Red and Blue realist

Is he in player management or was that the other brother (not James), might be a good sign if he's chatting with Todd

Funny how last year Trac was praised for his accurate kicking, that'll come back to him soon I'm sure. Not so sure on ANB, still he is vital to the team, if he went out they'd bring in Bugg to play his role and he's worse in front of goal. ANB has to play this week and I think needs to tag JJ, he's the doggies most vital player but can be shut down and ANB has not only the fitness to run with him all game but also demands some respect in that he's getting a lot of shots on goal - he's kicked multiple goals in 4 games so far but could have on at least 3 other occasions.

He actually looked like he enjoyed it as well, he wasn't great but most of those just end up in repeat stoppages or rushed kicks anyway even with the best rucks (although Maxy can pull out a beauty ever once in a while). Another better tactical move this week.

Don't think it was his fault, the dockers clearly flooded so no point in playing 3 or 4 of our guys lose behind the ball. Thought he was pretty good early. No other team will play that way, so can't judge him on that performance, expect to hope the coaches show him what to do if he ends up there again

Thought he was pretty good early, then was glad Goodwin made the move because otherwise the only other option was to just leave him on the bench. Hopefully he's judged on his early have play not as a forward but think he would have learnt a bit going there

Very very true words, be patient with a guy who's only just ticked over the 50 game mark. His stats (I know they can be misleading sometimes) are very similar to Dusty's at around the same stage of their career, and way ahead of Dangerfield's. Robbie Gray is another similar type player who's first 50 odd games a similarish to Trac's (he played more as a pure forward than the mid/fwd role he plays now). I mentioned them as they are the power/burst players who he reminds me of, won't get the 35+ an Oliver will get but can turn a game sometimes with only 15 touches.

There's no coincidence that we were all lauding the backline figuring out how to play together and our run of 6 wins, I don't just put it down to playing weaker teams. In those wins we often had a defender who'd drop off to play a goal keeper type role. So the quick movement was stopped when a team looked up and saw that player ready to intercept. As soon as Lever went out, we again looked like we had all our backline following their direct forwards so it made it easy to kick out the back to space and score (very easily done to us as we're not quick back there). This is not unexpected when you have guys like OMac and JSmith (who have less than 60 games between them) playing the key roles. This is where Lewis, Hibberd, Vince and even Jetta have to control them and keep them back. I still want another tall and think Vince should go out, then there has to be at least one player who is happy to let their man run up to the back of our forward pressure zone but then acts as a stopper so the quick movement out of that zone is stopped. It'll allow the others to get back and make it harder for teams to score.

Not sure why people keep suggesting 4 or 5 changes, that just won't happen. We played well, yes I was angry after the game and ready to throw the remote through the TV, but we lost the game because we didn't deliver it well into the forward 50, not because we had terrible players. For mine the only changes are structural, I like the idea of a true 2nd tall defender so either Frost or Petty and I'm not sure you can have Lewis and Vince in the same back-line especially at the 'G, so either Frost or Petty for Vince. I'd also like to see Weid come in to replace T.Smith, I think he's a much better relief ruck and seems to know a bit better when to go and when to stay back in attack, plus I think he's got a massive future and would be full of confidence. But if we kept Smith and only went with 1 change that'd be fine by me as well.

In the AFL.com medical report, they said TMac and Jetta were sore but expected to play against the Saints, the 9 day break really helps.

That could also be the result of the terrible delivery as well. Knowing the ball was always coming in on top or even over their heads, he might have got caught up thinking the smarter play was trying to rove the ball. Fix our delivery and I'm sure that'll change the way he plays.

Smith doesn't at all play like a small pressuring player, he's a lead up forward and didn't work with Hogan and TMac, they all flew for the ball too often together. So I think he'll come out for Weid, Weid is a much better ruck, has had games where he's put great pressure on (Adelaide last year) but most importantly seemed to know when to time his leads better in those games he played. If Smith stays in then we are playing 3 talls anyway, and we surely wouldn't try and run with 4. While Hogan had a poor game I think he was still at least on par with Smith and Tracc was much better, don't look to drop guys on name, the same as they should get games on name alone either.

I'd bring in Weid for T.Smith, while he hasn't dominated a game yet Weid at least knows how to work with the other forwards and doesn't get in the way like Smith and peds have done. Also OMac needs another tall down back, I like J.Smith but asking him to be lever is wrong, I'd bring in Petty or Frost for Vince. Maybe Garlett for Hannan or ANB, but only if his energy is through the roof at Casey, he doesn't need a bag but needs to show he'll bring something great to the team

It's near impossible to watch games played in Perth or Adelaide, last night was just as bad. How does one team get 18 to 7 frees in a half in an even game

That was in his under 16 year, I think he then got an injury (shoulder I think) and missed a far bit of footy in his draft year.

