2 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Geez, the reserves got a pasting then. Anyone show anything in that game? I stopped watching after Q4, the repeated coverage was doing my head in. 

Check out the Casey game day thread @Kick_It_To_Pickett

Edited February 24, 20232 yr by AzzKikA

3 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

Check out the Casey game day thread @Kick_It_To_Pickett

Thanks. Didn’t know one was running. Cheers

Bowie back to his best with pinpoint field kicking accuracy today.

2 minutes ago, Lou C. Fur said:

Bowie back to his best with pinpoint field kicking accuracy today.

Took him I reckon a quarter to warm up, few shanks in the first but bounced back well

Edited February 24, 20232 yr by AzzKikA

I arrived at the ground just after the first quarter/period finished...so missed his shanks. A good player is able to respond and learn from mistakes. We seem to agree that Bowie is that.

3 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Mine disappeared sometime around 11pm on Saturday 25th September 2021. Hasn’t been seen since

Reading the game day thread, clearly others haven’t lost their’s absolutely some gob****e comments, but mostly by the usual suspects 

Edited February 24, 20232 yr by Pennant St Dee

I was standing in in the shady pocket at the southern end (wind was blowing towards me). My observations were:

• Hunter's disposal is going to be very valuable this year - he had some fantastic F50 entries, as well as some kicks into the corridor off half back that setup shots on goal. 
• Max's ruck work was amazing at times
• Him and Grundy cover a lot of ground for big guys
• Ball movement was lightning quick at times, with a lot of quick hands
• There was some rusty moments, and brain fades as is expected for the first game of the year
• Lever looked in great form while he was playing
• JVR ensures he rarely loses a marking contest
• Our two way running was immense, especially in the heat
• We looked to have a 'slow it down' mode when the Saints built momentum
• McVee has great acceleration, lateral movement, and composure to go with good skills
• The Demon Army were in great voice, standing in the sun all game - @WalkingCivilWar you must all be pretty beat!
• Saw Tracc and Clarry leave the facility when we left in the 6th - I didn't expect them to drive out in a RAV4 and BT-50 with a taped on front guard 😄

I think everyone needs to remember it was 33 degrees out there in the sweltering sun.

9 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I think everyone needs to remember it was 33 degrees out there in the sweltering sun.

Exactly 

33 degrees

1st hit out for the season 

different set ups and tempo

etc

2 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Hope it’s not the dreaded syndesmosis. Lever was very good before he went off

I saw his foot as he hobbled past me. He didnt look in too much discomfort. But the swelling was around his ankle bone - about the size of a squash ball. 

I watched most of it. But was also doing things so was in and out a bit. And I’m taking about he first 4 quarters. I was impressed. It’s a first hit out on a hot day. I thought we moved the ball well generally and skills were good considering we’re blowing out the cobwebs. 
was impressed with the usual suspects in the middle with Clarry Trac and co. 
Thought Gawn was great. Grundy was decent and remember he hasn’t played for a while. And first game with us. 
Hunter will be great. Hunter and Langdon on opposite wings will be a weapon. 
Pickett looks exciting. Could break Thames open from the middle this year. 
McVee impressed. Look like he’ll be right to go. 
I thought BBB played well considering a few weeks ago they were saying he won’t play round one. 
Bowey stood out for me. Excellent one on one and you want the footy in his hands. 
 

Ran into the boys as we were leaving the venue. They just completed a 30 minute running session on the square oval next to the main car park. Took a couple of snaps of my son with a few of his favourite players. He was star struck ! As was I 😂

 

I have to say it was impossible watching at the ground to work out what sort of game plan Lyon is running with. 

And they looked pretty bloody average. 

I was most interested in Hunter and Grundy.

I’m extremely happy with Hunter really put his best foot forward, if he plays like that he will be a great pickup,

Grundy on the other hand left a lot to be desired. Looks unfit. Not sure how him and Gawn were ever considered equals the difference is so stark. I just hope this isn’t representative of what to expect.

Great also to see a fit Tmac really makes a difference when he is isn’t hampered by injury. If he can stay fit it will go a long way to us going deep in September.

