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Now can you do one for our round 17 match?

I reckon Rod Grinter would be ideal in place of Christian!!

No 'steve' we've moved that on to the Port game... According to Nathan Jones after last weeks loss "I think that'll burn a lot of players inside but hopefully inspires the reaction our fans will want to see and inspire us to play the way we want to play." Sometimes I really wish our players would just shut up and let their performances do the talking. As you say the intensity and aggression shown in round 1 didn't indicate any residual burn from the prelim, looks like they forget what they were burning about...

Much debate in the past 24 hours is about whether we really lack outside speed. We can all look at this a bit simply and directly correlate this with uncontested possession numbers. But what are the other related variables and factors? We lack speed, but does that mean we wouldn't be assisted by a Sam Mitchell (circa 2012), Tim Kelly or Dustin Martin? These players aren't quick, but would they help our uncontested possession crisis? I think they would, so it can't be all about leg speed. Despite the recency of the 6/6/6, the league has been clear on its want to reduce congestion. Congestion was our friend, and favoured teams that were hard inside with quick hands in congestion. Some of our inside work last year reminded me of Sydney in 2005/6 as well as the Bulldogs in 2016. Collingwood's quick hands in 2018 was elite too. So as the game decongests (quicker ball-ups, decisions over ball-up, 6/6/6, kick-out play-on etc...), uncontested possession is about to be gold. This ugly duckling of 2005-2018 (bar Clarkson/Hawthorn) is about to become the go-to stat of most games hereon. Leg-speed counts quite a bit toward uncontested possession; but what else. Surely there are teams without elite leg-speed that are OK with uncontested possession. So what are the additional factors? What makes the sum of the parts more whole? Foot skills have got to be a factor. Clarkson's Hawthorn had foot skills of the highest percentile. They were able to start a chain from D50, and not rely on clearance-dominance and contested possession. As stated, they were the exception when contested was king. Uncontested possession requires a chain to start and continue obviously. So what else, other than leg-speed and foot skills will enable a chain to start and continue. The ability to break a tackle must be relevant. As soon as this happens, a +1 instantly occurs, and overlap can happen. Dustin Martin in 17/18 has been the best, and regularly gave Richmond a +1 and overlap chain. Despite being dragged down yesterday, I have faith in Petracca being elite at breaking a tackle. I think Brayshaw's ability to evade a tackler is grossly underrated as well. Oliver's quick hands are elite in evading a tackle, but this delegates responsibility to the player who has just received the pill in close, and doesn't necessarily augment a chain starting and spreading to the outside. The other 'non-speed' component is lateral speed or change-of-direction speed. Sam Mitchell was like treacle in a straight-line, but somehow could zig-and-zag quicker than most. Tim Kelly has a bit of Sam Mitchell and Brayshaw about him. Not electric, but slices through. Fox Footy (Lyon with Roos agreeing) also mentioned the A2 and A3 having faith in the A1 to get the ball. In other words, does the A1 (person about to get the pill) really need support in close. Yesterday's example was Petracca (identifying this near the city end) peeling off offensively and dangerously, and having faith that his teammate would win the possession. Other factors involve defensive spread (which primarily require leg-speed), workrate and restricting dangerous space. Alternatives? If you don't do well with uncontested possession, then you have an unhealthy reliance on winning clearances and gaining territory into F50. You also have an unhealthy reliance on your forwards keeping the pill in our forward 50. Mooney on Fox Footy yesterday overheard (3/4 time break) that Port didn't rate our forwards applying pressure, and coaching staff advised Port's backs to take stock coming out of their backline. Have we built a list that incorporates all these variables? I think it is important to start judging players on the whole, rather than the simple (good v bad, slow v fast). Spargo is quick, but not lightening. He rarely breaks a tackle. I don't think his change of direction speed is great either. Spargo needs bulk (to break a tackle) amongst other things to earn a spot. Lewis should retire now. Other than his foot skills, I can only see him being a liability in the decongested era. I have said repeatedly over the past few years, Watts could have done Lewis's onfield role with much more upside. Frost is the new whipping boy. But the simpletons are mad thinking he is our greatest problem. He is super-quick. His change of direction was hampered by wearing ice-skates yesterday. When he gets it, he attracts 2-3 opposition, which in theory should create the overlap opportunity. I would like to see him bulk up a bit and break a few more tackles. Hunt - must play. Speed, change-of-direction and overlap. With 6/6/6 dump kicks into F50 will now go to 1-on-1s or 2-on-2s more often. Brayshaw - tackle evasion/breaking is understated; foot skills are better than what he has been given credit for; his non-dominant side foot skills are on the way (not there yet) to what Mitchell's was like. Melbourne under Goodwin and Roos have built a list of competitors that are suited to congestion. On paper, it is a 'pretty good list', but when it is judged on these variables, it comes up short. pTGR

