13thFlagIsComing

After sitting through the dribble of yesterday in the cold of the Southern Stand, I've come to the conclusion that this team is stuck between Roos and his defence and Goodwin's attack.

As much as Roos bangs on about 2 way running our players do not have the desire, fitness, focus, call it whatever you like to gut run to make space or force a contest.

Too many times our players were stagnant rather than running into space.

Too many times our players saw a first option up field, ignored it for the shorter option to try and keep possession but turned it over.

Too many times when going up the line was the sensible option, we cut inside, missed the target (usually the ball going over someone’s head) straight to the opposition.

Too many times off half back we compressed numbers up the ground leaving no option but either maintain possession through handball chains (which usually break down due to too much pressure) or bang it up the ground to a one on two (usually Hogan / Garlett vs two).

Too many times we missed simple set shots at goal. The last time I checked scoring makes up 50 % of the reason you win (50% you score more than the opposition - 50% you make the opposition score less than you).

Too many times we would switch wings but were too slow at doing it thus the opposition have time to get across to cover the space.

I’ve already booked to go with a mate next week otherwise I won’t be turning up for the rest of the year. Before anyone goes on about supporting the team, thick and thin blah blah blah I won’t waste my time anymore with a team that has no genuine desire to make a contest. I can put up with a team trying to improve or implement a game plan but not at the expense of not being able to execute fundamentals and non-negotiables.

Oh and one more thing. I found out from my dad yesterday (I was sitting in another area) that Chris Dawes parents were sitting behind him yesterday. After the pasting he was getting from the Dees members throughout the entire game they left about half way through the last.

Don’t blame them either. I left about the same time to beat the traffic.

A quote rom Bomber Blitz to get you pumped for this Saturday's game. Give 'em hell boys:

Now my mum said you don't hate anything in the world but sorry mum i hate this club and the majority (not all) of their smug sh*t don't stink supporters who think that it's their supreme right to be cocky and arrogant to other clubs supporters yet are genuinely shocked when people hate their club.

I hate Essendon....hate them. HATE THEM!!!!

Growing up in the area in the 80's 90's 2000's sucked with this black and red machine winning premierships along the way.

God i hate this team so over the past few years when we have beaten them it's the game i want to win every year.

Smash them, crush them next week!!! Destroy them!!!!!

We are Geelong

The mighty blue and white

We are Geelong

No Selwood and we're shite

Our coaches face

Explodes when there's a free

Fans IQ equals three

Our banners fly high

From dawn to dark

And we don't give a f....

I guess one of the outcomes of Sunday is that us long suffering Demon supporters dare to dream. I think it is very interesting the media reaction to the win on Sunday which has been universally positive - seen almost as a "turning point" or "a line in the sand". Whatever, most commentators seem to see it as much more than simply another victory.,

I guess as much as anything it was the way we won, and the emergence of exciting new talent who showed their wares (Brayshaw, Stretch, Neal Bullen) and the not-so-new who are showing up as major talents at last (Watts, Gawn, and the return to form of Tyson). Add to this the addition of the wunderkind Hogan, and the yet to appear Pettracca (supposedly better than Brayshaw which I find difficult to believe), the recent resigning of Jack Trengove (who must have a positive medical outlook or he wouldn't have been resigned - we must all remember his first and second years, he was seen much as Brayshaw is now, an outstanding talent, and someone who would emerge into one of our top half dozen players), and the return of proven performers like Garland and Grimes, and emerging talents like Vandenberg and Salem. Add to this the vast improvement of players like McDonald, Viney, Vince, and the consistency and brilliance of Captain Courageous Jones, we have a lot to be excited about.

In effect, by next year, we have three "new" top four picks to come into the side from Sunday (Petracca, Hogan, Salem, Trengove). But I think in the long term, the most significant performance to emerge from Sunday, and the most promising from our ability to become a top 4 side, is Maxy Gawn's breakout game. It is something a lot of us thought Max had the capability to do, but the fact he did it in such a dominant way, not only in the ruck, but also around the ground and his dominant marking, makes him a player of a level of importance akin to Jeff White in Neil Daniher sides of the early 2000's. It was an awesome performance, and one which will make a number of sides cringe in fear. Max after all is the second biggest player in the AFL playing in the seniors, and on Sunday's performance one of the most dominant.

Paul Roos has set us up wonderfully for the next ten years. Let's all enjoy the ride.

I speak on behalf of all Demons supporters right now when I say that...

How I feel at work on a Monday...

How I feel at work on a Monday today...

Brayshaw - Suck [censored] Thurlow!!

Not fussed about the Hulk but looks like Jordie could have a final audition before the axe swings at the end of the year.

We know what we are in for this weekend so rather than focus on the result, lets look at the processes.

Kick ins

Zoning

Marking

Pressure Acts etc.

Don't worry about watching 360, On the Couch etc. tonight.

Just watch this classic as I reckon it sums up how we are all feeling today...

Had a great weekend leading up to the game, had a brilliant start of the game when my niece ran out with the players yesterday.

Yet this morning I just want to drive down to Swan Street, knock on the door of the MFC, ask to speak to the players and coaches and say "Hi guys, on behalf of all Melbourne Football Club members and supporters...WHAT THE [censored] WERE YOU THINKING!!!!

Haven't been this angry at a loss since that garbage we served up in Freo about 3-4 years ago.

And the funny part is..my wife and I knew we would lose it when Howe put us in front.

