We need a key position forward. ASAP

[wolfy 0]

Another 1st half with only one goal. I know the win was great and all that, but it was against another winless side.

Throw Watts in at the deep end and let him sink or swim. If he's up to it he will show it. If not, move him on.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

After a good game against Collingwood where Melbourne played man-on-man and left players in the forward line, why did Bailey revert back to not having players to kick it to up forward?

[Longsufferingnomore 1,484]

After a good game against Collingwood where Melbourne played man-on-man and left players in the forward line, why did Bailey revert back to not having players to kick it to up forward?

What were Melbourne players supposed to do - watch the opposition move down to their forward line but hope that by some miracle a melbourne defender would get it out of the backline to where unmanned Melbourne forwards were waiting. Get a grip

[praha 10,314]

After a good game against Collingwood where Melbourne played man-on-man and left players in the forward line, why did Bailey revert back to not having players to kick it to up forward?

Hmm, I don't think that was Bailey's doing. Adelaide insist on playing a terrible brand of football when they come to the MCG. It's not just against us. They always have 1-2 extra players down back, and the Melbourne players that are on those players don't want to enter the 50 so as not to flood our own forward line. It's pretty simple and a tactic Sydney used in 05-06. So suddenly, whenever they get the ball out they stream forward, bringing our players with them. When/if we rebound from our defensive 50, we have no one up forward.

That changed quite obviously in the second half, as we played an extra man down back and our forwards played far more aggressively and concise to the forward 50, not allowing or following their men down back when Adelaide went forward.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,292]

I would have to agree with Clint. Unlike Hawthorn the Adelaide players actually held their positions and we pushed up. We were not following our men in most cases. Watch how many times in the first we trun to go inside 50m and have no one or kick to 3 Crows. It is not hard to tell 2 players to hold their ground and stay deep. It will create more chances than it will give away. Second half was a marked improvement but I am unsure what caused that rubbish again in the forst 2 qtrs.

As for throwing Watts in at the deepend. Thank god you are not making the decisions.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

What were Melbourne players supposed to do - watch the opposition move down to their forward line but hope that by some miracle a melbourne defender would get it out of the backline to where unmanned Melbourne forwards were waiting. Get a grip

They were supposed to stay in the forward line so when Melbourne did get the ball there was an option to kick it to. It happened at least four or five times where Melbourne players looked up the ground to nothing. The result was of course Melbourne players overusing the ball by hand and turning the ball over more often.

[mordja 187]

Another 1st half with only one goal. I know the win was great and all that, but it was against another winless side.

Throw Watts in at the deep end and let him sink or swim. If he's up to it he will show it. If not, move him on.

WTF are you talking about? What do you expect that to achieve? Why on earth would we rush Watts now.

Can we get some sanity in here?

[Rainbow 35]

Another 1st half with only one goal. I know the win was great and all that, but it was against another winless side.

Throw Watts in at the deep end and let him sink or swim. If he's up to it he will show it. If not, move him on.

ARE YOU SERIOUS???

[Guest watts04]

Worst thread ever

When he comes in he needs to be one of 22 and not "the saviour"

Happy to see him at Casey for anotehr 3 weeks

[Summer Blease 0]

wow.... 'from the mouths of babes' hey?! wow... just, just.. wow. I just.... wow...

[pitchfork 181]

This may honestly be the most brainless thread I have read on 'land.

1. We Won against a real football team, not a dodgy interstate side out of it after round 11!! stop complaining

2. We won

3. As for the "we actually were the more defensive side"...that's just plain rubbish

Adelaide in the first half often had 18 men within 65 metres of the defensive goal.

In order to counteract the fact that kicking to leading men inside our 50 would be difficult, Bailey clearly sought to 'break even' for the first two thirds of the game.

So, there are two options - kick it into a forward with no chance, or stay patient and WIN THE GAME

Anyone notice that once Adelaide stopped running them we absolutely went for the jugular...consistent leading options from half-forward instead of around the centre of the ground.

Come on!, we should have had about 6-7 goals in that final quarter...I just don't get why anyone would be disappointed when our forward line lacks Watts, Jurrah, Sylvia rotating through, Wona,,,in fact any real good leading tll ...and we still win.

Well done Dean, well done all 22 boys

[Summer Blease 0]

hahahahah, me again... still can't believe it.... holly hell... wow!

