Watching Geelong and Essendon tonight one thing that really stands out from almost every player on the ground is that they have so much poise and balance. I notice it with Hawthorn and in particular Sydney where their players are always very upright so they can easily look ahead (not just down at their feet) yet at the same time they are always balanced and almost always lose their feet. Joel Selwood, Adam Goodes and Daniel Hannebery are the best examples of this with Motlop of Geelong showing similar traits.

Further to this, even these slower players are explosive over five metres, allowing them to break away and have an extra second or two to make a decision.

No doubt a lot of this comes from experience and confidence, but if you contrast it with Melbourne players who often look rushed, fall over and don't look much further ahead than a few metres in front I can't help but feel that these traits are drilled into players at training.

Watching Geelong and Essendon tonight one thing that really stands out from almost every player on the ground is that they have so much poise and balance. I notice it with Hawthorn and in particular Sydney where their players are always very upright so they can easily look ahead (not just down at their feet) yet at the same time they are always balanced and almost always lose their feet. Joel Selwood, Adam Goodes and Daniel Hannebery are the best examples of this with Motlop of Geelong showing similar traits.

Further to this, even these slower players are explosive over five metres, allowing them to break away and have an extra second or two to make a decision.

No doubt a lot of this comes from experience and confidence, but if you contrast it with Melbourne players who often look rushed, fall over and don't look much further ahead than a few metres in front I can't help but feel that these traits are drilled into players at training.

Having the required ability probably gives you all the poise and balance you will ever need.

If you don't have the talent you usually know and no amount of experience will change that IMO

I think a lot of it has to do with confidence. Confidence in the game plan, confidence in your skills, confidence in your team-mates, and confidence that you can win no matter what.

The other thing I notice is that while I reckon we can now match these teams' intensity for short bursts, our skills are nowhere near good enough to take advantage of the ball we win. That is now our major problem.

I think a lot of it has to do with confidence. Confidence in the game plan, confidence in your skills, confidence in your team-mates, and confidence that you can win no matter what.

The other thing I notice is that while I reckon we can now match these teams' intensity for short bursts, our skills are nowhere near good enough to take advantage of the ball we win. That is now our major problem.

Yes, skills can improve (see Nicholson. McKenzie and McDonald), but I think a lot of the problem is that players are often under pressure when kicking (lack of acceleration and poise) or their target is under pressure becuase they don't run and spread hard enough.

I think a lot of it has to do with confidence. Confidence in the game plan, confidence in your skills, confidence in your team-mates, and confidence that you can win no matter what.

The other thing I notice is that while I reckon we can now match these teams' intensity for short bursts, our skills are nowhere near good enough to take advantage of the ball we win. That is now our major problem.

100% agreement from me Chook

Apparently we play on the second most of any team in the league. I think often we give off to a player too often under pressure as opposition clubs are onto our game plan, or our players aren't working hard enough on secondary leads and spread. The spread is a direct result of confidence. You have to hedge your bets when leading and spreading through the midfield or else you are caught out. We don't back our players in to win the ball and hit a target so we don't move around enough.

It's bloody annoying because hitting targets and building confidence will only allow us to be more efficient. We need 2 quality ball using midfielders. Anyone know where we can find them, because they didn't want to come over last draft period?

I think a lot of it is mass, & physical strength.

Especially thru the legs & hips, then IMO this flows thru to confidence, then to team confidence & then composure, & finally, a gamestyle that adapts to all this.

a flimsy free running offensive gamestyle, comes unstuck in the one on one contests, & shutting down of space. but you still need the speedy ones to break it open, after the bigger guys have done the heavy work.

Melbourne has never had many of these types in one team together.