Melbourne Gameday Thread

[Reggi]

I'm not as near as negative about todays game as most here appear to be.

We were ordinary, that's being kind I'll admit, but the players who performed well were the players we are relying on to take the club forward.

Hannebery, Smith, Bird, Grundy, Barlow, Moore....all good.

Couldn't agree more. 10 players less than 50 games. Only Thornton really looked questionable. We need to find a speedy player across half forward and in midfield.

Grundy looks like a very capable CHB. Smith has the composure of a veteran. Hmm Richards, O'keefe, Henneberry & Smith, if only we recruit no more Grammar boys.....

[Margie]

What a terrible game. The difference in standard between that and the Geelong vs Hawthorn game was huge. We'll really have to lift next week to avoid embarrassment.

Without Jolly, McVeigh and the courage of Jude Bolton it could have been worse. Adam Goodes is wasted in that forward role and the more frustrated he gets, the worse he plays.

Some of the younger players look good. Agree with others about N. Smith, Hanneberry, Jack, Bird and even Barlow - all coming along nicely.

[Primmy]

I will be at next week's game. And I will stay to the Bitter End. I promise.

[10Totti10]

Just thought I'd point out that if we win next week (big if), we could be a win out of the top 8. Port play Hawthorn, while Essendon play West Coast. In a couple of games we could be in the top 8. Based on our form however, no chance.

[Big Al]

Just thought I'd point out that if we win next week (big if), we could be a win out of the top 8. Port play Hawthorn, while Essendon play West Coast. In a couple of games we could be in the top 8. Based on our form however, no chance.

[Dalai Lama]

Goodes' attitude was concernng.

when a problem comes around - you must WHIP IT!

[BSA5]

I'm not as near as negative about todays game as most here appear to be.

We were ordinary, that's being kind I'll admit, but the players who performed well were the players we are relying on to take the club forward.

Hannebery, Smith, Bird, Grundy, Barlow, Moore....all good.

Exactly what I was going to say. There is no doubt that today was an absolutely rubbish performance overall (I took two noobs today, it was their first live game of footy, and they said the highlight was Miller missing that shot on goal). Given it was at Manuka in front of only 7,000 people, it did seem a lot like a VFL game. And that's being generous. However, our players that stood up, our players that were a little class above, were the guys like Bird, Smith, Hanners, Grundy, Barlow, and, quite importantly, Moore, who returned from the ressies, played midfield and showed his form from last year.

You only have to look at our top 3 in clearances: Moore with 5, Bird with 5, and Hannebery with 4. Grundy has 26 disposals and was good on Miller, Bird had 24 touches, 8 contested, Moore had 19 touches with 9 contested, plus a goal. McVeigh, who is still just 24, had 31 touches. While blokes like Goodes, Ablett, Shaw (who I thought was quite good overall, but just lost his composure a few too many times), even Kirk, farted around with the ball and stuffed up, these young blokes showed composure. It was a terrible game, but we can take a fair bit looking into the future.

As for White and Thornton, Thornton look kinda ordinary. I've never been totally convinced, though he's got a good set of hands. Just struggles to get involved. Give him another year, he's coming off a knee reco, but he's very vanilla. White, well, I was a little disappointed. He didn't look all that interested. He was admittedly well held by Rivers and Warnock (sometimes at the same time), and the rest of the forwardline rarely did him any favours by opening up space for him to lead into, but even so he didn't look to put that much effort in. Perhaps he was feeling arrogant about last week and took the foot off the gas. I hope Roosy gives him a stern word, but doesn't drop him.

[10Totti10]

Essendon vs richmond is a good game

[10Totti10]

Roos said Hanners wud play next week

[SimonH]

Just thought I'd point out that if we win next week (big if), we could be a win out of the top 8. Port play Hawthorn, while Essendon play West Coast. In a couple of games we could be in the top 8. Based on our form however, no chance.

We could be a win out of the 8 tonight. Seeing how things now progress at footy park, probly will be. Which doesn't say much for the teams competing for 8th spot.

[Nico]

Absolute paddock football. Our skills were ven worse that last week and Melbourne even did us out of the centre.

Some observations:

Barlow is a shabby footballer. Took a good mark late but only ever got the free ball and when he was involved in the close in stuff was out of his depth. Some of his disposal was rubbish. If we are relying on this bloke to be one of our leaders in coming years we will spend years in the cellar.
Bird - seemed to get lots of stats but his kicking to nothing is breathtaking. Last Q runs through the centre and spots up a Dees player on his own. Late in the game Jack makes a lead easily 5 metres ahead of his man and he had to sprint to just get his fingertips to it. Horrible disposal that should have hit his chest.
Pyke - they have to be kidding, surely.
Goodes - lairised all day. No doubt he has an injury because he had little time in the midfield.
Handball - worse than last week. I can't believe that professional footballers can't hit their target, middle of the body or chest with a 5 metre handball. It was relentless all day.
Kicking to a player. McVeigh said it all when on a lead and it went high above his head for a spoil. Chest, chest he yelled. The ball drops metres short almost every kick. If a player marks they have to dive to get it. What does that do? It stops the game and any flow.
Breaking the lines! Well Shaw doesn't because he goes sideways.
Grundy One of the few to run by for a handpass, only problem is he more than often runs to his wrong side so is forced to kick with his left foot.
White - what hope does he have when one kick all day was directed to him. They ignored him and went to Goodes or MOL.
Midfield work. How I bemoan the tactic of a player running free through midfield only to look sideways to a player wide out when a kick to a leading forward wouldn't go astray. It only allows more oppostion players back.
Marking. How often did we drop a mark unopposed.
Slowness. Even Melbourne can go one on one with us because we are too slow. For them to be able to close us down is indictable.
Ablett. Were the commentators right? One stat to 3Q time! Surely Bevan would have been a far, far better option. At least he finds the footy.
We are the wax dummy side of the comp. We just stand there when we are 50 metres clear.
Jack. Appears to get the pill but does nothing with it.
Thornton. SEN commentators said he did alright considering he was tagging Bruce and did a reasonable job.
Game plan. On that we don't have one.

