Dr. Gonzo

Yep I was really impressed a couple of times when he went to a contest to help out his teammates who were stuck handballing each other into trouble. Noone else went in to help but Petracca ran to the contest, bustled through to collect the ball and split the contest open helping us maintain possession and move the footy forward

We are definitely lacking a key forward as a crucial part of our structure. TMac is struggling since his foot/ankle injuries, Weideman hasn't come on and Jackson is a 1 gamer. If we can find someone who can clunk marks and kick straight we'll look far better. So many times yesterday we kicked to a lead or one on one but the player was outmarked or beaten easily in the contest

The most disappointing part was seeing how well we played early and then looking like a different team for the rest of the game. Let's see how they backup next week because as you say it's hard to judge due to the interruption to the season however I'm not confident we will have the speed to best Essendon at the G. Will be interesting to see how they go against the Swans today.

Can we afford to pay out his contract? Will the AFL let us? He is contracted for 2 more seasons after this one and the club has seen a massive hole in our revenue and spike in our debt this year and possibly next year too. The competition is reeling financially and Kennett is putting the death of clubs back on the agenda. I don't think we can afford to flush close to a million bucks down the toilet.

I'll have to watch again (dare I?) because last night most of my energy was directed towards trying to stop myself kicking the [censored] out of the couch and scaring the hell out of my kids and inlaws.

Coaching or composure and maturity? If we started doing it halfway through the last quarter then surely that is part of the plan and the players didn't decide to defy Goodwin to act off their own bat?

I hope that's not the message internally! The only reason we won was Carlton missed a few sitters Cripps the main culprit. We certainly didn't lift in the last 10 minutes, didn't even kick a goal in the last quarter.

I mean his family has a bit of a reputation for associating with colourful characters

Dale Lewis - he's been ostracised from the AFL and AFL media ever since

Just a thought (and maybe an idiotic one) - would it be worth switching TMac and May? Or having May has the primary forward with TMac playing second fiddle and Fritsch as 3rd up? Not sure where that leaves our backline because I'm not a fan of Smith but obviously it would mean OMac would have to come in. Petty is another option, I liked him up forward last year so maybe May and Petty up forward with TMac back to defense? I know this would unsettle us immensely but just trying to think of how to fix our forward structure.

Regardless of whether you think Goodwin should be coach or not there is no way we are paying out his contract, especially not this year.

He needs to start being better than "good" - he needs to go to the next level and start dominating games.

Even in the first quarter we were well on top obviously but should've been more than 5 goals ahead. Even with the shortened quarters we really shouldve had another 2 or 3 goals.

Not on tonight's showing mate, Gold Coast took the Eagles to the cleaners

Ran out of gas? After 1 and a half shortened quarters? No way, it's all psychological, they just decreased their intensity and couldn't regain it

Haha you've got to be [censored] kidding me

I don't think old dee is that creepy Clint ?

Fair enough, I don't necessarily agree with all of that but there is some merit there. Coaches roles have changed where they're not the ra-ra motivators like days past. You're right they are responsible for helping develop good habits but I also think most of that (culture) is driven from within the playing group. The organisation obviously has a large role in that which the coach is a leading part of but I also think a coaches role is more about game plan/strategy and communication with players ensuring they have clearly defined roles and know what is expected of them. I just can't see how playing like we did in the 1st quarter vs the 3rd/4th can be placed solely or predominantly on the coach. The players have to be answerable for that and in particular the onfield leaders. Changing coaches won't change that.

I want Salem up forward, the kid has goal sense and would be a good kick going inside 50. He's wasted at half back I reckon.

They seriously need a psychologist at the club if they don't have one already. The Tigers players have Emma someone or other helping them with mindfulness and it has done them a world of good since 2016. Our players need to learn to focus on winning the next contest regardless of the scoreboard - always the next contest. They can't keep up their intensity and get too pleased with themselves whether consciously or not. Every Melbourne supporter was excited with the first quarter and as soon as the quarter time siren went knew exactly what was on the cards. This is completely on the players for me, and the leadership and cultural changes have to come from within. I had hoped that having Roos come in would teach them that and help foster it but doesn't seem like anything's changed. Where was the leadership from Gawn, Viney, Lever, May, TMac, Brayshaw, Salem, Oliver, Jones? These are the guys who need to be leading by example but they're some of the biggest culprits of dropping their intensity, lairising and trying dinky little kicks, sitting back and not helping out their teammates. Petracca seemed to exhibit some signs a couple of times today but it can't be one guy it needs to be across the ground. Players have to have the mentality of going for the jugular!

Dishonorable wins beat honourable losses every day of the week

I don't disagree at all, that performance is totally on the players for me. I'm just wondering how others who seem to be gunning for Goodwin think we should be fixing this situation. Changing coaches hasn't helped us in the past not sure why it would change now.

I don't necessarily disagree but pretty rough to single out the kids when it was our leaders who failed to assert themselves and take control back after half time.

I've been waiting for them to learn and keep the pressure up for an entire match for about 3 decades

How do we fix it faulty? Say we get rid of Goodwin, who replaces him? We'd want to make sure it's a home run and not another Neeld. Ross Lyon could be an option but do we risk a Malthouse at Carlton situation?