spirit of norm smith

It continues to be said time and time again. Melbourne overuses the footy by handball. Sometimes MFC finds a way to still win (v. Blues) but in other games (v Freo and Hawks) it leads to losses. Against the Hawks on the weekend Quarter time. 40 kicks, 72 handballs. Half time. 95 kicks. 137 handballs. Full time. 193 kicks. 237 handballs. 430 posessions v. Hawks 355 (218 kicks 137 handballs) Oliver 4 kicks 24 handballs Viney 12 kicks 20 handballs Lewis 11 kicks 19 handballs Tyson 10 kicks 18 handballs Sure they are inside mids but their overuse of handballs even when free of congestion. The circular non effective handballs are frustrating. Even bandballs back into the congestion. Even Jayden Hunt tried to handball rather than kick to position. Gameplan? Is it a lack of foot skills? if yes then it must be addressed. I think not. It is the gameplan. But it is only successful by good decision making. Our players still lack this in the main. Our CONTESTED footy is up with the best in the league. It is our heart and effort each week. It is NOT questionable. The Kangas beat the Crows by quick ball movement, and putting their defence under pressure. Defenders hate 1 on 1s & the Crows defence was exposed. We cannot allow slow handballs to allow them to rotate their mids back. Kangas kicks were about 2:1 ratio to handballs. Sure handball out of a contest but NOT to another contest or someone else under pressure. Memo Simon Goodwin. You have the players. We have the effort. Get the strategy and decision making right and we will be a power. May the discussion begin. Go the mighty Demons.

"too many handballs"... week 7 repeated. This is what Goodwin has trained over the pre season. But he queries integrity and our effort. Poor show Goody. Watch the game. It was ineffective circular handballs. Oliver is a great young gun but his disposal needs to improve.

ditto

agree

6 Viney 5 Lewis 4 Frost 3 Watts 2 Hunt 1 Oliver First half was so poor

Stretch IN JKH out

JKH is gone. Brings nothing. To the whole team ... you cannot win with half a game !!!

overuse of the footy AGAIN... 8th week in a row. Against decent opposition, it is crap footy. Direct footy vs Saints (qtrs 2 to 4) and Bombers (2nd half) is the answer. 100+ possessions of irrelevant footy 45 kicks 72 handballs ... FFS

Yes I think Trengove may get a run in the next few weeks. He deserves the chance to show he has the ability at AFL level again.

agree... very confusing jkh - average for casey, then poor vs tigers and just average v bombers. Must be due for a big game. Needs to apply forward pressure & kick goals. Last chance?

surely Hogan and Stretch in Melksham and jkh out. jetta tmcd omcd hibberd frost salem stretch viney lewis petracccca watts vince garlett hogan hannan Pedersen lewis Jones oliver tyson anb bugg casey... kent white wagner kennedy trengove weideman Hulett brayshaw jkh Melksham harmes kielty m.king filopovic johnstone Maynard unavailable... garland gawn vdberger mckenna t.smith spencer j.smith

future rookie in 2018 or 2019... 3rd defender. Super competitive. That would really pi%#/ss off the essendon bummer boys

still the core 7 unavailable 6 players with long term injuries plus Garland gone for the season.

40,000 ... I'd like to see that !!!

Out. JKH in. Hogan Gawn 10 weeks and counting

Oliver in the early Brownlow betting?? should have 9- 10 votes by now

Out. JKH in. Hogan (if available) or Stretch

HELLO. WATCH THE GIANTS AND CROWS. they know when and how to move the ball. Quick and forward. Our contested footy should give us the advantage. Goodwin must address the overpossession football (1st half) versus effective direct winning football (2nd half)

6 Pedersen 5 Petracca 4 Watts 3 Oliver 2 Tommy Mc 1 Hibberd

Yes should have come in to replace the Weed about 3 weeks ago. Pedersen is on a 1 yr deal and showed his G&D today. Great game today. In our best.

Daniher 50. WTF. he played on ... Frost should be going buts !!

agree... 7 are clueless

18 of our best 22 in this weeks team... only Gawn, Hogan and Brayshaw missing from this weeks team due to injury. Weideman out due to form. Big Maxs absence is a killer. jetta t.mcd o.mcd salem frost hibberd hunt viney melksham petracca watts vince garlett (hogan) (Weideman) (gawn) lewis jones oliver tyson bugg (Brayshaw) anb Pedersen hannan jkh all now in but need to take their opportunities.

agree. Dees need to offer Trengove one last opportunity. He has performed at Casey as opposed to Kent, JKH or Hannan.

Dees should offer Peter Wright (suns) a 6 year deal. Perfect for us. 200cm fwd who can ruck.