25 minutes ago, hemingway said:

No but I watched him closely in the last match against the Dogs and he oozed professionalism and on field leadership. Massive loss. As you say, an impressive young man. An old head on young shoulders. 

... haven't had a player the Ooozed for 10+ years, I would think 'Hmwy'. but ooozed Prof',,, that's a good point of difference me thinks.

4 hours ago, Demons11 said:

He is just a kid, players do improve. 

We are so impatient with the development of players.

so do the aged, apparently, D11...  sometimes, but mostly just get impatient.

4 hours ago, Demons11 said:

He provides outside run, which we desperately need. 

I am still not convinced he will be a player but when he has been in the top 3 best on ground for several weeks, he deserves a chance

and some speed , D11.

4 hours ago, Dee tention said:

We need to bring in a genuine crummer in the forward line. We are missing this big time in games! 

When Spargo was playing seniors they had him playing more up field. He is the player we need too play deep. Don’t rotate him. That should be his only role.

Kent is another player who would fit in the forward line nicely when available. He can play up the ground and deep. Perfect player as a dual threat with Spargo.

I would like to see Garlett come back in and play deep but he isn’t putting his hand up in the VFL. He just ain’t up to it at the moment. I wouldnt be surprised if he ends up in WA next season.

Spargo has to come back in this week and be given that deep forward role... Think Gresham from the Saints. 

Pecking order is  Spargo-Bugg-Garlett

Petracca could be the one that makes way!

We haven' got one, a genuine crumb'r,  he's playing with the GCSuns, atmo.  Or is that Richmond?

.... take your pick, Ben Ainsworth or Jack Higgins. either or.

On 6/24/2018 at 12:55 PM, deanox said:

Despite losing, out opponents only kicked 75 points. We also won the contested midfield battle. 

Where we struggled was not defending, it was delivery into forward and converting possession into goals.  So changes are either about improving our delivery or about changing the forward mix/structure to be more efficient and/or offer better targets. "Delivery" is often as much about the positioning of forwards as it is the kicking skills of the midfield. Create space and delivery looks amazing; stand still and delivery looks crap.

Adding Weid may straighten us up. His strengths are his leading patterns (which make space for others) and his ability to not loose marking contests (he either marks well or halves the contest). This may improve both our forward efficiency and our delivery (by adding a target and creating space).

Garlett, despite form, may increase efficiency by creating opportunities.  He won't help delivery by changing structures or creating space. 

I'm not sure we have any "highly skilled" mids waiting in the seconds.  Stretch and JKH are it. Are they major upgrades on current skills?

 

In Weid, out Smith for mine. 

Garlett the other option if wet think he can generate more opportunities than another small forward. 

I'm still not convinced that the back line is the problem. Oscar will take McCartin and J Smith will take Battle.  No other talls needed. 

But getting the forwards in the right positions will enable us to kick to advantage instead of to packs. 

Word from my contact is that Tom Mc did not pull up very well from the bump on Friday night and was not looking or feeling too flash on Saturday night. 

His/her opinion was not to lock him in as a definite for this weekend at this stage.

I am hoping the extra couple of days may help.

 

Them:

”Expect Geary to return from his left calf strain. Rice should be available too but Webster might not be fit after suffering a strain against Gold Coast. Meanwhile, Acres isn't far away. - Dinny Navaratnam”

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

Gee that’s tough OD, hasn’t had a lot of opportunities. May not be the next big thing but he’s not that bad.  However, I get the sense that he has his report card marked. 

How Does he hurt the opposition  Ernest? 

I don't see you particular talent at AFL level

12 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I don't think he was terrible, even though some posters would like to think I hate the guy. I dont. I just don't see what he adds. 

Posters like @A F and co thought he was needed. And it seems Goodwin rewarded him, but at what cost? He just floated through the game and was mostly insignificant. 

We took a high pressure, crafty and creative small forward out of our side and replaced him with Tyson? 

Tyson should replace an inside mid and nobody else. I questioned the decision at the time and I'm still questioning it now. 

If he comes out this week after one game, Goodwin will look very silly. 

I stand by that selection, but I would have utilised him differently. I would have had him in at every stoppage. They seemed to play him mostly on the outside.

19 minutes ago, deanox said:

I'm still not convinced that the back line is the problem. Oscar will take McCartin and J Smith will take Battle.  No other talls needed. 

