Review Round 2: Dees v the Hurdites & Top Ups - the Good, the Bad & the Fugly

[Bluelegs]

On a positive note it's good to have the dees board back.

 

[Bluelegs]

That's probably the worst presser Roos has ever given.

The excuses of being tired are baffling. It's round 2 and we were playing a team that had half a pre-season. And it frustrates me that none of the journo's pulled him up on that. No doubt those questions will be asked by journos on tv and radio to themselves and Roos will never be held to account for it.

Rohan Connolly was soft as shit. He literally gave Roos excuses

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I dunno id take the odd turnover if we could have stopped Daniher playing like bloody Paul Salmon
To be honest Daniher played a better game than Hogan and if he could sort out his kicking will probably be a better player as well .. he was epic

We needed another tall to double team hinm like they did to Hogan.

That's probably the worst presser Roos has ever given.

The excuses of being tired are baffling. It's round 2 and we were playing a team that had half a pre-season. And it frustrates me that none of the journo's pulled him up on that. No doubt those questions will be asked by journos on tv and radio to themselves and Roos will never be held to account for it.

Rohan Connolly was soft as shit. He literally gave Roos excuses

I dont think he meant them as excuses - we looked tired, I dont know why but clearly our preparation was poor.

 

[Catsace]

Not good, but there is a similarity with this Rd 2 loss and one Geelong has in Rd 2 2004, against Carlton at Princes Park.

2003 was a season perhaps like what last year was for the Dees. One where Geelong started to show signs of improvement, the young players were starting to show promise and we also had a good pre-season, losing to St.K in the Wizard Cup that year. We lost to the same opposition (St.K started 10-0 in '04) and then played what we all thought would be an easy win against Carlton side that had lost 11 in a row and were looking like tripe.

The Blues didn't read the script, Geelong must have just turned up to roll the arm over and got done by almost 10 goals. What hurt most for Cat fans that day was that the side, having only just shown no more than promising signs rather than any concrete success, looked like they took it easy and thought that a win would just come to them.

It is only Round 2, and early enough in the season for a loss like this to galvanise the group, and galvanise Roos and the other coaches to get everyone's head screwed back on and put the nose to the grindstone and get back into it. Geelong in '04 followed up that Blues loss with a 7-point loss to Sydney, then lost to Freo in Perth. But from 1-4, the side finished 15-7 and made finals that year.

Without question there's a lot of talent at the Dees. If you only look back to last season, you had Gawn, Spencer, Garlett and Neal-Bullen dominating and making Geelong look silly at K.P...your side that day showed amazing spirit and never-say-die attitude, even when Geelong got the lead in the 3rd quarter, your team came back and wrested control. In a young side, that ability doesn't vanish in six months.

Another poster, Ron the Bear made a salient point too on another thread. Yesterday the Bombers had a more experienced side and was older. Such a side is kind of like that Blues of '04 team that was made up of rejects and journeymen due to the draft penalties applied back then, like the Bombers side was yesterday. And the competition is such that only a small drop in intensity and effort can be seized upon by an opposition, and once they get a sniff it's bloody well hard to reverse that.

So basically as horrid a loss as this was, and being almost 48 i've seen Geelong lose in all manner of ways there's precedent for things to turn around. It does rest with the players wanting to make this like a line in the sand or something, but it's how they respond to this loss that will show their mettle. The season is long, and it's far from over. Geelong again in 1991 lost to Fitzroy who were 0-8, 49% and all, after leading by 31 points at 3/4 time. They managed to make the PF that season. If the Dees players get their attitudes right, there's no reason why they too cannot come back out and have a good season. In saying that, these sort of losses suck arse for sure. But it can be done. Good luck, the talent at the club is there for this to be turned around.

 

[d33my]

Not good, but there is a similarity with this Rd 2 loss and one Geelong has in Rd 2 2004, against Carlton at Princes Park.

2003 was a season perhaps like what last year was for the Dees. One where Geelong started to show signs of improvement, the young players were starting to show promise and we also had a good pre-season, losing to St.K in the Wizard Cup that year. We lost to the same opposition (St.K started 10-0 in '04) and then played what we all thought would be an easy win against Carlton side that had lost 11 in a row and were looking like tripe.

The Blues didn't read the script, Geelong must have just turned up to roll the arm over and got done by almost 10 goals. What hurt most for Cat fans that day was that the side, having only just shown no more than promising signs rather than any concrete success, looked like they took it easy and thought that a win would just come to them.

It is only Round 2, and early enough in the season for a loss like this to galvanise the group, and galvanise Roos and the other coaches to get everyone's head screwed back on and put the nose to the grindstone and get back into it. Geelong in '04 followed up that Blues loss with a 7-point loss to Sydney, then lost to Freo in Perth. But from 1-4, the side finished 15-7 and made finals that year.

