MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 8

[bing181 9,436]

His VFL form was poor. On the weekend he played 10 minutes. I don't get it.

Going by reports, he has put in some decent games at Casey.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

Going by reports, he has put in some decent games at Casey.

Not recently though. Obviously last week doesn't count, but the week before was this:

Jack Fitzpatrick: Fitzy played and continued to play that role at centre half-back for us. It wasn’t Fitzy’s best game to date. We’re certainly working on some areas of his game with him. Defensively it wasn’t his best game. We’re looking for him to take some steps forward.

I think prior to that he'd had some positive comments in terms of learning a new role and developing, but I read them thinking he still needed some time and he wasn't dominating at VFL level. Certainly his most recent game didn't show anything to suggest an AFL call up.

[CBDees 3,167]

Not recently though. Obviously last week doesn't count, but the week before was this:

Jack Fitzpatrick: Fitzy played and continued to play that role at centre half-back for us. It wasn’t Fitzy’s best game to date. We’re certainly working on some areas of his game with him. Defensively it wasn’t his best game. We’re looking for him to take some steps forward.

I think prior to that he'd had some positive comments in terms of learning a new role and developing, but I read them thinking he still needed some time and he wasn't dominating at VFL level. Certainly his most recent game didn't show anything to suggest an AFL call up.

The reality is that he is 200cm and the only person on our list of that height who we might genuinely be able to develop as a leading forward (plus he comes at the fraction of the price of Boyd, leaving us more money to invest in our midfield come the end of the year)!

I am not sure of the strategy of developing him as a defender but, for depth, maybe we need somebody apart from Pederson (and Howe?) who can play both ends, especially as it would provide us with a range of players in that category. Personally I hope that he breaks through as a forward and realistically he has more upside than (say) Bail, who we seem to be perservering with.

[Lucifers Hero 40,574]

Maybe Roos has seen the writing on the wall and expects Howe to walk at eos

So, he is getting Fitzy ready to take over his role as defender/swingman.

This makes good sense while Oscar is developing and they are finding the right spot for Frost.

Fitzy doesn't take species like Howe but he can play a swingman role.

Its hard to see Fitzy doing any worse than Howe.

Howe isn't showing many signs of improving his game.

Lets go with Fitzy, at least he tries.

[What 18,810]

Pretty intrigued to see Fitzy today

200cm with blistering pace, he is a rare beast. Would love to see him make his mark at AFL level

[Coq au vin 755]

So today we are fielding a half Casey side, half Melbourne side against a top eight candidate. Casey can't even beat other VFL teams!

[Undeeterred 3,127]

Ugly, ugly day coming up.

[Coq au vin 755]

Pretty intrigued to see Fitzy today

200cm with blistering pace, he is a rare beast. Would love to see him make his mark at AFL level

He's useless. Certainly does not have blistering pace. Should be well on the way to delisting at the end of the season.

[What 18,810]

So today we are fielding a half Casey side, half Melbourne side against a top eight candidate. Casey can't even beat other VFL teams!

Ugly, ugly day coming up.

People talking like the Western Bulkldogs are premiership contenders and we have no chance lol

Ridiculous

its a 50/50 game

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

People talking like the Western Bulkldogs are premiership contenders and we have no chance lol

Ridiculous

its a 50/50 game

I agree, we'll struggle to score 50 points and they will win by 50.

[Go the Biff 3,474]

I agree, we'll struggle to score 50 points and they will win by 50.

I can't bring myself to "like" this post but I do appreciate the black humour. Well played CB

[Coq au vin 755]

People talking like the Western Bulkldogs are premiership contenders and we have no chance lol

Ridiculous

its a 50/50 game

Have you not noticed the absence of Viney, Jamar, Tyson, Michie, Jetta, Kent, Salem, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca?

[What 18,810]

Have you not noticed the absence of Viney, Jamar, Tyson, Michie, Jetta, Kent, Salem, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca?

yeah I have

[Biffen 12,949]

Have you not noticed the absence of Viney, Jamar, Tyson, Michie, Jetta, Kent, Salem, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca?

Seen Dawes and Jamar- neither can mark.

The rest are injured.

[Ethan Tremblay 31,275]

Have you not noticed the absence of Viney, Jamar, Tyson, Michie, Jetta, Kent, Salem, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca?

Depressing.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Ugly, ugly day coming up.

The DAY is glorious. ....just the footy will be gloomy !

[Coq au vin 755]

Seen Dawes and Jamar- neither can mark.

The rest are injured.

The replacements include Casey level players: Bail, Fitzpatrick, M Jones, Spencer, Riley, Grimes, Stretch, Gawn. Casey is a cellar-dwelling VFL team.

[chook fowler 19,738]

Ugly, ugly day coming up.

Ugly, ugly post. Come on get with the program.

[Coq au vin 755]

The only spark will come from Garlett, Lumumba, Hogan possibly N Jones and hopefully Jack Watts (although I doubt the latter).

[WhyAlwaysMe 237]

People talking like the Western Bulkldogs are premiership contenders and we have no chance lol

Ridiculous

its a 50/50 game

against Carlton we would be 50/50, today we are 50/50 just to turn up, after that we are at best 1in 4 chance

[boydie 655]

Have you not noticed the absence of Viney, Jamar, Tyson, Michie, Jetta, Kent, Salem, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca?

Can we not include Petracca in the missing players, if we do we might as well add Dangerfield to that list as neither have played a game for Melbourne... yet.

[Coq au vin 755]

He's just re-signed!

[ManDee 7,350]

We will win this! I have a feeling. (Door open)

Back to the pharmacy for you. They've given you the wrong meds !!!

Winning is the best medcation, I picked this. Go deeeeeees!

[What 18,810]

Told you all it was a 50/50 game

Maybe I was too kind to the Dogs

[old dee 24,028]

Geez alot of people are in love with the dogs list. I wish they would look at our list with similar objectivity. We are better set at either end of the ground. They have a better midfield fleet but are more suited to a speedy track at Etihad. I am thankful Watts is in as he at least is creative with ball and hits a target. Michie obviously does not follow team rules to be consistently out every time he plays a game. Being that Howe swans around the ground doing not much I would love to know what those team rules are. A Hogan, [Pedersen], Watts, Garlett forward line will be dangerous IF we can actually get the ball in there with any frequency.Hoping Riley plays to gives us a bit more hardness around the ball as it has lacked the last 3 weeks.

You were right!