I see it like this. Who would I rather Dom Barry was training alongside: Jordan Gysberts or David Rodan?

Yeah I know, but as I said i always think that they'll come good, unfortunately some never do. I still thought there was hope for Bater at the start of the year.

I support the Fd 100% but we're now coming from a long way back. Hope whats left have the ability to progress.

Yeah I know, but as I said i always think that they'll come good, unfortunately some never do. I still thought there was hope for Bater at the start of the year.

Optimistic!

I think about it like this:

Gysberts had clear talents.

But his weaknesses were too great and too many.

He could find the footy, make good decisions, had good timing, could read the play, and had fantastic hands.

He also had a poor tank, non-existent burst of speed, poor long kick, average middle distance kick, poor strength, physically underdeveloped.

No matter how good his strengths, his weaknesses would have made him a liability whenever in the side.

If you're not going to be a star, you still need to make a solid contribution, and although your strengths might not be great, your weaknesses are what will ultimately be the decider.

On the back of those weaknesses, Gysbert could play only one role (inside midfield) but does not have all the attributes necessary to make it in that role in the AFL with his poor running skills and strength.

I believe there are a few positives to come out of the past month.

a) Clean out of poor attitude and leadership. (Save for Jared Rivers to whom I wish nothing but success), we have been whipping boys for the whole league for 6 years, so we can sit and debate the merit of the clean out as much as we like, at least we are taking a different approach

B) Net games gained - raw numbers suggested we are a mile away for competing for place outside of the bottom 4 if we continue to go down the recruit 8 kids and hope they become stars, line again, we will field a team that averages 65 games experience for the next 4 years; just like we have the past 4 years.

c) We might have a chance of winning. We might not be challenging for top 4 next year, but at least we are bringing in experience that might give us a chance of teaching our 'young stars' how to win a game. For 6 years, we've been lucky to put 4 consecutive quarters together... I for one want to make my way to the G thinking we have a chance of pushing some teams

d) 24 yr old premiership structural key forwards with 76 games experience dont grow on trees. This time last year, the football world was questioning us sacrificing pick 12 for Mitch Clark... last time I checked, no-one has been regretting that decision.

e) All the focus wont be on Wines and Viney; It will be on the older talent that we've supposedly sold the farm for. And our new young talent can come in, and develop without the pressure of the burden of being the sole hope of a Demon revival.

Bring on 2013!

Apart from Rivers, and maybe Gysberts, have no problems with the moving on of the rest, even the sublime Mighty Morton for a draft pick that may not be used.

Barry Prendergsat has a lot to answer for.

Petterd Bate Morton couldn't get a game in a poor side, if that doesn't tell you how well they were going.

It was simple, our guys were that far off the pace fitness wise, those who weren't prepared to put in were going to be moved on, and they have been. If we had 20 draft picks, Joel McDonald, the only slow Jetta playing AFL, and the brilliant Sellar. would be out the door as well

Outsiders and even people who specialise in oppostion player anaylysis can only make an assesment on game day players and what they hear on the fickle grapevine

Like most new coaches of a bottom team in the first year it is all about making observations about demonstrated ability, attitudes and desire to learn and his own choices on who he thinks suit his game plan

Every coach is different

IMO Neeld has done something and that is a TICK

What that something is will be assesed at the end of 2013

I am quietly confident

The players who Neeld has left on the list must have got the message over the Trading Period

Some would have been very nervous

I would not be suprised if another 1 maybe 2 more will be missing at the start of 2013

What will be different in 2013

Fitness better be one of them

I have no problems in what Neeld has done. It will also put pressure on guys like Watts to lift if he wants a long career in the AFL. I am already looking forward to a few more wins next year!

Byrnes will probably replace Joel Mac.

I don't think we recruited Byrnes to play as a defender at Casey.