Without question there's a lot of talent at the Dees. If you only look back to last season, you had Gawn, Spencer, Garlett and Neal-Bullen dominating and making Geelong look silly at K.P...your side that day showed amazing spirit and never-say-die attitude, even when Geelong got the lead in the 3rd quarter, your team came back and wrested control. In a young side, that ability doesn't vanish in six months.

Another poster, Ron the Bear made a salient point too on another thread. Yesterday the Bombers had a more experienced side and was older. Such a side is kind of like that Blues of '04 team that was made up of rejects and journeymen due to the draft penalties applied back then, like the Bombers side was yesterday. And the competition is such that only a small drop in intensity and effort can be seized upon by an opposition, and once they get a sniff it's bloody well hard to reverse that.

So basically as horrid a loss as this was, and being almost 48 i've seen Geelong lose in all manner of ways there's precedent for things to turn around. It does rest with the players wanting to make this like a line in the sand or something, but it's how they respond to this loss that will show their mettle. The season is long, and it's far from over. Geelong again in 1991 lost to Fitzroy who were 0-8, 49% and all, after leading by 31 points at 3/4 time. They managed to make the PF that season. If the Dees players get their attitudes right, there's no reason why they too cannot come back out and have a good season. In saying that, these sort of losses suck arse for sure. But it can be done. Good luck, the talent at the club is there for this to be turned around.

Good post actually. While I don't think Melbourne will ever reach the dizzying heights of Geelong 07-11, it is worth remembering that horrible losses happen in football. And as much fun as it is to believe there is some sort of genuine Melbourne curse, really these things affect all clubs.

On to next week.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

There was a lot of bad - I'll leave it to a couple of points though.

1. Essendon had more numbers around the contest all game
2. We looked as lethargic as Freo last week
3. Decision making - even from kick ins we were choosing the wrong side to kick to... basic shit
4. Passengers - talented guys need to be dropped if they can't run out a game
5. Matt Jones - that was the sofest, most hesitant game of football I've seen... pathetic.

Good:
Tyson was better, had a crack.
Kennedy was great
Early season reality check?

 

[Ambrosia]

I wouldn't worry about Hogan's demeanor it looks to me like more frustration at himself then spitting the dummy at his teammates. Hurley went through the same thing and it hasn't negatively effected his career at all.

 

[Topkent]

The real test here is that all our pre season optimism Is gone now

 

[thetank]

I don't think anyone on this board could have gone out there and done any better than all these "terrible footballers".

What kind of stupid logic is this?

I probably can't run a country better than George W Bush, and probably can't sing better than Taylor Swift, but it doesn't mean I can't say that both are crap.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Massively outcoached. Feels like we are always playing a game plan from two years ago that has already been found out. Flooding our front half in an attempt to lock the ball in then watching as our plodders got out ran by their mids and forwards. All they needed to do was play wet weather footy and hack the ball out and they had numbers going forward. **** these clowns.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Baileyball would have beaten us by 100. Jurrah would have kicked 15.

 

[DemonZombie_001]

The main problem I had with yesterdays game, is the fact that the team never played any kind of direct football (I missed the 1st quarter though). The style of football that won us the first and last quarter last week was what they needed to bring out today.

I seriously do not care if we make the 8, just play direct football and develop the team for next year.

For me, St Kilda are the benchmark club for us at this point in time. They might be losing but they are delivering performance after performance and look like they are going places.

This does seem like the year of direct football, so lets get on board as well.

 

[Darksidepoints]

I understood the plan of Roos coming in to beef up the defense and stop the horrendous, massive losses. But we have turned over half the list, changed the leadership group, brought in supposed better off field personnel etc etc etc.

We are still, STILL not turning up with any sort of fire in the belly. We are still letting teams kick the first goal/s. We are still pathetically slow. We are still horrible by hand and foot. These are all things that should of been addressed eons ago. When is it ever going to change?

There are glimpses there, look at the NAB cup games where we actually ran hard, presented and moved the ball quickly. Guys like BenKen are exactly what we need. Hungry for the footy, have some mongrel in them, run hard all day and can actually kick the bloody ball. I see it in Oliver but I struggle to name anyone else that has that passion. Even Chunk Jones looks like he has had enough. That is a worrying sign to say the least.

Roos just seems so lethargic and just goes with the flow. There was no adaption yesterday to their gam e plan. He should of been pissed at that effort and let the footy world know that these loses are unacceptable. But they were tired according to him. And its round 2....

Sick of it.

 

[booshboy]

**** me dry, as Titus O'Riley said: "there were a few other clubs challenging Melbourne for the joke club of the AFL title, we've really shown them"

- Fans, The media and he personally need to get rid of the Jesse Hogan, Messiah complex, looked disinterested yesterday
-having said that, have no idea why he was started BEHIND THE BALL! terrible coaching
- Tom McDonald, how about worrying about your own performance, rather than spraying your teamates- awful.
- Lumumba - Just **** off
- The whole team looked like they'd smoked about 10 cones before the game, could tell right from the bounce it was going to be a long day.