But getting the forwards in the right positions will enable us to kick to advantage instead of to packs. 

Josh Bruce will probably be lining up for the Saints also.

1 hour ago, DV8 said:

... haven't had a player the Ooozed for 10+ years, I would think 'Hmwy'. but ooozed Prof',,, that's a good point of difference me thinks.

What fresh hell is this?

Hereabouts we speak the Queen's Good England!

1 hour ago, SFebey said:

Lever was AFL Game Day on Sunday, very professional and oozed leadership, very impressive person & level head for his age. I reckon the stint in the coaches box will set him up for a ripper 2019. Anyone else catch it?

"Hi Jack, um, so, well, this is hashtag totes awks, but Jakey is going to be captain, we just want you to concentrate on being an awesome footballer. Sorry not sorry. Kthanx."

Jake for El Capitane, don't know when, but it's pretty clear. Or vice. 

Found out me dear old mum in law taught him and his siblings in good old Romsey town kinder!

6 hours ago, Demons11 said:

He provides outside run, which we desperately need. 

I am still not convinced he will be a player but when he has been in the top 3 best on ground for several weeks, he deserves a chance

The problem with Billy is that he's playing these good games for Casey as an inside player...

He just doesn't get enough ball when he's outside, maybe he doesn't read it well enough from there.

14 hours ago, old dee said:

Stretch is a symptom of our problems Ernest.

He is a VFL talented player who has not yet cannot cut it at the higher level.

 

 

22 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I don't think he was terrible, even though some posters would like to think I hate the guy. I dont. I just don't see what he adds. 

Posters like @A F and co thought he was needed. And it seems Goodwin rewarded him, but at what cost? He just floated through the game and was mostly insignificant. 

We took a high pressure, crafty and creative small forward out of our side and replaced him with Tyson? 

Tyson should replace an inside mid and nobody else. I questioned the decision at the time and I'm still questioning it now. 

If he comes out this week after one game, Goodwin will look very silly. 

He wasnt terrible at all Steve.

However, the decision to replace Spargo with him and leave us with no small crumber while adding an unnecessary slow to react and move Tyson to an already sluggish mid field, certainly was.

Add a T-Mac likely injury omission (or far from 100% if playing - Nev as well),  an out of form Hogan. Smith or Weid having to play a relief ruck role.  A mid field that can't hit the barnside of a door inside 50 or manage a goal or more off its own boot, a team that struggles on the expanses of the G, and we are looking decidly shakey. Even against the lowly Saints.

Alot needs to go right at the selection table and on the day if we are to have a solid win against an up an about Saints coming off a win and the bye.  If it doesn't this could be a an ugly coin flip.

I agree with others Billy Stretch hasn't performed well consistently at the higher level. Billy had a solid start to last season. His form since then hasn't been inconsistent in the seniors. He's 21 and only now starting to build a better frame for AFL. Clearly he drives standards in our young players in training and has a lot to offer there.

I think we saw the FD persevere with playing him more the first few years due to Roos wanting to get AFL games into young players wherever possible while we were building. I think its now a deeper team and the opportunities aren't as easy for Billy. I truly believe he has the ability to be best 22 as he matures. I feel he's the type of player who could build into a really reliable player who doesn't star but you know what you get from him every week playing on a wing or HB/HF.

Edited June 25, 20186 yr by Yung Blood

17 minutes ago, Yung Blood said:

I agree with others Billy Stretch hasn't performed well consistently at the higher level. Billy had a solid start to last season. His form since then hasn't been inconsistent in the seniors. He's 21 and only now starting to build a better frame for AFL. Clearly he drives standards in our young players in training and has a lot to offer there.

I think we saw the FD persevere with playing him more the first few years due to Roos wanting to get AFL games into young players wherever possible while we were building. I think its now a deeper team and the opportunities aren't as easy for Billy. I truly believe he has the ability to be best 22 as he matures. I feel he's the type of player who could build into a really reliable player who doesn't star but you know what you get from him every week playing on a wing or HB/HF.

Agree. Good endurance. Neat foot skills. And crucially some pace. 

