Older demon

The most damning stat was just posted by Gerard Whately on AFL 360. Under Goodwin and his all out attack game plan in the last 25 games we have allowed the opposition to score a run of unanswered goals (4 or more) in 21 of those games. Any wonder Roos has stated we are the easiest team to score against. Minimum of 4 unanswered goals and in some cases more. How can you possibly have aspirations for finals if you cannot defend. Goodwin and the coaching staff need to address this and back off on the all out attack.

I think this article in the Age sums up the way some feel and why the negativity https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/after-decades-of-failure-how-can-i-raise-my-kids-to-be-demons-fans-20180416-p4z9ut.html I share his pain

In Tyson. Hannan, Hunt, Pederson, Stretch Out Harmes. Jetta, Vince, Melksham, Wagner

We played dumb footy, didn't tackle as well as them, over possessed, panicked and looked slow. Brilliant coaching by Clarkson to move the ball quickly, lower eyes and kick to aa lead or to space where their pace killed us. Breust was BOG and Shiels showed a bit too. They smashed our midfield even though maxxy dominated the hit outs. Our back line is too slow especially against a team like Hawthorn that kick it long to space and allow the small players to run onto the ball. I got sick of the number of goals scored out the back or at the fall of the ball when all our players flew..DUMB.. Sadly Nev is badly out of form, injured or both and has been towelled up. We cannot carry Lewis & Bernie in the same team and Wagner and Hibberd try to fill the same role. We cannot play both as they lack pace. Likewise Melksham, Bugg, Harmes & Kent are all too similar and 2nd stringers. They cannot all be in the team at the same time. I know every team has to work through injuries but Tommy and Viney leave big shoes to fill To those who asked earlier why Hoges didn't go to the middle. He was getting lots of attention for his groin and after half time ran around and went to the bench for treatement before taking his starting place. I suspect this is why he didn't move to the midfield sfter half time. If Hogan is in the middle or marking on the wing there is no one who can take an overhead mark up forward. Contiually we kick it up in the air to a packed back line. Fritch is the only marking target playing in his 4th game. Dumb football in a game wherer we were, out coached out muscled and out played.This loss is one of the worst in the last 2 seasons and left a foul taste in my mouth for the lack of effort.

Some random thoughts. The opening 15 minutes we were running 3-4 spares out of the backline, leaving Daw all alone and then we kick it high to a contest. It made him look good and let them get out of our forwrd zone too easy. When the ball came out once it got past our zone they got goals out the back. We played much better with a man on man contest and fixed up the issue North got a lot of goals from frees in what was one of the worst displays of umpiring I have seen this year. The free to Ben Brown for a ruck infringement late in the 2nd left me stunned yet 2 minutes later when Goldy shepherds Max out of the contest no whistle. Fortunately Bugg got take high and promptly missed with his free after the siren We still miss a lot of set shots and Trac is better on the run I like Clarry resting up forward. Jacobs wore him like a second skin and limited his possession but his 2 goals int he last quarter show what a weapon he can be resting up forward. At round 3 we still have a lot of room for improvement espcially our forward efficiency but I expect Tommy Mac will straighten that up on his return. Scott Thompson is a thug. His punch to Jessies head on the final siren is typical of his style for his whole career. I hope it gets reviewed

Who on our list can add speed and class around the packs. We have the strong contested ball players in Clarrie & Trac but Bris have a fleet of small quick players. We have Garlett, Harmes who is prepared to run and Jayden is way down on form. So who generates run and carry? North beat St Kilda with Hrovat, Sympkin, Turner, Atley & Hartung running and carrying. Structure alone will not stop their run

These days the coach does all the prep through the week . Rotations are pre planned, match up organised and contingency plans for injuries are all done. So what can the coaching box implement on match day? Instructions to players who don't follow team rules, stem the tide when the opposition gets a run on or come up with a stategy thet wasn't anticipated. I haven't liked Goodies team selection so far but on match day he is limited in what he can do. The good teams are controlled and managed onfield by the generals the leaders. At geelong Selwood barks the orders at hawthorn it was Hodge and look at how he is organising the backline in Brisbane. Sydney have so many leaders it isn't funny and last year Mitchell proved he is a coach in waiting in his stint at the eagles. It took Scott 8 years at geelong to win a flag with a group of exceptional father and son picks. Trac and Clarrie lead our midfield but are not the generals yet. I have no idea how much coaching Jones does and I expect more from Lewis whose undisciplined play has actually hurt us. Maxie is new to leadership and leads by example but not tactically. Yes Goody worries me but I can see ways around his inexperience and where we need to grow.