I understand the point you make, but one of the big selling points to sponsors is access to the membership database. I don't know how much value it adds in absolute dollar terms, but I'm sure the more members there are (irrespective of the type of membership or whether or not they attend games) the more a sponsor is willing to pay to get access to that mailing list. Hence, getting the maximum number of members as possible is not just about match attendances, it's also about satisfying sponsors' expectations.

Hogan himself. As part of the trade, we get 50% of his goals this year, 25% next year and 10% in the third year.

Weird thread. But I do agree that Oscar is the most overrated average key defender defender on demonland. It's a funny one with certain players. Once they get knocks, (for generally spudding it up) you tend to get this strange reverse group think where posters end up defending a player so vehemently, they end up congratulating what would normally be termed as elementary defensive play. A spoil for instance. Haha. It's actually a hilarious thing to witness. Oscar may be okay as a third tall once May and Lever are in the side. But other than his great field kicking (for a key back), he doesn't possess a single trait that excites. Athletic, agile, fast? No. Reaction time, awareness, physicality? No. Intercept player, killing contest beast? No. General elementary spoiling in a contest? Absolutely hit and miss.

Kielty is listed 195 can play forward or back Can play minutes in the ruck and has a football brain which Frost doesn’t Was Casey’s best on Sunday Got a lot of praise from the Coach at the first and third quater huddle

Cunnington smashed Bernie Vince in the guts at the ‘G’ in 2017 members wing right in front of umpires, Vince went down nothing. Cunnington is a protected species & no idea why as he is a dirty player. Did anything happen to guy who smashed Max?

Breathtaking incompetence

It's in the job description. Our spies got a quick look at the application form before it got taken down. ... must be partially blind ... must exhibit questionable judgement ... must have short term memory loss ... long term memory loss an advantage ... blatant inconsistency a must ... the successful applicant will be required to undertake random drug and alcohol ingestion ... the AFL will defer to all of the successful applicant's conclusions ... applicants are to take note that the strangest conclusions will be most favorably received ... remuneration $10,000 per calendar month ... the AFL will accept part payment in instances of financial hardship; note all shortfall amounts are subject to interest rate 19% per annum ... no experience necessary ...

On the Couch guys savaged the 3 decisions of off the ball blocks and gut punches. Said each was at least a week. The one consistent thing about this guy's decisions is his inconsistency. He clearly makes it up on the run.

We received a reality check in last years prelim... How many reality checks do we need? I thought we would win too but looking at it dispassionately the writing was on the wall...we went in with no form. We were kidding ourselves and so were the tipsters. Then add Max's story to the mix then yeah the loss was there to be had.

It's over-reaction for one game; if the losses were to continue, the reaction would then be appropriate.

I mean, it's good for him, but I couldn't give a stuff. He's a Freo player now.

OMac has run out of excuses and needs Casey-time. One-handed marking, spoiling and other pleasures do not work and neither do running under the ball, running 4 metres behind your opponent as a defender and shirking the responsibility of the execution of shepherding, blocking and clearing a crush are regularly being observed. He is a chicken.

