Maldonboy38

I caught the Dee-train that the MFC set up with the Casey City Council. A bit daggy but a great idea. Lots of mums and dads with kids from toddlers to teenagers. It felt good to be a Dees supporter surrounded by people with a bit of passion, and ready for first home game of the season. There seems to be a good feel about the club at the moment. But it came crashing down straight after the first centre bounce. Within 8 seconds it was 2 kicks down the ground in the WCE forward pocket. And so went the day. The club might be improving but the playing group are still crap. Bitter, I cannot adequately communicate via a keyboard how crappy I feel as the dad of four Melbourne-supporting kids. My 18yo daughter who came with me and my 14 yo son today, said "someone is always saying we will be better this year, and we never are". And all I can do is agree. I might go and quaff some Glenfiddich and join you in the alcohol-induced reflections.

Just listened to Roos' press conference, and it is clear he is beginning to draw a line in the sand regarding footy essentials. Kicking, handballing, marking (he mentioned chest marking), tackling. Who can, who can't on a consistent basis, pressure or no pressure. The only thing is, from today's game it would mean 15 players would be cast aside! OUT: Bail M Jones Fitz Michie IN: Gawn Viney Blease Evans

At least one thing is emerging clearly. Roos is beginning to see the players who won't help us move out of these doldrums. Pederson, Bail (sad, really, because I am a fan) Fitzy Spencer (but keep him for now for his aggression and doggedness) And some players are emerging with huge question marks: Grimes. Watts Trengove M Jones. Michie (might be a bit early but he looks limited) Byrnes Apart from obvious inclusions like Galrand, Viney, Hogan etc... we also have to play Salem, Hunt, Harmes and see what they have.

N.Jones - absolute super star Grimes - rattled and weak Watts - soft and weak Toumpas - skillful but slow Frawley - tough, mistake riddled Trengove - opposition ran past him. Byrnes - worked bloody hard Tyson - reduced by turnovers Dunn - another great game Cross - kick it sometimes Pederson - Casey Fields beckons Michie - very poor game Vince - not effective enough Kennedy -Harris - provided some energy McDonald - useful at times Howe - zing has disappeared Spencer - workhorse was murdered Bail - really shocking game M.Jones - horrible decision making Terlich - man up sometimes Fitzpatrick - really poor game Georgiou - bring Garland back.

6. N Jones. 5. L Dunn. 1. S Byrnes Daylight. Sort the rest out between yourselves. Dom Tyson is getting heaps of the ball, but his mistakes are atrocious. On at least four occasion last week and again this week, he cracks in and wins great possession, only to handball it straight to an opposition player who is in 2-3m of free space. Opposition run and carry ensues. He has to get this out of his game. Frawley was ok today, doing a tough job on a good forward getting good delivery. His man-on-man stuff was strong and reliable. But his heart was not there. He stopped running to get to spoiling contests, his handball and kick turnovers leading directly to goals, and he did not take on the opposition trying to brush past like he does when at the peak of his game.

Wow - was really tough being a Dees man today. We forgot to turn up for the first quarter, and then couldn't get past half-forward for the rest of the match. But I come away fairly critical of Roos' coaching today. Too many times Byrnes the only man inside 50, with one opponent standing beside him 10-15cm taller, and one spare WCE player always willing to fall back and make it two on one. This happened while Fitzy and Pedo led time and time again up through the 50m arc being generally ignored by our midfielders. This was never corrected and I did not see the runner come out to these players. Very bemusing. For at least half the game, watching WCE midfielders run past our players, we set up in the centre after another WCE goal with Trengove on one wing, Toumpas on the other, Michie, Cross and Jones in the middle. Could Roos not see the pace of WCE? And he chooses not to play Blease or Evans, two players with genuine outside pace. I know the game wasn't lost only because of these things, but they were glaring mistakes rarely, if ever, corrected.

Sandy Roberts: "there's a pig at full forward". Lou Richards: "he's kicked that really high...up near the sky". Cometti: he gets that out quickly, surely a case of premature extraction"

I don't mind most of the commentators, and over the years have like channel 10's coverage and commentators. Really like Anthony Hudson. Loved Mike Williamson. Loved Sandy Roberts - he was probably the best. Bruce and Dennis are ok. Still like Tim Lane and Drew Morphett on ABC - a bit starchy sometimes but at least it is free from trite carp (most of the time). Dwayne Russel easily the worst ever. I don't know one person who likes his calling. Dermot Brereton can be the most insightful and the biggest [censored] in the same sentence.

I doubt whether the "no change" declaration will hold until game time, but it is refreshing to see that when Roos says he believes in the players, he is not just talking. He means it, and he is going to build this trust right through the playing group. Apart from goal kicking, the coaching group believe the players played according to training/game standards so are placing the trust in them again. I don't reckon T Mac will play. He got 2 knocks on that corked thigh, really hard to play 8 days after that. Regarding Fitz - there is no way legally they will play him if he has been genuinely concussed. My opinion is that the impact on the ground shook him up, maybe triggered something in his CFS, and they are being cautious with him. Disappointed that one of Blease, Evans or Kent isn't in the team for pace, but let's wait until game time.

