Back on track by beating Essendon ... what a game. Enjoyed the results and got a good glimpse of our future.

Think we have found our "chop our Ruckman" & very happy with the clearance work all be it against a depleted Bombers line up.

Although I was impressed with Howe I'm not ready to call him as the final piece in the puzzle. Still think we need some work at either the draft or the trade table. Nicholson overtime could develop in to a "winger" that has the ability to run very fast both ways.

Now looking forward to

a/ The return of Jamar, Garland, Davey, Tapscott & Bail.

b/ Opportunities for Bleese, Cook & McDonald & outside chances that Davis or Lawrence can step up as well.

c/ Also hope the following players can derive benefits from their time at Casey I still think they can have roles to play - Petterd, Bartram, Maric, Bate & Dunn

IMHO this year has been a blessing in disguise & long may it continue.

Only 10 more games!! Go you good things.

Go Dees!!!

Edited June 6, 201114 yr by hangon007

The roller coaster continues. Beaten by a very good side who exposed our current weaknesses very well.

Still think the op is correct and we need to go to the trade table this year and invest in mature bodies around the age of 24-29 ... players that we expect to get 3-5 years of playing for the MFC ... with maybe one small exception our "chop-out" ruckman is no longer a priority.

This is not being critical instead I do appreciate the solid foundations we have built as evidenced by the youthful nature of our side and the outstanding performance of the Scorpions on Saturday ... fantastic potential in both areas.

We need a mature body at the clearance work ... Luke Ball was excellent at exposing our weakness.

We still need a mature, solid body full forward ... again he does not need to be a superstar. Personally I would like to pursue B Lake that gives us the opportunity to be even more flexible than a stay at home full-forward. And I'm not opposed to having a crack at Fev assuming he is rookie listed. Hopefully, Collingwood showed our fans the need for strong-bodied forwards of average ability ... IMHO Dawes & Cloke are no superstars just part of a well oiled machine.

I've said this elsewhere but I still think its true ... the difference between a "poor" handball and a "poor" kick is about 50 metres. We have an over reliance on hand balls that does not move the ball quick enough out of certain teams zones.

Was impressed with our early endeavor and in the whole a great learning experience. However, hope the biggest lesson will come in the way of off-field thinking in both our supporters & our footy department ability to secure mature bodies at the trade table without a barrage of criticism.

All this said I actually enjoyed & learned from this game ... time is on our side. However, we must make that subtle adjustment in our thinking if we are to move forward in upcoming years. More kids will lead to more of the same ie the roller coaster ride will continue.

Go Dees ... Only 9 games to go.

PS I'm a patient man.

Edited June 14, 201114 yr by hangon007

No way would I be topping up with older players this year.

I would go tall again this year and get another tall forward.

We still need a mature, solid body full forward ... again he does not need to be a superstar. Personally I would like to pursue B Lake that gives us the opportunity to be even more flexible than a stay at home full-forward. And I'm not opposed to having a crack at Fev assuming he is rookie listed. Hopefully, Collingwood showed our fans the need for strong-bodied forwards of average ability ... IMHO Dawes & Cloke are no superstars just part of a well oiled machine.

Many of you here know that I am good friends with Juddy and as such I have heard much more about Fev than what has been writen in the media. Trust me we do not want Fev under any circumstances. Let some other sucker make this mistake.

Many of you here know that I am good friends with Juddy and as such I have heard much more about Fev than what has been writen in the media. Trust me we do not want Fev under any circumstances. Let some other sucker make this mistake.

I can hear you. I'm not so stuck on Fev it more the mature body running round our forward line. No more kids for me ... unless they are guaranteed spots in our top 21.

Back this week due to popular demand (Hi RPFC B)) ... Sorry I refused to count the game against the basket-case on the road Dockers. IMHO the Casey Scorpions would beat them in Melbourne ... its tantamount to being marginally better than a bye.

Ok ... So down to this week against the Tigers. Have been looking forward to this game for many, many weeks for many, many different reasons. Top "manufacturing" by the AFL ... it was in Melbourne at the MCG on a Saturday afternoon and the weather was beautiful ... Sad it was a Tigers home game.

What a game. Brilliant, fantastic, superb result & a massive boost to the boys confidence. Not that I really care where they finish this season. However, would love, for their sakes this is a game that can spring board their belief and they can solidify their well earned spot in the 8.

Positives ...

1/ Our forward line was fantastic, but I'm still not getting toooooo carried away against a somewhat dubious Tigers backline. However, you can only beat what is put in front of you. IMHO a special mention needs to go to Ricky ... looks like he has derived a heap of benefit from his short stint at Casey. (PS Jack & Liam do it again next week against the Doggies and your up for a special mention tooooo.)

2/ Rucks ... I'm now 100% convinced. Geez I love this combo. The Big Russian is such a vital cog in our wheel ... Is there something that you an BM are not telling us ... hehehe.

3/ Backline ... Baaazinga!! ... cant wait till Grimes, Davey, Tappy & Jetta can compete for spots. Keep it up boys you are doing great. Now lets just crack those two big "Collingwood & Hawthorn knuckle-heads"

4/ Mids ... Last but not least. The engine is young, its raw, its still learning, but hopefully it puts to bed our Mids are better than the Tigers. Now we just need to step up against the elite ... but again just in the back of my mind I would love 1 more "solid wise head" that we can get 4-5 years from.

Anyway thats enough from me ... fantastic confidence booster for all I hope.

Go Dees

Nearly forgot .... only 8 games to go.

OMG ... I should have picked it ... but I didn't ... thought we had finally busted the roller coaster cycle. Probably that fact alone made me the most frustrated in the car on the way home.

However, give credit where credit is due. Doggies worked us out beautifully and we are desperate for that tough mature body around the clearances. Plus I'm not convinced with our Plan B in games like this. Cooney, Griffen & Cross just the types of players we need to develop or recruit. IMHO we need to recruit 1 ... but nothing new in that.

Positives ... we blooded another young kid in Sam Blease hope he gets a fair crack at it and plays another 3-4 games soon.

Anyway all said and done think the bye has come at the right time a few key players look like they are carrying small niggling injuries ie Jurrah & Sylvia.

Go Dees

Ps Only 7 games to go ... if we make the finals and stay on the MCG watch out.

Pss The "curse of Ethiad" continues ... I would like to see us request more time to train on the oval ... anything would surely help.

Edited July 5, 201114 yr by hangon007

I still don't think we will make the finals, nor do we 'deserve' to (by that, I mean we aren't in the best 8 sides...yet).