Red Sox

His dismissive attitude to us do you mean? Not Dwayne's biggest fan (I mean Dwayne, what sort of name is that anyway unless your a point guard with the Philadelphia 76ers!).....sadly, maybe his observations and dismissive leanings actually have some truth.

I recall some kid that flashed into our side briefly...Jordan Gysberts??? He seemed to be at the bottom of most packs getting the pill out. Oh, he was omitted for that silky user of the ball Joel MacDonald! Yep, great selection call that! Need Junior back badly. Just need some desperation at the ball guys...geez

Mate, I'll agree that MacDonald did improve. But his disposal in the first half.....you better run that tape again because it was horrid, awful. Rivers & Warnock I would say 'tried hard' but we certainly not in our best at all. Both Tippett and Walker won the battles against them but I'd add that the ball was on top of them far too often. Garland and Chip Frawley far and away our best defenders on the day....again! Grimes, love him but he can butcher it at times, he looked great in the middle in 3rd qtr though because his desperation was a step up from everyone else in there. (apologies to Scully and Trengove). Watts - yep the soles of his shoes were far too evident as were the majority of the team. Jack has plenty to work on, urgency etc etc but yesterday was far from his worst effort and the movement of the ball to the forwards was insipid, 29 inside 50's proves this. Brad Miller assisted Russian in the ruck and still had less of the ball and took less marks than Jack Watts.

That's right, we improved on our average losing margin by 2 whole goals! A positive? Hardly, as we were flattered by the margin once again. I write this today to express massive disappointment that lingers from yesterdays game. I can handle losing, hell I've become accustomed to many a shocking performance. I can even handle poor disposal to some degree as the opposition pressure can dictate this. What really disappoints me is the pressure and urgency where we see 4 opposition players desperate to gain possession while 3-4 of our boys hang back waiting, lay ineffective tackles that are too easily slipped and watch the opposition run to assist when both in possession and hunting the ball. What are the reasons for these insipid showings? These horrible slow starts? How many times do I have to watch a 3rd qtr thinking 'if only they showed this urgency in the 1st qtr'? Is it as simple as only being as good as the opposition allows us to be? Very sad if this were the case. What are the excuses? We are young? Young bodies too easily pushed off the ball? The week's break was actually not good for us? We just don't travel well? Our poor forward line? Our coach? Are we doing better against the good sides because they don't apply as much pressure and back themselves to go one on one and beat us, where the teams at our level apply pressure in the right area's and we just cannot cope at this stage? Not an excuse IMO. Yesterday's result stunk of what this club have been about for far too long, simply rolling over and taking what was dished out. Through the majority of this year I still don't see enough one percenters where we block, shepard and make space for team mates. We can look damaging when over lapping through the middle, why are we not running back to support as fiercely when we don't have the ball? Teams move the ball far too easily. Where is our ability to simply lock down on opponents and create contests?? Simply starve the opposition of the ball for a period of time? 29 inside 50's is probably the most glaring stat for me, shows that Adelaide simply controlled the ball all day. Don't be confused by our "little come back' in the 3rd qtr as they still had 10 shots at goal and could have won this game by as much as 80 - 100 pts. Easily. Some of our senior players seem to enjoy the "the kids are exciting, future is bright" rhetoric, it's a pity so many of them were shown up by Scully and Trengove yesterday. Yes both turned the ball over at times, mostly because they were under pressure when they had the ball as a result of putting their heads down and going in to get the thing. It's a pity so many senior guys could not lead in this same way. (I don't name names to cut players down as they should damn well know who they are and yes Cam Bruce is excluded!) The coach? Well, I have never been convinced about Bails, but everyone deserves time so no point laying it all at him. Why can't he get these players up for a 1st qtr though? Is it him or the players? Hard to tell. I know many people thought Daniher left us in not a great state but I loved Neale and so far Bailey IMO has not even touched the surface of proving to me that he is going to take this club anywhere. I will add that I did like his move of Grimes to the midfield. The only problem with that is who takes his spot as the loose ball carrier in defence? Morton, Bruce and MacDonald all turn it over far too often. Strauss perhaps? Yes the glass is very much half empty today and I am one that usually keeps it well topped up to half way!! Very, very, very disappointing Demons.

