Review Round 18, 2023 - Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[ice444]

If we had won we would now be within touching distance of top 2 - port still have to play the pies.

 

[martinson]

Unless you think Fagan or Harris are telepathically beaming instructions into Wilmots head, I don’t know what you’re on about.

I’m a massive Wilmot fan don’t get me wrong, but he’s allowed to be criticised for errors. It’s an error that comes from inexperience, that’s all. Ironically it actually is a learning moment for him.

I know you don't like me but just to correct you on how footy is played these days you don't give kick ins to an 18 yo when you're under the pump without a set plan that's parked in his head nor someone on the field giving him the heads up.

Just wouldn't happen.

 

[CarterS]

If we had won we would now be within touching distance of top 2 - port still have to play the pies.

Port have a few tricky games coming up, not unreasonable to think they will drop a couple more if they play anything like they did tonight.

 

[martinson]

Port have a few tricky games coming up, not unreasonable to think they will drop a couple more if they play anything like they did tonight.

Is it unreasonable to think we won't win all of ours ?

I think we've blown the opportunity but it's not like we're out of it or anything.

We can still win an away first final if we're good enough.

 

[Paul Mac]

Fair point but sitting right near where Darcy was kicking out there was two times in the last bit where he could have gone across to the right - especially where Lester was out by himself but he choose to go left across to boundary area where Gawn was with Oscar and a herd of Melb players and Gawn marks or taps it down to Melb players. So if the set play is to go to Oscar on kick out we then didn’t adapt. Still gutted

Completely agree with this comment. We were behind the goals as well and viewed the exact same situation. Our family where yelling out GO RIGHT. Even when we did try and go up the middle (only once that i can remember in last quarter) we passed, mark, passed, mark and kicked the ball 20 metres out from our goals to only have no one in sight of our goals. Became very frustrating repeat after repeat but we also commented we did not seem to have much movement going on as well.

 

[notliondown]

Could have been 4 points away from 2nd place if we’d played proper football in the 4th quarter. Crazy to think about.

I'm doing my very best not to. Makes last night even more gutting if that's possible...

 

[BRAB]

I'm doing my very best not to. Makes last night even more gutting if that's possible...

Yeah I’m shattered and can’t stop thinking about that last quarter. Just such a wasted opportunity.

 

[Paul Mac]

Is it unreasonable to think we won't win all of ours ?

I think we've blown the opportunity but it's not like we're out of it or anything.

We can still win an away first final if we're good enough.

I think your key word is OPPORTUNITY. IMO this is what helps you win flags. I know injuries play a big part and getting your best team on the field on that last day is critical but when opportunities are presented and we dont take them, thats what i reckon hurts you most. Only my opinion. Bloody hard to win a flag so you need to grab the opportunities with both hands when they are presented. Unfortunately we have let one slip.

 

[notliondown]

Yeah I’m shattered and can’t stop thinking about that last quarter. Just such a wasted opportunity.

And it was almost inevitable Port loses... Is it wrong part of me hopes the whole club feels like this too?

 

[martinson]

And it was almost inevitable Port loses... Is it wrong part of me hopes the whole club feels like this too?

We just need to toughen up.

Went to water in that last 7 minutes.

Our guys will feel terrible ,no doubt.

So the answer to that is come out firing next time and don't relent for the whole game.

I don't think we're that far away from contending for a flag. But to win it you have to take it.

 

[braddsey]

Is it unreasonable to think we won't win all of ours ?

I think we've blown the opportunity but it's not like we're out of it or anything.

We can still win an away first final if we're good enough.

Our destiny is fully still in our hands. We’re a game and percentage is 3rd, with only round 22 as one we should be seriously worried about. If we stay 3rd, then we’re in a better position than if we slip to 4th, and still a remote chance to jump to 2nd if port stumble against pies and cats…

Sure we missed an opportunity, but the beating by Hawthorn was worse than what i saw Friday.

 

[buttermuffs]

Could have been 4 points away from 2nd place if we’d played proper football in the 4th quarter. Crazy to think about.

Also looking at Essendon right now and glad we didn’t go down that path after the first ten minutes of the first quarter.

