Lucifers Hero

They are not our problem - only Vince has played regularly this year and he has said he is happy to play games at Casey next year if he stays. It may make people feel good to delist 10 players but it is only tweaking around the fringe and will not fix the bigger problem. The bigger problem is a game plan which does not currently match the players we have and a huge lack of player smarts and disposal skills. If our coach is flexible he can fix the former, the latter takes more than one season.

AFL AA Squad: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-28/2017-all-australian-squad-revealed Demons: Hibberd, Garlett, Jetta. Well done guys! Clarrie is leading the 'Who was the unluckiest player to miss the 40-man AA squad?' I mentioned in the post above that he needs to kick more goals to displace some of the elite midfielders. Nonetheless, a stunning year by a19 year old. These players have been our only consistent players all year who have put in every game and usually for all four quarters. (Some may disagree with Garlett but remember he was out injured and had family matters to deal with, so its worth cutting him some slack). Our leaders missing this year, in more ways than one...

That is not surprising since most of the team have had only a few preseasons. I think those guys are giving it their all but do need to conserve energy. Many of them should have been rested at some stage during the year. The best coaches have a game plan that suits the players they have. Then develop it in tandem as the players develop. That is what Roos did at Sydney - he didn't have stars; he had a tough team and had a defensive game plan to suit. It may not have been pretty but it worked. Clarkson did the same and is still doing it. He wanted a precise disposal team and gradually recruited that type and developed his high possession, pin point game plan accordingly. This year he lost a lot of his speed and accurate players, he modified his game plan accorndingly. Goodwin has a game plan that does not match the players he has right now. It doesn't match because most have poor disposal skills and because many have not had enough pre-seasons to sustain a crash, bash and run style. Goodwin's game plan may be the one that wins a premiership but he doesn't have a team to carry it out right now. He needs to recognise his plan is part of the problem. He needs to modify it to match the team he has now. Then develop it in tandem as the players develop. To do otherwise risks the players loosing belief in the game plan.

2013 is ancient history. It was our abyss. Anything would look better than 2013 so really clutching at straws using it as a base for comparison. In 2017 when it really counted we lost to Collingwood by 16 points because the coaches and players collectively dropped the ball. Our opportunity to give the finals a shake, to get some experience into our youth and to give supporters something to hang on to went up in smoke because they dropped the ball. On Saturday we lost a lot more than a football game!

Miniscule improvement! Not much reward for a year's work. Injuries and the draw are not excuses. We had finals within reach but didn't lift a finger to get there. Until we turn up for 4 quarters each week we have not improved. The gut wrenching thing is there is no 'next week to redeem ourselves'. We now have to wait 8 months to see if anything changes.

Therein lies the tragedy. And they are the guys I am worried about...they stood up. They must be feeling very disillusioned right now.

I would players and coaches to apologise to supporters! Often when clubs put in shocking performances they apologise to their fans and supporters. Has anyone heard an apology from our players/coaches in recent years? As someone said in another thread, we buy memberships, merchandising, go to games stick with the club thru thick and thin and endure the humiliation directed at us. Well its time they new we existed and stop taking us for granted.

Like everyone here I am hurting to the core of my being and shedding a few tears for the lost opportunity. However, I am thinking of our young guys, the ones who are going to take us forward. Wherever they are, I hope the leaders are getting around them. This will cut deep and we don't want it to scar them - this isn't their fault! They (and us) have been let down time and time again by failed leaders during games and leaders who time and again got suspended. In the main the young guys have worked their guts out to the very end. I hold our leaders totally responsible for this fiasco. I don't care if they are hurting or not - tonight they need to look after the young guys.

I was quoting the commentators. What if the next digit behind the deicmal point is the same?

They go to the nth decimal point until they are not equal...so every point counts!

This afternoon I thought I didn't care - self preservation if we miss the 8. Now I couldn't be more excited at getting there! Next game be damned! Lets just get there!! GO CROWS!

If you were Adelaide who would you prefer to play in the first final: GWS or Richmond? If answer is GWS they are indifferent to whether they win or lose today as GWS will shortly be 4th. If answer is Richmond they won't mind losing as Richmond will shortly be 3rd. The equation for us is still the same: If Crows were to lose let it be by less than 4 goals...

Jack Viney played all the good wins vs Adel, WB, Port, WCE, StK. He hasn't play or played under great duress in every game since the Sydney loss. It would be too simplistic to say he is the difference, he isn't. That is the only common denominator that I can find! We need JV7!!!

