Here is a bit of an update on Sam. Straight from the "horse's mouth"!

Sam is fine. He was going really well his first couple of games back, then he got a liver infection and lost 5kg. He missed a couple of games with that.

He is just really frustrated having to play in the Casey seconds. He played with Aussie in Ballarat and he felt he played OK. He did say he doesn’t know any of the seconds because they don’t train with them. The next week they went to Qld and they wouldn’t let him go up there so he had to play in the seconds again. He was booked in to have a scan the following day just to check out a spot where the pin had been put in to hold his leg, that had been irritating him. The leg is really good and everything has healed, he was limping a bit because he had a bad corkie but he doesn’t limp around the house and is having no pain at all. His mother was pleased to see him kick so well on his left foot because kicking well with both feet is certainly one of his strong points.

He just has to be patient and play in the seconds and eventually he will get a run with Casey seniors. Bailey spoke to him and told him they were in no rush. He just desperately wants to play footy. Once he strings a few games together he will be fine. Chris Connolly says he is training well and is really positive so they do not have any issues.

He won’t play this week again and they are thinking of taking the pins in his leg out at the end of the year.

He played against the kid that broke his leg and Sam gave him a really good bump – he said they are still not even!

Thanks for the update. Hopefully the guy can have a bit of luck run his way because it certainly hasn't so far.

... he said they are still not even!

Not even close to being even.

The important thing here is that his leg has healed.

Good to hear! Thanks for the up date. Worth being patient with him... hopefully see him in the Casey seniors soon!

I'm confident Sam will come out of the blocks and show some amazing form by the end of the season.

Sometimes he is forgotten in the equation, but when you go through our ridiculous young midfield stocks he needs to be mentioned in the same breath as Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Morton, McKenzie et al.

Excellent news, just be positive & patient sam from someone who did years of physiotherapy.

Don't rush anything but you will be in our seniors, if not this year next. That's when the real stuff gets up to speed so don't get frustrated too much.

Blease lost 5 kgs???

For a lightly framed player that's a hell of a lot.

And I don't like the sound of irritation/soreness from one of the pins in his leg.

This is one player who needs to be treated with kid gloves over the next year if he's ever going to make it (major) injury free for a long career.

I still want that centre-line of Scully, Trengove and Blease in whatever order to rival that of the old Tigers.

Good luck Sam. Just don't get rushed into it. When you're ready, you're ready.

We need Sam. As good as they are, Molony, Jones, Sylvia, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Jetta.. are not the fastest players in the league. Don't know where Gysberts and Tapscott fit with pace

I'm confident Sam will come out of the blocks and show some amazing form by the end of the season.

Sometimes he is forgotten in the equation, but when you go through our ridiculous young midfield stocks he needs to be mentioned in the same breath as Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Morton, McKenzie et al.

Spot on

Forgot Morton. Add him to the centre line rotation and we're off and running.

Cannot see Blease getting a game this year. Too many ahead of him at this stage. Would love to see him on the paddock, but he is miles behind in development and would be seen of more of a 2011 player than a current season addition.

Strauss and Bail would more likely get a guernsey at this stage. Having Sam play well in the Scorps seniors would be good enough to me. With some luck he will find some really good form and push for a round 21/22 game. We will all temper our expectations for this year and hope he is right for next.

Cannot see Blease getting a game this year. Too many ahead of him at this stage. Would love to see him on the paddock, but he is miles behind in development and would be seen of more of a 2011 player than a current season addition.

Strauss and Bail would more likely get a guernsey at this stage. Having Sam play well in the Scorps seniors would be good enough to me. With some luck he will find some really good form and push for a round 21/22 game. We will all temper our expectations for this year and hope he is right for next.

I would not be surprised Bailey gives players like Blease , Tapscott and maybe even Fitzpatrick a run at some stage this season

Gysberts will debut shortly IMO

Gawn i doubt will be ready

Great news thx for the update.

Blease lost 5 kgs???

For a lightly framed player that's a hell of a lot.

