praha

100%. Not to say Lewis is immune from criticism here but he is definitely phoning it in this last year. It seriously seems like he's given up trying to be an effective leader with this mob. I'd hazard a guess the likes of Jones, Viney wouldn't have taken kindly to Lewis being brought in for "leadership" purposes. It's kind of an insult to their own capabilities, no? One moment stood out on Wednesday night. City end, defensive 50. Jones, Viney, Oliver, all goal side. Gawn wins the tap easily into space, Richmond scoops it up and has a shot on goal, albeit for a behind. At the moment I lost my [censored] because you quite literally had the leadership group all in one place (bar Oliver), and they literally handed Richmond an easy shot on goal. Some people here just don't see it. Any defensive breakdown, any structural issues: this is as much a complete and utter breakdown of leadership as it is any defensive ineptness in isolation. I don't think it's a surprise that both Oliver and Brayshaw seem to be playing such uninspiring football at the moment. The team and club has been crying out for a changing of the guard for years.

Reading this actually makes me more concerned. The whole "we don't know where we are going wrong, but we're struggling defensively" is a major concern. Obviously you're struggling defensively if the opposition is scoring against you the way they are. But this isn't a team with a 20-year-old as captain. Why do the likes of Jones, Viney, McDonald, Garlett, Petracca, Oliver and co., need to be given a lesson in defensive accountability from a kid like Spargo, who appears to be the only true two-way runner in the side? We then punish him because he doesn't get a kick or lay enough tackles, only to replace him with the defensively inept Garlett, whose throw-one-arm-out-and-then-stop-running defensive prowess feels right at home in a bottom-placed side. Does anyone find it interesting that, in the weeks we've had Spargo in the side we're league leaders in tackles inside 50, and the week we bring Garlett in we get absolutely embarrassed in this stat? Defensively accountability isn't structural, or coaching, or personnel. This team is failing harder than I think anyone could have predicted in the most important area of the sport. People attack the likes of Oscar and Frost on a weekly basis. How is it their fault the opposition is getting uncontested kicks to one-on-one contests, time and time again? Gawn even mentions this. Our engine room is winning the ball, but it reminds me of my piece of [censored] Jeep. Sure, it's getting us from point A to point B, but the ride is uncomfortable, gritty, and just unenjoyable. Once there's a bit of a climb up a hill, forget about it! But a straight road? Eassssssy sailing. I'd be okay with us finishing last if it meant defensive spuds like Garlett, ANB and Stretch languish in the VFL until they understand defensive fundamentals. Petracca and 650kei-deman can join them until they start learning how to run both ways.

This is what a lot of people are also combing over. We're not last, 1-6, with a decent % in the 75%+ range. We are last with another 8-9 goal loss away from being sub-60%. Our % atm is a massive concern, and a true reflection of where we are at. Anyone thinking we can bounce back is delusional. We absolutely must start looking towards 2020 now.

Kidding yourself. First 6 rounds aren't an outlier. It's a theme. We saw this a few times last year vs Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Collingwood, and then the Eagles in finals. The faster we realise we need to do a mini rebuild and reboot, the faster we will rise. This whole "we're better than this" narrative is arrogant af. You're not better than this. You may be some weeks but overall you're not. We need to accept this.

As I mentioned in another thread. Lewis, Jones, Viney, Gawn, in particular, Hibberd, Jetta and TMac should be embarrassed. I think what we are seeing now is a trend. Dating back to the Prelim. 8 weeks now of garbage. That tells me we are looking at a bottom 4 finish, potentially last. Very harsh reality. Does this mean the Roos rebuild was a failure? What does it mean of Goodwin? We absolutely need to start looking at 2020 and beyond rather than salvaging this year as fans. We will surely win some games but it's astonishing how far we have fallen. I've said it once and I'll say it again: so long as we have players from the Geelong 186 era on our list, we will disappoint and falter. Perennial losers.

Last is very much a possibility. We have no prise or passion. North played with a point to prove last night and at least they have a genuine forward. We undoubtedly deserve to be last atm because we are the worst team in the league.

Nah the season is gone. Realistically you only want a maximum of 8 losses to assure a spot. That means 3 more losses for the season. We are more likely to finish last than to make finals.

The results of this round have pushed us to last. Better?

