The reason Melbourne were walking the ball out of the centre was because we were hesitant at the ball, knowing we had nothing on offer forward. Melbourne didn't just "monster the marking contests" they got us on the ground when we were forced to play around with the footy across half back due to there being no-one forward. We recruited Wilson for his running from the backline, and long accurate kick, which gives him the ability to break 2 lines of defence in the 1 play. Then we take away the target he is looking for. Ditto S Hill. Ditto L Ryan.
What is the point in making Cox the option across half - back if you want him to be the option forward? Apeness and Cox, both leading at the footy, with Balla's, Cerra, Langdon and Tucker crumbing would force any side to change their defensive pattern. Did we try it ? NO. Opposition sides know that when they get the footy backwards of the center and under pressure, against us, they can steady, kick across or back to a teammate who is free because all our forwards are rushing back to guard space on the defensive side of the centre. Then they kick to unguarded players down the ground who have identified the space we don't want to guard.
Opposition players regularly mark the ball 5-10 mters in the clear because Freo players are (I presume) told to guard zones, not to play man on man. That only works if there is pressure on the player kicking the ball. As noted above, we don't have players doing that because they are rushing back to defend zones. And are being exhausted in the process.
