praha

It's "Melbourne" in the sense that we had two home finals against interstate teams, lost them both, and couldn't even get to the Prelim after starting the season 10-0. Straight set exits actually aren't that common. And certainly not from teams only at the start of their premiership window. Most of the time when it's happened it's happened towards the end. Hawthorn for example were staring down the barrel of a straight sets exit in 2015 after being comfortably beaten by the Eagles in the QF. They bounced back in the semi and beat Freo in the Prelim in their second Perth trip in as many weeks. They demolished WC in the GF who had barely travelled. After the QF Hawthorn were bruised and looked really quite bad in that game. Every wrote them off. They turned it around in 7 days. Melbourne isn't the only team with sore bodies and a tough fixture. Last year was great but we won't get much respect from the wider football community until we beat the big boys on the MCG in front of 70k. We choked consistently this year but then looked a million bucks whenever we played in completely different cities. Being the best team around when barely anyone can watch you live is great until you actually start having to compete against the crowd. As soon as people started showing up and making noise, we choked. On Friday, in typical Melbourne fashion, we'd kick a goal and the "Make some noise" clips would flash on the big screen. The crowd would roar and the team's response was to drop marks and get beaten in contests despite outnumbering the Lions players. Worst was when the scoreboard was flashing, everyone was screaming, and Gawn tapped it down Zorko's throat... classic! No doubt injuries, fitness, coaching all played a role but good teams find ways to win. That we put to bed most Melbourne stereotypes in a year when we were in lockdown, only to return to being the league's whipping boy as soon as we can attend games again, is distinctively "Melbourne".

It was a good year by 2019 standards. It was a pretty poor year for the club. One of the club's KPIs is to win at least one final in the AFL and AFLW. Just because you won a flag one year doesn't mean you get a pass the following year. Consistently beaten on our home turf against fellow contenders. Refused to give strong young talent a chance in the AFL. My mate commented today that it seemed like Goodwin and co were resigned to the fact this wasn't our year by about round 20, and didn't want to compromise the VFL team's season. Hence stuck with the same team. Worst case scenario being we still play finals regardless. He is a Pies supporter and said it was obviois Goodwin just refused to make changes and simply gave this squad one last crack before losing Jackson and making some trades in the off season. At least one win though would have been the minimum. Losing both finals in the way we did.... huge fail. We need to set high expectations. A Prelim at least was the bare minimum.

Honestly I reckon we just choke when we play there.

Must be tough for the kid, especially to leave off the back of that end to the year and his performance. Not going to do much for his personal brand.

People have to move on. We lost and it sucks. Much to look forward to over summer with the NBA and cricket, we'll get a good pre-season under our belt... I'm honestly excited about what list changes will take place.

Pies have a heap of finals experience as well as exciting young talent. People judge them off the back of 2021. They've played in 10 of 15 finals series since 2007 and all of their experienced players have big game performances on their resume including three grand finals and one flag. They are a genuine flag threat. Weird everyone has been writing them off all season.

It was fun in parts but the second half was an emotional grind. Two losses to Collingwood, then Sydney, Freo and Bulldogs losses...they were especially tough because opposition fans really gave it to us. The second Collingwood loss legit almost gave me PTSD...it was not a pleasant experience and everyone seemed to take great pleasure in beating us. Then two finals against interstate teams... last night being much tougher to stomach than Sydney. What made it so bad and tough was that 7 of our 8 losses were in Melbourne and 6 of them at the MCG... we were basically laughed out of the MCG. To be honest I am not too fussed about losing, it happens. When gets me worked up is that we won a flag in another city while we were all locked up, and the return is basically us being laughed out of our home stadium time and time again. It's a cruel sport. Just heartbreaking stuff really. To be honest I am accepting now that flags are very hard to come by but seriously 50% of it is just *hunger*. We didn't have it. Or enough of it. Wouldn't say it was a wasted year as I'm sure something will come of it. But I am worried that Goodwin has wasted a year in no further development or blooding of new talent. Time will tell but history isn't on Goodwin's side with this sort of capitulation. Anyway, onto the NBA season.

Complacency imo

Given we just "did a Melbourne" after being top 2 all year and going out in straight sets, the most typical way to respond next year would be to lose the opening round to North, but then win 10+ in a row somewhere during the season, and then lose an elimination final to...wait for it.... ESSENDON. You just know it's going to happen.

Weird vibes all season. No way Longmire or Scott put up with Salem or Brown performances as long as he did. He coached in a trance all season and it showed: zero corridor footy. The club needed a teleprompt to get fans to "be loud", literally seconds later we see 4 Melbourne players fumble it in the forward 50 while the two Brisbane players throw it onto their boot to a teammate on their own 40 metres away... absolutely demoralising football for half the season and tonight was the cherry on top. You could absolutely smell it in the air after that goal on the siren, you could predict Brisbane would take that goal into half time as a real morale boost. Our response was to play with the same energy like as if it was round 3. The defining moment was on the AFL Reserve wing late in the third when Gawn dropped an absolute sitter. Hardly any pressure. He was cooked. You knee then and there the season was done. We were cooked but we play a style that's complicit in it. Goodwin is going to have to coach his [censored] heart out next season to make up for this utter disgrace of a finals series. This year's performance doesn't completely undo last year, but it goes a long way to feeding the "covid one hit wonders" narrative.

It could also be that out depth is thin and we need a mini rebuild... hence lack of development via VFL. We've been lucky with injuries... Spargo, Sparrow, and ANB are likely on their last contracts. Problem is we don't actually have anyone to replace them.

Yes. I remember watching said "hit" at home, unable to leave, after having attended and witnessed countless 100 point beltings in person. "Fantastic"....

Melbourne - Typical Melbourne Choke

Brisbane's to lose.

pathetic. utterly pathetic.

what do we have to cheer about exactly?

"wHy AreNt wE LoUd" This is why.

it's been 1 quarter

We go to potato as soon as the ball hits the deck in our defensive 50. Raynor and Cameron must be licking their lips at playing on Petty, Rivers, May and Lever.

i hope the crowd increases in the next 35 minuted from the 12 that are already here.

Can't wait for King's Birthday clash against the Pies...

So is anyone at all confident? Come on, fess up.

Yep. Still we should get to the Prelim at least. Like many have said, anything can happen but our QF performance was not uncommon, it's been a trend this year and so while history favours at least one QF loser to make the GF, I just can't visualise us being there this year. It's less about what Melbourne's not, and more about what Sydney, Collingwood and Geelong *are*. We tighten a few things up in the off season and blood new talent and we're set for a long while yet at the top end of the ladder. Still though after starting 10-0 and finishing second, not at least making the Prelim would be disappointing. Collingwood could go out in straight sets and their season is still a huge success. For us losing to Brisbane would be a failed season in my view. And yes it's one game that makes a difference. Prelims are a whole different ball game. I'll be devastated if we can't get there.

Not at all confident but gee whiz , Brisbane is not Prelim caliber. We should at least get there. A Geelong vs Brisbane Prelim is going to be a snorefest.

I very nearly gave up my AFL membership the last two years. As a Gold tier member i am effectively guaranteed a ticket to the GF if Melbourne makes it... I think I'll hold onto the membership for a few more years at least :p