demonchris

It’s easy for media to say whatever they like about teams. But if an honest breakdown of the ‘why’ occurred and not the ‘result’, it would be evident to most the ‘why’s’ are not because of our coach, our game plan etc. this is my opinion, I like to be optimistic rather than doom and gloom. Our first chose team has not been on the park all year, yes injuries happen, but the extent of ours is the worst in the league. Our playing squad is reflective of our ladder position. Much like our playing squad was reflective of a preliminary final last season.

This is another case of unrealistic expectations. I’m not meaning to sound rude here, but a bit of belief and encouragement from the supporter base goes a long way. There were positives today definitely. For those that think this was another step backwards I fear you drink a bit to much from the pessimistic glass. If it wasn’t for Hipwood taking the game by the neck, it definitely could of been a different result. But he is becoming a star, in a very good Brisbane team, that we played in Brisbane.

This is a bit of an over reaction. The competition is very even this year and we were always on the back foot. Gutting the list shows no faith in any of the players. Brayshaw finished top 5 in the Brownlow last year. Sure, he’s underperformed this year, but you look to trade stars in and not trade them out. This list, once healthy, can win a premiership. There’s at least 8 lists in the league that could win the premiership. I feel we are trying to reinvent the wheel in this forum sometimes, or in NFL terms trying for a Hail Mary when sometimes the best thing to do is take a knee. Next year will be different. This year has been a write off since the pre-season surgeries.

I think this is very disrespectful to Williamstown, and other stand alone teams for that matter.

I find it strange that Essendon kicked up a stink (Okay, maybe they just asked the question) about getting Tipungwuiti as a priority selection before other clubs, due to him hailing from their zone, and were denied. Yet, when their second pick rolled around and he was still on the board, they passed.

I would say it was fairly even and that they shared the chocolates. Preuss ended with 46 hit outs, this was slightly inflated as Meese went off early in the 4th with a suspected groin injury.

I was at the game yesterday and had a great look as I work for Williamstown. It has been mentioned on here before, someone quoting Rawlings that Williamstown will always be at you. This is spot on. They are extremely well coached by Andy Collins. In regards to Preuss, he was up against Nick Meese who is the best state league ruckman going around. He is a multiple time VFL team of the year player, a Gerry-Callahan medalist (The Best and fairest at Williamstown), premiership ruckman, life member etc. Preuss' game was very good with all this in consideration. Lewis played very well. He was matched up with Adam Marcon, Williamstown's captain, who is an exceptional player. Lewis did have a few turnovers, but the wind at the ground meant no player was nailing all their kicks. I did catch Lewis helping instruct and teach some of the young boys and really being supportive which i highly rate. Weideman was exceptional in my opinion. He was matched up against Olly Tate, who is undersized, yes, but is a very, very smart footballer. The Williamstown boys supported Tate well ensuring he was never left alone. Weids took an absolute hangar in the first quarter, this was even more impressive as it was after a repeat lead, and he didn't whinge after his first lead (which should have been rewarded) wasn't rewarded. Hannan is a a lot bigger than i expected, i had never seen him up that close. He worked his way into the game quite well. Missed a few kicks but will be better for the run. Lever was excellent in the time he was on the ground. He was a class above, i am bias, but you could ask anyone at the game yesterday and they would not disagree with me.

I know how the 80 point loss looks. The scoreboard is the main stat. i get that. But in reviewing the game that scoreboard is not a reflection of the game by any means. its round 2 and we are 0-2. But when 12 first choice players go in for off season surgery, then you have other players sidelined right on the cusp of round 1, you never really are a chance to jump out of the blocks. We played Port who although are not world beaters, look a bloody good team. Then we play Geelong who will contend this year. the game style we played I'm confident in. Of course tweaks will be made. But, you slide Lever into CHB, Vandenberg to the half forward flank, Hannan into the forward pocket, Joel Smith in as our utility, and Lewis onto a half back flank and suddenly the experience, especially in that back half where we generate our attack from, looks very good. We can't discount what losing the experience, footy knowledge and leadership of lewis and Lever has done to the backline. I compare it to Brisbane playing without Luke Hodge. There is no way they would be nearly as good. On top of returning players, you get Nathan Jones, Michael Hibberd, Neville Jetta, Kade Kolodjashnij, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney, and Jake Melksham hitting peak fitness. Suddenly not only do we continue to, if not improve on our contested game, inside 50 game etc, but the missing link in having people that can kick the ball, know how, where and when to run, plus added forward threats. We started on the back foot with a delayed 3 week start to preseason as it was. It won't be long until this team hits its straps. I guess what I am trying to say is that, in my head anyway, I didn't really expect wins in the first few rounds. I was hopeful of some, but definitely not expecting them. I think anyone that did expect us to pick up from where we left off (In the semi-final) was not being realistic. The AFL competition this season has great teams littered throughout. Geelong are a great defensive team, they made it harder for our underdone and less experienced attack to be effective and we couldn't cope and didn't get our score on the board, so we ended up with a lop sided scoreboard. Scoreboard aside, the stats (Our DNA) was there. inject the previously mentioned players and get match fitness into the other previously mentioned and that line breaking, quick ball movement, and all our other missing traits suddenly pop back up. Then suddenly its the back end of the season, the team is rolling and we look the most dangerous side in the comp. Hitting the straps when it counts.

