The Dees looked useless after 1/2 time as Richmond fielded a team well below their best yet toyed with Melbourne. Melbourne were close to their best & had no answers to the youth. Both were losers in prelims last season yet Melbourne look bottom four. Such is life..
And how about young Stacks bone rattler of a hip and shoulder on Demons tough nut Jack Viney. Put a big smile on every Richmond supporters face that would have
Melbourne won two finals last year and made a prelim.Had a run of 6 or 7 wins in a row.Im not sure Goodwin needed to radically change the game plan.Or do any extra fitness training once the season started. He’s cooked his players there playing like it’s round 22.
Don’t know whats happened to them. I had picked them as possible challengers for the flag but they seem to have lost all their intensity, system and confidence.
Mike I was reading on Big Footy.That Goodwin increased there training from 4hr a day.Five days a week to 5.5 hr a day 5 days a week.Adding extra fitness training that should of been done in the pre season.They have fallen away badly in the last qtrs.Looks like he’s cooked his players 5 rounds in.A bit like Swans mid season burnout the last couple of years.
Melbourne was a fluke – the same as Footscray when they won the grand final.
I saw a funny comment last night that suggested that Melbourne were suffering from a premiership hangover without the premiership…
mikeh – that is very funny. I used to have sympathy for Melbourne becayse of the great Robert Flower and Warren Dean.
Mike I found it amusing last year when Melbourne captain Nathan Jones who seems to be interviewed every second week on one show or another, was talking about those dark old days like they were well behind them and they had made it as a top side. I thought don’t get ahead of yourself pal you ain’t made it yet. Melbourne’s “Premiership” was their win over Hawthorn in last year’s semi final. They thought they’d made it but were humiliated in the preliminary final by WCE.
They also offloaded Jack Watts and Jesse Hogan believing them to be problem child’s standing in the way of their success. Talk about getting ahead of themselves. I’m sure the AFL will be concerned and want to do more than they have already done to make them successful.
Simon Goodwin has given the full Melbourne squad.4 days off.Trursday to Sunday.