tasmanlvr
Club Legend
Does it get any worse for Melbourne at the moment? After a 148 point destruction from Essendon, following a 79 point defeat at the hands of Port Adelaide in round one, Melbourne now take on competition powerhouses West Coast at the home of football. The signs are not great for the Demons - they have not defeated the Eagles since 2009 and have lost their past two home games by 48 and 31 points respectively. Once again, any form of effort will be highly tolerated by the Melbourne supporters - another heavy loss piles even more pressure on the administration and coaching staff.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
Round 2: Essendon 28.16 (184) defeated Melbourne 5.6 (36)
Well the above two results pretty much describe Melbourne's season so far. It has been very painful to watch so far, as there has been little semblance of effort apart from perhaps the first half of the Essendon game where at least we showed something - however, it did not prevent the Bombers from taking a nine goal lead at half time. Again, much like last year, the same players are standing up - Jones, Grimes in particular. However, there are 15 or 16 players every week which continue to let down the Melbourne Football Club. Saturday is a time to step up in the face of adversity.
Players To Watch
Well... everyone. Everyone has to step up this week. This isn't a matter of getting games into kids any more, inexperienced list or not. There are a whole lot of players that are playing for their careers here. Hell, play the kids if we have to who haven't debuted yet. Have a look at blokes like Dean Kent. See if they are up to it at AFL level. And who knows, we might make the biggest statement of all and drop some of our experienced players for blokes who bleed for the jumper, who want games. Would Melbourne be brave enough to drop someone like Mark Jamar for Jake Spencer? I think they should.
West Coast
Round 1: Fremantle 16.12 (108) defeated West Coast 11.14 (80)
Round 2: Hawthorn 23.10 (148) defeated West Coast 15.8 (98)
A disappointing start for West Coast who were fancies for a premiership challenge this season. However, they do get a bit of respite this weekend with the disappointing Demons to come. However, there are still plenty of players that are performing, despite remaining winless. Josh Kennedy has been pretty good in both games and kicked five goals against the Hawks. However, lapses in concentration has cost West Coast in both games, conceding six goals in the third quarter against the Dockers and another six to start the game against the Hawks.
Players To Watch
Josh Hill - I thought Hill was excellent against the Hawks and will be dangerous once again against a backline that is bereft of confidence. Hill kept the Eagles in the game during the third quarter, kicking three goals. With a forward line featuring Kennedy (five goals against the Hawks), Darling (three goals) and Hill, West Coast's forward line will be very hard to stop on Saturday and if they get a run on much like Essendon, another huge score could be racked up here.
Dean Cox - once again, like the backline, Mark Jamar is devoid of confidence and put simply cannot afford to have another bad game against the best ruckman this century thus far - and there is no guarentee that Jamar will be playing at this stage. Cox had his colours lowered by Jonothan Griffin in round one but bounced back and had the better of Hale (despite his two goal contribution) and Bailey against the Hawks. We all know what Cox is capable of, having collected what is still an impressive 31 disposals over the first two games so far. Not midfielder numbers but for a ruckman as damaging as Cox it is still imperative for West Coast that he is getting the football.
Chris Masten - the number three draft pick from the 2007 draft was impressive in the clinches against the Hawks, amassing 33 disposals, the most of all Eagles players, and picking up where he left off last year in what was his best season thus far. Masten will probably go head to head with Jack Viney in what should be a pretty good battle-within-a-battle to watch. Look for Masten to work in tandem with Matt Priddis to help feed the run of Shuey, and the class of Selwood.
Prediction
Melbourne failed to walk the talk last week with regards to that kind of performance such as the one we saw against Port Adelaide never being seen again. If anything, Melbourne were worse against the Bombers and face an uphill task against the Eagles who are desperate to get their season back on track. The Eagles have been pretty disappointing against two serious premiership contenders in the Dockers and the Hawks but it is impossible to see any reason to tip against them, even at the MCG. For Melbourne fans, something, anything, that resembles a positive will be greeted with glee.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
Round 2: Essendon 28.16 (184) defeated Melbourne 5.6 (36)
Well the above two results pretty much describe Melbourne's season so far. It has been very painful to watch so far, as there has been little semblance of effort apart from perhaps the first half of the Essendon game where at least we showed something - however, it did not prevent the Bombers from taking a nine goal lead at half time. Again, much like last year, the same players are standing up - Jones, Grimes in particular. However, there are 15 or 16 players every week which continue to let down the Melbourne Football Club. Saturday is a time to step up in the face of adversity.
Players To Watch
Well... everyone. Everyone has to step up this week. This isn't a matter of getting games into kids any more, inexperienced list or not. There are a whole lot of players that are playing for their careers here. Hell, play the kids if we have to who haven't debuted yet. Have a look at blokes like Dean Kent. See if they are up to it at AFL level. And who knows, we might make the biggest statement of all and drop some of our experienced players for blokes who bleed for the jumper, who want games. Would Melbourne be brave enough to drop someone like Mark Jamar for Jake Spencer? I think they should.
West Coast
Round 1: Fremantle 16.12 (108) defeated West Coast 11.14 (80)
Round 2: Hawthorn 23.10 (148) defeated West Coast 15.8 (98)
A disappointing start for West Coast who were fancies for a premiership challenge this season. However, they do get a bit of respite this weekend with the disappointing Demons to come. However, there are still plenty of players that are performing, despite remaining winless. Josh Kennedy has been pretty good in both games and kicked five goals against the Hawks. However, lapses in concentration has cost West Coast in both games, conceding six goals in the third quarter against the Dockers and another six to start the game against the Hawks.
Players To Watch
Josh Hill - I thought Hill was excellent against the Hawks and will be dangerous once again against a backline that is bereft of confidence. Hill kept the Eagles in the game during the third quarter, kicking three goals. With a forward line featuring Kennedy (five goals against the Hawks), Darling (three goals) and Hill, West Coast's forward line will be very hard to stop on Saturday and if they get a run on much like Essendon, another huge score could be racked up here.
Dean Cox - once again, like the backline, Mark Jamar is devoid of confidence and put simply cannot afford to have another bad game against the best ruckman this century thus far - and there is no guarentee that Jamar will be playing at this stage. Cox had his colours lowered by Jonothan Griffin in round one but bounced back and had the better of Hale (despite his two goal contribution) and Bailey against the Hawks. We all know what Cox is capable of, having collected what is still an impressive 31 disposals over the first two games so far. Not midfielder numbers but for a ruckman as damaging as Cox it is still imperative for West Coast that he is getting the football.
Chris Masten - the number three draft pick from the 2007 draft was impressive in the clinches against the Hawks, amassing 33 disposals, the most of all Eagles players, and picking up where he left off last year in what was his best season thus far. Masten will probably go head to head with Jack Viney in what should be a pretty good battle-within-a-battle to watch. Look for Masten to work in tandem with Matt Priddis to help feed the run of Shuey, and the class of Selwood.
Prediction
Melbourne failed to walk the talk last week with regards to that kind of performance such as the one we saw against Port Adelaide never being seen again. If anything, Melbourne were worse against the Bombers and face an uphill task against the Eagles who are desperate to get their season back on track. The Eagles have been pretty disappointing against two serious premiership contenders in the Dockers and the Hawks but it is impossible to see any reason to tip against them, even at the MCG. For Melbourne fans, something, anything, that resembles a positive will be greeted with glee.
