Why is it...

[madboy]

Of all the many write-ups of our games I've read, whether it be here, on the AFL or Demons website, or in the Herald-Sun, mention is never made of what, to my mind, is the Melbourne Demons' biggest onfield problem? That being, of course, our complete and utter inability to man up?

Time and time again I see opposition teams run the ball quickly from our forward 50 to our back 50 due to having loose men. Where's the Dees player who's meant to be on that guy? Oh yeah, he's 5 metres behind him! It's absolutely ridiculous.

At one point in the game on Sunday, I even saw one Melbourne player attempting to take on five (that's right - 5!) Carlton players. Of course, he failed miserably, but I don't think he could have been blamed for that. It was his team-mates' fault for letting Carlton get so many loose men.

It's frustrating. OK, so we've come away with a pretty good month. 3 wins from 5 games when many people were predicting we'd only win 1. But we shouldn't get too carried away. If we come across a team with a strong attack and our midfield is still letting the opposition get loose men, we could be in serious trouble.

So man the hell up and get in front!

 

[happy_in_hell]

I strongly agree with you madboy.
And just on this topic, i would like to bring to your attention your excellent call during the Essendon Match:

"Where's the Melbourne Player? Oh that's right, he's running behind the Bomber, carrying his handbag!"

It is a different story when an opposition player gets a lead cos then its just bad luck, but when you see a Melb player not trying his guts out to man up and follow his opponent that you wonder their passion for the ball. Soft teams don't win football! Get in there! Stick to your man!

My thoughts,

 

[Deestroy]

You make a valid point, and I guess I'm so used to yelling "Just F&#^$n well man up!" at games that I've become used to it asa part of our game. Would be nice if we could man up, just for once!

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Spot on Madboy! We have a history of not manning up, and it was never more evident than in the Essendon game.

I also saw plenty of times on Sunday where we didn't man up, yet I too have never seen anyone say that about us either. Maybe it's because we watch us too much? Maybe other teams do it, but we can't see that?

Our backline isn't too bad, it's our bloody midfield that's the trouble. Yze, Woewodin etc never man up unless tagging, and that's very, VERY slack!

 

[BIG POPPA PUMP]

I agree to an extent. I think the reason it looks like we're not manning up through the middle has a lot to do with game plan. We play some of the loosest, free-running, forward of the play footy in the competition and when things arent going our way, or the ball gets turned over, we get lost and were made to like we're not manning up when in fact were too attacking for our own good. The trick is to get a balance. Be attacking, but also allow for turnovers or changes in play.