I'd think in the final game against Hawthorn you'd want as close to your best 22 to see how they play together. Given we have an intraclub as well, that's 4 pre season games and there is no way our best blokes are going to go in with 4 games under their belt. I think for this game you'll see a lot of the older guys rested, Jones, Frawley, Grimes, Vince and Cross may all miss and use the trip to Alice as a bonding for the younger group and a really good opportunity to see what young players step up against a good team. I think we'll get spanked, but I think it'll be with a really average team that's primarily there to get some experience.

You may be right. There is a balance of last friday, this thursday, friday week and then the hawks game, for rotating players that needs to be achieved, with match fitness and general health being major factors.

Why are people so quick to drop Barry? If Viney/Watts are good to play I would drop Jordie. We've seen for years what he has to offer and for mine it's not enough. He's not picked for elite disposal and two tackles in a game isn't enough. Whilst I also understand the need for cohesion with the core group I personally don't see him as part of it.

Edited February 16, 201411 yr by Al's Demons

I would drop Jordie. We've seen for years what he has to offer and for mine it's not enough. He's not picked for elite disposal and two tackles in a game isn't enough. Whilst I also understand the need for cohesion with the core group I personally don't see him as part of it.

He was great vs RIchmond and will be one of the first picked every week, and rightfully so

He was great vs RIchmond and will be one of the first picked every week, and rightfully so

Yes he looked more at ease and not as rushed but so did Dunn and the rest of the team. Come round one I think we've have recruited enough mids for him to be an emergency. What does he bring that makes him great?

Add to that he can't go forward or back so it limits his appeal.

He was great vs RIchmond and will be one of the first picked every week, and rightfully so

I'm not so certain he will be one of the first picked each week but he will definitely be in the squad until someone demands a call up for his place. I love him and the way he goes about it but with a lot more around him he may find it harder for a spot this season. A wonderful position for us to be in.

Add to that he can't go forward or back so it limits his appeal.

He doesn't need to, he will be a full time midfield stopper, nothing more, nothing less.

Why are people so quick to drop Barry? If Viney/Watts are good to play I would drop Jordie. We've seen for years what he has to offer and for mine it's not enough. He's not picked for elite disposal and two tackles in a game isn't enough. Whilst I also understand the need for cohesion with the core group I personally don't see him as part of it.

Although Jordie doesn't bring much he brings more than Barry who from what I saw added little to no value. Not saying one day he won't be a solid senior player, but at the moment he clearly isn't worthy of a spot and there is no way going forward players will be picked on 'potential.'

Yes he looked more at ease and not as rushed but so did Dunn and the rest of the team. Come round one I think we've have recruited enough mids for him to be an emergency. What does he bring that makes him great?

Ask Ablett, he will tell you.

FB: Dunn Frawley Georgiou

HB: Grimes McDonald Terlich

C: Watts Jones Vince

HF: Howe Hogan Viney

FF: JKH Fitzpatrick Dawes
Foll: Gawn Trengove Tyson

Int: Michie, Toumpas, McKenzie, Cross

S: M.jones, Barry

Barry has had one game, give him time. As for asking Ablett, I remember Miller towelling up Hall.

Centre line - Watts jones Trengove

Foll -Cross Viney

Bench -Tyson, Michie, Toumpas, M jones , Strauss(Vince HFF)

For mine Jordie doesn't make it.

Pedersen would be extremely unlucky to miss out, depending on how Fitzy/Dawes/Hogan pull up after the intraclub and Melbourne see them all fit to play. Barry didn't really make a mark on Friday night, did use his pace a little bit but his kicking which is considered a strength was a bit off. Him and Nicho I'd take out for Watts and Viney. King had a good run but I think he'll get a rest and Gawn comes in. Not sure on Spencer's position, sure he made some very silly mistakes but he made up for that with his goal and chase down of Grigg which I liked. I think he will probably get a spell.

Barry has had one game, give him time. As for asking Ablett, I remember Miller towelling up Hall.

