stranga

Is it possible to leave 6-3 blank? i thnk it would be fitting. Trengove 2, Scully 1.

The only positive i can take out of the game was Scully and Trengove. Boy are they going to be great players once they get stronger. Easily our best players. Strauss was also ok although he had some massive clangers. As for everyone else it was same old same old. Lots of downhill skiers and guys with huge limitations eg. Bates lack of mobility and jones' lack of footy smarts.

1)Dean Bailey is the master salesman, the guy has people brainwashed but he cannot coach or develop players to save his life. It seems like he just cant motivate the players. Hawthorn had a younger average age than us today so i dont want to hear excuses about youth. Its about attitude, skill, game plan and we dont have any of these things and haven't improved on them in any respect since 2007. Its going to be hard for people to argue optimism to me today, the evidence was there for everyone to see. 2)Miller played a vintage miller game. How much longer do we have to tolerate this? 3 possessions and a 50 metre penalty at half time when we were desperate for a forward to impose himself on the game and at least contest. He lacks physical presence and when he does impose himself on a contest it at an inappropriate time which ends up resulting in an injury or turnover.

Maric is stiff i reckon. Would look better with a crumbing forward i think. Cheney not even emergency?? injured or not rated?

Fair points Dappa. People have different sensitivity to issues and want different things from a forum like this so its difficult to find that medium point. For example should words like dud and crap be seen as offensive or inappropriate when discussing a players ability? I would say no but many would say yes.

Im more than happy for people to disagree and i expect it now, however rather than people disagreeing with "reason and opinion" i constantly simply get told not to post if i dont have anything optimistic or positive to say (which i sometimes do anyway). I was just highlighting that as a negative about this site, which is what the topic was about. P.S Do i really need to give people reasons as to why Miller sucks? surely its plain for everyone to see and there is nothing more to debate on the issue....

Yeah thats a gun forward line, may kick a record score you never know!! Hope the boys come out firing in all seriousness, we need a positive performance. Some agression may compensate for our lack of skill level and hopefully cause some turnovers the other way.

Well youre reply rings true to what i said in my original post. If you arent being optimistic unemotional and "constructive" youre opinions arent welcome on here and they are seen as purely being a "snipe" at the club. If i honestly believe a lot of our players,coaches or tactics are not up to scratch then shouldnt i be able to say that bluntly if i want to, without having to sugar coat it? If I observe fundamental deficiencies in certain players that are harming our team do i have to ignore it purely because they wear our jumper and other peple here idolise them? I would have thought people expect more considering the level of emotion, support and money we all put into the club. I would have thought Melbourne supporters have the right to be jaded anyway. I dont shy away form that. Where do you draw the line between being rational and being negligent?

Generally i feel you are free to express youre opinions on 'Ology even if they happen to be negative thoughts or feelings. However on here people dont take well to critisisms of the club or players and seem to wear rose coloured glasses with most issues. This blind optimism may have something to do with the number of "younger supporters" on here as mentioned above. The site is also overly administrated in that respect. You can barely say boo about a player or coach without the post being deleted. The personal abuse on Ology is entertaining but probably over the top sometimes.

Very interesting story. Although this is a positive in that he recognises where the problems lie, it is also a negative in that the players obviously have no faith in each other out on the field to do what is required and that can cause a decrease in confidence and spirit.

At least we have somehting to look forward to at the game now, im keen to see how they perform with the increase in intensity. Hopefully Strauss has earned a spot also.

Im sure i remember reading that he had excellent disposal when we drafted him and his highlight package showed as much. It just seems that all these kids we drafted because of their foot skills ar estruggling ot live up to the reputation eg. morton, bennel, maric (strauss looks ok, Watts and Blease unknown). Im hoping its because they are still getitng used to the speed and pressure of AFL and that the skills will shine through eventually. Having said that Bennell does show good skills at times.

Oh we will play, and we will get belted, nothing new.

Ok sorry i forgot negativity (ie.reality) is not allowed on this site. Great game from the boys today, 40 point beltings against interstate teams at our traning base are great for our development no need to panic we are a great team and it will be a great year....

God we suck. What a let down.

if we cant roll West coast at Casey ill be disappointed.

Its clear this guys body is not cut out for AFL football at this level. I think we should all start to add him to our list of hard luck stories for the MFC and hope that someone like Maric will step up in his place over the next few years.

I agree i find discussing a "best 22" pointless given our injury situation. More value debating a round 1 22 now that we have some pre season form to work with. Mine would be: Cheney, Warnock, Frawley Macdonald, rivers, Bennell Jones, Mcdonald, Trengove Sylvia, Bate, Miller(unfortunately) Green, Petterd, Bruce Jamar, Moloney, Grimes Int: Scully, Strauss, Mckenzie, Martin Garland, Wona, Watts to come in in the next few rounds.

where are all those "its no big deal", "calm down, relax" posters now?

Maybe "Bails" is actually Dean Bailey?

Lets hope its not that bad then.

I reckon Petterd is in our best 22 now given his current form. Will be hard for Newton to have a big year from the rookie list, unless they mean for Casey.

Wasnt that last weeks injury list, 4th march?

as usual a hard luck story for the demons, gotta love it.

well done rick! hope we hold on