Straight Sets Simon

Naitanui was fairly average against the Swans, as has been said consistency will be his greatest challenge. Well done Jackson Trengrove.

Alastair Lynch is painful.

Yes, but it has been clear that they are not trying to zone off, rather they are playing man-on-man. This has changed. More options in the forward line has also been noticeable (with the exception of the start of the Richmond game where they kicked out to a lead).

Would it be fair to say that Melbourne are going a lot more man-on-man as opposed to zoning after the Hawthorn game?

He hasn't shown that pace during games, that's why he looks a little slow at times.

Unfortunately I had to work Saturday night so I couldn't make it to the game. Devastated.

After the Brisbane game there was an article in the Herald Sun that referred to Melbourne's Danny Frawley. Pathetic.

People don't understand the importance of the salary cap. That along with the draft are two of the most import elements of the competition and saved the then VFL in the 1980's. I would be surprised if they come out of this at alive.

I agree about Bail, he looks much better at AFL level than in the VFL. The football is much different in the VFL, generally more crowded and contested (smaller grounds and poorer playing surfaces contribute to this) and it simply doesn't suit some players.

Against Adelaide Dunn was pretty bad, but last week he was good and deserves to stay in the team.

First of all I am not claiming to know a lot about Gysberts, this is just as a general question. From the little I have seen of Tapscott (at training and YouTube) he looks the goods with his long and penetrating kicking, good hands and solid build. They are qualities that are clearly the reason why he was drafted and they are are qualities that will be valuable to Melbourne (or any team for that matter). Again, I have seen very little of Gysberts and I'm not trying to judge him before he's played a game, but what are the qualities that he has that other players don't have that are the reason that he was drafted ahead of a player such as Lewis Jetta?

The move to Casey Fields is one of the best things to happen to the club in recent times. However, it is not a full-time option. Melbourne don't need to be there full-time to tap into this growing region. The success of the pre-season and intra-club matches over recent years shows how much support Melbourne is getting from the locals. As far as I know, there shouldn't be any issues with sharing facilities with the other codes at AAMI. I think Melbourne will have the best of both worlds, first-class facilities in the city, near the MCG as well as first-class facilities at Casey Fields in a growing outer region.

In the last three rounds he has been fantastic. One of the best aspects of his game is his ability to get the ball and immediately rebound by running hard and breaking tackles to get the ball forward. I also like the fact that he wanted to come to Melbourne and went straight into the PSD so he could come to the Dees.

Love your work fatty. I'd happily take Thompson back, I'm not sure what Melbourne would have to give up to get him.

Bail looks 100 times better at AFL level than when he was playing for Casey. Very impressed with his composure and decision making.

Agreed.

After the initial indiscretion in the first quarter when Melbourne had no players in the forward line which allowed Richmond to get a good start, the forward line looked the best it has been for a long time. The combination of Bate, Dunn, Petterd, Green and Sylvia was potent and offered a lot of variety. Jurrah would have been the icing on the cake, but so long as these five players spend solid periods of time up forward then Melbourne look much stronger. Green and Sylvia are both very good from set shots, Petterd has great hands, knows where the goals are but his action means he will fluff a few. Dunn looks at home across the half forward line and is also a decent set shot and Bate is good enough to pop up for two or three goals per game.

I love Petty Cash.

6. Moloney 5. McDonald 4. Sylvia 3. Green 2. Jamar 1. Scully

Moloney's kicking was first class today, would be a massive loss if he was suspended. IN: Johnson OUT: Bartram

Bail - Looks very classy Bartram - Solid performance Bate - Finding form Bennell - Quiet but useful Bruce - Should be dropped Davey - Solid performance Dunn - Looks good forward Frawley - Well beaten Garland - Solid performance Green - Looks great forward Grimes - Great overhead marking Jamar - Red hot form Jones - Surprisingly classy performance McDonald - Very good again Macdonald - Becoming very important Moloney - Sublime kicking skills Petterd - Great hands Scully - Best game yet Sylvia - Brilliant kicking skills Trengove - Showing positive signs Warnock - Solid performance McKenzie - Quiet game

I rate Petterd, wouldn't want to see him go.

Agreed. By the way your blog about the Adelaide game was spot on.

The key with Frawley is his pace and now his size. The way he palmed off Burton was brilliant.

He looks to be one of those players who is better when they play in the AFL as opposed to the VFL. I've been impressed.