Straight Sets Simon

I think the title of the thread was a fair hint that I was extracting the urine with this one. Yes, I feel they will both be very good (Jurrah could become anything) and they should be played together as much as possible this season, but I'm not stupid enough to seriously put such unrealistic pressure on two young players. Pathetic.

I heard an interview recently where Kosi admitted that he and Riewoldt have only now just started working as a team and not competing with each other for goals.

These two should be played out of the goal square together for the remainder of the season.

A very good and accurate article. "insipid third quarter on Friday night when players were dispatched behind the ball to no avail" This is the key point. It's no coincidence that in the second and fourth quarters when Melbourne had (at least some) options up the ground and in the forward line that they were able to kick goals. The loose man (in some cases, men) in defence rubbish rarely works, especially for Melbourne.

Great summary Davis.

In his first year, Bartram was pretty good for a late draft pick tagger playing in his first season. Unfortunately, he is still playing at the same standard but he is now a fourth year player.

OUT: Miller, Bartram, Robertson, Jetta IN: Valenti, Petterd, Maric, Jamar FB: Whelan Martin Frawley HB: Grimes Rivers Petterd C: Morton Moloney Bennell HF: Maric Bate Davey FF: Jurrah Green Watts Foll: Jamar McLean Sylvia Int: Johnson Valenti Cheney Bruce

Agreed.

There's your problem. Small and crumbing forwards are very much underrated on here.

Having watched most of the replay last night I am even more dumbfounded by the criticism of Rivers here. I think during his injuries people developed false memories that Rivers was a 30+ possession defender who averaged five goals per game. He's a defender, his job is to stop forwards and he has been doing that. On Martin, at the game I thought he looked OK but on TV it showed he was much better than I had thought.

That's what I mean. In a high pressure situation the umpire will be less likely to pay a 50-50 free kick if it is going to have a direct effect on the outcome. Well you would hope so anyway.

My belief on umpiring is that every decision should be made as if it is the Grand Final, the scores are level and there is 30 seconds remaining in the game.

I totally agree. Hence the Air Jurrah picture.

When Jurrah kicked that goal, I was the most excited I've been at a game of football is a long time. Amazing moment.

Yes, they are aboriginal but that doesn't mean they have the same qualities that Jurrah has. What Jurrah has is special and without getting too carried he reminded me a little of Gary Ablett, just with his freakish ability to make things happen out of nothing.

I didn't get in until halfway through the first quarter because for some reason their ticketing system is so slow. How and why I don't know.

Nail on head. It's been this way since Round 1, 2007.

I agree entirely, especially with game day tactics and structures.

I thought his game was ten times better than last round.

Jurrah was the reason I went tonight and he was worth it. Awesome debut.

That was great, thanks for the link.

Probably. I'll be there to see Jurrah and Watts.

One of Essendon's major weaknesses is in and around the clearances with Watson as just about their only genuine in and under player. This was an opportunity to expose their weakness especially with McDonald and Jones out. Melbourne have played their best football without Dunn and Bartram as taggers.

Bartram in and not Valenti is an epic fail.