At Alice Springs airport, on my way up north. Melbourne plane just arrived. Big Official Melbourne entourage on board. James Strauss the only player on board. Liam also, not sure if he was already here though. CC, Schwaby, Don Mc Lardy the notable others. Strauss' presence would suggest he's not playing. No big Jim. Raining and quite cold here so possibly not good conditions. All about to head to Yuendumu, great for the community out there.

Also those making the trip should attempt to watch the pre game matches. See how footy is played in the top end.

Cheers. Good to see a bit of red and blue in Alice today. God I hope we win.

Go you Demons!

The twitter watch on the club site says that Strauss is up there to have a look at Yuendumu; Casey have a bye this week.

It also has a picture of Jimma in Alice following up on the trachoma inititive; so he's there.

I completely agree. I view a lot of our recruiting as almost succession planning so we don't need to rush our young guys. Just let them develop until they become the type of players we expect them to be.

I can see Gysberts getting a chance to play a decent stretch of games next season, but only maybe a game or so this year. I think Gysberts will be a good replacement in the middle for Junior.

I mean a Gysberts, McKenzie, Scully, Trengove core looks very good going forward, particularly if Gysberts is as clean with his hands as reported.

Morton is the perfect replacement for bruce once bruce gets a bit older. Morton is possibly already better than bruce, but I can see Morton being that jack of all trades guy we use like we've used bruce over the years.

I could go on, but i think that we'll have a seamless transition into our new era despite losing guys like Junior, Bruce, and Green to retirement in the next 3-4 years.

succession planning?

We're looking for our kids to become clones of our older players who were part of such a successful side?

This need for players to be "the next ...." is misguided.

Cale Morton is tall & skinny but he will never be another Bruce.

I see him spending most of his time as a forward or a forward-oriented midfielder and i think the football dept do too.

on cam schwab's twitter it says heading up to yuendemu and james strauss is joining us to learn about the world of liam.

does that mean he is playing?

Yep, HBF for the Yuendumu Magpies

Davey was concussed but came back in and finished off the game. Yes he could be replaced but i would think that Jetta would be the more likely inclusion for Davey.

As for Sylvia, Gysberts could come in for him but then you have one less goal kicker in the team. Davey and Sylvia are more than just midfielders for us. They are goal-kickers. If all are healthy (and neither Davey or Sylvia are listed on the Injury List) i can't see any room for Gysberts.

I'm not trying to say that he doesn't deserve a call up. Just saying there isn't any room for him in the team because of our midfield depth.

As for Junior, i think taking his tackling pressure out of the middle would really hurt the team.

Coming back on doesn't mean anything re concussion. It's how the patient responds over the next days that determines how well the injury has settled.

Davey was concussed but came back in and finished off the game. Yes he could be replaced but i would think that Jetta would be the more likely inclusion for Davey.

As for Sylvia, Gysberts could come in for him but then you have one less goal kicker in the team. Davey and Sylvia are more than just midfielders for us. They are goal-kickers. If all are healthy (and neither Davey or Sylvia are listed on the Injury List) i can't see any room for Gysberts.

I'm not trying to say that he doesn't deserve a call up. Just saying there isn't any room for him in the team because of our midfield depth.

As for Junior, i think taking his tackling pressure out of the middle would really hurt the team.

So, this year, are you after high ladder position,,, or happy with teaching our young kids & bringing them ON, this season?

I believe this season should be dedicated to development of the young players while getting as much AFL game-time in to them as possible without reducing the competitiveness of the team from week to week.

So if bring Gysberts in doesn't hurt the team structurely or hurt its competitiveness, and he deserves the spot on form, bring him in.

Enforcer25 - let me just explain why i use the phrase succession planning - My profession is Human Resources....that should explain it enough.

But also to clarify my comments..i'm simply trying to point out that the team has recruited well, and we have guys coming through that will fill the gaps left by those veterans retiring in the next few years very well. I agree that Morton will spend some time in forward line....but so did bruce in his younger years, or have you erased the 2000 finals campaign from your mind?

Morton to me, could be our Mr Versatile, which is what Bruce has been. I don't think that's a bad thing.

Herald Sun reporting that Aussie is in......well the headline does anyway....and then they go on to quote comments from Bails which are non-committal. Gotta love journalists.

It disappoints me. Gysberts is surely ahead of both Jetta and Wonaeamirri at this point.

And there's no way in the world Sylvia will be dropped. Crap form or not, game breakers do not get dropped. It's just the way of the world.

That's true.

When I said I wasn't disappointed it was more the outs rather than the ins.

And there's every reason in the world Sylvia will be dropped - Waite's a game breaker for Carlton, has broken 2 of their last 3 open, but he copped it after bad form early on. It's been a month now of rubbish from Sylvia: how much more will we take?

As a young Victoria player would you rather debut at the MCG v Carlton or Collingwood with all your family and freinds there + 50,000+ people or in Darwin?

Gysberts may not be in the team due to where we are playing.

Stupid post, but others beat me to it so I'll leave it at that.

Another forward bites the dust

Sad too as he was actually playing well, was Bate.

I think the reason Gysberts misses out here is because of positional needs and nothing else. He's an in and under midfielder who doesn't play forward or back. I don't think any of our current midfielders would be dropped for him: Moloney, Scully, Trengove, Jnr McDonald, Jones, Moloney - none would deserve to be dropped on form.

