Did not see the game or hear it last night so only know a small amount.

Did Cook play at all?

Just checked the game stats So iam answering my own question.

Did not get a game

Regardless of the result it was fascinating seeing the results of obviously a big effort to improve our footy in the clinches. Not just the extra big bodies but the processes, the quick thinking and the support that the ball carrier got.

A lot of work still needs to be done in our often clumsy run out of defence.

Great to see the development in Jones. Have been saying for a long time that once he gets the required support he would become an excellent mid. No longer does he feel the need to bust through 3 tackles and pinpoint a 50 metre pass to the centre of the ground.

Jack Watts will fire. Don't worry kids.

He is learning a new structure.

Agreed, and Mark Neeld echoed my thoughts on Melbfc website today.......he is just one of those players who doesn't have to do much to impact the game. He will settle soon and be indispensable.

Agreed, and Mark Neeld echoed my thoughts on Melbfc website today.......he is just one of those players who doesn't have to do much to impact the game. He will settle soon and be indispensable.

What else did you think he would say!

"the guy is a bum and we wasted a no.1 pick" ( i don't think that by the way )

Of course he would support him and we don't know what his instructions to Watts were.

So as usual we will wait and see how things develop in 2012

Dont wanna get too excited, but things looked good tonight!!

but then again

as big kKev used to say,

I'm Excited!!

What do you mean "used to say"?

I still say it.

I made a bet with my mate who is a Pies supporter that James Magner will be in the starting 22 in round 1. If I win he's gonna buy me a Melbourne Membership and if I loose I buy him a pies membership......Im feeling really confident Im gonna be a Dees member real soon.

Not only will he be in the team, he'll probably be in the votes in round one too.

thanks for all the comments. Plenty to like.

No coverage here and havent picked up the paper for its summary at work and wont see many of the sports reports. Mention already made that Collingwood had many out and its ONLY a practice match scenario.

As you practice so will you play

We seem to be still finding out more about some of the fringe players but all signs positive and love what appears to be the number of options opening up all over the ground

Competition for spots in the side can only be good for squad development and we can then select the best side for the opposition

Still want to see what Watts will develop into

I recall the Decoy full forward tactic has worked in the past itss nice to have one!!!

No further injuries was the best result

GO DEES!!

Sylvia is a Rolls Royce. When hes on song, things happen for us.

And I think Jones is improving every year, he really led well from the front tonight.

Cant wait for Troy Davis to get a few more games like that under his belt, he looks a very good prospect. The half dozen

games I saw him play last year for Casey he was largely anonymous, after tonights effort I can now see why they drafted him.

Think there are a few players that might have expected to have a spot in Round 1 now having to play catchup to reclaim their guernsey

Rivers (Sellar)

McKenzie/Nicholson (Magner)

Bail (Bate)

Dunn/Watts (Petterd/Howe)

If we can get back from injury/rest the likes of Trengove,Grimes,Moloney, Clark, Rivers, Bartram, Jurrah etc then we may start to have

a bit of depth.

The likes of Jamie Bennell, who continues to underwhelm, are also in danger of facing extended spells out at windswept Cranbourne.

I think Many skilled types will spend much time @ Casey Until they start to put the body over/inline with the ball. winning the Footy is All about committing the body. The skilled types need do this, as well as using their Flair.

I want the skilled types to Step Up. Not step away.

thanks for all the comments. Plenty to like.

No coverage here and havent picked up the paper for its summary at work and wont see many of the sports reports. Mention already made that Collingwood had many out and its ONLY a practice match scenario.

As you practice so will you play

We seem to be still finding out more about some of the fringe players but all signs positive and love what appears to be the number of options opening up all over the ground

Competition for spots in the side can only be good for squad development and we can then select the best side for the opposition

Still want to see what Watts will develop into

I recall the Decoy full forward tactic has worked in the past itss nice to have one!!!

No further injuries was the best result

GO DEES!!

So much has been made of Collingwoods outs but they still had Cloke, Pendlebury, Thomas, Swan, Reid, Maxwell, Ball, Shaw and many premiership players so thats a load of crap. I think Buckley panicked and took some off so he had an excuse for a loss.

Im not sure what the TV or radios were saying but we had a lot of players out ourselves. On that note it was a good effort with a bunch of kids.

Missing: from a possible best 22.

Grimes

Trengove

Mitch Clark

Moloney

Jurrah

McKenzie

Morton

Tapscott

Strauss

Jetta

Fringe players missing:

Gawn

Spencer

Williams

Taggert

Evans

So right back at ya Collingwood.

Seems like Blease didn't play because he missed a team meeting. There defiantly has been a standard set. Discipline, obey instructions and go hard or your not in this team.

Seems like Blease didn't play because he missed a team meeting. There defiantly has been a standard set. Discipline, obey instructions and go hard or your not in this team.

