Ruth's match report is now up

[desredandwhite]

http://redandwhiteonline.com/content.php?page=2003/round05_review1.php

etc etc

[Charlie]

My article (focused less on being an actual 'report' and more on my general thoughts) will be available in about 4-5 hours (after I get rid of the holidays homework and watch the match again ).

[Nico]

Ruth,

I know you were putting a positive spin on things, and why not, we got the chocolates.

But no mention of Mathew Nick's appalling 3rd quarter.

Now I have been an ardent fan of Nicks, but he put in a shocker. As he has been bagged regularly in this forum I watched him closely this week.

In the 3rd quarter he gave away 2 stupid free kicks, let his opponent take front position when leading for a pass, dropped 2 easy marks with no second efforts and let go possession on 2 occasions with very soft hands. With the latter from memory swept Melbourne it away at least once for a goal from the wing. If he had maintained possession and held play up it would have prevented a goal. He also shirked the issue on a potential front on confrontation. In the old parlance, he "squibbed it" allowing an easy Melbourne possession. Not a nice thing to say I know, but unforgiveable.

Most of this happened in our forward line in the 3rd quarter, so if he had been more committed we could have been closer at 3 quarter time. Tough thing to say one player had this much negative influence but it was glaring. Certainly much more pertinent than his miss against Adelaide.