I think that's why Brayshaw was left on the wing most of the day, we were top heavy in the mid field while Oliver had a very good game, Viney was sent to tag DeGoey and Jones was pretty ordinary. I think if anything, we could have ran a tag with both Jones and Viney, with Viney going forward when not tagging and Jones heading to half back. My changes for Port would be Peds for Weid, and also Vince for Hunt - giving us more speed but to also play him alternating between wing and half back so either Jones or Viney can come out of the middle for Brayshaw to go in.

Simply because he didn't do much else, and got out ran by Dunn at one stage when he should have been able to get the ball and run into an open goal. I'm not sure why he wasn't sent into the middle at some stage to try and find some spark while we were being smashed in there, same as Brayshaw. Honestly, I don't think we'll make massive changes but hope Goody learns a quick lesson, if we start to get beaten in the middle switch it up earlier. Sometimes Jones, Viney & Oliver just won't work, so throw Brayshaw/Tracca/Harmes/Hogan/Hannan/Lewis in the mix earlier at least to disrupt the opposition rather than letting it play out and be 3 goals down. I'm a big fan of Goodwin, but he got out-coached today, and I've thought that about the Hawks loss as well, he's only in his second season but he needs to change things up earlier.

Nothing better than having a close to full squad to chose from, meaning those at Casey have to perform to get in. Not only does it pressure the guys in the ones to play to their best level, but means when others get a go they are in top form, not trying to find it. Brayshaw being the classic example this year. I can wait until there's an active discussion on Vanders or Kent coming into the team, and hopefully its not due to injury, more them being in such fantastic form their too hard to ignore - even if they then have to wait until a spot opens up.

Funny how most commentators who put these out, including Slobbo, justify not putting Gawn and Grundy in their team because no teams play with 2 rucks (except top of the ladder West Coast), but then put Gray, Higgins and Caddy in the one team - not saying their not good players, but forward pressure is such a big part of today's game, and those guys aren't top notch in that area. Also no lock down defender either, so just come out and say we're picking the best 22 and putting them where we can fit them, rather than how a team would actually line up.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him come back into the team full time off half back, it seemed like he was played in a 50/50 wing type role there earlier in the season, but that just caused him to really drift in and out of the match. Much like Brayshaw I'd say the coaches are working on something with him, so that when he comes back he knows his role and can then try and push to be a permanent player again.

Josh Wagner seems largely forgotten in this discussion, I see him as actually the closet like-for-like we have, no he's not as good, in particular as an interceptor, but does play as a taller/creative back. Frost I see as more of a stopper, same as Keilty and Petty, while Joel Smith is probably also similar, he also reminds me a little more like Hibberd. I'm guessing it could be a horse for courses type approach, if the opposition tend to use taller forwards then Frost/Keily/Petty and if they go smaller then Wagner/Smith/Hunt.

Melksham would be in the conversation as well, wasn't great today due to injury, but had strung together 5 quality games in a row before that, some of his stats are top end as well. Tom Mac would have been right up there had he not missed those first few games.

Another record I'd like to see broken, is that we haven't had a single player kick more than 50 or more goals in a season since Brad Green in 2010 - the equal longest in the comp with Brissy. Even Carlton (Andrew Walker 2011) and Freo (Pav 2012) has managed it. If we take it up to 60 goals then we go back to Neita in 2006. Hoges is on track at the moment and we've got a few others who might even get close.

Doesn't mean much, except we've potentially got Tyson, Hunt, Garlett, Peds, Bugg, Stretch and JSmith as genuine AFL players - add in Frost, Kent and Weid and that makes a 'squad' of 34 or so before we get to the true development/prospect types (and not meant as any disrespect to them). Such a great position to be in, most experts talk about having a squad of at least 30 to play/win finals and we've got that now. Hopefully we use some of them to held keep the team fresh and on their toes about each position which will drive us even further.

From memory Jetta first came in as a forward as well, like a lot of defenders actually, so DJ couldn't have a better teacher. I doubt he'll get a game until Jetta's not there though

I agree that they'll pick both Gawn and Grundy, assuming both hold their form all year. It has happened in the past, but this year both are genuinely in the top half dozen players for the year, so can't be left out just so they only pick 1 ruck.