Maldonboy38

Our last 2 games were losses because of intensity and effort. I can't see what has changed just because our President had a crack publicly, we are trying different players, and an Age journo has done a trifling fluff piece about power plays behind the scenes. We will probably win well this week, then get thrashed next week. This is Melbourne way. I have spoken. (kudos to the Mandalorian!)

Right on, Mazer. I turned the game off at half time - unwatchable. Defensive strategy has totally overwhelmed the essential attacking nature of our great game. We now have endless faff-minutes, where teams kick in a semi circle across half back like soccer, hockey etc... trying to find or set up a pathway through a crowded midfield which in turn, becomes a crowded forward line. 20 players around the ball, tackle after tackle and the main excitment from commentators seems to be about how great pressure is!! It is supposed to be the skills of our game that is great, not tackles and defensive networks. And to cap it off, the power forwards are continually blocked from running at the ball by defenders with no eye for the ball, allowing a third player up to intercept. People keep celebrating Rance, Lever, Vlastuin, Allir etc... The only reason they take so many intercept marks is because Dixon, Ben Brown, Hawkins, Kennedy etc... are strategically blocked from the play. That game between Tiges and Cats should have been a belter, and it was a boring drudge. If the current emphasis, rules, and state of play continues, the Tiges will win 5 flags with their current list and coach, but the journey there for the average fan will be as dull as bat poo.

In my 5 decades of following the Dees, the only time I felt confident about our mental state was with Northey as coach. I have been on a psychological roller coaster ever since. Even though Balme had us playing great footy, and Daniher was an inspiring and natural leader, there has been a continuing underbelly of mental fragility. And it is not only about players and lists, but from Presidents, CEO's and administrations. But in regards to games, we have a 30-40 year habit or working bloody hard to get ourselves into finals contention, only to mentally disintegrate against very weak opponents. And it has never been worse, than in the years after we sacked Dean Bailey. Even Paul roos couldn't fully get us to overcome it. And I'm sick and tired of it to the Nth degree.

Midfielder - I'd take Yze Or Trav Johnstone. Football perfection watching them kick. Power Forward - I'd take the Ox. I know his knees let him down, but talk about someone to take a match by the scruff of the neck and rag-dolling the carp out of his opponents. And because I'm really annoyed at everything Melbourne just at the moment, I'll take Ray Biffin and Rodney Grinter to dish out some pain to anyone who gets too close, with special regard for Essendon and Collingwood.

From that first handball by Petracca I had a very bad feeling in my gut. And then Viney (Ithink) got caught with the ball trying to evade a tackle. I turned to my 25 year old Dees-mad daughter and we both said "Oh no, it's this again". And so went the evening. I shoud be used to this feeling, but I'm not. ruins the rest of my week/weekend.

How predictable. Poor opponent, finals on the line, everything to play for. No energy, no passion, lifeless, heartless, dumb. Even if we win from here, there are alarm bells everywhere.

How different is it to read this, compared to the Pies, Tigers and Hawks fan sites? Most of it is reasonable, considered and articulate. I wonder how we stack up?

Not sure we have a match-up for Papley, and he is the only real concern I have. If Jetta was in form I would trust his discipline and smarts. He has a natural goal sense and can change a game in a 10 minute period. Probably Harmes or Rivers.

2 issues dominate selection: 5 day turnaround heading towards finals (hopefully) means some players will get rotated in or out. Historically, Goodwin makes very few changes after a win. OUT: OMac or Tomlinson (due to Sydney's short forward line) Kozzie. A lot of faffing about for little impact IN: Lochhart Fritsch (very frustrating but he is a goal kicker and demands a good backman play on him)

I love the way Naughton plays. Don't care what jumper he is in (although I would love him at the Dees), he makes me watch.

Our greatest need, in order of priority: A player/coach who leads by inspiring fear, devotion, skill and consistent high standard of performance. A single dominant, magnetic individual (Barassi, Clarkson, Selwood, Hodge, Voss, Matthews, Carey) A home base that is OURS! (should be the MCG but that ship has long sailed)

We should have won a flag under his leadership last time - he had an amazing list. Club was a disgrace. Right now we have another very good list. Club is functioning very well under Glen Barltett. We have to at least make the phone call. I'd have him back in a heartbeat, bit I reckon he no longer has the motivation for head coaching role.

Wow there have been some free-to-air howlers this year, but this one has to rank right up there. Has there been a rule change prohibiting players kicking longer than 20 metres?

Massive yes, but not at any price.

Very difficult to limit it but I will do my best: The shadowy years Alves, Wells and Flower. Honestly, these three were guns but unfortunately Alves and Wells left for success. Re-emergence Flower, B Lovett, Lyon, A Johnson Amazing era Lyon, Ox, Farmer, Tingay, Yze More dark days N Jones, Jurrah, B Green Current, N Jones, Brayshaw, Jetta

I have always despised those who may lack a bit of talent so instead of working hard they "go the knuckle". Hardwick was a thug as a footballer, he was one of the few players I could not watch. But like many blokes who were thug players, he seems decent enough once off the field, and I have admired him as a coach - until now. A part of his true nature has emerged and there is clearly an ugly, bitter, nasty part of his baseline personality. I am usually fairly indifferent to Richmond, but I am hungry to see them do one of two things: finish 9th again, or go out backwards with 2 huge losses in the finals.

