praha

McKenzie is to Bailey's legacy what Godfrey was to Daniher's.

It's being said for the public's consumption, not the players. Coaches keep it diplomatic for the club's image overall. Players don't give a [censored] about the press conference and would probably actively ignore it (and are probably structured to ignore it).

Undoubtedly the best comment in this thread.

So I assume Sylvia, Watts, Davey, Blease are all next go then? Right.

Worst stat of them all.

I think the most damning aspects represent regression, rather than progression. We HAVE improved on rounds 1-3. But that's not saying much. But the same issues - opposition transition, structures, uncontested ball count, over possession, kicking and handballng into pressure, fitness - are all present.

We beat Essendon in 2012 so I think your argument is void. We also smashed GWS by 100 points. Also, Brisbane is [censored]. Shadow of the average team it was last year.

You need to be a very defensive minded individual to implement a zone and understand the structures that keep it in place. Also, 8 new players or to, it shouldn't take 18 months for players to grasp. It shouldn't. It is truly astounding how every.single.game. under Neeld how much space the opposition gets.

Curry & Beer, I admire your optimism and positivity in regards to the team and club. Good luck with that.

They were average at best today. This is the issue mate. If you're running and tackling all day you're going to fall behind. Brisbane is a VERY average side and they PASTED the Dees in the middle. Their transition out of defense was nothing short of deplorable on Melbourne's behalf. If you thought that spread was good, you were watching the wrong game. They would get it out and turn around and have a clear, open target pretty much every time. The structures are truly awful. The rebound is decent at best but players still don't run hard enough. I am really worried, on the edge of delusion, as to how badly this team is going to get an absolute belting next week. Undoubtedly one of the worst midfields, or at least one of the worst midfield structures, I have ever seen. My god, I never knew how bad we were. Brisbane slammed us today. Straight kicking saved us and once again leaders didn't stand up. "If Sylvia had kicked that goal" ... Erm, yeah. But he didn't.... Brace yourselves for next week.

The Eagles went through internal turmoil, bad injuries to good players and a short down time. They also had many a premiership, experienced player on their list. The thing with a club like the Eagles is they simply don't stand for mediocrity, and three years down the bottom is enough for them, no excuses. We seem to justify poor performance with a rebuild, but it is only a rebuild if you actually, you know, rebuild. Which Melbourne hasn't. It has regressed spectacularly.

It's a good team of schoolboy superstars with no confidence nor the capacity to take it up to flying AFL sides. They'll get their eventually but confidence is low for this team to play well when it truly matters. Until they start showing up against teams that are more than 2 years old, I'll lack confidence. Sunday's win was fun but I quickly came back to reality and realised that if it were 2010, we'd have won only 1 game out of the past 26 and Neeld would most certainly be out of a job. IMO GC and GWS have saved his job.

Stuff it: it's great news.

Playing devil's advocate: he yanked the kick.

Watching the last quarter last week, it is astonishing the increase in intensity, the capacity at which the players had to get free, the attack at the ball. Don't tell me "it's only GWS" because that was an uncanny turnaround.

Based on round 1-4: Sylvia for a top 20 pick Watts for a top 40 pick Assuming we get a priority pick: Package Sylvia pick, Watts pick, picks 1 & 2 for anyone in the top 30 here that is <28 years old, but >24: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/mikes-top-50-2013/20-11 1. Trade players that haven't lived up to potential 2. Use draft picks to trade for established star player 3. ?????? 4. Profit I call it the "Paul McNamee Theory Of Success".

I've made all three. Only stayed to the end in two, though: Port and GWS.

We are a chance in the same way we were a chance against Port. I am surprised by Brisbane's capitulation tbh. A win against them IN Brisbane would be absolutely superb for this team. A loss, even a tight one, would demonstrate that not much has changed since last season. Must win imo. If this team wants to demonstrate how hard it has worked, it's round 5 and it must win to show that.

Without wanting to take any credit away from Jaded for their contribution to this forum, I am the blog's curator

IMO generalising that men are going to treat women lesser because of their sex is akin to the sexism you suggest might be occurring. Even saying it's "possible" relies on misconstructed social theory that sexism is rife in society, which I don't accept. That's an unfair assumption to place on the umpire just because they're male and the goal umpire is female. You're basically saying, "Well, she is female, so maybe she's a victim of sexism?" That in itself is sexist. If the goal umpire says, "It appeared to be a goal, but I can't be sure", then they go to the replay. If they are 100% sure, there won't be a replay. She wasn't sure, so there was a replay.

Updated with winning goodness. http://beingademonsfan.tumblr.com/

you're being far too apologetic towards a poor team. If Melbourne were up and going, or at the least a decent side of the North variety, the media would lap it up. The media focuses on good teams, not necessarily big ones. Cotchin went unnoticed for a while there while Richmond languised. Did anyone hear of Swan pre-2006? With success comes respect. if you're a good player in a crap team, no one cares. The best thing for Jones is to just keep the eye on the prize rather than lap up good games against teams still with a pacifier in their mouth and expect to be noticed. When this team is flying, he will be the league's poster boy, bookmark it. He'll get his time.

I found "cheap seats" to mean casual fans that speak up and criticise the loudest when the club is falting. he might not be referring to any melbourne fan in general, but a fan nonetheless.

Jamar scored very highly in Dreamteam. He did enough for the tap ruckman he is. not his fault scraps in the center almost always went GWS' way. he doesnt do enough around the ground but he is a great tap ruckman. His time is up but he has been a great serviceman for the club. let's not ostracise him like we have older players in the past. Gawn was great. Hope his knees hold up.

Jack played like the rest of the team today: erratic and buckling when under pressure, loose and confident when not. Time to stop looking at him as pick No.1, and rather simply as the player he is. if you figure out what sort of player he is, let me know.