Pates

I want the cats, if we make finals they are the only team I want.

What can we do about it? Until the team stops proving us right it will continue. I would say most Melbourne fans were extremely positive at the start of the year.

Hawks know how to win, we know how to lose.

100% agree. We have been in so many winning positions this year and let it slip, the tigers are the only team I feel confident would beat us every day of the week.

I think the better question is what chance of Hawthorn doing something (Melbourne-like) stupid and losing to them. We’re the team that seems to make those monumentally stupid mistakes.

Losing to Geelong and the arrogance of their fans following the wins has made me hate them even more. They are up there as one of the luckiest clubs in history, fair play their early dynasty of premierships they worked for but since then (like Hawthorn) they’ve topped up being a “destination club” and lucked out with getting Damgerfield and Ablett to the club without and possible challenge. They lucked out with us twice this year, and that’s the difference between our clubs.

Totally agree, I feel like he’s one of those highly tactical coaches that don’t motivate players or get them “playing for him”. He’s made a grand final with Freo since being there, surely should be under the pump next year.

I’ve been trying hard not to take much notice of the competition and just focus on us but I finally succumbed and checked out the ladder with the other teams we’re fighting for spots with. Geelong won’t lose to both Freo and GC at home and I feel it’s very unlikely Port will lose to Essendon at home particularly if they need to win to keep playing finals therefor it’s simple. We have to win one of these games. I don’t care what our final position is, I just want us to get one of these scalps to get into the finals. Just do it Dees, finally stand up and play do it for your long suffering fans.

Agreed, I can only hope that was a major focus at training all week. It would’ve been interesting to be a fly on the wall for the team meetings, you would think that was something heavily discussed. On Sunday we will find out.

One of our major deficiencies last week was the ease in which they took the ball out of our forward line. This was largely due to our bizzarely pathetic entries but also due to low forward pressure, something that at one stage this year were being praised for. Spargo, Hannan, Kent, and Weeds need to make sure that the eagles are never given easy exits. The dimensions suit our game style in Perth than the G and we’ve clearly gone for pace with the inclusions so we have to make sure we use it.

I’m not watching the game but remember the Tigers and Bombers hate each other, Richmond and Dimma doesn’t strike me as someone that would be comfortable with his players coasting.

It’s interesting that after a close loss they’ve gone for so many changes, 2 were forced but the rest you can only say the players dropped either didn’t fit the plan they wanted to go for or didn’t meet the standards they wanted to set. I still personally feel that Spargo’s selection goes against the standards being set but he gets another shot and he’s had a good first year. I’m not confident, maybe it’s the doom and gloom already taking hold, but Melksham and Hibbo make us a better team so there’s that. Kent, Hannan, and Weeds are all players that have had good VFL form and must be hungry for their chance. Time for them to step up that next level.

With Hogan out I would like to see us potentially mix things up in the forward line with Petracca having some time at FF, I feel like we've become predictable with our movements, particularly when it comes to our taller forwards. I know it's been said a lot already but we need to lower our eyes and look to spot up targets, it can be a tactic to get our bigger forwards to draw the attention for the defenders while our smaller/mid sized forwards and midfielders lead to create options. Hopefully with Melks back we'll get some good delivery in there.

Would be nice for someone else to pull a Melbourne and lose a stupid game they shouldn't. Ultimately I'm just focused on us, I just want us to win at least one of these games to make the 8 on our merit.

Goody denying we have a issue against better teams is like an addict denying they have an addiction. That said Wallace didn't say anything groundbreaking, more "no sh*t Sherlock".

I have to agree, I can’t see how the match committee feel he’s done enough over the last few weeks to retain his spot. If nothing else he just looks off the pace I’m picturing the bench as: Kent, Melksham, Fritsch, JKH

With the 3 changes already flagged by Goodwin I feel like there will be one more with Kent to come in. Given the position you would think it’s between Spargo and Garlett. Both have good reasons to be dropped (or potentially rested in Spargo’s case). With Garlett feel like we have some magic in the forward line where when he’s on he can be one of the best small forwards in the game. Unfortunately when he’s off, and he hasn’t shown a whole lot since his return, he can be lazy with zero forward pressure and missing getable chances. With Spargo you have a young player who has shown a lot of promise this year, his first half of the year was fantastic however his second half has been a lot less productive. I don’t think he’s properly stuck a tackle in weeks and for me he looks tired. He had a mare last week and has been in a decline for a while. My opinion is that Garlett stays while Spargo either gets rested or given time at Casey. Garlett can be a match winner at times, and although he’s down on confidence I think it’s time to have an older head rather than a young first year player. Jeffy’s on thin ice though.

This has been our problem all year against the better teams, against Geelong in the last game we lost with a kick after the siren with the ball in our forward 50. Smart teams don’t allow that to happen. We have had midfield/forward entry dominance in many of our losses but failed to use them intelligently, instead bombing long and indiscriminate. Sydney used their brains last week against us utilising the width of the G and at times passing the ball around with ease. I’m a Goodwin fan but there are times where you have to question either A) is he giving the players poor instructions or B) are the messages just not getting through?

No confidence from me, they’ve broken our hearts too many times for me to really and truly believe. I keep waiting for it all to click together, I honestly feel like we have the pieces of the puzzle there for us, but still waiting for it to actually all happen. I’m picturing another tight loss, WC will probably be gifted 3-4 goals from free kicks. I will say this, despite losing Hogan I feel we have a stronger line up than last week. Prove me wrong Dees!

If he gets his shot, which I feel like he will, he should be instructed to run all day. He can't just be a roaming stay at home forward, he needs to be mobile and try to run his defender into the ground. Hard work and application has seemed to be his biggest fault in the past, we can't afford laziness at this time.

Having the composure to finish off the midfields good work and kick under pressure is 100% a sign of mental toughness. Lewis is the only person at the club I would want having a shot after a siren for us, because he can kick them in the clutch moments. Everyone else I feel like would faint at the thought of kicking after the siren.

...probably cry a little.

I thought it was pretty much the same length as the G but slightly narrower.

There's a part of me that would prefer it be down to us having to win one of these two games. As much as I want us to play finals I'm not sure I want us in there limping in with no wins against anyone of note. That said I really desperately want us in the finals.

Hogan out is just another kick in the balls to what’s been a frustrating year. Sounds as though Weeds has been doing well at Casey in recent times, these are the moments that can make players if they have the guts to step up. I’m still of the opinion Spargo needs a rest or time at Casey, he’s young but he was awful last week and has been down in the second half of the year. In: Hibberd, Weeds, Kent, Melksham Out: Hunt (inj), Hogan (inj), Spargo, Pederson