6 rounds in and we are clear last on the ladder. Let that sink in. Nathan Jones, Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Jordan Lewis, Tom Mcdonald, Nev Jetta, and Hibberd should be embarrassed. What a massive indictment on everything Roos and Jackson achieved. What a massive insult to the fans and what they've had to put up with. What a [censored] disgrace.

Maybe it's because Roos doesn't value or weigh speed as all that important a factor? Like, is speed really what's killing us right now? It didn't hurt as against Geelong last year despite Dangerfield and Ablett both playing. We consistently gave midfields a right old pasting. Everyone says "the game has changed" whenever we find ourselves in a slump. It's such [censored]. The same fundamentals and philosophies are still relevant. Last year when it mattered (for the most part) we played like a champion team. To start the year we are playing like a team of wannabe champions, Hollywood-esque kicks and handballs, cute marking and disposal attempts that put teammates under pressure. Maybe we need to start looking at the likes of Jones, Viney, Gawn etc., the "older" brigade that was around during the Neeld eras, and now leads the team. We aren't just in a slump right now: we are witnessing a colossal breakdown. Who remembers Carlton in the early 2000s? Going into I think it was 2003, or maybe 2002, they'd come from a finals campaign and looked set to really challenge for a flag. They finished last and started more than a decade of mediocrity that is still underway. IMO, we look more like that Carlton team, than we do Geelong of 2006, or Richmond of 2016. If anyone really thinks our lack of speed is what is causing such a colossal breakdown, you need to look at the bigger picture. We have perennial losers still leading this team. Once the going gets tough, FORGET ABOUT IT!

What is yesterday, is today, and what is today, shall be tomorrow.

which is strange because poor form and stinkers from a kick out go together at Melbourne like crackers and cheese. I don't think Richmond kicked a goal from a kick in turnover. Get Simon on the phone! We found more positivity!

More people should learn about Phil Jackson's coaching philosophy. He knew how to play the media, kept his cards close to his chest, and could stare you down from 1000 miles. Never said much, would occasionally show emotion, but he was called "The Zen" for a reason.

We beat St Kilda.

"We didn't see it coming"

Spargo brings more, chases, and continues to chase even when it's lost. I cannot fathom why people want the gold medalist of downhill skiers in the team.

Why are we playing a high defensive zone in the last quarter of a season defying game when we've kicked 1 goal for 2 quarters? This is actually the most frustrating of all the games this year.

Goodwin needs to go for the win here. Put Mcdonald forward.

1.4 in 2 quarters of football. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters the last 2 weeks, we've kicked 1.7. 1.7 in 4 quarters of football.

how many fumbles there? embarrassing.

We made the Preliminary Final last year and we're celebrating "effort" and "intent" in round 6. Give me a [censored] break. Structurally we are still a mess. There is no leadership. Weideman is awful. Never leads into space. Petracca has been terrible. Garlett chases once and then gives up. ANB may as well be downing pies in the stands. Someone breathes near Stretch and he shanks it. Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw play like under 10 midfielders, crashing in hoping they will get a clear possession. We have zero class. Gawn smashes it into space in our defensive 50 without straight to a Richmond player. Where is the [censored] leadership. We are no chance. Richmond's intent puts us to shame. Their pressure is 10x ours. And we are celebrating "improved effort". My god supporting this team has ruined some of us.

You tell me, Simon.

Actually, historical analysis tells us that 50+ inside 50s tends equate to a win where the opposition has less. Once you hit that mark it's a sweet spot. Our great game has always been highly anecdotal however, and greatly open to interpretation. Structurally you need coherence defensively, and in transition, but once the ball is in your forward 50, ideally you want to keep it there or keep it rebounding back to pile pressure on the defenders. The best attacking teams tend to be the ones with fast and chaotic transition. Our problem is that while we were good at this last year, teams are equally if not more potent in it when against us. Forward pressure is good and eventually we will start scoring more. However, it is our short entries across half forward, a lack of defensive prowess from our midfielders, and a dysfunctional backline that is really what's killing us atm. Law if averages tells us you should have a shot on goal every 2-3 inside 50s. Our problem is that we go in twice, don't score, the opponent goes to the other end quickly and scores. Everything resets and we are back at square one. That third entry isn't happening because we are either giving up, breaking down structurally, understating the opponent, or a combination.

If our issues thus far are partly fitness and a lack of training and matchday conditioning due to interrupted preseasons, it stands that more gametime and full matches would be beneficial, no?

Calling a 70k crowd given the weather. 20k Melbourne supporters (at best). Toiges by 7-8 goals.