Tom McDonald was interrogated from media yesterday and he told them it was none of their business and it was his decision or similar, said he’d be right for Saints and he was OK. Sounded quite bristly and I’m unsure where he’s at. May be some media today but it was quite funny. Basically said [censored] off

On 6/25/2018 at 8:31 AM, buck_nekkid said:

And here is the problem : how do we know when he is ‘on’?  He didn’t look nearly ‘on’ in the VFL.  The idea that we gift players a run should be so 2012. But I have no idea what the coaches wanted from him, so maybe he meets the secret criteria.  He was way down the list of performers at Casey, and posed almost no ‘threat’ around goal.

conversely, Weed looked assured and composed, and threatened every pack and contest he flew at.  Stretch looked a class above, JKH moved nicely and did some good things.  Petty wasn’t sighted a great deal.  Frost was busy, but some of his exit choices and disposals were poor.

think weed and stretch would be looked at, Frost before petty.  Not sure Garrett’s name even comes up yet.  I know he can do great things, but what if he doesn’t, and what does it say about our culture?

I dont know how many times in the past 3 weeks or so I have bemoaned a legitimate crumber around goals! I keep thinking gee Jeffy would have been in that spot, therfore giving a chance but alas he was not.

True form in VFL Must be criteria for inclusion, But we are crying out for a crumber and Jeffy is the best we have got.

He plays this weekend!

1 hour ago, SFebey said:

Tom McDonald was interrogated from media yesterday and he told them it was none of their business and it was his decision or similar, said he’d be right for Saints and he was OK. Sounded quite bristly and I’m unsure where he’s at. May be some media today but it was quite funny. Basically said [censored] off

I heard that response from T Mac as well. Completely out of character from him as he's usually brilliant to the media.

1 minute ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I heard that response from T Mac as well. Completely out of character from him as he's usually brilliant to the media.

Yeah agree, it was quite odd!

9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

I dont know how many times in the past 3 weeks or so I have bemoaned a legitimate crumber around goals! I keep thinking gee Jeffy would have been in that spot, therfore giving a chance but alas he was not.

True form in VFL Must be criteria for inclusion, But we are crying out for a crumber and Jeffy is the best we have got.

He plays this weekend!

Agreed.

I think Goodwin needs to give up on his fantasy of Garlett ripping up a VFL game in order to grant him admission to the seniors. Garlett would've kicked 2 goals against Port and set up another 1 or 2.

3 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Agreed.

I think Goodwin needs to give up on his fantasy of Garlett ripping up a VFL game in order to grant him admission to the seniors. Garlett would've kicked 2 goals against Port and set up another 1 or 2.

Who says that's the dream or even the kpi required?

Maybe its a certain number of repeat sprints? Maybe it's his effort and positioning in our defensive structure/ zone. 

 

Maybe its not Garlett specific but larger tactics: we are using the small forwards up the field more as flankers. Spargo, Hannan etc have all been playing up the ground, harassing, tackling and linking.  This adds additional players in our midfield zone structure to supplement having the third tall forward who isn't as agile or mobile.

This "up the ground small forward" then needs to get back to the forward line to crumb. Maybe the problem is Garlett doesn't have the tank to do this ie he needs to stay forward to be effective, and we can't do this with 3 talls?

 

 

I'm just spitballing here but it isn't far fetched, and it would make more sense than "until he kicks a bag I refuse to play him".

 

Weeds - cancel your 21st Bday party for this Sat night and get ready for a present from Goody!!

?

2 hours ago, SFebey said:

Tom McDonald was interrogated from media yesterday and he told them it was none of their business and it was his decision or similar, said he’d be right for Saints and he was OK. Sounded quite bristly and I’m unsure where he’s at. May be some media today but it was quite funny. Basically said [censored] off

Don't blame him.

2 hours ago, SFebey said:

Tom McDonald was interrogated from media yesterday and he told them it was none of their business and it was his decision or similar, said he’d be right for Saints and he was OK. Sounded quite bristly and I’m unsure where he’s at. May be some media today but it was quite funny. Basically said [censored] off

I’ve noticed this a bit lately with the players and media, especially where the media are awaiting a player to come or go from training or a medical appointment. I think it’s great. 

Edited June 26, 20186 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’ve noticed this a bit lately with the players and media, especially where the media are awaiting a player to come or go from training or a medical appointment. I think it’s great. 

Must be so frustrating, loved Tommy's response.