Straight Sets Simon

Unrestricted.

I think he's been better in the middle than up forward.

Davey behind the ball is fine (kicking is one of best in the league still), so long as we don't become too reliant on him as we did in the past.

Again, it may be reasonable and accurate, but why is he even saying it other than to keep his job? Players, fans, members and sponsors don't want to hear it.

Nick Vlastuin isn't struggling as a first year player, even considering he is playing in a better midfield.

As was mentioned in the telecast there still isn't enough pressure on the opposition ball carrier. Too often Melbourne players think they are too far away to have an impact so they just jog, they need to sprint and really push to put any kind of pressure on.

What are you talking about? I wasn't saying that Dawes was having a go at Neeld. I was saying take notice of the contrast the two have, Neeld was making excuses while Dawes was clearly stating what is and isn't acceptable.

He wasn't having a dig (intentionally), it was just the contrast between what they were saying. Notice Dawes isn't saying "we will win more games", simply stating what is and isn't acceptable instead of making excuses, that's the attitude I want to hear.

Gawn must stay in, Jamar looks ten times better with him in the side. He was quieter today but he is clearly our number two ruckman.

Yes he was good, but I still don't think he set the world on fire by any means (as a first and second year player).

Watch the press conference with Neeld and Dawes: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-05-19/mark-neeld-and-chris-dawes-postmatch-media-conference At about the 1:10 mark Neeld is going on about peaks and troughs and Dawes cuts him off and states that effort at AFL level shouldn't need to be coached. Basically, Dawes is stating clearly and bluntly what is and isn't acceptable while Neeld is making excuses. Worth a watch!

Maybe he's just not as good as we hoped he would be?

I think Watts should come back through Casey, he needs to earn and work for it.

Finally he was left in the midfield and not played up forward or as a tagger.

Well that's the other thing, when Melbourne do play-on there is usually an opponent a metre or so away just waiting to lay a tackle. The decision making is horrid.

I wasn't having a go at the kid, just saying the injury looked serious.

Comparing Melbourne to the Sydney v Fremantle game on Saturday night, when Sydney get the ball their teammates are constantly moving, creating options, running one way then the other. An option opens up, it is taken and the whole process is repeated and until there is a clean break. Melbourne do the opposite. From a mark, Melbourne players get the ball, then jog back (still facing the backline), teammates might run a bit but then they stop. If the ball isn't kicked into the man on the mark Melbourne players are forced to kick to a contest or if they switch, no one has the very basic football smarts to then provide an option one, two or three possessions ahead. They are just flat-footed and wait for the ball to come to them.

Melbourne just seem to have games where the effort isn't there and they lose (last week) and other weeks the effort is there but the skills and decision making is so poor (today) and they lose.

Rolled ankle, went down like he'd been shot so I thought it may have been broken.

Was very ordinary today before getting injured. His skills are pretty good, but I can't find anything else of note (especially for a top 4 draft pick).

I'm bumping my own thread as I think it is relevant, especially with the discussion regarding Nicholson and McKenzie.

Me too.

No room in the team for players who can't kick.

He looks to have very little muscle definition, hence no explosiveness or power. On top of that he stands around flat-footed too often.

Couldn't agree more.