Toast How can this Melbourne side be stopped?

[Demonic Ascent]

We’ll shatter their confidence on QB and derail their season.

You'll get up for your Grand Final while we're priming ourselves for September

 

[Lampers]

We’ll shatter their confidence on QB and derail their season.

I’m pretty sure as they received their premiership medallions each player was thinking “Damn, I’d trade it all for a win in the traditional SCG Queen’s birthday game.”.

 

[Bradkli]

Have to pray the side that plays them in the gf this season has a player that has a Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

35

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

type of game he had in the prelim against the tigers.

Melbourne are only just going at the moment
And are still 30-40% better then the next rung of sides.

Their supporters are going to have a lot of joy over the next 3-5 years, especially with how average the quality of opposition sides are.

What makes hawthorn’s 3-peat so incredible. The top 4-6 those years were all quality…we’re going to see Carlton, st kilda and probably Fremantle play finals this season. Laughable.

 

[DavidSSS]

They are a great team, the only thing you can see stopping them is a stuff up in the finals. In 2018 it was noticeable that Richmond were not playing as well before the finals, Hawthorn should not have been top 4 so we had an easy QF and the PF was us playing badly, and Collingwood preventing Richmond from playing the game on our terms and our favoured style of game.

The opposition are not looking close to Melbourne at the moment. Oh well, if you are blessed with being great when other teams aren't you have to take the chance and win a few. Melbourne fans, like us Richmond fans, know how long a drought can be, as do a fair number of other fans (StKilda, Footscray etc). You have to win a few when the opportunity presents.

Hard to see how to stop Melbourne. Getting around their defensive zone and winning clearances would be the keys but that is so much easier to say than to do. Every team will be looking at ways to do this and any team beats Melbourne (most likely they will drop a few games), everyone will be looking for clues as to how to do this. There really is no secret to beating Melbourne, what you have to do is to out-compete them, be better on just about every line, and that is bloody hard. There is no secret recipe at Melbourne, just a good number of stars, the next level players are very good and playing their roles well, they play well as a team, the usual things which get you a flag or a few flags - it would be easier if there was some secret recipe as you could try and nullify it. As it is somehow you have to be better than their current crop of players.

DS

 

[PieLebo87]

Just like last year

You'll get up for your Grand Final while we're priming ourselves for September

I’m pretty sure as they received their premiership medallions each player was thinking “Damn, I’d trade it all for a win in the traditional SCG Queen’s birthday game.”.

Not one of you with any sense of humour. Does it take 2 flags before the insecurities wear off?

 

[Deeluded]

Have to pray the side that plays them in the gf this season has a player that has a Mason Cox type of game he had in the prelim against the tigers.

Melbourne are only just going at the moment
And are still 30-40% better then the next rung of sides.

Their supporters are going to have a lot of joy over the next 3-5 years, especially with how average the quality of opposition sides are.

What makes hawthorn’s 3-peat so incredible. The top 4-6 those years were all quality…we’re going to see Carlton, st kilda and probably Fremantle play finals this season. Laughable.

Of course a Hawthorn supporter would say that. The counter is that the competition has evened up so much since then that the good sides don't stand out so much. Eg in 2013 two teams (including Melbourne) had percentage of less than 55! In your threepeat years there would be a mix of Melb, StK and Carlton at around the level North is currently (rebuilding from ground zero) and then there were Gold Coast and GWS who were only marginally better.

This year aside from North Melbourne (and maybe West Coast due to covid) anyone could beat anyone because there aren't really bad teams anymore. You could point to Port, Essendon etc but only last year they were playing finals. They will get rolling at some point this year.

Having said that, I do think we had a dream run last year in comparison to the other contenders in terms of injuries in the lead up to finals

 

[Lampers]

Not one of you with any sense of humour. Does it take 2 flags before the insecurities wear off?

A pre-requisite to display a sense of humour is that the catalytic comment needs to be humorous. Maybe I missed the comedic genius of it

 

[Ash1337]

They may look to be repeating last season but They could actually start tiring near the end of the season. They have depth to cover injuries but it's really mentality that could prove their undoing as the season goes on. If they can go back to back it maybe more to do with the competition as a whole like in the Hawks & Tigers run where the opposition was in barely in anyway able to match the teams. Except for 2018 the grand finalists were lop sided. 2021 were the same. Dogs limped in on determination but it took a toll and couldn't compete through out the GF.