Kennedy the only one to put in an okay performance.

For me this is the worst loss we've had. Unbelievable. The most frustrating thing is, After the loss- I think our chances of beating North next week have increased dramatically. Should not be the case. Just turn up every week and do what you're paid to do you useless bunch of campaigners.

 

[PerfectFooty]

Apparently his ball use isn't reliable enough coming out of the back half. Cause ya know, McDonald and Garland are veritable laser boots.

Garland should be a week away from being dropped, but we now have him in the leadership group so **** all chance of that.

Col Garland as a leader. What a world.

I thought Col was dropped? or is my memory poor?

The real test here is that all our pre season optimism Is gone now

True, but maybe the loss we needed to have. Hopefully it'll fire us up for next week, i know for sure Viney will be angry with his own game this week.

Also Viney minds me again of the fugly in regards to our speed. There was one moment when the bombers switched to the outer side, viney tried to run after it but he was absolutely spent. he looked exhausted and so where a lot of players

 

[Crimson Azure]

So a bit of a blip in the campaign for finals footy yeah?

Change that to blimp and we can call yesterday the Hindenburg.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

I hope we smash them by 100. I think we have enough campaigners in our side now to bury these cheats mercilessly.

Don't think ive ever posted a comment that got 15 likes before. I'm on fire!

 

[Old Campaigner]

You guys are being a bit hard on yourselves I think. I see Melbourne at the stage the Bulldogs were 2 years ago. You'd see good signs from time to time but it was patchy.

The side you lost to was never going to be the 'lose every game by 100 points' side that the clowns in the media talked about. We'll be shit this year no question but our predicament from a list management point of view has been badly overstated. But that sort of sensationalism sells papers I guess.

You've got a developing list. Sometimes shit happens. Developing sides are inconsistent. You've drafted a lot of inside players and maybe lack a bit of balance on the outside. Another year of drafting, another year of development into some of the younger players not up to AFL standard yet and you'll have a seriously good team. Hogan is what, 20? 21? Still young and will learn maturity and consistency in time. Same with a bunch of your other players.

It might feel to you guys like nothing is changing but looking in from the outside without the emotional bullshit that comes with supporting a footy team there are some real improvements.

 

[MUYB]

Appreciate the sentiment, but this club is ****ing done.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

What concerns me is that our 'style' and recruiting has been all around stoppages. We've drafted nothing but inside competitors, which I was all for, but the AFL has changed the game with reduced interchanges, extending the protected area around the mark and more strictly interpreting the deliberate out of bounds. These are all intended to directly reduce stoppages. This isn't Roos fault, we are just getting caught out with bad timing, again. Like being shit when GWS and GC were getting draft concessions. I hope, and believe, that the guys we've picked up are talented enough to adapt their game, and the most important skill will always be the ability to win the ball, but as a club we are going to quickly have to develop an outside game.
IMO the Bulldogs are just playing Baileyball with a modern day full press defence.

 

[thetank]

On reflection, the COACHING team need to also take a lot of heat for yesterday's loss.

As has been mentioned, Melbourne has now been towelled up 2 weeks in a row by a tall forward. Lobb smashed the defence last week and we were fortunate he did not convert, and Daniher smashed the defence this week and did not convert.

Coaching team needs some accountability re. personnel selection and defensive setup, how are they allowing Lobb and Daniher to run riot like they have? They won't come under much scrutiny though.

 

[raskolnikov]

Blitznu isn't wrong. Did you all miss the make a stand bluster? They identified this as one they could win, and rolled a mentally weak team.

It was our first home game. Just happened to be against you guys. But cheers for laying down. Made my trip down from Qld worthwhile.

 

[Tulip]

It was our first home game. Just happened to be against you guys. But cheers for laying down. Made my trip down from Qld worthwhile.

Did you come for the game?

 

[RandB]

What concerns me is that our 'style' and recruiting has been all around stoppages. We've drafted nothing but inside competitors, which I was all for, but the AFL has changed the game with reduced interchanges, extending the protected area around the mark and more strictly interpreting the deliberate out of bounds. These are all intended to directly reduce stoppages. This isn't Roos fault, we are just getting caught out with bad timing, again. Like being shit when GWS and GC were getting draft concessions. I hope, and believe, that the guys we've picked up are talented enough to adapt their game, and the most important skill will always be the ability to win the ball, but as a club we are going to quickly have to develop an outside game.
IMO the Bulldogs are just playing Baileyball with a modern day full press defence.

There's a lot to like about this post although I think you've undersold the Bulldogs a bit.

As far as it not being Roos' fault re the rule changes that is true but we were always one dimensional irrespective of the changes IMO. We are simply too slow to move the ball by any standards or rules and our conditioning is still not up with the good sides.

Petracca will be pivotal as well as outside runners like Stretch who can carry and finish but we need more players of that ilk who can link up as well as be competitive.

 

[raskolnikov]

Did you come for the game?

Yeah. I try to get down for four or five games a year.