The Challenge of Picking the team

[Guest DeesPower]

If we are a bit surprised that Casey is on top of the VFL, we should consider who will be appearing for us over the next four weeks

Sam Blease Leg 1 weeks

Jake Spencer Knee 2 weeks

Rohan Bail Fractured Cheekbone 2-3 weeks

Liam Jurrah Shoulder 2 weeks

Luke Tapscott Hip 3 weeks

Max Gawn Knee 4 weeks

For the firsts, it may be we would get back Liam for the last 5 weeks or so of the year. It could make the difference between just scaping into the 8 or not. It would also be nice if Tapscott and Bleeze made their debuts this year but obviously depends on form. I think they could be very important players for us in the future.

If we had no hope of making the 8 I suspect if Gawn showed any form at all in the next five or six weeks they might play him in the ones at the end of the season

One thing we can say though, is that come the VFL finals we will be incredibly difficult to beat if we have all those players available for the VFL finals

Very exciting times....

[monoccular 17,644]

Exciting list of returnees, and a couple of potential debutants.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,297]

Sylvia and McDonald might be a chance too! Always good to have headaches for selectors.

As exciting as this list is, we won`t be making the 8, with or without LJ

[Longsufferingnomore 1,670]

If we are a bit surprised that Casey is on top of the VFL, we should consider who will be appearing for us over the next four weeks

Sam Blease Leg 1 weeks

Jake Spencer Knee 2 weeks

Rohan Bail Fractured Cheekbone 2-3 weeks

Liam Jurrah Shoulder 2 weeks

Luke Tapscott Hip 3 weeks

Max Gawn Knee 4 weeks

For the firsts, it may be we would get back Liam for the last 5 weeks or so of the year. It could make the difference between just scaping into the 8 or not. It would also be nice if Tapscott and Bleeze made their debuts this year but obviously depends on form. I think they could be very important players for us in the future.

If we had no hope of making the 8 I suspect if Gawn showed any form at all in the next five or six weeks they might play him in the ones at the end of the season

One thing we can say though, is that come the VFL finals we will be incredibly difficult to beat if we have all those players available for the VFL finals

Very exciting times....

You left out Stef Martin although he maybe a bit longer.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,103]

No rush to debut Blease, Tapscott and Gawn. Nor Fitzpatrick for that matter. Let them have the benefits of a full pre-season and see how they go next year. We'll have less new faces around the club next year anyway, so there won't be so many waiting in line for their chance at a first game.

[Guest DeesPower]

No rush to debut Blease, Tapscott and Gawn. Nor Fitzpatrick for that matter. Let them have the benefits of a full pre-season and see how they go next year. We'll have less new faces around the club next year anyway, so there won't be so many waiting in line for their chance at a first game.

true. Wouldn't be surprised if our next rookie is Jack Viney. Get the feeling they might trade for experience next year since very high draft picks wont be available to us. If JV is as good as it is alledged, then he will be the same as a number 1 pick anyway.

What a bonus!

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,257]

Sylvia and Junior should be back for Adelaide due to the week off. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they 'rested' Junior another week so he avoids playing his 250th V's Freo at Subi in round 16.

Could be our strongest side all year V Adelaide. I wonder if they'll be able to bury that horrible AAMI hoodoo.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Given the amount of football they have missed, I doubt Blease, Tapscott, Gawn and Spencer will be playing AFL. Jurrah might be back for Round 20+. But he too has missed nearly a season of footballer.

Mark them in for 2011.

Sylvia and Junior should be back for Adelaide due to the week off. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they 'rested' Junior another week so he avoids playing his 250th V's Freo at Subi in round 16.

I would. I could not believe Junior would want that either given the team orientated selflessness which cahracterises his game.

[H_T 3,049]

Given the amount of football they have missed, I doubt Blease, Tapscott, Gawn and Spencer will be playing AFL. Jurrah might be back for Round 20+. But he too has missed nearly a season of footballer.

Mark them in for 2011.

I would. I could not believe Junior would want that either given the team orientated selflessness which cahracterises his game.

You can't see Jurrah returning before Round 20 ?

[the_russian 17]

You can't see Jurrah returning before Round 20 ?