[The Chazz 4,077]

They were supposed to stay in the forward line so when Melbourne did get the ball there was an option to kick it to. It happened at least four or five times where Melbourne players looked up the ground to nothing. The result was of course Melbourne players overusing the ball by hand and turning the ball over more often.

Bailey's fault? Or just pressure of the moment?

Ever played the game Clint? I thought not.

[DemonDing 56]

^{anyone know how jack is off playing? i read today in the paper he got 20 touches at half forward...}

[pitchfork 181]

^{anyone know how jack is off playing? i read today in the paper he got 20 touches at half forward...}

According to the VFL Sporting Pulse site: Jack was 5th best player at CAsey despite kicking 5 behinds...so i guess he's making opportunities.

- not at the game, but seems like good signs recently. Goal kicking generally has little to do with level of play (should be better), however being able to create opportunities is a good sign

Edited April 11, 2010 by pitchfork

[Carn dees 108]

I agree we definitely need a Key Forward.

IF Watts plays another two decent games for Casey he will play soon enough.

No need to rush into things, especially considering we are getting better

[jayceebee31 671]

Watts is still -very much a baby but I agree we need to find 3 good talls- A tall Forward and another utility tall.However when we can get players back a forward line with Watts, Jurrah, Morton, Wonaeamirri and possibly Gawn -WOW.Watched Gawn kicking goals from 50 metres out yesterday at the Junction oval- very impressive.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Oddly enough, sometime in the last quarter when 20 for the crows took his fourth uncontested mark in our goalsquare (for the quarter that is), I turned to my dad and said "I would kill for a real key forward."

That being said, Rushing Watts in is not the answer. He isn't ready yet. We don't want to Zac Dawson him. Just chill out, live with the fact that Newton is creating contests and making opportunities for the medium/small players around him and think happy thoughts about the future.

[Harcourt 146]

Watts is still -very much a baby but I agree we need to find 3 good talls- A tall Forward and another utility tall.However when we can get players back a forward line with Watts, Jurrah, Morton, Wonaeamirri and possibly Gawn -WOW.Watched Gawn kicking goals from 50 metres out yesterday at the Junction oval- very impressive.

Watts ain't far away from what I saw at Casey and he is quality. He isn't ready to be our KPF but he will be useful in a few weeks. Chill out everyone and enjoy the win.

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

Watts is still -very much a baby but I agree we need to find 3 good talls- A tall Forward and another utility tall.However when we can get players back a forward line with Watts, Jurrah, Morton, Wonaeamirri and possibly Gawn -WOW.Watched Gawn kicking goals from 50 metres out yesterday at the Junction oval- very impressive.

Is that true? mmmm. So we have a guy who is 6'10" tall, who can kick from 50, and was also a very good mid distance runner.

What other training was he doing Jayceebee31? Was he kicking on the same knee that had the reconstruction. He is still on the 'indefinite' injury list and i don't expect him to play senior footy this year but it sounds like the rehab is going OK.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I remind you all that we still have Martin coming along. He will be a great player for us in a few years. You just have to give him time. This is a guy who first played the game after he finished high school. He'll be better that O'Hailpin down at Carlton.

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

Watts ain't far away from what I saw at Casey and he is quality. He isn't ready to be our KPF but he will be useful in a few weeks. Chill out everyone and enjoy the win.

I get the impression that Watts will pay with the seniors this year, but he may not play as a KPP on a regular basis. He could end up on the HFF or the wing. Imagine him on one wing and morton on the other. Land of the giants.

We need him as a KPP, but we may have to be patient.

[Guest 45 double agent]

According to the VFL Sporting Pulse site: Jack was 5th best player at CAsey despite kicking 5 behinds...so i guess he's making opportunities.

- not at the game, but seems like good signs recently. Goal kicking generally has little to do with level of play (should be better), however being able to create opportunities is a good sign

i watched the game at casey last nite, JW played very well, when the balls around hes knees he pretty good ,hes ready to walk into our side, hes disposals first class for a boy his size, its time for him to step up.

[The Big Ticket 94]

After a good game against Collingwood where Melbourne played man-on-man and left players in the forward line, why did Bailey revert back to not having players to kick it to up forward?

You never miss a chance to take a swipe at Bailey.

This was the players doing. They don't have a lot of confidence in each other at this stage so the forwards kept creeping up the ground.

[Jastone 2]

Watched Gawn kicking goals from 50 metres out yesterday at the Junction oval- very impressive.

I thought Gawn was meant to be injured?

Any chance for a call up soon? I reckon he could be a gem!