Ah he's recovered from his "clinical anxiety"..that was fast. Its not a term that existed pre Jesse so it must be a short lived condition musnt it? He recovered so fast one could almost think it was just a club suspension...which it wasnt . Was it?

Our best side at the moment would look like this: B: Jetta O McDonald Lever HB: Kolodjashnij May Hibberd C : Salem Oliver Fritsch HF: Petracca McDonald Melksham F: Neal-Bullen Weideman J.Smith R: Gawn Brayshaw Harmes Int: Viney Vandenberg Hannan Jones Emg: Lewis Preuss Spargo Frost

I still can't understand why the group thought is that Port won due to superior speed and we were tired etc. If you watch the entire game closely, you'll see that almost all of their length of the ground runs came from mistakes or bad kicks inside our forward 50. We had so many opportunities to put the game to bed early and again we didn't. ANB. Twice. Unbelievable. Their first goal was from a brain fade from Harmes. Wasn't goal side of Boak at a stoppage from a throw-in at Ports 50. Unforgivable. It's under 15's stuff. The theme we have is that once we're ahead, it's as if we lose composure, patience and system and just expect it'll happen. They got easy goals early from our mistakes and then we just kept making them. They took advantage in the ruck around the ground when Gawn was off so once they hit even with us at the coal-face, the difference was skill execution and nothing else. Port's ability to hold the ball, draw players and then handball their way out of traffic was an enormous factor. The only other thing I was stunned by was the complete lack of intensity, aggression and physicality from our entire midfield for the whole game and absolutely no protection for Gawn. I could have sworn I heard our leaders say multiple times how much that prelim loss burnt and how it was going to spur them on all summer. And that's the level of intensity and aggression we get in round 1? Unbelievable really. How could you possibly choose to drop one or two when almost everyone should be playing at Casey this weekend?

Seeing as you asked, I wonder why anyone assumes that the announcement of a "review" must mean that whatever is being reviewed must be problematic? I would expect a well run club (or business or government agency, etc) to conduct ongoing reviews of all aspects of its business including those sections which appear to be running well. To not do so risks (1) inefficient practices, (2) not identifying corruption, (3) ignoring potentially fatal flaws, (4) misdiagnosing problems, (5) failing to operate at the optimal level. I have no idea whether Dave Misson's position was at any risk. But I do know we made finals in 2018 for the first time in many years, and maybe his work contributed to that result. And your summation that he "looked at other opportunities with his family" is frankly misogynistic and assumes that his wife only looked at getting a job in Canada because her husband's position was fraught. What nonsense.

I'm only qualified to comment on fungal matters TRI . And welts …. obviously.

Spargo will play at his best when our midfield is up and firing. Believe it or not his worth is providing the spread forward of centre and not wrestling in marketing contests with opponents double his size, which kept happening to the poor guy on the weekend.

I’m sure people will tell me to shut up because I keep banging on about the same thing every time our lack of leg speed is bought up but as long as people keep bringing it up I will put my 2 cents in. I believe speed in AFL is completely overrated, the fastest way you can play football is by quick ball movement. Clean disposal by foot & quick chains of handballs. Our lack of speed is bought up every single time we have a bad loss or loss for that matter, we have been beaten in those games because we have not been aloud to play our style of football. Look at the total possession count from the weekend, we couldn’t get the footy off Port. I’d have a guess if you look at most of our “bad” losses over the past 2 years it would be we have been well beaten in the possession count, we just couldn’t get the ball of Port & control the game in any way. Another point on the speed factor, take frost or hunt for example. They take off a million miles an hour, burst away, kick long & turn it over, that footy is sling shot back inside our defence 50 by FOOT, not legs, I repeat GOOD foot skills not speed before Frost or Hunt could even turn around to defend. Agree we are not the fastest side in the comp, but we are playing football not racing a 100m sprint. Good ball use particularly by foot is what makes sides fast.

