Straight Sets Simon

I picked it up at the start of the game, amateur mistake by the AFL. Even Mark Robinson mentions it in his article, I hope that people don't go quietly about this because it was a monumental mistake.

Bartram - Good defensive game Bate - Good goals but no second efforts Bennell - Goal and mark of the week Bruce - Class showed in wet conditions Davey - Quiet by his standards Dunn - Poor kicking for goal Frawley - Solid Garland - Confidence growing Green - Quiet by his standards Grimes - Will be a star, but needs to improve decision making Jamar - Becoming a great ruckman Johnson - Didn't get a kick Jones - Ran all day McDonald - Good tagging game Moloney - Quiet by his standards Rivers - Solid Scully - Best on ground Sylvia - Rarely sighted Trengove - Some class touches Warnock - Great game Hughes - Good debut McKenzie - Always goes down the middle, love it

Agree with the Trengove decision, but see Nasher's thread regarding goal umpires, it is their final call, right or wrong. That's the big issue here.

I don't think it's the quality of disposal that's the problem, it's his decision making that can sometimes let him down.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that heard this, I thought I was hearing things.

In fairness it did look as though he fumbled the ball over the line, it wasn't a one grab mark.

Agreed, if that umpire that looks like Gollum can get a week for his mistakes there are two or three umpires from tonight who deserve a break next week.

As soon as I saw the umpires in pink with black shorts I expressed serious concern. Disgraceful.

I'm a fan of Phil Spencer, the Relocation Relocation and Location Location Location shows are great. I'm yet to see the new series, shame I missed that episode.

Of the 26,763 people at the game yesterday I would say that just under half were Melbourne supporters (roughly 12,000), that means there were only about 14,000 North Melbourne supporters at the game. That must surely be a worry for the Kangaroos who were coming off a good win against the Hawks with some very promising young players. On top of that (from where I was sitting at least) there didn't seem to be much enthusiasm from their supporters and they were fairly quiet considering how well they played. Richmond on the other hand got flogged today but you at least know their supporters will turn up next week and the week after and they will be vocal in their support. I don't want to stick the boot into North because they played well (deserved the win) and have some good young players, but surely they must be worried by this.

Grimes will be a star, but he looked to kick sideways on almost every occasion yesterday, whether or not it was the best option.

He was very good in the third quarter when Melbourne got a run on.

6. Bartram 5. Green 4. Davey 3. Scully 2. Jamar 1. Bennell

He was far from it.

Can anyone explain to me why Grimes kicked sideways almost every time he had the ball? Even right at the end of the game, when North Melbourne had the game won he went sideways when he could of attacked and he sprayed the kick too.

It still doesn't take away from the fact that he was one of their better players on Saturday. His chase down of Sylvia was very good also.

And there are players up field to kick the ball to in the first place.

That's generally the idea of a zone, from what I have seen it often is used when the opposition is kicking the ball out to try and force a kick into the pocket.

No, zones are about filling space as opposed to playing on a direct opponent.

I thought he was once of the few Brisbane players who could hold their head up on Saturday night. He was a little unlucky with a couple of head high decisions that didn't go his way too.

What I am saying is that Melbourne have been using man-on-man when they are defending, instead of using a zone. When you have the ball then run off your opponent (excluding key defenders such as Warnock). There has been a big difference between Melbourne in round 1 and Melbourne in round 2 onwards with regards to playing a more simple man-on-man defensive style.

You honestly believe that man-on-man refers to following an opponent even when your team is in possession?

There is definitely a freshness to the team that has been brought on by young players. Scully and Trengove have both been good but the sides improvement has come from the likes on McDonald, Jones, Moloney, Bate, Petterd, Dunn and Jamar and it looks as though just having the fresh faces in the team has rejuvenated the older brigade.

Not true, Moloney has always been a good kick.

His kicking skills superb, and his ability to break through packs has been instrumental for Melbourne so far this year.