While this makes perfect sense, and Bartram deserves times off if he needs it, why was he named in the Casey squad for this week?

I wouldn't be surprised if Bartram struggled to get back into the team for the rest of the year.

Bartram hasn't really been dropped and won't be playing for Casey. The club is resting him and giving him some time off- he hasn't trained for the second half of this week. After a pretty stressful couple of months they're just giving him soon time to get refreshed.

Cheney VERY stiff.

Reckon Shane Valenti is pretty stiff as well. Would have liked him to get at least 6 games in a row to see if he has anything to offer in the future.

If we had a gun key forward we would beat that Hawthorn side...

We still can. Their defence is pretty poor.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cheney is a late inclusion for either Frawley or Rivers, given how quick their recoveries have been.

we are building for the future, Cheney played well , Wheels should have made way for him, dont give me ... we need an old head down back, we need to get games into the kids, nothing against Wheels but he has had his time in the sun

we are building for the future, Cheney played well , Wheels should have made way for him, dont give me ... we need an old head down back, we need to get games into the kids, nothing against Wheels but he has had his time in the sun

Whelan did play well last week. I understand your argument, but I think the real issue is why did Cheney go before Petterd, not Whelan. If anyone currently in the team deserves to make way for Cheney, it would be Petterd, not Whelan.

Agreed I thought Cheney was great last week unlucky... speaking of which the form line reads pretty well with the Doggies 2 point loss to the Cats....mmmmm <_<

If anyone currently in the team deserves to make way for Cheney, it would be Petterd, not Whelan.

They weren't competing for the same position. Cheney was usurped by Whelan not Petterd.

It is the first time in a very long while that i have seen players pushing so hard to get into the team.

For Barts and Cheney to miss out it shows we are starting to build some depth.

They weren't competing for the same position. Cheney was usurped by Whelan not Petterd.

exactly,

They weren't competing for the same position. Cheney was usurped by Whelan not Petterd.

I didn't say that they were. I said that Petterd deserved to be dropped before Whelan did if Cheney was to be brought back in.

Hmmm...

Not only one of, but two of our best taggers and run with players get dropped, just as we come up against a side with a strong midfield.

I'd have kept one of Bartram or Dunn.

Bateman always plays well against us (averages more disposals against Melbourne than any other team), I hope Bailey doesn't allow him to go unchecked. McDonald to go head-to-head with Mitchell.

I didn't say that they were. I said that Petterd deserved to be dropped before Whelan did if Cheney was to be brought back in.

I'm still not with you. It's pretty obvious Petterd and Cheney aren't competing for the same spot - and yes you say "I didn't say they were". You may have an obscure viewpoint I'm yet to understand.

Reckon Shane Valenti is pretty stiff as well. Would have liked him to get at least 6 games in a row to see if he has anything to offer in the future.

Yep. Absolutely. Its a joke that they wont give this guy 2 games in a friggin row!!!

I'm still not with you. It's pretty obvious Petterd and Cheney aren't competing for the same spot - and yes you say "I didn't say they were". You may have an obscure viewpoint I'm yet to understand.

I was trying to say that Petterd played worse than Whelan last week, and, based on that, it would have been fairer to drop Petterd before Whelan (regardless of who comes in). But given that it was Cheney who was left out, you're right in that it's Whelan's spot he was playing for.

I think/hope we can both agree that Cheney was unlucky to miss.