Much was commented on early in the season about St Kilda fanatical manning of the mark. The stand right on it, sometimes even creep over it. I realised last night that this does more than put preceived pressure on the player with the ball. What it also does is makes the ball carrier have to go backwards, in order to have space to kick or handball over the player on the mark. The ball carrier thus has to go backwards, then stop, then get some forward momentum before he can kick it. All this takes time, and slows the movement right down, the team in possession becomes static.

Last night, we were stifled in a run a number of times from St K's manning of the mark. Conversely, we gave them space each time, they were under no pressure whatsoever, and were free to run on and move the ball quickly (there was one exception, when one of our guys (can't remember who) once, put strong pressure on the mark. It slowed them down and they became static).

This is a 'skill' that any player can do, there is no excuse not to. We need to make this a mandatory action. It completely stifles the run of the opposition.