Watching the game on sunday it was very apparent that one significant explanation for Neitz' poor game, was that he had no space to work in.

It seems that Daniher likes to plug the space in front of Neitz with Bate, Green, Miller, Sylvia and others. This leaves a congested forward line with little or no room for neitz to make a clear lead into.

Im not talking about stacking one flank and leaving the fat side of the ground open either. Im talking about pointless intrusions into space that should be left wide open for neitz. it was very frustrating to see players block up this space time and time again throughout the game. This forced Neitz to lead sideways into pockets or double back all day!!!

If someone could explain this tactic to me, please do, but the difference between the open space of the bulldog forward line, in comparison to the prevailing congestion in ours, was very obvious yesterday and one big reason why we lost.

The biggest problem was that Bulldogs players were clogging the space, not Melbourne players. Danners did try and open it up for Neitz by pushing other players wide but when the ball was kicked in that space, the Bulldogs had numbers back and often chopped the ball off. It wasn't Neale's fault at all.

The reason we had a congested forward line was that ND didn't want to allow the Bulldogs a loose man in defence, and so every Bulldog player that ran into our forward line was followed by and opponent.

In short we played this way to stop the Bulldogs getting their running game going, probably in the belief that our stronger forwards would be the difference at the end of the day.

Unfortunately this didn't work all the time in this game because, as you have observed, some of our players, who were supposed to follow their opponent into the forward line, mistakenly thought THEY would be the target and led away from their opponents, which effectively put themselves out of the play, while their opponents stayed around Neitz, and in the play.

We used this tactic well last season when we got our 'chip it around until you find a loose player' game going (The Queen's Birthday game is a good example). We just weren't smart and patient enough this time around.

From what I have seen, Sylvia has also been the worst offender at flying for marks, or running into space, when a key forward, or a player in better position is there to accept the ball. It may be selfishness or a lack discipline, or just a lack of awareness; but I am starting to think he will start pissing off his team mates if he doesn't stop it.

I should also add that Neitz appeared pretty lazy to me in this game. Not with the way he chased his opponent up the ground, but when he was in the forward line, he should have kept leading, even into the dead pocket, just to create space behind him for other players.

It seemed pretty evident early on that he was the target, and it was disappointing that he didn't just drag some defenders out of way to allow opportunities for his team mates.

I thought we had changed 'that' bad habit?

But it might have been that ND didn't have a plan B on the day?

Go Dees

The biggest problem was that Bulldogs players were clogging the space, not Melbourne players. Danners did try and open it up for Neitz by pushing other players wide but when the ball was kicked in that space, the Bulldogs had numbers back and often chopped the ball off. It wasn't Neale's fault at all.

I would agree with that, but too many times saw melbourne players leading their bulldog opponents back into the space in front of neitz. bate and sylvia appeared the worst offenders.

there needs to be a clear instruction to get out of the central areas in the forward 50 and drag the defenders wide, so that space can be left through the middle for neitz/robbo/newton(dreaming) to lead into to.

neitz wasnt right, he left the pregame warm up early, apparantly to re-strap an ankle, but he never seemed to get into teh game

no co-incidence that our two most passionate and intense performances have come since the skipper has come back. form or not, he has lifted our team

In the last quarter I thought when we only had a 5 man forward line we were struggling to keep the ball in there, but things worked a better when we played a 6-man forward line.

Something that hurts us is that players will lead 15 metres and then just stand there, effectively clogging the space and meaning no one else can lead into that area. They need to keep going on their lead even if they don't get the ball, so they draw their man and space clears out behind them for the next player to lead into.

no co-incidence that our two most passionate and intense performances have come since the skipper has come back. form or not, he has lifted our team

It also makes it easier on our other forwards with Neitz taking the #1 defender.