vs Melbourne match thread

[Matt80]

It was good to see Lloyd play a full game and he was encouraging. That pass to Franklin was wonderful and that handball to Kennedy for that goal, was equally as good.

Looks a likely type and it will be an intriguing midfield battle with Tom Mitchell over the next couple of weeks, to see who stays in. I don't think you can play both with Tippett and Reid to come back in.

[lwjoyner]

First game live this year, an obvious one for a Melb based supporter. Gee the one man forward line looks worse live, what are the coaches thinking, timean time again there were at least 3 demons with only Buddy, he cant do it himself. Wake up Longmire and co, it doesn't work. Bo Derickx useless as a ruckman. A couple of times tonight he was laughable, Ok if that's what they want someone to laugh at but give Nankervis a go. cant do any worse. Beeny was also useless until the last qrt. The field kicking is deplorable and perhaps the worst was Jetta. Rampe to me was easily our best followed by Hanners. Please please don't bring back Kirt just to be a ruckman, he needs to stay fwd to give Buddy a help. I agree with earlier comments why leave Sam in Melb when a run in the 2's would do him the world if good.

[Jewels]

Dangerous to predict us not winning a flag cos of ugly football...Demetriou is a case in point 2005!

I think Don made that comment with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.

[Ludwig]

All credit to Roos for getting the Dees playing solid enough defence not to get blown off the park. He doesn't have much to work with. But it doesn't change the fact that we had plenty of the ball with men in space and couldn't string 3 disposals together to quickly move the ball into the forward line; at least not often enough. The Lloyd to Franklin to Cunningham to Goal was the sort of play that we should have been witnessing all game.

Unfortunately, some of our better ball winners, Shaw and McGlynn, are not particularly good with their disposal. There was plenty of poor disposal to go around. So just enough off the mark to slow down play enough so we lost the fast break. It doesn't help that one of our best kicks, Jetta, seems to have gone off the rails with his disposal. Now that he's figured out how to get he ball, he's lost the ability to move it on properly.

In the little that Goodes played he set a standard for the kind of the intelligent footy we need to start playing.

Quite seriously, I think we are far better off putting up any strong body as a second ruckman, JPK, Bird, Parker, than having Derickx or LRT. You just need to stop the other ruckman from getting a clear run at the ball. Don't even have to jump.

LRT offers nothing at the moment, except that he can occupy the attention of an opposition defender. Derickx is like a pinball cushion. When the ball comes his way, it's likely to bounce off and go anywhere; would prefer to play with 17 men on the field. It's not clear if injuries will force any players out next week, but these 2 must go; we need to find some solution before the Hawks game.

[Swansongster]

I see all the Derrickx bashers are out with their baseball bats again after he, yet again, did all that was asked of him, made a contest and hurt a few bodies along the way and again gave Myke a chopout and a chance to further ease into the season after a limited pre-season.

Anybody critical of his game last night has an obvious axe to grind and is not watching his game objectively at all...

I am in this camp. From the grandstand last night he looked OK to me. He's no Mummy but he'll be picked again next week and deservedly so.

[Matt80]

I hear you Ludwig. Unless Tippett or Goodes (Brownlow winning ruckman) spend any time in the ruck, then you will have to play either Tom D or LRT!

[Jimitron5000]

First live game this year for me as well. I wasn't going to go but was offered a ticket in the members and couldn't refuse. In the spirit of Game Day, the three things I learnt are:
1. If you are in the Frank Grey Smith bar and you are a woman you need to wear boots. Not a regulation but it is the done thing.
2. Adam Goodes did more in a quarter and a half than the other 43 players did in the whole game.
3. Our skills were not up to scratch. It felt like most Melbourne's attacks were a result of Swans' skill errors rather than actual good play.

[DA_Swan]

I see all the Derrickx bashers are out with their baseball bats again after he, yet again, did all that was asked of him, made a contest and hurt a few bodies along the way and again gave Myke a chopout and a chance to further ease into the season after a limited pre-season.

Anybody critical of his game last night has an obvious axe to grind and is not watching his game objectively at all...

Agree with you - surprised me with his performance and happy to see the improvement - he has a crack, and the other team know he is around - if he can maintain that level he will be OK for us going forward

[Ludwig]

I see all the Derrickx bashers are out with their baseball bats again after he, yet again, did all that was asked of him, made a contest and hurt a few bodies along the way and again gave Myke a chopout and a chance to further ease into the season after a limited pre-season.

Anybody critical of his game last night has an obvious axe to grind and is not watching his game objectively at all...

I don't have an axe to grind. I just want someone out there who can make a solid contribution.

Paul Chambers made a contest as well.

Most of the bodies that TD seems to hurt are wearing red and white. Took out Jetta last week with a head butt.

If Horse instructed him to 'get out there and make a nuisance of yourself' I suppose you can say he did all that was asked of him.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Pyke had only 8 possessions but I didn't mind his game, thought he was okay. Goodes looked sharp when he came on. Hanners , Smith, Rampe and JPK, all good. Probably the worst game I've been to live, it wasn't a great night out at the G. Need to be better than that but a win is a win I suppose.

[baskin]

It wasn't even that windy.

Where were you sitting at the ground? The flags were blowing perpendicular all night and where we were sitting the wind was blowing right through us. Kicks from one pocket were protected but any high kicks from the others were obviously being taken by the wind.

[Dosser]

I have to say that I was very happy with Cunningham's work. The last few weeks he has been tagging and kept his man pretty quiet, but this week he was given the role as small forward and did it well. Many times he got the break on the lead and kicked well. He also provided a lot of pressure to keep the ball in, so I am happy with that little ray of sunshine from the game.
As far as Derickx goes, I have low expectations of him because he has only played a handful of games, so I thought he did ok. I would rather encourage him than knock him.
Also, LRT plays a role as a defensive forward who primary assignment is to stop his player from running. I think he does this pretty well, however it also highlights his limitations these days.

[baskin]

Quote Originally Posted by Triple B View Post
I see all the Derrickx bashers are out with their baseball bats again after he, yet again, did all that was asked of him, made a contest and hurt a few bodies along the way and again gave Myke a chopout and a chance to further ease into the season after a limited pre-season.

Anybody critical of his game last night has an obvious axe to grind and is not watching his game objectively at all...

I am in this camp. From the grandstand last night he looked OK to me. He's no Mummy but he'll be picked again next week and deservedly so.

I'm happy to be in this camp as well. I did wish he could have held a couple more marks, but it looks like he has been told to just get the ball to ground as he seems to always be tapping it down rather than shaping to mark.

[Primmy]

I have been keeping an eye on Derikz (sic) and he is improving all the time. He was after all the bloke in the goal square anticipating "something" was going to happen, and Goodsey kicked the ball to him. Cheered him for that alone

[hot potato]

Was happy to get the job done against The D's . Roosey would love to have done a 'Carlton' in this round , emotionally unattached as he is now to Sydney. Is he a more angry coach than I remember him?
Was a thrill to see Goodsey has got all the skills intact, hope he can play out the season.
Some wayward kicking cost us a lot more comfortable win.