poita

Kicking in was the least of our problems on Monday, and we certainly had plenty of goes at it. The bigger problem is that we were playing a tall down, even before Spencer & Smith were injured.

He is probably now the second best and most important player on our list, behind Gawn, which is incredible given his age and inexperience. Over summer he had to work on running out games better, which he has done. Now he just needs to fix up his kicks to handballs ratio, and he will be a genuine elite player.

A bit late in writing this, so I'm sure most of what I want to say has already been said. No faulting the effort, but gee we played some dumb football at times. Four up in a marking contest and nobody down; not keeping our feet at crucial moments; slamming the ball on the boot 5 inches from the boundary; chains of handpasses on a wet night. We can blame injuries, and they were certainly a factor late, but so were (a) yet again, selecting players who are out of form and going in without another tall and (b) squandering so many inside 50s and so much domination in the first 50 minutes of the game. We should have been six goals up by half time, and we clearly win with what was a strong third quarter. Hibberd was fantastic, even more so for a guy who has missed so much football. Oliver would be the best player on our list if he would kick the ball occasionally. Hunt was excellent. Jones, Viney & Tyson were bitterly disappointing, particularly at key moments. Jones had a great first three weeks, but was really poor. The other two have been disappointing all year. Guys like Stretch, Neal-Bullen and Melksham get enough of the ball, but don't have enough impact. Stretch & Melksham in particular as outside players, need to take the game on more (see Hunt as an example). Hogan looked like a petulant child for most of the night, notwithstanding that he actually did cover a fair amount of ground. Compared to Watts, who just grits his teeth and gets on with on what was a really tough job, Hogan's demeanor was disappointing. Richmond haven't received much credit around here for their performance, either on the night or for the season to date, but they have been far more consistent in their effort than we have. They certainly haven't allowed teams to score 5, 6, 7 or 8 goals in a row against them at any point. We need to eradicate those bad patches from our games, even allowing for tired bodies and tired minds, before we can expect to win regularly. And finally, the Anzac Eve fixture has now gone well past Queens Birthday as the biggest H&A game we play. Full credit to everyone at Melbourne & Richmond who made this happen. It is a wonderful occasion, and a crowd of 85K will ensure it is locked in for the foreseeable future.

Our balance was pretty good in the first game, even though Smith was injured early. We replaced Smith with a smaller player, then Hogan with another small. It cost us big time against Geelong when Gawn went down and we had nobody to spell Watts in the ruck. Another tall would have been handy against Freo as well. Now we have gone taller again this week, so the balance looks better. The number of changes made each week suggests that we are still not getting selection right, or the players are not capable of following the coaches instructions. I would prefer a more settled side, rather than dropping blokes and selecting again the following week for no apparent reason. And why Melksham is still in the team is beyond me - there are ten better options at Casey.

Wow, ProDee doesn't rate Cam. Thank god he reminds us all of this thrilling fact in 85 different threads every day, otherwise we might have forgotten.

Does this club do any due diligence when it looks at experienced recruits? Or does we just throw long term contracts and blank cheques at anybody who takes our calls? Clark, Dawes, Lumumba, Melksham, and Hibberd all in the past 6 years. Drug cheats, sociopaths, broken down hacks, and who knows what else. The ridiculous contract (and equally ridiculous trade deal) for Melksham looks dumber every day. Not only is he a liability on the field, but he is developing a pattern of dumb behaviour off the field which reflects poorly on both him and the club. A month at Casey, where he should be already, seems a fair punishment.

You lot are a bunch of sad sacks. Loyalty in football is dead. The clubs are just as guilty as the players. Frawley left, it happened, move on. That said, if you were in a job for eight years, busting your guts each week, watching the place go down the toilet, do you think you would stick around indefinitely hoping for things to change? Or do you think you might leave if the competitor up the road, with fancy digs and dominating the competition, made you an offer that was equal to or better than your current deal? Why should a footballer be expected to be loyal to his employer, when we wouldn't expect that of any other employee? Particularly given how short the careers of professional sportspeople are.

Thanks for the clarification demonstone. I'm glad players are not doing media three hours before a game. Save that for the coaches or injured players.

I doubt that we are going to get back the dollars we have lost for the year to date, so it is a concern. Any deal that comes later in the season will be pro rated for the remaining period. Our middling form and ladder position is going to hurt us further still.