I will always take a win no matter how ugly. I thought the Lions showed up our lack off speed and inability to defend, small fast forwards. Charlie Cameron showed us up all night, Christianson around goal and Zorko in the forward 50. We have Garlett up forward but we lack that explosive pace in the midfield. In the 2nd half the Lions were prepared to go longer in the slippery conditions and play in front, while we were still trying to hit up targets. There were a number of silly frees resulting in goals against Hunt, Jetta and Lewis. It took a while till we started playing wet weather footbal and stop over possessing. The six day break and high humidity also didn't help us so I am glad to get away with the 4 points

Any word on Nev? There was a suggestion he was carrying and injury. I like Frost in as a key back as I think teams will continue to isolate Lever in a key defensive role. he didn't play that in Adelaide and it is a new role for him. Brisbane have key marking targets as we found out last year. Brisbane will be without Rich and Robinson which will be to our advantage.

Caro where are you when we need someone to write an article about another clubs botched camp. Does this mean the Crows are soft? Are they not united? It seems that the camp freaked a few of them out. I cannot see how this is supposed to improve their football skills. As always captain Walker is on the job texting with the same care he extended to lever last year. he recommends it to his family and friends

1. MFC did not go on camp 2. Adelaide football club went on a cult like camp and word is it harmed players 3. Tex liked it and would recommend to his family and friends Now will Caro decide to do some investigative journalism and write an opinion piece about a useless camp designed to test player limts that didn't work

If I can add to the discussion I think we missed too many tackles in the first half. And the tackles made were brushed away except for Ablett who got pinged a few times for incorrect disposal. The tackling and intensive pressue was much better after half time. Richmond have set the standard for tackling and forward defensive pressure. Agree that we need more lead up forward passes rather than bombing it in.

My group of friends met today for the first time this season. Only heresay from a physio that Viney's foot is worse than the club are letting on and he is out indefinitely. Only repeating what another stated.

Lewis is in the team for leadership. He said more that that to the umpre, I suspect it was more in the line of the ump going and getting photographed. It cost us a goal and we lost by 3 points. Lewis looke right off the play today it was not his best game.

I couldn't help but notice with Jason day winning todays "Farmers Insurance Open" that he is sponsored by Zurich. Photo of Jason, family and golf bag shows the "Zurich" logo on his bag. Clearly a very global company and hopefully the winning culture rubs off on us.

The metric that these scribes don't look at is coaching expertise and experience. Goody is in my opinion still a rookie and learning. A few times last year he was clearly out coached and needs to grow in the job. Bomber Thompson took 8 years and a review that nearly saw him sacked before they started their premiership run. Dimma was appointed the same time as Dean Bailey and had a review that nearly saw him sacked. The Times were awful in 2016 but had played finals in the years previous. Bevo had been coaching since 2006, winning flags in 06,07,08 then 2010 and was part of the Hawthorn juggernaut. He is a fantastic people manager with a wealth of premiership experience Just as our playing list needs to grow and develop and even experience finals success and failure so to does our coach and his team. The only goal this year should be to make finals and learn from the experience

I like the look of his play and it was Buckenara who suggested we got a bargain as he rated him at 22 in the drafte and the best key position player available.

Not sure why he was cut from brisbane Academy but he looks well balanced, has some pace and hits targets. Clearly the FD have kept an eye on him

Does anyone think we will take a delisted free agent? There are a number of players yet to have their contracts renewed who may be available to draft. Is Zac Clarke any chance as a backup ruckman?

And now pick 28 has been used by carlton to get their GWS player. Just got a bit easier if we want Fritsch

Bulldogs have traded picks 28 and 30 for pick 16 to Carlton. MFC have shown that they are prepared to list or rookie Casey players

He (Macca) was certainly adamant on the Friday luncheon pre grand final that Jack would be shipped out. His relationship with older players worked well at the Bulldogs didn't it ! Ask Cross his feelings about Mccartney, he didn't want to have anything to do with him when Macca came to Melbourne.

Such a sad video posted of a young fan who loves Jack Watts asking him to stay and that he wear number 4. He thinks Jack is the best kick in the team. Jack's reply is that MFC don't value kicking and that the lad may need a new jumper next year, it clearly isn't in jacks hands and he is being pushed. I know at clinics lots of kids wear number 1, 11 and 4 so I can picyure lots of sad kids

Jack flies O.S on Wednesday so the announcement will be made early in the week. Not reported that he visited Sydney late in the week as he snuck up north and back under the radar. One of his magers who looks after his shorts business is planning to liaise with hime from Adelaide. Port will be his nominated destination and he finally has his head around moving. The only way that wont happen is if MFC reneg on the deal which I doubt even though he is 2nd to Gary Ablett for delivery into the forward line.

Quote from Steven Wells ""We've had a good conversation with Melbourne and they've made it clear what they'd be expecting from us, and at this stage, we don't think we'd be able to do that deal so we're not going to give Jack any false hope or waste anybody's time." So what on earth are we asking for if the club doesn't rate him. I am leased we aren't giving him up for a packet of crisps. maybe others are baulking at picking up his contract and want us to pay the lions share?