Adam The God

We kicked a winning score in Geelong without any KPF. If the midfield works hard and gets on top, we're a big chance. Starting well is paramount. We need to feed on their recent loses, which will hopefully add an extra mental barrier for them to overcome this week.

Agreed on both fronts.

I'm hoping for a dominant game from Hogan. That could be the difference here.

Because that's unusual for you, OD.

You're kidding yourself if you think that Riewoldt wasn't the difference between a St Kilda or Melbourne win last weekend. Wouldn't have mattered how bad we were.

No he wouldn't.

Wouldn't say no if he passed a medical. Reports where?

We played about a quarter against this mob last time and only lost by 4 goals. Play 4 quarters and we should win.

I've seen him do those things too, mate and I call him out for them. I think his first 6 or 7 games this year were solid. Since the Geelong game, he has reverted to his cheap handball out the back option, which I know Roos isn't happy with. In fact, this was specifically mentioned in an interview with Roos earlier in the year on DeeTV. Roos said he felt Jones was a better player this year (it was about round 4 or 5 at this point), because he wasn't getting the cheap kicks out the back, but consequently, his numbers weren't as high. However, he was making his possessions count. When I watched the replays of the Richmond and Geelong wins, you could really see him shouting instructions to the players, pointing, directing traffic etc. I was at both of those games and I didn't really notice it. I suspect he does quite a bit that we miss, but he certainly doesn't do it enough. He needs to return to the things he was focusing on earlier in the season and I suspect he needs to be reminded of this by the coaches. timD, on 29 Jul 2015 - 09:24 AM, said: Song, he is not "the problem", but rather an example of one element of the problem - a dearth of genuinely talented players with leadership skills. We actually have none. I'd say we have none of the appropriate age and experience.

Definitely LOLed there, Biffen. Glad the kids like Jack. I've only met him once at a party when he'd first been drafted. He seemed a little shy to me, nice, but shy. He's certainly not shy now. But maybe I was just drunk that night.

Watts isn't a strong mark. Particularly, on a leader under pressure. He's better on a wing. He's just started playing good, consistent footy and people want to move him again. He's a great decision maker, with excellent skills. Allow him to create across the wings.

Or uncontested, he taps it straight down the throat of an opposition player.

It may me an overly simplistic view, but I believe that we are setting up at stoppages to limit damage, rather than to attack. If we end up with the ball, that's great, but our first priority seems to be damage limitation.

Fascinating. I wonder if Roos had an inkling this rule would be passed for this year? Is this how he intends to get this A+er into the club? I'd use our 2016 first rounder for Prestia if we really like someone in the draft this year.

Completely agree, mate. The Geelong win was the best I can remember. A really consistent team performance for four quarters. I've seen countless examples this season where overcommitting to a shepherd would not have been the concern. Our blokes handball and then stand still and watch their opponent chase after the guy who just received the ball. It's really so obvious.

Me too, mate.

Exactly, Jack, which highlights the perpetually raised issue of the dearth of experienced leaders on our list.

Well, see this was the same problem with Grimes and Trengove being made captain. I genuinely stand by the fact that Grimes and Trengove were our only legitimate options for captaincy when Neeld arrived. When Grimes and Trengove were made captain, Jones was an ordinary player. In Grimes and Trengove's first season as captains, Jones had his best year. Its revisionism to say otherwise. Jonesy has improved every year since. And Jones does show moments of good leadership. In our wins this year, he has been an integral part of them (think the goal at the start of the 4th against Geelong), but in an ideal world, he's not your captain. He's a solid midfield contributor and someone like a Selwood (who can really impact the game and change the flow of things) is your captain. We don't have anyone that has the talent and experience to be that player right now. With good coaching and development, Hogan and someone like Brayshaw could well become that sort of leader, but as you say, mate, we're stuck at the moment. I'd actually argue he's trying to play to the team's strengths. That is keep it slow and congested, because we're so slow in the foot speed department. Your last line is spot on though. If we are intent on playing the possession game, we should be targeting blokes with high skill levels.

Every indication is that we're going backwards? Really? So five wins this year, as apposed to four wins by the end of the season is no indication of forward momentum? Righto.

This is clearly not being taught, because it happens every bloody week. Not just Watts, just about every player in the 22 fails to shepherd. Our midfielders rarely block for each other either, because they're so focused on getting the ball or preventing their man from getting it. I just wonder what it is with some of these guys. It has to be a couple of blokes continually setting bad examples for the rest of the younger players, because things like shepherding and blocking should come naturally. That's a work rate issue and a lack of understanding in the game style, I believe. As a coach myself, I'd be doing my best to isolate him inside 50 as much as possible. Collingwood managed this a couple of times against us last time with Cloke. It's about quick, instinctive ball movement. It rarely gives the defenders any chance. Unfortunately, our blokes don't play instinctively, they play reactively, particularly blokes like Nathan Jones (even though I love him). It was the instinctive ball movement that won us the game down in Geelong. I cannot believe we're not modelling our game on that win every week. Our lack of pace across the ground was perhaps most evident against St Kilda, but we come unstuck against GWS every time because of it as well. We need a lot more pace than just Jeffy, Frost and Kent. Hopefully that will be added this off season too. I think Jack actually played it too cleverly. He tried to keep the ball in his area and inside our attacking 50 with a dinky kick, but unfortunately this made it look a little bit like he'd been dispossessed. Of course, had the umpire been watching properly, he would have seen exactly what I saw and called play on, but he was a little man, with the power of a whistle. I'm just avoiding it altogether. If he could kick he'd be in AA form, but alas his kicking really lets him down. His old man never really improved his kicking either and it always held him back. I'm hoping our coaches can teach Jack to play to his strengths. If he does this, he'll be an absolute beauty. You realise how important he is when he's not playing.

Our percentage was so high, because we'd beat up on interstate teams on the 'G.

Treloar isn't a big bodied mid. But he is a great accumulator and has a bit of x-factor with his goal kicking and speed.

Apparently, I need to re-read it. Apologies and apologies to Redleg too. Yeah, apologies, mate.

Yes, we kicked straight, but that day was more about great midfield ball movement. We managed to isolate defenders one on one and that day, we really played for each other. It's the best I can remember seeing a Melbourne team play. I've watched us for many years and go every week. Perhaps, I've forgotten the Daniher era, but it was toughly contested, we exhibited strong skills, good decision-making and a desire to win at all costs. It was a very focused performance in the wake of the St Kilda 41 second debacle. If ever we were gonna win our next game though, it'd be this week against Collingwood.

Sorry, why is everyone telling Olisik to grow up? Redleg's comment about 'war dance' in regards to Bennell was completely irrelevant to his footballing ability and should have been called out.