 

[McIvor]

Port have a few tricky games coming up, not unreasonable to think they will drop a couple more if they play anything like they did tonight.

So do we.

Cats at home or Dockers away are so far from certainties plus Pies away, I don’t at how people think we are making up two games on Port.

 

[BRAB]

Also looking at Essendon right now and glad we didn’t go down that path after the first ten minutes of the first quarter.

We’ve fallen pretty far if “at least we’re not Essendon” is supposed to be comforting

 

[twhowler]

In context it’s easy to explain away the loss - top 4 oppo away from home, 1 point, dominated for long periods.

But it was the opportunity we gave up - get right back in the hunt for top 2, mcg scalp etc

I reckon every flag has that statement game and it’s usually away from home. This was just so clearly ours. Then it wasn’t.

Every team has terrible starts every now and then. Every side has the oppo get a late run sometimes. Allowing BOTH in one game and the latter leading to a loss is what felt catastrophic. When the first happens, and you get back in front, that’s when players should have had the wake-up call.

So many small moments where we made the wrong decision. I too am at bargaining stage.

The Gunston question. Bobbed up for some goals including good contested marks. Didn’t look as fresh as last week. Looked quite slow chasing. I just think if that is him just after the big training block he will struggle to hang on. And Fagan will wait until he is running on empty to drop him. As others have said for the love of god get Rayner to do the half back role not Gunston.

Not sure what to think re lyons. Did some nice things and kicked a good goal. Even got that last kick that could have won us. Obviously he was no Dunkley. Neale being down hurt us a lot more. But maybe the key is the Neale Dunkley combo.

Okay some positives.

Top 4 totally in our hands - we knock off Geelong and it’s all but guaranteed with dogs and crows losing. That’s a big bonus.

Fletcher will be a star. Has serious wheels. Ran away from Hunter like he was in quicksand. And probably Ashcroft’s best away game? Huge sign as we head to finals.

The goal we got in the second after switching 3 times was so good. Patient. Methodical. Sign of development.

As to why we stop doing that - that’s the $64k question. Do we stop running, because players think oh getting tight we are struggling we need numbers down the line? Do kickers ignore options? Is it oppo pressure meaning no short options? I get the feeling nobody wants to be the player kicking short and turning it over. We need a no fear attitude in that situation which means a no blame approach from coaches. As many have noted the kick long to Gawn last night was excruciating and seemingly we had some options short but just didn’t take them.

Anyway lick our wounds.

Cats game becomes absolutely must win. Lose that and it will be dire. Win it though and it’s probably 11-0 at the gabba this year, and confidence up for hopefully dead rubbers to dockers and gc.

 

[Paul Mac]

Whilst on a walk tonight was thinking re the Gunston move down back ( alot easier in hindsight) that since Andrews seemed to be playing on Melksham a little bit in the latter of the last quarter i wonder if a change over should have occured with Andrews saying you take Melksham Gunners and i will play the loose man?

 

[Sproj]

Next week is such a big game now. Geelong is coming and they are only 10 points behind in the ladder. We’ve got a lot of tough games coming which is great prep for finals but if we win this, it basically guarantees top four. Lose and then anything could happen.

 

[Paul Mac]

In context it’s easy to explain away the loss - top 4 oppo away from home, 1 point, dominated for long periods.

But it was the opportunity we gave up - get right back in the hunt for top 2, mcg scalp etc

I reckon every flag has that statement game and it’s usually away from home. This was just so clearly ours. Then it wasn’t.

Every team has terrible starts every now and then. Every side has the oppo get a late run sometimes. Allowing BOTH in one game and the latter leading to a loss is what felt catastrophic. When the first happens, and you get back in front, that’s when players should have had the wake-up call.

So many small moments where we made the wrong decision. I too am at bargaining stage.

The Gunston question. Bobbed up for some goals including good contested marks. Didn’t look as fresh as last week. Looked quite slow chasing. I just think if that is him just after the big training block he will struggle to hang on. And Fagan will wait until he is running on empty to drop him. As others have said for the love of god get Rayner to do the half back role not Gunston.

Not sure what to think re lyons. Did some nice things and kicked a good goal. Even got that last kick that could have won us. Obviously he was no Dunkley. Neale being down hurt us a lot more. But maybe the key is the Neale Dunkley combo.

