Maldonboy38

Harsh on Nicholson, reckon the kid deserve another crack

Possibly he does, but due to the height of Essendon we can't drop Newton or any other tall player. And as the sub he was supposed to have an impact but had little. This is probably not his fault because the team around him were average, but he is the best out for Trengove.

.

SO much is down to confidence. Where Melbourne hesitated Carlton didnt. .

This was crystal clear tonight. When the Blues got the forst goal after 1 minute into the 3 quarter, you could see the Melbourne boys slump. There hadn't been much fire before then but it was totally gone afterwards. And our backmen had clearly been told not to kick to a contest, except when kicking in after a point, then it is mandatory. There seems to be little confidence except in Sylvia and Jones.

.

Again, Petterd played really poor football. Just after he kicked his goal his stats came up: 2 kicks 4 handballs. I don't think we can drop him but some forward pressure would be nice. I wouldn't like to be him this week for his one-on-one player review. Needs to stay in but one more week of this week rubbish and he will lose his place again.

Morton. The Mortons are all the same. Show glimpses of brilliance merged in with a lot of fluff, poor disposable and dumb football. They won't drop him though.

Warnock. This bloke is ending up one of those poor blokes who is too good for VFL and yet not up to AFL level. When I last saw him for 2 games for Casey I was pleading for him to come into our 22. He works hard, reads it well and then... brain fades and kicks out-on-the-full when under no pressure, drops easy chest marks etc...

Newton. How can you be so good (some of his running to get to a contest) AND so bad in the same game? In the first quarter he peeled off the contest before we had won the ball and was sprinting into our forward line calling for it, until he realised that Carlton had it and were already up to the wing. He is an absolute [censored]. Considering Essendon's height he won't be dropped until Jamar or Garland return.

OUT: Warnock, Nicholson

IN : Trengove, Howe

I would love to swing an axe but we just can't.

.

I was expecting a 6 - 10 goal loss tonight. Carlton are a very good side and we are all over the shop with injuries, youth and inexperience. I expected us to get monstered at the fall of the ball by a really sharp Blues midfield and this expectation played out as expected. At least our players went hard at the ball and actually got it in their hands a fair bit of the time.

What was frustrating tonight was we played a boring game of footbal. Really boring. Few highlights, no run and carry, spare man in defence (I hate that we use Watts in this capacity), boundary line football, no dare, no functional forward set up, no big grabs or mongrel tackles. I usually come home from a Dees match with a hoarse voice. The only time I got fired up was at the Jordie McKenzie free kick missed by the umps right in front of goal. Apart from that, there was no fist pumping, jumping out of the seat or thrill. I have rarely been more bored at the footy. It might be because Carlton hardly had to get out of 2nd gear either but going to the game tonight was in no way entertaining. I was bored, and that has happened rarely, even when we have been beaten badly.

I hope Trenners, Scully, Jamar, Bail etc... can put some ooomph into our game when they return.

.

Green - had a go

Warnock - simple costly mistakes

Jones - hard at it

Watts - PLAY HIM FORWARD!!!!!

Gysberts - beaten by experience

Bate - put in well

Bennell - better 2nd half

Frawley - really bad errors

Morton - a stupid game

Sylvia - worked ass off

McKenzie - beaten by experience

Petterd - slack and effortless

Maric - good in patches

Moloney - tagged really well

Jurrah - defensive game non-existent

Rivers - solid all night

MacDonald - please don't kick

Martin - worked really hard

Jetta - OK at times

Newton - excellent and dreadful (both in the same game)

Nicholson - no real impact

Evans - no real impact

Yep, our kicking in particular was dreadful. Cudos to the Candy Blues though - their pressure was magnificent, as was their ability to hit a target by hand and foot when under pressure. A few skill lowlights for us:

Warnock's dropped chest mark (goal)

Watts out on the full (missed any Dees player by 20 metres)

Frawley's 2 major fumbles (both cost a goal each)

Jones 3 inside 50's in the first quarter - straight to unattended Blues players.

And don't get me started on the slipping over. Were our players wearing skates or something. Aaaaggghhh!!!

