Some of the media commentary going around after this game shows the shortsightedness expected.
Gerard Whateley says teams who are in the 3rd year of a rebuild don't lose games by 104 points. According to him it shows our list is no good.
In Paul Roos' last game as Melbourne coach, they lost by 111 points. I recall similar commentary. 12 months later, they were fighting for a spot in the 8. According to Whateley, recognising that means you are accepting the defeat. I don't accept it but when I look at the team we put out on the park, I understand why it happened.
Our midfield Sunday consisted of a gun midfielder, a VFL player at best and a bunch of first and second year kids. Consequently Melbourne kicked a shitload of goals from stoppages. Their free running mids made our second rate defence look third rate.
I recall a few weeks ago, Brisbane kicked their first goal against Richmond late in the third quarter. Their score was 2.5 at the end of the game. The media were saying they'd overrated their list. A few weeks later, they're the rising stars of the competition.
Whateley said yesterday he's been to many of Carltons games and cant see any signs we'll be a good side. In Round 1 when we had a half decent list to choose from, we led the reigning premiers in the last quarter. He couldn't see any signs?
Perhaps the @#$%&! muppet needs to open his eyes first.
I hope we go down to Geelong this week and get over his beloved Cats. Just to see the sour look on his dial.
It's a rough ride but I have no doubt whatsoever we'll have a list that will play finals in 2 years. I doesn't look like it this week (just like it didn't for Melbourne 32 games ago) but we have too much young talent for it to not happen IMO.