It's a good point Stuie. Driving to work this morning, from the Sth East to Nth Melb I did not hear one mention of the game. Goes to show how little regard there is for us outside of the same passionate supporters, but thats ok....what is disappointing is that a better showing yesterday and we would be talked about a bit more.

29 times we went into our forward 50.....MATTHEW BATE FOR THIS REASON IS SO UNDER RATED!!! Jack Watts.....well what can he do??? I will say again he lead up well and got a decent amount of the ball. He DOES need to show some more urgency, he is not exactly soft. If the ball movement is better, Jack will look better.

I think its time for Brad Miller to go out. I think Jack Watts as much as everyone here is killing him was not too bad, he certainly wasn't our worst. Dunn & Bate were fairly productive for the amount of ball they saw, especially Bater. Jetta was far too quiet. MacDonald got a bit better through the game but that wasn't difficult because he turned over everything in the first half and should likely go straight back out again unless Rivers beats him to it, but sure Riv will have an apple ready for Bailey. I spent the last week on Demonland arguing the point on why it was so so wrong to drop Gysberts and was given the advice it was his shabby disposal!! And the football club replace him with MacDonald??? Yep that was a good move, topped off by being smashed in the clearances where Gys would have been more than handy. INS - Sylvia, McDonald, Gysberts, Wonaeamirri or Bennell OUTS - Miller, MacDonald, Jetta, Rivers

6 - Bate..obvious 5 - Frawley...another quality scalp 4 - Garland....played well, especially early when most slept 3 - Trengove.....could've finished his work a little more efficiently but was in and amongst it 2 - Scully....same as JT really 1 - Bruce....tried hard And to all the Watts bashers....I thought he was far from the worst. Yes we saw the soles of his shoes far too often but wasn't alone there. He was up and about a bit more but Gerard Healy probably summed him up well by saying he need to show a bit more urgency.

Fair enough for the most part and some decent points made. I for one was certainly not expecting finals, not even close. What I was expecting or hoping was that our development would see us at least move out of the bottom 4 this year and now I am not so certain. Yes, had we won a few tight games that would likely be a forgone conclusion, but it is games against teams at our supposed level the disappointment lies for me. Your point in bold above I can't agree. Adelaide did execute perfectly but only because they were able to assert far too much authority on the game far too early without anywhere enough resistance. This has been far too common a theme. It is the reason we have lost close ones and it is the reason we have not even been in games against teams at our level and been left to make brief in roads to unassailable margins (Nth, Carl, Adel). I am patient, I am understanding of where we are at and the development required. Is it too much to simply ask for a full on crack for four quarters? I can live with that.

He wasn't on his own for slip sliding today.....development wise Jack Watts is a long long way off the pace. Some people need to recognise this more closely and be a bit more understanding. I like everyone would love to see him taking big strong grabs but he has work to do in that area. I thought Gerard Healy summed his approach up well by saying 'he needs to show some more urgency when going at a contest'. We all see things differently and IMO I actually thought Jack was more productive and arrived to the ball a lot more today than he is in most of his games so far, sure it didn't all work out great but he seemed to be getting around as a target a bit more often.

Good thread Krazy.......a pitiful effort.

Garland been good, Frawley on Dangerfield but could've chopped out others a couple of times, Bate has been great...as for the rest SHOCKING, AWFUL, HORRIBLE!! Not switched on, not hard enough at the ball...how many times do we have to watch 3 crows go in desperation for a loose ball while the dees all stand back and watch and wait to lay tackles that the crows players slip out of every time. Turnovers!! What are some of thoughts with the kicking guys??? Kicking to contests, at team mates feet when they are 10 mtrs clear, hittng crows on the chest...... Losing is one thing, having young kids is one thing, whatever the excuses how about just applying pressure, getting in for the ball and hitting a few targets. Another game over before the oven can even warm my pie!! Very disappointing Demons.

