31 minutes ago, 58er said:

I have a premonition that Jefferson will debut for us later in the season as a half forward flanker where he can use his pace marking and speed and height plus goal sense. He won't replace JVR who will still be holding his place but ANB Spargo  and Harmesy might all be possible to give him his chance. 

He won't be asked to take on 195 cm giants or 95/100 kg KPP but half back flankers of the intercept type. All those supporters saying he is too light will realise that with his skill set and pace and agility he will have the footy smarts to match it with the smaller backs in most sides. Will also Bob up in the forward pocket to kick some goals as well.  Imagine JVR Fritta Jefferson and Kossie trying to keep them quiet plus our other forwards. These four are all genuine match winners and goal scorers!!

He’s too light, he is years away from a regular spot and if he debuts in 2023…

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

His groin thing is no longer?  He'd be stiff not to debut.

On ball role. 

7 minutes ago, rpfc said:

 

He’s too light, he is years away from a regular spot and if he debuts in 2023…

Funny Bowey was not too light nor Robbie Flower. Jefferson is the only player that fans use this excuse why he won't get an opportunity. I am saying that I won't be surprised if Jeffo shows the skulls and ability to kick goals at Casey a half forward  role would suit him at this stage of his careeer.  If you read my post and take into account Jeffo has already put on weight since we drafted him it's not impossible if he shows hisability. Same with Howes and Laurie and Woey and Smith snd McVee.  Weight is important but not every player has to become his ideal weight to break into an AFL team. Some players have got other positives that out way physical strength. 

Letswait and see we have a fascinating watch on who will put themselves out there other than JVR to make a debut in 2023. 

JVR
Howes
Laurie
McVee

Edited February 14, 20232 yr by adonski

JVR is just about a lock given a full year of health.

McVee, Deak Smith and Woey are our small defensive depth right now. Almost by default at least one of them might get a go. McVee stood out early in preseason and I’m sticking with him. Deak Smith has a chance to be the primary back up to Hibbo. Taj will put his name forward with form. All could be 50:50 to get a go.

Howes might need a bit of luck. He’s still pretty raw to my eye. But he has the tricks to really take off. I’d have him just slightly below 50:50.

Laurie and AMW are our small forward depth after Chandler and rotating mids. Both should impress at VFL but they aren’t quite physically ready. I’d be pleasantly surprised by either.

Jefferson would also be a surprise but I don’t think he’s a giant long shot either. He was giving Disco Turner a bit of grief the other day. If he stays healthy I’d expect him to put a couple of good VFL games together at some stage (with a lot of inconsistency). We know Brown and T Mc are both injury risks. If it gets to a stage where we’ve got a vacancy in the side and a bit of a free hit kind of game then throwing Jeffo a debut rather than a random Schache came could be on the cards. 

Adams, Verrell, KFW, Sestan would be shocks. 

 

 

4 hours ago, layzie said:

Sestan

Sure Sestan shows plenty of skills and goal sense, but he is more than likely a full year short of fitness / endurance to play at AFL senior level.  But I agree an incredibly exciting prospect. Looking forward 2024 season. 

 

4 hours ago, Demonised said:

It's easy to say who you think could debut, but a little harder to say who they're going to replace ...

Will Ferrel to debut after Grundy injures his hand playing frisbee with his dog after returning from a night out where he got in a bar fight, tugged a woman's dress down and then mysteriously ended up naked on Elizebeth street after exiting the wrong door at his mates places.

Oh wait, wrong club!

 

Edited February 14, 20232 yr by John Demonic

We will have a sensational year with very little injuries so only van Rooyen will debut.

The way he has been training Deakyn Smith is a monty. 

10 hours ago, monoccular said:

Sure Sestan shows plenty of skills and goal sense, but he is more than likely a full year short of fitness / endurance to play at AFL senior level.  But I agree an incredibly exciting prospect. Looking forward 2024 season. 

Agree, it's more of a selfish 'want' than need for me. 

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

McVee, Deak Smith and Woey are our small defensive depth right now.

Is Woey training in defense now?

Last year he played on the wing at Casey

Thanks

15 hours ago, 58er said:

I have a premonition that Jefferson will debut for us later in the season as a half forward flanker where he can use his pace marking and speed and height plus goal sense. He won't replace JVR who will still be holding his place but ANB Spargo  and Harmesy might all be possible to give him his chance. 