My 11 yo son said the same thing "why are they kicking it to the Carlton players?"

.

This is a really hard task this week.

6. Sylvia

5. Jones

4. Rivers

3. Watts

2. Martin

1. Green

.

Great to see Dan Nicholson getting a game and this reminds me that Bailey continues with his team management and development plan that has been in place since his arrival. He is brave, focused and persistent if possibly lacking in other areas.

However I am really disappointed to see Bennell and Morton return so quickly. Surely they have not had time to work through their 2nd/3rd effort deficiencies and lack of physical presence in the weeks out of the starting 22. And Howe is surely ripe for a call up. Bennell could have been included becasue of his genuine pace - but Morton? Genuinely disappointed.

.

There is still a question of whether Judd will play tomorrow night, but I am sure MFC will be planning for him as a definite starter. Who do we play on him?

I would love Rohan Bail to play on him if uninjured - would be great to watch and a sharp learning curve for Rohan.

Jordie McKenzie. Has the discipline to stay with Judd, and has the strength to not be overwhelmed by Judds bursts, could hurt Judd when we move forward, but does he have enough pace?

Aaron Davey. Would Bailey dare something like this?

Clint Bartram?

Nathan Jones?

What about Colin Sylvia going head to head? Would that rob us too much of his powerful and consistent forward 50 entries?

Thoughts?

.

I have to add to this topic. Flower was a gun. No argument.

But there is one man who played just before him who was the best centre-half back I have seen, including Jakovich. And that is Gary Hardeman. He came 2nd in the Brownlow in 1973 or 74 being pipped at the post by the limp Keith Greig. Hardeman could match and beat Wade, McKenna, Jesalenko and Hudson. Even Neitz was not in the same class as Hardeman as a centre half back.

.

I just came across Rivers and Howe in the car park after playing nine holes of golf. I said to them "don't listen to all the knockers, all the Dees supporters are behind you". I asked Howe if he will get a game this week and he was rally coy about it - looked to me like he couldn't say what he wanted to say. Gave me the feeling that we could see him this week.

As for Gawn: we must at least consider playing him this week. I don't want Dunn in the side, and the less said about Newton the better but we need a second ruckman to give Martin a break. Also, the Blues might spring Kruezer into their side and Martin would be eaten alive.

.

Personally, clash strips aren't necessary. They increase marketing opportunites and for some stupid reason make the AFL happy but achieve little else. But "they" say we have to have one so I reckon the one we have will do fine.

I really like the design and layout of our clash strip, with the exception that it makes the blood-red look pink. It is the best clash strip we have had and I emailed the club earlier this year when it was first released and congratulated them.

But I cannot understand how anyone would see it as being necessary against the Saints. No clash exists between the two traditional strips of Dees and Saints.

.

Anyone suggesting we should trade Jones needs to stop snorting white powder. Stupid idea. Yes he has the occasional brain fade and gets caught in a tackle or two but he has been consistent and strong with a good efficiency rate this year.

Brock is a good footballer, reads the game well but is slow. Apart from all the journalism speculation, there is still a place for slow-ish people to play our game. Bartel is not quick, he is simply a great player. Brock has had one game back after long-term innjury. If Carlton give him 3 weeks I reckon he might show a few people how wrong they have been. Having said that - Gysberts is a gem and this was a win-win trade for the Dees.

So - Grimes for Johnstone, Gysberts for McLean. I reckon Bate or Morton will be our next trade win.

.

I don't have foxtel etc... - will it be on free to air or Youtube?

No Melbourne player comes close to this bloke for me. The 70's and 80's were for the most part a terrible wilderness but Flower was football poetry. Skills, poise, brains, courage, leadership, humility - the whole package. Even though modern tackling has changed our game, Flower could baulk anyone.

Favourite football memory: Robbie coming on from the bench to the MCG for the first time in the 1987 Qualifying final (I think) against the Swans and the whole crowd screaming "Robbbiiieee".

Thanks for the post - great memories of a great player who remains a great human being.

.

