I thought our forward line looked way more open with Spargo linking.

Kossie didn't have to run so far.

16 hours ago, Redleg said:

Sharp has been underwhelming so far.

Culley will need to do a lot more at Casey to be considered.

I would like to see Charlie given a couple of mid field minutes each quarter, to add variety to our mix and give him the chance to extract a couple of clearance possessions.

He played midfield as a junior.

Agreed with Sharp, it seems we saw the best of him against North in a practice match. Hopefully he can do it again

I don't get the Spargo hate on social media. His field kicking and forward entry disposal has sharpened us up majorly.

Sharp & Spargo vying for a similar role.

Sharp is still learning.

Spargs you know what you get. Moments of brilliance and solid fierce tackling inside 50. Linking up in other parts of the ground.

Mixed in with a fair amount of time where his impact with ball goes missing.

I'm not sure the FD even knows where Culley is at and what he can offer yet. He's played almost every posi imaginable at Casey so far on limited games and game time.

Hopefully they can settle him in to one or two specific roles there over the next block of games so that he (and the club) can finally assess where his strengths (and weaknesses) are at.

His height and athletic build are ready made for AFL.

I'm not a betting man but my gut feel from my short time watching is that he'll play seniors before the years out and could be a genuine surprise packet through the middle and/or drifting forward on occasions a la CP5.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by Demon Dynasty

Easy...Spartacus.

Let's not forget he had a year not playing.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by leave it to deever

On 24/04/2025 at 14:44, Adam The God said:

Sharp might have pace, which is handy, but Spargo has ball use, and with the new method, if you can't chain, you can't score.

Haven't seen enough of Culley to comment on him.

Spargo has lost pace which is affecting his decision making

Premiership year he was unreal

I was really disappointed with Spargo's first game back as he was often too slow to dispose the ball and was getting caught under pressure. However, upon reflection, I think he's actually done the hard bit right. He's getting to where he needs to be. His positioning is good. And he's able to link up the play. His ability to work quickly with the ball has already started to return. So personally, I think the combination of Spargo, Salem, Bowey and Windsor (when his form returns) gives us a collection of really good ball users.

I think Sharp will continue to be in and out of the side, which is probably frustrating for players like Woewodin. Culley, however, I think needs to put on a clinic at Casey before he's in contention.

@Demon Dynasty ”Spargs you know what you get. Moments of brilliance and solid fierce tackling inside 50”. Ummm. I cannot see that.

He gives us missed tackles. Missed shots from 25 metre out. Kicks that barely 30 metres. You get zero goals. Zero crumbing. Compared to other small FORWARDS, he delivers very little. Ok pressure acts, but that’s correling more than tackling. Maybe a goal assist or if we are lucky two effective tackles. He had to do more. Much more. Every week he is barely satisfactory. When he has a good game, it’s actually just satisfactory. I’m looking at years end to bring in another small forward to partner Chandler. A goalkicking small forward. Just my view.

On 24/04/2025 at 22:34, cam.noble1 said:

Not sure what it looked like on TV but I think I can gladly say that Sharpy performed at a way higher standard than Spargo did with only having about half a quarter to play. Not even trying to force any hate but Spargo plays some what for himself and tries to do too much. Haven’t checked his efficiency yet but it can’t be anything good.

Hmmm…we must have been watching the same game but saw things very differently.

Spargs’s work in the last two (after a long layoff) is evidence as to why the FD likes him.

Edited April 30Apr 30 by Tim

On 24/04/2025 at 15:10, cam.noble1 said:

I'm also really interested in seeing Culley to be givin a go in that forward line too. To see his explosiveness and even his slight height advantage be brought into our game would be great, obviously only if he plays well. Let me know what you think, I could be waaaaay off target.

