THE TACKLE: The sort of endeavour shown by Melbourne yesterday might save coach Mark Neeld's career

THE TACKLE: DEES put up a fight, Darren Jolly in big trouble and Angry Al Clarkson is footy's David Warner. Replay live chat.

EXCUSE the obvious, but those sorts of performances might help save Mark Neeld's career.

Just as Saturday night's performance by Collingwood helped save Nathan Buckley from major heartache.

Irrespective of ladder placement, the effort and application of defensive attitude is what's required, and when that happens it underpins performance.

That's all coaches want. You know that's all fans want.

The difference between Collingwood and Melbourne is polish.

Melbourne yesterday, compared with the previous week against Gold Coast, was like watching different sides.

They lost yesterday by 34 points. But defeat isn't the critical point for Neeld's group. It's about contest after contest, minute after minute, quarter after quarter.

Commentator Tim Watson yesterday described Melbourne's battle as taking "baby steps".

In time, they will take adult steps, but whether Neeld is there to see them is another story.

A 100-point blow-out yesterday might have prompted Melbourne to call an emergency press conference for this morning.

Instead, they take several positives.

They won the tackle count (68-65), lost the contested ball (120-112), made the most of limited inside-50s (53-34) and lost clearances (45-29).

Tensions run over

Not everything went their way, but they didn't drop their bottom lip.

There were issues such as running to be a target, defenders leaving opponents to attack the footy and players being a contributor however small - and that's where the tackling was evident.

And there were major issues, such as ruckman Mark Jamar being a presence in the ruck, ditto Chris Dawes as a key forward target, Aaron Davey being dangerous in the forward 50m and Jack Trengove busying himself in the middle after half-time.

They helped blokes such as Dean Terlich, the Jones boys - Matt and Nathan - and Colin Garland, who have been busting their bums without any reward.

The Demons led at quarter-time by two points, trailed by seven at the half, blew the third quarter because of a lack of class and poise in the forward 50m, and fought to the end in the final quarter.

They killed themselves in the third term.

James Magner

In a run of play of about 12 minutes, Max Gawn missed from close, Davey missed, Rohan Bail goaled, Jamar kicked out on the full and a James Frawley shot was marked in the square.

The Tigers then goaled because Davey didn't chase Richmond's emerging star Nick Vlastuin and then Jake King kicked another.

Jeremy Howe responded, Dawe missed from 45m, and Jack Riewoldt nailed one on the siren.

The difference at the last break was 22. It should've been two. In some ways, the Tigers were lucky.

Not so Collingwood.

Unlike the week before against Fremantle, Collingwood had the momentum in the first half, lost it in the third quarter, evened the flow of the game early in the final quarter, then re-exerted its authority as the game played out.

Buckley called it a courageous win. It was that and more. To wrest control from a dominant Geelong is the hardest gig in football.

Two aspects of the game worked for him: defence and small forwards. And, of course, there were the specials from Harry O'Brien, Scott Pendlebury and Sam Dwyer in the middle.

They tackled the Cats to exasperation and pointedly Darren Jolly led with eight and Luke Ball was next with six, who were both in the middle.

It also helps when the small forwards click. Andrew Krakouer and Jamie Elliott kicked six of 15, Dwyer kicked three and Pendlebury two.

Indeed, it was the Collingwood of old: full of attitude.

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STICKS AND STONES...

Alastair Clarkson surely is an enigma.

On camera and on various footy programs, he comes across a bloke who likes to laugh and joke and see the funny side of any situation.

But once again, we've seen a disturbing part of his character off camera.

I'm not a card-carrying member of the Protect the Media Association, and the AFL's Matt Thompson can fight his own battles, but having Clarkson calling Thompson a c--khead after a media conference, was low-brow.

Clarkson has history, we all know it, and his behaviour is usually explained away with the offering that Clarkson is a passionate man.

It doesn't cut it because everyone I know in footy is passionate, but they don't abuse the media.

They might behind closed doors and that's cool.