The tragic part as it has been mentioned before is that the majority of Melbourne supporters knew it as well.

Now here's some lateral thinking on my behalf.

Surely the club can purchase some new Apple Watches for our drinks carriers and relay messages to them via their watch.

Would this be deemed on field coaching outside of runners and therefore illegal?

This was Lumumba's first half.

https://youtu.be/qkt4KU1IetA

"When I was at the Swans"......"contested ball"...."two way running"...."Kirky"...."Goodesy."now I can't speak for"..."don't get me wrong"...

you can put any of these phrases into any sentence and it sounds like it came from PR mouth. example

"When I was at the Swans, one week we changed things up a bit and the players did an Italian cooking class. Don't get me wrong it was a little different especially when Kirky and Goodesy were making meatballs. It got a bit competitive about who would make the best meatball and that showed me that even in Italian cooking classes its all about contested ball. Now don't get me wrong I can't cook a good meatball and the chef we got in did a fantastic job but I can't speak for him but it just showed that sometimes two way running can mean going between the fridge and the olive oil."

I was 8 years old in 1987 and I remember sights and sounds before that day which when I look back was almost like an initiation into becoming a Melbourne supporter. The red seats, the unique smell of the bowels of the Olympic stand, the kid I used to play kick to kick with at the top of the stairs (underneath the cameraman..i think his name was Ryan. His family sat a couple rows in front of ours) before the MCC official would boot us to the bottom of the stairs to play kick to kick outside the change rooms. Hocko down the front with the double handed "Melbourne" chant and his famous Hocko's demons 45 hoodie. Hanging over the thick concrete over the race trying not to slip stretching as far as I could just to brush the shoulder of any player I could get to but was always trying for Robbie. Barry King talking to my dad on the door before we went up the stairs, sitting with Dads mate Bob most games.

It was the best...I loved every second of it.

Prelim Final day my whole family ventured off to VFL Park yet I was omitted due to the flu. So there I was in my nanas kitchen, in my PJ's thinking "I could be going to my first grand final next week!"

I remember listening to the game in my grandmothers kitchen and in that last quarter the commentators almost sighing in disbelief in the goals we missed. Then when Bucks marked the ball I heard the siren over the radio..."I was screaming to my nana (God rest her soul) "the sirens gone...the sirens gone!!"

Then the 15 meter penalty occurred and the noise through the radio was a cacophony of siren, crowd and commentators all trying to get over the top of each other. The goal sails through and I started to cry. All I kept saying to my grandmother was "but the siren went...the siren went nana!" and I was crushed. Even at 8 years old I knew how far we had come and close we were.

About 2 hours later my parents came to pick me up and it was like someone had died in the family. We had that game…we had it!!! We had it in our grasp and we lost it!!

My parents didn’t say anything as we got in the car and went home.

I’ve watched the full game only once about 5 years ago and whilst Jimmy will be forever remembered for running over the mark, we had so many other opportunities to win that game by about 3 goals. I’ve never blamed Jimmy and I never will, we were a team that had all the momentum but not the nerve to ice the game, we didn’t have finals experience.

I’m 36 now and I hope one day we can reach the promised land so I can tell my 8 year old self that the siren has gone and we won and nearly 30 years of heartache and pain will be replaced by pure joy and celebration.

My 2 cents in regards to replacement coaches.

Guy McKenna or Brendan Bolton.

Thoughts?

Get off my lawn...

The Tex v Tommy matchup has been brilliant to watch.

C'mon Dees!!!

Fire the [censored] up!!!!

2 on 1 and still stuffed it up!!!

In all the worksafe commercials I hear:

"the best way to recover is to get back to work"

not

" the best way to recover is to get back to work...for someone else."

Whispering...I can confirm that all of the O'Reilly clan are indeed Melbourne supporters.

If I was a coach these would be my non - negotiables.

1) Shallow inside 50's - 50-60 meters out and we don't bomb it long to the top of the square. There's a time and a place for these and there's a time to bomb it long. What's the point of kicking 20 m inside to a player 30m out? Personally i'd rather bomb it to the top of the square and get ready defensively in case defenders get the ball out.

2) Never kick backward behind half back unless you really have to - I hate it - Plus if you have to switch make sure the ball is horizontal to or moving forward from the player kicking it.

3) Down the line - On the flanks kick the ball down the line not going inside the centre square unless there is a clear option. If I was past the wing that's when I would go inside not from behind centre half back.

My reaction when the Hulk throws his first opponent to the ground in a one on one contest....

Squad for Freo game.

1. Jesse Hogan
2. Nathan Jones
3. Christian Salem
5. Jimmy Toumpas
6. Chris Dawes
7. Jack Viney
8. Heritier Lumumba
11. Max Gawn
12. Dom Tyson
13. Jordie Mckenzie
14. Lynden Dunn
15. Billy Stretch
16. Dean Kent
17. Sam Frost
18. Daniel Cross
19. Ben Newton
20. Colin Garland
21. Cameron Pedersen
22. Viv Michie
24. Jay Kennedy-Harris
25. Tom McDonald
31. Jack Grimes
36. Jeff Garlett
37. Aaron vandenBerg
39. Neville Jetta
40. Mark Jamar
42. Jake Spencer
44. Rohan Bail
45. Matt Jones

I'll go Hilton, Nicholson, Cockatoo-Collins, Heffernan , Grgic and Pickett