Then if we look at the suggested in's they make a lot of sense structurally.

Miller - logical replacement for PJ given his ability to pinch-hit in the ruck and play the lead up forward in place of Bate. Not to mention we need the extra strong body up there to give Watts a hand. His been playing fantastic footy for Casey too, so he deserves the call up.

Aussie and Jetta - both can go forward and improve our forward pressure. We have lacked creativity in our forward line all season and these guys give us that. Jetta can also swing into the midfield if needed. Having Watts and Miller up forward means we have two guys that can bring the ball to ground a bit, where jetta and aussie can pounce. Probable replace for Hughes who has showed good effort and is possibly unlucky to be dropped (if true).

Joel Mac - obvious replacement for Bruce down in the backline. It was just a matter of time before he came back in.

Morton - he has the ability to play anywhere on the ground thanks to his height and endurance. He is also easily in our top 22 so it makes sense to get him back in after showing enough at Casey. Could fill in down back in bruce's role, or move forward to take over Hughes or Bates role. He's the ultimate Mr flexibility.

All of the in's make sense from a structural perspective, otherwise if we just went for who's in the best form we would have a team of almost purely midfielders with a couple of bigs scattered around.

Gysberts and Cheney are in the same boat. Both can't break into the side because of our depth and strength at their positions.

Its great to hear some logic thought process. I agree, well done!

thanks, i do my best.

Aussie, Nev, Miller and Morton to Play

I reckon they might take one of either Macdonald and Gysberts for thr trip!

Thanks for the mail Bails. I think it's fair to accept your word given recent track record. Any idea of the other outs beyond Bate & Bruce?? PJ would be a fair assumption I suppose.

I hope they do take Gys for the ride as an emergency. Will be good for him to be a part of a match preparation.

unsure of Outs. I would reckon other than the two obvious that are injured, Pj and Hughes

What about bartram missing instead of hughes. I could see Bennell moving to the backline if that happened.

OR does it seem as thought Bartram is pretty safe at the moment.

Jetta has been playing well, but Wonna is a massive charity selection. Would not be happy to see that happen if I was on the list. Played 2 games for casey seniors and not been in the best. How would Gysberts feel if this rumour is true.

That is not charity. Who better to play in the humidity of Darwin. It just makes sense.

That is not charity. Who better to play in the humidity of Darwin. It just makes sense.

Agree. We need to score goals and we need forward pressure, he does both and he knows the conditions.

Even if it is charity, the kid has been through a year and a half of hell, what a way to boost morale. I just hope he gets through it uninjured.

Aussie, Nev, Miller and Morton to Play

I reckon they might take one of either Macdonald and Gysberts for thr trip!

I'm gonna take this as gospel pal. You've been on the money of late.

The word was (in the OP anyway) that MacDonald was going up as well. I'd say he'll be the stand-by emergency.

My guess is that PJ and Hughes will join Bate and Bruce on the sidelines. Miller takes PJ's spot, Morton takes Bruce's, Jetta and Wonaeamirri take Bate and Hughes' spots.

Wonaeamirri, whilst lucky in some regards to get a call up this quickly, I think will slot straight back in.

Agree. We need to score goals and we need forward pressure, he does both and he knows the conditions.

Even if it is charity, the kid has been through a year and a half of hell, what a way to boost morale. I just hope he gets through it uninjured.

Yep. Ticks most of the boxes for me. Horses for courses. And this "horse" is from a "course" not too far removed from the heat and humidity of Darwin.

spencer in, bad call

Yep. Ticks most of the boxes for me. Horses for courses. And this "horse" is from a "course" not too far removed from the heat and humidity of Darwin.

B: C.Bartram, J.MacDonald, J.Rivers

HB: J.Grimes, J.Frawley, C.Garland

C: J.McDonald, J.Trengove, A.Davey

HF: J.Bennell, B.Miller, C.Morton

F: N.Jones, B.Green, J.Watts

R: M.Jamar, B.Moloney, C.Sylvia

Int: T.Scully, A.Wonaeamirri, J.McKenzie, J.Spencer.

Emg: N.Jetta, J.Strauss, L.Dunn.

In: Joel MacDonald, Brad Miller, Jake Spencer, Cale Morton, Austin Wonaeamirri

Out: Matthew Warnock (General Soreness), Matthew Bate (Ankle), Cameron Bruce (Hamstring), Daniel Hughes, Paul Johnson

Aussie, Nev, Miller and Morton to Play

Let's hope this bit is true as well, as it would mean most likely Jetta in for Spencer before the bounce.

...

Simply not good enough Bails.

Disappointed.

Would be disapointed if Hughes dropped have been watching him.

Looks ready to have a big one.

Simply not good enough Bails.

Disappointed.

Before you Jump down my throat.

You will find Warnock was a very very very late call. Bit sore, long flight and PA have a very short forward line. This one was late decision

And dont be surprised if Spencer doesnt play and Jetta does!!!!

Before you Jump down my throat.

You will find Warnock was a very very very late call. Bit sore, long flight and PA have a very short forward line. This one was late decision

And dont be surprised if Spencer doesnt play and Jetta does!!!!

Thanks Bails. I always look forward to your posts.