1 hour ago, Deestar9 said:

Do you or does anyone know if you are able to bring a chair ?

The last game we played at Casey (AFLW) camp chairs were permitted. I’m guessing they still are. The temporary stands do suffice but they’re in the one spot. If you want to be behind the goals for example you’d need to bring a chair.

With the new centre bounce ball up, Max will struggle in that department around the ground and boundry throw ins he will be OK.

6 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Howes T Mc Lever

HB: Tholstrup Disco Lindsay

C: Langford Steele Langdon

HF: Chandler JVR Fritsch

FF: L. Pickett Jeffo Mihocek

Foll: Gawn Windsor K. Pickett

Int: X Taylor, Rivers, Sparrow, Laurie, Sharp

Second half subs: Heath, Melk, Kentfield, Mentha, Adams, Onley, Matthews, Berry

Might play: AJ?, Salem, CJ, Petty

Inj: Culley, AMW, McAdam, Henderson, May, White, Viney, Campbell, Bowey

Just hope to see plenty of pace on the ball, switches and run. Our forwards getting chances in space.

Then hopefully our backline and particularly our transition defending can hold up against a North side that are dangerous when they get out in space.

Re the above injury list imo only two are serious losses, Viney and Bowey. May has been average the last two seasons. We will miss those two so lets see how their replacements perform. The rest have yet to show they are up to being senior players.

8 hours ago, old dee said:

I am familiar with the shallow end, we have been in it for the majority of the 60 years. I look at the two sides we play in practice matches and I see teams that have crashed out of finals contention in recent years and are struggling to get out of the shallow end. North have been there for a considerable period. I actually think they will be better than the Tigers this year and I will not be surprised if they beat us. They have a legion of kids who are starting to find their feet at the top level. Beware the Roo in 26.

7 hours ago, BW511 said:

North are apparently abandoning the zone defence and going man on man for 2026. Will be interesting watching how that plays out for them

FWIW - I watch Norf every week with a mad Norf mate. A lot would need to go right for them to significantly improve in 2026. They have seven blokes that walk into pretty much any other side (ex. the Bears): Cheezel, Zurhaar, Surv, LDU, McKercher, Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw (but he’s virtually never fully fit). The rest would battle to get a gig at Melbourne.

They have no big back that is any better than C+, only one bloke that can hit a target consistently from 35 metres, no back up to Xerri, absolutely no line breakers that can hit a target, and a game-plan that defies definition. Clarko won the lottery with this gig - five years on $1m+.

Edited yesterday at 08:531 day by Queanbeyan Demon
Typo

9 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

That was my first thought but he may have been referring to the day North pumped us in round 2 at Marvel??

I'm hoping for the following:

1) CJ, Petty and Salem play some minutes to ensure we have some depth to choose from in round 1.

2) How the new game plan works against opposition.

3) How our skills are looking overall.

4) Looking forward to seeing if Windsor and Langford can continue their pre season momentum against oppo.

5) Whether Jeffo can put his hand up for a round 1 gig. He's showing bits and pieces in the match sims.

6) Whether Latrelle is in round 1 contention. The intra club potentially showed that he might not be ready yet.

Not fussed about the result as we'll be missing Gawn, Kozzie and Rivers. If we're to win a game of footy, Gawn and Kozzie are going to be the key drivers and are central to our game plan.

Will take more notice of the result against Richmond as we should have close to a full squad and we're probably swimming with Richmond at the shallow end of the pool this year if we're being honest.

i feel he was played in kozzys position and will be better with kozzy in the side

28 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

They have no big back that is any better than C+, only one bloke that can hit a target consistently from 35 metres, no back up to Xerri, absolutely no line breakers that can hit a target, and a game-plan that defies definition.

Ah, but they do have Charlie Spargo.

(Who's still unavailable/injured I believe.)

Edited yesterday at 09:231 day by bing181

4 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

The last game we played at Casey (AFLW) camp chairs were permitted. I’m guessing they still are. The temporary stands do suffice but they’re in the one spot. If you want to be behind the goals for example you’d need to bring a chair.

Agree - l have brought a chair

10 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

FWIW - I watch Norf every week with a mad Norf mate. A lot would need to go right for them to significantly improve in 2026. They have seven blokes that walk into pretty much any other side (ex. the Bears): Cheezel, Zurhaar, Surv, LDU, McKercher, Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw (but he’s virtually never fully fit). The rest would battle to get a gig at Melbourne.

They have no big back that is any better than C+, only one bloke that can hit a target consistently from 35 metres, no back up to Xerri, absolutely no line breakers that can hit a target, and a game-plan that defies definition. Clarko won the lottery with this gig - five years on $1m+.

Nick Larkey says hello 😊

14 hours ago, demon3165 said:

With the new centre bounce ball up, Max will struggle in that department around the ground and boundry throw ins he will be OK.

Can you explain how he struggles with the new centre bounce rule?

I thought he would do better with it but probably wrong.

13 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

FWIW - I watch Norf every week with a mad Norf mate. A lot would need to go right for them to significantly improve in 2026. They have seven blokes that walk into pretty much any other side (ex. the Bears): Cheezel, Zurhaar, Surv, LDU, McKercher, Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw (but he’s virtually never fully fit). The rest would battle to get a gig at Melbourne.

