Bluelegs

Here we are: We're learning a new game plan which will take it's time, it is another language to how we played last year. We have a brand new young leadership group who are learning how to lead a team but I have no doubt they will be fantastic soon enough. The first two games of the Nab cup that we played were a joke. No side could have played well in those conditions. The second was an encouraging win and showed how well the gameplan would work when the team got it right, we essentially beat Collingwood at their own game in that round. The next week showed that because the players are so new to this game plan they haven't yet worked out how to react to an advanced, tight, lean gameplan with a very skilled group of players performing it. I haven't seen this weeks game so I can't really comment but Port have been pretty sharp this pre-season, they're not the same team they were last year. Other things to note is that Collingwood, Carlton and Geelong have all had pretty average Nab Cup performances. Rome wasn't built in a day,

Same here, not sure whether to be annoyed or relieved.

Might be them trying to treat their small town syndrome.

Jamar has already announced that he want's to re-sign. I don't think it's all that bad, it's just players broadening their horizons rather than claiming they want to leave their clubs.

I rate Jetta. Once he get's out of his injuries and start to really develop I think he'll be able to be far more valuable.

Here's the speech: http://embed.bigpondvideo.com/afl/430695

Used to be a pretty good shot for goal. Not sure what happened

Yeah this has happened a few times this NAB cup. Haven't really seen it much in the Home/Away. Umpires just having a hard time wrapping their heads around some of the rules of NAB?

Let alone the prospect of being imprisoned.

He's pretty clever the way he handles himself too. If you look at what he got up to against Collingwood he would constantly draw in two or three opponents before disposing the ball to someone in the clear

Fantastic post, very constructive, realistic, without too much doom and gloom.

I think a lot of people are also forgetting 97-98 for Melbourne. When we achieved the exact same result that West Coast got last year with a similar list. 98 was also the year we began with a new coach. I don't think that will be replicated this year by the side but there is a bit too much unrealistic pessimism for my liking in this thread.

I'm going to add to this that Carlton have lost every game (including a thrashing from Brisbane), Geelong got thrashed by Richmond, Collingwood got killed by Adelaide, and almost beaten by GWS. NAB cup doesn't mean much and if anything it's good we took a big loss now rather than in the home/away season. Think of it as a reality check.

The Jolly Green Giants?

With expectations that low at least you're unlikely to be disappointed.

I'm thinking they might be saving the announcement until a week before the season starts. That way when we play our first game the news is still relevant and it gives the brand more exposure when we hit the main stage.

I don't. It was a reality check, now the players will remember exactly where they're at, and how good they need to be. I'm happy they didn't get this wake-up call in the home/away season.

You don't become captain overnight and while yes, both Jack and, well, Jack have had about a month on the job both of them have only played one game each with the captaincy. One game in the worst possible weather to play football in, as well as only being half a match and the other against a very very skilled team who have a good shot at getting a premiership this year. Both games were glorified practice matches.

About as bad as Geelong last year. Who had a terrible pre-season and then won a flag.

I don't think the Hawthorn Melbourne matches will have that reversal.

Howe was alright.

Inaccuracy is killing us. Missing vital goals

Finally. A goal. Dig up, stupid!

Melbourne in panic mode, no pressure..

Didn't Cameron Schwab tweet it? It'd be great if some of the players did the same, or the mfc facebook group threw it up