Straight Sets Simon

Relied on draft picks too much, no leadership in the locker room.

"Light years away from Sydney in terms of culture."

"Melbourne Football Club hasn't understood what it takes to be a strong, ruthless professional team."

In all seriousness, if the Melbourne players aren't watching this and seeing how hard Sydney run (as shown by the excited Roos) they are doing themselves an injustice.

Paul Roos is yet to mention Sydney, something is wrong.

Slightly off topic but it is frightening that two teams lost by over 100 points this round and neither were the expansion teams. With more teams the talent pool is being stretched and it becomes that much more difficult to get to the top.

Is it too cynical to not rate how young players go in the SANFL after what we have seen from Trengove and Toumpas so far at AFL level?

If Melbourne are using it then it is worthless.

Just watching GWS, Dylan Shiel had the ball in the back pocket and went straight into fifth gear, arched his back and ran away. Melbourne players tend to stop, look around and then run. By running straight away he is giving himself space and more time to dispose of the ball and make the right decision.

OUT: Pedersen, Dunn, Trengove, Byrnes, Davey IN: Garland, Jetta, Taggert, Magner, Tynan

You can add sprinting too, the lack of acceleration is so bad it is not funny.

Worst post of the year, not becuase Dunn is good but becuase Pedersen is unfit, lazy and stupid.

Does Trengove have OP?

Does Trengove have OP? Melbourne need to come out clarify this once and for all because if he doesn't they need to either completely rebuild his running action or trade him while there is an ounce of value left.

I've been banging on this for a while now, but Melbourne continually put themselves under unnecessary pressure when they take marks / receive free kicks by making the same mistakes over and over again. When Melbourne players take a mark (and there isn't an option to play-on) they often do one of three things: 1) They turn around (facing the backline), slowly jog and then turn back around (to face the forward line). This whole process takes up to three or four seconds which is far too slow, by which time the opposition is able to get back. 2) They immediately run off their line (without even looking straight ahead) which not only means they are now kicking under pressure, they now are running to the side and they can't even see what is down the line or off to the other side. This means they have reduced their options to kick to by 2/3. Not only that, they have eliminated the best option which is to kick straight down the line! 3) They turn around straight away but don't get back far enough behind the man on the mark and either kick into that player or are forced to kick the ball high in the air to clear him. What they need to do is immediately turn around to face the forward line, meaning they can see all options in all areas in front of them, including the best option down the line. The exception to this if a player who is running by can receive a handpass but both players need to be smart enough to know if he is or isn't clear. At the same time the player needs to sprint backwards (not walk, jog or run but sprint). This means there is now zero chance of the man on the mark coming into play as the Melbourne player is back far enough clear of him. Funnily enough, this also means the opposition don't have time to get back, as the Melbourne player with the ball can move the ball on quickly as he has moved quickly to be in a position the kick the ball without pressure. Crazy isn't it? NB: This thread was resurrected from 2013.

Drop Howe, been pathetic.

How fat is Pedersen!

Stop diving in the back of the North players, Melbourne.

We have been rubbish, but the umpiring has been woeful.

The lack of acceleration and explosiveness from Melbourne players is frightening.

Dumb, lazy and unfit.

Love watching Craig go off his nut at quarter time.

Why the hell did Gawn have to play-on from that free kick?

One inside fifty is insipid.

Can someone please tell our players to quickly get back behind the mark without running off the line and therefore playing on!