Straight Sets Simon

We were good against rubbish opposition, could we do that against the top sides? No chance. Spargo had a great debut, Fritsch was excellent, Gawn back to his dominating best and we really missed Tom McDonald.

He’s just the worst. Thank Christ for Fritsch.

Pathetic finish.

This. That Tyson miss was so bad.

Then Essendon go up the other end kick a goal. I don’t care that we are so far ahead, these kind of mistakes are inexcusable.

I’m taking credit for turning it around. We have been much better, but is it sustainable? A lot of the same issues I mentioned are still there, it just helps that the opposition are putrid.

And Harmes.

Everything ANB touches turns to to rubbish.

Our forward line looks so much better.

As I am writing this Melbourne are only one goal down at half time, against Essendon but it is continuing the trend of rubbish football we have seen over in the past few weeks. The same problems still exist: Fumbling Missing tackles Not being able to break clear or dispose of the ball when tackled Poor skills Overrunning the ball on the ground Kicking into the man on the mark because not getting back behind the mark far or quick enough Drifting off the mark causing the umpires to call play on resulting in free kicks turning into unnecessarily pressured kicks Panicked kicks and handballs Not looking to break clear for disposing of the ball, just coughing it up Multiple players flying for the ball and no one staying down The opposition getting easy goals out the back in the clear Stagnant down-the-line ball movement with no flair or dare Out-numbered in our forward line Even with all of this we are only one goal down, it just shows how much we still need to improve because our ceiling is much higher. I've got no doubt that the systems and structures in place are what is leading to these poor performances. Talent on the list isn't the issue, we no longer rely on players like Magner, Crouch, Bail and Sellar. We have even seen a nice debut from young Spargo who has been lively. So all you optimists out there, convince me of why this isn't the Mark Neeld era all over again.

Oscar just drifted off his line after taking a nice mark in defence which forced the umpire to call play on so he actually went from having a free kick to being under pressure in the backline. Dumb.

Oscar has been good this year, but he bought more candy from Daniher than Willy Wonker.

Even if they did, it's so bad that it doesn't allow for the players to play well.

We never tackle the arms, Harmes just just grabbed McGrath around the waist and he was so easily able to handpass the ball.

This is a team bereft of confidence. They are trying to operate under a structure and with a system that is complete rubbish. We all know that the talent isn't this bad. No wonder our skills and decision making is poor.

Salem just giving up the ball when tackled is exactly what we were doing last week. We always do that yet opposition teams somehow always get a handpass off when tackled.

Great goal, Spargo.

Hogan gets nothing from the umpires.

Harmes has inherited Watts' lack of aggressive intent with the number 4.

That goal was pure luck, that was not a result of anything good we did.

Fremantle can have him.

I miss Neeld.

No structure, no system.

Lever dumb.