The good doctor is right. Gawn is promising but is still quite a way off being an AFL ruckman. If he gets a game then we are either:

a- Stuffed, or

b- Giving him a 'taste' right at the very end of the year purely for the sake of development.

Spencer is currently miles ahead of him.

I don't disagree if you are talking 2011 - and perhaps even 2012. Just as long as the doc wasn't making a permanent diagnosis!!

I'd be concerned if Max has any further to go than Frank did when he played his first game.

The good doctor is right. Gawn is promising but is still quite a way off being an AFL ruckman. If he gets a game then we are either:

a- Stuffed, or

b- Giving him a 'taste' right at the very end of the year purely for the sake of development.

Spencer is currently miles ahead of him.

And that's how it should be because Jake is two years and two months older than Max and in ruckmen's terms that's a hell of a lot of development time he's had ahead of him.

There was no appearance from Lucas Cook, Jeremy Howe or Tom McDonald. No explanations and none of the above were on the latest official injury list (for what that's worth) although Howe might have sustained some sort of minor injury in last week's practice match against Frankston.

Had a quick chat with Jeremy Howe after the Dee’s/Swans game.

He has a sore ankle, probably out for another couple of weeks.

Thanks for the report KC- looked up Gawn- just turned 19 last December 30th.WOW- great upside when one thinks Sandilands did not start excelling until he was 25/26.

There's an article by the aptly named Brendan Casey (no relation ) in this week's Berwick Leader - SCORPIONS SKIPPER TO MISS OPENER

Some excerpts that might be of interest:

Kyle Matthews suffered a hamstring injury late in the third quarter.

Ben Waite looked agile and potent in the forward half all game but will miss the first four matches of the season due to suspension rolling over from the last game in 2010.

Brendan Fevola played his first game in Casey colours on the weekend, having a gallop in the reserves. He only played just over two quarters and didn't have a lot of opportunities as Port Melbourne thumped Casey by 73 points.

"We didn't deliver the ball well to Fev throughout the time he was on," Gotch said.

"He has got a bit of work to do to get his touch and fitness back, but if he keeps progressing and doing all the team things, we won't hesitate to put him in the senior side."

Casey opens its 2011 season this Saturday night against Geelong at Casey Fields.

Meanwhile the Cranbourne Weekly is all over the Fevola story - BRENDAN FEVOLA SET FOR VFL ROUND ONE START

BRENDAN Fevola could be a shock round-one starter for the Casey Scorpions after the troubled full forward made it through his first game of football since round 18 last season.

That article seems to be inventing facts for the purpose of a headline, but still... you'd have to say that Casey are officially a joke (if not already) if Fevola gets a run in the seniors after everything that has happened in the last week.

That article seems to be inventing facts for the purpose of a headline, but still... you'd have to say that Casey are officially a joke (if not already) if Fevola gets a run in the seniors after everything that has happened in the last week.

You are not wrong Nasher...this is beyond a joke. Fev does not wish to play football, he just wants appearance Money. And does not care where it comes from.

Bring on the MFC reserve side please.

I can't see Gotch copping that sort of bullshit from Fev. Two kicks and one handpass from an overweight oaf is not enough to earn a place in the team for round 1. Not when there's a squad of 40-50 blokes working their butts off over summer to make the first team.

Fev will either play reserves or try his luck elsewhere.