Round 9: the other games and other stuff.

**Nico** · 30th July 2020, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ludwig

That's my theory about how to deal with the ruck dilemma. If you can't get a Max Gawn of a NicNat, then get a few good tall utilities to share the load. Then you don't fall apart if one goes down with injury. I figure we have Sinclair, Reid, Amartey, McLean (maybe) and Aliir. Chol or someone similar would give us a solid group of players who could play a key position and ruck part time. I believe we can develop a successful game plan around this kind of stoppage group.

Hello, hello, hello. You have gone from no good to a maybe with McLean!

Powerful performance by the Tigers. A wealth of talented players.

**Melbourne_Blood** · 30th July 2020, 10:09 PM

Video up on the AFL discussing the swans and giants scramble to get out of Sydney. Harley was discussing Buddy heading North with the team. He Stopped himself from actually saying it, but almost said Buddy could be back in a couple of weeks.

**Ludwig** · 30th July 2020, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Nico

Hello, hello, hello. You have gone from no good to a maybe with McLean!

Both McLean and Amartey are out contract this year. My feeling is that we will keep 1, but not both. McLean has been okay, but not overly convincing and Amartey hasn't played a game. So it's still unclear how things will end up with these 2. I hope we get to see Amartey get a senior game soon, so we can make a comparison.

**dejavoodoo44** · 30th July 2020, 10:29 PM

The Demons tonight are making the case, that teams do suffer from having only a four day break. They kicked 1-3 in the first half, in perfect conditions. And 1-3 possibly flattered them.

**Melbourne_Blood** · 30th July 2020, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by dejavoodoo44

The Demons tonight are making the case, that teams do suffer from having only a four day break. They kicked 1-3 in the first half, in perfect conditions. And 1-3 possibly flattered them.

They’ve been awful. Port only playing ok but Melbourne applying almost zero pressure.

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**dejavoodoo44** · 30th July 2020, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Melbourne_Blood

They’ve been awful. Port only playing ok but Melbourne applying almost zero pressure.

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And their turnovers throughout the first half were woeful.

**Ludwig** · 30th July 2020, 11:53 PM

Melbourne won the hitouts 44-13 and still got crushed. Their skill level is so poor. It looks like Melbourne has a failed rebuild. With all the hype about getting Paul Roos and some pretty good draft picks (Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw), and high profile recruits like May and Lever, they are still as bad as ever. Hard to analyze what's gone wrong.

I hope that our drafting of supposedly highly skilled players pays off in due course.

**MattW** · 31st July 2020, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by Ludwig

Melbourne won the hitouts 44-13 and still got crushed. Their skill level is so poor. It looks like Melbourne has a failed rebuild. With all the hype about getting Paul Roos and some pretty good draft picks (Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw), and high profile recruits like May and Lever, they are still as bad as ever. Hard to analyze what's gone wrong.

I hope that our drafting of supposedly highly skilled players pays off in due course.

I'd start with the coach. Goodwin is acutely underwhelming.

**Meg** · 31st July 2020, 12:27 AM

I agree Melbourne were awful. But their circumstances for tonight’s match didnt help: they’ve been on road for four weeks with no prospect of getting home; four-day turnaround for this match: some of the players might be worrying about family in Melbourne (eg elderly grandparents).

I wouldn’t damn them for being physically and mentally not-up-to-scratch tonight.

**KTigers** · 31st July 2020, 02:55 AM

Originally Posted by Meg

I agree Melbourne were awful. But their circumstances for tonight’s match didnt help: they’ve been on road for four weeks with no prospect of getting home; four-day turnaround for this match: some of the players might be worrying about family in Melbourne (eg elderly grandparents).

I wouldn’t damn them for being physically and mentally not-up-to-scratch tonight.

I stopped watching after half time. Melbourne were really struggling. I think a four day gap may be not enough recovery time in footy.