tasmanlvr
Club Legend
The only way you can move on from a loss like that is just to move on. Venting won't make the result any better, I'm afraid to say.
It hurts that we're a club who has no respect from most opposition fans. It hurts when people tell us that our life and soul should fold. It hurts when people label us as bad supporters with the stigma attached that we choose the snow over the club. So the best way to respond to that is to turn up to this game and support the club. It's the least we can do. The last thing the club needs, right now, is people to desert them. It was a bad loss but clubs have their good days and their bad days. Criticise me all you want, but that's the bare reality of what's facing us.
It is a tough task to tip the Dees this week. But anything could happen in football and Melbourne's upset victory over the Bombers in round 10 last season certainly proved that. The Bombers were particularly impressive, completely forgetting about the supplements scandal to record a famous away win over Adelaide. Melbourne were very disappointing against the Power, conceding eight goals to one after half time to allow Port to waltz away to a 79 point victory. The onus is on Melbourne to respond to the media and supporters who no doubt will put a lot of pressure on the club this week.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
A very poor performance from Melbourne who perhaps should have lost by over 100 points, but were saved from further embarrassment through Port's inaccuracy. After a Cameron Pedersen goal reduced the margin to 20 points during the second quarter Port Adelaide dominated, kicking 9.15 to Melbourne's 1.4, dominating the possession count 377-296 and the inside 50s 62-41. To further compound the pain, star forward Mitch Clark was subbed off with an ankle injury. A bright light on a dark day was the emergence of father son draft pick Jack Viney, who was probably Melbourne's best player.
Players To Watch
Jack Viney: as mentioned above, Jack Viney was magnificent and one of the only players who actually looked like giving a stuff out there. Viney recorded 22 disposals and a goal, of which 15 of those disposals came in the first half. Viney looks like he can transform the Melbourne midfield, although on early evidence it will take a bit of time to change Melbourne's midfield. Should receive a Rising Star nomination later in the year but will probably be beaten by Ollie Wines this week who was also very good. Faces a tougher test against an Essendon midfield this week.
Jack Grimes: once again lead from the front, collecting 25 disposals to be our leading possession winner, as well as leading SuperCoach with 122 points. Grimes promised that the club would bounce back following the defeat, saying that "There's a lot of guys who need to have a good, hard look at themselves, but we'll stick together, that's what we know we will do." Grimes must once again lead from the front if Melbourne are any chance to drag themselves across the line against the Bombers.
Matt Jones: I thought Jones was reasonable in his debut and certainly did not look disgraced, starting his AFL career with a 22 disposal performance. The 25 year old, recruited from Box Hill with the 52nd pick in last year's national draft, did everything asked of Mark Neeld and was probably in our top five on the ground. Certainly, Jones was not disgraced, but again, like Viney, will face the challenge of backing up this week.
Essendon
Round 1: Essendon 18.9 (117) defeated Adelaide 11.16 (82)
Essendon really impressed me in round one, producing an excellent backs to the wall performance, sticking up the middle finger to all detractors throughout the supplements scandal. After conceding the first three goals, the Bombers, led by a heroic Jobe Watson and Ben Howlett, took control and took a very well deserved victory away from home. Howlett kicked four goals in the victory, and Watson had 34 disposals.
Players To Watch
Ben Howlett: As mentioned above, Howlett was one of the standout performers of round one, collecting 25 disposals and kicking four goals to sit atop the Coleman Medal table alongside Gary Ablett, Lindsay Thomas, Travis Cloke and Jay Schulz. Howlett, a tackling machine, has shown great signs since his rookie elevation in 2010 and on round one evidence can take the next step in 2013.
Jobe Watson: Brownlow Medalist. Enough said. But not only that, he is showing the capabilities of being a legendary leader as well. Lead from the front against the Crows in the wake of the supplements scandal, collecting 34 possessions and showing no signs of stopping from the form which saw him adjudged the best player in the game in 2012.
Courtenay Dempsey: Another of the plethora of Essendon players who played well in round one. An important cog as Essendon's rebound defender, Dempsey gathered 20 possessions and was instrumental in setting up Essendon's attacks. Since returning from a knee reconstruction last season Dempsey has shown some good form and must be contained if Melbourne are any chance at all.
Prediction:
Let's be honest, it is very hard to see us winning but the same could have been said before last season. However, I think the first priority is for Melbourne to just show an effort which was sorely lacking from about 15 or 16 players against Port Adelaide. Can we continue our winning streak against the Bombers? I don't think so, but effort in order to win back some respect from the AFL fraternity is imperative. Come on Dees.