A timely opportunity to take our minds from yesterday. Our Daisy has come up with her AA team suggestions. As always, her articles are very well presented and thought through. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/daisy-pearce-picks-the-2017-allaustralian-afl-team-20170826-gy4s59.html Her selection criteria: "Despite the fact the All-Australian team doesn't actually play, I've picked my team based on the premise that if it did, it would need to be equipped for the game's current trends". So often the AA team is nominated to include players who have had a good year even if there isn't a position for them in the side. It is terrific that Daisy has bucked this trend and chosen a team that would actually play. Her noteworthy omission: Joel Selwood! Gutsy call! I happen to agree, if we are going to choose the best playing team rather than 'worthy' inclusions. The only Demon is Hibberd...unless we include a possible Demon-to-be, Jake Lever. Would have liked to see Jetta there for Docherty or Howe. Of course, would have loved Clarrie to be there but he needs to kick more goals before he displaces the likes of Kelly, Dangerfield, Martin, Bontempelli, Sloane etc etc. His day will come. Daisy is a very astute commentator and generally I think she has it right.

Thank you for taking a sentence out of context to suit your stand! But you left out the important bit: It wasn't just the loss that hurt it was how we lost! If anyone saw the game they wouldn't be excusing it with 'mfc are in the same basket as other clubs'.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Betts, Sloane (and/or others) omitted, especially if their first final is on the Thursday night. Both those guys have spent time on the bench in the last few weeks with injury concerns. I'm guessing Adelaide will talk to the AFL before the game and will know if their final is the Thursday night. If so they are more likely to rest players. Being minor premiers they may even get a choice when to play that final. Adelaide will want to win to keep momentum and players want to cement their spot but there is no imperative for them to send their best side or to risk injury.

Who gives a shiiit about other clubs! I only care about Melbourne. And wheeling out positive gobbledygook about other basket cases does nothing to enhance our predicament. We are in a basket all of our own and have been there longer than anyone else and we seem incapable of learning from our own mistakes. And please, don't give me the 'how much we have improved this season' stuff. Yesterday showed we have not improved what really counts: playing four quarters of committed football and we have not done it once all year. Sometimes it is wise to park your glass half full, mfc can do no wrong, pollyannaism, at least for a day or two after such a shattering performance. It wasn't just the loss that hurt it was how we lost! Maybe you are insulated from the pain because you didn't see the game - well if you didn't see it, stop the patronising.

In that case pray for a huge win by Port tonight!

My heart goes out to Jesse. His injury today was the 5th major setback this season. He has carried such a personal burden. He worked so hard to come back from the collarbone injury to play again and the hamstring goes. It just isn't his year. Chin up mate. Look forward to you getting healthy for 2018.

Yes, but I think it is becaise he hasn't fully recovered from his mid-season niggles which became injuries and came back to early. Firstly, he had back spasms, then groin issues, then his ankle. It is no wonder his hamstring eventually gave way. Like Viney we rushed Watts back too early. Even with his fitness /injury issue he did his job today.

After 10 pages in the Post Match Thread no-one has potted Jack. I guess that means he played a good game, right? I thought he was one of our better players - kicked a goal and started the chain of at least 3 other goals. Laid some good tackles. He didn't excel (no-one did) but he did his job today. Its a shame most of his 21 team mates didn't.

If Geelong beat GWS tonight then Crows will put the cue in the rack vs WCE as they can't lose top spot (and the chance to play Richmond in their first final). They will want to minimise risk of injury. If Geelong win watch them rest Sloane! WCE will romp it in. The only chance we have of the Crows trying to win is if GWS beat Geelong and if the Crows want to keep top spot. The equation is simple: barrack for GWS tonight, as unpalatable as that might be.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-08-26/more-prime-time-matches-for-melbourne From the article: " MELBOURNE expects to receive more games in primetime slots in 2017, but won't purposefully lobby the AFL for Friday night and Saturday night action next season, according to CEO Peter Jackson". I get it when he says teams are given the fixture they deserve but the evidence this year contradicts that eg Ess have received about 10-12 FTA Saturday night games. Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond have also dominated the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night FTA games plus a bunch of Sun aft games. All were bottom sides last year and yet got the cream of the FTA spoils because they lobbied very hard. I have no faith in the AFL doing the right thing and rewarding us with a favourable fixture, FTA or anything else. The big clubs always leverage their way in. Smaller clubs need to shout louder to be heard. So, Jackson' s position surprises me because those prime FTA spots are a golden opportunity to promote our sponsors and expose our team to new fans/renew old fans. If we don't lobby, we don't get is my view!!! I hope that Jackson gets this right and we do get a fair fixture in 2018 - not just on the FTA but also 6-day breaks, sequencing of interstate trips and getting Home MCG games against big Vic clubs to help our revenue. PJ don't let us down on this...

A huddle in the middle 1.5 hours before the game, is a tad unusual Revving each other up and getting into the right head space, I guess...would love to have been a fly on the wall, so to speak. Good to here Jack is walking ok. May he play again soon.

I suspect most people didn't...it is a terrific idea so good on your for offering it here. I just read it yesterday and not many people have heard about it as it hasn't been promoted. http://www.afl.com.au/womens/stateoforigin That is a shame because it will be hard to fill Eithad if people need to come from interstate or change their plans to get there.