Winners at last

It was like watching a different sport to Sunday's "effort".

I wish I could disagree with any of that.

Round 1 will be a huge indicator of where we are at as was round 1 last year. I knew we were in for a rough ride as I went on to see one of the more pathetic displays I have seen Melbourne dish up to it's supporters. Maybe Brisbane were underrated but the effort provided was pizz weak, even moreso when one considers that Jimmy had passed on during the week.

We put in a howler week one then it's time to batten down the hatches.

I agree with you Colin. As a long time supporter (and member) the opening round last year was one of the biggest disappointments I have had following the Club. Maxwell was right. The season was over at that point.

The deficiencies of the team have been mentioned over and over and over again on this site. So, why shouldn't I add to the dronefest?

In general terms, the players attack the ball hard enough, well most of them. But they certainly don't block or shepherd enough to help out team mates.

No gut running. The spread just isnt there. A player with the ball looks up and has no one making a lead. The good teams (even the average ones) do this so much better. Is it lack of fitness? Laziness? Cluelessness? Lack of confidence? Hello, is anyone still reading this?

On a similar theme, the failure of certain players to work both ways. Turnover. Well, get back on your man!!!

I suspect that the overall fitness of the team will be better this year. But that will be the case with every other team.

Poor skills, which includes poor decision making, are still a problem. I agree with another poster's comments about Frawley and Garland have one brain fade each per game. Regular turnovers are murder/game losers.

I think the FD/coaching staff are probably OK. Is the overall standard of the players good enough? I doubt it. There has been discussion about the midfield ad nauseum. Ideally one or 2 goal kicking midfielders are needed. And the side cant carry midfielders who are purely negators and have poor skills.

Anyway, nothing really new in the contents of this post. Just assorted ramblings.

If the team loses the first match (which is about 50/50), then I think that yet again, the season is over.

Am I a pessimist? Well to the extent that a pessimist is a well informed optimist then I suppose i am.

He is the footballer equivalent of "the Scottish play".

Dawes and Byrnes havent played a game yet, but both are premiership players. Happy to have both on board. So will agree to disagree with you.

I think it's more a case of we will have to agree to agree!!! Like you I'm quite happy with these signings.

But I was making the point that they weren't big signings in the sense that there was much competition for their services. Cheers.

A pessimist is a well informed optimist.

Now come on kids. Settle down, or you'll both have to go to your rooms!!

Not sure what to say Old Dee

We can't change the past now....... all we can do is move forward

The past is a foreign place. They do things differently there.

"The Go Between", L.P. Hartley

Why?

Hawthorn are ruthless at this sort of stuff themselves. Refer Hale, Gibson and Gunston from Adelaide last year. Instead of being the hunted I think we should continue with going after good Out of Contract Players. Clark, Dawes and Byrnes shows we can do it. We should have the cap room and help the players we want get the best deal, improve our list or at worst clog up other clubs salary cap. We could become real pests now.

Wouldn't stop at CR either, lets get after some of those good GWS and GCS kids nicely tuned up for us after two years in the system and who may want to come home.

Anyone out of contract at Carlton?

The only really good "get" has been Clark. Collingwood clearly no longer rated Dawes and Byrnes couldn't get a game at Geelong. Attempts to get Ball and Warnock were laughed off.

Can't quite remember the scenario with Cloke but if MFC's offer bumped up his salary then there was at least some upside.

I'm still amazed (and pleased!!!) that we got Clark, but MFC doesn't seem to be viewed as a desireable home by top players.

Dream on.

Perhaps one could also ask

When is a man not a man?

When he's a freak in a sideshow ...

@"The Freak" by The Zoot

Dream on.

I think I've said something like this before but if you picked teams using the old school method of lining everyone up against the shelter shed and the captains selecting their teams one at a time does anyone think they would care too much about what champion data has to say?

I was always one of the last picked. Thanks for reminding me.

How could Cale Morton fall into the "Below Average" category when there is a "Poor" category?

Original post(er).

Cheers bro.

Who's doing the bullying?

The OPer was deliberately provocative, as he usually is. The OP didn't invite a discussion re Tapscott at all, it invited a discussion around whether or not Tapscott was a(nother) dud. Very different.

And polarising.

Excuse my ignorance but what does OP stand for?

Clearly a ripping bloke. But repeated turnovers are soul destroying for a side. Hopefully he can improve that part of his game. Otherwise I agree with the majority that a tagger with poor skills is a relic of a bygone era.

On that same topic, my favourite coach was Swooper Northey. He got the most out of the playing group. But football's way more sophisticated these days. The days of ranting and raving are pretty much over. (Alan Killigrew RIP). It's about developing plans and systems. Not so many one on ones these days. It's more about excellent skills and keeping possession which is why turnovers are murder.

• As if. He's a top bloke though.

Is a med student an abject failure because he hasn't yet cured cancer. Give it some time.

Chook, with the utmost respect, I don't think that's a great analogy.

I think it is a slightly bigger ask for a medical student (let alone a team of highly professional and experienced medical researchers with massive financial backing) to develop a cure for cancer than for Brian Royal to improve the MFC midfield.

if a med student could improve the standard of the MFC, then perhaps that option could be investigated? And Mr Royal could work on the cancer cure.

As for Australian films, I agree that Wake in Fright was a ripper. Lantana was great, and I didnt mind some of those quirky films in the early 80s like The Big Steal and Death in Brunswick.

I am ridiculously fussy when it comes to films. One of the worst films I have ever seen is Red Dog. Corny, dreadfully overacted. If I hadnt taken my daughter to that film, I would have walked out half way.

I re-watched The Elephant Man the other day. Now there's a film! John Hurt's performance was brilliant. He was beaten to the Best Actor Oscar by De Niro in Raging Bull. The film was beautifully made and acted.

Another one i really liked was American Beauty.

As for comedies, my favourites are Napoleon Dynamite and Groundhog Day.

In the words of Frank Woodley "I wish that hadn't happened" (contemplating his unfortunate experience).

I think that wearing gloves is clear evidence of tanking.

Missing Mitch for the start of 2013 is not the end of the world as we have some new players to test and kids to expose to afl, but a few things that hurt us without Mitch

He is going to be a big part in changing our habits to winnings ways

He is still a younger player himself, and every minute he misses is a minute of development he misses

Mitch will make Dawes and pedo and even howe better! He's aggressive, and takes the number 1 defender away from a bloke like Dawes who needs the confidence

And for once I would like to start a season well, maybe crush port round 1

I know if we wanna be any good we can't depend on one player, and we must take it easy with Mitch, but gee he makes our side look so much better!

Not the end of the world? You can't be serious!!

"Fear not supporters! I will return and smite the other 17 teams." - Mitch Clark*

*may not be an actual quote

Not an actual quote? Really? I could imagine Mitch using the word "smite".