He won't be asked to take on 195 cm giants or 95/100 kg KPP but half back flankers of the intercept type. All those supporters saying he is too light will realise that with his skill set and pace and agility he will have the footy smarts to match it with the smaller backs in most sides. Will also Bob up in the forward pocket to kick some goals as well.  Imagine JVR Fritta Jefferson and Kossie trying to keep them quiet plus our other forwards. These four are all genuine match winners and goal scorers!!

I really don't see how Jefferson replaces any of those guys as they play a completely different role and he wouldn't have the tank to do what they do...

42 minutes ago, Action Jackson said:

I really don't see how Jefferson replaces any of those guys as they play a completely different role and he wouldn't have the tank to do what they do...

Different roles for different players!!!!

Easy don't  be so tunnel visioned with plans need to be flexible Goody especially. 

I think the club is right in it's approach re untried players making their debut.

The club doesn' t gift games to players and rightly so. If a player makes their debut game this year i will be happy to see them given a shot because they will have earned it.

Let's not forget a young guy who got his first game in the backline and looked well off the pace. He went on to become a fan favourite and a strong premiership performer ..... Harry Petty 

1 hour ago, pineapple dee said:

I think the club is right in it's approach re untried players making their debut.

The club doesn' t gift games to players and rightly so. If a player makes their debut game this year i will be happy to see them given a shot because they will have earned it.

Let's not forget a young guy who got his first game in the backline and looked well off the pace. He went on to become a fan favourite and a strong premiership performer ..... Harry Petty 

That was an unexpected ovccurrence and bad judgement by our Coaches. Harry s not ready quite yet at Jay time and nerves overcame him! 

We have seen the glorious result. No 35 a fan favourite. 

On 2/14/2023 at 4:05 PM, waynewussell said:

McVee is progressing well. Those who have attended pre-season would be aware that he is highly regarded and is doing well as a defender in match sim... more likely to get an extension than be delisted.

that could be timely given we don't know when Salem will be available. 

Now that the lists for 2023 are sorted out these are the candidates for making a debut with Melbourne during the season:-

PRIMARY LIST

Jed Adams, Brodie Grundy, Blake Howes, Lachie Hunter, Matthew Jefferson, Bailey Laurie, Josh Schache, Jacob van Rooyen, Taj Woewodin

ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A 

Judd McVee, Oliver Sestan, Deakyn Smith, Kye Turner, Will Verrell

ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B  

Kyah Farris-White, Andy Moniz-Wakefield 

That is certainly a treasure trove of young talent - we have a lot to look forward to.

JVR, Howes, Laurie, Woey, Sestan is my prediction

Most agree that JVR is a given to play rd 1 , but i ask that if our top 6 or 7 forwards are fit and healthy who does he replace, wont be T MACK or BBB and with a ruck coming down as that extra tall where does JVR get a gig, could it be he starts from the bench ? 

 

/

2 minutes ago, demons123452000 said:

Most agree that JVR is a given to play rd 1 , but i ask that if our top 6 or 7 forwards are fit and healthy who does he replace, wont be T MACK or BBB and with a ruck coming down as that extra tall where does JVR get a gig, could it be he starts from the bench ? 

richo sounded pretty circumspect in that regard in his latest interview

sounds like it'll be sideshow bald, plugger mac, fritsch, and the resting ruckman

Debut of our next flag is what I’d like to watch at the ‘G’.

I think the club has acknowledged that they need to be a little less rigid with best 22 and actually give some young players a go. Of course we don't want that interfering with our main goal of winning the flag, but we wasted a golden opportunity last year when 10-0 to rest some of our best 22 and by not doing that we limped over the line and dropped out in straight sets with a list who could barely walk, and without any ideas about what our younger players are capable of at AFL level.

We need to be really balanced and thoughtful about our young players. A lot of them are good enough and shown enough to debut. If we don't give them opportunities they will leave and we will end up with a list that is far too top heavy in age. 

We need the 'next man up' mentality again when it comes to selection. Youngsters need to feel like they are actually pushing for selection with their Casey performances and not being consistently overlooked. 

Bring back the start of 21 when Choco ripped up the birth certificates.
 

