Straight Sets Simon

I'm guessing I should be happy I can't see or listen to this game?

You can watch the women's game online here. Some seriously good skills on show and they actually turn around instantly to face the forward line after taking a mark. Something that the men's team don't do.

I never heard people suggesting it when Casey were finishing in the top four.

Before this year Casey was frequent top 4 team. Yes, their finals record was appalling but is it really much different having Casey listed players as opposed to Melbourne reserves listed players?

The umpire pointed the wrong way. This as far as I'm concerned is completetly unacceptable from an umpire and to then call advantage once everyone had stopped (becuase they thought it was a Melbourne free kick) should be a punishable offence.

I think that part of the problem with all the overuse of the ball is that when a Melbourne has the ball in traffic their first thought was to just handpass. I'd like to see the player with the ball look to burst away for a few steps first to create a bit of space and then look to pass the ball off.

I hate rule changes, however here are a few which may (but probably won't) help reduce congestion: Free kick against the third player into a tackle. Automatic push in the back for any player on the ground with a player laying on his back (irrespective of any holding the ball). You can't take possession of the ball unless you are on your feet.

What annoys me most about this is he is (although Jones is not alone with this) often forced to run on an angle when he receives the ball and therefore kick the ball wide to the boundary.

The first four weeks of the season were great where the umpires were only paying the obvious free kicks and they were quick to throw the ball up and keep play moving.

This pretty much sums it up.

Too much handpassing, not enough players taking the game on.

We need players to be able to take the game on and we need a forward structure that means they always have options (who aren't out-numbered) up ahead to kick to when said player takes the game on.

It's the constant handpassing to a player in a worse position that kills me. Often too they do it after a mark or when they have a free kick meaning they go from being under no pressure with the ball to enormous pressure.

Why the handpassing to a stationary player under pressure?

The attack on the ball has been very poor.

Bail had a chance to attack the contest after Tyson kicked the ball off the ground but he hesitated and North were able to clear the ball out of defence way too easily.

Too often Melbourne receive handball after a mark, but the person who receives the ball is running on an angle and not straight at goal so they are automatically forced to go wide.

Way too much handballing!

Have a nice holiday, McKenzie.

Look what happens when you move the ball quickly.

Game over.

Salem has looked lazy and there is no forward pressure at all. Umpiring had been terrible.

Agreed, he isn't suited to the scrappy VFL conditions. He's still easily best 22 for mine.

Blease has done a few nice things.

Dumb by Nicholson giving away a fifty metre penalty.