3 things learned from Rd1 2023

[Stevo]

But is it really?.. over the past 6 occasions we're 2-4 and held decent leads in 2 of the losses.

Since the start of 2021 Melbourne have played in 50 matches and lost only 12 so it's not an easy task to defeat them.

They are a very good team but its disappointing in the manner we lose against them.

[Grantysghost]

But is it really?.. over the past 6 occasions we're 2-4 and held decent leads in 2 of the losses.

Since the start of 2021 Melbourne have played in 50 matches and lost only 12 so it's not an easy task to defeat them.

I feel like they've got us where they want us, when they win they do it pretty easily - we've kind of stumbled across the line in the wins. The MCG game we broke them very late, the Marvel one even later.

[Curly5]

3. Has bevo got new chompers?

Yes. And Damien Barrett made a snide comment about them.

1. We were unprepared for the pressure of real opposition (as opposed to intraclub games).
2. We didn't seem to have anyone wanting to beat their opponent, they were in survival mode.
3. We get too excited in the preseason

And I only saw the last quarter. (Minus the last 5 minutes )

[bornadog]

But is it really?.. over the past 6 occasions we're 2-4 and held decent leads in 2 of the losses.

Since the start of 2021 Melbourne have played in 50 matches and lost only 12 so it's not an easy task to defeat them.

That is a pretty good stat if you are a Melbourne supporter. They really stuffed up last year after finishing 2nd and out in straight sets.

[Mofra]

That is a pretty good stat if you are a Melbourne supporter. They really stuffed up last year after finishing 2nd and out in straight sets.

They were unbackable favourites in the middle of last year, 9 wins in a row with an average margin of something like 40 points

[Sedat]

But is it really?.. over the past 6 occasions we're 2-4 and held decent leads in 2 of the losses.

Since the start of 2021 Melbourne have played in 50 matches and lost only 12 so it's not an easy task to defeat them.

There is a clear problem with our midfield/rucks not being able to control Melbourne's stoppage and turnover game when they get on a roll. That has been a consistent feature of all 6 matches against them since the start of 2021.

When we continue to lose/concede big chunks of goals in the same manner, something is not clicking either with the match committee or the players. It should be noted that in our excellent win against them in H&A last season, they kicked 6 goals from centre clearances, so again this area of weakness was exposed (we really should have won that match by 40+ points based on general play).

From the highlights I've seen of R1, Melbourne got a lot of easy goals in transition either from turnover in our F50 or direct from centre square dominance - they also scored big against us and quickly (seen that movie before and it is a rubbish ending). Not a surprise at all considerering the way they have played against us since 2021. Perhaps it is leg-speed and the ability to cover the ground both ways - they seem to be vastly superior than us in both areas, negating our advantages in other areas.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

1. Poorly selected team with 4 talls on the forward line without
a crumbing small forward
2. We still struggle to play man on man against key players like Petracca Gawn and Oliver

3. An over reliance on Naughton forward and English in the ruck

[muzzyahoy]

1. People expect September football in March
2. Kicking efficiency looked like the boys hadn't played a real game since Aug '22
3. Sometimes the simple option is the right one. Kick to someone instead of no one (or Lever)

4. Bailey Smith needs to take some pace off his last 2 steps before kicking the footy. The art of kicking is placing and caressing the ball off your foot, not trying to kick the bladder out of it!!