Straight Sets Simon

No, we are usually so close to the man on the mark that we kick under pressure and our angle of kicking is changed. By going back further the Sydney player actually could straighten up as the man on the mark had no impact in terms of distance or trajectory.

I’m going to keep bumping this until we actually work out what to do when we take a mark or have a free kick. Petracca is the king of just standing still and not actually getting back behind the mark. I saw a Sydney player go back about 15 metres after he took a mark and wasn’t able to play on quickly. Going back so far actually allowed him to kick the ball further because he could go on a huge arc around the man on the mark and kick under no pressure. Today JKH drifted off his mark (causing umpire to call play on) when he was 45 metres out from goal. He gave up a free kick to instead handball under pressure all because he couldn’t walk back in a straight line.

Heartbreaking.

The biggest problem I have with the current AFL MRO and tribunal is that it is outcome based and not action based. Actions can be controlled, outcomes cannot. I'm firmly in the camp that if you intentionally hit or strike a player, no matter how hard then a suspension should be enforced (as a starting point) and not just a fine. Additional weeks are then added for any injuries sustained as a result.

He got a hole in one at probably the best hole in world to do it on.

Many will have seen that Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has made the heartbreaking decision to go into palliative care after a third battle with cancer. Jarrod is a Melbourne supporter so I just wanted to send love to a fellow Demon supporter and his family during what must be the most harrowing of experiences.

Royal Melbourne isn't in Perth.

The backline didn’t have to do anything because the ball never went down there without Sandilands and Fyfe. On top of that the Fremantle forwards are all no-names anyway. Lewis constantly falls over, panics under pressure and struggles to bend down to pick up the ball. That 50 metre penalty was a disgrace, especially from someone supposed to be a leader.

Cooked.

On top of this, we kicked into the man on the mark twice against Port Adelaide (Brayshaw and Lewis from memory) which is completely unacceptable.

Did anyone hear Jimmy Bartel talking about Petracca just stood still after taking a mark tonight? How the hell is this still happening?

Needs more penetration in his kicking, prefer to see him hit targets 30 metres away than to go for the long options.

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/1000926221562085376

Our first two draft picks last year were 29 (Spargo) and 31 (Fritsch) and both are already getting regular games in their first season. That's what I call good drafting.

Because of a 17-year old rookie ruckman who hasn't played football for three years?

That's the great thing with the Category B Rookies, we have to give up very little to get them.

As if that's the reason... In all seriousness, he looked lost on the wings but since going into the guts he's back to his best. I was very skeptical, but he's had a fantastic month. His tackling is a highlight and by playing in the centre he's naturally getting the ball a lot more than he used to.

Brayshaw can hit targets, his kicks are just often a bit loopy and lack penetration which the stats don’t show.

"You're really good at footy, Jesse". "You're really good at footy too, Tom".

Yes, he is more rounded but Petracca has more tricks. I'm still not sold on Brayshaw's kicking (I think he goes to his left foot too often) but the fact that he was able to get the ball so often was a huge tick for me.

It was clear that he was abusing his position within the club to further his own media career. I’m surprised it took so long for him to get replaced.

I notice that Tom Morris wasn’t on the latest Inside Melbourne podcast, did he get the flick? EDIT: Just saw the posts above about this.

Excellent debut, love his fight and thirst for the contest. His goals were both excellent and very timely in the circumstances.

Way too many people.

This year he has been on the box, in previous years he was on the bench.