I am not here knock Jimmy but I feel for Dean Kent, he has been really unlucky to not get and AFL game yet.

Toumpas struggled most of the NAB cup games and then got a call up round 1 and has struggled the next 2 games.

Instead of going to Casey last week Jimmy was named an emergency. I just want to know how can this help him improve?

On the other hand Kent showed a lot of promise in the NAB Cup, and has still has not got a call up even after playing with Casey.

Thoughts?

Yep, Kent earned his chance and is still yet to get it. Hopefully soon.

i think it comes to their role in the team.

I see Kent as competing for a spot against Tapscott, Syliva, Byrnes, Blease etc (attacking HFF/midfield rotation)

Toumpas is more of a out and out mid, and whilst i agree his form hasnt been the best, he strikes me as a guy who would look 100 million dollars on a training drill as he is a smooth mover with a nice kick. He'll come good, but theres no harm playing him at Casey with Hogan and the other young guns

Toumpas needed a rest. He is but a kid and still growing into his body.

It was good management making him emergencey and very unlikely to play allowing him to get the week off his body required.

It will really benefit the young fellas playing together at Casey and consistently winning.

This will enable us to form a winning core of players for the future, namely Hogan, Magner, Toumpas, Tynan and Taggert.

As for Kent, he hasn't been doing it defensively and Neeld has stated this. Fair enough, make him work even harder for his spot and make a better player of him.

i think it comes to their role in the team.

I see Kent as competing for a spot against Tapscott, Syliva, Byrnes, Blease etc (attacking HFF/midfield rotation)

Toumpas is more of a out and out mid, and whilst i agree his form hasnt been the best, he strikes me as a guy who would look 100 million dollars on a training drill as he is a smooth mover with a nice kick. He'll come good, but theres no harm playing him at Casey with Hogan and the other young guns

Jimmy is competing for the same spot, it's where he played senior footy in Adelaide. I must admit to being disappointed with Jimmy's performances to date but think the club didn't do him any favours playing him in the first couple of games when he had no form in the NAB.

Kent was a bit stiff to miss and we can buy the spin if we like but in the games I saw he put a lot of pressure on the ball carrier and laid some pretty fierce tackles.

Toumpas did some nice things in the nab cup he wasn't hopeless. Do we really think Kent would've made more impact than toumpas?

I love how people harp on about how good time in the 2s is for Hogan but then want Kent to play. Remember toumpas has played senior footy at Sanfl where kent hasn't.

I see Toumpas and Kent as two different issues.

If you want a better one then go for why is Watts getting a game ahead of Strauss when ones in form at VFL and the other was rested without playing VFL for a week

Toumpas did some nice things in the nab cup he wasn't hopeless. Do we really think Kent would've made more impact than toumpas?

I love how people harp on about how good time in the 2s is for Hogan but then want Kent to play. Remember toumpas has played senior footy at Sanfl where kent hasn't.

I see Toumpas and Kent as two different issues.

If you want a better one then go for why is Watts getting a game ahead of Strauss when ones in form at VFL and the other was rested without playing VFL for a week

From what I have seen it'd appear to be the other way round

Toumpas did some nice things in the nab cup he wasn't hopeless. Do we really think Kent would've made more impact than toumpas?

I love how people harp on about how good time in the 2s is for Hogan but then want Kent to play. Remember toumpas has played senior footy at Sanfl where kent hasn't.

I see Toumpas and Kent as two different issues.

If you want a better one then go for why is Watts getting a game ahead of Strauss when ones in form at VFL and the other was rested without playing VFL for a week

He has for 2 seasons but his form has not been good enough and he may still be feeling the effects of the hip op's he had toward the end of last season. I think he was played too early and looked out of place, at odds his senior form in the SANFL.

He needed to come in with some form under his belt.

Based on what I saw during the NAB Cup, I would've have Kent in my round one side. He was a bit stiff, but I'm sure he'll get a chance soon. He looks to me like he could be a very good player for us.

Neither should have played or be playing.

We should be giving them AFL when they have deserved it and when they have shown enough for Casey.

As much as I want to see him in the side, I like the fact that the club are for once not throwing him into the deep end. I think to many of our young players have been thrown into AFL to early and also not given breaks for recovery (Watts, Morton, Gysberts, Toumpas etc.).