Centre line - Watts jones Trengove

Foll -Cross Viney

Bench -Tyson, Michie, Toumpas, M jones , Strauss(Vince HFF)

For mine Jordie doesn't make it.

Barry will get time, but it should and will be at Casey.

Strauss over Jordie??? They get the same amount of the pill yet Jordie shuts someone else down at the same time. Also, from what I have seen there skills under pressure are similar.

Barry will get time, but it should and will be at Casey.

Strauss over Jordie??? They get the same amount of the pill yet Jordie shuts someone else down at the same time. Also, from what I have seen there skills under pressure are similar.

Jordie is probably our best tackler imo, maybe Trengove gives him a shake, but he makes tackles stick which is important, certainly ahead of Strauss imo

I think Strauss is over-rated, particularly his kicking skills. He comes under the category IMHO as a "dumb footballer". Too many silly errors and he gets caught far too often. He will be a handy backup, no more, particularly now we have Georgiou, who I have no doubt will be elevated off the rookie list before the season starts.

Edited February 16, 201411 yr by Dees2014

I think Strauss is over-rated, particularly his kicking skills. He comes under the category IMHO as a "dumb footballer". Too many silly errors and he gets caught far too often. He will be a handy backup, no more.

Did not see the Friday game but I tend to agree with you.

I have seen little to suggest he is more than back up to cover injuries

I struggle why people continually want to back Spencer in, wow he was bad. He may show some great efforts chasing and tackling but his ruck work and general skills are disgusting. Get Gawn or Jamar back asap!

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Agree 100%.

I've come to the conclusion Spencer is the Anti-Jamar.

Jamar offers nothing around the ground but will win hitouts.

Spencer will chase everything on the ground and then lose every hitout. He was effectively beaten by a Shaun Hampson/Orren Stephenson combo. Against a talented ruckman he'd be little more than a step ladder with wavy arms.

Much as we may like Spencer's gutsy endeavour, there's no point in a ruckman who's no good in the ruck.

Agree 100%.

I've come to the conclusion Spencer is the Anti-Jamar.

Jamar offers nothing around the ground but will win hitouts.

Spencer will chase everything on the ground and then lose every hitout. He was effectively beaten by a Shaun Hampson/Orren Stephenson combo. Against a talented ruckman he'd be little more than a step ladder with wavy arms.

Much as we may like Spencer's gutsy endeavour, there's no point in a ruckman who's no good in the ruck.

There is also no point in a ruckman who is seldom on the park.

FB: Dunn Frawley Georgiou

HB: Grimes McDonald Terlich

C: Watts Jones Vince

HF: Howe Hogan Viney

FF: JKH Fitzpatrick Dawes

Foll: Gawn Trengove Tyson

Int: Michie, Toumpas, McKenzie, Cross

S: M.jones, Barry

I don't mind this line-up D26 but I would like to see Salem in for Barry and play at least one pre-season game so that Roos can evaluate him before the season proper.

Spoke to fitzy today and he said he would play next week, expect to see him vs the cats.

I reckon we will rest guys who are certainties for round one , like Vince and Cross

I watched the game and the one I was most disappointed in was Strauss - for a person who supposedly has elite kicking - it was very good sometimes and terrible at times, he fumbled when under little pressure and what was most disappointing was that he was beaten everytime (I think) in one on one contests. Was always well behind his man when they took a mark. I was impressed by all the new guys who showed much more than James I'm afraid!

Agree 100%.

I've come to the conclusion Spencer is the Anti-Jamar.

Jamar offers nothing around the ground but will win hitouts.

Spencer will chase everything on the ground and then lose every hitout. He was effectively beaten by a Shaun Hampson/Orren Stephenson combo. Against a talented ruckman he'd be little more than a step ladder with wavy arms.

Much as we may like Spencer's gutsy endeavour, there's no point in a ruckman who's no good in the ruck.