I don't want to monster the bloke, or condemn him etc... The environment within the squad needs to be one of encouragement and challenge. But there is a line that has been crossed with Aaron and that has to do with courage, intensity, attitude and because of his position - leadership.

But we need to be careful. He is a huge influence among the indigenous boys and if he feels unwanted or condemned, it may rub off on Jurrah, Bennell etc... who are already struggling.

Casey for 2 weeks for mine, nad bring him back in close to goal.

.

Disagree. The season is not over. We are struggling, and our injury list grew again today but we always have something to play for - the jumper.

Agree about MacDonald and Newton.

Disagree about Bate, Bartram and Warnock.

Strauss Blease, Howe, T MacDonald and Cook and perhaps Gawn need game time and am prepared to rest senior layers to give them a run.

Just think about who we will have available after round 11/12 - Jamar, Scully, Trengove, Tappy (hopefully), Bail (hopefully).

Chin up - there's always next week/season/decade!!!

.

Green - showed some leadership

Warnock - effective and composed (usually)

Jones - continues to impress

Bartram - unusually beaten often

Watts - on the rise

Gysberts - position and awareness

Bate - had a go

Frawley - just OK game

Sylvia - hard and tough

McKenzie - better for run

Petterd - defensive skills required

Maric - just solid enough

Moloney - tried hard often

Jurrah - is he injured?

Rivers - played his part

MacDonald - not good enough

Martin - effort all day

Tapscott - another mongrel injury

Davey - should be ashamed

Jetta - eearned his place

Newton - NEVER EVER AGAIN.

Evans - quick and daring

.

The Good

Watts, Gysberts, Evans, Jones, Martin, Jetta. All young and/or inexperienced.

Seeing Jordie back on deck.

3.5 quarters of footy where they had a red hot go.

The Bad

Juice. Never, ever again.

Joel Macdonald.

Watts across half-back. We won almost every importnt statistic but failed in our forward 50.

Leaving Davey in the same position for so long.

Direction of stadium - sunshine in player's eyes.

The Ugly

Tappy. How many more injuries can we sustain?

Davey. He should feel ashamed of his performace today and at least 2 weeks at Casey.

.

Firstly, I am more disppointed with today's performace than last week. Big call? Maybe, but that's how I honestly feel.

Out of today, and for the season to date, I have some things to voice, and welcome opinions.

* Aaron Davey HAS to be dropped. Simple as that. His attiude, body language, and his total play is pitiful, and has been all year. I don't want to hear this crap that he should be moved forward - even when he plays forward he has shown nothing. Make a stand Football Department, give him a number of weeks at Casey.

* One player that is on notice is Petterd. He was insipid today. There is a sickening amount of love on this site for him, but wake up people, he is one of our biggest front-runners, yet sadly, most of you don't see it. He is a Robbo 2.0, his 2nd efforts aren;t there, and he screams for free kicks that aren't there. When he decides to puull his head out of his a$$, he plays good footy, but like Robbo, that's not often enough.

* Michael Newton must not play a senior game for the Melbourne Football Club EVER again. His errors were too costly, and this is consistent with every game he has played for the club. He did bugger all today, and I cannot see how he should be played ahead of Gawn. I don't care what you think of our ÿouth policy"in regards to Gawn, he is fit, we are in injury strife, PLAY HIM.

* Matthew Bate = see Michael Newton. Bate is clogging up a spot on our list, and the change that I can see happen immediately is Bate out, Howe in.

* Liam Jurrah is on notice. While he is a frak of nature, he still needs to understand that the AFL requires a level of discipline. While it is not in his "nature"to be coached, there are still basics of footy that you need to show, and he doens't do those often enough.

* For those doubters, we WILL be a top 4 side in a couple of years. If both teams were full strength, we win easily today, simple. Jamar is the biggest loss our team has (hence my call to put Gawn in no matter what), we can't afford to cruise along the next 12 months hoping Russian doesn't break down again.

