AMW a clear best for us. Impressed with Berry's performance and liked Matthews intensity and how he got himself into the game after half time. Laurie just a regular game for him. Taylor got a few touches and marks as the outet kick to the pocket with lots of his disposals long down the line. Looked better when he tried to run and carry the ball a few times later in the game. Heath I thought was well beaten. Henderson got going after quarter time after being unsighted but lacked a bit of polish while I didn't really notice Cross much at all. Was hoping for more from Stanley. Melksham on one leg most of the day battled on like the soldier he is.

Bulldogs are the reigning premiers, near full strength with more AFL listed players and also picked up one of our best VFL performers last year in Billings. Given we didn't have Kentfield, Jefferson and Johnson as tall targets and continually bombed it to Melksham I'm not upset or surprised at the performance.

Edited 54 minutes ago54 min by Nascent

How bad is Melky? Just a knock or something more serious?

32 minutes ago, delaxey said:

Needs to add strength and his disposal is poor. his kicks are very loopy and will be picked off every time in the afl

Interesting. In the last quarter of the match v NM his disposal was first rate

Not too many impressed today apart from Matthews and AMW , Thought Ethan Stanley shows alot of promise .

Missing too many tallss , especially when you see guys like Jeffo, Kentfield , Johnson, TMac and Kalani White all out.

31 minutes ago, Nascent said:

AMW a clear best for us. Impressed with Berry's performance and liked Matthews intensity and how he got himself into the game after half time. Laurie just a regular game for him. Taylor got a few touches and marks as the outet kick to the pocket with lost of his disposals long down the line. Looked better when he tried to run and carry the ball a few times later in the game. Heath I thought was well beaten. Henderson got going after quarter time after being unsighted but lacked a bit pf polish while I didn't really notice Cross much at all. Was hoping for more from Stanley. Melksham on one leg most of the day battled on like the soldier he is.

Bulldogs are the reigning premiers, near full strength with more AFL listed players and also picked up one of our best VFL performers last year in Billings. Given we didn't have Kentfield, Jefferson and Johnson as tall targets and continually bombed it to Melksham I'm not upset or surprised at the performance.

Agree AMW best

Add TMac and Campbell and we would look much stronger. Adams slipped back again - needs another year to build up his frame and doubt they will give him that long. Asking too much of Taylor Only and Matthews as first years when no other big bodies around. Would have been a good game for TeAmu to be a focus.

13 minutes ago, joeboy said:

Not disastrous, and add a few other f Jefferson, Kentfield, Johnson, McDonald, and suddenly you have more competitive talks, which is where we were lacking today.

Add Tom Campbell too...

AFL listed players of note;

AMW got plently of the ball (kicking in helps), showed customary dash and determination, did not lower his colours.

Xavier Taylor was actively involved throughout the game with plently of junior dog i50's action. Able to gather the ball and use it efficiently. Will play seniors with aplomb.

Oscar Berry deceptively solid with a low centre of gravity and importantly able to keep his feet. Showed an ability the use the ball advantageously despite the pressure.

Ricky Mentha Junior appeared to be positioned behind the ball defensively. Was able to impact around the contested ball with speed and elusiveness. Not afraid to go in physically and get the ball.

(All of the above had decent disposal efficiency).

Paddy Cross not as impactful as his best performances but nonetheless a team orientated performance pressure wise and defensively.

Max Heath contested manfully in the ruck against multiple opponents. He was able to take some contested marks but needs to work seriously on his disposal efficiency.

VFL players of note;

Luke Cheffers team orientated player with a team high seven tackles. Kicked a neat goal early in the game to get Casey going offensively.

Ethan Reid has some exciting attributes, moves with agility, speed and has good awareness. Kicked a couple of super goals against the match momentum in the third quarter.

Jesse Craven kicked the lights out in a mini-purple patch during the team's second quarter surge. Courageous and knows where the goals are.

Wardell Lual anticipates the flight of the ball and positions himself well to assist his team mates in defence.

Riley Bonner gathered plenty of the ball and was diligent defensively around the packs. Ball use efficiency is acceptable according to the AFL website stats but has tendency to turn the ball over.