We have had superstars. Superstars are players who are of such a high standard that opposition clubs have to plan for them. I reckon these blokes qualify - Flower Peter Moore Ox Farmer These blokes almost qualify - Lyon Neitz Tingay Current - Mitch Clark Up-and-comers - Hogan Viney (I am not sure about him but I want more than one so I chucked him in)

Just watching a replay of Channel 7 Sunday morning footy show - Game Day - and noticed a banner headline that mentioned Brett Ratten as a possible candidate to be the MFC senior coach successor. He was our midfield coach a while back and our midfield did perform well under his leadership. But as Carlton coach it was widely known that he was too close to the players and this robbed him of the tough edge to succeed as a senior coach. I am not immediately against the idea but thought it would be good to open the discussion. Thoughts?

N.Jones - pure A-grader now Grimes - still can't kick Watts - 93% disposal efficiency Toumpas - good with ball Frawley - mistakes overshadowed class Trengove - strength and grunt Byrnes - that was awful Tyson - prolific plus mistakes Dunn - back line general Cross - we need more Pederson - below AFL standard Michie - didn't gather possessions Vince - some genuine class Kennedy -Harris - not his best McDonald - decision making horrible Howe - very subdued game Spencer - not too bad Bail - disappointing poor game M.Jones - improved 2nd half Terlich - a bit shaky Fitzpatrick - improving before injury Georgiou - just a game

We need Spencer to stay in so Gawn can play forward. Pederson can be replaced only if Roos is prepared to take the risk of playing Max King. I can't see either of Dawes or Hogan being near selection until round 3 at least. OUT : - McDonald (inj), Fitzpatrick (inj), Byrnes, Pederson IN : - King, Blease, Evans/Viney, Gawn Is Clisby anywhere near ready to return? How far away is Garland?

Blease, Evans and Viney have to be considered for next week. We lacked pace at a lot of times during the match, especially spreading from stoppages. Evans in particular is a seriuosly good kick n the run. What do we do about Pederson and Tommy Mac?

Georgiou - are you kidding? 6 - N. Jones. Still needs more help 5 - Watts. Great game with exceptional skills, poise and decision making. Would have been 6 but he still can't tackle 4 - Dunn. Is probably now our backline leader. 3 - Vince. 2. Trengove. Magnificent for 2.5 quarters. 1. M Jones. Improved as the game went on. Can't give Tyson a vote - the errors he made were true shockers, and took wind out of our sails when we had some momentum.

Grimes does some incredible stuff, and has a great turn of speed, but his kicking has to be addressed. He turns it over when under no pressure and all our players are spreading forward.

Kicking skills atrocious. Watts, Dunn and Jones outstanding. Trengove and Vince great for 1.5 quarters. Kicking skills atrocious. Michie and M Jones improved in 2nd quarter. WANTED: Someone to take a mark inside 50m. Pederson, Byrnes - how bad were they? Can Toumpas and Tyson run at all? (Tyson might have got 32 possessions but he wasn't good at all) The Saints were able to have 2 and 3 players free behind every stoppage, with plenty of run coming from there.

At least most of the general play is watchable. But our kicking ...How could Howe and Bail not take a few more steps and kick from 40m rather than 50?

I don't see any problem with our intensity, running patterns, or tackling. Even the 5-6 handballs in a row or the kicking backwards seems to be done at the right time and place. But our kicking is so bad. Turnovers are one thing, but un-pressured turnovers straight to opposition players in space just sets everyone up to fail. And Grimes specifically as captain cannot turn the ball over so badly when under no pressure at all. Kicking composure needed.

Very, very poor Jack Grimes. Until a bullet pass on his left foot. I don't understand this bloke.

Tyson's kicking is so bad. Spoiled two sure goals by kicking straight to the opposition. We need a forward line. Skills are atrocious. Watts - wow!!

Excited, nervous, can't wait. Georgiou has spent no time with forwards or mids during all the preseason training sessions. He is a backman at SANFL level, recruited to booster our backline, has played all preseason down back and will play backline tonight.

I have loved the game in every era, with each having its strengths and weaknesses. The late 70's, early 90's and early 2000's were three great phases of footy. And what stands out in each of these eras is the direct down-the-line style of footy. The modern two-way-running football is incredible from a fitness point of view but it diminishes two great strengths of our game: 1) The run and carry, and 2) One player beating one opponent, Both these things happen, but are getting less and less in the 36 man crush of modern footy. The main frustrations for me now do loom rather large on the footy landscape. Constant behind the scenes news, footy politics, TV rights etc... have their place but take up too much air time. Journalists drive this stuff and it is simply boring. Watson last night was exceptional - let's talk about him. The amazing coaching of Ken Hinkley - let's talk about that. Freo's demolition of the Pies - let's talk about that. Melbourne's resurgence - let's talk about that (hopefully!)

I thought Byrnes would make it. I can see him doing really well with some good coaching and a clear game plan. He played in 2 premierships with a good coach and a clear game plan. Rapt to see Ro Bail get a go, really love his energy, pace and hardness. I feel for Sammy Blease but he will be the first player in for round 2 for any player who performs poorly. I would have had him ahead of Michie. Pederson has been a total spud up until Roos arrived. Since then he has trained with intensity, and thrown himself into every game. Not a great team with a genuine lack of forward power, but Fitzy may cause a lot of problems with the Saints equally weak backline. Howe is the one the Saints have to cover. I expect a fairly poor standard game in the first half, and then one of the teams to pull easily away in the second half. It feels more likely to be the Dees.

I have always thought he had some real talent and still hold this view, but it looks like his body cannot hold up to the rigors of AFL footy. Because of all his injuries he is probably behind a few players, but he is ahead of Michie and Tappy. He is probably alongside Blease and Bail for that running forward type player.