BOG for us today (not that that says much after a showing like that). He had one disastrous clanger wehn he went across goal and hit a North player on the chest, but aside from that his field kicking was very good today and he smashed his opponent. Pedersen has to go. I don't care if we need to pay him out on his three year contract, he is a disgrace. Didn't win a 1-1 once today, was consistently led to the ball and I'm pretty sure he didn't nail a spoil all game either. 13 uncontested possessions and 10 uncontested marks sun him up as a player. Happy to take the freebies but can't contest. Davey had the defensive impact of a wet feather. He floated around in space while his man ran away and created overlaps all day. Created nothing, didn't give us anything in attack or defence. Inexcusable for a senior player. We can also pick and choose between a number of players who refused to put their body into the contests today and/or tried to float around the outside while someone else did the work. Watts, Howe. Davey (again), Blease and M Jones were all guilty. Watts at least pulled his finger out as the game went on. The others not so much. Outs: Pedersen, Davey, Kent, ? Ins: Davis, Strauss, Garland, Terlich Taggert would be a great pick as emergency and half a chance to come in. He's performed well for a few weeks although dominating the Casey reserves doesn't really count. I'm just not sure we can fit him in given who is due to come back. A little harsh on Kent, but he needs to get his mojo back. Seems to have lost a bit of zip and confidence.

Just threaten to trade him to GWS if he doesn't want to play here. That's a hell of an incentive to stay.

Perhaps you could just post the link and we can see it in a more user-friendly format?

I think the Watts bashers of yore are sitting quietly and hoping they aren't forced to eat their words these days. He's coming along nicely.

I thought you people kept insisting that Neeld had nothing to do with the drafting.

Way to rewrite history.

If Garland isn't going to get up then it's Davis to get his chance. We already know what Pedo can do and it's not that much. Toumpas looked sick last week. If he was then we can shrug and accept that he probably shouldn't have played. If he wasn't then it's probably time for him to have a break and give Strauss a shot. Gawn managed ok in the hitouts but wasn't great around the ground, so maybe swap him for Spencer. If Fitz doesn't get up then we can have them both but that is less than ideal.

I think this is a great call by the club. You don't mess around with these injuries. Far better to put him on ice for the rest of the season and be absolutely sure that he is recovered than to rush him back for a token game or two when the season is already shot. With patience and luck we will see him fit and firing next season. This also has to be seen as a positive for the development of our other forwards. They are all getting more game time and more exposure to pressure without him on the field. In particular Fitzpatrick who is going to play the rest of the season barring health problems and will continue to improve with the game-time.

That says it all really. So many people have been conned by NikNat's flashy play that they can't see past it to the fact that he simply isn't that damaging. Same thing with his AA last year. He might get there, but he hasn't done it yet. Incidentally, well done Cale on having a better game. If he keeps this up they might just keep him.

I suspect we are eventually going to see a number of mids rotating through the small forward role. It's not the best option for a single scoring option, but it gives us more mids on the park which is great for a team that is routinely beaten in that area. It also makes life more interesting for the defenders who never know who their opponent is.

Nothing to do with the comment above, but I love that avatar JR.

I think it would be worth trading a key forward provided Clark gets over his foot issue. We are a little top heavy. I would not want it to be Fitz though, and the others are all in contract (bar Watts who we should not even consider trading). Fitz is a perfect option for the second ruck role. We have three first ruck options in Jamar Spencer and Gawn, but none of them are well-suited to the backup position as they aren't much good outside the ruck. Fitz is more or less build to play that role. The only other option we have there is Clark who I would prefer to see playing as a permanent forward. By that logic, as I have said before, Dawes could well be playing a Casey next year simply for balance. The other option is to sacrifice a bit of mobility in the midfield and play with four tall forwards.

Watts Missing twice is mildly upsetting though. I didn't see the first, but the second was very gettable.

I know some people on here need to have a whipping boy, but the criticism of Trengove is becoming ridiculous. He once again topped the team for tackles, had 20 disposals and is one of the few players on our list I trust with the ball. Believe it or not there are plenty of players in other sides who aren't that quick as well. Pace isn't everything. If it was Luke Ball would never have played. I'm also thrilled with Fitzy. Three early and then played out the game on one leg. Even when he's outpositioned he generally gets the ball to ground as well, and his pace and tackling are a standout for someone that big. Viney is AWESOME. Good to see Byrnes and Davey have better games as well. All in all it's about the result I expected, and I'm pretty happy with some of our boys tonight.

I said it at the time and nothing has changed my mind. Why would you put a team in a city that doesn't want it when you have an entire state begging for a team of their own? Idiocy.

This surprises you?

I think it's past time the club shelved Roos and looked at coaches who are interested in doing the job. There are plenty of experienced coaches out there who would love to get a senior gig again. Why keep pestering a guy who just isn't into us?