TEAMS: Rd 11 vs Fremantle

[Cranky Franky 2,065]

1 hour ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Not sure if he's been in qualifying form but surely Baker has the nod given Lingers is out.  If Melky goes down (someone steps on his small toe....cough) then yipeee for Bakes

I fully agree but sadly Baker seems to be on the outer.  Spargo, Harmes, Jordon & Sparrow were all given a number of consecutive games to get experience & confidence whereas Baker has received few opportunities. 

I hope he goes to another Club & makes a go of it.

 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

Happy to see Melksham play his 200 for us at the G.  Really hope the boys turn it on, win for him to make it one to remember and keep our winning ways going.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

9 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Spargo, Harmes, Jordon & Sparrow were all given a number of consecutive games to get experience & confidence whereas Baker has received few opportunities.

Ridiculous comment.

Chances are earned, not given. All of those players have had times where they've had to earn another chance.

Sparrow's first couple of years were very similar to Baker's, with almost the exact same number of games ('chances'). Do you honestly think their different trajectories since then is due to purely being given opportunities? Rubbish.

Jordon's were even tougher due to injury but he  earned chances and took them.

Spargo's 2nd and 3rd years he had to do the hard yards, Harmes struggled  early too.

'Given games'... Please.

[Lucifers Hero 39,967]

Unfortunately, I think the ship has sailed for Baker. 

HIs best year was 9 games in 2019 when we had a massive injury list.  15 games in 4.5 years isn't a great record, through no fault of his.  Others have gone past him and with recent draftees we now have better depth than we had in recent years.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

Will be interesting to see where Bedford plays.  Been really impressed by his appearances so far this year.  Goody has stated that Tobby is ready to perform at senior level and I'd absolutely agree based on what I've seen.  Looks much more confident and assured with the ball compared to appearances he's made in previous years and his pressure has been awsome.

Does he play on a wing for us this week?  From what I recall hearing he has one of the biggest tanks at the club.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

4 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Ridiculous comment.

Chances are earned, not given. All of those players have had times where they've had to earn another chance.

Sparrow's first couple of years were very similar to Baker's, with almost the exact same number of games ('chances'). Do you honestly think their different trajectories since then is due to purely being given opportunities? Rubbish.

Jordon's were even tougher due to injury but he  earned chances and took them.

Spargo's 2nd and 3rd years he had to do the hard yards, Harmes struggled  early too.

'Given games'... Please.

And all the aforementioned looked like they belonged at the level just about from day dot, where as I'd argue that Baker has looked like he had potential to, but wasn't quite there in certain areas.

No disrespect to Baker, because I think he puts in and gives it a red hot crack.  I also think he's had plenty of chance with the time he's had on our list.  I wounder if he would be an attractive addition to add some depth and another mature body to an up and comming list like GC (was he from that way) or West Coast etc?

[picket fence 17,181]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Stoked for Bedford getting a full game.

Make no mistake, this will be our hardest game of the year due to a number of premiership players we're missing.

Salem, Langdon, Harmes and Hibberdl to a degree are huge outs for us.

 

Needs to impose Dazz ..Really disapointed that Melksham gets a game on his handful of possesions over Dunstan

[binman 43,137]

4 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Will be interesting to see where Bedford plays.  Been really impressed by his appearances so far this year.  Goody has stated that Tobby is ready to perform at senior level and I'd absolutely agree based on what I've seen.  Looks much more confident and assured with the ball compared to appearances he's made in previous years and his pressure has been awsome.

Does he play on a wing for us this week?  From what I recall hearing he has one of the biggest tanks at the club.

Bedford is a ripper.

Smart player, good skills, good decision maker and is super fit

And has one key attribute that makes him AFL ready - genuine speed.and an ability to maintain that speed over distance.

[Cranky Franky 2,065]

9 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Ridiculous comment.

Chances are earned, not given. All of those players have had times where they've had to earn another chance.

Sparrow's first couple of years were very similar to Baker's, with almost the exact same number of games ('chances'). Do you honestly think their different trajectories since then is due to purely being given opportunities? Rubbish.

Jordon's were even tougher due to injury but he  earned chances and took them.

Spargo's 2nd and 3rd years he had to do the hard yards, Harmes struggled  early too.

'Given games'... Please.

You sound a bit cranky there Nev.

I stand by my comments. Baker is a specialist winger & super quick & should have been the obvious replacement. He got one game last year & was fair but got dropped the next week.  

ANB & Spargo were very poor week after week yet the selectors stuck with them.

 

[picket fence 17,181]

18 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Happy to see Melksham play his 200 for us at the G.  Really hope the boys turn it on, win for him to make it one to remember and keep our winning ways going.

Really!?? Handful of possesions.. dont gift guys games!

[deejammin' 2,373]

11 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Will be interesting to see where Bedford plays.  Been really impressed by his appearances so far this year.  Goody has stated that Tobby is ready to perform at senior level and I'd absolutely agree based on what I've seen.  Looks much more confident and assured with the ball compared to appearances he's made in previous years and his pressure has been awsome.

Does he play on a wing for us this week?  From what I recall hearing he has one of the biggest tanks at the club.

I think Bedford plays Ed’s wing and Melksham plays Harmes HF/mid role. Excited to see Bedford have a crack at it, he’s shown a lot this year.

[Demon Disciple 12,180]

2 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Really!?? Handful of possesions.. dont gift guys games!

Agree picket, not sure how Melky earned himself another game after last week.

Though, I hope he proves me wrong 👍

[Lord Nev 13,512]

1 minute ago, Cranky Franky said:

I stand by my comments. Baker is a specialist winger & super quick & should have been the obvious replacement.

Is Gus 'super quick'? Is Jordon? Perhaps it's not just speed that makes a 'specialist winger'.

