Dr. Gonzo

It was a rubbish comment by Caro - Tippett ducked into the tackle to initiate head contact looking for the free. Nothing to see there, Mumford did nothing wrong.

After last weeks debacle I was looking forward to this game to see how the players would respond. Needless to say halfway through the first quarter I was ready to start planning other things to do on the weekend for the rest of the year. To turn things around the way we did from about the 20 minute mark of the first quarter was a great turnaround and testament to the character and will of the players. Some of the young(ish) guys really stood up, Oliver, Gawn, Tyson, Hogan, Salem, Viney. The test is now to carry that form and effort into next week, the week after and every game they play from here on out. The next 3 games are eminently winnable so we really should have no excuse for dropping any of them. Cannot wait to see Brayshaw, Petracca and Garlett back into the team, we really missed Garlett yesterday he would've kicked a bag. Oh and the umpiring was atrocious, the bald headed one was the worst culprit. Surely that has to be looked into, the favouritism was blatant to the point where it wouldn't surprise if there was an agenda there (betting, favouritism whatever). It was downright pathetic from a supposedly professional sport.

Do you have a link?

Wasn't as big a difference as most ended up thinking. IF we play like we can/should, there's no reason we can't be in most games.

Bashing or telling it how it is? All in the perception. And how many times does it need to be said - the journos don't write the headlines the sub-editors do.

Last year we played horribly in round 2 and backed up with a decent showing the next the week albeit losing to the Crows with some innacurate kicking. I'm hoping this week we will show the same intent we did against the Crows last year and at least have a crack. If we don't win we have to at least make the Roos earn it and fight the game out. If we do it will bode well for the next month.

I don't get this thinking. We're playing North FFS not 2008 Geelong. If we play with desire and effort we'll have a chance. If we play like last week we'll get smashed.

Haha you and me are the same vintage mate - I was 10 at the time too however I was unfortunate enough to be at the game ...couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I'd seen us lose games we should win before, but not like that!

Yeah it was. The game I'm referring to is the one Supermercado refers to as the "Chris Sullivan line" for those who read Every Day Is Like Sunday. 41 points up at 3/4 time kicked the first goal of the last and then watched as Essendon kicked 8 straight to snatched the win. I just don't get it. I know a lot of the list has turned over etc etc but this club should be playing with a chip on its shoulder and a point to prove. Just seems whenever we're challenged we crumble like a sack of you know what. Not just now been happening for decades. Different players, different coaches, different administration and board, different headquarters same result.

If the players are anywhere near as gut wrenchingly furious as most supporters they'll be itching to get out there and relishing the chance to smash some North bodies from the first bounce. Let's see what they're made of and/or how much they care. Talking about worst H&A losses is it coincidence that 3 I can think of were against the Bombers? Last week, 148 and (going back a bit) ANZAC Day 1992 when we lost after being 47 points up in the last quarter. Of course we've had some good wins against them too, 2012, 2013 and both H&A games in 1990.

Yes mate, thousands. The Geelong game is irrelevant in those conversation, that happened in June/July when no one buys memberships. This was round 2 when people are still tossing up whether to fork out or not. many many supporters would've read the preseason and post round 1 press with interest but a cynical eye. After last week they would've just thought "nothings changed" and gone back to indifference/apathy/waiting again til next year/maybe never. Consistency is one thing last week had nothing to do with consistency when you're facing a clearly inferior opponent and let them dictate the game from bell to bell.

Who also doesn't get prime time games and back cover of the papers

He doesn't just move like a giraffe he actually looks like one. I thought that was his mouth guard to start with...

Tell that to the thousands of supporters who now won't sign up as members because of that rubbish last week. Lost for another year and another step towards never coming back. Tell that to the kids embarrassed to support the Demons at school because of the [censored] they have to constantly defend/put up with. I'm a rusted on tragic so the performance is irrelevant to whether I sign up again. But in the wider footy community and for those tossing up whether they would bother or starting to pay attention after we were seemingly on the right path that would just make them go pfft and turn away again. You can't compare us to other clubs because our situation is nothing like any other club. We have baggage and history that we need to overcome both on and off field. Losing games like last week is another cut to the psyche of the club, on its own just a minor wound but a thousand will kill us.

Don't be so negative swyl that's another excuse, sorry reason, for the players poor performances

Yep Bombers came out again playing with some intent- but because they are complete rubbish port absorbed it then proceeded to run all over them just as we should've done. Disgraceful performance .

Geelong's won 3 flags in the last 9 years. They've got runs on the board. We do this every bloody year. Essendon had a big day, this game meant something to them - always an excuse for the MFC, when will games start meaning something to us?

Maybe - but it's up to the team to prove them wrong. Our actions as a club and team will determine whether they're on the money or just spouting [censored] at an easy target.

In order to gain the trust of the members/supporters, win back some of those lost lapsed members and rebuild any confidence in the club whatsoever they have to win the next 3-4 games or at the very least put in a good showing this week and then win the next 3 following that against Pies, Tigers, Saints. There's no reason we can't other than above the shoulders and in the coaches box.

So why is he contracted til the end of 2018? Surely the FD haven't gone from seeing him as irreplaceable to the point of offering a 3 year contract to not even being best 22 in the space of 6 months and 2 senior games? They either completely miscalculated and stuffed up offering him a lengthy contract or completely stuffed up dropping a senior player to the VFL. His contract is looking like the Jamar/Jordie 3 year contracts from 2012.

Must have missed that one, can you fill me in? No one is saying have to be negative all the time - contrarily you are the one who is saying no one is allowed to be negative - ever. I appreciate the positivity but if its not balanced with the realism (or as you would say "negativity") then its just blustering hot air. Step into the real world outside the MFC bubble - we have done not much for 10 years (some would say 50 years) and are incapable of gaining any credibility or respect in the wider footy community. Yet according to you its all sunshine and roses, difficult to understand the last DECADE in that context.

Kicked themselves out of it in the frist half - 2 goals 13 was it?

Yeah you're right, they certainly got it right last week. This type of thinking is ridiculous - 1) taking this approach we may as well shut down the forum as we'd have nothing left to discuss and 2) this kind of thinking (that those in positions of power know better than us) is what has got us in trouble in the past.