I don't understand how bad Spencer is in the ruck. He's tall, strong, got a decent leap yet gets out bodied so easily. I thought that would change this year and he'd be a better tap ruck than the Richmond guys. He didn't get slaughtered by them but he didn't win the battle either.

I can put up with some Spencer uncoordination around the ground if it comes with his great work rate and speed but he has to win the ruck. Stafford needs to get in to him now.

I watched the game and the one I was most disappointed in was Strauss - for a person who supposedly has elite kicking - it was very good sometimes and terrible at times, he fumbled when under little pressure and what was most disappointing was that he was beaten everytime (I think) in one on one contests. Was always well behind his man when they took a mark. I was impressed by all the new guys who showed much more than James I'm afraid!

Did you watch the entire game or just the first quarter. In the first quarter he had 2 horrendous moments. 1 when he turned the ball over flat out to a Richmond player and another when running through the centre he panicked and dropped the ball leading to a turnover. From there he bounced back and hit targets perfectly for the rest of the night. I'm willing to excuse the kicking mistakes because they happened in the first quarter of the first game of the year.

I'm more worried about his lack of defensive impact. He seems really good at trailing opponents and then trying to get a punch in and not getting it done. Mainly he has a lack of desperation. I don't think he's soft because he doesn't back away from contact but he's a bit bruise free in that he needs to dish out some bruises by going harder. Has to play like his career is on the line in defence and that every possession an opponent gets is an insult to him.

Terlich isn't much better as a small defender. He often even is further behind trailing his man than Strauss. But when the ball is on the deck or when he is in the correct spot for a spoil he'll hit it at 110%.

Clisby is the one I want to see because he has good attacking instincts and reasonable skills but I think is a slightly better defender than both Strauss and Terlich but then again he's also quite short which is a pain.

Spencer will chase everything on the ground and then lose every hitout. He was effectively beaten by a Shaun Hampson/Orren Stephenson combo.

Spencer had more hitouts than any other ruck on the ground on Friday. You can add up the combination of the Richmond crew but he was basically working on his own with some help by King & Pedersen neither of whom you would call ruck men at this stage.

I think Spencer has been harshly marked for that bad kick. Being at the ground I thought he did a lot of good work around the ground and held his own in the ruck.

Did you watch the entire game or just the first quarter. In the first quarter he had 2 horrendous moments. 1 when he turned the ball over flat out to a Richmond player and another when running through the centre he panicked and dropped the ball leading to a turnover. From there he bounced back and hit targets perfectly for the rest of the night. I'm willing to excuse the kicking mistakes because they happened in the first quarter of the first game of the year.

I'm more worried about his lack of defensive impact. He seems really good at trailing opponents and then trying to get a punch in and not getting it done. Mainly he has a lack of desperation. I don't think he's soft because he doesn't back away from contact but he's a bit bruise free in that he needs to dish out some bruises by going harder. Has to play like his career is on the line in defence and that every possession an opponent gets is an insult to him.

Terlich isn't much better as a small defender. He often even is further behind trailing his man than Strauss. But when the ball is on the deck or when he is in the correct spot for a spoil he'll hit it at 110%.

Clisby is the one I want to see because he has good attacking instincts and reasonable skills but I think is a slightly better defender than both Strauss and Terlich but then again he's also quite short which is a pain.

I agree, I thought he kicked pretty well most of the night. The one where he dropped the ball in the centre wasn't a panic, he was looking at a target and noticed he was covered and tried to change his decision and direction part way into the ball drop. The ball slipped out and it did look bad but it was a humid and slippery night.

He did trail his opponent too much and really needs to either body and block more to not let them get a clear run at it and if they do work harder to get a fist in.

I thought his worst moment was when Edwards made a long lead back to the goal square of 40+ metres,getting a metre or twos break initially and Strauss could not close that down over a long distance. His closing speed is just not good enough to guard any forward willing to make long leads and he is not strong enough in body on body stuff.I'm not willing to totally write him off but definitely needs to improve his closing down speed or reading the play a little better.