And Hogan.

I forgot about that guy.

Great to hear Jetta was able to follow up on his performance last week. Would love to see him get another chance In a team that has some self belief.

Toumpas and Salem were the two I most hoped would show something so sounds Ike that wish was granted.

A little curious to see what JKH and Byrnes would be like together at the feet of Dawes, Frawley and Hogan.

On Trenners, if the standard against Carlton can be maintained (irrespective of results), It may be a while before he works his way back into the team. We can't afford to let momentum slip in order to carry him. The ball movement was so much quicker this week and it wasn't coincidental.

No disrespect to Jetta intended, but the only reason he would get a game this year is if there's another long term injury and we're playing so badly he gets a game. On the other hand, if he continues to perform like this he might get himself back on the main list next year or, perhaps, on another team's main list. I hope he can and if he does, he'll be justly rewarded for showing great persistence.

Appreciate the reports, cheers.

No disrespect to Jetta intended, but the only reason he would get a game this year is if there's another long term injury and we're playing so badly he gets a game. On the other hand, if he continues to perform like this he might get himself back on the main list next year or, perhaps, on another team's main list. I hope he can and if he does, he'll be justly rewarded for showing great persistence.

Nev is playing this well because he finally had a complete pre season under his belt, without one injury set back and he has a clear role within Casey, and obviously enjoying his footy, he was kept on the list as a reward for his last six games at Casey last year and to see what he could do with a fresh start (Jade Rawling;s words not mine)

I wonder whether he's just developed too much of a defensive mindset and he can't break out of it.

I remember that game when scores were even with less than a minute to go and he just grabbed the moment and went third man up at a bounce and hit it through for a point to win the game. He was often in the right place at the right time in his first couple of years, but Neeld put him so far back in his shell mentally he's too scared to take any initiative.

In which case he's best to stay at Casey until he's got his initiative back,and he's again trying to make things happen rather than slow things down.

He seems to have forgotten how to play on instinct.

Seems like every time he gets the ball he has to think now what does the game plan tell me to do now. When he doesn't have the footy he doesn't seem to know where to be or what to o next to be effective in the next play.

I think he has been over coached for so long he has forgotten how to be the dominate running machine that got him drafted at number 2.

Casey Scorpions 2.3.15 4.6.30 9.12.67 12.14.86

Geelong 3.0.18 9.8.62 10.10.70 14.18.102

Goals

Casey Scorpions Byrnes Fitzpatrick 3 Salem 2 Best Page Petropoulos Smith

Geelong Walker 3 Hamling Hollmer Linton 2 Bates Herbison Jansen Luxford Thurlow

Best

Casey Scorpions Panozza, Byrnes Jetta Toumpas Gent Clisby

Geelong Schroder Walker Sheringham Bath Hollmer Herbison

Just enquiring Whispering , how many of Toumpas possesions were contested?

Just enquiring Whispering , how many of Toumpas possesions were contested?

Sorry picket but I wasn't keeping stats (it's often hard to identify players on the other side of the ground when they're wearing unfamiliar numbers) but I would say predominantly on the outside but there were times when he was inside and picked up two or three possessions in the same passage of play. I also thought that his disposal and decision making were below his usual standard but he improved as the game went on. Same can be said of Jack Trengove who put in a respectable game and Christian Salem also got better as the game went on (he kicked two but missed the easiest shot of the lot). The conditions were really tricky with the wind yesterday and it took the players some time to get used to them which put Casey at a disavantage because they should have been 2 - 3 goals up at quarter time and not a few points behind.

I will put up a report tomorrow.

Sure I'd like Fitzy to develop mongrel and physicality (same with Watts and some others!) but even if he doesn't get that yet he can still offer something. My point more was that he had some limitations in preseason, was knocked out in round 1, played in a drubbing in round 2 and then played in pouring rain in round 3. Overall they aren't ideal conditions. A few weeks in the VFL and he might come back in and be ok in the ruck and kick a couple of goals most weeks up forward especially if he comes in to a team that's actually moving the ball and has other forward options. If there is no difference to the scoreboard either way I'd rather Fitzy as second ruck than Jamar or Pedersen.

yep, for sure.. fitzy can be, if he allows himself, to trust in himself, the tools athletically & the freak to snap goals. but its inhibited by his fear at this moment.

fear crushes & destroys. its of the dark side of things.

trust is at the basis of creating.

I'd forgotten to remember he was knocked out, & this can haunt someone for a while. but Fitzy, IMO has the courage down deep. he just needs to learn to tap into it.

Edited April 14, 201411 yr by dee-luded

Something is really restricting his pace. I still think he has O.P and we haven't been told.

I'm wondering if he has lost the passion that provides the drive. similar to frawley.

If jack had been injured over the last couple of years & continued to play thru, he may have progressively lost the self belief, & then the passion can die down?

remember as a kid, when you ran, & then discovered your after burners in adolescence. jet propulsion & new found speed? Fear can block this process out, losing the propulsion.

learning to love the game again will lift his MOJO, & that can help overcome the fear of not being good enough. 'selfdoubts'... with the love, can return the needed desire, & with that, the focus.

And then the afterburners may well return.

Another player to watch when match fit is Riley, improved as the game progressed. Very in and under type players with lots of grunt. Umpires didn't seem to like him though

I agree. Riley was very hard at it and also showed excellent skills with precise delivery. He did push the boundaries a bit with the umpires such as not returning the ball correctly and pushing oponents after they marked - he will need to get that out of his game

but will be a great acquisition for the MFC.

