2 hours ago, america de cali said:

Can’t be any worse. Our forward pressure is a joke. At least he can put one or two defenders  on their arses and make them pay.  Stir the pot with a bit of beefy mongrel and create opportunities for crumbers as well as hopefully disorganise the defence.

Which  crumbers ?

39 minutes ago, binman said:

Absolutely. Cooked right from the first bounce. Not going flat out, taking half steps, allowing the ball to bounce rather than going flat out at it. And to top it off poor body language and complaining to the ump.

Thats sheer frustration Id say. I have a sense his foot isnt anywhere near the ideal and he's become quite limited by such. 

Unless there's an injury (perhaps Tom McDonald?), or a key player ready to return (Lewis?), I wouldn't make any changes. Part of the problem at the moment is a lack of cohesion. Too many players are unfamiliar with the game style because they've played so few games together. In the three games we've played Sparrow, C Wagner, Lockhart, KK and Hore who are all new to the club this year. 

And as much as there is criticism of the defenders, I think much of the problem lies with the forwards placing insufficient pressure on the opposition's defenders. It's why I suspect ANB will remain in the team. I'm not sure about this, but I think his job on the weekend was to run Saad ragged to prevent him from influencing the game. And I think he succeeded. (Unfortunately, when ANB had the chance to pick up the ball he fumbled too often, hence the concerns about his play, which I can understand).

 

19 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

The last time a player at Casey had 17 tackles he was selected in the AFL side the next week.

AVB

AVB had runs on the board and his ability to get to the right places, his general decision making and finish is (or was) a fair way ahead of Maynard.  Would like to see a few more games to see where Maynard is truly at, especially in a better performing team vs yesterday's shimozal 

1 hour ago, Brownie said:

TMAC is flat out running at the moment.

He looked really sore on Friday.

He needs to be recuperated, therefore.

49 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Which  crumbers ?

The ones that apply forward pressure. The ones that work hard to get to the fall of the ball. The ones that don’t compete for the mark against the marking target. None of our small to medium forwards except Melksham to a degree aren’t doing it.

Preuss did little at training this morning. A few laps and some shots at goal. He had a very heavily strapped calf.

Edited April 8, 20196 yr by Tough Kent

On 4/6/2019 at 6:53 PM, AmDamDemon said:

Stick fat. Took a week for mids to get going, forward line looked better this week. Backline will take a while. I know everyone's freaking out but until Lever and May are back they won't drop Oscar, maybe Frost for getting pushed off too easy. But he's an angry unit and has improvement in him.

I know this opinion is against the grain, but we saw last year that it's a marathon with Goody and the boys. Lockhart shows something, Tracc was way better. Viney showed mongrel moments. Jones will get going. Stick fat and trust.

Edit: spelling and support for Jones and Viney

 

Can't see Frost being ditched just yet AM.  As you say who replaces him?  Or Oscar?

I agree re sticking fat but i think you are seeing a different picture re improvement.  There is some improvement but we are talking improvement vs say Round 1 & 2 which were both super ordinary performances.  So improvement yes but off a very low base.  Vs the rest of the comp we are where we are on the ladder for good reason.

As a team we are obviously under performing, severely so compared to 2018.  No doubt injuries and surgeries have impacted.  But let's not kid ourselves, some are terribly off from where they were at last season.

You mention Tracc was way better.  Whilst he did ok i must be seeing things differently.  To me he has dropped away a little with each match so far and didn't start off all that impressively (vs last year in general) in the first match to start with (yes i realise he had many mates but Tracc's a little symptomatic of where we are at generally IMO).  Complacency ...bit of Hollywood happening?  Not the first time i've seen this with our mob!

I think Gus hit it on the head in his post match interview when he said... "we need to get everyone to buy in to the whole team defence" or something to that effect.

Without being silly we have to make some sort of statement and shake the tree a little at the selection table this week to try and turn around some attitudes and what seems to me like a bit of complacency...

Out:

T-Mac (inj / rested),  ANB,  KK

In:

Pruess - takes the T-Mac role "DEEP" and switches on the relief ruck role up forward with Big M.  Gives the opponent a diff look and might at least take the odd grab which has been badly missing inside 50 (and generally) in the first 3 rounds.  Keeping the ball inside 50 is critical vs seeing it sling shot straight back out as we've seen so many times way too easily this year.  Also suits our "bomb to hot spot" obsession better...crumbers might be able to impact IF the other forwards don't all go to the hot spot time and time again like clockwork!  Keeps Big M a little fresher allowing him to maybe do some better work and damage around the ground and push back a little more also, helping out our abominable back 6, especially on the smaller ground, and taking the space in front of Lance.