They have no big back that is any better than C+, only one bloke that can hit a target consistently from 35 metres, no back up to Xerri, absolutely no line breakers that can hit a target, and a game-plan that defies definition. Clarko won the lottery with this gig - five years on $1m+.

So beating us by 10 goals suggests we are nothing flash.

4 hours ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

Nick Larkey says hello 😊

That would be the "Surv" reference, although I think his teammates call him "Souva" or "Souv" Larkey.

4 hours ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

Nick Larkey says hello 😊

A blaring omission. I would take him first pick. One of my favourite non-Demon. Comes across as a nice bloke too.

2 hours ago, old dee said:

So beating us by 10 goals suggests we are nothing flash.

We get your point you continue to make. One game doesn't define a team

We beat the Lions in round 10 which doesn't make us the best team in the league

3 hours ago, old dee said:

So beating us by 10 goals suggests we are nothing flash.

@DubDee got in first.

By your logic we’re a force to be reckoned with.

3 hours ago, Demonstone said:

That would be the "Surv" reference, although I think his teammates call him "Souva" or "Souv" Larkey.

Thanks - didn’t know his nickname. Makes sense now

On 16/02/2026 at 11:52, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Howes T Mc Lever

HB: Tholstrup Disco Lindsay

C: Langford Steele Langdon

HF: Chandler JVR Fritsch

FF: L. Pickett Jeffo Mihocek

Foll: Gawn Windsor K. Pickett

Int: X Taylor, Rivers, Sparrow, Laurie, Sharp

Second half subs: Heath, Melk, Kentfield, Mentha, Adams, Onley, Matthews, Berry

Might play: AJ?, Salem, CJ, Petty

Inj: Culley, AMW, McAdam, Henderson, May, White, Viney, Campbell, Bowey

Just hope to see plenty of pace on the ball, switches and run. Our forwards getting chances in space.

Then hopefully our backline and particularly our transition defending can hold up against a North side that are dangerous when they get out in space.

I don’t think that Gawn, Rivers and Kozzie will be involved DeeSpencer.

8 hours ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Can you explain how he struggles with the new centre bounce rule?

I thought he would do better with it but probably wrong.

Players will be able to jump higher and into Max with the ball up at centre bounces Max will not be able to grapple with his opponent.

35 minutes ago, demon3165 said:

Players will be able to jump higher and into Max with the ball up at centre bounces Max will not be able to grapple with his opponent.

I wonder if it be a tactic for less-agile rucks to run over the line to contest the ball and clean up the jumping ruckman early in a match. Gives away a free but have the jumping ruckman hesitating for the rest of the game.

My eyes will be on the forward line. Way too many goalless or near goalless quarters last year. Accuracy is another.

Make or break year for Jefferson especially if he drops behind Kentfield.

I've little feel for how our backline will fare especially if we play a fast game where turnovers are common.

I love that this topic includes a discussion on chairs. Shame you cant bring a ute into the ground for the chairs. I am hopeful it will now descend into a discussion on snakes.

I assume North know how to get to Casey and that they have to bring the oranges.

12 hours ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

Nick Larkey says hello 😊

Who do you think Surv is?

9 hours ago, old dee said:

So beating us by 10 goals suggests we are nothing flash.

Finishing 14th and 6 points in front of Norf on the ladder in 2025 suggests we are nothing flash.

1

4 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

My eyes will be on the forward line. Way too many goalless or near goalless quarters last year. Accuracy is another.

Make or break year for Jefferson especially if he drops behind Kentfield.

I've little feel for how our backline will fare especially if we play a fast game where turnovers are common.

For mine it is a hunger for the ball and to play as a team (sadly lacking the last 2 seasons)

Footskills and accurate handpassing, working our way into the forward line at top speed

All that is probably a lot to ask but we've at least got to try and play an efficient and effective brand that can work

Long bombs should be banned. For our team, those bombs forward serve no purpose other than to turn the ball over

Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass until the opening appears

6 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

My eyes will be on the forward line. Way too many goalless or near goalless quarters last year. Accuracy is another.

Make or break year for Jefferson especially if he drops behind Kentfield.

I've little feel for how our backline will fare especially if we play a fast game where turnovers are common.

Yes. Our 2025 was dragged down by our performances at either end of the ground. We were a mid ranked midfiled but our ladder position relative to that reflected shocking inaccuracy (at one point the worst in decades before it rebounded late in the season to mildly putrid ) and our inability to stop marks inside 50 (league worst).

Playing a faster game definitely will not help on the latter point (lever back will) so its crucial either our midfield take a step up or we find winners ahead of the ball to kick 90 points a game. On the midfield, the big trend over the last 3-4 years had been the inefficacy (a word i may of made up) of contested ball winning teams. 3 of the top 4 contested teams in 2025 didnt make the finals. Ofc, you cant be woeful and be bottom 4 but theres enough contested dna in our list we wont be. Pickett Rivers Gawn Steele Windsor is not a junk midfield and the game clearly favours speed now. Add to this we wont be waiting 20 seconds for ball ups. There is going to be a lot less congestion at stoppages this year is my prediction which may play directly into our new look. (Also less boundary throw ins).

For now, im a glass half full for 2026, but can understand the pessimism. If it turns out the glass is empty, another dip for early talent at the draft is a silver lining.

Edited 58 minutes ago58 min by Jjrogan