There may also be another reason because I have heard from MFC reports that he needs to work on his defensive game and I think that's why he had fewer possessions on the weekend. I think he is fighting for a similar position as Blease and both have been criticised for their defensive work.

Really excited about this kid and just want the club to do what ever is best long term - we can't let our current draftees turn into basket cases like the past ones!

Well Kent didnt do much at all at Casey on the weekend, so I'd hope we aren't considering giving him a game based on his NAB Cup form rather than his current form.

My guess is that the coaching staff know what they are doing and have a plan...

Well Kent didnt do much at all at Casey on the weekend, so I'd hope we aren't considering giving him a game based on his NAB Cup form rather than his current form.

This was like his first Casey game where he was not in the bests?

So I would say current form is very good!

With all the excitement over Evans and his 3 goal, multiple possession las quarter, does it not tell us something about how we improve this season?

It isn't throwing more teenagers into the AFL. Viney is a once-in-a-generation player.

Tapscott, Evans, Watts, Trengove, Blease, McDonald, Gawn, Jetta, Howe, Bail, and Magner (when he is eligible) giving more and improving will help us next week and for the rest of the year.

Frawley showing the intensity and selflessness that got him an AA selection also wouldn't hurt. Garland being more consistent. Jamar pulling his finger out.

We have got to stop Waiting for Superman and give our players an easy out. Kent won't save us, Toumpas, won't save us, even Viney won't save us. Maybe Hogan...

We don't have a great list, but it is far better than what it has shown in all but 4 quarters of footy this year.

I reckon Kents nab cup campaign was overrated.

Sure he looked promising but he only played a mini game v north and that 'under 23's game v Port.

I reckon Kents nab cup campaign was overrated.

Sure he looked promising but he only played a mini game v north and that 'under 23's game v Port.

You're probably right, but it was better than Jimmy T's not saying that gives him a game but they both probably needed and still need a bit of Casey time. I'm sure he will get a bit of AFL time at some stage this year and hope that Taggert can press for selection as well. We need the kicking ability of all 3.

I would love to see Kent get a call-up, but having finally seen the team in action I can't see whose spot he is going to take. Byrnes, Evans and Sylvia were all very good on the weekend, and Davey did well as the sub. That pretty much covers us for the HFF/Midfield crossover role. Given that we seem to have a pretty good group in the side right now in those roles, I have no problem with him spending time at Casey working on his defensive pressure, consistency and teamwork with Hogan.

I think what we did for Toumpas was just perfect. We let him know exactly how far he has to go to match it with the pace and difficulty of AFL-level footy, without just giving him game after game in hopes that he'd simply click.

His second game was better than his first, and after he went backward in his third game, we took him out of the fire and let him cool off for a bit. Perfect.

Agreed, both deserve a good chance?

just as Matt Jones has and look at him, he's gunning it

With all the excitement over Evans and his 3 goal, multiple possession las quarter, does it not tell us something about how we improve this season?

It isn't throwing more teenagers into the AFL. Viney is a once-in-a-generation player.

Tapscott, Evans, Watts, Trengove, Blease, McDonald, Gawn, Jetta, Howe, Bail, and Magner (when he is eligible) giving more and improving will help us next week and for the rest of the year.

Frawley showing the intensity and selflessness that got him an AA selection also wouldn't hurt. Garland being more consistent. Jamar pulling his finger out.

We have got to stop Waiting for Superman and give our players an easy out. Kent won't save us, Toumpas, won't save us, even Viney won't save us. Maybe Hogan...

We don't have a great list, but it is far better than what it has shown in all but 4 quarters of footy this year.

... Not yet anyway R, not yet. Whats that saying about learning about one's mistakes and not repeating?

Neither should have played or be playing.

We should be giving them AFL when they have deserved it and when they have shown enough for Casey.

Where they can also learn how to win.

I know a pick 4 that was gifted 70 odd games. Now at West Coast.

Neither should have played or be playing.

We should be giving them AFL when they have deserved it and when they have shown enough for Casey.

Yes Jimmy T got a game when not quite ready.

Give Dean Kent and Jimmy Toumpas at least 4-6 weeks in Casey to get tuned in. They will be good but don't rush them.