Lil_red_fire_engine

ANB reminds me of a young Lenny Hayes. The difference between ANB and Stretch is one is playing on instinct and with confidence the other appears to be overthinking every move and worried to make an error so takes safe options. He comes across as very robotic at present and may just need to relax and take some chances. Hopefully it al comes together for him soon.

Gawns ruckwork, our hunting of the man and our ball transition by foot in a windy day were the general highlights. Harmes and ANB have gone to another level, Salem showed his value in the second half as he worked into it and Fritsch showed his potential to make our forward structure even harder to select for round 1. Only real disappointment for me was Brayshaws execution but we should be just be happy he gets through games at the minute. Also Stretch missing shots he needs to kick as wel tackles he needs to stick I for frustrating, Will be interesting to see the set up for next JLT.

Great chance to whet the appetite for something that kind of looks like football as well as see some of the kids that we may not get much of a show to see unless you attend Casey games. Ecstatic that we seem to be making this all about how do we use it to maximise real season preparation and not much else.

Could not agree more. Our absolute priority needs to be locking Petracca away on a long term deal. Sloane is a good mid who can't play a tag. You don't pay overs for that type and you will need to to get him.

AFLX is all about creating a format that could break the Asian market. Its all about ground size and what may work with athletes in that market. If it worked well there it would as a flow on likely create interest in the broader form of the sport and also potentially untap international AFLX players that may translate well into AFL. Whether its right or wrong its better to innovate and attempt to expand rather than stay stale and die a slow or unforeseen death. I would much prefer they trial this independantly than try and tweak AFL to fit the gap.

Improvement from a player inside last years best 22 will be Salem. Improvement from a player well outside last years best 22 will be Maynard. Harmes, Smith and Spargo the other 3 watchpoints for me.

I dont believe there is a best 22 or every spot available approach. I suggest there is something like a preferred 16 with a play your role 6. The preferred 16 need to be carrying serious injury or significant consistent form loss to be uprooted. They are those that are rushed back in because they are clearly best in positions even when slightly off. Then there are those that make up the 6 that the dependance on how quickly they are in or out is based in long term importance or the consistency of their performance and team first behaviours. For last season I would put Smith, Brayshaw and Weid in the former of this group and players like ANB, Harmes and OMac in this second group.

I read somewhere that statistically those best placed for the flag usually have the highest % of list in the 25-29 bracket. I believe we currently sit 17th however we have in 2 years times a massive glut of players that will start to fall into that space to give us a serious window of time to have an extended assault at the flag.

I know nothing of the players this year but know we need outside speed and class. I will be more excited by type and back in that Taylor has picked the best of that type. If I see two speculative talls and two inside mids I will be deflated.

Could not be happier. Hope he gets a good run at it and fulfills the promise he originally had.

IF his body passes the test AND he will play purely performance based AND we plan on lining up with a third tall lead up then its worth the risk v reward consideration. He would be contesting with Smith, Weid and AVB in that role so it isn't exactly bad to have another option that is proven at a goal and a half a game.

that answers that then. its a no from me.

Not interested unless rookie. Looks like a human highlight reel with no defensive game. Maybe its just me but a small forward needs to have the ability to also actually play small. Its a no from me unless he's there for the rookie draft.

Jason Taylor has stated we will be looking over the draft/trade period to increase our midfield depth and possibly look for some small pressure forwards. I can't see how Fritsch fits the bill and in fact seems to fit a role we have depth in already. I doubt we would take him inside 40.

How is this a huge gamble? At worst you get the existing output of a 21 year old elite intercept defender as already seen. At best you get the expected incremental improvement of a 21 year old 196cm defender over his next 4 years of development into what should be his peak. Skys the limit. Anyone that thinks we paid overs over rates the draft. Even so I suspect we will use 27 and 35 to get back into the top 20 some how. Those that say let him walk to the draft, North have deep pockets and I suspect would have snapped him up before us. Similar to the Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong models, pick your targets, be open with what you think is fair, get your player and move on.

Let me get this right. He was taken pick 14 (probably pick 3 on count back of that draft now). Now has 50 games investment in him, enough to be an AA squad member at 21 yet is not worth 10 and 20. What would you want for an out of contract Petracca? I am not saying we pay 10 and 20 but if thats what ends up being required it is fair value.

I like Jack Watts the person. On the field he does things that make me shake my head in disbelief, unfortunately these are at both extremes. I feel sorry that we did not set him up for success in his early years but he is now a man who has had great support and development around him and needs to take accountability for not maximising his potential in the last 3 at a minimum. He is a 150 game player with one top 5 B&F finish for a club that has been appalling for most of his time. This year he featured in our best players only 6 times but never in the top 2. He is not quite a key forward and not quite a mid and he is too inconsistent to be a quality flanker. He may become a better rounded player but why that would occur in an environment he is comfortable in, surrounded by his mates, where he is adored by most supporters and sponsors is beyond me. It is most likely that we continue to see the cycle of promising games and then a loss of consistency as hard work does not come naturally to him. It is highlighted how much he is loved by team mates which to me highlights the risk that his ways tarnish the young guns we are trying to develop in our new culture. The old trade week adage of you've got to give something to get something is exactly what we are seeing with interest in Jack but truthfully this is so much more than the pick or player we get in return. This is us shedding the final parts of our old culture. This shows that close enough is no longer good enough, inconsistency is not excused and skirting by on potential is not acceptable. After seeing us do everything we could to not take a final spot in the final 2 rounds it is exactly the type of ruthless shake up that I was hoping for. All the best Jack.

What would his role be?

This quote says a lot to me from Don Pyke after yesterday's game. "One of the things that is very hard from a coaching viewpoint is to provide effort," Pyke said. "The players are responsible for effort. "We try and encourage that, we try and demand that.

Its hard for him to hit Hogan lace out if he's at Casey due to effort or wont put in those final hard steps to win the ball in the first place. No one is saying he is not a great kick but there are plenty more facets to being a great or even good player than being a great kick.

Remind me who brought in Heretier and gave up an inconsistent but supremely talented flanker in Jeremy Howe?

Watts is a 9th year talented yet flakey flanker who we chose not to play this year on two seperate occasions due to lack of buy in on required effort and ethic on and off the field. How some can show such hysteria at our want to move him on have obviously forgotten what it felt like missing out in the last round. Any player who is not 100% buying in to do everything necessary on and off the field can get out in my opinion and Watts is the poster boy for it. I am sure what we get (likely a second round pick) people will say is unders but it is right based on his career output and likely output moving forward. The best we can hope for is many clubs decide he is the answer to drive up his value. I will hold to see the overall picture of ins and outs before I hold a view on whether we have improved our list and chance to take the next step and more importantly the ones after it to make it to the last game in September.

I for the life of me don't understand what he was doing on the new just then. I'd like to hang about the club if I could? Me and Goody get along fine but I probably frustrate him at times. WTF. Will never put it all on the line. Get what you can and move on.

They have a bunch of foot soldiers with limited skill (Rioli aside) but great pressure, have the best player in the comp and the best defensive general. They have no injuries, play with belief and have got momentum in a year when there has been no great sides except the Crows and Sydney for two thirds a season. Like the Dogs don't have the team for sustained success but may sneak a premiership if all falls their way next week. Belief is an amazing thing but I think the Crows have exactly the right style to bring them back to earth with a thud.

The question is whether you back us in to get his consistency and work ethic right. 2 of his best 5 games this season in finals. 3 of his best 5 games this season at the MCG. His cost is about what money we give up and not picks as a FA. He at his best is exactly the outside speed and class we need. I would be amazed if we have not had serious discussions about him.