Could have won

[Somebody]

Don't know if I'd say we *should* have won, since Melb missed quite a few easy shots.
Apart from the reasons already talked about - umpires, defensive mis-matches (debatable since a lot of matchups were tried throughout the game) - I thought our forward line was as to blame as anything. Many times, especially when brought in along a forward flank and then centered, there was very little forward movement. Medium forwards/mids seemed static and flat, they should be providing constant multiple leads and making space. Not sure if it was because they gave up because kickers were persistently lobbing it into the hotspot (chicken or the egg?), but that is no excuse, you have to keep working even if you are being ignored. In short it looked like our forward line was dysfunctional due to laziness - no wonder they were able to double/triple team Rocca all day. You can't just rely on lobbing to the hotspot and marking or crumbing, that is schoolboy footy.

Maybe the players just needed the break but I hope this problem is being addressed. It's funny because we were the highest scoring team last year, yet last year's slump was due to our scoring drying up - just check out the scores from last year.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Given even luck with the teams that were named on the day, I think we would have won. Obviously that's a pretty contrived situation though, both teams had plenty of injuries that affected the selected sides, then both teams had injuries in-game, and finally the umpiring and other factors...

We've got a lot of work ahead of us if we're to win 2 or more out of the next 5 games, with the injuries we have in our backline now.

 

[Somebody]

Sure but all I'm saying is it's at least as much about the forward line failing, and not because of missing players like down back.
Just like last year, early in the year the forward line was electric and irrepressible, then later in '06 got about 6 goals against Richmond and some other v bad scores, and last week the forward line was usually static, predictable and very repressible - worrying sign.

I just think it needs to be mentioned since all anyone's talking about is the weakened backline.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Yeah, good point, but the delivery wasn't great, and though...yes, you do have to earn your own ball, us bombing it high late in the game didn't help.

 

[nick_savo]

Alot of kicks dropped short which stuffs everything up, we have to hit targets on the chest and kick straight at goal, all you can do about that easy one Cloke missed is just laugh or cry

 

[mm fan]

A lot of what ifs here but if Bucks can come back in the next few weeks playing as a roaming forward could be the difference.

At the moment we have Cloke doing well leading up the ground and Rocca in the 50 but if he like Saturday doesn't get his hands on it just to have another marking player in the 50 moving around 30 to 50 out just gives us another option then just banging long to Rocca. If that can happen it will either get bucks one out or Rocca one out and i would like to back them in one on one. I dont want to change the way Cloke is playing at the moment so Bucks could make a huge difference to the set up.

 

[Somebody]

I ran the last quarter torrent again last night - seemed the team looked flat overall, kicks into F50 were "tired", leading forwards just seemed flat and predictable - Didak still finding form doesn't help a bit, Steakknives was OK but just not quite on and ditto for Leon, uncharacteristic crucial fumbles and things like that all over the ground, Daisy has been v important and just seems a bit burnt out. Generally most of the kids probably need a rest and cycle in some of the other kids like Cox, Davies, Cook, Nichols etc. Hopefully it was just an off game and the break should help a lot. to go that close on an off day is a pretty good sign. Plan B on the huddle alone might have won us the game, that was annoying.
OTOH might not be giving Melb defense enough credit, pretty tight unit and they certainly know how to get away with infringing, we could use perfecting of some of those sneaky dirty tactics. (I don't think Don Bradman would have been too successful as a footy coach.)

 

[Jaiboy]

Man!! Its games like that that made my old man not wanna go to another football match ever. Poor bloke. I busted a blood vessel in eye watchin this game (if ya can call it a game) Look im pretty fair supporter but i do know there wew massive coachin errors, BUT COME ON, How many frees to and against??? Never saw the stats, but noticed they dont show the frees on the telly now???? ummmm Suss huh?? And how can they congratulate Robbo when he played all day on a 18 year old????? DAM

 

[DWil6]

Man!! Its games like that that made my old man not wanna go to another football match ever. Poor bloke. I busted a blood vessel in eye watchin this game (if ya can call it a game) Look im pretty fair supporter but i do know there wew massive coachin errors, BUT COME ON, How many frees to and against??? Never saw the stats, but noticed they dont show the frees on the telly now???? ummmm Suss huh?? And how can they congratulate Robbo when he played all day on a 18 year old????? DAM

Frees for and against were pretty even by games end. I think the major issues were Rocca being mauled and Robbos free for doing what Rocca got pinged for a couple of times, and getting away with it.