People can say all this is the youth factor but if that is what our core players and youth have to offer in the skill department heaven help us. On that complete garbage we served up all the skills and development coaches should be shown the door at season's end.

Hannebery and Grundy are the only positives I can get from the game. We only won because Melbourne was one shade more deplorable than us. We will be lucky to kick 5 goals against St Kilda.

[pinkemu]

I will be at next week's game. And I will stay to the Bitter End. I promise.

Are you saying that you are one of those leave early when we are losing types?

You know......first out of the car park.

[Emerald Hill]

I'm not as near as negative about todays game as most here appear to be.

We were ordinary, that's being kind I'll admit, but the players who performed well were the players we are relying on to take the club forward.

Hannebery, Smith, Bird, Grundy, Barlow, Moore....all good.

.

Well said, Triple B! Couldn't agree more. Hanneberry, Smith and Grundy in particular were pleasing I thought. Considering we had minimal input from Goodesy, Kirky and Mickey O, it wasn't that bad!

[DST]

Absolute paddock football. Our skills were ven worse that last week and Melbourne even did us out of the centre.

Some observations:

Barlow is a shabby footballer. Took a good mark late but only ever got the free ball and when he was involved in the close in stuff was out of his depth. Some of his disposal was rubbish. If we are relying on this bloke to be one of our leaders in coming years we will spend years in the cellar.
Bird - seemed to get lots of stats but his kicking to nothing is breathtaking. Last Q runs through the centre and spots up a Dees player on his own. Late in the game Jack makes a lead easily 5 metres ahead of his man and he had to sprint to just get his fingertips to it. Horrible disposal that should have hit his chest.
Pyke - they have to be kidding, surely.
Goodes - lairised all day. No doubt he has an injury because he had little time in the midfield.
Handball - worse than last week. I can't believe that professional footballers can't hit their target, middle of the body or chest with a 5 metre handball. It was relentless all day.
Kicking to a player. McVeigh said it all when on a lead and it went high above his head for a spoil. Chest, chest he yelled. The ball drops metres short almost every kick. If a player marks they have to dive to get it. What does that do? It stops the game and any flow.
Breaking the lines! Well Shaw doesn't because he goes sideways.
Grundy One of the few to run by for a handpass, only problem is he more than often runs to his wrong side so is forced to kick with his left foot.
White - what hope does he have when one kick all day was directed to him. They ignored him and went to Goodes or MOL.
Midfield work. How I bemoan the tactic of a player running free through midfield only to look sideways to a player wide out when a kick to a leading forward wouldn't go astray. It only allows more oppostion players back.
Marking. How often did we drop a mark unopposed.
Slowness. Even Melbourne can go one on one with us because we are too slow. For them to be able to close us down is indictable.
Ablett. Were the commentators right? One stat to 3Q time! Surely Bevan would have been a far, far better option. At least he finds the footy.
We are the wax dummy side of the comp. We just stand there when we are 50 metres clear.
Jack. Appears to get the pill but does nothing with it.
Thornton. SEN commentators said he did alright considering he was tagging Bruce and did a reasonable job.
Game plan. On that we don't have one.

People can say all this is the youth factor but if that is what our core players and youth have to offer in the skill department heaven help us. On that complete garbage we served up all the skills and development coaches should be shown the door at season's end.

Hannebery and Grundy are the only positives I can get from the game. We only won because Melbourne was one shade more deplorable than us. We will be lucky to kick 5 goals against St Kilda.

Come on Nico, @@@@ weather, @@@@ crowd, @@@@@ opposition, @@@@ game.

Hardly surprising that we dished up a dreary display.

We won, move on to next week.

Far more interested in seeing who we go against sides such as Richmond in a couple of weeks time at the G in a big day for the club and against Brisbane in the last round when we see off a number of legends of the club. Until then it's just going through the motions.

DST

[lwjoyner]

proof is in the pudding

All today did was show us that a number of SWans are not good enough. Firstly Smith, not strong enough, Barlow looks good sometimes but mucks up consistently, Ablett is finished and I think a number of those playing in the reserves are or should be on borrowed time. Agree with comments on White, they did not kick it too him, Goodsey is lazy at the moment and I think Grundy just looked Ok. Its lucky that a number of the oldies are retiring or due to retire perhaps a few of the others might survive. Its a pity that Currie is injured likewise Johnson.