praha

I'm not massive on Kent but I feel he deserves another week. He can be a dumb footballer at times, but I feel that today he was genuinely trying to work himself into the game and apply the pressure we expect from a small forward. He kept the contest going a few times and while he was often beaten, he gets into position, which I think is very important. He has the smarts to be in an appealing position for a delivery. He seems very low on confidence atm and may very well have his foot out the door, but I do feel he's on a learning path. I can see him contributing next week.

Lol...

Been calling it all week. The game was won and lost in the contested ball and in the air. We won pivotal contests and marked importantly in the last moments. Our good were our defenders in the end? Our midfield was pansied but Oliver was still probably BOG. Jetta close behind.

They are two players down More run. More urgency. More leaders.

Lewis....wow.

Melksham was Roos acquisition.

Umpires have been shocking both ways. They've lost control of the game and make really bad calls.

We REALLLLLLLY want to lose this.

How To Play Dumb Melbourne Football Lesson No.1: When attacking and at CHF, stop, prop, kick it sideways, and turn it over.

We play a few minutes of decent football and then go back to lazy, over use football. If they lose with Carlton two men down, we don't deserve to play finals.

God almighty this team. Kick it ffs!

I don't feel like we've been outplayed. This is a quintessential Carlton game. 2-3 extra behind the ball, rebound, bank on your talls marking. They aren't a high scoring side and have no plan B. We've defended well but our rebounding has been horrific at times. Long periods where they just create a wall and we can't get out, so we overuse it and become stationary. We've dominated for less than they have but we are far more efficient. This is with little influence from. Trac, Garlett and Hogan. Kent had a good quarter there. Wagner one of our best. OMAC is a star. Frost has saved about 4-5 shots on goal by out marking them. My main concern is their marking and Kreuzer. Not phased about clearances because we've held them well. We just need to rebound faster and make sure we have the numbers to counter their loose defenders.

Tackling has been [censored] disgraceful.

Pathetic 5 minutes. Playing unaccountable and loose football.

The umpiring is super soft

Our tackling the past two weeks has been terrible.

Except we are winning the contested ball.

That free was a disgrace. Both melbourne players had their eyes on the ball.

Not a finals team.

Well yeah, this is the only concern. My point being that our midfield losses mean nothing against a team that has a relatively weak midfield. On the MCG Carlton's style seems to shine better as well, and their contested marking is a worry but I feel we're taller and more accountable down back now than we were in round 2 and round 22 last year. If we lose today I can bet you it'll be in the air, not in the middle or around stoppages. Once they rebound they put defenders under so much pressure, and they take a good strong contested mark, one of the better contested marking sides in the comp they are.

All the hysteria in this thread is comical. Carlton actually gets so little out of their midfield. The only thing their mids have going for them is that they're defensively accountable, and get back to plug holes. This is how they stay in touch because they simply can't kick goals. This is what they did in Round 2 and what they did in Round 22 last year. Last for clearances, one of the worst contested ball winning sides in the comp, can't win at stoppages. Even with our injuries we still have so many hard ball winners around the ground. If we lose today it would be a huge upset because if we're finals bound, it should be a shoe in. They can't even mark inside 50. The one and only thing that keeps this close is tackling pressure and effectiveness rebounding 50. They tackle well but don't win much of the contested ball. We still have a number of very good contested ball winners in the side despite the loss of Jones and Viney. They are also a better contested mark side but then again most teams are better than us in that area.

Extremely confident. Either we're a finals side that puts away a non-finals side, or we're not. Don't want to understate our injuries but we have the coaches and talent to beat anyone and we've been in far worse circumstances this year.

Pressure well and truly on. Does the Melbourne Football Club want to play finals? You beat teams like Carlton.

Carlton and Collingwood both on 5 wins. We owe it to the league to ensure it stays that way. Must win tomorrow then get Watts and Tyson back vs Adelaide. Need to go into that game with 9 wins.