Straight Sets Simon

People said the same thing about Bailey, Schwab, Connolly and Neeld.

Lack of teamwork stands out to me the most. In just about every contested situation Hawthorn always had options on the outside along with good spread. For Melbourne these were non-existent. Skills and decision making do need to improve, but I think a lot of the problem is the choices on offer are never any good in the first place.

They have power and explosiveness. In fairness Trengove's last two games have been much better.

That was pretty clear from the start, never had the power or pace to really have an impact on games.

Is your source Mark Neeld?

We heard the same things with Dunn, Bate and Newton. Then it was Morton, Maric and McNamara. Then Scully, Trengove and Gysberts. The core is there, just not in the midfield which is so important.

Williams and McDonald doesn't overly excite me.

Was Moloney injured last night?

Let me clarify, what Connolly said in the meetings in the "vault" were the only evidence the AFL had to charge Melbourne with. If Connolly never said those words no charges would have been laid (as flimsy as they were).

Gillon McLachlan's words. I can't find the quote but I remember him saying it in an interview or press conference.

He was also the source of the only evidence the AFL had in the investigation.

Surely Jetta deserved another run ahead of Nicholson and Bail.

In Dean Kent, Jack Fitzpatrick, James Strauss, Joel Macdonald, Cameron Pedersen, Jake Spencer, David Rodan Out Max Gawn (Omitted) , Neville Jetta (Omitted) , James Magner (Omitted) , Shannon Byrnes (Wrist) Magner out?

I don't disagree but discrimination is still discrimination.

I just hate the hypocrisy of O'Brien, that he thinks it is acceptable to discriminate against someone for being overweight.

Gerard Healy wanted to show that Melbourne shouldn't be so bad by bringing up a good core list of players we have going forward. I was very happy to see this becuase I have been thinking the exact same thing all year and have been thinking of writing this exact thread. The team was: FB: Garland Frawley HB: Grimes McDonald Watts C: Viney HF: Howe Dawes Hogan FF: Clark Sylvia Foll: Jones Possibles: Toumpas Trengove Blease I don't agree with McDonald and would add Gawn to the list with Barry another possible. The glaring issue is still the midfield, but the core of talent is there (provided we can hold on to all these players).

I can't access the article, do they say why it is now $3 million?

Last week and for much of this year we have seen Melbourne players refuse to run, chase, tackle and work as a team. Neeld isn't instructing the players to do this and I am sure he gets angry and constantly reminds them it is not acceptable. No doubt the players should take their share of the blame, but let me ask this: Do you think you would see these kind of repeated insipid efforts if Clarkson, Malthouse, Roos, Ross Lyon, Worsfold or Longmire were coaching?

AFL 360 again mentioning the "timeline" Neeld was allegedly given to perform. Apparently Gerard Healy will talk about it further on On The Couch.

Massive insult to be criticised by Gale. The sad part is it is probably all true.

Possibly, although Gerard Whately isn't the type of person to spread rumours.

What if the players knew this and didn't like Neeld?

We got flogged in the first two rounds with an almost full list to choose from. No coach ever has all his best players to choose from, it's how he gets the best out of the players available. Something that Neeld has failed miserably at.

OUT: Terlich (injured), Nicholson, Bail, Sellar IN: Strauss, Rodan, Taggert, Fitzpatrick

That's it, we are calling for our team to do the basics right, the only problem is these are meant to be the best players in the country, not junior footballers. When I watch the top teams play I feel as though I am watching a different league or division.