Toast How can this Melbourne side be stopped?

[Bluelegs]

So Melbourne fans making excuses like a couple of injuries over a loss, am I hearing correctly? May got injured, Langdon out, Petracca bit sick lol.
Did we not have a heap last year plus illness on top?
Interesting no one wanted a bar of our reasons.
Looks like Melbourne rely on a few players like everyone else but are a bunch of very hypocritical fans.

You got us mate. Moral premiers.

 

[Trav 20]

So Melbourne fans making excuses like a couple of injuries over a loss, am I hearing correctly? May got injured, Langdon out, Petracca bit sick lol.
Did we not have a heap last year plus illness on top?
Interesting no one wanted a bar of our reasons.
Looks like Melbourne rely on a few players like everyone else but are a bunch of very hypocritical fans.

Due for a loss after 10 wins to start the season.

Much like Geelong in 2008 who won their first 8 only to lose in round 9 by 86 points. Quite normal really.

Btw, a third (six) of our premiership starting 18 was on the sidelines (including May). That probably has an effect.

Did you expect us to go through the season undefeated ?

 

[PhatBoy]

You got us mate. Moral premiers.

Doesn’t really address his point.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Dees overrated. Terrible football club. Pick

 

[Bluelegs]

Doesn’t really address his point.

What's his point? We played shit for a half and got pumped by another top four side half way through the season. Learn from it and move on.

 

[PhatBoy]

What's his point? We played shit for a half and got pumped by another top four side half way through the season. Learn from it and move on.

His point was that Cats fans got belted for not even making an excuse but just pointing out that we might have put up more of a prelim fight with Stewart and a handful of players that were under the weather. We never would have won, no one ever suggested it but anyone who dared mention those factors got belted - even the coach when he literally prefaced his comments by saying ‘it wouldn’t have mattered to the result.’

 

[Whiskers]

His point was that Cats fans got belted for not even making an excuse but just pointing out that we might have put up more of a prelim fight with Stewart and a handful of players that were under the weather. We never would have won, no one ever suggested it but anyone who dared mention those factors got belted - even the coach when he literally prefaced his comments by saying ‘it wouldn’t have mattered to the result.’

Exactly my point!
No one wanted a bar of our issues, completely dismissed or laughed off if someone dared mention it.

Now that it’s the Dees we have to be understanding.

 

[Trav 20]

Now that it’s the Dees we have to be understanding.

Jimmy Bartel wasn't concerned at all on 3AW by the Dees' performance.

Bigfooty nuffies not so much.

Some people are paid for their opinion.

Btw, I doubt any Dees fans care about oppo supporters ''understanding''.

 

[Stabby McGee]

Weideman was the wrong choice to go the backline

Weed should never play another senior game for us. He hasn't got the ticker. Just a bigger Jack Watts. Too good for the magoos, not up to the big league.

And you really missed a big point. Something all other coaches would know - it's small forwards / mids pushing forward that carve us up. May/Lever/Petty/ and hopefully a fit Tomlinson control the air so the smaller blokes don't get it, but if they do we don't have much of an answer. We just don't have that Nev Jetta lockdown back pocket that would make us a truly elite team. It's not that missing May kills us. It's that when the backline is missing regular talls or they are half fit, we lose control of the initiative down there and are left to hope that fellas like Hunt won't panic under pressure (hint - he will).

And the depth thing is a wank. 26th picked on any list is very very very rarely 12th picked on any other list. They are just ok players that benefit from the talent that the top 6-8 bring.

 

[tonygeeks]

So Melbourne fans making excuses like a couple of injuries over a loss, am I hearing correctly? May got injured, Langdon out, Petracca bit sick lol.
Did we not have a heap last year plus illness on top?
Interesting no one wanted a bar of our reasons.
Looks like Melbourne rely on a few players like everyone else but are a bunch of very hypocritical fans.

We all are


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[Farm Boy]

I want to apologise to the Melbourne supporters, I was wrong about your gameplay. It's not one solider out, one solider in because your coach isn't that good at the tactical side of the game. Weideman was the wrong choice to go the backline, Gawn should of played there because he would of been better at organising the troops (like May). Without May, your backline just look directionless and lost. When the Dockers got on a roll, Steven May

1

Steven May

Age

33

Ht

193cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

307.3

4star

D

15.5

4star

K

12.1

5star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.5

1star

MG

378.4

5star

D

12.4

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

wasn't there to intercept the ball coming into the forward 50. He wasn't there to alleviate the pressure on the other defenders.
Steven May

1

Steven May

Age

33

Ht

193cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

307.3

4star

D

15.5

4star

K

12.1

5star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.5

1star

MG

378.4

5star

D

12.4

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

is Melbourne's most important player. FULL STOP.

I think Harmes their most important player, followed by Salem, Langdon, then May. In that order.


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[Farm Boy]

Still think Brisbane at their best the biggest threat...this could be their year, something Port 2004 about them..

Bulldogs are the biggest - and only - threat to Melbourne going back to back. They are the only side who can match Melbourne in their strongest area - wrestling back momentum. Pouring on goals in quick succession. It will be a grand final replay this year.


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[nineteen eighty]

Bulldogs are the biggest - and only - threat to Melbourne going back to back. They are the only side who can match Melbourne in their strongest area - wrestling back momentum. Pouring on goals in quick succession. It will be a grand final replay this year.


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The way to beat them is two-fold:

• nullify strengths in the middle...Gawn, Oliver, Petracca. Easier said than done.
• nullify the air advantage in the backline that controls the play. May, Lever etc taking marks kills off any opposition pressure. Again, easier said than done.

