Straight Sets Simon

Like I said, I'm not a big Bailey fan but just thought that the individual efforts of most players (incidentally Watts was one of a few who didn't give up) was not acceptable at any level of football and all the blame should not be directed at Bailey.

I've never been a big Bailey fan, his reliance on pushing forwards deep into defence has cost the team dearly but against West Coast I wasn't so annoyed with him (despite the fact no forwards were in the forward line!). I was annoyed with the effort from players. I've mentioned this before, but I feel it needs to be highlighted. 90% of the reason that Collingwood are so good is because they work hard and they work smart. They never stop running, never. They don't just run to where the ball is, they run to where the ball is going to be. They have Swan and Pendlebury who are stars but pound for pound much of their list isn't amazing. What really annoyed about Melbourne on Thursday night was their lack of effort. - Players caught flat footed - Players not protecting teammates with the ball - Lack of second, third, fourth or fifth efforts - Inability to tackle (Morton's attempted tackle on Kerr was one of the most pathetic efforts I have seen from any footballer) - Not running hard enough - Not running to the right positions - Players simply taking that extra 0.5 of a second to react, by which time the opposition already have the ball The one thing from Bailey I would like to see change straight away is to go back to man-on-man football. At least that way it would force the players to show some accountability and it simplifies their role. As professional athletes there is no reason why the players should not run themselves into the ground each week. If they can't keep running, then they need to improve their fitness. I am still amazed by Dane Swan, he is a bit chubby (for a footballer), has tiny legs and doesn't have the silkiest skills. Then I look at a player like Sylvia who is lean, strong, fast and has very good skills. But the player that never stops, the player that is quicker, stronger and always racks up more possessions is Swan, not Sylvia. Much of it is mental, and maybe that comes back to Bailey but unfortunately the signs were there against the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Melbourne need to watch Collingwood, not their tactics or their "press", but the way that they never stop running, never stop working for each other and never stop trying.

I've got this crazy idea, I may have mentioned it once or twice since round 1, 2007 but I might say it again. Play the forwards in the forward line. I loved watching Moloney run through the middle with the ball only to find not a single teammate to kick it to. It takes me back to the good old days with Daniher. While we are at it, play man-on-on. Stuff all this zone rubbish, simple football.

They are still celebrating the 90 point over the Gold Coast...

I agree and I am amazed that it doesn't happen more often. I would use it as a fourth spot on the bench where a player can run down, get a drink from a trainer and take a quick rest. No opposition team would then leave that player on their own in their attacking goal square.

90% of what makes Collingwood so good is their work rate. Players never stop running, with or without the ball. I wish Melbourne had their work ethic.

Intereting statistic, certainly better than disposal efficiency. Once Grimes removes the dinky little kicks sideways and backwards he goes for all the time his KTDO will come down dramatically.

We have reached 100 shirts sold, a small but significant step. Thank you again to everyone who has purchased a shirt.

OUT: Dunn, Bartram IN: Petterd, Macdonald Petterd must come in, too good to be playing at Casey.

Trengove will be very good but the one things that is holding him back is his acceleration. He is quite quick when up and running but over those crucial first two or three metres he gets caught and struggles to break away.

His kicking isn't great, but it's his decision making that's the problem. Even Davey would have trouble with the dinky little passes that Grimes too often attempts.

I'm not worried about his goal kicking. I just want to see him be ruthless at the contest and to really want to get the ball no matter the cost, not just "put himself" in contests. He did not do that today even as the fresh player in a last quarter where the opposition had all but given up.

The problem is those stats say nothing about Watts' intensity, urgency to get the ball, willingness to put his body on the line and head over the ball. That's his problem, not the number of kicks and marks per game.

I've been disappointed with Green as a player and a Captain this year. I am not seeing him assert himself on games, always looking at the umpires for free kicks and just hasn't been hard at it enough. He obviously has to work hard to be a leader but at the moment it looks as though this is at the expense of his own game.

Lazy. I can't get over the lack of intensity and effort from some players today.

Watts takes a good contested mark, then fluffs a kick to gift Swallow a goal. See you at Casey.

If they say the heat was a factor I simply say they aren't fit enough. They have a two week break now to improve their fitness otherwise they have just been lazy.

Grimes' short kicking has been superb, always picks the best option and Colin Garland is a smart footballer. Oh wait.

Lazy, pure and simple. Working out why Collingwood are so good isn't hard. They run hard with and without the ball, they aren't just thinking about getting the ball themselves they think about where they need to be if their teammate gets the ball. Melbourne don't do any of this. Melbourne are about five goals down for what I would consider a pass mark to this point.

I just want to see Watts show at least half the desire and urgency for the ball that Hurley does.

That doesn't surprise me at all, hence why I have kept it separate from club completely. Hopefully the more people who wear them to games and tell their friends it can grow.

[censored] thread.

I laughed when I heard Bailey say in the post game interview that he gave the players a rocket.

Hi all, Air Jurrah stickers and badges are in the works. Watch this space.

He looks almost as young and skinny as when he was drafted. I'm sure he has put on weight but he isn't nearly strong as he should be. It's an issue because he gets worked off the ball far too easily and he won't improve if he doesn't get stronger.