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Making a day trip from country sa. looking at 10 hour return drive. Last time I get to see them play before Queens birthday. Very nervous as I've only seen 2 games this year- essendon and St. Kilda. In fact, you have to go back to the carlton game, round 4 of Paul Roos' first season in charge to recall my last win. Yes ladies and gentleman I have witnessed us lose at adelaide oval, Alice Springs, Darwin, etihad stadium and of course the mcg. Whilst I look like a bad omen, I'm fairly certain that I am not responsible for errant kicks and missed tackles and will head along today anyway to watch the boys win by 27 points.

OK - I've said it already but today's game will go a long way to telling us about our team. We've had some real highs as well as a couple of really poor efforts. Our defence in particular has been questioned. However, this is the first time in a decade that we've played to defend a place in the top 8 against a very good side. This is the moment.

Beaten by a better side. Jetta's really good. Jack Watts and Jesse Hogan should exchange some tips. They'd make a perfect player.

The way the dogs drop into tackles and throw the ball out of congestion is amazing. Cannot believe there hasn't been a league enquiry. It's so plain to see them do this over and over again every week.

Can't fault the effort of the players. They had a dip all day. We were just beaten by a side who ran just that extra bit harder and used the ball better going forward. Some of our younger players, like Hunt, Wagner, Oliver, Harmes and Salem probably didn't give us enough, while some of their younger players did. That's life. We'll learn from it. 5 goals is a fair reflection of the game, really. In terms of our defence, which people seem to be fixated on - remember that our midfield turnovers hurt us in that regard. I agree that it needs tweaking, but it needs pressure up the ground and good ball use to function at it's optimum level. We clearly didn't get that today. One last thing - really pleased with the game from Stretch today. Thought he was excellent. Bring on next week.

The better team won, here are my observations: Hogan's kicking is bordering on embarrassing, Schwarz was on the money Everyone could see that the Bulldogs tall forwards would give us trouble yet we persist with an undersized Garland while Frost plays for Casey Just like the St Kilda game our zone defence was found wanting, if in doubt we need to go man-on-man Viney is a star Jetta is a gun, fingers crossed he isn't suspended Pedersen was terrible, will probably be suspended, hopefully the coaches don't then decide to replace him with Frost up forward We were fumbling the ball all day and overused it way too much Watts improved but it was too little too late, goes missing when he game is on the line The Bulldogs duck better than anyone but we were still too dumb to pick up on this and adjust how and when we tackled We can't expect Gawn to dominate every week

Dom Tyson is playing a very good game, on a positive note, seems to be building into a really good patch of form.

Jay Clark ‏@ClarkyHeraldSun 2m2 minutes ago Simon Goodwin says he has "no doubt" Jesse Hogan will re-sign with Dees. Described Clayton Oliver as "something special" @triplemfooty

I think it's telling that Frost's now been slotted back into defence, where he should be.

The Weed is 2nd leading goalkicker in the VFL, amazing start from the kid http://www.foxsportspulse.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-118-0-392693-0&pool=1&round=0&a=STATS

Bulldogs were the better team. Simple as that. That being said, there is no doubt that they had some assistance from the umpires. Thought Stretch played his best game for the club while Viney and Tyson were our two best midfielders. Jetta continues to amaze me in how he can stand up and complete well with tall forwards while someone like Garland is so easily beaten. Thought Watts (who as of today, is the only player on our list to kick 100 goals for the club) and McDonald both recovered after lacklustre first halves. Gawn wasn't his normal self today and it impacted on the result. There were some uncharacteristic dropped marks that he would usually clunk easily. Michie wasn't bad either. Looked OK at half back. Our defence certainly needs some attention. Not sure if the idea would be overly popular but I wouldn't giving Hogan a crack at CHB for a couple games just to assist in stemming the flow while gaining some form back in the process (although minus a couple of missed set shots, I thought he was ok today) Dissapointing loss but nothing to overreact about. Boys will come out firing against the Lions next week. Go Dees!

Thought the scoreboard was reflective of the difference. It's disappointing, but I thought the effort was there, just too many poor kicks, dropped marks etc against a class side. Bit of a reminder of where we are at I guess. Onwards and upwards.

That's not how gears work.

It'll be interesting to see which plays first. I have nothing to go off other than Casey reports, but it sounds as if Hulett is already phyiscally developed. It also sounds like he's improving with each game - the earlier reports were of him being reminded to get in to position and so forth. Weideman by the sounds has all the skills, but requires more size. Early days, but how exciting would it be if it turned out we picked up two genuine key forwards in one draft?

Luke Beveridge seems like a good coach and they are certainly playing for him, but I really can't stand him. His comments on the Essendon saga were absolutely baffling, and his comments about Adelaide last week were pretty ordinary as well.

Surely that's it for Garland?? In his own little world out there, the game has well and truly gone past him.

