praha

10-15 goal loss. Our backline is not quick enough for theirs, and their midfield is far too experienced. Also, I think we may be the first team in a while to not score a goal for the entire match.

I heard that as well! And it really did look like something Flower would do!

I suspect I'll have my first child before Melbourne win a premiership, and I don't plan on having kids for at least another 10-15 years.

Bravo. Good article. If our leaders aren't leading by example and playing with accountability, how exactly can we expect our new players to evolve into league superstars? Once again, our culture as a club is seeping through, and our undeniable lack of a superstar over the past 40 years has a lot to do with our inability to surround good, talented young players with a winning culture. We suck as a football club and to be quite honest, I can't see us turning the tide anytime soon. We are risking moving into Richmond mediocrity. The sad thing is that, unlike Richmond that has the fanbase and corporate backing to stay afloat despite years of on-field turmoil, we cannot survive decades in the gutter. This isn't the 70s anymore. The jumper means nothing anymore. Diddly squat! If the players aren't willing to play for it, I'm not sure I have the energy to support it as aggressively anymore. I left Saturday at half-time feeling utterly dejected. Not angry, but dejected. And disappointed. I just don't know how I feel about this club anymore.

I think we definitely risk being another Richmond. If we aren't successful with this core group soon, they will never get that winning feeling, and we'll be rebuilding every 3-4 years, just like the Tigers. We are really risking implementing a losing culture (if we don't already have one). You could get away with that 20-30 years ago, but nowadays, you need success (obviously). Also, if Pettard goes to the GC, we lose probably our best forward option.

I thought the same thing when I bought it. I only buy it because I like to quickly look at player numbers of the opposition so I know who is who. But $5! I remember when it was $2.50 back in the mid-90s. Also, I park opposite the Botanical Gardens in a hospital car-park. Was $5 three years ago. $10 now.

Exactly 3.4 years.

I was starting to worry that someone would miss the point of this thread Thank you!

Harsh on Frawley. He was under constant pressure thanks to our mid-field allowing Hawthorn mids to easily run into their forward 50.

I'll start: "Yeah, look, I think that we really let each other down today. We didn't execute some of the things we've been focusing on over the pre-season, and that was our biggest let-down." "Yeah, look, I think we've still got a lot of areas to improve in. I think the idea was there but the execution is what let us down." "Yeah, look, I think that, when you have so many players missing with injury, it does have an affect on the playing group. We have to be able to adapt to that, and that's where players like Dunn and Grimes and Bruce and Green have to step up." "Yeah, look, I think we were disappointing today." "Yeah, look, look." "Yeah, look, it's a bird!" "Yeah, look, it's a plane!" "Yeah, look, I think it's Superman." On the bright side of things, Bailey is always very level headed after performances like these. It can work either very well on the young blokes, or very poorly. I have no doubt his words or tone won't change after today.

Bravo!

It's not anyway near as bad as GF 2000 for me (it being the first year I'd seen Melbourne being real successful), but today has to be one of, if not the, most disappointing days. We all had the optimism and excitement for the future, but today was just a shot in the gut. Not angry, just disappointed. They let a lot of people down today. This was not what any of us had expected.

I think that quite a few Melbourne fans were optimistic about this season. I was one of them. I was hoping for a 6-8 win season, but I'm very disappointed by today. They were dispicable. If this club wants to be coupled with the Fremantle's and the Richmond's for the next decade, then so be it. Because after today's performance, it's quite obvious we haven't improved as much as we though we had. The issues that have plagued us for the past 3 seasons still remain. They haven't been rectified in the slightest. I think we are still another 2-3 years off a finals appearance to be honest. I'd be surprised if we make the finals before 2013.

It's not? Just curious then: who takes charge of training sessions? Who decides what areas to focus on during training? The players? Isn't it the coaches responsibility to ensure the skill level is high? If we can't blame the coach for that, then what exactly is the purpose of having a coach? To look pretty?

I left at half-time. Few things I took note of: - The backline is under fair too much pressure. Why are Hawthorn mids running so freely into their forward 50? It's clear that Hawthorn are playing an aggressive attack with the lack of Franklin, so they are throwing everyone in there. It's worked. - 4-5 dropped marks without a Hawthorn player in sight. - No leadership from Bruce, Miller. - Scully has been OK - Dunn is done (pun intended in every way possible) - Handballing to players under pressure constantly, over and over again. - Terrible around the stoppages. Bailey has probably said that is one of the main areas we've had to work on over the pre-season about a million times. Clearly didn't work well enough. - Always a step behind.

Jonesy really has been great for us over the past 3 years. Never hangs his head, always dives straight through the pack. Not the best player going around, but has the dedication, which is encouraging considering he was a young player coming into a very poor side. He's kept his aggression up. Glad to hear this.

Yeah, my post was kind of a joke at first, but he had a pretty good game tonight. And yeah, I still love him too. I have a child with him.

Sorry to bump this, but I like laughing at my own stupidity. He is destroying Richmond atm, and has kicked a goal. How often did he kick a goal within the first 20 minutes for us?

Did I just read a few posts saying that was a good forward line? I threw up in my mouth a bit when I saw it. Would prefer Sylvia, Watts, Wonna and Jurrah in that forward line. If you've got Jamar at FF, you know you've got problems. I'm getting much more excited about our back-half and interchange.

I'm anticipating a 7-10 goal loss to be honest. As long as Scully and Trengove rip it up, and our younger players are in the best, I'll be happy.

I'm all for being optimistic, but really?

I'm surprised to even see Davey in there...

I'd say we're a pretty good chance to finish last again.

I think it's probably the best and most honest and on the mark season preview I've read thus far.

3-19 season, 0-6 to start. And we can't sack our coach because we just signed him to a 2 year contract. Woohoo for rewarding mediocrity.