Straight Sets Simon

I didn't hear it but I'm guessing the comment was made by Tim Lane.

In your opinion.

I don't see the love for McKenzie, he's not bad but 200+ game player?

I really hope not.

This is a key point.

FB: Cheney Warnock Martin HB: Bennell Frawley Macdonald C: Trengove Moloney Davey HF: Bruce Rivers Dunn FF: Bate Miller Green Foll: Jamar McDonald Grimes Int: Maric Jones Scully Petterd

I'm a big Aussie fan, but he did not look fit at all on Saturday. I realise that it's hard to get fit when you're injured all the time but he did not look like an athlete. I also find it frustrating that players such as Garland and McNamara who have been on the list for a few years haven't bulked up all that much. If they were at any other club they would probably have another five kilograms of muscle.

Bradshaw? I don't hold high hopes for Fitzpatrick.

Against Brisbane in Cairns last year.

I'd like to see Martin go back into defence (not a forward) and Rivers put in the forward line.

I'm glad I had to leave at half time by the looks of things. A few notes from what I saw: - Naitanui was dominant in first quarter, looked like opening up game but was quiet in second quarter. - Martin is not a forward. - Bruce was good, disposal still a worry. - Jones was very quiet. - Moloney's bump on Kerr was the highlight of the game. - Trengove and Scully where thereabouts but did not have big impacts. - Jamar was solid in the ruck. - Forward line is a huge concern. - Still too much handball, not enough kicking.

I know that Casey Radio cover some local sport, however I am not sure if they are covering the game today. Listen in at 2 to find out I suppose.

That was painfully embarrassing.

The worst bit about it was having to sit through 20 minutes of "news" to hear the interview. The world is getting more stupid by the day.

I just don't agree at all, put whoever you want in your team.

No way. My round 1 team (at the moment, it always changes). FB: Macdonald Warnock Frawley HB: Grimes Rivers Bennell C: Trengove Moloney Sylvia HF: Petterd Dunn Davey FF: Jurrah Green Bate Foll: Jamar Jones Scully Int: Martin McDonald Bruce Maric

It's seriously appreciated by those who couldn't get to the game.

It was raining sideways that day against the Bulldogs too. It will be a massive shame if there isn't a game at Casey Fields this year.

I've seen Melbourne flood the defensive half of the ground since round 1, 2007. Reports from people at the game suggest this happened on Sunday.

I'm not denying that Melbourne doesn't have the best skills. My issue is that the structure of flooding the defensive half of the ground and playing a loose man in defence makes it even harder to execute skills properly (hit targets) and that it does not assist in the scoring of goals. Even if the overall skill level of Melbourne's players was much better there still would be a considerable number of turnovers as a result of having fewer targets to hit and being under greater pressure. I wouldn't know exactly what other teams game plans are, first of all because I don't watch them as closely but also because I very rarely attend non-MFC games so issues of structure, where forwards line up and so on are much harder to gauge from watching on TV.

Does anyone know if there is likely to be a Challenge game at Casey Fields this year?

You don't do it by flooding. Personally, I would prefer to see Melbourne go man-on-man and back players in to beat their opponents instead of relying on flooding and playing a loose man in defence.

EDIT: Apparently not according to someone at the game.

Possession is meaningless unless you do something with it. Flooding the defensive half of the crowd significantly reduces the ability to use the ball well.

titan_uranus touched in this, but what I will say is that without any doubt, whenever I see Melbourne go defensive, that is when they concede more goals. Without doubt. Three minutes to go in the quarter and James McDonald holds the ball in the air, you just know the opposition will score no matter how well Melbourne have been playing up to that point. Those four points you make are all very well, but they leave the most crucial point, what do you then do when you get the ball? Let's say that Melbourne cover all the four points and create a turnover on the halfback line. The whole team has pushed into the defensive half of the ground and there are 36 odd players within that area. What next? There are very few options up the ground as the whole team has pushed up and it is crowded around the ball. The forwards are trying to get back into forward line, but they are running towards the goals and not away from the goals on a lead so it is harder to hit them as a target. Now, because the player on the halfback line has no options up ahead, they are forced to chip sideways (or even backwards like Moloney did). But, it's still extremely crowded as most players from both sides are within the area, therefore it is even more difficult to hit a target. In short, as we saw against Fremantle the player with the ball is placed under even more pressure as he hesitates looking for clear options (see Scully) and with the players under more pressure a turnover was and is more likely to occur. In short, those four points you listed are not just a defensive tactic, they are a negative tactic. It is not positive football that is going to win games and Premierships. This tactic is like playing for a nill-all draw and it shows very little confidence in the players ability to beat their opponents without having to simply flood back. Of course there will times when you do need to flood back as a last resort, but the issue I have had since round 1, 2007 is that for the most part it seems to be the first option.