At least our song doesnt suck like theirs

Not surprising when you think harmes, hunt, clarrie and tracca have only played a couple of games each. Once we get a few more games into this group the difference in class will be bridged Set shots killed us and any chance of getting a roll on too

Watts gets tackled like Dixon got the free two mins earlier. I have always hated the dogs, may these fIogs never win a flag.

Was my post that hard to read? Was it referring to Jesse? Well it's in the Jesse Hogan contract thread so probably. Locked in to us? Jay Clark has already said he's 98% sure Jesse will re-sign so "He's locked in" would mean he's absolutely sure he'll re-sign with us, the Melbourne Demons. Why can't you see it, because it was a private tweet, as I said. Next time I'll post a riddle so it can be understood straight away.

I was at the game. I think Tenners slips under the radar at the moment. I don't think he is ready yet either, and I suspect he thinks the same too. I doubt he has put his hand up yet to Roos.. I was very surprised to see he had 27 possessions today - it didn't "look" a high possession game to me, but obviously was. Some other comments. I usually stand at our scoring ends at Casey games, and looking at the forward line there is real scoring potency there just like the ones. When you have talls of Dawes, Huelett, and the Weed (as well as Spencer playing a similar role to Gawn down forward and playing it very well) that would look good in a few AFL sides, plus with ABN and Newton lurking for the crumbs. Also number 6 for Casey James Munro kicked two superb goals from outside 50 both with and against the wind. Hard at it too, could be worth looking at next year and in his early 20s. Just a word on Spencer and Dawes. Jake is running into really good form in his third game back. He has one of the longest kicks on him for a big man I have seen and kicked what looked like a 70 meter goal with the wind on the run. His ruck work is also excellent and easily beat his Saints opponent, as well as taking some good marks around the ground and up forward. On this form it would not surprise at all if we went for the Gawn/Spencer combination in the near future as we did against when winning at Skilled Stadium last year. Going on current form of the two ruckman it could prove to be a mighty weapon particularly against top sides, and very difficult to match up on. Chris Dawes is also making good progress with his comeback. His endeavour was first class yesterday, as was his end to end running (something he has been criticised for in the past) and he is starting to hold some really difficult overhead marks. His kicking for goal though still needs improvement. He is a powerful emplacement for any of our key forwards should they go down. Overall a very impressive win. Unlike in past years Casey is being competently coached and is following the Roos game plan to the letter, and it is pleasing to see a similar style of play to the seniors and similar results. With the exception of the Williamstown game, there is real potency on the field at Casey games this year. It was also pleasing to see almost the whole of the senior coaching panel amongst whom were McCartney, Rawlings and Goodwin stand together at one end for most of the match. No doubt they would have been delighted with what they saw.

From a rules "interpretation" point of view, what today has taught me is that it's okay to throw the ball if you've been in possession for less than half a second. This is something we really need to start taking advantage of.

Yes, and the how to win around the neck decisions.

You are, however, now allowed to throw the ball.

Jetta keeping us in this game single handedly

Jetta has been immense. Our best defender. And I actually feel more comfortable when I see it is him on Redpath, rather than Garland.

No doubt. He's our best defender by a mile.

I would give him 4 weeks off from now, just let him rest, if it happens again i'd be tempted to put his year on ice and get someone in to look at the way he attacks the ball and see if there is anything that can be done technically to stop it happening

This is 'show us the money' day.

I thought I'd start this now as the game is essentially over. I think we have played ok, endeavour and effort there, but we have been way to fumbly. Quite often we have two players peel off to cover the same player which allows the quick kick over, this will get better with time. we still handball too much instead of kicking but hopefully as the skills lift this will be a weapon. Hogan must love it when watts gets the ball. im not going to talk about the fIoggies or the run they are getting from the umps, but to beat them we need to get cleaner. wasnt a win, but I thought we would lose by 30, but I can see if we improve our handling of the ball, get a few better players in and some like Olver, trac etc get more games we will play finals next year.

Thought Michie was quite good and ahead of Hunt and Wagner. Finally accept Garland is finished. Pederson also may well make way for Dawes. ANB must come in surely.

We can't. We signed him up to a 3 year contract. Amazing!!!!

now its a question that niggles me . When things are being done to stymie our game what action do the line and specialist coaches watching on take . I always feel like were a step or ten behind in reacting to things.

It's delusions. If you're going to troll you could at least look like you know what you're talking about.

Most frustrating game this year! Jetta hold your head up because you are our number 1 defender. Jack Viney with 16 tackles, Michie played his role, Watts fought out the game well after a slow start, Stretch with 25 disposals was one of our best today along with Jetta, Tyson was also brilliant today. Now for the Negatives.. Leaders went to [censored] today.. Gawn Jones Garland Vince did not stand up today..Umpiring was horrific! the amount of throws and ducking that was paid was disgraceful. Whos bloody idea was to give Garland a 3 year deal!!? poor management there. I dont want him in the side.. ever! Bring in Dunn or Frost.