And I don't like the sound of irritation/soreness from one of the pins in his leg.

well considering he had a liver infection, not really.

hell, i lost 5kgs myself in 48 hours when i had gastro.

besides, he has plenty of time to put back on any muscle he may have lost.

as for the pins... i had some plates and pins in my hand 3 years ago and if i run my fingers over them sometimes, or squeeze it the wrong way or whatever it still cains. i can still use it perfectly though! he will be fine in time

We need Sam. As good as they are, Molony, Jones, Sylvia, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Jetta.. are not the fastest players in the league. Don't know where Gysberts and Tapscott fit with pace

Tapscott is a compact, leading, long kicking forward with, according to CC, "A bit of the P*$%K about him" He is the one that I am most excited about seeing. As with all emerging teams, we are a bit nice at the moment and I think to have a bit of Campbell Brown around the place won't go astray.

i had some plates and pins in my hand 3 years ago

Wow! Why'd you need them?!?

Tapscott is a compact, leading, long kicking forward with, according to CC, "A bit of the P*$%K about him" He is the one that I am most excited about seeing. As with all emerging teams, we are a bit nice at the moment and I think to have a bit of Campbell Brown around the place won't go astray.

My understanding is that Tapscott could play forward or midfield. I dont think he is pidgeon holed yet.

Great update. Cheers!

Tapscott is a compact, leading, long kicking forward with, according to CC, "A bit of the P*$%K about him" He is the one that I am most excited about seeing. As with all emerging teams, we are a bit nice at the moment and I think to have a bit of Campbell Brown around the place won't go astray.

Blease will be part of this team when it starts to take shape......Grimes,Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Morton, McKenzie, Blease, Strauss, Tapscott into Sylvia, Davey, Bennell, Jetta will be the strength of depth of a great midfield rotating around half back/half forward.

Going to be exciting but time is on our side (I'm 35 and yes want the glory ASAP but.....patience!...guys like Blease need to be managed coming back from such a difficult injury so young. If he is given that time he will prosper....he is too good not to and I'm sure DB is well aware of this.

Great info this post and much appreciated......really cant wait to see Gysberts, Blease and Tapscott.

The main thing the club needs to do with Sam is keep his chin up.We all know he is an exciting machine. Plenty of years ahead of him.

My understanding is that Tapscott could play forward or midfield. I dont think he is pidgeon holed yet.

That is a logical answer as he played both in Under 18 and for North Adelaide. Howether could play both positions re Half forward flank with a change on the ball.

That's great news about Sam.

We need Sam. As good as they are, Molony, Jones, Sylvia, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Jetta.. are not the fastest players in the league. Don't know where Gysberts and Tapscott fit with pace

I agree about with your statement in regards to Molony, Jones, McKenzie and Trengove, but have to disagree about your inclusion of Syliva, Scully and Jetta.

Sylvia and Scully in particular can be very explosive players and the same goes for Jetta. The fact that commentators have highlighted the use of our speed to outrun Brisbane (big win) and Collingwood (despite losing) highlight how inaccurate your statement is. Don't forget the one known as Flash, Bennell and now Aussie and we have plenty of speed in this team.

I'm also looking forward to Blease joining the team to give an additional boost to our already quick mid-field.

I agree about with your statement in regards to Molony, Jones, McKenzie and Trengove, but have to disagree about your inclusion of Syliva, Scully and Jetta.

Sylvia and Scully in particular can be very explosive players and the same goes for Jetta. The fact that commentators have highlighted the use of our speed to outrun Brisbane (big win) and Collingwood (despite losing) highlight how inaccurate your statement is. Don't forget the one known as Flash, Bennell and now Aussie and we have plenty of speed in this team.

I'm also looking forward to Blease joining the team to give an additional boost to our already quick mid-field.

I'm a big fan of Jetta, but he's not fast. Watch when he chases, never gives up, but never makes any inroads either.

I'm aware they've been working on changing his technique, it'll be interesting to see if it makes any difference to his speed.

Maybe our expectations of what is or isn't fast are different....

Remember, Watts was the 2nd placed non-aboriginal player in the sprints test in the pre-draft testing. That being said, he doesn't look that fast when he runs.