On 2/15/2023 at 11:47 AM, 58er said:

That was an unexpected ovccurrence and bad judgement by our Coaches. Harry s not ready quite yet at Jay time and nerves overcame him! 

We have seen the glorious result. No 35 a fan favourite. 

I love that guy and I bet his back line buddies feel the same way.

I have been to a few pre-season training sessions and here are my thoughts.

Forwards

JVR to debut round 1 alongside TMac and Fritta. Ben Brown looks really well at training but I am guessing they are holding him back and his aim will be 10-12 games and be one of the fit ones come finals if we make it. I think they may rotate them a bit. Schache is the injury back-up. He can't hold a mark but is an option to "create a contest" if one of the other 3 go down.

Chandler is being set up for Kozzies role in the forward line. They may revert to Kossie at some stage but I think Kossie might be played almost as a wild card through the middle and forward of centre. Chandler has had an excellent pre-season. He is almost a lock to come in. Spargo has had an excellent pre-season as well and is a lock in his position. His work in Match sims has been very good.

This leaves a few headaches with ANB who should hold his spot. Harmes and Melksham are candidates to miss. So the main 6 in my mind will be Chandler,  Spargo and ANB as the smalls and JVR, TMac and Fritta as the main targets. Harmes or Melksham may get a go as the 7th forward off the bench, especially if they take the teams to 23 and no sub.

Lawrie is a long shot but should move to the midfield for Casey and if he goes past Dunstan who is an injury back up at best then he may get a go in the second half of the season, and those that think Sestan is a chance in my humble are kidding themselves. He is strong and he will take his chances near goal but his weaknesses are glaring. He gets caught with the ball a lot and his disposal is poor. Has a lot to work on.

Jefferson in one pre-season has been impressive. He is a natural footballer and has a lot of upside. Saw him on Wednesday after one play completely exhausted and unable to chase or compete even so clearly isn't AFL ready. An ideal youngster to take through the VFL system and should be a ripper in a year or two.

Not sure about Howes. I like him but I'm not sure where he goes. He is the player that I don't know about.

Mids Apart from the obvious we have Jordan, Sparrow, Hunter, Kossie and Grundy to fit in. It is probable the mids take 8 spots of the 22/23. Gawn, Trac, Oliver, Viney and Langdon are locks. Only injuries or inexplicable poor form would rule those 5 out. Jordan has been excellent in pre-season and looks ready to be given a full time crack. Having said that I'm not sure where but he and indeed Sparrow should make up the mid rotations. This still leaves Hunter, Grundy and Kossie without spots. I'm getting into trouble here.

I think Woey is a mid as well but must be behind these players. I'm hoping he tears it apart at VFL level and pushes up for a second half year debut.

Backs

May, Lever and Petty and I think Brayshaw are locks. Brayshaw has done all pre-season off half back. Hibberd was flying in pre-season before  getting injured. He may be over-looked for early rounds. I talked to Salem who said the thyroid issue shows up in blood tests. His reading is low I think. You can take pills to control high but only rest helps low. (I'm not sure what blood read out they test for and I'm clearly no doctor but he has to go through a pre-season build up again and keep his blood levels even.) I suggested mid -season and he was pretty sure if all goes well it will be early season. Either way 2 players who are mostly best 22 probably won't be there in round one.

So we have only 2 players to go or 3 if one extra goes to the bench. Choosing from Rivers, Bowey and Turner as the main candidates, with McVee and Deakin Smith as others well in the mix as most here have indicated. Both McVee and Smith have had good pre-seasons with McVee being used with intent. He and Turner, depending on size of opposition forward lines may share that role. I hope Rivers and Bowey are the two who make up the six backmen.

Tomlinson will be a great full back at Casey and could walk into lesser teams, but I think has gone behind Turner.

Joel Smith will probably get his body finally right in time to move on at the end of the year.

Farris Wite should be someone to watch at VFL level. He is really quite good. I think. He needs to not get injured and play 18 odd games at VFL level. With the talent he has around himself and the obvious progress he has made in just one pre-season, he is an exciting prospect for the future.

Adams looks good and will hopefully play 10-15 games at VFL level, hard to do taking on guys older and stronger so we wish him well.

Plenty of depth and a lot of fun ahead. Hopefully we see the team develop further as they need to.

 

Edited February 17, 20232 yr by deespicable me