Jaded No More

I wasn’t talking about long term injuries. We had a lot of games impacted by mid game injuries. We had games impacted by Covid. We played most opposition at their best and we had teams kick the flukiest goals against us. Swans did not miss last night. Same with the Pies. We are not in the same zone mentally or physically as we were last year.

We were blessed last year. Everything went right. This season is the complete opposite. We will be lucky not to go out in straight sets. Trac is a key player and a real finals spark for us. Even if he plays he will be way below his best.

Goodbye 2022 flag

Our biggest issue all season has been the 2021 season. The way we won last year was a once in a generation type performance that will never ever be repeated. As a supporter base and team, I feel like we keep expecting a replication of that form, and it just won’t happen again. We have lost all ability to halt momentum or even maintain our own momentum. We lost that killer instinct that we had in finals and we are nowhere near the defensive giant we were. If we keep expecting 2021 to magically repeat itself we will go out in straight sets.

I lost my voice at quarter time. Which is a good thing because it was mainly a lot of cussing from me thereafter.

Hands down the best player I’ve ever seen in red and blue. His ability to just will himself to win contest after contest is immense. Also kicked 2 clutch goals. A unicorn wrapped in magic.

I would LOVE to see this happen but 0 chance they debut JVR in an elimination final. Needed to be done weeks ago when the cupboard was bare up forward (which it still is). I want ANB dropped. He has been horrendous all year under pressure and finals will only magnify that.

Max Gawn is not and never will be a forward. I hate this experiment with a passion. Almost as much as I hate Gus in the guts when he is clearly a far better player on a wing or at half back. Are we just buckling to his demands to play inside? Because honestly it’s made us worse. Harmes needs to go back inside to play a defensive role. Gus to the wing to replace JJ. And please FFS we have to find a better option than Fumbles Bullen. He kills us with ball use. Play Bowey in that role. Can’t do worse.

Hickey pantsed him. But he also pantsed Gawn so…

May was sensational BUT he also killed our momentum because he can’t control his brain or his anger. As a leader he needs to be better.

I really really love your posts and I especially love your endless optimism. Sydney had every right to be confident and are my pick for the flag. They killed us all over the ground.

Oliver, May and Petty aside, we were weak, fumbly and unfocused. I have said all season that our best is the best, but we have been at our best only a small handful of times this year. Today we were below average. Midfield was an embarrassment and forwardline performed as it has all year, badly.

Embarrassing performance. Quite honestly all these cocky fans thinking we will [censored] this in. 2022 Melbourne is not a shadow of 2021 Melbourne.

Melksham. Just. Melksham

The most disappointing part for me is how easy we are leaking goals. Everyone on Demonland told me we will win by 40 points tho.

How we let Hickey just do what he wants. It’s beyond me. We have two ruckman and both are as bad as each other today.

Brain fade central

If our midfield doesn’t lift this game is gone. I will never understand how Gawn Viney Clarry and Trac don’t rip games apart. That is an A++ combo.

Swans can win the flag. They are exceptionally well drilled and coached. Our midfield has been super disappointing.

Trac is struggling with the quad. They have done a great job tagging and illegally blocking Oliver. Love how the umpires turn a blind eye when it’s Clarry. He will never win the Brownlow the way the umpires hate him.

May started the momentum swing with utter stupidity

He’s out there doing a warm up and the Physio put the thumb up.

Fritsch is in the rooms with the doctor

Weather forecast is wrong as usual. Why oh why can’t Melbourne just ease up with the rain?!

I can't wait to spend 48 minutes post game trying to get inside Richmond station and waiting for a train What a time to be alive!