While the ladder position is most important at the end of Round 23, with the Dogs losing last night, the winner of our game will end the round in either 6th or 7th position (6th if Brisbane can beat Freo, which is quite possible).  The loser will be in 10th (but still just 1 game out of the 8).

For us to be sitting in 6th after Round 12, and just 1 game and % outside the Top 4, I would've taken that at the start of the season.

 

I'm surprised so many people assume Wagner would go out for Salem. Why Wagner and not Bugg? I rather like the idea of Salem playing on ball and half forward. Provides more class around the ground and a greater chance of kicking for goal accurately. I'm assuming Harmes is ahead of Bugg, but Salem would be ahead of Harmes, too.

I also wonder about Spencer being both named in print and excluded from selection in a media interview on the same day. I don't recall Goodwin or Roos before him playing "games" with selections trying to keep the opposition and supporters guessing. I can only assume...um, I don't know what to put here.   

 

19 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

callum brown to debut for the pies

Skinny kid debuting on QB........jack watts anyone ?

 

20 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I also wonder about Spencer being both named in print and excluded from selection in a media interview on the same day. I don't recall Goodwin or Roos before him playing "games" with selections trying to keep the opposition and supporters guessing. I can only assume...um, I don't know what to put here.   

 

I'd say that's because he will be an emergency.

If Watts' sore ankle is worse than it seems we have no choice but to play Spence.

Given the game is on Monday we are better off naming him until that is cleared up. 

3 hours ago, Demon77 said:

Anyone else tempted to attend the open training session tomorrow? Most likely will head down as all of a sudden we as a club have the opportunity to seize the moment, stand up and be counted , show the AFL world we are not just improvers and on the cusp, we are no longer waiting for teams to fall, we look at each other in the eyes and begin the climb as one. It's time this club made us BELIEVERS, not supporters of hope.

 

Sorry I know it's been mentioned but what time is the session tomorrow?

7 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Sorry I know it's been mentioned but what time is the session tomorrow?

9.30

Just now, Demon77 said:

9.30

and then we should know which of the extra 3 Iif any) are playing for casey because they wouldn't train then play later in day

of course they could hold back all 3 or 2 or just 1 as emergencies 

Gotta love Pencil being named on the extended bench after Goodwin was explicit about him not playing 

I'm choosing to believe it's being done to mess with their heads. That's the explanation I like best.

I'd say JKH is more a recognition selection. Would be surprised if he makes the final team.

The bench should be Melksham, Bugg, Wagner and Harmes.

7 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

The bench should be Melksham, Bugg, Wagner and Harmes.

Quality all the way.... 

 

WHERE. IS. STRETCH?! 

4 hours ago, Demon77 said:

Anyone else tempted to attend the open training session tomorrow? Most likely will head down as all of a sudden we as a club have the opportunity to seize the moment, stand up and be counted , show the AFL world we are not just improvers and on the cusp, we are no longer waiting for teams to fall, we look at each other in the eyes and begin the climb as one. It's time this club made us BELIEVERS, not supporters of hope.

 

Inspirational. Well said.

8 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Quality all the way.... 

 

WHERE. IS. STRETCH?! 

That's who we have to choose from.

 

15 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Quality all the way.... 

 

WHERE. IS. STRETCH?! 

Can't agree more, Jaded. The onfield team looks ok, but that bench is not exactly ground zero for talent.  Wagner is improving as is Harmes, but our need for class is evident looking at our interchange bench. 

Bring in Hogan and Gawn, remove Melksham and Bugg and the class goes up dramatically. But I just don't get the current lack of love for Stretch. He has some run and class. He must not be reaching certain benchmarks for some internal team performance markers to be left in the 3 VFL. 

Melksham played well against GC and got coach's votes - maybe he's found his role?

Wagner plays if Watts doesn't get up. Salem for Watts. If Watts plays it's Salem for Wagner. Simples really. Suspect JKH will come in for Bugg regardless. 

10 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Melksham played well against GC and got coach's votes - maybe he's found his role?

In a way, Melksham adds some balance to our handball happy midfield. I still think he will be a better player for us than most on Demonland. I expect him to have a lose tagging role on Sidebottom this week.

49 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Melksham played well against GC and got coach's votes - maybe he's found his role?

He was good against very average opposition. But you can only beat the team you're facing etc.

I have doubts, but I don't actually doubt his ability to produce high level games. He proved he could that at his previous club. The question mark is around consistency. Which at this stage of his career and as a senior member in this team he needs to be producing.

Stretch is being given different roles at Casey to aid his development, we have the opportunity to do this at the moment and are taking it

Not sure which bit some don't get with JKH, he is highly regarded by FD, given a taste at AFL level and unfortunately couldn't put it together, deservedly sent back to Casey to work on his game and put it together last weekend.at VFL level he will be given another chance soon to do it AFL level

 

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

Melksham played well against GC and got coach's votes - maybe he's found his role?

I think we'll see him playing more half forward than back.

1 minute ago, Satyriconhome said:

Stretch is being given different roles at Casey to aid his development, we have the opportunity to do this at the moment and are taking it

Not sure which bit some don't get with JKH, he is highly regarded by FD, given a taste at AFL level and unfortunately couldn't put it together, deservedly sent back to Casey to work on his game and put it together last weekend.at VFL level he will be given another chance soon to do it AFL level

 

Thanks for the reminder.

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

That's who we have to choose from.

 

I know. I'm just sad about it!

12 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Stretch is being given different roles at Casey to aid his development, we have the opportunity to do this at the moment and are taking it

Not sure which bit some don't get with JKH, he is highly regarded by FD, given a taste at AFL level and unfortunately couldn't put it together, deservedly sent back to Casey to work on his game and put it together last weekend.at VFL level he will be given another chance soon to do it AFL level

 

That's all well and good saty,  but regardless of him being teachers pet he really needs to be showing consistency from week to week. If he plays this week he's earned it off the back if one good run. If he's an emergency and doesn't play for Casey it robs him of an opportunity to show some consistency. To me it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, and don't get me wrong, I still hold hope for him being a good player. He showed good signs early in his career and has been hampered since. He's been a flop so far this year after not being made to earn his spot, I don't think he's done that yet, despite his huge stats last week. 

A few weeks is a long time in footy:

well done to ANB for cementing a spot in the 18. nice to see no-one calling for him to be dropped even though there is some fwd talent at casey. I reckon he has enough talent and more than enough application to make it

Hats off also to Hannon

and also to Tyson for working his way slowly into some form

13 minutes ago, FireInTheBelly said:

That's all well and good saty,  but regardless of him being teachers pet he really needs to be showing consistency from week to week. If he plays this week he's earned it off the back if one good run. If he's an emergency and doesn't play for Casey it robs him of an opportunity to show some consistency. To me it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, and don't get me wrong, I still hold hope for him being a good player. He showed good signs early in his career and has been hampered since. He's been a flop so far this year after not being made to earn his spot, I don't think he's done that yet, despite his huge stats last week. 

would be disappointed to see JKH play in place of Bugg.

JKH was just a bullocking player against Coburg. Cannot really remember much good outside play.

Bugg on the other hand puts himself into spots to score. If he had kicked 3:1 last week there would be no debate.

The problem with players at Casey is that it is hard to assess their form from an AFL perspective simply because the standard and method of play is so different. But for the scoreboard, Coburg impressed me a lot more than Casey last week. Weed in the ruck is a good move just to give him some feel for the leather.