bjDee

That was beautiful to watch, sitting as I was between 2 fanatical Bombers friends. Just gotta love that Jones boy's efforts when the pill is in his sights and he wants it more than anyone else.

I don't think we can tell any more how they will play from just looking who is listed on the team sheet. What matters is what attitude those names bring to the game over 4 quarters. So much of our performance seems to come down to tenacity, attack on the game, gritted teeth, gut running, wild-eyed pursuits and tackling, hunger for the ball, running to space to give a team mate a kicking or handballing option, looking up quickly when we've go the ball to assess the options and finding the best one, honouring the leads into space, talking to a teammate, slapping him on the back or pulling him into line...... Which part of the roller coaster ride will we be on in any given weekend? I can't tell that any more from a team list.

+1 re our new guys. Might have heard the death nell tonight for Newton (defintely), Bate, Dunn and Warnock (maybe). These were among the guys i went along to see developing over the last few years, and whose progress kept me motivated while we were getting flogged on the scoreboard. Maybe my hope in them was misguided, because the game seems to have passed them by in the last 5 years while they were maturing. I just hope the newer guys are perfectly suited to whatever the game will be like in 5 years from now.

If every newbie gets a separate thread, then let's not overlook Evans. Saw his first game and thought he showed great spirit, although the disposals were patchy and efficiency was poor. Didn't grab me as a great new debutant, but hey - he's made it to AFL level which is about 85 levels higher than I ever played. But geez - hasn't this guy come on in leaps and bounds! He is taking on opponents with a real will to win. Running around the man on the mark, chasing down and tackling, disposing with centreing kicks into the forward hotspot...and only in game 3 or 4! I didn't realise how small he was until I saw him from near ground level today. But let me tell you, size is no indicator of this guy's spirit or tenacity. Keep at it buddy and you'll go a long way.

I was surprised that Morton was retained ahead of Maric or Petterd, but I'm happy to say I also saw something to like in Morton tonight. He actually has some pace when he's got the ball and an opponent on his tail. Disposals weren't great, but endeavour definitely improved.

Saw that up pretty close and it really impressed me. Think he was flanked by Jones also - looked like they were both out to hunt the young Bomber and get a taste of enemy blood.

I still reckon the best thing the coaching staff have done for Watts' development this year was to make him the sub for the Suns game. Some here didn't like it, but it immediately struck me as a good wake up call for a young player with a reputation for the social life, but without any runs on the board as yet. It seems to have taught Jack to take nothing for granted - #1 pick or not. Knocked a bit of reality, even humility into his head. That was the match before we played West Coast, where JW was one of only a couple of decent performers for MFC. He has kept up the tenacity ever since. Remember the frustration of sitting on the pine Jack and keep using it to drive your way into the team's regular top players list.

D'oh! Agree re Stef.

Among all the gloom of injuries, game plans (??), lack of mongrel etc., it's rewarding to notice some MFC players whose form this year has shone out above their peers in the team, or above their previous form. Maybe I'm trying to do some self therapy because everything else this year has gone to [censored]. For me, in no particular order, it's: Tappy - love his long and accurate passing, and his toughness. A great example to his more experienced team mates. Russian - has learned to jump early in the ruck, make the centre circle his and palm off to Moloney & co. Beamer - has been much more controlled when running out of the centre with the ball, deliberately pulling up on kicking for distance in favour of making his passes count. Jonesy - love his hardness and fight. Is shining this year. Have never understood why many on here have put him down. Foot passing has generally been good this year. Watts - at last - has begun showing some hardness, beginning with the Eagles game. Trenners - developing in stature in our midfield Maric - I know he's not the favourite of many here, but I was pleasantly surprised in the earlier games at his confidence and goal hunger. The Gys - for such a slightly built guy, he has really got in amongst it in his few games. Very very quick hands. Looks to have a lot more upside as he matures. Who have you liked this year?

Played like an absolute Putz on Friday. Scared of contact, slow on decision making, stupid loopy short passes when standing too close to the man on the mark that then go wide of the target. Waste of good space on the ground that could be given to developing another up and comer. I've had enough of watching Morton prove time and again that he's not up to AFL standard. Cale, it's time to [censored] or get off the pot and make way for someone else.

Nice 1st post! Look at the response. Bewdy Newc.

With you there BD. Totally mystified on the day, and still no wiser. Judging by Ricky's reaction,it was the same impression whether you were 200m away or right there on the spot.

Ditto. Don't lose faith poster-guys. Your comments are well read and much appreciated.

