Maldonboy38

There were some glaring issues from the Port game, but we lost by 4 points. No way will there be huge changes. Hunter suspended, Bowey & Oliver possibly injured, forward line still not fully functional, midfield lacking intensity & polish. OUT: Hunter, Bowey, IN: Sparrow, BBB If Oliver can't play, Rivers into the midfield, Jordon to HB (or Woewodin from Casey game).

Turner is ripe, but not big enough for the role he will fill at AFL level. Imagine him being caught out with Fyfe next week, or Curnow or Mackay the following week. One of BBB or J Smith would be good to see. Not Schache - VFL standard is his standard.

Luke Jackson is carving it up today. His last month has been really good, and his groundball work is so clean and sharp.

Absolutely agree. The Port player with the ball could spot up a player too easily because our mids were too focused on running ahead of the play. How many targets did Port easily hit tonight? Too many, too easily. Also, the positional play and work rate of our small forwards needs urgent attention. On so many occasions, none of Spargo, Chandler, Kozzie or ANB were to be seen when the ball hit the ground.

6. Rivers 5. May 4. Hunter 3. Fritsch I don't think our midfield deserve any votes because when they were bad they were atrocious,. but no-one else stood up so ... 2. Oliver 1. Petracca

Yes, umpires made mistakes and we suffered because of a few of them. TMac also got a goal when he clearly was holding the opposition jumper. Lever should not have got the 50 metre penalty at all for the tiny indiscretion against him by the port player. Viney did 2 high tackles not called by the umpires.

It was a strange choice, but we were thrashed at ground ball all night. So if he went long and the ball ended up on the ground, Port would have swept it away like they did all night.

Please stop blaming the umpires - they didn't beat us we beat ourselves. We got as many dodgy frees as Port did. I don't understand the 'Goodwin is a [censored] coach vibe' when it is the players' intensity and skills that let us down. I don't understand why we don't play a tagger. JVR & Viney made some critical errors in the last quarter that were so costly. There is something off with our midfield.

Hated the 1st half. Very proud of our 2nd half. Our kicking inside F50 needs a shake up. Soooo many opportunities, and some howling shockers from seasoned players. And although some of our forwards had poor nights, they all put in solid effort. But the delivery to them... sheesh!

I love this club but boy our Jekyll and Hyde, atrocious and brilliant, sloppy and excellent patches in games is killing me. We were brilliant that quarter. One heck of a last quarter coming up.

Trying to think what is actually wrong. Main three things - Clearances. Marks inside 50. Ground ball. But I reckon these are symptoms of a greater issue. Ball hunting intensity seems to be stone cold for most players. Not sure what is going on for Trac, Kozzie, Max, Viney, (and others) but when the ball hits the ground it looks like they are waiting to grab a Port player rather than attacking the ball. I know we score well from turonvers but is this taking it a bit too far. I actually think TMac is doing a power of work and not being rewarded, but Spargo, JVR and ANB are like headless chooks. Chandler and Fritsch are at least having a go. And can Clarry and Hunter please stop taking the tackle and handballing to nothing. Port are feeding off this and running away with it.

"In this quarter, Melbourne have not had a clearance". Damning stat.

If we hit our targets inside 50, different game. Their defence is looking good due to our lack of efficiency. But we are still getting hammered at the contest and on the ground.

The chances we have had going inside F50, our delivery has been poor. Twice, Tom MacDonald on the perfect lead, each time kicked over his head. Fritsch's field kicking is a worry. But it is Port's forward spread from a stoppage that is killing us. Our defensive mindset was missing. And our groundball play is ugly.

I like a tagger in the 22, and Harmes plays this role better than any on our list. I understand the battle for position between Harmes, Sparrow and Jordon, and would prefer not to lose any one of them, but Harmes' tagging ability is a discipline few players ever develop. He is also a better kick than Jordon. Unfortunately, he probably sits below both Sparrow and Jordon in the pecking order.

I remain convinced that we are a better team with BBB in, even though he can go missing, or drop lots of marks he gets to. At this current time, I prefer Jordon over Sparrow. OUT: Petty, Sparrow IN: BBB, Jordon Harmes to sub I like the sound of J Smith as an option, but reckon he would lack genuine game fitness. If something required him to be subbed on in the 2nd quarter, he would be out of steam in the last quarter.

A real measure for me has three components: Keeping opposition to around 60 points per game Dees kicking 90+ points per game. We win the contested ball differential It can never be this precise game by game, but when results start to resemble this measure, we are unstoppable. A real bummer is Petty going down - he was taking marks inside 50 which is possibly our F50 weakness.

Agree Bobby, very tough call, but to get BBB back into the 22 it is going to be tough on some other player. The only other option is Fritsch to come out for BBB. Otherwise, one of Sparrow, Jordon, or McVee has to come out. It would be tough to drop any of these three but in my opinion Sparrow is providing the least of these three.

Carlton might be the worst turnover team in the AFL. Boy they hand it over easily.

I love a good Shiraz, but don't need one tonight. And I don't enjoy it for what it "does". I enjoy the taste, the experience and the conversation over a good wine. We won, only it was in a frustrating manner.

BBB in please, please, please. I would be dropping Sparrow, but it means the interchange bench would be out of balance.

Happy with 90 points. Happy with 54 points. Happy seeing us win regularly and well. What does my head in is unpressured sloppiness from a skilful list. Trac Viney Kozzie & Sparrow often fumble at their feet and over run the ball. Now Fritsch is doing it as well. And when we do pick it up our handballing is full of errors. Some are pressured, but many are not.

6. Oliver 5. Petracca 4. Rivers 3. Brayshaw 2. Viney 1. ANB

Very frustrating watching such a great list of players fumble, make poor choices, handball to team mate's feet, and get beaten at the ground ball game. I simply don't get it. Kayo ought to be flogged for the reliability of their product. Trac, Oliver and Viney were all immense AND flawed. Rivers and ANB were brilliant in the last quarter. Fritsch looks half-hearted too often. If Sparrow and Jordon are fighting for the same place in the 22, tonight's game suggests Jordon gets the chocolates. Sparrow's work rate was good, but his effectiveness and clumsiness were poor. Pushing in the back in marking contests is now legal again. Both teams did it all night. Why do I feel so frustrated after a 10 goal win? It might be time to lower my expectations because the last 3 games have done my head in.

I am furious after watching that quarter. Allowing the Hawks to play like that is inexcusable. Fumbling. Fritsch - what is going on? Does he need a spell at Casey? And if I see another handball to a team mate's feet I will scream.