Okay some positives.

Top 4 totally in our hands - we knock off Geelong and it’s all but guaranteed with dogs and crows losing. That’s a big bonus.

Fletcher will be a star. Has serious wheels. Ran away from Hunter like he was in quicksand. And probably Ashcroft’s best away game? Huge sign as we head to finals.

The goal we got in the second after switching 3 times was so good. Patient. Methodical. Sign of development.

As to why we stop doing that - that’s the $64k question. Do we stop running, because players think oh getting tight we are struggling we need numbers down the line? Do kickers ignore options? Is it oppo pressure meaning no short options? I get the feeling nobody wants to be the player kicking short and turning it over. We need a no fear attitude in that situation which means a no blame approach from coaches. As many have noted the kick long to Gawn last night was excruciating and seemingly we had some options short but just didn’t take them.

Anyway lick our wounds.

Cats game becomes absolutely must win. Lose that and it will be dire. Win it though and it’s probably 11-0 at the gabba this year, and confidence up for hopefully dead rubbers to dockers and gc.

I love the comment The goal we got in the second after switching 3 times was so good. Patient. Methodical. Sign of development.
We were behind the goals and watched this unfold. Went back the second time heading towards MCC members side and watching 5 melbourne players all slide from the midfield towards wing where we only had 2 players. We again changed direction and somehow we found all open space on the opposite wing and scored. Brilliant, Unfortunately not enough though.

 

[bungalow_bill]

It would have been nice to take learnings from playing positive football and running away with that game like we should have.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Could have been 4 points away from 2nd place if we’d played proper football in the 4th quarter. Crazy to think about.

It's losses to Adelaide & unfortunately Hawthorn that have rightfully cost us that position at current in my mind.

Obviously the result against the Demons is the most recent result, a narrow one and with us having the lead but those two losses have cost us more than losing to a 4th placed team at home by a point.

 

[Quested]

Having had a couple of days to stew, definitely wonder if dropping Rayner back and having Coleman kick in would have been the difference. The biggest disappointment I think is coming away with a loss having played some of our best footy all year. Melbourne are one of the best teams in the comp at putting together a fast run of goals, we saw it at the Gabba.

If we're good enough, doesn't matter if we finish second or fourth, we'll find a way to make it to the big stage. I don't believe our window is closing anytime soon - we've shown we have replacements for those players likely to move on, so I reckon we will see a flag, if not this year in the next couple.

More frustrated in losses to Hawthorne and Adelaide than this one, this just hurts because we haven't lost a close one in a while.

 

[CarterS]

So do we.

Cats at home or Dockers away are so far from certainties plus Pies away, I don’t at how people think we are making up two games on Port.

Port lost by 50 last night to a team outside the 8, anything can happen still a bunch of upsets to come.

I do agree with you though, that Freo game could be a real danger game and Gold Coast at their home ground are no easy beats anymore either.

 

[FFB1]

Know we all know if but geez - finish 3rd or 4th it’s a (probably) best case scenario of Melbourne/Adelaide - Home - Melbourne - Melbourne flights/trips. As opposed to (quite possibly) Home - Home - Melbourne. Massive difference which makes me quite sad

 

[M Malice]

Port lost by 50 last night to a team outside the 8, anything can happen still a bunch of upsets to come.

I do agree with you though, that Freo game could be a real danger game and Gold Coast at their home ground are no easy beats anymore either.

Yes Port could easily lose a few more, to come > Pies(H), Crows(H), Cats(A), Giants(H), Dockers(A), Tigers(H). It's no unreasonable to say they could realistically lose their next 3, of course we would have go on a winning run to go past them.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

We just need to toughen up.

Went to water in that last 7 minutes.

Our guys will feel terrible ,no doubt.

So the answer to that is come out firing next time and don't relent for the whole game.

I don't think we're that far away from contending for a flag. But to win it you have to take it.don’t relent for the whole game.

Don’t relent for the whole game.
This should be the sentence that goes over and over in the boys heads, starting from now we need to turn it around
show them no mercy.
If we don’t Geelong and Collingwood will do it easy