The AFL website "Inquirer" ran an article this week about the biggest movers in terms of individual and team statistics.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-31/the-inquirer-drop-offs-and-turnarounds

What it confirmed about Melbourne is something that we all know - our center clearances have become a disaster.

We've gone from a highly respectable ranking of 6th best to being outright last in 18th.

This to me is pointing to our lack of potency among our best midfielders, and is actually starting to make me turn towards believing that recruiting a true 'top level' midfielder may be the way to go, despite my general preference for assembling at least a competitive best 22 first.

I was wondering what other people thought, especially since I haven't had many chances to watch games properly lately.

- Where is the deficiency coming from? Is it just form? Tactics? Simple inadequacy?

- What should be done to correct this pretty decisive problem?

The AFL website "Inquirer" ran an article this week about the biggest movers in terms of individual and team statistics.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-31/the-inquirer-drop-offs-and-turnarounds

What it confirmed about Melbourne is something that we all know - our center clearances have become a disaster.

We've gone from a highly respectable ranking of 6th best to being outright last in 18th.

This to me is pointing to our lack of potency among our best midfielders, and is actually starting to make me turn towards believing that recruiting a true 'top level' midfielder may be the way to go, despite my general preference for assembling at least a competitive best 22 first.

I was wondering what other people thought, especially since I haven't had many chances to watch games properly lately.

- Where is the deficiency coming from? Is it just form? Tactics? Simple inadequacy?

- What should be done to correct this pretty decisive problem?

We don't have clean hands. I maintain that this is the biggest issue with our clearance work. That little moment where they fumble and have to make a second grab to take the ball is all it takes for an opponent to get a grip on them and either force another stoppage or knock the ball out.

George Stone

George Stone

If we're saying George Stone is the difference, and if it's the truth, we're in trouble, given Goodwin is the bloke who has taken over from him.

Usually the first quarters are a problem if they have a competent ruckman , we then adjust our starting positions in the 2nd to be more defensive and go o,k .

Having different ruckman probably doesnt help but playing Maxy every week should have giving the group time to gel.

Getting the balance right on the hitouts outside and inside will help also.

Obviously our lack of top quality midfield talent is the main factor, but let's not forget the fact Gawn has now taken over as primary ruckman and there's going to be a period where we lack cohesion because that group hasn't played much together. This would be evident by the fact he's dominating hitouts but we're getting smashed in clearances.

Obviously our lack of top quality midfield talent is the main factor, but let's not forget the fact Gawn has now taken over as primary ruckman and there's going to be a period where we lack cohesion because that group hasn't played much together. This would be evident by the fact he's dominating hitouts but we're getting smashed in clearances.

Gawn is still an inexperienced ruckman. So not only is there the issue of the midfield group learning each other's habits but also I'm not sure just how well/consistently Gawn can direct his hit outs at this stage of his development.

Obviously our lack of top quality midfield talent is the main factor, but let's not forget the fact Gawn has now taken over as primary ruckman and there's going to be a period where we lack cohesion because that group hasn't played much together. This would be evident by the fact he's dominating hitouts but we're getting smashed in clearances.

55 turnovers in the middle last week. Does that sound like it's Gawn's fault?

Our mids are either slow, skilless, dumb, poorly coached or a combination of the aforesaid. We get the ball but give it to the other side.

Is there another side that gets scored more off turnovers than us?

If I recall correctly, in the last game against the Pies, 9 of their first 11 goals were from our turnovers.

Gawn is still an inexperienced ruckman. So not only is there the issue of the midfield group learning each other's habits but also I'm not sure just how well/consistently Gawn can direct his hit outs at this stage of his development.

This is true also. Ya big DH

Next year with additions to the midfield group and a preseason of the group working together with Gawn I would expect a pretty big improvement in the clearances. Then we just need to start working on everything else...

55 turnovers in the middle last week. Does that sound like it's Gawn's fault?

Our mids are either slow, skilless, dumb, poorly coached or a combination of the aforesaid. We get the ball but give it to the other side.

Is there another side that gets scored more off turnovers than us?

If I recall correctly, in the last game against the Pies, 9 of their first 11 goals were from our turnovers.

I'm not blaming Gawn. As I said, the midfield group lacks cohesion as the mids don't know how to read the hitouts and Gawn doesn't know where to direct them yet.

Also, to turn it over you have to have it first yeah? So I would think that's a slightly different point to the clearances. But we are in total agreeance about our skills.

Don't misconstrue what the stat is saying - it is centre-bounce points conceded.

Last year we knew we weren't going to win a clearance so we had a far more defensive mindset, whereas now with Gawny, we are actually trying to win the ball. As a result we are also up on scoring ourselves.

Further to this, the impact of the loss to Collingwood (and Oxley's game) has meant that we don't position an extra man back initially, which means we are more prone to being scored against if the opposition get a clean breakaway.

Finally I'm sure a lot of those points came when Freo and Hawthorn and GWS (second half) smashed us in the middle and ran out of the centre square like we were witches hats.