* I don't know if Bailey is the right coach, but that's not saying he isn't. I think the Club, which includes us supporters, should do whatever it takes to ensure Bailey's future ISN'T questioned until the end of the year. Having questions raised every second of the day about who should be coach, isn't the best thing for the Club, and a lot of you have yourself to blame. There is nothing the Club can do in the immediate future (this season I mean( that will turn our season around, so let's show support rather than the idiotic comments about "Bailey MUST be sacked immediately", blah, blah. I bet he wishes that he could have 1/2 those players back that are injured - I'm sure his end-of-season record would look a lot different if they were playing.

* Blease and Strauss NEED to be given games this year. If both those boys can play at least 6-8 games before the end of the season, we will go in to next season a better team. We saw today what a debutante can do that has been playing well at Casey, well, according to those in the know, Blease and Strauss should be given the opportunity. Maybe now that Tappy has done a hammy, it will open the door.

* I hope the Watts and Jones baggers can finally pull their heads out of their a$$es, because if we didn't have those 2 blokes for the plast few weeks, we'd be feeling a lot worse.

Great post Billy. Agree with almost the whole thing. If people start more of that "Bailey must go" rubbish they are simply showing ignorance. If it is required at season's end it will be done - but not now.

Blease and Strauss defeinietly in against the blues.

Watts and Jones have been terrific this year.

My only disagreement is with Bate. we still need him but we need tplay him close to goal. His turnign circle adn pace off the mark leave him exposed anywhere outside the 5om arc but we need his strength and his kicking.

.

A hard call but here I go - Aaron embarrassed our great jumper today. And yes, I know it was our away strip (which I like by the way) but it is still representing our club. I cannot believe that squib moment. It took me back to me being a young skinny 17 yo playing in the country in the twos, and being given "the talk" by our vice captain after a similar moment. As and elite AFL sportsman, as a leader, as the leader of the indigenous boys, as a representative of the oldest and best footy club in Australia: Aaraon failed in every aspect and I reckon would be feeling low at the moment. I hate kicking people while they are down and he has given me a whole reel full of highlights but the MFC cannot let his effort today be accpeted in any way. 2 weeks minimum at Casey and no elevation until he shows some grunt.

At his best he is too valuable for us but he has shown nothing of this this year, culminating in a very soft, timid and ticker-less game of football.

.

6. Jones

5. Gysberts

4. Evans

3. Watts

2. Sylvia

1. Martin

Apologies to Jetta.

.

Hard to give clear ins and outs with no injury report to date. However:

OUT : Newton (never again to be considered), Davey (must be rested for his soft efforts), MacDonald. Not giving what is required at AFL level, even for a bottom side like the Dees. They embarrassed our jumper a few times today. Sad to see - especially from Davey. Tappy (injured)

IN : Howe (should have been in this week). Blease, Strauss, and Bennell. I am not sure any of these three deserve a call-up but we need pace and effort.

.

I thought our intensity today was good.

I thought I run and spread was good (at times)

I thought we were strong around the packs with special mention to Sylvia and Gysberts and Jetta.

Good leadership shown by Green, Sylvia, Rivers and Jones

Our delivery into the forward line is either too easy to read and therefore cut off, or misses the target by enough to make it difficult to score. It rebouncs too easily.

At significant moments St. Kilda's class showed out.

At other significant moments, our young kids showed how young they are.

Davey should be embarrassed with his effort.

Newton (not our worst player) showed moments of being scared, not committing, and lacking any sign of being able to play at AFL standard.

Considering our injury list and even though I hate losing, I wasn't as appalled today as I have been during other games.

.

With all our injuries, I know we have to fling players around to fill holes and roles. But why is Watts played across half-back? Every time I turn on the radio or the TV I see him showing poise and skill across half-back. so often we get possession, transition it well, only to look up and see 3 opposition jumpers to 1 Dees jumper. Is anyone else frustrated with this?

.

In the pre-season I pleaded - please, please, please, do NOT play Juice ever again. Today was the reason why. Last week he showed glimpses and moments to excite. Today he was so poor at times (not all day, he had some good moments)that he cost us posession, goals, and our players would have lost confidence in kicking it to him.

DO NOT PLAY HIM AGAIN.