And some may argue at least Clarkson has the balls to say it the person's face, and that's fair enough, but that doesn't make it right.

Clarkson clearly has next to no respect for some members of the media, and even though Thompson pushed the subject of Hawthorn having an easy assignment against GWS, he didn't deserve to be called a c--khead because of it.

Football is a tough industry, and you give and take it, but Clarkson was out of line.

It's a strange world because the footy industry has largely ignored it, and certainly few have passed judgment.

For example, on Fox Footy's After The Bounce last night, it wasn't even mentioned.

It doesn't help that Jason Dunstall is football director at Hawthorn and Danny Frawley is the boss of the AFL Coaches Association.

They'll argue their show is a light-hearted look at the weekend's matches, and it is, but they are conflicted all the same.

It's interesting that on the same weekend Clarkson let fly, Test cricketer David Warner is in hot water after a series of tweets abusing senior News Limited journalists.

Warner might have the excuse that he'd been drinking - it was said the tweets came about 4am in India - and if that's true, well, so be it. Alcohol can drag out the most bitter of thoughts.

Clarkson, however, was on his way to Tassie and was doing a presser at the airport.

It was disappointing Hawks chairman Andrew Newbold dismissed it as ''pretty innocuous''.

''As I understand it it was pretty innocuous, disappointing, but pretty innocuous," Newbold said.

"My understanding was it wasn't an outburst, it was an off-the-cuff remark.

"I think it is disappointing but to be honest in the context of what we are here to do tomorrow, I don't see it as being a big issue."

Clarkson laughed it off at his press conference after the game on Saturday, and that's his right, and maybe that's how Newbold believes the issue should've be handled.

You'd hope the AFL wouldn't find it so amusing.

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A BUMP TO THE HEAD IS A BUMP TO THE HEAD

The report of Darren Jolly was ridiculous.

Arm tucked, body braced, he did what any footballer would do and that's make contact with Geelong's Mathew Stokes.

But there was contact to the head and that means Jolly will be found guilty.

They are the rules and the Cats know all about that after James Kelly was suspended the week before.

Won't it be interesting if the Pies argue that because Jolly has a height difference of 25cm, contact to Stokes' face was inevitable.

Can't see that argument stacking up.

If you choose to bump and hit a player in the head that is the clear definition of the rule. Forceful is somewhere in there as well, but who know knows what constitutes force these days.

Never mind that Stokes wasn't hurt or Brendon Goddard who wore Kelly's hit.

If common sense prevailed, it should've been a free kick to Stokes and move on.

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STAND BY YOUR ... CAPTAIN

COURAGEOUS by Marc Murphy last week to dress up as club president Stephen Kernahan for a marketing ploy on the Tuesday after the night before, which saw his team beaten by St Kilda.

Usually it's head down, bum up and get off ''media street'' as former North Melbourne coach Denis Pagan used to say.

No, it's a changing world.

Murphy put himself out there, and when that happens, you best do the same on the footy field.

Yesterday, Murphy was close to best afield with three goals and 24 touches, and his leadership has been widely praised at the club.

He wore heat early in the season for lacking defensive concentration, which is an area he has improved. In fact, he has laid 22 tackles in four of his past five games.

His only ''bad'' game for the year was against St Kilda (Round 7), when Jarryn Geary subdued him, and it was the one game where he didn't register a tackle.

He'll never be in the mould of Hodge, Selwood, Watson or Jack, but in time, he will be an outstanding two-way player.

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LIKES

1. Nic Nat

The two decisions to Selwood and Shuey in the final minutes were scrutinised to an inch of their lives, which undermined one of the greatest individual moments in recent memory.

Naitanui's mark and goal was boyhood-dreams stuff: The speccy, then the goal after the siren.

Everyone who smirked when Naitanui was named as West Coast's most important player can apologise now. He is their X and Y Fact which means he is special and he is young.

If John Worsfold needs any incentive to continue as coach at the end of the year, he should replay the last minute of this game. He'll have Nic Nat for another decade which will make coaching a little bit easier.