Main takeaway is the team looks fit and ready to hit the ground running come round 1. Looks like they all want redemption for the way last year ended.

Was watching the game today and thought that  Will Verrall has a bit of the Jack Fitzpatrick look about him.  Hope he has a better AFL career than Jack i.e. less the concussion.

 

...please don't teach him tunnel ball at training.

 

54 minutes ago, binman said:

I have to say it was impossible watching at the ground to work out what sort of game plan Lyon is running with. 

And they looked pretty bloody average. 

It didn’t help that they were missing King & Membrey. 

4 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

What sort of role is McVee playing down back? Can he be a small lockdown type to quell the Charlie Cameron, Stengle, Papley types? Could he replace Hibberd long term?  Hoping he’s not just another rebounder as we’re well stocked for hbfs, but have a clear list gap for small lockdown defenders since Jetta retired and Hibberd is on his last legs.

Hibberd on his last legs?  Yeah nah.

Was a gun in the second half of last season when we bought him into the seniors.  Thought he was by far our best defender and close to best on ground in the second hit-out.  A class above.

In my mind, if he's fit, he plays ones.  Brings so much hardness, toughness, never sat die and just a ripping player and defender.  If we're cruising I think it would be something of a luxury to have him play seconds to mentor the next crop of defenders, but back end of last season, he was definitely a required commodity in the senior side.

I did like the look of McVee though.

Thought Rivers and Bowey were also good, so there is going to be tough competition for spots.

Disco was good in the second game and that was a great screamer he pulled down.

26 minutes ago, Garbo said:

 Grundy on the other hand left a lot to be desired. Looks unfit. Not sure how him and Gawn were ever considered equals the difference is so stark.  

I don't know either.
Whenever we played collingwood Gawn would give Grundy a lesson.
 

I really think people are being very harsh on Grundy‘s performance. He did drop a couple of marks and this was his first game since Round 6 and it was in 33 degree heat. He did a couple of really nice things and that goal was great. 

Is there a replay available anywhere?  

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Did I see JVR ping a hammy half way through the 7th?

He was out doing running with the others from the later game as twilight set in, so probably cramp.

About what i and most people expected today, great hitout by the lads today.

Hunter on the other wing is a game changer for us.

Teams will find it hard to combat both he and Langers on the outer.

Thought back six operated well, Midfield was hard running and slick, entry into the F50 was an improvement on last years levels and the forward line was and improved mix.

Only Pre Season, but good signs none the less.

Onto next next week we go.

👍🇱🇮

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

Dees warming down.

 

Too hard too early?  That was a stinkin hot arvo of footy.  Ok so warm down but 30 minutes?  Bit OTT imv

53 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Is there a replay available anywhere?  

Kayo or Fox RM

Really impressed with the seniors today didn't have a bad player on the ground. Really impressed with McVee more than happy to see him take Hibberd's spot. Enough has been said about Hunter great pick up and Bowey back to his best.

The reserves were destroyed by one player and he was in a Demons jumper that was my new SPUD alert in Tomlinson. Got a bath by Camanti and Sharman. Slow as treacle. The sooner we delist him the better not even VFL standard.

As for St.Kilda they are a real worry, bottom 4 maybe bottom 6 at best for them. King and Membrey out didn't help but apart from Steele who gives his all and they look like they have a good find in Philipou and in the reserves Camaniti, Sharman and Van Es showed they should be in the senior side. The rest of the players are pathetic a long year coming up for the Saints.

Looking to next week against Richmond we should only have 2 players unavailable in Salem and Dunstan.

So here is my best 45 for next week.

 

B: Lever, May, Bowey

HB: Brayshaw, Petty, Rivers

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, McDonald, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: McVee, Harmes, Sparrow, Grundy

SUB: Chandler

 

B: K.Turner, D.Turner, Adams

HB: Hibberd, Tomlinson, D.Smith 

C: Howes, Jordon, Burgoyne

HF: Laurie, van Rooyen, Moniz-Wakefield

F: Melksham, Schache, Jefferson

FOLL: Verrall, Woewodin, Munro

IC: Farris-White, Sestan, Edwards, Baldi