19 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think the player really missing out of this conversation is Toby Bedford.  I know hindsight is a great thing, but I always saw him as a talent with abbilty that was close to cracking it and I'm sure would be getting a game this season with us.

Conversely, while he's racked up some big stats and maybe even some great games at Casey, I've yet to see Laurie look like making much of an impact at AFL level.  Doubt he'll get picked again this year, so I think it will need to be a big off season for him this year and him needing to reinvent himself to find himself a role in the side.  If he doesn't, I think he'll suffer the same fate as Baker.

In retrospect, I'm actually quite frustrated that Laurie was picked to be the sub last week, as even any of Grundy or Tomlinson or even Schache would have given us a whole lot more output than what Laurie did and if neither are selected in the main team, I hope they are at least sub over Laurie.  I think it's pretty much a given Bradshaw will be replaced by Jordan this week as I think we can be pretty confident he'll give a solid/reliable performance even if his best is not as outstanding as some of his peers that have kept him out of the side.

Nothing against Laurie personally, it's just my observations of him over the past season when he's been given game time.

He looked pretty good against the Swans but was nowhere near it in the QF.  

2 minutes ago, Salems Lot said:

He looked pretty good against the Swans but was nowhere near it in the QF.  

He had some good VFL too. Hindsight says Jordan would have been better to replace Brayshaw, but the selection committee didn’t have a crystal ball or psychic at their meeting. 🥴

2 hours ago, Demonsterative said:

He had some good VFL too. Hindsight says Jordan would have been better to replace Brayshaw, but the selection committee didn’t have a crystal ball or psychic at their meeting. 🥴

I'm definitely not against Laurie being given a go as a sub in some of the later games during the season.  And yes it's easier in hindsight, but I thought for a final the percentage play was to have Jodan as the sub as Laurie had shown glimpses, but nothing that suggested he could make as solid a contribution for even a quarter in a big game final compared to what Jordan has shown he can deliver in the past.

Hopefully this may be a chance for Jordan to solidify his spot in a finals team as I think he's a player we need to try to retain for the future if he hasn't already 100% committed elsewhere that I fear he might have.

Just wish Blake Howes was fit and ready to go. He was developing and looked like he would be a good option in the last 1/2 of the year. Not to be. 

29 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Just wish Blake Howes was fit and ready to go. He was developing and looked like he would be a good option in the last 1/2 of the year. Not to be. 

Yeah that one killed me as well. Maybe could have filled the Melksham role?

Would have made things interesting at least.

49 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Just wish Blake Howes was fit and ready to go. He was developing and looked like he would be a good option in the last 1/2 of the year. Not to be. 

 

19 minutes ago, layzie said:

Yeah that one killed me as well. Maybe could have filled the Melksham role?

Would have made things interesting at least.

Howes was looking close to selection, though I doubt he would fit the Melksham role.  More like wing / HBF, or even HFF, which wasn't Melk's spot.

I want 22 McVee's

3 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

Howes was looking close to selection, though I doubt he would fit the Melksham role.  More like wing / HBF, or even HFF, which wasn't Melk's spot.

True. Could have been handy though that's for sure.