La Dee-vina Comedia

While 0-6 is poor, the best two games have been the last two. Wholesale changes are disruptive rather than beneficial. Outs: Sellar as he adds nothing. In recent games, opponents have struggled when jamar is in the ruck but really enjoyed it when Sellar is there. And he hasn't added anything else around the ground. Tapscott because I think he's injured (ankle? hip?) Ins: Fitzpatrick (to replace Sellar) unless Neeld wants Mitch Clark to relieve Jamar, in which case Watts to come in Bennell for Tapscott. bennell to play HBF with Grimes into the midfield. I can't understand calls for Bennell to play forward given he seems to have 'clicked' at Casey playing in the backline. I'd have Bartram on Rioli and Bennell on Osborne. And Bail and Bate should stay - Bail had a poor game against Geelong but has otherwise been a key player. And Bate has surprised me with his on ball performance coupled with goal scoring. And finally, I keep saying Dunn should be dropped because I don't think he adds much. But I suspect he'll again be picked and again be the sub.

Well explained.

On Footy Classified last night Garry Lyon pointed out the same thing. He showed as an example footage of McKenzie and Sellar leaving their men (Chapman and West, respectively) to go in and help at a contest. Why they decided to do so was baffling given there were already 5 other Melbourne players at the contest. In the end, Geelong got the ball out of the contest and surprise, surprise it was handballed to Chapman who passed it on to West and Geelong was away. This has been going on for years and it will take the coaching staff quite a bit of teaching/re-training to ensure players understand the importance of positioning and structure.

You're quite right. But the point was valid. For the last 4 years I've been watching two Melbourne players tackle one opponent leaving the second opponent free for the hand off. For those who didn't hear Mick Malthouse on the weekend, he said this was a 'trust' issue, meaning that at the moment Melbourne players don't trust their team mates to effect a proper tackle so go in to help. This just allows the opposition a free player. When players start to 'trust' each other, Mick says this won't happen. When Malthouse uses the word 'trust' he's not talking about honesty but effectiveness and I thought he made the point clearly and appropriately. And when Neeld talks about building foundations I now understand better what he means.

6. Clark 5. Jamar (see note below) 4. Frawley 3. Morton 2. Jones 1. Grimes Note: It seems to me when Jamar is being rested we are really struggling. I have no problem with Sellar's effort, but he's just not up to it. How many times did we see Jamar on the ground after the tap getting the ball out? and how many for Sellar?

Thanks

Do VFL penalties, for AFL listed players, apply to AFL games?

Actually, I was trying for alliteration.

Somewhere on this Board I'm sure I've been critical of Mick Malthouse's commentary on radio and TV. After his performance on Channel 7 in the Geelong v Melbourne game, I'm left to eat my words. He was brilliant - clear, concise and to the point. When commentating previously, I felt he was bombastic and esoteric and not really adding value to the commentary. Whether he's changed or perhaps I'm just understanding him better, I'm not sure. Or perhaps Channel 7 has responded to Rohan Connolly's excellent critique in The Age and asked all their commentators to be more focused and less self-indulgent. Certainly the coverage has improved by replays being less intrusive over live play. Whatever the reason, it made for a first class performance from Malthouse last Saturday.

Asked by whom?

For those of you claiming you wish to 'eat your words', please don't. Instead, please wrap them in foil and send them to Cale to eat because whatever he's eating at the moment isn't enough.

He might be a 'potential midfielder', but he's not playing there yet. So 12 possessions in a forward line that doesn't get the ball delivered to them as often as we'd like is not a bad effort.

They would have been about 2,000km north if they'd taken the Gold Coast option.

While I don't agree with you, I like the way you have shamelessly put Melbourne in the group with the four teams with the largest crowd pulling power. I'm sure no-one else will notice...

I think there is too much blind acceptance of the supposed 'flawed draw'. In my view, the best four teams will always end up in the top 6 positions of the ladder in any year. And one of them (the best four) will win the flag. So it doesn't matter who plays poorer teams twice. And keep in mind when the draw is determined there is usually (ie, apart from when new teams are being introduced) no certainty as to who the best and the worst teams will be in the coming year. End of story.

Not on the injury list but in hospital according to MFC Twitter: Leigh Williams with a viral brain infection. I wish him (and all injured players) well.

I blame Jack Watts for this thread not reaching the length of any thread involving that other number one draft pick who now lives in Blacktown.

I still don't quite understand his role at the moment. The structure seems to have him start as CHF in the sense of position on the ground. Is he a defensive forward? Or a small crumbing forward? Or has Neeld basically said, there's no room in my team for someone who is just a defensive forward or just a crumbing forward - you'll have to be both? In which case, maybe that's what Bail is doing and doing it pretty well. His tackling against St Kilda was ferocious, although he gave away a couple of frees for hanging on too long and he also kicked two goals. In short, though, I'm a fan.

So, when did you last eat them and how were they cooked? If they were "boiled to death" (like my mother used to do), yeah, I agree, yuuuuuuuuuuk. Just don't overcook them and they are delicious! And I blame Jack Watts for all the emoticons now used in Demonland.

I repeat what I posted earlier. What's wrong with Brussels Sprouts? Cut the bottom off and steam them...then eat. I blame Jack Watts for allowing people to criticise Brussels Sprouts.

6. Jones 5. McDonald 4. McKenzie 3. Rivers 2. Jamar 1. Bartram Bail was nearly in the votes but lost a few points with me for some poor tackling (but poor in a good way - he just held on too long and gave away free kicks. I'd rather that than having tackles not stick). It was great, also, to see Grimes work his way into the game as well as he did. Augurs well. I just hope his kicking improves.

I would have thought dropping a player wouldn't help their confidence. Saturday night was a night for big bodied players so in those conditions Watts wasn't ever going to be in the best players. But he wasn't bad enough to be dropped, either. I'll assume Frawley won't be fit and Clark will. So, for mine, Clark comes in and Dunn goes out (see footnote below). Based on the Casey game, maybe Bennell should come in to add pace and skillful disposal, but, if so, it would have to be for Joel MacDonald, who had his best game for the year on Saturday night. On balance, I'd let Bennell play one more good game at Casey before promoting him. And Sellar should make way for Martin once Martin is fit. I think Sellar is the slowest player I've ever seen. His effort is commendable, but he runs like he's wearing concrete slippers. And by far the worst player on Saturday night was Sylvia, but through no fault of his own. He should have come back via Casey. But now he's back, he should remain in the team. Footnote: While I'd drop Dunn, I suspect the Match Committee won't and will once again see value in Dunn playing a shut down role, perhaps on Corey Enright. In which case, Clark will come in for Tapscott.

It's a bit depressing that reading about Casey is more interesting and exciting than reading about the senior team. But thanks to all who contributed so we can look optimistically into the future.

Sloonie, are you prepared to name your darling and explain where the tingling is that he (or she) is sensing? And why?

Hey, what's wrong with brussels sprouts?