I spoke to Jurrah after the game on Monday and he said he is back playing next week, obviously at Casey, but surely if fitness and form come good in the next couple of weeks he could find himself in the seniors much earlier than round 20

[4jacks 0]

I spoke to Jurrah after the game on Monday and he said he is back playing next week, obviously at Casey, but surely if fitness and form come good in the next couple of weeks he could find himself in the seniors much earlier than round 20

He really won't need that much fitness you'd think, if DB has any sense he'll put Jurrah in the goal square one-out and tell him to take hangers. Not a heap of running involved. He's no midfielder, let's keep that in mind.

Get in the team Liam!!

[Guest DeesPower]

I spoke to Jurrah after the game on Monday and he said he is back playing next week, obviously at Casey, but surely if fitness and form come good in the next couple of weeks he could find himself in the seniors much earlier than round 20

yes, form permitting I'd give him 2-3 weeks at Casey. Now an in form Liam will make a huge difference, especially to Jack Watts

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

You can't see Jurrah returning before Round 20 ?

My bad.

I thought it said 5 weeks to go and not 2 weeks. Make that Round 17.

I would have thought 2-3 games at Casey to get some match fitness will be required.

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Sylvia and McDonald should be right to go for Adelaide.

Jurrah will be ready maybe 2 or 3 weeks after that. Bail hopefully will get another shot as well.

The rest won't be rushed into the side (Blease, Gawn, Tapscott). I doubt they will get a game, barring an unforeseen spate of injuries, this year.

[H_T 3,049]

I spoke to Jurrah after the game on Monday and he said he is back playing next week, obviously at Casey, but surely if fitness and form come good in the next couple of weeks he could find himself in the seniors much earlier than round 20

Agree.

My bad.

I thought it said 5 weeks to go and not 2 weeks. Make that Round 17.

I would have thought 2-3 games at Casey to get some match fitness will be required.

Phew. It's not like you to misread anything Rhino.

Several weeks back I mentioned after reading that Jurrah was ahead of schedule in the rehabilitation, that Round 14-16 looked a possibility of a return to the senior side. I was howled down at the time, in particular by Inner Demon. Fair enough I suppose given the circumstances of the injury and the doubts lingering back then. If in fact the_russian's mail transpires with a return to Casey "next week" - meaning this coming weekend - I'd say at this stage Round 15 at home against Essendon, is still very much a possibility with 3 games under the belt at Casey. After that it's Plug'n Play time. All being well, of course.

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Several weeks back I mentioned after reading that Jurrah was ahead of schedule in the rehabilitation, that Round 14-16 looked a possibility of a return to the senior side. I was howled down at the time, in particular by Inner Demon. Fair enough I suppose given the circumstances of the injury and the doubts lingering back then. If in fact the_russian's mail transpires with a return to Casey "next week" - meaning this coming weekend - I'd say at this stage Round 15 at home against Essendon, is still very much a possibility with 3 games under the belt at Casey. After that it's Plug'n Play time. All being well, of course.

If he comes in for Round 15 it'll be kinda like last year: an 8 week cameo at the end of the year to whet appetites for the coming season. Last year IIRC he played 9 games.

Only this time let us all hope he is in the team for Round 1!

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,257]

Is it just me or has this year been our best injury run since 2006??

Sure we've had a few long term injuries, but most weeks we're only missing 3 or 4 of our best 22, while in previous years we'd have 6-8 out each week.

[Redleg 41,952]

My bad.

I thought it said 5 weeks to go and not 2 weeks. Make that Round 17.

I would have thought 2-3 games at Casey to get some match fitness will be required.

I would have played him 5 minutes after coming out of the anaesthetic.

[H_T 3,049]

I would have played him 5 minutes after coming out of the anaesthetic.

Good news confirmed - Jurrah to return

[beelzebub 23,390]

Given the amount of football they have missed, I doubt Blease, Tapscott, Gawn and Spencer will be playing AFL. Jurrah might be back for Round 20+. But he too has missed nearly a season of footballer.

Mark them in for 2011.

I would. I could not believe Junior would want that either given the team orientated selflessness which cahracterises his game.