I've sat in reserved seats on both sides of the ground over the past 20 years or so, and the atmosphere has become duller and more sterile with each passing year. Most people seem to think that they are at the theatre, offering a polite clap at the end of each quarter. God forbid somebody tries to make some noise, or voice a comment - the number of death stares you receive is phenomenal. I would prefer to sit with Melbourne supporters, but it is getting to the point where I will think about saving my $100 next year and sitting in general admission.

The competition is so even at the moment that any team can beat any other team if one drops off even a few percent for a period. We have had one poor quarter each week thus far, and we are lucky that it has only hurt us twice. We are not a good enough side that we can pick and choose when we play, and still expect to win games. If we play four quarters we can beat any side, and we can certainly beat Richmond this week. But it is anyone's guess as to whether the players are prepared to work hard enough for the entire game.

There is no doubt to me that Jack has gone away from his natural game, and what comes instinctively to him. I am guessing that as a result of assuming the captaincy, he is looking to lead by bringing his teammates into the game and take on less himself. I'd like to see him be the person to run and carry the football himself, and attack the game, rather than looking for others to do so. Running straight at opponents and looking to dish off a handball is not working, and opponents have found him out. I also think a run with role is the way to go - get Cotchin to take him to the footy, make a few big tackles and he'll be up and about again.

Bernie should be playing in the midfield. Other teams know he is no good defensively (one on one), so drag him back to an area he is not comfortable in. Give him a run with role in the middle, and he'll be fine. I'd much rather have Bernie in there than Neal-Bullen. As an aside, if his foot is a problem, he shouldn't be playing. We have players at Casey who can come in and do a job. Give him some time off and let him get it right.

I didn't see Saturday's game, but nothing I have seen or read since has changed my mind on our current setup. We are at least 1 tall down on what we should be playing with and probably 2. With Weideman basically a passenger at present, that would make 3. Playing both McDonalds allows Tom to play looser and be a third man up if required. Playing Pedersen allows him to ruck when Watts would be matched against a bigger and stronger opponent, and I believe that the three tall forwards worked well last year. I would like to see: IN: Hogan, Pedersen, McDonald OUT: Weideman, Hannan, Melksham

I am a big fan of Jesse, but the guy is just taking the [censored] at the moment, and the club needs to put a stop to it. He's not on a holiday or injury leave, he has been suspended for a stupid act and he should be working to repay the club for that. By all means go home to see your sick father, but that is a lot different to attending a music festival (at the same time your team is playing, incidentally). By the way the website says the event was sold out - I'd be interested to know if it was sold out before he punched Rowe in the head. I hope Jesse hasn't taken the attitude that he can do whatever the hell he wants because, if Melbourne get sick of him, another 17 teams will be throwing cash at him. Hopefully he comes back against Richmond with a point to prove.

Viney has been a massive disappointment this year for a bloke who should be coming into his peak as an AFL footballer. He certainly doesn't play as instinctively as he used to - instead of running around in circles and handpassing to nobody, he needs to go back to charging forward and kicking the ball as far as he can. I would love to see him line up on Lachie Neale next week and completely work him over for four quarters., rather than letting some Freo hack follow him around.

Some days the players don't turn up, and the scoreboard reflects it. Today we came to play and the scoreboard reflects the total opposite. A horribly disappointing result, given the effort that was expended. I hope that is not the difference at the end of the year between playing finals and not. Jordan Lewis & Jesse Hogan - this loss is on you, as much as anyone else. Our forward line pressure was exceptional all day, but really guys like Kent, Harmes and Neal-Bullen have no place in an AFL side when they can't kick goals from 30 metres out directly in front. Hannan is not the answer either, although his work rate lifted after half time. Smith's effort was okay, but six possessions is not a great result from so many inside 50s. I wonder where his kicks will come from when he doesn't have so many opportunities. Weideman had another shocker, and should not be selected again until he can consistently play with the intensity required of an AFL player. Pedersen at 50% fitness would give a far better effort, and can help in the ruck as well. I don't expect Sam to be plucking marks and kicking bags of goals against Lonergan and co, but he needs to be hitting packs and making a contest. I thought Gawn was really poor before getting injured, and Watts' effort was far superior when he took over. Unfortunately he can't be expected to do everything against multiple opponents, and our lack of talls was telling in the end. Tyson was poor, Vince the same, and Oliver, Viney and Stretch need to kick more instead of handpassing in circles. Jones was outstanding again. If only we had a few more of him. Hunt was excellent as well. It is hard to know what to make of the defence. Geelong had so many easy forward entries because they were able to get past our wall, but our defenders were horribly out of position at times as well. On a different day Geelong might kick 15-11 and we'd have been in the contest for longer. I expect to see a very angry side next week, that comes out and hits Freo with everything we have early. Otherwise this loss is for nothing.