 

[Trav 20]

They may look to be repeating last season but They could actually start tiring near the end of the season. They have depth to cover injuries but it's really mentality that could prove their undoing as the season goes on. If they can go back to back it maybe more to do with the competition as a whole like in the Hawks & Tigers run where the opposition was in barely in anyway able to match the teams. Except for 2018 the grand finalists were lop sided. 2021 were the same. Dogs limped in on determination but it took a toll and couldn't compete through out the GF.

Your wishful thinking is understandable.

They'll be better this year than last. Last year they were hoping to be the best. This year they know they are. The belief that the flag brings is invaluable. And they've already shown the hunger is through the roof.

When Salem returns our ball movement will be demonstrably better.

The best chance the competition has is that we know the best team doesn't always win it. 2016 being a case in point.

 

[My Tilly]

They may look to be repeating last season but They could actually start tiring near the end of the season. They have depth to cover injuries but it's really mentality that could prove their undoing as the season goes on. If they can go back to back it maybe more to do with the competition as a whole like in the Hawks & Tigers run where the opposition was in barely in anyway able to match the teams. Except for 2018 the grand finalists were lop sided. 2021 were the same. Dogs limped in on determination but it took a toll and couldn't compete through out the GF.

Dogs must finish top four to have a shot. Of all seasons to finally make it in, they again find themselves behind the eight ball.

 

[danster168]

Umpires can stop melbourne. that's about it.

 

[aussierulesrules]

The Saints haven’t played anyone yet. Do not deserve to be mentioned in the chasing pack of Geelong, Brisbane, Sydney, Carlton.

Carlton? Well I’ll tell you one thing, last week they lost to Gold Coast by 5 goals and a week later we beat Gold Coast by 26 without really getting out of second gear, while the week before we beat Hawthorn by 69 points, after Carlton beat them by a point a week earlier. They beat Richmond by 25 points in R1, we beat them by 33 two weeks later.

They’ve only played 1 team that’s currently in the 8 and that was 8th placed Hawthorn, who again they beat by a point.

We’ve played 2nd placed Fremantle (and beat them, in Perth, blowing them away in the 3rd quarter) and also Hawthorn, who we as I said beat by 69.

We haven’t played any of the bottom 6 teams, while Carlton have played the winless bottom team Port, who they scraped over the line against, at home.

So they’ve had the easier draw so far yet our percentage is 132, while Carlton’s is 103.

 

[Freomaniac]

Carlton? Well I’ll tell you one thing, last week they lost to Gold Coast by 5 goals and a week later we beat Gold Coast by 26 without really getting out of second gear, while the week before we beat Hawthorn by 69 points, after Carlton beat them by a point a week earlier. They beat Richmond by 25 points in R1, we beat them by 33 two weeks later.

They’ve only played 1 team that’s currently in the 8 and that was 8th placed Hawthorn, who again they beat by a point.

We’ve played 2nd placed Fremantle (and beat them, in Perth, blowing them away in the 3rd quarter) and also Hawthorn, who we as I said beat by 69.

We haven’t played any of the bottom 6 teams, while Carlton have played the winless bottom team Port, who they scraped over the line against, at home.

So they’ve had the easier draw so far yet our percentage is 132, while Carlton’s is 103.

No team will stop the demons winning the 2022 flag. No one LoL

Just be fortunate that Liam Jurrah is already retired or else last years grand final would of been more of a massacre than what it originally was LoL

 

[TheBigHorne]

God I wish we could play 'poorly' for 5 weeks which results in 5 wins and a % of 150+

 

[mrmonkey]

Carlton? Well I’ll tell you one thing, last week they lost to Gold Coast by 5 goals and a week later we beat Gold Coast by 26 without really getting out of second gear, while the week before we beat Hawthorn by 69 points, after Carlton beat them by a point a week earlier. They beat Richmond by 25 points in R1, we beat them by 33 two weeks later.

They’ve only played 1 team that’s currently in the 8 and that was 8th placed Hawthorn, who again they beat by a point.

We’ve played 2nd placed Fremantle (and beat them, in Perth, blowing them away in the 3rd quarter) and also Hawthorn, who we as I said beat by 69.

We haven’t played any of the bottom 6 teams, while Carlton have played the winless bottom team Port, who they scraped over the line against, at home.

So they’ve had the easier draw so far yet our percentage is 132, while Carlton’s is 103.

I agree Carlton getting way over hyped, I think people are starting to take notice of the Saints now. To be honest I reckon Ratten would prefer Saints fly under the radar. Saints vs Melbourne shaping to be a good game in a few weeks.

 

[NetworkNerd]

A hungry Melbourne side could only draw with a pathetic Hawthorn side in 2021. Melbourne are the hunted and the Hawks are on the up...... Dreams

Would need Ned Reeves to park at full forward and kick 8 goals, Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

35

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

style to have a chance.

