Straight Sets Simon

Dumb kick by Harmes.

Our players need to know when they do or don’t have prior opportunity. We just panic when tackled.

It’s going to get ugly in the last quarter.

Fumbles.

This Riewoldt shot on goal is 100% because Hunt and others overran the ball on the ground.

I said this earlier in the year and all the nuffs on here blamed the kickers, glad someone else sees it.

Smith’s positioning is excellent.

Brayshaw.

When Oliver can be tackled around the ankles and no free kick that says it all.

Harmes played on from a mark while being tackled, madness.

Umpiring has been woeful.

That fake handpass by Melksham before kicking to Hunt is what I want to see more of. It was only slight but it opened up the ground in front of him.

Jones and McDonald handpassing directly to opponents won’t help us.

Loving Lockhart.

Why play on from a mark while getting tackled? This desire to rush the ball and not take a free kick with time and space is madness.

Smith looking good.

Viney should have shepherded.

I was just thinking today how last year Melbourne was the Bulldogs of 2016, only we couldn't go all the way like they did.

Yet another post of the year nomination?

This is how tonight will go: We will come out firing after the horrors of last week We will win a lot of clearances as we will have lots of players going for the same ball at the contest Richmond will set up well outside the contest not over-committing players to the ball and wait for us to fumble or turn the ball over Our fierce attack on the contest early will see us get the ball inside the forward 50 a lot but Weideman and McDonald (who will lead too early) won't hold their marks and our small forwards will be out of position when the ball hits the ground allowing Richmond to walk the ball out of their backline and transition up the ground with ease While we focus on Richmond's twin towers it will be their fleet of small and quick forwards who will cut us up and expose our lack of speed Gawn will battle hard in the ruck but not having Preuss to support him will limit his effectiveness as the kick-behind-play ruckman in defence that we need Melksham will bob up for a couple of opportunistic goals but he will again totally freak out with any sort of set shot, Petracca the same In the end, we will have the endeavour but not the structure, fitness, skill or the personnel to compete for four quarters Melbourne by 37 points.

Crack in hard while the opposition just sit back, wait for us to fumble and then clear it out the back with ease.

Never been less excited for a game. Richmond are going to totally tear us apart with their speed and pressure.

I said it at the time but Joel Smith being injured hurts us quite a lot. He's far more dynamic than McDonald and Weideman and is the type of player (along with a genuine crumber) that we need in our forward line.

Post of the year.

I’ve seen Melbourne players shepherd about five times in the last five years.