It's interesting watching the game having already known the result and already seen highlights.

Overall, I was happy but I felt that Melbourne were the Western Bulldogs of last week. Good goal kicking is good football and Melbourne's pressure certainly contributed to Richmond missing so many but there was a period in the third quarter where Richmond had all the run of play and Melbourne really struggled and were kept in it by Richmond's misses.

On the other hand, those scoring shots came after our kick-ins.

Centre clearances were something like 5 to 15 in our favour, so had they kicked a goal the next play was them getting smashed out of the middle again.

Also we missed some set shots early and hit the post, had we kicked them we'd have broken their chalk-like spine much earlier!

Just on THAT kick by Toumpas. Yes, it was one a the few things he did that affected the game but that is the area we have to improve if we want to beat a top 8 (let alone top 4) team - the kick into our forwards.

Usually terrible, a lot better with Watts and Tyson kicking in there, but if Toumpas meets the base requirements of pressure, tackling, and defensive running - his right boot will give him a head start on other players. We simply kicked so poorly to Dawes it was amazing he didn't have a massive Richo in the middle of the ground.

There are some laughable ball watchers on here that say that 'Dawes couldn't hold a mark' but when it is delivered so poorly it makes it nigh-on-impossible to take a mark.

Edited May 19, 201411 yr by rpfc

One thing melbourne needs to work on is sheparding and learning to hang back a little or draw a second player away from a contest.. several times we won/would've won the 1v1 but a second player came in and drew a second opponent..

E.g. Bail (i think) on win, wins ball and has an opponent on his tail, Riley was one meter away running in same direction - almost blocking his path and calling for ball. I'd like to see Riley cut off/block bails opponent, instead he got the ball and i think it turned into a tackle/ball up situation.

in another situation, Dawes was on the boundry just outside 50, ball on ground bodying his opponent out, about to pick up and viney runs in and they both go for it (either dawes should block for viney or viney wait for daws and stay away for handball recieve), in the end viney picks up and handballs to opposition while being tackled.

I think as we get better this will happen less, but frustrating at the time to see. Anyway loving how we are playing Go dees!

We are 3-6 we should be 5-4 (Saints/GWS) and could be 7-2 (GC/Dogs) with a bit of luck.

Beats being 0-9 Dr.

For those interested it's up again, SEN app that is.

Oh the joy.

... and two of them involved big Maxy! His tap-out for the Vince goal was top-shelf.

Couldn't agree more. Max was excellent. When he starts to hold his marks in the forward half he will be phenomenal.Jamar seems to grow a foot taller when he is around.

Edited May 19, 201411 yr by Dees2014

One thing melbourne needs to work on is sheparding and learning to hang back a little or draw a second player away from a contest.. several times we won/would've won the 1v1 but a second player came in and drew a second opponent..

E.g. Bail (i think) on win, wins ball and has an opponent on his tail, Riley was one meter away running in same direction - almost blocking his path and calling for ball. I'd like to see Riley cut off/block bails opponent, instead he got the ball and i think it turned into a tackle/ball up situation.

in another situation, Dawes was on the boundry just outside 50, ball on ground bodying his opponent out, about to pick up and viney runs in and they both go for it (either dawes should block for viney or viney wait for daws and stay away for handball recieve), in the end viney picks up and handballs to opposition while being tackled.

I think as we get better this will happen less, but frustrating at the time to see. Anyway loving how we are playing Go dees!

It will come - it does take time. It is so so much better than it was at the start of the season. this will continue to improve as the season wares on

Great to get a win and feels even better to be beating Richmond again.

Highlight of the game for mine was easily Viney selling the candy to kick a goal in the 3rd, he is renowned for his hardness and aggression which makes classy goals like those so damn good to watch.