I have had some reservations since Viney stupidly played with his foot injury at the end of 2017 for what was essentially dead rubbers. He rushed back and suffered the consequences in 2018. With decision-making like that, you virtually deserve the consequences. Last week Viney played at Casey in the reserves, with knee taped and hobbling off. Was even shown in news footage after the senior game. That vision surely put him in doubt. On Saturday he was not running; he was ‘jobbling’, which is a cross between jogging and hobbling. These are obvious examples that someone on the outer can see. The fear is the extrapolation in relation to various cases that we don’t have the luxury of seeing. My question is does our medical staff have the brains and brawn. In other words, they might (questionable) make the right call, but does that carry weight to trump the overall hunch of the player and match committee? I doubt it. The tail is wagging the dog here, and I hope the dog is as smart as Lassie, and not Scooby Doo.

Sure, I encourage it. I live by the sword.

Rule #1 don't believe/disregard any coach/f-d personnel Rule #2 when players speak.. apply rule 1

The thing about any potential changes this week will really depend a lot on our opponent. Geelong are quite tall and mobile (not necessarily quick) all around the ground; Forwards; Hawkins, Rata-whatever (who relieves in the ruck) Mids; Their Kolo, Menegola Backs; Taylor, Blicavs, Henry Ruck; Stanley Their forwards v our backs; We won't be taking all three of May, Oscar and Frost in to this game. And given previous selections, I'm certain Frost will be the one that makes way. I actually prefer the Frost vs Rata matchup (as opposed to Oscar), but I just can't see Goody dropping Oscar. The biggest challenge will be keeping Ablett, Rohan and Dahlhaus (who traditionally plays well against us) under control. We do that, we go a long way to winning this game. We need big games from Jetta and Hibberd, as one of them will be on Rohan and the other Ablett. Their mids v our mids; Obviously we need to be better this week. There won't be any changes to our midfield (providing they are all fit). Their backs vs our forwards; TMc and Weed will attract Taylor and Blicavs, so I think this is where we can get them. I'd be starting Melksham on Stewart, and dragging him straight to the goal square at the start of every contest. He's our best one-on-one marker, and Stewart is poor under pressure. I'd play Fritsch on Henry and get him playing a high half forward role. With all that in mind, and the fact that our depth isn't great, I can see the one change of May for Frost. The only other option could be to bring Stretch in for Hore, then move Hunt back to negate Dahlhaus.

In the first quarter we moved the ball with handball and short low kicking. We also spoiled and cut off port releases. We then seemed to lose the flight, spoils didn't work and Port had an outside player and created an overlap as we had players crowded together. Port players were 3 metres from their opponents which was too far in advance of our player, they seemed to get the match ups and our players didn't know the speed of their match up. We also kicked to contests where we were outnumbered, bombed the ball high in a swirling wind. When the ball fell we were outnumbered, rushed to the contest and crowded together leaving an opponent free outside, they then created an overlap, often by switching. Jack Watts engineered such a move directing his teammates through the overlap, switch and run through the centre, late in the game. Our players conceded space an ran round chasing an opponent who knew what both they and their opponents were going to do. Hinkley out coached Goodwin it seemed. our Structures and tactics seemed lacking and our skills disappeared in the 2nd quarter. i forgive Frost for his stupid run on and frustration as at least he was trying to create something, no one told him he was hot but no forward anticipated his run and provided a target. We seemed to be a team of individuals after Quarter time. The fact that none supported Max was just one display of this. The huddles of backs and forwards after scoring occurred did not seem to result in any structure based on an awareness of what was going on. Perhaps Lewis could have remedied that maybe the lack of runners on field was responsible. oh well it's only week 1. Let's see what happens at the Cattery. Oh and can someone make sure the right boots are worn for the surface. Our slipping over in the first Quarter was part of not being further ahead Both sides were falling but in 2nd Quarter Port seemed more sure footed. I didn't see them change but wonder again if we were out coached as Port reacted to that feature, we did not.