I can't believe that people are still trying to defend Hogan and Lewis. If you hit a bloke in the head, miles off the ball, you deserve to get reported and you deserve to get suspended. If you don't like what the MRP does, don't put yourself in a position to get judged by them. It's not brave, it's not tough, it's just plain stupid and now the team is going to be significantly weakened in a run of games that is crucial to our finals chances. Lewis' attitude in the third quarter on Sunday was abysmal. Wouldn't run, wouldn't chase, but was happy to whack a bloke in the head miles off the ball. For a supposed leader, his effort was really poor. I suspect if he had been at the club for longer and the coaches could see the signs, we might have acted before he did something stupid and removed him from the situation.

Irrespective of your view of the MRP findings, I'm sick of so-called leaders of this football club continually getting themselves suspended for acts that are stupid and not at all at tough or brave. Hopefully the club withholds payments of wages for games missed due to dumb acts. The players certainly aren't meeting their end of the deal when they are sitting in the stands. If either Vince or Lewis goes again this season, they should come back via Casey. Has Nathan Jones ever been suspended? There are plenty of players who can play hard and tough, without crossing the line.

Vince for Melksham is a no brainer for me. Jake may be more suited to playing up the ground, but there is no way he pushes out any of our current midfielders. His disposal is below poor, and I his lack of physicality concerns me. If Lewis misses, Bugg can come in. If Hogan misses, Pedersen can come in. Kent on stand by if Hannan is quiet again. Frost needs to come in shortly as well.

Shocking and frustrating game, redeemed only by the fact that we won. We would have (and did) lose that game last year, so it is encouraging that we are now a side that can play badly and still win. It is incredible that the team could play a certain brand of football so well one week, and then completely go away from that the next week. And there was no reason for it, we controlled the game in the first quarter but absolutely refused to move the ball quickly and efficiently and give our forwards a chance to compete one out. Gawn was huge when the game was in the balance, both McDonalds were excellent, Jones was fantastic. I'm not particularly a Jetta fan but he was very good today. Salem was great, Garlett's touches were huge. Oliver's effort is massive, but he needs to kick the ball more rather than just drawing the tackle and handpassing under pressure. Viney was horrible, both with his disposal and decision making. Lewis was poor with the ball, but most damning was his complete refusal to be accountable for his opponent for most of the game - it was almost as though he thought it was below him to follow Curnow inside defensive 50. Petracca needs to be more selfish and take the game on some times, rather than doing the team thing. Harmes should never play in defence, his disposal is too ordinary, but his forward work was okay. Melksham is a VFL player. Hannan looked out of his depth today, hopefully it was an aberration. The inconsistent efforts of Weideman and Watts are frustrating, I don't think we have the right forward line setup at present. Brayshaw looks lost. Stretch is another who needs to kick more. Neal-Bullen just looks a level below an AFL player.

As my posting on here shows, I tend the pessimistic view of the MFC. I certainly wasn't surprised at the performances against Essendon & Carlton last year, as I was expecting the worst leading into both games, especially the Essendon game. I don't have the same trepidation about this week's game. I expect us to win and win well, although I can see the nerves coming if we are not in front at quarter time.

Out: Smith (inj), Melksham In: Tyson, Frost / Bugg

Outstanding result today, well done to the boys. Our play in the second and third quarters, in an important game, was as good as we have seen for a decade. To bounce back after a horrible first quarter was really pleasing. Our senior players really led the way in keeping a steady ship, and the others followed. It would be nice to see that kind of resilience on a regular basis. Oliver and Petracca were fantastic. Jones superb. Max had a great last three quarters. Oscar and Vince were very good after poor starts. Hogan and Garlett did a great job of taking their chances when they came. Hannan looked right at home at that level. Really everyone made a contribution, with the likely exception of Melksham who was very poor. A tough way for Smith to start his career, but he will be back, no doubt at all. Next week will be a good test, to not only beat Carlton, but to beat them well. I have no doubt we are ten goal better side than the Blues if we play properly throughout. And finally, to see Nick Riewoldt go down like that, particularly with the game decided, was very sad. He is a true champion, and I hope his career isn't over.

The players thought they just had to turn up to win. The lack of effort we showed that day was abysmal. With even a half decent effort we should beat Carlton by 10 goals.