2. Heath Scotland

Not always an angel off the field, he is, however, a damned good footballer on it. Celebrated his 250th game with another clinical display off the wing/half-back.

Kicked two critical goals in the first and third quarters from beyond 45m, both coming at times when Port was making a smallish threatening challenge.

He is not up there with the best 250-game players we've seen, but what we can acknowledge is he's got the best out of himself for at least the final 200 games, after having moved from Collingwood to Carlton.

3. Brisbane

Came to Melbourne to make a statement and that was evident with two early incidents - Merrett on Hurley and Clarke on Elliott Kavanagh.

Both will likely be charged by the MRP and thankfully both Bombers escaped serious injury. But Voss would be happy.

They beat up Essendon and dominated the tackle count (73-46) and pressure acts (299-209) with Dayne Zorko reportedly leading the way with 42.

It's games like this that makes fans and, most importantly, the board realise the club is heading in the right direction.

4. Harry O'Brien

Rejuvenated on a wing, Saturday night's performance for Collingwood might be his best yet.

Obviously fitter, he's running it out of defence and running it through the midfield, and something you don't see every day is Harry being the team-high winner of the contested ball (14).

Minor controversy in the post-match, when fans accused him of using a homophobic slur - I did not, he said, I called Hawkins a fat f--k - which I suppose makes it hunky dory then.

That aside, Harry has been, with Pendlebury, Collingwood's most consistent player this season.

5. Brad Scott

This time last year, Scott put the ''West Coast duckers'' on the agenda, and even though he had a reasonable case to launch on Friday night, Scott chose his words perfectly. Others took up case for him, anyhow.

No, Scott's ability to suck up his anger and congratulate John Worsfold and Darren Glass (250th game) showed there is warm heart amid the sometimes fury.

6. Vlastuin and Ellis

Sounds like a Hungarian legal firm, but no, they are Richmond's emerging stars.

We've said that before about Richmond's draftees and if you want a laugh, have a look at the club's drafting history. Get the feeling we won't be laughing about these two.

Ellis has been described as not having tricks, that's if you don't call ball-finding ability as having a trick. Had 39 yesterday in his 29th game - his first 30 in his career - while Vlastuin, in just his fourth game, had 25.

His give-and-go down the MCC wing and pass to Dustin Martin in the third quarter was a wowee moment.

7. Jarryd Roughead

With Bailey and Hale in the team, Roughie has returned to his most potent position: Key forward.

Kicked five at the weekend, which gives him 21 for the season, one more than Lance Franklin.

The two-headed monster which took the Hawks to the flag way back in 2008, looms as dangerous again, and with Hale (eight goals), Breust (14) and Gunston (11) beside them, and Rioli to return, the two-headed monster will become a six-headed monster.

8. Aaron Black

Thought he would've been a starting 22 player at the start of the year, but had to wait behind Tarrant (injured) and Hansen (defence) before getting his chance in the forward line. And he won't be giving it up too easily.

That was his eighth game and nine goals have come from his past four. You know he has talent when he looms as the man most likely at Subiaco in front of 40,000-plus.

The very best forwards can go there and not sniff it and here was Black threatening to be the game winner. If anything, he's another cog in the Brad Scott wheel.

9. Rory Thompson

He is what the Gold Coast Suns are all about: Talented with a work ethic. Has dominated at centre half-back for the Suns and once again was instrumental in victory.

The footy world is being wowed by O'Meara, and Gaz and Harley Bennell, but it's Thompson, Prestia, Harbrow  and Danny Stanley who are doing the hard yards in defence.

Two weeks ago, some in the media painted the Suns as basket cases. They could not be more wrong.

Have been poor in two games (against Fremantle in Round 6, Port Adelaide Round 3), but have vastly improved the defensive aspects of their game.

As for O'Meara, well, as they say, they've found one here.

10. Jason Dunstall

Not always one to let himself go on TV, Dunstall last night put in a memorable performance on the "Coach Killers" segment on Fox Footy.