It hurts that we're a club who has no respect from most opposition fans. It hurts when people tell us that our life and soul should fold. It hurts when people label us as bad supporters with the stigma attached that we choose the snow over the club. So the best way to respond to that is to turn up to this game and support the club. It's the least we can do. The last thing the club needs, right now, is people to desert them. It was a bad loss but clubs have their good days and their bad days. Criticise me all you want, but that's the bare reality of what's facing us.
It is a tough task to tip the Dees this week. But anything could happen in football and Melbourne's upset victory over the Bombers in round 10 last season certainly proved that. The Bombers were particularly impressive, completely forgetting about the supplements scandal to record a famous away win over Adelaide. Melbourne were very disappointing against the Power, conceding eight goals to one after half time to allow Port to waltz away to a 79 point victory. The onus is on Melbourne to respond to the media and supporters who no doubt will put a lot of pressure on the club this week.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
A very poor performance from Melbourne who perhaps should have lost by over 100 points, but were saved from further embarrassment through Port's inaccuracy. After a Cameron Pedersen goal reduced the margin to 20 points during the second quarter Port Adelaide dominated, kicking 9.15 to Melbourne's 1.4, dominating the possession count 377-296 and the inside 50s 62-41. To further compound the pain, star forward Mitch Clark was subbed off with an ankle injury. A bright light on a dark day was the emergence of father son draft pick Jack Viney, who was probably Melbourne's best player.
Players To Watch
Jack Viney: as mentioned above, Jack Viney was magnificent and one of the only players who actually looked like giving a stuff out there. Viney recorded 22 disposals and a goal, of which 15 of those disposals came in the first half. Viney looks like he can transform the Melbourne midfield, although on early evidence it will take a bit of time to change Melbourne's midfield. Should receive a Rising Star nomination later in the year but will probably be beaten by Ollie Wines this week who was also very good. Faces a tougher test against an Essendon midfield this week.
Jack Grimes: once again lead from the front, collecting 25 disposals to be our leading possession winner, as well as leading SuperCoach with 122 points. Grimes promised that the club would bounce back following the defeat, saying that "There's a lot of guys who need to have a good, hard look at themselves, but we'll stick together, that's what we know we will do." Grimes must once again lead from the front if Melbourne are any chance to drag themselves across the line against the Bombers.
Matt Jones: I thought Jones was reasonable in his debut and certainly did not look disgraced, starting his AFL career with a 22 disposal performance. The 25 year old, recruited from Box Hill with the 52nd pick in last year's national draft, did everything asked of Mark Neeld and was probably in our top five on the ground. Certainly, Jones was not disgraced, but again, like Viney, will face the challenge of backing up this week.
Essendon
Round 1: Essendon 18.9 (117) defeated Adelaide 11.16 (82)
Essendon really impressed me in round one, producing an excellent backs to the wall performance, sticking up the middle finger to all detractors throughout the supplements scandal. After conceding the first three goals, the Bombers, led by a heroic Jobe Watson and Ben Howlett, took control and took a very well deserved victory away from home. Howlett kicked four goals in the victory, and Watson had 34 disposals.
Players To Watch
Ben Howlett: As mentioned above, Howlett was one of the standout performers of round one, collecting 25 disposals and kicking four goals to sit atop the Coleman Medal table alongside Gary Ablett, Lindsay Thomas, Travis Cloke and Jay Schulz. Howlett, a tackling machine, has shown great signs since his rookie elevation in 2010 and on round one evidence can take the next step in 2013.
Jobe Watson: Brownlow Medalist. Enough said. But not only that, he is showing the capabilities of being a legendary leader as well. Lead from the front against the Crows in the wake of the supplements scandal, collecting 34 possessions and showing no signs of stopping from the form which saw him adjudged the best player in the game in 2012.
Courtenay Dempsey: Another of the plethora of Essendon players who played well in round one. An important cog as Essendon's rebound defender, Dempsey gathered 20 possessions and was instrumental in setting up Essendon's attacks. Since returning from a knee reconstruction last season Dempsey has shown some good form and must be contained if Melbourne are any chance at all.
Prediction:
Let's be honest, it is very hard to see us winning but the same could have been said before last season. However, I think the first priority is for Melbourne to just show an effort which was sorely lacking from about 15 or 16 players against Port Adelaide. Can we continue our winning streak against the Bombers? I don't think so, but effort in order to win back some respect from the AFL fraternity is imperative. Come on Dees.
