Lil_red_fire_engine

After now watching the replay on TV I find it hard to leave Harmes out. Takes Brayshaw's spot if he is not cherry ripe or unfortunately on a wing instead of Matt Jones. Kennedy for mine offers a point of difference that needs to be retained and Kent save himself this week with an improved performance.

He just doesn't seem clean enough with his hands. Double grabbed a lot. I know its early but not seeing much there to think he will be a regular.

Jetta Dunn Garland Salem T-Mac Vince Bugg Tyson M Jones Watts Pederson Vandenberg Garlett Hogan Kent Gawn Jones Viney Frost Kennedy Oliver Brayshaw

You can't defend today's performance. An off day would mean the skill issues are a surprise, which they are not. If you can't execute skills in NAB whats your chances when the heat is actually on? He can defend but he should not be given the ball unless there is no other option and once he gets it he needs to play the percentages.

Whilst our skills weren't great our attack on the ball and man particularly after half time was good. Watts needs to play 3rd forward all year. I reckon Oliver, Bugg and Matt Jones locked themselves spots for round 1. Still about 4-5 spots up for grabs round 1 including one each on a half flank, back flank and wing. Skill execution will be much better when not playing in a wind tunnel and once we trim to starting 22.

Watts will make mistakes but is making chances in the forward half unlike others. We looked better as soon as the young dogs started to tire and we had room to dispose without pressure. The first quarter though showed how far we have to go as a lot could not think through the best decision when faced with multiple players pressuring them. Harmes, Hunt and Kent need to get more involved.

Positives: No injuries....... They are harder at it. We are over hand balling. Cant hit a kick going out of or in 50. Some movement at the ball carrier may help.

Was on tv. Twice he was on the wrong side and and at least once he was ball gazing well off where he needed to be with his man. He is usually very good defensively and I expect alot from him but I though his defensive work was not as I expect.

I think this is the key thing I learnt. He is a mid who may rest forward not a small forward you throw in for short mid bursts. Play him on a wing or as a high half forward.

Lots has already been written but key things for me aside from the obvious performances of Gawn, Viney and Vanders. The most obvious improvement was players being on the move at a stoppage and not just the target player for the tap but those swarming around. We also finally appear to understand that loopy handballs aren't the preferred execution. I know its a practice match but the games of much maligned players in Matt Jones (made good decision and execution) and Jack Watts (consistent second efforts both offensively and defensively) need more call out than they have had. Ben Kennedy is more a mid than a small forward. Looked a lot better when given freedom to roam in the second half. Pederson ahead in the Pedo/Frost second tall spot. Whilst great athletically Frost lacks all game sense to play forward (although I am sure he will improve). I was really disappointed in Salem's game who I have very high expectations of. His defensive positioning was poor on numerous occasions and he did not work hard enough to make options offensively. Really wanted one of Wagner or Hunt to own the other back flank. Neither really did it for me yesterday nor were they bad. Hoping one really puts it together over the coming fortnight as there is a spot there for the taking. Getting that spot right will allow us to not just drive attacks from the stoppage but from the back half as well. Oliver's class in traffic and hardness at the ball and man showed why he was taken so early. Any doubts people had should already be removed based on that showing. It was great to see when Goodwin was interviewed at the half that the items he said we needed to refine we actually refined.

Hard to tell as we had 130+ interchange and Port stuck to the season enforced 90 limit.

Its hard to argue who will go backwards on form from our list. Vince maybe, based on age and reduced preseason but all others you would expect to hold or improve consistency in form. Most believe we were held back by our game plan, it is obvious by track watcher reports this has been addressed over the pre-season with a better balance. For me it will come down to injuries, dont underestimate the improvement we would have if Jones and Tyson play fit and Kent, Viney and Salem play full seasons. If Hogan, Gawn or T-Mac went down though it would cancel the above. I think the thing I can see is we won't go backwards. I would not be surprised if we held position whilst we embedded a more attacking style and the upswing came in 2016. However if the right group stay on the park for the year and we get some early wins and confidence pushing for the eight is not out of the question.

The amount of comments on this thread about him being a sook just shows how much further appreciation and understanding of anxiety and depression has to go. The kid can seriously play and I hope he gets its together and plays somewhere when he is capable.

Salem is the obvious choice coming into his 3rd year, talent to burn and getting a clear run at a full pre-season. Tyson fit will get back to what he showed 2014 so hard to call it break out. I reckon Vanders is the one whose weekly output will go to another level with a full preseason allowing him to spend more midfield minutes. Stretch and White the others to watch.

The best thing that happened to him is after starting to get all the praise second half of 2015 Goldstein then ripped him a new one and showed what the top level requires. I feel that has stuck with him and has driven him to go to the next level in 2016.

Garlands true worth is somewhere between most of the views here I reckon. He offers us great flexibility to play on talls and smalls and was more important to keep over the off season than the one trick highlight reel who ran over to Lexus. His attack on ball is better than a lot give credit for which is veiled by his relaxed look. His disposal is a pass but not great. His main issue is he is prone to once he makes an error by disposal or decision to make multiples as he loses focus/confidence. I expect if injury free he will play third defender all year but unlike other years will be pushed out by better depth if he doesn't maintain his best. It sounds like his off season application so far is giving him every opportunity to do this.

Can someone remind me whether Grimes has performed this well in trials previous years? Like others its more about PBs for me and how many did not participate.

I reckon he protects the ball drop zone better than any current player aside from maybe Jack Riewoldt.

I suspect alot of this has to do with now higher expectations on the shape you are in and also culture being built on transparency when not meeting expectations. I dont take this as we are worse off than previous but more so that the bar is alot higher. NB: I saw Harmes in the training session before the Xmas break and he looked in ripping shape and appeared much trimmer than end of last year.

Vanders and Kent both look trimmed down and in great shape.

Not based on knowledge but I reckon that's what it is but in the reverse order.

Similar to others I have no idea and it is probably the least exposed I have been to the players available in the last decade. However I don't care because for the first time in a long time I have 100% faith that we have a clear direction (a real red and blue print) as well as staff who know how to recruit and develop young men. Again as mentioned by others the apparent lack of leaks and anyone having a clue what we are doing again speaks to the level of professionalism now at our club. For the record I hope for a combo of 2 of Parish, Weideman and Francis but would still be excited that the skill set that Oliver or Milera bring if we pick them we will get to reach it's potential. Curnow I think has too many hints to his character both in this weeks incident as well as mentions of his level of application for me to think we will take him. Cant wait to see what we actually do.

Don't worry he will be fine once he gets on an AFL list, is treated like a god in pubs and clubs and has a couple of 100k a year and plenty of free time to use it. The intimations that he was lazy and not very driven were already almost enough for me but now I really hope we don't take him even at 7.

Its amazing with limited pre-season in his first year what ANB did. With a full pre-season and the reduced rotations I suspect he will play most of the year and really step up another level.

There are too many "experts" intimating that Curnow is on the lazy side. Being we want natural competitors it makes me question whether he fits the bill. On my limited viewing Parish with one of Weideman/Francis/Oliver for me.