John Crow Batty

That's right. Now you get the picture.

In all of these games we started very strongly until the opposition apply pressure. Then the opposition loosen up a little after they have taken control and we fight back. As soon as they tighten up its game over. We can't handle pressure. That is a fact.

Rather trade our softcoque culture for theirs.

The OX shuns the apologist road. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-david-schwarz-questions-melbourne-development-20160717-gq7sng.html https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/32084878/schwarz-slams-demons-development/#page1

Having our best win for the entire season coming in round 1 is a strong statement for failure over the entire season. Just shows we have gone backwards.

Seems our MOTY nominations are from marks taken in our most crappiest performances. They are now a big yawn for me.

Perhaps the response was something like "don't call us, we'll call you"

Still think the real problem is mostly upstairs. How many games have we started well and then fell off when pressure is applied?

Put those four back in may not make any difference other than raises the average age.

The AFL needs a side to provide comic relief.

I would change my mind and say we have improved if we manage to beat one of Hawks, Adelaide, Geelong or a still alive Port on the cusp of the finals. I don't think it will happen because stirring upsets against teams that want and need to win does not seem to be in our DNA. That is the bench mark I apply to acknowledge improvement. Just effing beat a team that plays to win and not just the cheap wins against poor teams that have issues and distractions.

I always wondered about Lamb. A bit slow but strong and tough and made for the gorilla match ups. One of the few defenders I saw who got under Wayne Carey's skin.

It s a very big "IF" and a bad bet.

Reminds me of Trengove a couple of seasons ago.

Improvement has been marginal and IMO unacceptable. From hopeless to mediocre is our current lot. I agree the list has improved but we are still a poor team. This season, so called improvement has been masked by several other poor teams. GC and Brisbane getting worse and teams that have declined like Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon. I believe the chances are good one or more of those sides will overtake us next season. A future rebuild is not out of the question unless Goodwin turns out to be another Luke Beveridge.

Maybe as individuals there are arguments for improving. But as a team, the stagnation persists.

Yes, Gawn, Watts and Jetta too were slow starters that took a while to get going. Viney perhaps is our only player that's started well and continued on a upward trajectory with few hiccups. I am starting to worry about Oliver. After a sensational first game he has been out of the picture recently. I pray we haven't got a Gysberts Mark 2 here.

It's the Melbourne way. So many of our players do this.

We have little chance of upsetting one of the other four games. That is the stuff for those that continue to dream and delude themselves. Those sides have plenty of incentive to win at the business end of the season. Our best and very slim chance is if Port drop out of contention when we get around to play them. Carlton have the same contempt for us as the Saints have and another likely humiliating loss. I only see a win against the Suns which puts us in line for 8 wins as I said a couple of months ago. While our playing list has improved on paper, not much else has. I just dont see the mental fibre in the players to take us out 3 and 3.

The players are plagued by defeatist minds. They will crumble at the first hint of pressure from WC.

What do you reckon your chances for a thorough hen pecking are like?

I reckon play all the soon to be delisted and rest the kids. I wouldn't expect a spirited effort with our best 22 anyhow. We haven't won in Perth since 2004 and we will likely lose by 20 goals. A defeatist post but we are good at ruining young careers with halfarsed efforts.

Back to Jones. He usually plays far better than today even when we lose badly. One of our most consistent better players without argument. As for leadership though he has bugger all influence in lifting his teammates out of chronic softcockness syndrome.

At least the late Sunday arvo starts gives us the opportunity to have a mostly decent weekend beforehand. Imagine how miserable it would be if we had a lot of Friday games.

He is one of our better players for sure but no captain material. Better if he relinquished the role and gave it to someone else. Like Sam Mitchell did at Hawthorn.