Edited 57 minutes ago57 min by Tarax Club
Paddy's got the upgrade! edit

AMW whilst his 30 possies are padded by a lot of kick ins was clearly a class above this level. Heath good without being great. The rest of our listed players are a fair way off pushing for a senior spot on today's performance. Some nice cameos from Matthews (run down tackles plus a nice snap goal) the main general highlight. In saying that more than half that team did not play for Casey last year and the Dogs are a well oiled reigning premier. We still kicked 90+ without any of Kentfield, AJ, Jefferson. TMac plays and Lewis doesnt kick 6.

I concur with the comments on the last page or so re Moniz Wakefield. He's AFL quality. Heath has attributes.

The rest ? Taylor is a mile off. Spend a year at the gym and Casey.

Matthews: I really want this guy to make it. I'll reserve judgement, as I didn't see a lot to like.

Forget the rest.

5 minutes ago, Gator said:

I concur with the comments on the last page or so re Moniz Wakefield. He's AFL quality. Heath has attributes.

The rest ? Taylor is a mile off. Spend a year at the gym and Casey.

Matthews: I really want this guy to make it. I'll reserve judgement, as I didn't see a lot to like.

Forget the rest.

So technically we currently have 3 players in reserves for depth… Jefferson, kentfield, viney, AJ, tmac, viney are additional

Edited 29 minutes ago29 min by Oxdee

I only watched part of the third quarter, and saw nothing to get excited about. Casey might be more competitive when the likes of Campbell and McDonald return, but neither is part of our next AFL finals side. Who from today's side is likely to step up and significantly improve the senior side in the next couple of years?

The lack of midfield depth in our list remains a massive concern. Laurie and Henderson will never play midfield minutes in the AFL, but they seem to be our best option in the VFL.

We all want the likes of Adams to succeed, but he is no closer to making the grade than he was three ago. Maybe Jefferson surprises when he returns, but I'm not holding my breath.

2 minutes ago, Gator said:

I concur with the comments on the last page or so re Moniz Wakefield. He's AFL quality. Heath has attributes.

The rest ? Taylor is a mile off. Spend a year at the gym and Casey.

Matthews: I really want this guy to make it. I'll reserve judgement, as I didn't see a lot to like.

Forget the rest.

I went and kept a close eye on our listed players.

AMW was excellent all day and looked a cut above. Looked fit too. he'll be in the ones next week or the week after i reckon.

I thought Paddy Cross was pretty good, and Laurie was good too.

Agee on Taylor - i was disappointed with his game, though was better in the second half. Agree he needs to get AFL fit and strong, but i was more concerned with his body language, which i thought was poor at times. And I'm hoping perhaps he was under the weather or some such as his intensity and competitiveness was not what i expected it to be, both from the perspective of it being his first game and that competitiveness was supposed to be his one wood.

Mathews worked hard and is a natural crumbing small forward. A lot to like.

Ricky Mentha was poor. Had a couple of bad fumbles and looked little lost a times.

I thought Heath played well - a big unit for young guy. Seemed to dominate the tap outs but was not on the same page with our mids and the Dogs just sharked him all game.

1 minute ago, binman said:

Agee on Taylor - i was disappointed with his game, though was better in the second half. Agree he needs to get AFL fit and strong, but i was more concerned with his body language, which i thought was poor at times. And I'm hoping perhaps he was under the weather or some such as his intensity and competitiveness was not what i expected it to be, both from the perspective of it being his first game and that competitiveness was supposed to be his one wood.

Noticed this too - was disappointing. Just because you’re a high draft pick doesn’t mean you’re a walk up start to the 1’s young fella - time to earn it

23 minutes ago, Gator said:

The rest ? Taylor is a mile off. Spend a year at the gym and Casey.

I think so...

24 minutes ago, Gator said:

Matthews: I really want this guy to make it. I'll reserve judgement, as I didn't see a lot to like.

4 minutes ago, binman said:

Mathews worked hard and is a natural crumbing small forward. A lot to like.

First year player who missed most of preseason.

Not great expectations this year...but has some attributes.

22 hours ago, KC from Casey said:

70. Nate Pipi

9 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Noticed this too - was disappointing. Just because you’re a high draft pick doesn’t mean you’re a walk up start to the 1’s young fella - time to earn it

It's funny you should say that as i exact same thought.

I discounted the idea that he might have cracked the sads because he wasn't picked last week because, well, surely he didn't.