I don't have too much to say about your post, but love your name and Avatar. Not too sure how many Demonlanders would understand, but to anyone with Scottish connections, Rab is an institution. Four knot-cornered handkerchief hat, string singlet, unintelligible English. Brilliant.

We need to pick a team to defeat our specific opponent - the Doggies. We also need to back ourselves in with a system and gameplan that has worked against recent (weaker?) opponents. Doggies strengths: Bontempelli is a match winner, running half backs, Hunter, they can be quick, Caleb Daniel as the backline marshal, Naughton if you let him run and leap. Our strengths: midfield firing, better skills by foot, a very strong back 7 players and defensive system, May, Max/Preuss/Jackson, Langdon, Weideman. Tag the Bont or Caleb Daniel but not both Preuss or Max to dominate English Our grunt should put them back a step - they don't have a lot of inside strength. Be wary of their run and system off half-back. Hit our half-forward targets and do NOT turn it over too much here. The Dogs will torture any team that puts the ball into their hands at half back. Very even game, Dees by 16 points

There are so many variables that it is really difficult to nail down the ins and outs. The Football Department must be in a mine field when it comes to selecting the final 22. Harmes - way out of form. AVB - is really playing at VFL standard. Tomlinson - hasn't really nailed his designated spot as defensive wing (Langdon being attacking wing) TMac - has been overtaken by others in all 3 of his likely positions; forward, back, or wing Melksham - the class seems to have disappeared but I reckon he might be doing what the coaches like in some way we can't measure Bennell - classy, but has definitely hung back out of contests when it was his turn to go. Goodwin hates this Spargo - a real surprise Rivers - I'm always impressed by this kid, Jetta - has lost his spark Fritsch - his point of difference is usually his basics; kicking and marking. But his basics have been awful at times Brayshaw - play him in his position and bang, the fuse is lit. A million other things in my head but for mine: OUT: , AVB and Harmes IN: Gawn and Viney The Pies are basically a team of midfielders. Our attacking and defensive spread will win or lose us the game, along with our field kicking.

Don't trade either of them. I can't see the problem of rotating 5 or even 6 through the midfield, especially if you systematically rotate 1 or 2 of them through the forward setup as well. Although Oliver's kicking at the moment is horrendous, I remember his set shots in 2018 as being fairly reliable (happy to be corrected if my memories of 2018 are in error). So why don't we rotate Oliver and Petracca through midfield, bench AND forward? This might allow Brayshaw more time in the middle where he is needed.

The season is not over. It is stuttering and puttering along like a beaten up EJ Holden but it is still moving. The Port game has got us all riled up again - and rightly so - but I don't feel the need to fling my arms in the air in despair. Not yet. Try and win every game. If our players hit targets, we win games. I still believe it is this simple with a couple of small adjustments: Pick players in position. Bring Tomlinson in and keep him and Langdon on the wings. Put Brayshaw more through the middle. Persist with Jackson and Weideman as our 2 main forwards, etc... Show some ticker. Get Viney and May to play right on the edge, maybe even go over the edge a couple of times, get angry, aggressive,

I actually think North will be fine. A whole heap of their best 22 is injured, and many of those are in the 22 - 26 year old category. They also have some younger guns who need 1 or 2 seasons to become very good players. They will end up bottom 4, trade for some early draft picks and be OK. Hawthorn are playing as poorly as Adelaide, but their coach is so good it rarely shows as being that bad. They have 2 - 3 years of pain but if Clarkson stays they will be in the final soon, as much I as I hate to say it. But at least the Hawks v Swans game was watchable. Even in the wet, some of the individual efforts and skills were great to watch.

I'm a huge fan of Brayshaw, my favourite current Dees player, so my view is probably skewed in his favour before I start analysing. He still runs both ways, still gets in and under when it is his turn, and still plays the gameplan and structure really well. Some have suggested he is lazy - I think you'll find he has a long running step length and it makes him look like he is jogging. The only problem with his current game is clumsy, lousy, weak disposal. But it is becoming bad enough to ask questions about his place in the 22. If he turns it over in the midfield 4 times against the Lions, they will take every advantage. However, I just can't see who to bring in for him. Brayshaw at 60% is still way better than Tomlinson. Rivers maybe, but he plays a vastly different role. Jones - possibly. I'd be keeping him in at the moment, but the ice is getting thinner.

Jones in for Lockhart. Lockhart is ok, but when he makes a blunder it seems always to result in a opposition score. Brisbane are very good at keeping the ball locked in their forward half of the ground. Jones' steady head could be required in defence.

How good is it to be able to sit, watch the entire game without extended periods of gut-wrencing mistakes, and win 4 quarters!?!? The start of the 3rd quarter showed our worst, but we rallied and picked it up again. A lot of positives, especially from some young guns. Gawn, Trac, Langdon, Weid... thanks for giving me a positive Monday. And it's amazing how good our game plan looks when we hit our targets.