I agree. Riley was very hard at it and also showed excellent skills with precise delivery. He did push the boundaries a bit with the umpires such as not returning the ball correctly and pushing oponents after they marked - he will need to get that out of his game

but will be a great acquisition for the MFC.

Keep that in his game, just be smart about it.

Just enquiring Whispering , how many of Toumpas possesions were contested?

No disrespect to Jetta intended, but the only reason he would get a game this year is if there's another long term injury and we're playing so badly he gets a game. On the other hand, if he continues to perform like this he might get himself back on the main list next year or, perhaps, on another team's main list. I hope he can and if he does, he'll be justly rewarded for showing great persistence.

I wouldn't say it's quite as gloomy as that. Let's keep in mind the number of MFC players at Casey atm, and both weeks he's been among the bests. Personally I hope he gets another chance in the red and blue.

Has anyone heard any wispers regarding Trenners.

He seems to be struggling with something, injury? state of mind?

This bloke was a No 2 draft pick and could easily have been No 1, a Captain and a current member of the leadership now struggling in the 2's. I know he has looked slow for a few years but training stats show his tank is right up there and given he is up around the 80 game mark we should be seeng his emergence as a quality AFL midfielder.

Is it just that he was mishandled by the club?

I recon he is ripper and has given everything to this club. When is his contract up? Is he another one looking for greener pastures maybe back in Adelaide?

CASEY GOALS/HIGHLIGHTS, Fitzy prominent in almost all of them.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2014-04-14/rd-2-vfl-highlights

Edited April 14, 201411 yr by The Song Formerly Known As

We have a few to work there way into the firsts:

Jamar

Garland (when he is ready to play)

Trenners

Toumpass ( although I would prefer to see him play 10 or so games in succession in the VFL to get some confidence0

Hogan when he is ready to play VFL.

Mitchie when fit needs to find form in the VFL.

Riley to play a few more VFL games to get some match fitness. We could with some real hardness at clearances.

Salem maybe a couple of games late in the season.

So we can expect to see some improvement at the D's.

Has anyone heard any wispers regarding Trenners.

He seems to be struggling with something, injury? state of mind?

This bloke was a No 2 draft pick and could easily have been No 1, a Captain and a current member of the leadership now struggling in the 2's. I know he has looked slow for a few years but training stats show his tank is right up there and given he is up around the 80 game mark we should be seeng his emergence as a quality AFL midfielder.

Is it just that he was mishandled by the club?

I recon he is ripper and has given everything to this club. When is his contract up? Is he another one looking for greener pastures maybe back in Adelaide?

The news had him going in for scans this morning. Didn't say any more then that.

I've put up my report BLEW IT

I will also put up some stats from the game later in the morning.

Statistics - Casey Scorpions v Geelong Cats (Round 2)

Dom Barry 8 disposals 2 6 1 mark 2 tackles 29 Dream Team Points

* Sam Blease 1 tackle 4 Dream Team Points (injured)

* Shannon Byrnes 3 goals 2 behinds 15 disposals 8 kicks 9 handballs 6 marks 4 tackles 113 Dream Team Points

* Mitch Clisby 1 point 23 disposals 14 kicks 9 handballs 4 marks 1 tackle 77 Dream Team Points

* Jack Fitzpatrick 3 goals 2 behinds 12 disposals 10 kicks 2 handballs 8 marks 4 hit outs 80 Dream Team Points

* Jayden Hunt 7 disposals 4 kicks 3 handballs 1 marks 21 Dream Team Points

* Mark Jamar 11 disposals 7 kicks 4 handballs 2 marks 5 tackles 57 hit outs 103 Dream Team Points

* Neville Jetta 21 disposals 11 kicks 10 handballs 3 marks 5 tackles 84 Dream Team Points

* Max King 8 disposals 4 kicks 4 handballs 1 mark 18 hit out 42 Dream Team Points

* Daniel Nicholson 1 point 21 disposals 13 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 4 handballs 85 Dream Team Points

* Aidan Riley 16 disposals 8 kicks 8 handballs 4 marks 8 tackles 74 Dream Team Points

* Christian Salem 2 goals 18 disposals 10 kicks 8 handballs 5 marks 1 tackle 77 Dream Team Points

* James Strauss 22 disposals 15 kicks 7 handballs 11 marks 2 tackles 100 Dream Team Points

* Jimmy Toumpas 1 behind 36 disposals 17 kicks 19 handballs 10 marks 3 tackles 126 Dream Team Points

* Jack Trengove 15 disposals 6 kicks 9 handballs 5 marks 5 tackles 65 Dream Team Points

Interesting to see Jamar with 57 hit outs, must of played a fair chunk of the game.

Also great to see Toumpas with 36 disposals.

that's excellent that toumpas was able to go back to a level that's below and dominate.

that's exactly what we want to see.

we really, really need this kid to make it.

Good to see the Toump doing what the coaches say... Go back and dominate!

If only one J. Trengove could follow suit.

Also good to see Strauss with 22 disposals, 11 marks and not with "injured" against his name.

Many thanks Jack.

Two weeks of solid Toump in VFL.

Didn't really even think he was one of our worse when he got dropped. But we know Roosy likes to take the pressure off the kids and let them learn.

Won't be surprised if we don't see Toump again until round 10+