Pretty sure he did play. No 17 now.

What do you mean "used to say"?

I still say it.

Say What?

He did.

2 disposals in 40% game time.

A bit of work to do for Bleasey.

So now we need to beat the Hawks by 10 goals and hope one of the undefeated teams lose next week to make the final.

So now we need to beat the Hawks by 10 goals and hope one of the undefeated teams lose next week to make the final.

I dont think we will make the final, not much percentage for us, but what do we do.....rest our injured players or give them game time and make a match out of it???

At one stage, I was beginning to wonder whether the ball had been smeared with vaseline, there were so many fumbles and dropped marks ,although now I think of it, when would the roof have

been closed and how dry would the grass have been ? But in the midst of it all , Jones was like a magician , plucking the ball one-handed and on the run off packs and delivering it well with total ease.

Loved the unrelenting fierceness on tackling and making the opposition accountable .

Impressed with Fitzpatrick's physique .

Well I wasn't able to watch last night, and have just finished watching on iQ. And what a way to start a Sunday Thought our boys were sensational. There is still a number of kinks to iron out, but the fortitude they showed to go down, fight back, go down again and really work back into it was really a sight to behold. It's no secret Nate Jones has been my favourite player for some time now, and he is really starting to show why now. I see him as being not dissimilar to a Brett Kirk type player. Not the most naturally gifted, but puts himself to the top through desire and will alone. Was a great game from him, and I think it won't be nearly the last. Of the others, Magner is fantastic, and I think along with Couch is a lock for the rookie spots, Martin continues to improve and show that despite being big, he is agile and can play all over the ground, Fitzpatrick showed he is a very likely type, Davis was good and should grow to be quite the handy player and I could go on and on. Credit must go to Green and Davey as well. They both showed that they might have overcome the demons that pagued them last year. Early days still, but signs are better than they have been in a long time, and I'll take a win over the Filth any day of the week.

Hells GateAs we are unlikely to make the grand final would like to see rest the injured and continue to play a sqaud that is competitive against Hawks maybe give different body and or skill types a crack We definitely need to make a match out of it

BUT

Our match

Practice what we want to do

I think Neeld and the coaches are making great strides and have a realistic impression of waht they want.

Im Also like big Kev..

Hells GateAs we are unlikely to make the grand final would like to see rest the injured and continue to play a sqaud that is competitive against Hawks maybe give different body and or skill types a crack We definitely need to make a match out of it

BUT

Our match

Practice what we want to do

I think Neeld and the coaches are making great strides and have a realistic impression of waht they want.

Im Also like big Kev..

I agree. Im always a fan of never playing your best side in these matches anyhow, just to keep the opposition guessing come the 4 point games.

I was harsh on Bennell last week but did not see much wrong with his game tonight. Would anyone like to highlight the issues? Played tighter. Pressured well. When he got possession used it well. Granted a slipped tackle and low possession count but a back pockets job is not to rack them up.

Watts ran himself ragged but needs to play more to his strengths and lead aggressively into space. He needs to learn to demand the ball. There were signs of that last year but they seem to have disappeared. Confidence will come but will struggle for round 1 unless a big showing next week.

The things I like are that we are finding new players, which is going to mean pressure for spots in the team and that we are aggressive at every contest.

We were even more professional on the mark, where we now jump up and down, trying to put the kicker off. It shows we are thinking and that they have been taught that you can have an impact at every stage of a game.

Troy Davis is a wrecking ball.

Unfortunately his awareness atmo is NQR & he's mostly taking Us out. When he gains more experience with the main team, he'll be a damaging exponent.

the fumbles were due to a high intensity pressure game. Like all close games between the better sides. I can remember many Stk v Geel v Coll games that there were heaps of fumbles due to pressure on the ball carrier. Nothing to worry about here.

No, not worried , just commenting . The fumbles of which I speak , both in the air and on the ground ,were in uncontested situations , but I take your point about the pressure . Just frustrating to watch .

I think sometimes they just got ahead of themselves , and took their eye off the ball they assumed they would control.

I think we can really put some pressure on the Dawks game plan.

They like to flick it around in close qrs till they find an open man.

if we can do what we did last night there'll be some seroius opposition fumbling going on .

I say just keep doing what were doing , practicing the game plan , play those that need time , rest those with niggles.

Let the cards fall where they may.

Then taper for rd1.

No, not worried , just commenting . The fumbles of which I speak , both in the air and on the ground ,were in uncontested situations , but I take your point about the pressure . Just frustrating to watch .

I think sometimes they just got ahead of themselves , and took their eye off the ball they assumed they would control.

Actually Molly I was wrong sorry. I just watched Buckleys Press Conference and they left the roof open all day before the game and it was raining. Then closed it for the game.

So yeah, it would of been slippery as. I apologise and heres the answer for you