Stretch - Comes in for ANB who, along with others, has regressed badly from last year and off about 50% on his 2018 season.  We can't afford to keep carrying that form and he adds nothing atm.

Jeffy (if ready from yesterday's outing) - Comes in for KK....who probably needs more time at Casey.   KK should be ok with time but right now we need a genuine crumber/goal kicker and genuine speed, and at this point KK offers none of that.

Edited April 8, 20196 yr by Rusty Nails

27 minutes ago, Tough Kent said:

No Preuss at training this morning. 

You mean it gets better!

3 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

You mean it gets better!

And we have 3 games in 13 days. When it rains, it pours.

4 minutes ago, praha said:

And we have 3 games in 13 days. When it rains, it pours.

It's a bloody tough comp Praha obviously.   Made all that tougher when you get off to a start like ours.  We need a circuit breaker at some point and a turn of luck.  Very hard to see it at this stage although great clubs tend to make their own.

At the end of the day, as OD mentioned somewhere, we probably just have to be patient and wait for the better players to get back on the park AND for them and others to find some form.  Can't make a silk purse our of a sow's ear.

41 minutes ago, Tough Kent said:

Preuss did little at training this morning. A few laps and some shots at goal. He had a very heavily strapped calf.

T Mac? Reports are he was a no show.

People calling for Maynard ? Seriously. If there is one issue we have it is having all our mids as ball winners, lacking spread. Exactly what Maynard is, only way this bloke will ever get a game is if Oliver/Brayshaw/Viney is out... He is exactly the player we don’t need in the side on top of the above mentioned players. I’ve read none of the Casey reports nor watched the game but Stretch would be one player I’d like to hit form & get in the side for his outside game

Edited April 8, 20196 yr by JV7

25 minutes ago, JV7 said:

People calling for Maynard ? Seriously. If there is one issue we have it is having all our mids as ball winners, lacking spread. Exactly what Maynard is, only way this bloke will ever get a game is if Oliver/Brayshaw/Viney is out... He is exactly the player we don’t need in the side on top of the above mentioned players. I’ve read none of the Casey reports nor watched the game but Stretch would be one player I’d like to hit form & get in the side for his outside game

This is the problem, our biggest Is Stretch the only outside player we have? Seriously is he? 

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Unless there's an injury (perhaps Tom McDonald?), or a key player ready to return (Lewis?), I wouldn't make any changes. Part of the problem at the moment is a lack of cohesion. Too many players are unfamiliar with the game style because they've played so few games together. In the three games we've played Sparrow, C Wagner, Lockhart, KK and Hore who are all new to the club this year. 

And as much as there is criticism of the defenders, I think much of the problem lies with the forwards placing insufficient pressure on the opposition's defenders. It's why I suspect ANB will remain in the team. I'm not sure about this, but I think his job on the weekend was to run Saad ragged to prevent him from influencing the game. And I think he succeeded. (Unfortunately, when ANB had the chance to pick up the ball he fumbled too often, hence the concerns about his play, which I can understand).

 

This is a fair and reasonable counter-argument.

Personally, I don't think we can afford to keep carrying ANB and I think sometimes we have to drop the players who appear to have extra favour with the coaches, if anything as a wake-up call to them or as a signal to the players out of the side that opportunities can arrive.

But the reality is that we need improvement from about 19 of the 22 who played vs Essendon if we're going to start winning games.

2 hours ago, praha said:

And we have 3 games in 13 days. When it rains, it pours.

My oldest female relative (103 years) offers/volunteers for our fullback position, and at 5 foot 2 inches, can help out in the ruck if Gawny is feeling a little off colour. She will also bake him and that lovely young man with the red, curly hair some fortifying scones served with raspberry jam and cream - just to bring the colour back into their cheeks. If it's raining, she insists on the boot-studder going to work on her very smart, pink gumboots, however. (Possibly do better than our deep defensive line, at that!)

1 hour ago, JV7 said:

People calling for Maynard ? Seriously. If there is one issue we have it is having all our mids as ball winners, lacking spread. Exactly what Maynard is, only way this bloke will ever get a game is if Oliver/Brayshaw/Viney is out... He is exactly the player we don’t need in the side on top of the above mentioned players. I’ve read none of the Casey reports nor watched the game but Stretch would be one player I’d like to hit form & get in the side for his outside game

 

1 hour ago, Demon3 said:

This is the problem, our biggest Is Stretch the only outside player we have? Seriously is he? 