Let's just say he heavily scrutinised three incidents involving Fremantle's defence, Melbourne standing the mark, Nic Nat's hanger and Paul Stewart's dribble and he didn't hold back.

Watch it below.

Honourable mentions

Staker's Hollywood moment, Cachia's 10 tackles, Mackie's run, Sam Dwyer's 27 and three, Jack Redden's 12 tackles, Jordan Lewis' 11 clearances, McCaffer on Selwood, Dan Hannebery again, Hurn off a back flank, Kerr's left hand and Pyke’s contested marking.

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DISLIKES

1. Western Bulldogs

The baton of mediocrity is being passed backwards and forwards between Melbourne and the Bulldogs, and GWS, and today sits comfortably at Whitten Oval.

The Suns are tough at home - just ask Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda - but it was the manner in which the Dogs played the third quarter. They kicked 3.7 to 9.8 in the second half and gave up seven goals in third term.

While we applaud their contested ball numbers - yes, they won it again 138-127 - they once again lacked polish with their ball movement. They had 51 inside 50s to Gold Coast's 54, yet got beaten by 32 points.

Stevens, Picken, Markovic, Johannisen, Smith have their talents but brilliance is not one of them. If the senior group butcher the ball, then what hope do they have on the day?

2. Essendon

Has the slump started? Can Hird rejuvenate them ahead of Richmond?

Twice in the past three weeks, against GWS and then Brisbane, the Bombers have believed that talent will get them across the line. They skipped into gear against GWS, but couldn't, or weren't allowed to against the Lions.

In between was a fair effort against the Cats, but questions are being asked. It's not helping when the team refuses to tackle.

Goddard, Heppell, Zaharakis, Hibberd, Carlisle, Hooker, Myers, Merrett and Bellchambers had one or zero tackles. Four of them play as midfielders.

Toughen up, Bombers.

3. Goal review

Can we go a week without controversy?

The goal umpire called it a point and boundary umpire said it was a mark, and after the reviewers called it inconclusive, Jonathan Brown was paid the mark. Who then kicked the goal.

Call me stupid (again), but I'm still confused about how a boundary umpire can overrule the goal umpire.

4. St Kilda

Surprisingly inspid after half-time, lacking depth and legs through the middle, and couldn't find a dangerous forward outside of Riewoldt in the final 60 minutes.

They are handicapped because Milne, Saad and Milera can't go through the midfield to chop out their teammates, and while the defensive group works hard, they can't do much against the avalanche which was Douglas, Thompson, Sloane, who took 34 marks between them.

5. Fremantle

Dunstall aside, Fremantle's efforts to punch the ball through for a behind were shambolic.

Michael Johnson's shot for goal from 50m arrived two metres from the goal line and all it needed was a punch through and the Dockers would've pulled off a remarkable victory.

Sam Reid took the mark, Mike Pyke was in the air beside him and Heath Grundy was underneath them. The Dockers had only Jack Hannath in the air with Ballantyne, Mayne and Crowley seemingly waiting for the crumb. None came. Drawn game.

Coach Ross Lyon laughed about it in the post-match, but clearly didn't find it funny at the time.

6. Port Adelaide

Would like to give it to Justin Westhoff whose influence has fallen off the map, but will settle on Port as a whole.

Westhoff, like Port, aren't giving too much of a yelp. Westhoff took 42 marks in the first four rounds and 11 in the next four rounds and has mirrored Port Adelaide's form.

Port's season strangely hangs on its first quarters. Via @andrewcapel15m from The Advertiser, Port has now been outscored 39.24 to 22.19 in first quarters this year and outscored the opposition in all other three quarters.

They were never really in it yesterday against an undermanned Carlton which was disappointing. Hartlett quiet again and Monfries missing goals didn't help.

7. Ducking, diving, collapsing

The players know who does it, the players themselves know they do it, and while it may sometimes win them a free kick, more often than not they are simply chastised by the fans.

It's unedifying watching players throw themselves on the ground with their arms splayed outwards as if they are Superman flying.

