IS that Liddle best for Scorps 1's?? Awesome if so. Was in best for 2's last week. Great to see him picking up the form again after a mid-season slump if so. The Davey plan is looking like a goer.

Im not sure if he was in the best, but he did look exciting when near it, not affraid to put his head over the ball either.

Agree. Casey certainly do seem to have some great depth on their list.

Watched the game on ABC earlier today. Here's my 2 cents regarding the MFC players, for anyone who missed the coverage...

Russell Robertson: Went goalless and only had a handful of possesions. Looked disinterested, especially in the 1st half, work-rate and defensive-pressure non-existent. Dominated by his opponent, highly-rated Richmond youngster Alex Rance, who got inside his head and really, just comprehensively spanked him.

Jake Spencer: Average first game back by Jake; his opponent Angus Graham was a standout in the ruck and around the ground, and pretty comfortably beat him IMO. Still a couple of weeks away from regaining his early season fitness and form. Took a couple of good grabs and shows plenty of promise, but his skills and decision-making are still very raw. Tough day today, rucking virtually solo, against 2 AFL listed ruckman in Graham and Andrew Browne.

Simon Buckley: Looked a bit out of touch early but got better as the game went on. Showed some of his trademark dash and ball-carrying, as well as some indiscriminate decision-making and turnovers. Will be better for the run and I was glad to see OP hasn't affected his pace or depth of kicking; kicked a magnificent long goal from about 65m with the breeze.

Daniel Hughes: Didn't get the high possesions he's had in previous games, but worked hard presenting up the ground, has good hands and lovely foot skills. Kicked a couple of great goals as well as setting up another. Should be the next to debut IMO.

Trent Zomer: Kicked goal of the day when he gathered on the left forward flank, turned his man inside out, burned him off for pace with a couple of bounces and finished perfectly. Flashed in-and-out of the game and probably lacks the work-rate required over 4 quarters. He did spend quite some time on the bench though, and in defence in the 4th qtr. Reminds me of former Demon Nick Smith-- is a mountain of a man, looks promising or even brilliant sometimes, but not nearly often enough. Barely VFL standard to be brutally honest.

Of the Casey players, James Wall, skipper Kyle Matthews, little Michael Stockdale and Peter Faulks in defence all impressed me. Pierce Liddle showed a few glimpses, and Ben Waite chimed in with 4 goals from strong grabs. Casey are a really tight-knit and even outfit at the moment, playing a great brand of team footy. Was a pleasure to watch them go about it in such a professional manner, after losing 11 players this week, shows good depth on their list. Peter German is doing some great things with that club and IMO is a real asset to the MFC.

To anyone who was at the ground and saw both games, did Tom McNamara play in the curtain-raiser or was he a late withdrawal with injury/illness?

Liddle is too small and not good enough for AFL.

  Redleg said:

With 11 changes from last week and only a few Melbourne listed players, against a ( Richmond loaded ) Coburg, Casey was sensational in winning today.

Peter German has moulded together a great team and football club.

ahhh James Squires please

  Cards13 said:

IS that Liddle best for Scorps 1's?? Awesome if so. Was in best for 2's last week. Great to see him picking up the form again after a mid-season slump if so. The Davey plan is looking like a goer.

Different Liddle, and he plays for Coburg.

Casey's Liddle wasn't great, did about 5 good things.

Basically, Jetta without the love for the contest.

  KC from Casey said:

It's a big day for the Scorps today as a lot of homegrown players get their opportunity with 11 changes and very few Dees in the side.

The official side is:

Backs Taylor Chivers Stockdale

Half backs Silvagni Panozza Faulks

Centreline McLeod Creed Wall

Half forwards Scanlon Hughes Collind

Forwards Waite Robertson Liddle

Followers Spencer MacReadie Matthews

Interchange Blaser Buckley Lees Wylie* Zomer

* TAC Cup 23rd man

  dee-luded said:

IMO we need to bring in 2 tall forwards in the Draft/Rookie draft.. I like to have @ least one youngster rookied who we could bring along @ Casey 2's, slowly.

Spencer IMO will be elevated. (We need to rookie another young ruck for the Casey reserves).

* I'd like to give Chris Wylie a chance as a rookie

follower/Forward*

I hope this kid puts his best foot forward,l I saw him play TAC @ Oakleigh 8 weeks back, he was good.

  dee-luded said:

I hope this kid puts his best foot forward,l I saw him play TAC @ Oakleigh 8 weeks back, he was good.

Didn't get much of an opportunity today unfortunately. He would've been lucky to have spent 40-50% time on ground, relieving for Spencer. Turned it over a couple of times and i remember at least one instance where he kicked into the man on the mark. Had a tough time of it when he was on the ground, in the ruck getting jumped into and out-muscled by stronger, more mature opponents and a faster tempo.

Not the most memorable performance from Wylie, but i'm sure he'll be better off for the experience of playing against men, and it will no doubt help him with his TAC cup footy. He played on 2 AFL-listed players, and knowing what is required to play against opposition of that calibre is a massive bonus for his development.

He's a good height, skinny lad, very raw but looks likely enough for a rookie pick.

As an aside, i think the 23rd-man rule introduced by the VFL/TAC U18's is a fantastic initiative, and will hopefully help bridge the gap that the other state leagues have over Victoria in regards to pre-draft development; giving our young guys a chance to play against men in their final year of U18's. We always read about the elite kids from the WAFL, SANFL, AFLQ, etc, having the advantage of playing in the seniors against men before being drafted. This rule allows a select few Victorian kids that same opportunity. Great idea and a fantastic opportunity for the youngsters involved.