Don't have a lot left in the spleen to vent. Think all the blood just drained away to my toes as I watched the performance from late in the 1st qtr onwards. I was looking at the atrocious umpiring, the injuries, the North / Etihad hoodoo and any other excuse I could think of, but nothing external to the club is an adequate reason why we fell off the perch from late in the 1st qtr. Could be players, coaches, motivation, tactics, I don't know. I don't have the footy smarts to work that out. I don't know about you guys, but my moods are affected by the MFC performance during the season. Two weeks ago - outraged and prompted into action at the insipid performance against WC. Last week, big lift in spirits as the boys showed thay could play with full intensity for a full game. Yesterday, left the ground just numb with disappointment. As I said, not so much spleen today from me, just a feeling of sadness that the promise of continued improvement in 2011 over 2010 is not materialising...at all. One other comment if I may - I'm a bit saddened to see that the forum contributors are turning on each other. C'mon people - it's the team that's not performing, don't take it out on fellow supporters. There's a medical condition called seasonal affective disorder - SAD - which manifests as a type of depression during the darker, colder months. I'm proposing a new disorder - FAD - football affective disorder. Disgruntlement, irritation and crankiness when one's footy team doesn't live up to its promise.

My suggestions for banners: 3 Weeks for Jack's Hit The AFL doesn't know Jack's Hit Who took Azaria? Jack did. Who shot JFK? Jack did. A handshake from Jack will cost him 3 weeks. Feel free to plagiarise / improve etc.

Count me in. Jack is our very own Rueben Carter.

Just posted a query on the "Contact us" section of the AFL website: "Will the Match Review Panel ensure from now on that any and all tackles which result in an injury to the player tackled, regardless of the intent of the tackler, and regardless of his club, are severely penalised? Will the field, boundary and goal umpires be directed to report any and all such tackles as they occur on the field of play? Will the penalties for cowardly, deliberate off-the-ball elbow-to-the-face type incidents continue to be less severe than penalties for injuries caused unintentionally during the course of play?" The auto reply came back: "Your enquiry has been sent, you should hear back from us soon!" AFL: I want action, not words. I stand beside My Brother Jack.

Thanks for that. Made me smile. Obtuseness is a much under-rated art.

Egzackery. If players continue to tackle as normal, there better be at least 3 reports per game this weekend, and about 20 players suspended for a total of 60 weeks. I'll happily support you with the necessary slab, the editing software and the blank DVDs to help further the crusade. Stupid t*rds.

This. Playing a full 4 quarters of footy. I can't remember when I last saw the MFC do that.

Man - you sure it doesn't apply to you? That sounds too close to my reality to have been just made up.

5. Ive been very harsh on Jack Watts. i dont think ive seen such a big improvement in such a short space of time in any AFL player. All of a sudden he came out tonight, presented well, took some strong marks, contested, tackled, chased and was also surprisingly willing to stand up for our club and show a little bit of fight and aggression. It was i think a huge step in the right direction and lets hope this continues. Based on tonights game i would like to withdraw my comments from a few weeks ago on him not playing 100 games but lets hope it wasnt just a one off.

...shattered. Feeling shattered right now. Some reflection in the cool light of dawn / next week / next month might change things, but right now, I feel like our season is over. A season that promised competitiveness, improvement, development, new players earning their stripes in a harder, tougher one-year-more-experienced lineup... How do we win against any middle or lower rungers after tonight, let alone be competitive with sides in the 8? Stuff the 40,000 members goal for 2011. After tonight, there might be a lot of calls for a new refund policy due to a breach of the Trade Practices Act - membership sold under false pretences, team & coach not for for purpose etc.

Maybe also overlooking a certain 2010 Bluey Truscott award winner here? That leaves only 1 spot, and I'd prefer to see a smaller crumber/tackler such as Ozzie, Bennell, Maric etc. in the fight for that spot. I like Bater as well, but he's going to have to pull out all stops to get back in the 22.

It was a great night, but most of all I liked the attitude that pervaded the speeches. All the players said they were excited about the coming years, and as was quoted earlier, Col Sylvia wanted to get out and play again this week. Don McLardy summed the determination to not only improve but go all the way when he quoted what he said was his favourite line, which comes from Alaska: "Unless you're the lead dog, the view doesn't change". I mentioned that line to DB in a chat at the end of the night. DB said - yeah, you'll hear a lot of talk as we go into next year about being at base camp. The FD know what's ahead of them, and won't be getting ahead of themselves to chase any quick glory at the expense of building a really solid team with depth and determination. Can't wait for the next 3 years!!