Our handball in close has been quick, accurate and on-the-money

[TGR 1,367]

Irrespective of the scoreboard over the past 7 days, I just reckon we are finally seeing some Sydney-like in-close quick hands ala mid 2000s.

The chain of handballs that I have witnessed against Collingwood, and now St.Kilda, have been as good as I have seen in the game....period.

We still need speed by foot, and courage to take them on (read later) and maturing bodies; but I if the past week is anything to go by, our handball in heavy traffic is potentially A-grade. If we can sustain it, it will be elite.

The other thing is....

If we as Melbourne supporters want to encourage our players to be more daring and brave (to take them on and break lines), we need to expect the odd holding the ball. Lumumba, McDonald, Watts and Co. just have to keep taking them on.

[hardtack 10,187]

Agree to a point... but one problem I noticed was that too often the player on the receiving end is not ready and the short fast handball is a bit hot, resulting in a lot of fumbled ball.

[Moonshadow 16,648]

Not sure I agree. I think we overuse the ball regularly and with each handball the pressure to overturn increases rapidly. Not as bad as the last 4-5 years, but still poor. The better clubs make the right choice quickly and get the ball out after one or two handballs, maybe three. We don't have the skills to do this in the manner of Sydney or Hawthorn. We're bouncing around 4-5 handballs before either turning it over or banging it on the boot and hoping for the best. It's extremely frustrating to watch, can't image what Roos must be thinking from the box.

[Ted Lasso 17,318]

We rarely find a balance, we either over handball or we don't handball when we should

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,967]

Not sure I agree. I think we overuse the ball regularly and with each handball the pressure to overturn increases rapidly. Not as bad as the last 4-5 years, but still poor. The better clubs make the right choice quickly and get the ball out after one or two handballs, maybe three. We don't have the skills to do this in the manner of Sydney or Hawthorn. We're bouncing around 4-5 handballs before either turning it over or banging it on the boot and hoping for the best. It's extremely frustrating to watch, can't image what Roos must be thinking from the box.

I think over-use is a symptom of the players not being fully engrained with the system. Over time they will become better and better and we will find we start to dominate teams in the middle. We have some very good young ball winners in Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw.

[Binmans PA 26,766]

I actually thought this was a sarcastically titled thread. I LOLed. Anyway, not sure I agree. You don't need many handballs if they're effective. We overuse it ridiculously. Particularly yesterday. It was heart in the mouth stuff. I had a headache watching yesterday's game and it wasn't just because we threw it away in the last 40 seconds.

Obviously, the overuse currently is much more about the lack of run and supporting spread, than it is about poor decision making. Although, some of the latter can feed into the overuse. Exhibit A of poor decision making, Grimes handballing backwards to Gawn standing still when the corridor was open yesterday.

[Binmans PA 26,766]

I think over-use is a symptom of the players not being fully engrained with the system. Over time they will become better and better and we will find we start to dominate teams in the middle. We have some very good young ball winners in Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw.

Agree to a point. Some of our old blokes will never get it.

[Moonshadow 16,648]

We rarely find a balance, we either over handball or we don't handball when we should

Spot on. I think Bomber Thomson made comment on this during the match commentary. Said something about one too many handballs at times and then not dishing off when needed.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I think it's massive weakness, too often the handpass is to a player who should be laying a shepherd.

[rjay 24,203]

Agree to a point... but one problem I noticed was that too often the player on the receiving end is not ready and the short fast handball is a bit hot, resulting in a lot of fumbled ball.

I guess the point is they should be ready, this is when it really does work.

[Tony Tea 2,792]

Yep. Fair call.

StKilda and Collingwood were able to pressure us into extra handballs, and our own lack of strength and outright speed often prevented us from busting into the open (and when we did bust loose, too many players committed behind the ball meant we were players short down the ground), but I like the essence of where we are going.

And remember, turnovers are just as much a product of lack of options as they are of poor kicks.

[Biffen 12,567]

Would prefer longer handpasses rather than short hospitals.Short hand ball is pointless.

[deanox 9,033]

I found the issue is that our payers were getting sucked into the ball.

That meant that the handball (right option) often went to a player who was so close they didn't have extra space this the 2nd or 3rd handball was needed.

The right decision was made but the players weren't positioning correctly.

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

Agree to a point... but one problem I noticed was that too often the player on the receiving end is not ready and the short fast handball is a bit hot, resulting in a lot of fumbled ball.

This is exactly the issue.

We used the handball really well but it was often to another stationary target, the use of the handball to two or three stationary options leads to unwanted pressure and fumbling. Obviously it can be used to draw in the opposition to create the space for the runners but we often did not take proper advantage of the space available.

[Machsy 2,858]

I think one of Daniel Cross' greatest strengths for us is his movement without the footy, when in a position to receive.

Some of our players really need to learn to read a situation and position themselves decisively, to force the opposition to commit, or to free their teammate up with a block.

Far too often I see players hesitate, wide eyed watching to see what their teammate is going to do.

Of course this comes with playing games together and learning your teammates' tendencies, but sometimes they need to make a decisive movement without the footy without a prompt, making the decision for the player with the ball in hand easier to make.

[Go the Biff 3,214]

I found the issue is that our payers were getting sucked into the ball.

That meant that the handball (right option) often went to a player who was so close they didn't have extra space this the 2nd or 3rd handball was needed.

The right decision was made but the players weren't positioning correctly.

This. I watched the Swans v North game the other night & appreciated how the likes of Jetta, Parker & Rampke often stayed 2 - 4 metres off the contest, usually on the defensive side to provide an outlet receiver. With those few metres they have time to spot up an option down the ground. It's a discipline our blokes don't have yet.

I watched Cross & Viney in a 2 on 2 tracking the ball towards the boundary. Cross was always going to get there first but Jack went to the ball with him, drawing his player in as well. I think the result was a contest that resulted in an out of bounds. Couldn't help but think that if that was Geelong, Viney backs Cross to get the ball & is breaking goalwards as a receiving option & setting up an inside 50. Maybe to a leading Hogan !

Our blokes are getting it - slowly - but there are plenty of positive signs for those that want to see them

[Moonshadow 16,648]

Would prefer longer handpasses rather than short hospitals.Short hand ball is pointless.

Would prefer a short kick to a long handball. Can't get tackled after a mark. Hawthorn do this very well.

[Vagg 2,425]

Spot on. I think Bomber Thomson made comment on this during the match commentary. Said something about one too many handballs at times and then not dishing off when needed.

And, Roosy also said something similar on AFL 360 last night...

As others have said. We are definitely showing improvement in this area. But, still a long way to go before we match the top teams with this skill.

[FireOath 290]

I think over-use is a symptom of the players not being fully engrained with the system. Over time they will become better and better and we will find we start to dominate teams in the middle. We have some very good young ball winners in Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw.

I lick my lips for about 4 years down the line. Viney, Brayshaw, Tyson, Salem, Petracca, Stretch, Hogan, JKH, Toumpas, Jetta, Frost, Kent. Then you have TMac, Watts, Trengove, etc all about the 28 yr old bracket. Tasty times.

[Akum 2,660]

And, Roosy also said something similar on AFL 360 last night...

As others have said. We are definitely showing improvement in this area. But, still a long way to go before we match the top teams with this skill.

This has turned out to be a great thread and a great OP, much to my initial surprise.

"Still a long way to go" is interesting. In a way we do; but in another way the pieces are coming together.