Im not here to start any trouble. Im also incredibly angry and upset. The thought of Melbourne playing finals made me feel like a little kid. I am giddy and excited. After yesterdays loss, I was pretty close to throwing the baby out with the bath water (Thank Chris Scott for my use of that saying). Realistically, the chances of us winning the premiership this year were never high, nor should they have been. But the fact we still are in with that chance should be a case for optimism. I'm probably not making much sense to some of you. Im not making much sense to myself either. Im still trying to comprehend how I am currently feeling. But the key thing i think we should all remember is just how far we have come in 3 years. This is the first year we will finish with a positive W/L record for over a decade, the emergence (Not prospects) of some ripper young talent holds us in good stead. Lets put this in a different light, we are sitting in finals contention and this year alone we have had: Jesse Hogan's issues (His father, cancer, suspension, collar bone, hamstring) Suspensions (Lewis, Vince, Bugg, Hogan etc) Max Gawn missing approximately 3 months Jack Viney's plantar fascia Angus Brayshaw's concussions I could keep listing thing after thing, but its not the point. The point is, we are a chance of playing week 1 of finals. That is bloody exciting. I know theres a chance we might miss out. Thats no different from the last 11 years then is it? The fact is we are actually able to re-load and have a real red hot go next year (Not the old "Next year will be our year line"). Things are never as bad or as good as they seem.

Reading some of these comments, it seems individual bias has taken away from what was a pretty good game from Grimes. To come in for your first game of the season (pretty late in the season too) and be the second leading disposal getter for your side is rather impressive. Its easy to say he won't be on the list etc. In reality, if Jack is doing what needs to be done, improving in areas coaches have asked him, then theres every chance he stays on the list. Look at how Neville Jetta took his chance. In no way am I saying he will do the exact same as Jetta. But it shows what good coaching and a chance to players who deserve it can really do. As a Melbourne fan, I'm ecstatic at how Grimes has responded. From his attitude to playing VFL all year, to finally getting his chance. He never once threw it in. Grimes worked tirelessly all season and as a former captain of the club, Id imagine it would be hard to be told that if he's to play in this new era side, his game needs to change. Previous regimes wouldn't have taken that on board and got up and left (Ie Moloney etc). Which is the easy way out. With this attitude, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that as he wants to put in the work, he very may end up a best 22 player. Again, I use the Jetta example. Grimes became captain of this club (Peer voted) for a reason. Its safe to believe those reasons are his (Positive) attitude and leadership. Grimes has a long way to go, but if were judging on his output and where that puts his career trajectory, I think its breaking even and soon turning on the ascent.

Im pretty sure it was in the second quarter, but I saw Watts actively lead hard at the ball and attack the contest. Sure, it was just one time, but the way everyone works, is if Watts did one soft thing, they'd be all over it. I don't really care for anyone saying 'he's supposed to, It's SHOULD be what forwards do' or anything like that. Watts is a great ball user, our team simply cannot utilize him effectively at the moment. He's being asked to fill holes, he is taking up the challenge, he might not be the best player out there, or he might be, until he is settled in one spot for 2-3 years we wont know that. The fact he has stuck around the club deserves respect. Every player and their dog were up and leaving, but he stayed. Roos is doing the best with Jack, but does not have the luxury to settle him in one position at the moment, simple as that. I personally admire him, playing 100 games (I wonder how many of those were wins? or even close games for that matter?) for our club, re-signs when everyone expected him to go, and he is boo'd in his 100th? That was so far beyond disrespectful toward Jack, that it is not even funny. Booing any player is unacceptable. We as a club, a community and as a footballing family need to be better than this. I never saw Hawkins being boo'd, and that's the culture of the Geelong fans, supportive. How are we going to build a club that is successful and a tight-knit group with antics like these from fans? Its football and there is passion, I understand that, but there is also a line that needs to be drawn. I doubt Jack would walk into your office, call your paperwork sloppy and call for you to be fire/ replaced by a trash can.

My shift got changed for work, usually work 7-11, now working 12-4.... Just happens to be during Melbourbes game... I guess I've waited months and months, couple more hours won't hurt.

Everyone is a bit harsh on Jack. The amount of criticism he has copped/is copping is ridiculous. There has been so many factors as to why he hasn't yet lived up to his potential, some being his own, but others being how we have developed him. Robbie gray, was pick 55-60 (pick 56 I think), and at the age of 26, has become an absolute superstar in which people knew he could be. The thing is, he's 26, it took 8 years for that. Once a player is drafted, they're just a player, if Gray was a no.1 pick, like jack was, then he may not have became a superstar. It is important to note that Gray recently credited his improvement to his 2012 knee injury (afl website). I love jack as a player, if we backed him, showed support, maybe he would florish. Let's keep this in perspective, Watts may not be an inside mid, so why criticise him on a role that he's not suited to? He is a beautiful user of the ball, we want the ball in his hands in space. We start to back these players, especially the ones who want to be there, and we can celebrate the improvement as a team.

Poor bloke has to deal with the Intra club matches too!

Not a rumor, but seeing as the Saints have picks 18 and 19 as well as 25, would it be logical for port to try and get them involved in the deal for polec? trading 14 and 34 for 19 and 25? Port send 19 to Brisbane for Polec and are left with 25. Saints move up to 14 and grab one of the more fancied draftees (Crouch, Taylor) Brisbane get a pick they're after, being around the top of the draft.