That's as good as we've got returning at this point.  Stretch and Fritschkrieg/Salem to play the main wingman roles pls with a bit of Harmes / Hunt thrown in until Mitch returns.

Chunk as a run with on their best mid sharing this role with Harmes (in small doses).

Gus, Clarry Viney as the main mids with a fair chunk from Tracc and also a decent % of Jeffy from time to time at the center bounce to take advantage of the extra 666 space.  Should help open things up a little on the spread (Jeffy) and improve the disposal skills coming i50 (more time/space in theory!).

When we play both Chunk & Viney in main roles through the middle (at the same time at stages in a match) we look pedestrian slow and often 2nd to the ball. The opp knows this and they will make sure they have at least one mid in with some toe if both are on the ground to take advantage as per Shiel on Friday night.  Chunk & / or Viney have little chance of catching anyone with a bit of pace once they're out the back if they're playing off the back of the contest a little.

Edited April 8, 20196 yr by Rusty Nails

Outs

Tom McDonald - had both ankles operated on in offseason. Looked like he was running on quicksand in JLT1 . Pre season  should have extended into season. Should never have been targetted for Round 1.

Alex Neal-Bullen - out of form and offering little.

Nathan Jones - out of form - terrible disposal and positioning in wingman role.

Ins

Braden Preuss - Gawn to play as Forward/Ruck.

Kade Chandler - Kicked 2 goals, clean hands, good disposal and won his own ball. Also looks like Craig Smoker.

Billy Stretch/Maynard -  Stretch if fit, impressed on limited minutes for Casey. Maynard was also impressive for Casey.

Others 

Hore - Can he replace Oscar Mac or will that leave us too short in defence. Might be worth the gamble.

Jordan - Looks like a running half back flanker with potential.

Bedford - Another small. Solid for Casey.

 

In: Paul Roos to fix our defence.........again

5 hours ago, america de cali said:

The ones that apply forward pressure. The ones that work hard to get to the fall of the ball. The ones that don’t compete for the mark against the marking target. None of our small to medium forwards except Melksham to a degree aren’t doing it.

As I said which ones, we don't really have any good crumbers.

6 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

AVB had runs on the board and his ability to get to the right places, his general decision making and finish is (or was) a fair way ahead of Maynard.  Would like to see a few more games to see where Maynard is truly at, especially in a better performing team vs yesterday's shimozal 

Turns out the reports were wrong. Wasn’t 17 tackles it was 17 handballs. Not sure anyone has been promoted based on 17 handballs.

But agree with your comments.

5 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

It's a bloody tough comp Praha obviously.   Made all that tougher when you get off to a start like ours.  We need a circuit breaker at some point and a turn of luck.  Very hard to see it at this stage although great clubs tend to make their own.

At the end of the day, as OD mentioned somewhere, we probably just have to be patient and wait for the better players to get back on the park AND for them and others to find some form.  Can't make a silk purse our of a sow's ear.

Yep RN the fact is it will not improve much over the next month. I think I need a new bottle of single malt.

I’ve got this familiar sinking feeling that This is going to b a looong season. All the harder to bear when hopes were just so  high before it started. The press is going to have a field day w us and make it feel even longer as this streak continues.  I just can’t see a turnaround anytime soon when the issue is so based on injury / fitness and the lack of It. When we’re all excited about stretch coming back into the side or wanting Maynard in its indicative of where we’re at isn’t it? Those aren’t the type of players who turn things around. The kk’s and wagners and lack of fitness of others  mess with the game plan also as when one chain link doesn’t hold the whole thing breaks into pieces . We’ll probably hit some form in the second half of the season and get to enjoy lever and may ...finally...and finish 11th or some such. I’m still foolish enough to hope for more .... but my demon realist is very strong and born of bitter experiences. 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Yep RN the fact is it will not improve much over the next month. I think I need a new bottle of single malt.

Can recommend a very smooth option to lighten the outlook a little or ease the agony, whichever is the case OD.  I'm not a huge whisky officiado but highly recommend "Hibiki Masters Select".

Never thought I'd enjoy a Japanese model but it's very refined and easy on the palate.  Bottle a bit of a keeper and impressive genuine cork stopper also if you're into aesthetics!

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

As I said which ones, we don't really have any good crumbers.

Spot on, and is one of many problems we have, surely one of or both of chandler and garlett come in. We lack crumbing skills in back half as well, as soon as ball comes off a pack, it is grabbed by a opposition player