Bulldogs have zero chance of stopping their bsckline taking control imo.

 

[Bluelegs]

Exactly my point!
No one wanted a bar of our issues, completely dismissed or laughed off if someone dared mention it.

Now that it’s the Dees we have to be understanding.

Who exactly are you talking about? Vast majority of Melbourne supporters have been nothing but complimentary to Freo.

 

[00Stinger]

So Melbourne fans making excuses like a couple of injuries over a loss, am I hearing correctly? May got injured, Langdon out, Petracca bit sick lol.
Did we not have a heap last year plus illness on top?
Interesting no one wanted a bar of our reasons.
Looks like Melbourne rely on a few players like everyone else but are a bunch of very hypocritical fans.

Is that the game where you were 15 goals down at three quarter time?

 

[markm106]

Bulldogs are the biggest - and only - threat to Melbourne going back to back. They are the only side who can match Melbourne in their strongest area - wrestling back momentum. Pouring on goals in quick succession. It will be a grand final replay this year.


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I think for the moment we have a huge psychological advantage over the dogs. The last two games v us would have cooked them. They probably think they actually can’t beat us.

There is certainly something to be said about teams getting flogged in finals.

 

[KissKiss]

His point was that Cats fans got belted for not even making an excuse but just pointing out that we might have put up more of a prelim fight with Stewart and a handful of players that were under the weather. We never would have won, no one ever suggested it but anyone who dared mention those factors got belted - even the coach when he literally prefaced his comments by saying ‘it wouldn’t have mattered to the result.’

Brisbane also gets slammed for finals exits which nicely ignores both weeks have the FF knocked out in the first quarter. Would it have changed things? Probably/possibly not but it is a factor.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

We beat Geelong twice last year with May getting subbed out early, that wasn’t the issue this weekend. This Freo side shits all over Geelong 2021, as evidenced by the result a few weeks ago, they rolled us all over the ground.

Also the difference between illness in the prelim and illness in this game is that Geelong conceded 9 goals before HT while ill, and we barely conceded 2. You’d hope a knockout final would provide more motivation than a R11 game.

How many sides are going to beat a top 4 team with five best 22 players out, both KPDs injured in-game, and nine players playing while sick? IMO we made a pretty good fist of it in hindsight.

 

[Toump Ass]

Brisbane also gets slammed for finals exits

So they should. Their recent record in finals is garbage.
2020 was set for a once in a lifetime grand final in their own city, and they completely cooked it.

 

[juss]

In real danger at the moment, at 10-1 you start to worry, but at 10-2, that's time for a review of the footy department.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

So they should. Their recent record in finals is garbage.
2020 was set for a once in a lifetime grand final in their own city, and they completely cooked it.

Lost at home to a Geelong side that is 0-5 in prelims aside from that game since 2013

 

[WilloTree]

How many sides are going to beat a top 4 team with five best 22 players out, both KPDs injured in-game, and nine players playing while sick? IMO we made a pretty good fist of it in hindsight.

I agree. It's such an even comp, if your even 5% off you get run over. You just have to look at West Coast's list, which won a Premiership 3 seasons ago and how far off they are now. But, the good thing about that is that most teams aren't that far away from challenging. Both Carlton and Freo have come with a rush this year and Melbourne will bounce back pretty quickly too.

You obviously know the Dees list better than me so was interested in the 5 outs from the game you mention. Langdon, McDonald, Salem are pretty obvious. Harmes is another? Who would you say is the 5th? Chandler?

I know not every team is going to have full availability, but some of the blokes who played on Saturday didn't look that much chop. Guys like Spargo, Bowey, Hunt, Petty and Sparrow looked ordinary, which means as the other players return from injury these guys will get pushed out - the gap in talent is huge. The footy Gods have taken some of Melbourne's very good players.

Jake Melksham had 5 possessions all day, and Ben Brown woke up having nightmares Brennan Cox was in his room. Not sure either of these guys are long term solutions. Weiderman just looks disinterested every time I see him play.

I suppose the concern around May going off was that Lever wasn't able to have any effect covering for him. I don't think a 'May or bust' plan is the best way forward.

I honestly didn't know 9 players were playing sick. I'd be interested to know who they are. Rivers (who I like) looked a bit off, and if Melksham and Brown were 2 more that might explain a bit. Have you got a link to an article I can read?

Cheers, have a good one against Sydney and we'll do our best to keep Brisbane off your tail.

 

[Trav 20]

You obviously know the Dees list better than me so was interested in the 5 outs from the game you mention. Langdon, McDonald, Salem are pretty obvious. Harmes is another? Who would you say is the 5th? Chandler?

I know not every team is going to have full availability, but some of the blokes who played on Saturday didn't look that much chop. Guys like Spargo, Bowey, Hunt, Petty and Sparrow looked ordinary, which means as the other players return from injury these guys will get pushed out - the gap in talent is huge. The footy Gods have taken some of Melbourne's very good players.

Yes Harmes, plus Hibberd who is borderline best 22. Chandler is depth.

Spargo had to play wing with Langdon out, so his role was completely different. It didn't suit him and took one of our strengths away from the forward-line.

Petty is a future AA key defender imo. Still only 22 and very highly rated. He hurt his knee in this game, so obviously found it tough, especially with May missing.

Bowey is still a teenager. He won't be at his best every week.

Hunt and Sparrow were rubbish, although both have had better games throughout the year.

 

[The Cardtrader]

at 140 pages and counting. How can this Melbourne thread be stopped?

 

[Bluelegs]

at 140 pages and counting. How can this Melbourne thread be stopped?

If we win the flag this year I hope it happens while we're on page 186.