Casey Scorpions v Sandringham

[whatwhat say what 22,700]

The cupboard sounds extremely bare!

[Yossarian 1,820]

The VFL reviews this year are excellent and are what I've been looking for for years. High five Brett Allison.

[monoccular 17,413]

Most of the guys we have drafted have been rated by all and sundry in their draft years. How can a guy like Toumpas be rated top 1 or 2 all draft year, lead his state physically and spiritually, play an integral part in their team, play and really contribute in a senior SANFL Grand Final with best on ground rating? How can a guy that has achieved all of this with absolute belief in his ability, come to our Club and flounder so badly. There have been some good performances, but how???? It has happened too often to be as simplistic as just picking the wrong guy. The culture of the MFC is infected and I believe only PJ, Roosy and his Coaching group can change this. They will need time. As a supporter base we have to stop cultivating and feeding this cultural embarrassment that is our Club. Give PJ and Roos the time that is desperately needed to change the last 50 years.

I must say that given that he (Jimmy T) played a good game in the senior SANFL GF, and came with great fanfare, I (and I suspect many others) thought that at last we have a young guy, with senior credentials, who may be just about ready to play AFL and make an impact in his first year.

Given the credentials he cannot have just been a bad pick.

It is very disappointing therefore to hear that he is struggling in the VFL in his second season.

OMG I hope that Roos can turn his career around.

[whatwhat say what 22,700]

No, unfortunately he may be just another poor pick.

Came to the club after a double hip operation, and whilst he was able to do well at sanfl as an outside player that competition is not what it once was, and he's been shown up for a lack of pace at afl level.

I agree that we thought we were getting a ready-made player but that's proved to be completely false.

Plus he was pick #4 and I'm convinced that selection fails more often than not!

[Young Dee 1,303]

Played wing, rather than his usual half back. Didn't really impact the game today.

Thats - interesting. From reports Strauss was playing well down back - maybe they are testing his versatility.

I would still like to see him and Harmes get some consistent AFL games. I would much rather see these guys then Byrnes, Mckenzie, Nicho etc.

[Machsy 2,858]

Thats - interesting. From reports Strauss was playing well down back - maybe they are testing his versatility.

I would still like to see him and Harmes get some consistent AFL games. I would much rather see these guys then Byrnes, Mckenzie, Nicho etc.

As someone who takes a keen interest in Strauss' form, I think you're correct.

According to Allison a lot of players played "wing/halfback" and I believe Roos wants to build up a supply of interchangeable wing/halfbackmen like he had at Sydney with Kenelly, Shaw, Mattner, Malceski et al.

I think Strauss can play HBF, but I don't think he's currently any good pushing up onto a wing.

It's not something he's done a lot of in the last 6 years and I don't think he'd be comfortable with it.

That's not to say he won't be in time.

I still think he's a keeper.

[old dee 23,781]

As someone who takes a keen interest in Strauss' form, I think you're correct.

According to Allison a lot of players played "wing/halfback" and I believe Roos wants to build up a supply of interchangeable wing/halfbackmen like he had at Sydney with Kenelly, Shaw, Mattner, Malceski et al.

I think Strauss can play HBF, but I don't think he's currently any good pushing up onto a wing.

It's not something he's done a lot of in the last 6 years and I don't think he'd be comfortable with it.

That's not to say he won't be in time.

I still think he's a keeper.

I don't Machsy IMO an average player with a poor injury record.

You can maintain a list position if you are good and injury prone

But is you are average at best and injury prone you are in strife.

I think he will be gone at the end of the year unless he shows way more talent over the next three months than he has so far.

[Satyriconhome 10,731]

I don't Machsy IMO an average player with a poor injury record.

You can maintain a list position if you are good and injury prone

But is you are average at best and injury prone you are in strife.

I think he will be gone at the end of the year unless he shows way more talent over the next three months than he has so far.

Totally agree, if Strauss, Tapscott and Blease don't get it together and stay injury free and force their way into AFL Team before seasons end reckon all 3 are gone

[jabberwocky 2,301]

The VFL reviews this year are excellent and are what I've been looking for for years. High five Brett Allison.

Very frank. A nice change some of the pocket pissing reviews of the past.

It is fairly easy to predict those in line for selection.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I must say that given that he (Jimmy T) played a good game in the senior SANFL GF, and came with great fanfare, I (and I suspect many others) thought that at last we have a young guy, with senior credentials, who may be just about ready to play AFL and make an impact in his first year.

Given the credentials he cannot have just been a bad pick.

It is very disappointing therefore to hear that he is struggling in the VFL in his second season.

OMG I hope that Roos can turn his career around.

no, reports suggest he's been going alright Mono, but he's there to work on his deficiencies, defensive side of game, etc. he copped a knock recently & this administration seems very conservative resting players that are not right.

I have not doubt Toump will be a very good player for us, no rush... I'd rather he learns the basics of defence, & have them ingrained into his thought patterns.

just has a thought? your not being sarcastic R U?

[Machsy 2,858]

The good thing is that it is constructive, not negative.