Never mind the fact that he was an integral part of the team that got us as far as the Preliminary finals. Just got to love the “sow’s ear from a silk purse” brigade on here.

Common knowledge that my opinion has always been, from an on-field point-of-view, an absolute disaster of a decision. Made a team that wasn't quick in the first place.....undoubtedly slower. Our most important match in his time here was the WC PF. No leadership and a liability on the field when it the game was fast and hot. Leadership???? Tell me the leadership the bulldogs relied on in 2016? Bevo didn't get sucked in to draft in a superannuant and dress it up as "leadership needed". It is overrated, self-fulfilling, and can actually stifle growth of others that should be leaders now. An inward-looking decision from a desperate club ('he wants to come here') that was unsure of itself. Our need of leadership has been a self-fulfilling prophecy. It has made the potential leaders, sit back and let him lead. With every trade there is consequences. Lewis made a slow team, slower. Selling the farm for Lever, essentially removed us from the super-draft just gone, where kids have made an impact round 1.

They also only took the stat from 2010. They've done that deliberately to make things seem worse than they are.

Hard to get excited with that dross. Watching us miss easy marks, get left flat footed, kick to opposition defenders time and again? Not score for a whole quarter? perhaps if they gave us even the remotest thing to cheer....

Look st the figures after our losses to Hawks Tigers last year people still sign on so 50,000 plus is not a pipe dream.

Most of the AFL stats were during a very unequal competition. These days the comp is becoming very even, so much of those stats are just redundant.

Looks like they don't play after training on Thursday or Friday this year ET.

So we compounded the problem of taking in players with low preparations by taking in one Ruckman who spent 3 days in hospital and was under the weather from GA . Sounds we blew the game at the selection table.

Classic old dee. With four months left, you think we'll struggle to sign 1,200 more memberships to get to 45,000. Just for comparison, in 2013 (peak Mark Neeld) we signed 7,000-odd members between March and July. That would get us to 50,000.

Agree 100%. Twice on the weekend he received the ball running at full speed and tried to change direction at full speed...both times were a complete failure. I have no doubt he tries his best but he is an athlete not a footballer. OMac is miles ahead as a footballer in my opinion. OMac is also a very underrated kick.

On this point, I watched several of the other games from Round 1 as well attending our match and watching the first 3 quarters of our replay. The broadcast of most games showed the benches several times with the runners holding up various signs with some fairly obvious meanings (such as Port with their “10” speed sign indicating 10 minutes left in the quarter). Either our signs were not shown on the broadcast (and I was behind the interchange at the actual game so I couldn’t see there) or we didn’t have anything other than the runner and a sign to indicate player numbers for rotations. Anyone know what we were doing signal wise for plays or tactics? (If anything?) If we’re not running with any kind of signal system from the interchange bench could that have contributed to our poor showing?

And you did not get a Nobel Prize for grace or courtesy. But you did get one for professional snobbery. I hope you feel better.

Not so much wrist slashing...just dismay. A bit like burgers...what you're promised...what you get

As I said you are sadly mistaken. If your midfield is getting beaten as was the case on saturday { and badly beaten } you will always lose the game regardless of who you playing in your back six.

If only we traded in another ruckman to cover for Max under such circumstances...

Why didn’t he take the bandage off and rub himself against Jonas, Lycett and Ryder???? cue BBO

Nothing stat. A better insight would be the finishing position of the season prior of the teams that start 0-2. How many are actually bound for, expected to and/or have goals set to realistically play finals? The reason so few teams that start 0-2 make finals is because most teams that start 0-2 just aren't very good and were never playing finals to begin with. The teams that have started 0-2 and ended up making it, were expected to and always were going to play finals. Really, is starting 0-2 any worse than starting 1-2, and then losing by 70 points and 50 points like we did last year vs Hawks and then Richmond? It's selective analysis at its best.