They really need to play Culley in that role at vfl level rather than as an inside mid. need to see his forward craft and lead up movements coz thats where the opening will come in the senior team. will be disappointed if we have added him onto the list as another dunstan rather than leaving a spot for MSD or taking a player with upside like yze or this caleb lewis monster as examples

On 24/04/2025 at 15:24, Nietaphart said:

Spargo is slow of foot therefore is poor defensively. Over rated with his fwd entries and disposal impact. Struggles to get 10/12 disposals per games.

Sharp has been disappointing so far.

I would like to see Curley be given a go when ready. He may be slow but he is strong, hard and can take a mark. He is an accumulator of the ball and can kick goals.

Spargo was ok on the weekend i thought from watching but 7 touches and 1 tackle just isnt enough, agree re sharp but both are ahead of henderson for mine. a position we really need to find options in at the draft or around the league. Luke Pedlar maybe? We need to have a ping at zac bailey as a FA next year

On 24/04/2025 at 15:26, whatwhat say what said:

spargo is a 100 game premiership player

sharp is at his second club and a regular sub starter

these are facts but aren't actually reflective on current output or definitive of a player either. i could also tell you sharp was a grand final sub and spargo has played 5 games in the last 18 months.

it's a good question, I feel Sharp has the ability to perform the ANB role better than Spargo. I had Chandler penned in for that but the lad seem intent on being more. (I think Chandler deserves a medal for getting the most out of himself in the team - dude is committed). Sharp is however a project, his disposal needs a lot of work. ANB was able to go from whipping boy to favourite, I hope for the same with Sharp. Spargo's defensive side is so erratic and I think he in many ways suffers from the difference between his best and worst, which I personally find Uber frustrating - it wouldn't even be a conversation about who is better, if he could be consistent he would in the conversation for elite small forward, he is however far from that. No clue on Culley.

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

@Demon Dynasty ”Spargs you know what you get. Moments of brilliance and solid fierce tackling inside 50”. Ummm. I cannot see that.

He gives us missed tackles. Missed shots from 25 metre out. Kicks that barely 30 metres. You get zero goals. Zero crumbing. Compared to other small FORWARDS, he delivers very little. Ok pressure acts, but that’s correling more than tackling. Maybe a goal assist or if we are lucky two effective tackles. He had to do more. Much more. Every week he is barely satisfactory. When he has a good game, it’s actually just satisfactory. I’m looking at years end to bring in another small forward to partner Chandler. A goalkicking small forward. Just my view.

I agree in terms of post his LTI SN

I'm more referring to his body of work prior to that. Which has also been pretty patchy for sure..

Post his return from LTI... mostly bog ordinary.

The coach needs to be more ruthless and let players coming back from LTIs or periods of horror form, find it and earn it back, with serious stints at Casey.

RUTHLESS is what helped us win the 21 flag

I love Spargo.

May not be the most skilled footballer about but I reckon is one of the hardest workers about.

He's a vertically challenged player and not an axe handle in the very old language.

I imagine he's had to work much harder than most because of his size.

Despite this he is a bonafide premiership player and no criticism here can ever take that from the bloke.

Also, lets not forget, he pretty much has not played for two years due to some fairly demoralizing injuries.

On song, he is despite my opening salvo, quite skilled.

His kick to Kozzie in the third that created a goal is a perfect eg of this.

But again he works his but off....chases and tackles non stop.

There are a couple....one up fwd who I'm sure we all know who I'm talking about who is just one of those naturally gifted players but doesn't apply himself, I believe, as much as Spargo.

Just saying.

And for the life of me I don't know why I keep saying ,"just saying" after most of my posts and personal texts.

Just saying.

2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

I agree in terms of post his LTI SN

I'm more referring to his body of work prior to that. Which has also been pretty patchy for sure..

Post his return from LTI... mostly bog ordinary.

The coach needs to be more ruthless and let players coming back from LTIs or periods of horror form, find it and earn it back, with serious stints at Casey.

RUTHLESS is what helped us win the 21 flag

Exactly. Spargo was in rehab for most of the preseason. His round 2 selection was a shock to many and it looked like Goody was rushing him back from injury just like he did in round 1 the previous year.

