Norm Smith's Curse

RIchmond were ordinary in most of the game so there is no excuse. Our skills were almost laughable in the first quarter and our non effort and flatout tiredness was the most telling point in the third quarter.

Yeah good point.

We have never been this bad before and its right across the board. It has to be fitness. they look tired and too slow - especially in the midfield. Even Jonesy grabs the ball and just gets caught straight away. We are just totally off the pace. And I wonder whether its down to the 'elite' fitness regime and too little focus on basic skills, structures and starting the season way too tired... And Cale Morton - why did we keep him?

I think the 'elite' level fitness regime has been too much of a focus - not enough on basic skills and they are tired across the side. its going to be a long season. Upsides Mitch, Davey and Howe. Our midfield is non existent...

Im hoping they were positive and upbeat - that might be a sign that things will 'click' eventually.

I spend some time at the pub and at work discussing my beloved Melbourne FC. Interestingly people that know a bit about footy often say to me that rather than we being a side of 'thin reeds' - rather we have a bunch of players that are too big for footy. Ive heard from many people that we have a list of 'no where' talls and over-bulked players. Not sure I really agree, but for a while we did have a fair amount of not quite talls - Meeson, Lamb and Johnson come to mind as does Spencer. And they generally suggest that Moloney, Sylvia and Tapscott are just too big and consequencely too slow.

Agreed - our defense is solid and does ok against the Tiges. Midfield is the worry. I think (hopefully) that things will quite suddenly click at the dees and we will get some semblence of a top 22.

I think we are really missing Sylvia and an in form Moloney.

I think he would know and more I think Leigh was just making controversy.

I agree - I think this would be the best option - add forward defensive pressure because we've basically had none this year and Mitch Clark will be double timed no doubt.

I think this is a realistic chance this game. lets me honest, we have a better defense than Richmond - Frawley usually keeps Riewoldt pretty quiet and Vickory and Miller will probably miss nearly as many as they'll kick - particularly with set shots. Our forward line is pretty one dimensional at the moment - or more just single maned with Clark - but who will they put on him? I assume they will double up on him but this might give Howe the odd opportunity. But the game will be won in the midfield and lets be fair - there's is at its best for as long as I can remember, whereas ours has been probably the worst ive seen it. Bigger bodies will make the difference here hopefully. I think it will be won here. I think the Dees will click - the game plan or the structures will suddenly fit and make sense and we will improve very quickly, perhaps in one game.

Quality player but I think the 22-25 mark is a better fit for anything but a key position.

yeah that worried me for sure. Our midfield is the problem and its the pits.

Doesnt Fitzy have Chronic Fatigue or something ?

i cant actually remember the last time Davey had an impact on a game.

Its a shame as he really showed some glimpes of talent.

I hope Fitzy and Cook come through

If he was really gutted he'd put his hand up to coach...

Gysberts looks like the most promising young midfielder coming through.

51 now...

Went on to play at hawthorn but not very well...

2002 - we picked up Daniel Bell (Pick 14) and Nicholas Smith (Pick 15) Jared Rivers (Pick 26) Players of note below our picks in this draft: Troy Selwood (Pick 19) Will Minson (Pick 20) Daniel Merritt (Pick 30) Kade Simpson (Pick 45) Adam Selwood (Pick 53) 2003 - we picked Col Sylvia (Pick 3), Brock McClean (Pick 5), Chris Johnson (Pick 30 F/S), trade for Ben Holland for Pick 21 Players of note below our picks in this draft: Farren Ray (Pick 4) Keppler Bradley (Pick 6) Beau Waters (Pick 11) Ryan Murphy (Pick 12) 2004 - we picked Matthew Bate (Pick 13), Lyndenn Dunn (Pick 15), Michael Newton (Pick 43), Players of note below our picks in this draft: Angus Monfries (pick 14) Matt Rosa (Pick 29) Mark LeCras (Pick 37) 2005 - we picked up Nathan Jones (Pick 12), Simon Buckley (Pick 53) and Clint Bartram (Pick 60), trade for Byron Picket for picks 29, 44, 60 Players of note below ours in this draft: Travis Varcoe (Pick 15)

Morton was a pick 4!!! he should be smashing it by now.

Most of these players would have been given the arse at other clubs yet we hold onto the Spencers and the Millers for years waiting for them to 'develop'. Id sooner see a few of these blokes get moved on at seasons end or traded and let some more mature agers from the VFL in.

It has to be development. All you have to do is look at the drafts that we took high pick players in such as Bennell, Bate, Bell, Dunn, and you can see that some good players taken at similar positions have developed well, while those that have come to Melb havent... Although perhaps Brock McClean suggests that our high picks just havent been that good as well...