You can read it and honestly see that the feedback the players receive wouldn't be much different, bar the depth of detail.

With coaches that can communicate effectively like this, we are in good hands.

[John Dee 445]

Thats - interesting. From reports Strauss was playing well down back - maybe they are testing his versatility.

I would still like to see him and Harmes get some consistent AFL games. I would much rather see these guys then Byrnes, Mckenzie, Nicho etc.

Strauss was down back but there was a dearth of forward line activity and he was pushed forward. He took a mark about 35m out dead in front and then proceeded to nearly kick it out on the full.

[rjay 24,887]

The good thing is that it is constructive, not negative.

You can read it and honestly see that the feedback the players receive wouldn't be much different, bar the depth of detail.

With coaches that can communicate effectively like this, we are in good hands.

I think you are right.

We may not win on the injury reports (and these can be difficult) but at least we're getting good information on the Casey team now.

[rjay 24,887]

Totally agree, if Strauss, Tapscott and Blease don't get it together and stay injury free and force their way into AFL Team before seasons end reckon all 3 are gone

If you're saying it 'Sat' as a players man then they really do need to pull the finger out.

How do you see 'Nicho'? I know he gets a lot of knocks on his disposal and decision making (and there are good grounds for this) but maybe pushing for selection with some solid form.

My read is if he steps up and doesn't deliver he may be on the way out as well, Evans is another that hasn't taken his chances yet.

[Satyriconhome 10,731]

If you're saying it 'Sat' as a players man then they really do need to pull the finger out.

How do you see 'Nicho'? I know he gets a lot of knocks on his disposal and decision making (and there are good grounds for this) but maybe pushing for selection with some solid form.

My read is if he steps up and doesn't deliver he may be on the way out as well, Evans is another that hasn't taken his chances yet.

Had the opportunity to chat to Tappy a couple of weeks ago, he knows where he stands as well, that is why he was so [censored] off, got through the pre season unscathed and thought it had finally turned, then one soft tissue after another.

I have a feeling (if you read between the lines with what Allison wrote) that they are losing patience with Blease which is very disappointing, hopefully the light may finally go on, he reminds me of Maric (another gifted junior), when it switches on its shines brightly but goes out just as quickly, and we know what happened to Maric

Strauss I feel the coaches see something in, but needs to just get a free run at it, which he has never had, you never know if he shows enough they may take the Jetta route

Nicho is a hard one, think he is basically in compettion with Bail as that hard running defensive forward/wing, again he needs to get into the AFL Team and stay there.

Evans I think they see as yet another young midfielder who has chance to develop, not 22 till July, will probably have a look at season end whether there has been any development

[Young Dee 1,303]

If you're saying it 'Sat' as a players man then they really do need to pull the finger out.

How do you see 'Nicho'? I know he gets a lot of knocks on his disposal and decision making (and there are good grounds for this) but maybe pushing for selection with some solid form.

My read is if he steps up and doesn't deliver he may be on the way out as well, Evans is another that hasn't taken his chances yet.

IMO - the difference between Nicho/Mckenzie/Tappy and Strauss is that Strauss has the potential to be a good player at AFL level.

Thats obviously just my opinion and Roos will have his own - I look forward to seeing what Roos does with the list at the end of the year.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Young Dee

[Deez 298]

Tapscott 9 disposals in VFL is deplorable. Id say he is good as gone.

Tapscott's game time would have been heavily managed. I would have thought 9 disposals par, 6 tackles quite good.

I think that was Tappy's first game back after a hammy.

So considering his time was managed and that it was a first game back after injury, the stats don't look to bad.

I think we can make a judgement after 3-4 weeks, where he has started playing full matches.

He's going to need serious match conditioning i would imagine.

[rjay 24,887]

Had the opportunity to chat to Tappy a couple of weeks ago, he knows where he stands as well, that is why he was so [censored] off, got through the pre season unscathed and thought it had finally turned, then one soft tissue after another.

I have a feeling (if you read between the lines with what Allison wrote) that they are losing patience with Blease which is very disappointing, hopefully the light may finally go on, he reminds me of Maric (another gifted junior), when it switches on its shines brightly but goes out just as quickly, and we know what happened to Maric

Strauss I feel the coaches see something in, but needs to just get a free run at it, which he has never had, you never know if he shows enough they may take the Jetta route

Nicho is a hard one, think he is basically in compettion with Bail as that hard running defensive forward/wing, again he needs to get into the AFL Team and stay there.

Evans I think they see as yet another young midfielder who has chance to develop, not 22 till July, will probably have a look at season end whether there has been any development

Thanks 'Sat', that's a pretty good summation. I feel for Tap, he just hasn't been able to have a good run at it and looked so promising in his first games.

[titan_uranus 24,975]

Possibly the most disappointing, though not surprising really, of the lot is Blease:

"Defensively, he had some major lapses during the game and we know he’s much better than that."

I mean, seriously.

Strauss is similarly going nowhere.

At least Gawn and Clisby look to be pushing their case, a little at least. I'm a big Clisby fan, hope to see him back in the seniors soon.