The backline is still in raw experimental mode, I'd include both Holland and Miller as experiments at this stage. Last week was a bit of a trial by ordeal, it should be a little easier for the young blokes this time round.

I'm going to be very, very happy when we finally stop experiementing with Holland & Miller...

I'm going to be very, very happy when we finally stop experiementing with Holland & Miller...

Miller I'm prepared to give one more chance, if only because Bailey seems to have big raps on him. Holland was attrocious last week. He should be playing forward as a top-of-the-square marking target, if at all, at this stage of his career. FAR too slow to be any good as a backman (except against Anthony Rocca, whose brain moves slower than Holland does).

Really pleased to see Ricky back in the swing of things. He really does deserve all the luck in the world after what he went through last year.

Fantastic news for Moloney too.

I'm going to assume that our senior players (e.g.- Robbo) will be played on a rotational basis until probably the last week of practice matches where we will try to get a full side together. That goes for anyone who is not 100% either (Brock, Dunn etc...).

Very happy with that squad. Nice to see players who are important to our best side slowly being squeezed in. I imagine that as the practice rounds go on, more and more of them will rear their heads.

Yep..... But still no Neitz, Bartram, Mclean, Rivers, Wheatley, Whelan and Dunn who havn't had a serious hitout so far this pre-season, as well as Buckley, White, Robbo who all had a run at the cattery. Hopefully a large part of this is just about player management before the start of the season proper.

so....does anybody know where whelan is?

so....does anybody know where whelan is?

Still injured. Achilles or calf. I don't think anyone's even seen him get into a trot this preseason. He'd be the biggest injury concern at the minute.

I'm actually getting pretty worried about Chris Johnson... not a peep from him. :|

Still injured. Achilles or calf. I don't think anyone's even seen him get into a trot this preseason. He'd be the biggest injury concern at the minute.

I reckon Wheels has fallen well outside our best side at the moment anyway. If he is to return, he's coming from a very long way back IMO.

I reckon Wheels has fallen well outside our best side at the moment anyway. If he is to return, he's coming from a very long way back IMO.

Agree.

When he did play in the past two years his defensive work was not as good as it has been. An achilles injury at his age and given his role is a real problem.

This could be his last season if he is significantly limited by injury.

Agree.

When he did play in the past two years his defensive work was not as good as it has been. An achilles injury at his age and given his role is a real problem.

This could be his last season if he is significantly limited by injury.

Send him to the Gold Coast

I reckon Wheels has fallen well outside our best side at the moment anyway. If he is to return, he's coming from a very long way back IMO.

So you thinks the wheels have fallen of then?

So you thinks the wheels have fallen of then?

Unfortunatley Yes. He's on the wrong side of 28 and I think his body's shot.

When he did play in the past two years his defensive work was not as good as it has been. An achilles injury at his age and given his role is a real problem.

This could be his last season if he is significantly limited by injury.

Unfortunate but true. The ravages of age are truly terrifying.

Unfortunate but true. The ravages of age are truly terrifying.

While in general you are right. But he has missed alot of footy through injury recently and when he has played he has not played with the judgement and sharpness that he once displayed.

Its a pity as he had been underrated for his game at his best

I may be alone in this..but Dean Bailey must like playing games.. not silly games.. but puzzle games.

His approach to the make up and positioning of the team reminds me of many similarities to playing "mastermind"

You put this colour here..and there...see what the result is.. change it...substitute this for that..see result.. swap out..ad infinitum until the answer manifests itself. On diference is he's in no particular rush to arrive at answer.. ( tha would give away too much !! )

He's a shrewd lad is our Bails !! probably likes chess too

The team ?? its all still experimental really

as an addendum

Think outside the square folks.. think...not only is it about what our lads can show per se.. its about what playing against partiuclar types of players and play will show. That is to say.. our selction may result as much from potential match ups etc as giving any particular newby or such a run.

Analogy...live testing of a system under a non detrimental overlay.

While in general you are right. But he has missed alot of footy through injury recently and when he has played he has not played with the judgement and sharpness that he once displayed.

Its a pity as he had been underrated for his game at his best

Good call. Such a good player in his heyday. When he was 22-26 such an exciting and dependable player to have in the backline. Hopefully he is not lost to the football annals of time just yet.

I may be alone in this..but Dean Bailey must like playing games.. not silly games.. but puzzle games.

His approach to the make up and positioning of the team reminds me of many similarities to playing "mastermind"

You put this colour here..and there...see what the result is.. change it...substitute this for that..see result.. swap out..ad infinitum until the answer manifests itself. On diference is he's in no particular rush to arrive at answer.. ( tha would give away too much !! )

He's a shrewd lad is our Bails !! probably likes chess too

The team ?? its all still experimental really

BB you have based this on one practice match (yes a NAB CUP fixture is a practice match). DB takes it as seriously as Paul Roos. The fact is that players cannot fully go for 26 weeks of the year and expect to be firing come the end of September.

If last week was Round 15 of the Premiership Season I would agree with you.

Not based on one nab game at all.. I have been listening to Bails ( SEN and elsewhere ) reading his interviews etc. watching his efforts as a whole thing.

Yes he takes it as seriously as Roos... footy that is.. NAB ?? I think he is rather more concerned with getting the team right and set for the real stuff

not based on one game.... more on 4-5 months observation

Not based on one nab game at all.. I have been listening to Bails ( SEN and elsewhere ) reading his interviews etc. watching his efforts as a whole thing.

Yes he takes it as seriously as Roos... footy that is.. NAB ?? I think he is rather more concerned with getting the team right and set for the real stuff

not based on one game.... more on 4-5 months observation

I am referring to NAB. And name one afl coach that is striaght down the line to everyone and i'll shut-up! (what did you just say Ron!!!???)

I think you might be missing my point.. youre looking at the NAB gamees in some sort of isolation ( it seems to me ) My whole point is they arent ...they are just a few stepping stones in a process. It not about winnig any of these games per se...good if you do ..who cares if you dont... There is far more to play for in tems of giving experience and getting live feedback on particular setups.

You arent ( if sane ) going to be trying ad hoc experimenting in the middle of the H & A...but these games are free canvasses.

The NAB games ( for mine ) have no value what so ever other than what you can learn of your team ...and in that under certain constraints.

Bailey I have no doubt wil start bringing back the regular crew in smallers numbers as opposed to all in. He'll trial some newbies and some 2nd stringers alongside but in various roles to see how the 'plan(s) " go.

just my view..all welcome to disagree