Melbourne Gameday Thread

[sidswan]

Not to mention the coffee issues

What a farce, there must have been a positive somewhere in the day

[Legs Akimbo]

Just watching the replay now and the thing that strikes me is just how sub-standard the disposal is from both teams. Our kicking today was deplorable. I think more kicks missed than hit their mark. As someone said, with the small crowd and dodgy footy, was a lot like watching VFA.

Also, lots of dropped marks, poor decision making and generally crap quality football.

Hannebury was very good and will be a star. Bird is very effective. Smith has a lot of class. Barlow is starting to do some nice things but needs to develop more accountability.

Grundy is becoming the player I always though he could be. Strong, good decision making, sticky hands, and seems to have lifted his fitness substantially.

White looked a bit uppity. Interested that they said on radio that M. Blight, recently appointed Director to the Board of Gold Coast FC, is a big fan. I reckon we are going to lose this guy,

Of the oldies, B1 played well, B2 looks like he's struggling, Kirk doing nyet and ROK playing a good solid half of footy. Mcveigh was good too. LRT honest toiler. I don't like Shaw as a player because his game just falls apart under pressure. Goodes can be a big sook.

Honestly, it seems to be one of those games you just want to take the 4 points and erase from your memory. Not hard to do because so little happened that was memorable.

One last thought...Melbourne are really @@@@.

[SimonH]

Maybe it was only the TV screen, but I thought Barlow looked good. Still iffy at the contested ball, but both decision-making and disposal looked good, in a team where too many others consistently went backwards and sideways when under no great pressure.

Grundy looked swell, but given the quality of the opposition the comment leaps to mind: Today just proves what we already knew-- that Grundy is a good state-league footballer. It didn't do a lot to answer the question of whether he can step up to be a good AFL footballer.

It is comforting that today we had running around 4 young long-term keepers who've been with the club list less than 3 years-- 3 of whom weren't known to be long-term keepers at the start of 2009: Bird, White, Hannebery, Smith.

[10Totti10]

This comment is quite bizarre to me - the 7 gamer and you've written off his career already? What do you expect? We could drop the entire team - they all make mistakes.

I like Birds game, he is a great extractor. How he gets some of those handballs away is beyond me.
Nick Smith is very composed. I like his game.
Agree with Liz on Hannebury, he's not easily intimidated. Good to see him push back.

Something that I find worrying is the number of collisions we've got going on in defence at the moment. We seem to be getting smashed down back by opposition and ourselves.

I really hope to see Leo in the forward line next week just to provide a leading target. Too much standing around waving arms over our heads - it seems awfully static.

Yeah I am being a bit to harsh, but in the 7 games he has played I haven't been that impressed. He has got a great marking ability, but I really don't see him becoming a 200+ gamer.

[Primmy]

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

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

I haven't yet left a game early. Shook my fist yes. Moaned into my hat yes. Left before the game finished never. I first truly understood the saying "until the bitter end" in 1997 in an SCG game against St Kilda when we were beated by a motza; I now indulge in self important self sacrifice.

[Plugger46]

Grundy looked swell, but given the quality of the opposition the comment leaps to mind: Today just proves what we already knew-- that Grundy is a good state-league footballer. It didn't do a lot to answer the question of whether he can step up to be a good AFL footballer.

I think he has proven that he's up to the level now. Rarely gets beaten, finds plenty of the footy and generally uses it well. I always thought he'd be a forward but he looks very comfortable across half-back. I've got no idea why some continue to knock him.

[Lohengrin]

I thought the disputes between players on the ground were pretty poor yesterday - especially Shaw and Goodes.

[stellation]

I thought the disputes between players on the ground were pretty poor yesterday - especially Shaw and Goodes.

As much as Goodesy may have had his sooky boots on yesterday (to his credit he did try to change them but the sook had set in by then) the reality is that Shaw was the one who made the mistake (I never thought I'd see a day where he ran too far) and whilst I can see how he would feel that a forward failing to lead contributed to it, Goodes is his captain.

It wasn't that long ago that a spray to your skipper would result in a week in the magoos, that little exchange yesterday left me thinking that having 3 captains and a large leadership group tarnishes the respect shown to the position.

[johnno]

Went to the pub to watch it yesterday, god it was painful to watch, just glad we got the win in the end. I just have a couple of things to say, firstly, I dont know who this needs to be said to, but if someone knows anyone at the club, can they instruct the players to turn around immediately after they have taken a mark, especially when they are about 70 metres from goal. Too many time in the last few weeks I have seen our players, especially barlow, take a mark then jog for 15-20 metres after having taken the mark with their back to anyone leading up in front of them, by the time they have finally turned around, any teamate that has had a break on his opponent is well and truly gone. This is so frustrating to watch. Secondly, I cant believe how players can miss their target when handballing to a teamate that is 5 metres in front of them when thay are under no pressure at all. This just had me gobsmacked yestersay.

[Jeffers1984]

Shaw (Shouts) GOODSEY! GOODSEY!! LEAD AT ME!! Growl.

[Bear]

The sooner the old MOL gets to 300 the better.

Goodesy playing favourites and kicking to him no matter what is getting a bit much.

[swansrule100]

if i ever have trouble sleeping will watch a replay of that god awful game

[AnnieH]

God it was cold in Canberra. The rain didn't help much either.

At least we had Leigh Colbert. He comes in handy when you want to know how much time there is to go before the hooter goes off!!

[Big Al]

God it was cold in Canberra. The rain didn't help much either.

At least we had Leigh Colbert. He comes in handy when you want to know how much time there is to go before the hooter goes off!!

Sure Annie... can't imagine you watched much of the game with Colby near by. What is it you ladies say... "Eye Candy" isn't it.

[Big Al]

if i ever have trouble sleeping will watch a replay of that god awful game

Mine has been erased from the IQ forever. I never want to see that again.