praha

He's great. But the challenge is his speed and agility, which are both ranked quite low during scouting. Well, "average", at least. For someone his height he needs to work extra hard to keep his spot and contribute so his mentality is really good. The question is, does he put on 5kg of muscle to strengthen up, but compromise what is already a mid-range burst of speed, or does he stay lean and try to improve his fitness and agility for more snaps-over-the-shoulder? I think he could do with a bit more muscle. If only he were maybe 3-4cm taller, he would be great along the wing.

I was very close to leaving at half-time. I've never left that early. Thought I'd stick around to see how they'd go. The first half was pitiful. Two minutes into the second half, you could tell it was a different team. This game is the reason why I NEVER leave games early, even if we're 100 points down. You just never know what can happen, win or not, there's always (most of the time) something to get out of a match.

I was sitting on the top level of the southern stand (surprisingly great seats and view of the ground) and the chant was eerie and echoed throughout the ground. It started from behind the goals and moved through the MCC. It was loud. Not Collingwood loud but loud. First time I'd ever heard it. Also, the Melbourne fans behind the goals at the Punt Road end, next to the Carlton cheer squad, they got some Melbourne clapping going which was louder than anything Carlton cheersquad gave. Also the view of the cheer squad and the whole MCC after Pederson's goal was awesome. I haven't seen Melbourne fans so up and about as one for about 5 years. As I had a view of the Melbourne faithful it was a great sight. Also when the siren rang. Kind of sucks sitting in AFL members sometimes. Wanted to be right in but was surrounded by [censored] Carlton supporters.

Actually laughed out loud at the guernsey name Tweet.

I saw the comparisons last year and was hounded whenever I brought it up. Spencer has something Melbourne ruckman have lacked for a while, and that's a real eye for the contest, a great urgency to tackle (and hold a tackle) and a surprisingly long sprint (not that quick off the mark but he can pick up speed very quickly). IMO he should play as many games as possible this year. No point having him go back to the VFL even with Jamar in. Once he hits 50 games he'll hit his strides.

Lyon is very angry, said on radio he was frustrated with Col's lack of discipline at a time when the Dockers need him most. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-15/sylvia-on-wafl-charge

So he's gone down since the season started? Down from 81 I think it was to 106? Wow...

i like it *shrugs*

He's still ranked in the 80s on the AFL website. May have made a jump into the 60s now but can't have too many more last-quarter fade-outs like last week.

Terlich could struggle to get back into the side.

After 23 games, my partner of three years who is Italian, grew up in France and Singapore, has finally seen her first win. Yes, she has sat through 22 loses. This morning she rushed to get ready at the last minute after initially deciding not to come. "I feel bad for not coming and I'll be so angry if they win and I'm not there." This was the first match she's been to where she wasn't on her phone during the match. She is officially converted. Melbourne could lose every game and it wouldn't matter: she got to hear the song after the siren. She was very happy. As was I She's already talking about next week's game!

I wouldn't say Jones has improved. More like those around him have gotten worse and naturally he gets more of the ball. If you look at his statistics you'll see that if anything he's remained consistently good, but has not made the jump into A-grade territory, and for all the praise he gets from Dees fans, is not ranked top 50 (he is like 80 something). Harsh reality is that this club can pick talent, but ultimately doesn't know how to transition that talent into star potential. Watts, Frawley, Jones, look, they're all great, but really should be BETTER than they are. Jones for example shouldn't be going a fourth quarter without a touch against a midfield of mainly 30-40 gamers at GWS. That is very telling. I love Jonesy to death but like I've said in another thread, he is simply going through the motions. There is not a single player on the team that takes the game by the balls. Not a single one. And there hasn't been since Jurrah left. I'm sick of "Yeah but they try hard and work their butts off". If that were true there would be results. There isn't. Winning games isn't rocket science. But trust Melbourne to be the team to turn winning a game of football into something similarly as incomprehensible as the Higgs Boson.

"In order to be a realist you must believe in miracles." - Cudi_420

I don't jest. And don't call me Shirley.

Mellow Yellow. Your closest Club X should stock.

Dees by 70.

No way?

I don't know, I want to remain positive but I can't see it. I think this team is still 5-6 weeks away from a win. I mean, when was the last time this team actually surprised us? Against Essendon in 2012, and before that? BTW if Melbourne loses it'll be its 13th loss in a row, stretching back to Round 14, 2013 when we beat the Dogs. It is already Melbourne's longest losing streak since 1981/1982 when we lost 20 in row from round 4 1981 to round 2 1982. Melbourne won't cop it as much as Carlton would. Spencer has played less than 30 games and has come up against a few very experienced and talented ruckmen. Give the bloke a chance. He won't be going anyway. He'll stick around for 2-3 more years, build the squad. Reality is that this Carlton team can't really develop beyond what it's already capable of, and that's a 6-10th placed finish. Best to rebuild, otherwise you'll end up like Melbourne where you finish mid table for years on end and end up with a massive gap between seniors and juniors. Neither coach is really "under the pump" when you think about the context of the teams' situations.''

Port has developed itself into a power side. Crows fans are dropping off. Why? Because Port play powerful, tough and committed football. They had a shocking list two years ago but that same list that won 8 games in two years made the finals last year and made it to the second week. If only the Melbourne players believed in themselves as much as the fans do. There just isn't the commitment there.

Nice work.

Yuck. Who would? No self-respecting Italian ACTUALLY eats there.

The line in the sand match was a joke. Why do people hold it up? Because the hawks showed "fight"? They were beaten comfortably every where on the ground on the day except when it came to cheap hits and bumps. They were in it with a chance until they started acting like morons. People say it was a turning point for the Hawks. They didn't make the finals for another three years. The only fight I want to see is 120 minutes of chasing, urgency and will to win. Causing a fight in the middle of the ground for no reason other than to showcase how tough you are is a true indictment on your own ability to perform under adversity. Hawthorn had NOTHING else to do BUT fight. Melbourne is better than this. Good teams respond to pitiful tactics like this. Hawthorn did in the '89s GF. Essendon did in 2004. Line in the Sand so far as when the game is over, Carlton players are hurting. Not Line in the sand that you get reported for a cheap hit for the sake of giving your fans an orgasm. A "line in the sand" moment is fair play that your opponent remembers. Hard, contested football. Not cheap hits and brawls for the sake of brawling.

He's not wrong, though.

Spencer has played 27 games ffs. Give him time. Gee whiz, I mean, I know some of the performances are unacceptable, but half our list on game day has played less than 50 games.