Our fumbles and turn overs hurt us today. A lot of easy marks dropped. This is what we really need to clean up. We had a dip but they were just to slick for us. That throwing manoeuvre they have perfected and get away with it constantly.

Frustrating, at arms length all day, we're just not as good as them. Their short kicks through our defence are what the teams we've beaten can't do. Their kicking is top notch, their team defence just as good. I liked the effort, thought we deserved to be closer but the umpires didn't pay [censored] our way.

Credit to Watts, he was no where to be seen in the first half. Been a good presence in the second.

I fully agree with Adelaide

Takes a week off to go surfing, misses 4 set shots and has the nerve to put off contract discussions. FMD

This game is being won by clean possession and better skill on disposal. End of story.

The way I feel now, I never want to see Colin again. Geez he's an unco

Nev Jetta is basically best on ground for us right now.

Jetta is our best defender at the moment.

Absolutely stoked in Adelaide by the news that I will not have to listen to either.... Drain "I love Stringer and hate Melbourne" Russell or Sandy "I have no f'ing idea what day it is" Roberts

Strong user name to post correlation

First game to see Casey for some time. Was always so convenient when played at Sandy. Far from a reliable report but a few comments. Wind made marking for talls difficult. It was hard to judge flight. I thought Oscar improved as the game went on as he began judging the flight better. Spencer far from fit, struggled to be the brute he can be as the game went on. Trengove is a class act and will definitely make it in time. I went to see Weideman, but as I say it was hard for talls. With the wind the goals just sailed over everyone's head from outside fifty. Spencer kicked a beauty from at least 60 out close to boundary just before half time. It meant often the person well at the back of the packwas in the best position. The opposite direction a player intending to scout found it dropping on him. The Weeds few chances showed a couple of great skills. A really sharp left foot snap had guys around me arguing if he was a left or right foot. We soon learnt with a beautifully graceful right footer strait through the middle from about 30 out with wind. You can't help but love his kicking style. A couple of really smart handballs for goals. Yes he needs more body but he's got the start of it. Patience. I also wanted to see Hulet as the saints were very keen to draft this long time Saints fan, Sandy dragons player, but we beat them to him. Body wise yes Jack Darling is the model and for a 18/19 year old he looks closer to a 26 year old as if having been around the system for a number of years. What I loved was the variety of smart things he did. In a one on one situation he outsmarted his opponent with a half volley pick up and began running toward goals - into wind- to risky to shoot, but if you can get my point a very smart look away kick - whatever that might be chipped beautifully to a team mate. To me he's got a footy brain. A lovely leading mark in last quarter. A thirty metre kick was just carried by wind to wrong side of post but I thought there was enough in it to be encouraged. The third incident was a very sharp right check side dribble as he ran toward left point post and perhaps a metre or 2 or 3 out dribbled it through. I know he has a reputation for his marking but I've gone away believing there's an awful lot more to this bloke. I think he will play before the weed due to body build and the confidence it will bring him. ANB, great inside hands. Must get a game soon. Dawsy very dedicated and actually held some good marks. One in a pack, although probably helped by the ball drop due to wind. My assessment of Angus is that he has such a good mind he actually reads the play even in scrimmages/centre bounces quicker than others or knows how to read it quicker so is first in with head down, but that leaves him the most vulnerable. Might be better to start him on a wing for a time then let him run as a mid without the initial risk. Joel Smith was of interest and really couldn't track him for he's just to unfamiliar but a few times was impressed with a persons athletic play and when checking the record numbers discovered it was him. Long long term but who knows. The mark of this century. Shaun was there so I asked him how he thought he was tracking and dad was happy. Great afternoon with lots of demons and coaches there. Spoke to Bernie Vince and told him Crows would have won if they still had him to smother Dangerfield.

Posts seem to be about how clever mfc has been. I would like to complement Jake for signing up for just one year. It is hard to imagine that as an FA, he could not get at least a 2 year deal elsewhere as a backup player and more chance of playing afl rather than vfl with Casey. Also not much security for him in this contract. I see no upside for him in this deal so he must be very loyal and or really enjoying himself. I tip my hat to him for accepting only one year and delighted he is staying.

I'm 29 so in terms of what I saw of him with his involvement in football it's confined to coaching at the Sydney Swans. What I know or feel about him is that his legacy transcends clubs and relationships. He's a football legend, and I'm glad he's wearing Red and Blue.

Exactly. A second year 19 year old mid in good form can't break into the team by round 8. And said team is in good form with few injuries. Stop the presses. One poster even said he'd leave by year's end. How about he keeps doing what his coaches are asking and when an opportunity opens he makes the most of it ? It's called "working for it". It must be a generational thing where some have this prevailing attitude of "entitlement".