 

[KermitJagger]

The only thing that can stop Melbourne winning this flag are the same things that stopped pretty much any other side, injuries or a dip in form at the wrong time of the year.

Richmond didn't look genuinely beatable at any point in 2018, until they were beaten by Collingwood in the prelim. Sometimes things can just go wrong at the wrong time, even for the best teams.

That said, they're the only club in the comp at the moment without an exploitable weakness. They don't have a great forward line but it's not bad enough to be exploited, particularly with their midfield playing the way it is. Hard to see any club beating them without injuries taking down that midfield.

 

[KermitJagger]

Carlton? Well I’ll tell you one thing, last week they lost to Gold Coast by 5 goals and a week later we beat Gold Coast by 26 without really getting out of second gear, while the week before we beat Hawthorn by 69 points, after Carlton beat them by a point a week earlier. They beat Richmond by 25 points in R1, we beat them by 33 two weeks later.

They’ve only played 1 team that’s currently in the 8 and that was 8th placed Hawthorn, who again they beat by a point.

We’ve played 2nd placed Fremantle (and beat them, in Perth, blowing them away in the 3rd quarter) and also Hawthorn, who we as I said beat by 69.

We haven’t played any of the bottom 6 teams, while Carlton have played the winless bottom team Port, who they scraped over the line against, at home.

So they’ve had the easier draw so far yet our percentage is 132, while Carlton’s is 103.

I agree, Carlton have scraped over the line in 3 games. They're running out games really badly and that's just something good teams don't do.

St Kilda are playing good football, they're running out games fantastically. If King maintains this form, and they can keep Ryder and Marshall together, they're in really good shape.

 

[Proper Gander]

I think if 2020 had been a regular season we probably would have at least finished top four. Easy enough to conjecture but also why the fu** not

I think we might have gone a bit better. We lost our very soft draw which seemed unfair after putting so much effort into being shit in 2019

 

[Toump Ass]

They may look to be repeating last season but They could actually start tiring near the end season

Nice! Classic “peaking too early”!!
Dees “peaking too early” i love it i love it

 

[Xtreme]

Umpires can stop melbourne. that's about it.

STAND

Arms too stretched out to stop the mark, that's 50!!!

 

[Toump Ass]

I wish someone told Goodwin not to start the year at 9-0 last year. We clearly peaked too early then, i said it at the time dees peaking too early, so did other people you win finals in september see, not in april. it was so obvious we played our best football last may

Imagine the scorline in the grand final if Dees didnt peaking too early last year.

Might have scored 200 points in the second half instead of only 100.

 

[Freomaniac]

STAND

Arms too stretched out to stop the mark, that's 50!!!

Not even Vince Russo or Jim Cornette or Jim Ross could stop the demons LoL

 

[GWT6]

I’m pretty sure as they received their premiership medallions each player was thinking “Damn, I’d trade it all for a win in the traditional SCG Queen’s birthday game.”.

To be fair - Melbourne players and supporters did treat it like their grand final for about 15 years. OK for Collingwood to do it now.

 

[nineteen eighty]

The only thing that can stop Melbourne winning this flag are the same things that stopped pretty much any other side, injuries or a dip in form at the wrong time of the year.

Richmond didn't look genuinely beatable at any point in 2018, until they were beaten by Collingwood in the prelim. Sometimes things can just go wrong at the wrong time, even for the best teams.

That said, they're the only club in the comp at the moment without an exploitable weakness. They don't have a great forward line but it's not bad enough to be exploited, particularly with their midfield playing the way it is. Hard to see any club beating them without injuries taking down that midfield.

Agree. I do think though that to beat them, you need 2 things to happen:

1/ Forwards take contested marks. Easier said than done given May and Lever are rarely beaten in the air. Nevertheless, a team like the Lions could clunk everything that comes their way. Maybe...
2/ Lever is nullified. I think he's the key. May is very good but Lever is the general imo. Why doesn't a team put a "tag" on him? Richmond did it with Townsend in '17 playing that physical, close checking role and it improved us out the park. I still don't get why other teams don't try something similar.

Melbourne are obviously the team to beat based on the first month of the season. Excellent across their backline and midfield. Forwards are good. Loooong way to go though.

I wish someone told Goodwin not to start the year at 9-0 last year. We clearly peaked too early then, i said it at the time dees peaking too early, so did other people you win finals in september see, not in april. it was so obvious we played our best football last may

Imagine the scorline in the grand final if Dees didnt peaking too early last year.

Might have scored 200 points in the second half instead of only 100.

Humility really isn't one of your strong points is it?!