Deecisive

I suggest part of Hogans problems in the first 3 quarters is that we were crowding him, both our own and GWS players were all around him. In the last we got him alone where he proved he is the man. Just need our other forwards to lead away from Hogan a lot more often to open up space for him and leave him one out. If other opposition players want to hang back and tandem tag him they that will leave, Watts, Kent, Frost, etc open. I must admit the 5th goal in the first quarter that came from a chain of handballs was probably one of the most impressive pieces all day. Players ran and looked for a better option instead of just blazing away a fantastic example of the team working and playing together to share success as 4 or 5 players all played an important part in that one play. 1

I suggest part of Hogans problems in the first 3 quarters is that we were crowding him, both our own and GWS players were all around him. In the last we got him alone where he proved he is the man. Just need our other forwards to lead away from Hogan a lot more often to open up space for him and leave him one out. If other opposition players want to hang back and tandem tag him they that will leave, Watts, Kent, Frost, etc open. I must admit the 5th goal in the first quarter that came from a chain of handballs was probably one of the most impressive pieces all day. Players ran and looked for a better option instead of just blazing away a fantastic example of the team working and playing together to share success as 4 or 5 players all played an important part in that one play. 1

It was a team win, two good reasonably good quality quarters and two p@ss poor quarters. If we can play four good quarters we will win a lot more games this year.

Given the number of players supposedly guilty of taking drugs at Collingwood I find it impossible for eddie not to have some idea of the drug problem, which is not going to get better while the players association and the afl continue to dodge the issue.

Given the number of players supposedly guilty of taking drugs at Collingwood I find it impossible for eddie not to have some idea of the drug problem, which is not going to get better while the players association and the afl continue to dodge the issue.

A lovely thought if they are both scoring lots of votes.

The blues did look to have improved, though the tigers did help them by playing so poorly. I sometime wonder if the tigers would be better without Jack Riewoldt he seems to have an awful lot of off days.

Dunn is too good a player to be out for long.

I personally would like to see petraca playing against Essendon. He is fit enough and has they skills to come straight in, trying him against one of the lesser teams will mean a lesser opponent to start with rather than front up like watts did against a top side with a quality opponent. The only issue is obviously going to be who to drop from the current team. I guess we will get an answer to that tomorrow at the end of our GWS game.

I wonder how many players are going to follow the the Gary Ablett and Nathan Jones hair style.

So why doesn't the article say who is first and second, while I don't like to filth, who else is doing this sh!t, who is it that the filth have to beat next off season to be premiers.

A new year, judge him by what he does not what he did in past years. His speed will be welcome, just his disposal and defence need to be kept tight.

I think petraca may give oli a run for his money on the recruit of the year.

Oli's playing, woohoo. go dees

Agreed wallaces assessment was pretty good. I could not find too much to argue with. We will do well this year, but this is still the start of a journey for our young team, next few years should see us play finals.

great article

injuries will still play a part on which sides are going to go up and who goes down, as usual. The tigers suffered quite a few injuries in the NAB cup match a couple more will really hurt their chances. While collingwood has looked reasonable, I still think they may have trouble kicking goals, the dogs were killing them until the just stopped and collingwood ran over the top. I think we can score 10+ wins and thankfully we have a bit more depth than in previous years, but injuries to some of our key players could keep our wins down. Last year we through games away that we could have won and won games that no one gave a chance to win. This year we should be able to show that we have turned the corner and will be a threat in future years.

I wish he could pick up from where he was a year or so before his injury.

I must say the Big yank the saints brought on in the 2nd half in the ruck seemed to do ok. his big body did give max a run for his money. looks a likely prospect.

Just finished watching the replay the things that stood out to me. 1. Max Gawn tireless in the ruck and around the ground, I was especially impressed when he gave 20meter hand passes to players streaming down the field. 2. If we could eliminate stupid turnovers like those in the first quarter or so, we would be a far better team and a real chance at a top 8 position. 3. loved the direct play, hated when we started to go backwards and cross ground at times. 4. Hogan, while I love the guy, he needs to chase the ball after a failed marking attempt, he too often gives up the contest once he has contested and lost. 5. Watts loved his game. 6, Oliver, Bugg and Kennedy all look to be great pick ups. 7. One thing I absolutely hated was the space we gave the saints players, because they are not as skilled as some teams we were able to get turnovers when they kicked poorly, against top sides you cannot give them the space and the ability to over lap down the field. This will kill us, players need to more accountable for their man. 8. The last thing that I got from today was hope, hope that Melbourne has turned the corner and that we will play far better and more competitive football in the years to come.

I thought I read somewhere that Nick had slimmed down a bit and they were looking to run him in the midfield. So doubt that will be tommy, I wonder if we could play vandenberg on him? his big enough and probably quick enough and does not mind a tackle.

his defence will be... why fine me I'm not a Melbourne player.

Yes drug tested

I finally got around to seeing Sundays game replay. Sad to say I think Tom is a considerable liability down back at the moment. He is indecisive, he starts to look to dish it off then changes his mind and gets confused then gets run down or kicks it to an opposition player. He seems to lack awareness of the opposition players when he has the ball. The way he runs the ball out of defense reminds me a little of the way frawley used to get caught waltzing out of the backline. Tom unfortunately is far too often a poor kick. The concern I have that opposition coaches must see this, so all then need to do is instruct their players if melbourne looks to be winning the ball out of the backline then one of their players needs to give a free to tom, push him over, tackle him 50 yards off the ball, anything to get the ball back into his hands. The opposition team then has a reasonably high probability based on todays effort of handing it back to them in a much better scoring position. I would strongly suggest that Tom be moved to CHF or HFF, he is big strong he can take a mark and had done reasonably well down there, put Frost of Pederson back at CHF. If he does take a mark he should go back and have a deliberate shot, if he gets a score its a bonus, better than giving goals away.

Great to see them getting their butts kicked. Lets how the Dees can do as well if not better when we meet them in round 2.