For christ sakes, take the ball out in front of you with your hands extended. I counted 7 times that a player was spoilt because he tried to take a chest mark. SIMPLE

Apart from your opening 3 words, can't agree more. Frawley in particular, but lots of players today could have/should have taken easy marks out in front, chose to chest mark, and allowed second rate defenders like Frost to spoil. Even Dawes got sucked in a few times and he does know better.

Barassi would have been going off his rocker at those.... AS I was...

Apart from your opening 3 words, can't agree more. Frawley in particular, but lots of players today could have/should have taken easy marks out in front, chose to chest mark, and allowed second rate defenders like Frost to spoil. Even Dawes got sucked in a few times and he does know better.

Interestingly all the players take it out in front at the training I have been to this year (about 5 sessions) particularly Frawley. So it was odd to see that today except from Salem who is raw.

Apart from your opening 3 words, can't agree more. Frawley in particular, but lots of players today could have/should have taken easy marks out in front, chose to chest mark, and allowed second rate defenders like Frost to spoil. Even Dawes got sucked in a few times and he does know better.

Did Dawes play???

This is how we used to mark in primary school before we had hands big enough to mark the ball properly or later on some of the water logged muddy grounds these players have never seen when it was the only way to keep the ball in your possession. Come on guys you're playing in the big league now, you must do better.

Did Salem play?

Apart from your opening 3 words, can't agree more. Frawley in particular, but lots of players today could have/should have taken easy marks out in front, chose to chest mark, and allowed second rate defenders like Frost to spoil. Even Dawes got sucked in a few times and he does know better.

Frawley going for the chest mark is to be expected, he spent years spoiling when tailing in the forward on the lead. It's not natural for him to be leading and marking arms extended. He probably needs to really train that into his game so it's natural for him.

Dawes on the other hand has trained as a forward and should be better. Robbo was the same though, always wanted to take chest marks and allowed the spoil. Dawes especially doesn't have the pace to have the luxury or chest marks as his man almost always makes up any separation Dawes starts with.

Funny that against Adelaide and Richmond Dawes was taking some full stretch strong marks in front, and that surprised me as I'd thought it was something he wasn't capable of, but not so much today.

Cloke wasn't great today, but the marks he took often gave Dunn no chance as they were full stretch and at the top of his jump. The difference was stark.

BT would have been going feral.

"Putting the dukes out" is one of his favourite topics.

Totally agree.

For christ sakes, take the ball out in front of you with your hands extended. I counted 7 times that a player was spoilt because he tried to take a chest mark. SIMPLE

Agree.

I reckon a few of those chest marks were spoiled because the recipient slowed down, or waited, for the ball to arrive,instead of accelerating to "meet" the ball.

It was obvious watching from high up in the stands. I found myself yelling " meet it!" at our players as they waited for the ball to arrive.

Frustrates me CONSTANTLY ... Dawes, Frawley, Salem all guilty

Apart from your opening 3 words, can't agree more. Frawley in particular, but lots of players today could have/should have taken easy marks out in front, chose to chest mark, and allowed second rate defenders like Frost to spoil. Even Dawes got sucked in a few times and he does know better.

Bit harsh on Frost, thought he was BOG today for them. If only McDonald was as disciplined as he is. Agree with the chest mark thing though, it was very frustrating.

Dawes isn't capable of a one-grab mark with arms out in front. I think his hand is permanently cooked.