As for ducking and collapsing the knees, still say the onus is on the tackler.

8. Andrew Mackie

Had a super game off the back flank (28 touches, eight inside 50s), but didn't quite have a career moment when he decided to follow Andy Krakouer through the goals and to the fence after Krakouer played sneaky buggers and played on when the Cats players were arguing with the umpire.

Mackie admits he's no tough guy, and he realised that when he probably asked himself: What am I doing this for?

9. Calling for heads

This time it's for Kevin Bartlett to step down from the rules committee and while I don't always agree with KB, he doesn't have a conflict of interest as was stated.

Always believed the rules committee was some kind of secret society and like the fact that KB entertains discussion on SEN. That's not conflict, it's transparency.

The actual problem is KB has started to put down coaches and players as he makes his argument, which has created some angst, but that doesn't mean he should step aside.

10. Runners

Runners run and deliver messages, players get involved in melees. You can't have runners getting in the middle and trying to pull players apart.

It happened yesterday at the 'G and while it's nothing major, all it takes is an irate opposition player to to put hands on the runner, and anything could happen.

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BEST TWEETS

@Hoges_20: Dislike: people making a mountain out of a mole hill with Harry's sledge!

@mitchthomas87: Like: Ross Lyon. Even as a Freo supporter I keep underatting him, but he just gets something out of players.

@costa0205:  Like: Voss silencing the doubters Dislike: Saints disposal and insipid second half

@sheldondev: Like: I liked seeing the old lions jumper, felt like old times again. Dislike: I can't believe Darren Jolly got reported

@MickLeGrand: dislike my nephews wanting to support another side other than the Bulldogs.  1 win out of 19 not good enough

@GilesBrad: Dislike: Distance to away change room at SCG. Like: Brad Scotts press conference, shows his growth as a coach

@cuta_: Dislike: Krakour playing on without going back over the mark. Like: Melbourne's 3-quarter effort, Brisbane's win.

@DanielMcLean40: Likes: - Dees effort (nearly 4 qtr effort) , Tigers youngsters (Ellis-Vlastuin), Brisbane's fight (stood up when needed)

@Plugga73: Like - The year of the comeback! Dislike - dropping knees, ducking & diving...just not in the spirit of the game

@AndrewC_18: Dislike: dropping the knees to draw high free kicks (ahem...West Coast). Do something rules committee

@Andrew_W3: L: Blair's 32 Pressure acts D: The disparity between 15m for a kick travelled and 15m dist between bounces.

@chookie94: Like: Dylan Roberton getting recognized on Fox Footy but its diappoint no one can tell him and farren ray apart

@MGoss94:  Like - Brent Staker coming back and kicking the sealer. Dislike - Drawing in supercoach

@kjk0406: like: response from the Lions to a week of Voss speculation. Dislike: microscopic attention to on field player sledges

@MikeySchofield: likes: Tiger's kids are potential stars - Ellis, vlastuin and co. dislikes - heppells trip on staker cost bombers the game

@DeanElliott3:  Seemed to be an amazing amount of in the back free kicks this round? Players milking by buckling @ knees & falling forward

@BrentyMann:  Like: @rowiscott_10 kicking 5 2nd half goals against Ivanhoe & Ellis and Vlastuin. Dislike: Inaccuracy

@kyliearmi: Likes: Tom Bell's shorts #trendsetting Dislikes: Selwoods crouching every time they are tackled

@casadelresaca:  Like: Mike Pyke's contested marks. The best in the comp five years after having a go at AFL

@__robot:  I dislike Andrew Cracker not having to go back behind the mark when the player was standing on it and allowed to play on.

@BraydenWaight: Like: Geelong's 3rd quarters. Dislike: Geelong's starts

@dangerousfoliag:  like Brad Scott's show of class, walks out and finds both Worsfold and Glass. I'd of been breaking things

@zacnessy: like game winning/saving marks dislike north melbourne keep losing games from winning positions

@CaslinAcc: contests between key forwards & key defenders. Dislike: divers......we all know who.