Lil_red_fire_engine

We set up poorly at the clearances in the first and gave them an easy out. We handed them goals in the first with basic skill errors. After quarter time we were beaten by our inability to have a forward target anyone was confident to kick to. We looked better with Dunn forward but he is not going to crash a pack and bring the ball to ground. We have too many players who run into each others space removing any easy short kicks except for backward and sideways. We need to bring in some speed and remove some of the one pace outside players at present. Trengove and Michie would be the first two I would start with.

6. Tyson 5. Dunn 4. Cross 3. N Jones 2. Vince 1. Toumpas

There will come a time soon where GWS will need to consider if he is in their best 22. The only thing balanced in his favour is his elite endurance. Gets the ball but seriously torches it time and time again. Too small to hold or break tackles. We certainly dodged a bullett with the return we got for him.

I dont think we are a chance to win but I also dont think we will get smashed if T-Mac plays and we level the midfield battle. Our improved midfield gives us a chance to level the midfield battle which we have never had before. Assuming T-Mac plays we actually man up on them forward line quite well. The issue will be our inability to kick a score that can compete and keep us deep into the game.

The curse continues. This week will prove how much better we defend now we have a deeper midfield. They will be the only thing stopping this from being a serious massacre.

You could do worse since Casey dont play this week than play Viney as the sub. Doubt we will do it though.

He played mainly high half forward. It wasn't that he didn't get much ball he actually looked good winning it. It was that he blazed most times when he got it and turned it back over and did not appear to play near a man for the entirety of the game. Happy to chalk it up though as inexperience and give him another shot. Someone can tell me but I am pretty sure that Jordie has played most pre-season but was injured this last week? If so I doubt he will play at Casey as we will need to try and stifle them at the contest.

In retrospect to my initial comment I actually agree I am probably being too harsh for a second gamer. It was obvious though to me at the ground that he did not work hard defensively. I also think if right Jordie probably needs to come and take Shuey or Priddis. Assuming Fitz and T-Mac get up who do you drop? Byrnes? In Gawn, Jordie and Blease. Out Pederson, JKH, Byrnes

You have to replace the roles that are there. I don't rate Byrnes but he kicked two and got his hands on it 14 times and we need an opportunist forward. Michie had limited ball in a midfield role until late in the game. Turned it over more often than not and from what I could see was the least accountable of our midfield group. He was clearly in our bottom 5 last night in my view.

I thought Michie aside from a couple of flashes in last quarter was poor. He did not get it enough and when did turned it back and was very unaccountable with out the ball.

I am not saying he played a good game. I am saying that your captain blasting his team mates, particularly his co captain for skill errors when he is prone to them as well serves no purpose.

Not the best leadership if true particularly when he is prone to similar disposal issues at times.

It is typical for a predominantly outside 2nd year player to take time to get the right inside/outside balance but I don't think this needs to be learnt at Casey. He played high half forward/wing and is there for the transition on the outside and not to win the inside ball. 30% of his ball last night was contested which is about the right split for a player in his role. He in most cases beat his man when it was one on one or evened the contest. He is one of the few who actually runs to the right spaces and can use the ball so I don't see how putting him to Casey achieves much at all as long he goes when its his turn.

Assuming Viney played and got through a full game. In: Gawn, Blease, Viney, Out: Pederson, Michie, JKH Pederson to play back if T-Mac out.

I expect that we will look very different with a couple of quality tall forwards. The issue is though no one knows when we may have them.

It wasn't that we had no forwards. It was that they hardly moved and when they did either got in each others way or were missed with the kick. Our ability to let StKilda's VFL starting midfield get easy take aways from the centre was deplorable. We couldn't hit the side of the barn forward of centre yet one of our best two disposing mids in Vince played all of the first half in the forward line. Jack Grimes tries hard but is a liability with ball in hand. We played very stationary, predictable football. Watts was excellent as were Dunn and Jones. Those bagging Toumpas need to watch the game and get over wishing for Wines. He works his arse off to make position, is smart with ball in hand and will improve significantly over the course of the season. The key will be to see the learnings from the game, changes made and what they improve next week.

6. Watts 5. Dunn 4. N Jones DAYLIGHT 3. Tyson 2. Vince 1. M Jones

Fast

The side picked is exactly the side I would have picked based on available players. Its not the best in name but it is the best based on fitness and filling the required roles of the side. Anyone wanting Blease in the side ahead of Bail or Byrnes did not watch the pre-season. I go tonight confident. I go expecting to win and win well. Leaving with a loss will not be satisfactory under any circumstance. If we adhere to a consistent level of good intensity and adherence to the game plan the result will look after itself. GO DEE's. Give em hell.

The side picked is exactly the side I would have picked based on available players. Its not the best in name but it is the best based on fitness and filling the required roles of the side. I go tonight confident. I go expecting to win and win well. Leaving with a loss will not be satisfactory under any circumstance. If we adhere to a consistent level of good intensity and adherence to the game plan the result will look after itself. GO DEE's. Give em hell.

No one can suggest that it was a good idea in hindsight. I am struggling however to find the pile of posts from people prior saying it was a bad idea though. Most were keen to see us try our hand against the best and see where we are at. Well now we know. I still think we learn more about ourselves in this that we would have if we played GWS as an example. I still think with two weeks to go until we play there is next to no chance we will get ahead of ourselves against StKilda (which as seen the last 2 years can be of concern).

Even against the weaker sides pressure will go up in round 1. Sorting out who can handle it against the best today is certainly better than finding it out in a couple of weeks those who can't. A win today would have created confidence but potential to get ahead of themselves. They have 2 weeks to learn from today, get it out of their heads and move on. Anyone who decided to not buy a memberships based on a shellacking against the premier team are exactly the same type who will be first to queue up if we beat the saints. I could not attend today. I am struggling to work out who did not play from the published squad and who the sub was (on and off). If anyone can enlighten please.

Very disappointing to have the three big fella's out with no definite return dates it appears on any of them however.. We basically played all year last year with none of the three. Our conversion once inside 50 was good we just couldn't get it in there. We now appear to be well coached and must improved with a bunch of new midfielders who appear to know how to get the ball and likely get it in there alot more. We have a very good early 5 games that we should be able to put up strong efforts and convert minimum 2 -3 into wins regardless of having them. We then should target to get the three big fellas back when they are completely fit with least likely risk to re-injury and with the strongest chance to play consecutive games for the remainder of the year. Particularly when we need them most in the harder patch of the year.

I thought Port were a given for bottom last year and Brisbane and the G were not chance the year before. Roos or Roos I would take nothing for granted for Round 1.

According to AFL website he played 76% game time, a bit more than "just over a half". Trengove is a player that needs to find the rhythm of the game.He did that against Richmond but not so much against Geelong who play a more manic offensive and defensive style. He will work hard to lead into space to present and then hand off and then go again. The ground and conditions the other night were not tailor made to that play. He will look alot better on the expanses of the G where he can use his smarts to work into the broader spaces.