  

1 minute ago, Cranky Franky said:

He got one game last year & was fair but got dropped the next week. 

He played 3 games last year. Averaged 5 disposals, 1 tackle and 1 mark.

 

1 minute ago, Cranky Franky said:

ANB & Spargo were very poor week after week yet the selectors stuck with them.

You seem to not know your history. Both were dropped numerous times before improving and earning their spots.

Spargo played 8 games in each of 2019  and 2020.

Neal Bullen spent a ton of time at Casey working on his competitiveness playing as an inside mid and was nearly traded end of 2020.

Give it up mate.

[Demonstone 22,640]

3 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

He played 3 games last year. Averaged 5 disposals, 1 tackle and 1 mark.

To be fair, I think he may have been the Injury Sub in a couple of those games.

Having said that, I agree with other posters that, alas, Baker is probably not quite AFL standard.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

1 minute ago, Demonstone said:

To be fair, I think he may have been the Injury Sub in a couple of those games.

Having said that, I agree with other posters that, alas, Baker is probably not quite AFL standard.

Yep, you're right, fair call.

1 game he actually played - 15 touches, 4 turnovers, 2 clangers.

That 1 game was against the Kangaroos...

[Sydney_Demon 1,175]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

How certain are we that Tmac will play? Look to be favouring a knee late in the game. Not listed in the 18. 

I don't understand the reference to not being in the 18. It doesn't matter whether a player's in the 18 or the 22. Just because they are named on the interchange doesn't mean they're more likely to be a late withdrawal. Or am I missing something here? Are there different rules for late withdrawals from the 18 than the 22? Sunday games are of course different because 8 are named on the rxtended interchange and this has to be trimmed to 4 by 5 on Friday night (and you can't change the 18).

39 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

I wondered the same thing.  He looked ok in the training video but it was only a few seconds.

Also wondered if Petty will start.  iirc he had some treatment on the bench last week and played only 82% game time which is really low for our defenders.  Also not in the starting 18.

Maybe a rare late change coming up.

See above.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

13 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Really!?? Handful of possesions.. dont gift guys games!

I understand that perspective and I must say I haven't really seen him set the world on fire in any of his senior games over the past few years.  By the same token, he's been pretty close to the mark for the position he plays as well, but certainly wouldn't be in the side over a fit James Harmes were he available right now.  He's also a good distributor inside forward 50, which we really need at the moment and I'm not sure Dunstan provides that skill set so well.

But that all said, I think Melksham made a decient contribution to our rebuild from obscurity over his career with us and it's not gifting games to honour players like that in a fitting way in milestone games, it's showing gratitude and respect and I think that is well within the character of the current team.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

I fully agree but sadly Baker seems to be on the outer.  Spargo, Harmes, Jordon & Sparrow were all given a number of consecutive games to get experience & confidence whereas Baker has received few opportunities. 

I hope he goes to another Club & makes a go of it.

 

Im not convinced he is going to make it either CF .... i just think as a short term fill in* he is the best of a pretty average bunch at Casey right at this moment* (*playing the Linger role).

Edited May 26, 2022 by Demon Dynasty

[Docs Demons 1,792]

41 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Will be interesting to see where Bedford plays.  Been really impressed by his appearances so far this year.  Goody has stated that Tobby is ready to perform at senior level and I'd absolutely agree based on what I've seen.  Looks much more confident and assured with the ball compared to appearances he's made in previous years and his pressure has been awsome.

Does he play on a wing for us this week?  From what I recall hearing he has one of the biggest tanks at the club.

And quick

[Cranky Franky 2,065]

26 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Is Gus 'super quick'? Is Jordon? Perhaps it's not just speed that makes a 'specialist winger'.

  

He played 3 games last year. Averaged 5 disposals, 1 tackle and 1 mark.

 

You seem to not know your history. Both were dropped numerous times before improving and earning their spots.

Spargo played 8 games in each of 2019  and 2020.

Neal Bullen spent a ton of time at Casey working on his competitiveness playing as an inside mid and was nearly traded end of 2020.

Give it up mate.

Give up ! Not likely.

I'll put it on the record that I reckon Baker has been treated harshly & deserves a run.  If he doesn't get a go I predict he'll go elsewhere & make a decent career.

If he doesn't I'll be happy to concede u were right & I was wrong.  

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

31 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Needs to impose Dazz ..Really disapointed that Melksham gets a game on his handful of possesions over Dunstan

Melk should consider himself the luckiest footballer in the AFL right now given the performance or lack thereof last week.

Dunstan BOG in a comparison!!

There has always been 'good Melk' or 'Bad Melk' (not alot of in between) and he's been a pretty good servant on occasions, in particular the two early finals in 2018.

Let's hope he brings good Melk for his 200th and our sake as we can ill afford to have players going AWOL against clubs on the rise vying for a top 4 spot like Freo etc.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,400]

Another statement game coming up.

Freo we’re up and about early in the season but are coming of back to back losses. They only scored 33 points against the Suns and 44 against the Pies, now the face the best defence in the competition.

We’ve got them covered on every line. 

Say goodnight.

[adonski 12,226]

Over at quarter time, similar to the Saints game

[dazzledavey36 55,001]

57 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Needs to impose Dazz ..Really disapointed that Melksham gets a game on his handful of possesions over Dunstan

I'm on a Melksham ban otherwise I'll upset the same usual sooks on here.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Not hugely surprising, which we've come to expect these days.

Baker, sadly, has never shown enough form at even VFL level to suggest he's ready to become a consistent AFL player, and his AFL opportunities, although limited, have never really been good enough.

Well done to Melksham on 200. I'm not sure how many more there will be once Salem, Langdon and Harmes get fit, but here's hoping he puts in a stunner for his milestone.