Why rush him back? Well.. just have a look at this thread. When the options are:

1. Sharp - has had a few good moments but has been disappointing overall.

2. Culley - A slow midfielder who got delisted by a team who are in full rebuild and has also just got over an injury himself.

Spargo had 7 disposals on the weekend, 2 of them were clangers. He is still better than the other options. I would much rather play Spargo and hope he can build on form as we know he is good when fit.

We have multiple players each week who are horribly out of form who continue to get games. Jesus... We even have Fullarton getting a game at the moment. The cupboard isn't bare, but it's slim pickings in the reserves at the moment.

Edited April 30Apr 30 by BAMF

I have high hopes for Jai Culley.

But he needs to get fitter and start getting more touches and kicking goals in the Casey Demons midfield.

He is a 194cm midfielder, who has talent, but seems a bit lackadaisical at times. Would like to see more urgency and aggression when he plays.

Fingers crossed he gets a chance to play in our AFL side later this season, when his form warrants it. He has to earn a spot first!

18 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

I have high hopes for Jai Culley.

But he needs to get fitter and start getting more touches and kicking goals in the Casey Demons midfield.

He is a 194cm midfielder, who has talent, but seems a bit lackadaisical at times. Would like to see more urgency and aggression when he plays.

Fingers crossed he gets a chance to play in our AFL side later this season, when his form warrants it. He has to earn a spot first!

Under normal circumstances yes. But now we have Clarry regressing and missing.

Not saying Culley is the immediate answer either but a week or two can be a long time in AFL footy.

Don't expect too many goals at Casey if they continue to play Culley as a fat side winger. May help improve his two way fitness though.

On 30/04/2025 at 17:42, DEE fence said:

it's a good question, I feel Sharp has the ability to perform the ANB role better than Spargo. I had Chandler penned in for that but the lad seem intent on being more. (I think Chandler deserves a medal for getting the most out of himself in the team - dude is committed).

I think Chandler is playing the ANB role and doing it brilliantly. Not sure what more you're talking about as ANB was a regular goal kicker and play maker in his past few years with us. Huge fan of Chandler and there are few other players I'd rather see having a set shot on goal than him - his accuracy and reliability are awsome right up to 40 to 50m out.

I think we should be aiming to do significantly better than what either Sharp or Spargo can provide, and Culley has no exposed form in that role. Tholstrup is another who doesn't do enough.

Tackles and pressure acts are important to a point, but they also indicate players who are not winning the ball and who are second to the contest. We have far too many forwards who don't kick goals and don't win enough contests. It means that opponents can focus their attention on the few who can hurt them (Pickett, Petty & Fritsch), and know that they don't need to worry about Spargo standing by himself on the outer HFF.

Chandler has generally had a very good year in his new role, but needs to maintain his form across a full season.

13 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think Chandler is playing the ANB role and doing it brilliantly. Not sure what more you're talking about as ANB was a regular goal kicker and play maker in his past few years with us. Huge fan of Chandler and there are few other players I'd rather see having a set shot on goal than him - his accuracy and reliability are awsome right up to 40 to 50m out.

In agreement I think, I thought Chandler would be playing the ANB role, however in a ‘weight for age’ comparison I think Chandler is a better kick than ANB at this stage of his career. This is no knock on ANB who never ever stopped working to get better and had a Phar Lap sized heart.

Just like I used to bang on about us being a better side structurally when BBB was playing, I have a similar opinion about Spargo. I agree he needs to get more of the ball, but I love the role he plays and he can deliver a ball to our forwards.

Unconvinced about Sharp, haven't seen a Casey game this year so know nothing about Culley.

As much as I am a Spargo fan, it wouldn't surprise me if someone overtakes him and takes his spot. Chandler is way ahead of him and the Kolt has some skill but neither of them play a role similar to Spargo.