Straight Sets Simon

If Yze or Holland (or whoever) were to retire during the year, would this allow Wonaeamirri to stay on the senior list when Grimes and Neitz return?

Bloody good work.

Hook. Line. Sinker. Well done Y_M.

The ball has the be over the goal line and within the padding / post (depending on how high the ball goes through).

Oh the wit...

6. Miller 5. Aussie 4. McLean 3. Robertson 2. Bate 1. Moloney

I hope I'm busy abusing people on internet forums when I'm in my 40's, 50's, 60's...

It was a shocking kick, no denying that one.

I agree. I thought Bruce was good, but had a fair few dodgey handballs early on.

I hope they do that all the time, no matter the score.

First of all, I never said just "lob the ball up high". But seeing as you mentioned it. Highlights - 4:59 - 5:33 - 6:30 - 6:46 (Was kicked in by Moloney, not in footage) I'm not saying just bomb the ball in long and hope, if the lead is on then that should be the first option. However, IMO it is better to have the ball in the "hot spot" (20-30 metres out) in a contested situation with marking forwards and crumbers at their feet than it is to chip the ball around while you wait for a player to get free. Incidentally it is harder to find a free player the longer you wait as the opposition has more time to get back and fill in space.

Confidence is a huge factor, no doubt. For me, it was as if the players stopped thinking about the process and were trying to focus on the result. By that I mean, in the first half when running the ball out of defence, quite often their first option was to look sideways or backwards as if there was a certain formula that needed to be followed. However, by the second half the focus seemed to shift to the fact that their aim was to simply get the ball in to the forward line as quickly as possible to kick as many goals as possible becuase they were so far behind. This resulted in more direct play, long kicking and like you mentioned, harder running. After watching the highlights, it was amazing to see just how many Melbourne (and Freo) goals were the result of long kicks in to the forward line. Moreover, just how beneficial it is to have a crumbing forward who can pounce on the loose ball and not just rely on players being hit on the chest on the lead (which still should always be a first option).

The Sandilands kick was his worst, but again how many times did Melbourne cough the ball up in the middle of the ground by over using it? The problem was, that there weren't any forward options. Either becuase they weren't there in the first place, or that Melbourne's slow, indirect ball movement through short kicking and over using the handball allowed Freo players enough time to get back and fill in space.

I was just watching the highlights of the game and here and Cometti sums it up perfectly after Moloney's long kick to Davey in the forward line: "Now they're going long to the square and they're kicking goals!".

I wanted Miller dropped. He was very good yesterday. But, he still needs to do that every week.

He had the right idea, the problem was there was no structure, no forward line to kick it to. This LONG KICKING to a FORWARD LINE thing could take off... How many times was the ball turned over in the middle of the ground through short kicking and handpassing?

This LONG KICKING to a FORWARD LINE thing could take off... This LONG KICKING to a FORWARD LINE thing could take off... So it was better when Melbourne turned the ball over in the midfield becuase of stupid little kicks and handpasses?

I'll pay that.

I've always said there should be two goal umpires at each end. The 19 Swans were robbed (sort of) last week, Davey against the Crows in Cairns and even Brad Green against the Cats this year (although it wouldn't have changed the result).

Did we see for the first time in eleven years a "Plan B"?

But they have played well before. Miller hadn't. In that last quarter he could have done the conservative thing and dished off a little handball when Schammer was coming for him, instead he just ran through the guy.

You would.

Miller's best game ever by far.

It was the difference, pure and simple. Moloney had the right idea in the first quarter, there was just no one to kick it to.

It's round 7 this week.