There's no reason to panic if we lose this week. I think we need to scrape our way to 3-3 then we'll be ok. Essendon, Sydney, St Kilda games are going to be the must wins. From there we can still build a strong season. If we win this week or the Richmond game that's a bonus. Having said that I still think that Kadina Park suits us because it's so skinny. Port exposed us on the spread. That is much more difficult in Geelong without the width. A win this week would not be a shock. The only question if we can win contested footy, If we do that we win.

@JV7 Nail on head. We shoot ourselves in the foot by aimlessly kicking forward too often only to find ourselves wasting energy on chasing tail back the other way. It is completely a ball movement, clean possession and disposal thing. Nothing else.

spargo knows how to use the footy when he finds it, and actually has some pace - he just doesn't lay a tackle as he's a 19 year old, still developing strength i personally don't think you can play frost and hunt in the same side; yes, they both have line-breaking speed, but neither can hit a target by foot couldn't disagree with you more re lewis - the loss of him on the eve of round 1 was a massive blow as he controls our backline and is a must to have someone with a semblance of understanding of where to position themselves defensively, cos hibberd as our other backline leader can't / doesn't do it, and jetta leads by example rather than instruction, and to compare him to watts is laughable brayshaw's skills are terrible, but he's brilliant at finding the footy - he's nowhere near mitchell's class at this stage it's one game in, there's nothing to panic about, but there are obvious concerns at this stage we got SMASHED for contested ball against meth coke, in the jlt match-ups, and against the pear if you don't win the ball, you always look slow

Oh I forgot Jordan and Chandler. Chandler was good, I kept having to look at the name sheet because I kept forgetting who he was but he had some good moments. Jordan was quiet but did okay as well.

Casey came away with a well fought win today. It was hot and windy and by the start of the 4th quarter everyone was cooked but we held on against the wind to finish well. Our inside 50's and shots on goal were pretty terrible and we got hurt on the rebound a lot which will need work throughout the year. We were in control most of the day and should've won by a lot more. Final Score Casey 10 - 17 - 77 to Box Hill 10 - 6 - 66 Melbourne Listed Players (Be warned I wasn't in my normal viewing place so didn't have the best view of the ground and I was focusing on Dec most of the game): Stretch: Good attack on the ball and did well on the inside Kolodjashnij: Took a little while to get into the game, but reads the ball well off half back and has great skills. Could see him coming into the Seniors pretty soon. Lockhart: An average game by Jay's standards but did his usual good work Maynard: Didn't notice him a lot but he was inside all day and its hard to tell with loads of players around the ball who is doing well or not Bradtke: The surprise for mine. Was very quiet the first half but took some good grabs and kicked a goal in the second Bedford: Again didn't really notice him but did a couple of nice things out of the back pocket Preuss: Was a monster in the ruck around stoppages, but did nothing of note around the ground. Talking to him after the game he was running around sore J. Wagner: Solid game but made mistakes with the ball, his attack and aggression was great though Petty: Great game as the main key defensive peg with some good overhead grabs and spoils until he rolled his ankle in the last quarter Baker: I think he is going to be a good winger, runs hard and fast and hits the ball well. Some sloppy disposals though. Keilty: Best forward on the ground by a mile. Jumped well at the ball, took a few strong marks and if not he always bought it too ground. Did some good work at ground level too. Didn't do much Ruck work as Pruess probably did 80-90%. Was stuffed in the last quarter as he didn't come off the ground for the whole 2nd and 3rd quarters but I really liked his game. I am being biased but he played well. Did I miss anyone? Also Jade Rawlings is a great coach. I listened to the 3/4 time huddle and his instructions to the boys were well given and you could see the affect it had in the last quarter to enable us to hang on for the win.