Our crop of forwards has potential to be a good group.....when they eventually get some continuity and game time together. All have missed games this year for various different reasons. Jesse White a good player?! Yeah, just my opinion but SHOULD we trade someone in it should be someone that no other current MFC forward could be likely to play in front of...Jesse White is certainly not that player. IMO he is well on his way to becoming a Paul Johnson.....all the right attributes but nothing to show for it, or as the old saying goes, looks like Tarzan plays like Jane. I'll add that I like the suggestion of looking around for VFL, Podsiadly type recruits but don't see the need to be ready to trade on draft picks just yet. How about another year and then look to trade. Let's 'hopefully' see the likes of Jurrah, Watts, Tapsoctt, Wonaeamirri play some games together before we start searching elsewhere because none of these four have played one single game together yet. Patience...

Lucky we don't have Dylan Roberton playing for us.....imagine the anger when called Robertson, or worse Robinson!!

I am not sure that I got that included Will have to look more closely when I get home!

Yep...the writing was on the wall for them Rhino. Burton started fairly well in that game though if I recall but just didn't finish off his work but was terrible after half time. They are a shadow of 12-24 mths ago and even the future prospects like Walker and Tippett have had terrible years.....we must win this game!

Been much talk about Trengove in the lead up over there Krazy? Or all just Crow centric?

$20 voucher?? Did I miss that one?!

Factor in Tyson Edwards, McLeod and Brett Burton who LOVES to do a number on us every time........we SHOULD win this game!

The last three posts are all good points and probably sum up Brad pretty well. In his early days he really did apply more physicality to the contest and got reported. IMO this had an averse affect on how he was looking to play as at that time he was working fairly well as a lead up CHF even though he still tended to dish off a handball!! Not saying this as an excuse because it is something that he should have well and truly rectified by now. But I do believe that he is needed in this forward line currently. He is the Nathan Carroll of the current forward line......hanging on while the better one's come through!! I guess Jack Watts better watch his back with Brad when he has his final drinks with the group!

Not that I know for sure but I think you nominate which club you support as an AFL member and receive the same material/info as an MFC/MCC member.

Yep ok, not much doubt I am. What else is it based on then? It cant be the other 2 games he played and of course there are areas of his game to work on. He has played half a dozen games of senior footy. Scull & JT have areas to work on too as any young kid does and from my side I would suggest that Skull has to work on his disposal just as much as Gys does. The fact that Gys now plays no football for 2 weeks leaves him with nothing to work on in a game environment. Counter productive to what is meant to be a learning year. If he was at Richmond I would guarantee he would be playing this week and I believe it is a short sighted decision.

Hannibal you give me no choice but to immediately respond again as it was I that responded about Gysberts shabby disposal....now I won't get personal but I really do suggest that you and freak and whoever else want to use that as an informed judgment for him to be dropped, do your homework. Gysberts had two kicks against Collingwood.....TWO!! So I would have thought it would be somewhat difficult to judge with much certainty that his disposal was shabby. I remember clearly one of those kicks where he was swung in a tackle so that leaves a single kick that you and Freak have based this on. For the record he had 8 handballs. As I stated he was quiet in the game as Collingwood applied a hard tag on him. I would imagine Collingwood did this because his 10 & 13 kicks the previous two weeks on top of his 17 & 13 handballs were quite effective, so much so that he earned 103 super coach points against Geelong (where shabby disposal can cost points) and a rising star nomination against Carlton. I am not seeking to hold you to account or saying you have to preface every comment you apply but your's and Freak's assertion that Gysberts be dropped because of shabby disposal is simply uninformed, incorrect and the evidence that is there disproves the comments made.

Did all fellow members receive the mail out from the club yesterday??? Always happy to get another sticker for the number plate (a great tradition WE started that now every club follows) and love the comment "I believe" on there. The letter from Jim is great, it means something when the president says 'thanks for your support' but even more again when that president is a former club champion who as a former player understands the importance of us supporters. The other side of that letter that shows the Melbourne Football Club in 2010......the last item is a reference to that new emblem a lot of us have been talking about. I am so excited by this and cannot wait to see what they have come up with. More great work by those at the footy club to get these letters to members, on top of the improved communication through the club website (Matt Burgan etc) where there seems to be information coming every second day. Go Demons!!