Blease Gawn and Spencer are particularly likely 2011 starters..Tapscot I have a funny tfeeling might get a run towards the last games depending on how we as a team are travelling. I sense Bailey might like to debut him prior to the next preseason.

Jurrah i suspect will return in about 4 weeks. Probably only a half in the seniors then after some time in the magoo-ressies then the maggos building his form.

Jurrah's a freak. ( in the nicest possible meaning ) but I think they will bring him back in sooner than later once he's found his legs again

[Freak 100]

Is it just me or has this year been our best injury run since 2006??

Sure we've had a few long term injuries, but most weeks we're only missing 3 or 4 of our best 22, while in previous years we'd have 6-8 out each week.

Completely disagree. We lost arguably our 2 best forwards (Petterd and jurrah) for the whole season :S

[Jonesy!!! 27]

Blease Gawn and Spencer are particularly likely 2011 starters..Tapscot I have a funny tfeeling might get a run towards the last games depending on how we as a team are travelling. I sense Bailey might like to debut him prior to the next preseason.

completly agree, he did the same thing for jack grimes round 22 vs richmond a few years back, he is on the record saying that jack wasnt ready for afl, but he gave him a taste so he knew how hard he would have to work to play afl over the preseason

i have a feeling this will happen with tapscott and/or blease, we have rich round 19, port in port round 21, and finally north at the mcg, i can see the round 22 game vs north being a chance for bailey to do the same thing. (assuming we are not in finals contention)

[Roost It 1,434]

My bad.

I thought it said 5 weeks to go and not 2 weeks. Make that Round 17.

I would have thought 2-3 games at Casey to get some match fitness will be required.

Jurrah will play Round 15 V Essendon at the MCG. It'll add 5,000 to the gate and help win us the game. The club needs to show the AFL that it deserves to play the big clubs at home every year!

I'm [censored] that Carlton come to "our" ground as the home team and it's been 3 or 4 years since we played a home game against the Dons.

I have developed a strong dislike for inequality.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

completly agree, he did the same thing for jack grimes round 22 vs richmond a few years back, he is on the record saying that jack wasnt ready for afl, but he gave him a taste so he knew how hard he would have to work to play afl over the preseason

i have a feeling this will happen with tapscott and/or blease, we have rich round 19, port in port round 21, and finally north at the mcg, i can see the round 22 game vs north being a chance for bailey to do the same thing. (assuming we are not in finals contention)

Spot on. highly doubt we will be in finals contention (but all for it if we are good enough) however those last 4 weeks may see a few debutants.

Don't think Blease will given he has barely played a half this season and still has some apparant leg soreness.

However, if Fitzpatrick can get some game time into him through Casey 2's and 1's then i wouldn't be surprised if he may be in the same boat as Tapscott.

Even though he is not a debutant, we may see Maric just to give him a taste and try to get him to take his game to the next level again next year. Likewise Cheney and Strauss. Bail will also if he can get fit again.

[Guest DeesPower]

Blease Gawn and Spencer are particularly likely 2011 starters..Tapscot I have a funny tfeeling might get a run towards the last games depending on how we as a team are travelling. I sense Bailey might like to debut him prior to the next preseason.

Jurrah i suspect will return in about 4 weeks. Probably only a half in the seniors then after some time in the magoo-ressies then the maggos building his form.

Jurrah's a freak. ( in the nicest possible meaning ) but I think they will bring him back in sooner than later once he's found his legs again

I think it will depend mostly on form but also whether we are in reach of the final 8. If we are out of the running for the 8, then i would be very surprised if they did not debut Gawn, Bleeze and Tapscott this year to give them that experience and if the club thinks they are ready. If we are within reach then it will depend entirely on form and whether the match committee believes the individual adds to the capability of the side a la Gysberts.From what we hear of Tapscott it would be surprising if when form warrents it if he was not a ready made footballer, and his in and under playing style and long accurate kicking up forward could add considerably to our skill base.

With us out of the finals race, the prospect of these three debuting would also add considerably to supporter interest towards the end of the season and therefore increase attendances.

I for one would be delighted to see them debuting this year if they were ready.