Any positives?

[aardvark]

Pyke magic .....the tap to McVeigh for a goal was sheer brilliance, tap work was good all game, and that goal brought a tear to my eye. As of yesterday he is officially off my bag someone list.

[31 hard at it]

I agree Aardvark. I was just reading the thread and was going to mention the Pyke tap over the back directly to McVeigh who was clear and kicked a great goal.
It happenned so fast a few arond us didn't pick how it got to him so fast.
The mark in the goal square and awareness to move in and kick the goal was worth being there.
He is developing into a FOOTBALLER. Disappointing that he went straight off after kicking the goal - as is the pattern now.
He added something to the structure that wa missing all day.
It also kept the Richmond backs at home as they had to double team him.

TDL was ok for a first game. Limited opportunities but he made position to get the ball a few times and looked dangerous at times.

A lot of good efforts but ultimately too many Errors / turnovers when we had the run.
Left everyone out of position and chasing.

Richmond are a good improving side but we should have won given the mix of experience and youth we have.

It was a slow walk back to the car. I wonder how many will be back for the game against Carlton in 2 weeks after 2 such disappointing losses at the G.

[goswannie14]

The Illegals are on the bottom of the ladder!

I almost started a separate thread just to celebrate this fact!

[caj23]

That i didn't make the 5 hour return trip to witness the debacle

[gumby_bolts]

Some of MGlynn's decisions and kicks were lovely to watch.

[Jewels]

It wasn't in Sydney so I didn't have to sit through that agony in person?

Some idiots actually paid to fly down there and watch that debacle.....

[dimelb]

Was sitting smack in the middle of the goalposts yesterday and one level up when Pykey marked (spectacular!) and then goaled (I went ballistic!). Absolutely thrilling stuff. Otherwise the people mentioned, esp. McVeigh, Hannebery. LRT (after his move) and Reg, Smithy, McGlynn (welcome back!), and moments of Goodes and Jack.

[stellation]

TDL looked like the moment got the better of him. Wasn't playing instinctively and for me looked timid at times and slow aswell. I think they will play him next week purely to see if he can overcome the nerves. He would be shattered if dropped.

Agreed. His first mark/shot on goal suggested to me that he was clearly nervous enough to have decided "if I take a mark within range I'm having a shot to calm the nerves"- was a tight angle and he took it and didn't look for a teammate, dropped his head and walked with his back to the goals immediately. Obviously don't want to see that too much, and I don't mind it for his first shot on goal really (I assume the coaching staff probably told him to do it)- but it did suggest to me "I'm nervous as all hell!".

[Scottee]

• TDL - should have had 3 if it wasn't for an obvious case of nerves - and that will pass. Also showed great speed and smarts as his confidence grew.
• Roos moving Grundy onto Reiwoldt after only one quarter instead of 3.
• Grundy and LRT working so well together.
• Pykes goal and 20 hitouts, many to advantage.
• McGlynn. Bolton.Mummy.McVeigh.Hanneberry.Smith.Mattner until injured.Playfair until injured.

• Not Goodes (clearly not up to par for him - reasonable by most other standards).
• Not Shaw (OMG).
• Not a lot of others.
• Not losing 2 players from the bench.
• Not having half fit players on the field -however talented.

[annew]

It wasn't in Sydney so I didn't have to sit through that agony in person?

Yep - that is my positive!

[Xie Shan]

It's not exactly a positive, but I reminded myself that "this kind of thing just happens once in a while". One team takes their foot off the gas, the other wants it more, they get momentum, you're gone. Remember Kangaroos 2004, SCG? Probably as bad as yesterday.

Yeah that's true. West Coast 2008 at Subi and Brisbane 2005 at the Gabba are others that come to mind when we were the ones who chased down a large-ish deficit. We don't often get run down in those games but they do happen. Still no excuse for losing though.

Positives: Really just Jude and McGlynn, and Pyke's improvement in the ruck. Jude should be stand-alone skipper next year IMO. I didn't mind the shared captaincy, but with B2 nearing the end of his career and Goodes' form so up and down I think the time has come to make the switch back to a sole captain.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Mcveigh...........The Ox sang his praises all day, why is he been kept in the forward line for so long, is he carrying an injury.

'The Ox' actually said of McVeigh "No flair". I have the tape to prove it.

Positives? It was only one game, there are more to come. If Roos and Horse want to start winning games, we can. The start of the year we we're THAT close to beating St Kilda. And I don't mean having Bolton, Bradshaw and Seaby back is automatically going to start this. I would start with; no more Teddy or Bev no matter what, Bird in the middle none of this half-forward stuff, give Eski a long run as a half-forward/wing.. etc etc, fresh fresh fresh.

[RogueSwan]

I recorded the game because I was out, so I only watched the first three quarters.

[Melbourne_Blood]

. Jude should be stand-alone skipper next year IMO. I didn't mind the shared captaincy, but with B2 nearing the end of his career and Goodes' form so up and down I think the time has come to make the switch back to a sole captain.

Fantastic suggestion Xie Shan! . I'd love to see Jude lead the boys as the sole captain. I reckon it would make him even better on the field too, and i think the boys would play their hearts out for him. It's surpising he hasn't been in on the captaincy at all, but i guess his past couple of years haven't been anywhere near as inspirational as his form this year. He's definitely the best leader we have on the gorund at the moment, by a fair stretch. JUDE FOR STAND- ALONE CAPTAIN 2011!