Red and Blue realist

I've got confidence that Hibberd and Jetta in particular will find form and this will be less of an issue, but at the moment it seems like the back-line has no leadership. Not that we don't have leaders down there, it just seems like some confusion as to who should be directing the group, which means we've got guys out of position all the time. Last year we had Hibberd, TMac (when there) and Jetta directing the back-line. This year it seems more like Lewis, Vince and Lever. While Lewis and Vince are experienced, they are not pure defenders and I think are still trying to be too aggressive which lead to most of our guys playing in front yesterday, on a wet day it was easy for the Hawks to send it over the back for easy goals. The only one who has improved is OMac who has done a great job, and while some might point to Ben Brown getting a few on him, there was probably only 1 of his goals that you could directly attribute to him. However, he's not yet a leader back there, more the foot soldier, give him a job and he's doing it. I can't say I see any of the others being given a job and doing just that, they all at various stages seem to be swapping and changing what their job back there is, pure defender, shut down, interceptor or spoiler - not that they shouldn't do more than 1 thing, but it's knowing when to go and when to hold back. That's the job of the on field leaders but they'll all seem a bit confused at the moment.

Given we've got a 9 day break followed by a 5 day break, I doubt they'll make mass changes, as we'll need to keep some fresh for the Dons. I don't think we need Frost this week, but will against Essendon, so drop him for Hunt to provide the speed in the backline. We need a capable second ruck, Harmes looks lost, not his fault and I wouldn't drop him for playing the role he has the last 2 weeks. I'd love Lewis to be dropped but I think they'll keep him and maybe rest him for the Dons.Vince I doubt is needed, unless he tags, and Richmond have shown that whoever gets tagged goes deep forward, and Vince is a liability there. My changes would be out: Frost, Vince and Melksham In: Peds, Tyson and Hannan. Against Essendon, I'd be looking at resting Lewis, Jetta, Wagner, and one of Bugg or Garlett. Then bringing back Frost, Vince and then hope J Smith is ready to go and maybe Weid.

I think we've got to get better at strategically resting guys, as you said Vince and Lewis are prime candidates. I'd like to see Hannan, hunt and stretch brought in for at least 1 of the games, just to give more run and energy

Wonder how many we'll hold over for Tuesday and even the Essendon game. Given the short turn around I wouldn't mind if we made 4 or 5 unforced changes over the next 2 weeks, cause it seems like we've got a few in form at Casey

Sometimes the pure membership number doesn't mean a heap, some clubs include 3 game, dog memberships etc. Be interested to see the breakdown of our membership compared to other clubs, naturally I'd think we'd have a higher MCC crossover membership.

Can you be both ruckman and tagger at the same time?

I thought they adjusted pretty well around the middle of the second quarter and started to lower their eyes, early in the game North picked off a few higher balls that came in (and if you listened to the commentators Magic Door was the greatest player on earth for a couple of seconds). Once we did adjust, Hogan then spent more time higher up the ground although Garlett & co, dropped a few easy marks that should have been shots on goal. That long bomb seemed to be reserved for the 'get out' or pure congestion kicks, which due to our ability to hold the ball in the forward 50 happened a fair bit. As we managed to retain the ball, it meant our forward 50 was crowded more often than not, so it was harder to find that free target. I noticed in the second half Hogan and Petracca even directing the small forward who was matched up to Daw, Bugg, Harmes, ANB or Garlett, to stand around 25 out directly in front at center square bounces, then they themselves moved to one side of the f50. Seemed to be to ensure we didn't do the long bomb, but also seemed to confuse the hell out of Daw who had no idea where to go if he didn't have a big player to lead him to the ball.

Great photo Saty, did you notice if he was jumping off and landing on both feet, or primarily favouring the non-sore one? I imagine that's a bit of a hurdle to 'jump' with a foot/toe injury. TMac the same?

Just seems to be a lot of people who jump on the coach about selection, in particular about 'subjective' players, without realising that only taking the advice of those on here, Jones, Gawn, Jetta, TMac, OMac, ANB, Harmes etc. would have never have played more than a handful of games before being sent on their way (they were all subjective players during their career - OMac arguably still is on here). Unless those players were giving an extended go we'd never know how good they could be. Clearly Maynard had shown the coaches enough to be picked round 1, it didn't work so they sent him back to Casey, not going to crucify the coaches for that or place blame on 1 player when we lose by less than a kick.

Don't try and re-write history to suit your argument. That Tigers game, Tim Smith was injured early in the game and so was Spencer, so we had no back up ruck. It's like saying thankfully Peds didn't play that game otherwise he would have been injured too and we would have had no ruck (except the emerging guys) for half the season. Plus Peds hadn't played for Casey before that Freo game, and from memory play OK, he didn't tear it apart, Smith was named one of the bests and came in for Weids that next game against the Tigs.

Brown is the back-up ruck for North, so maybe when he goes in so does Frost, then OMac swaps over to Waite? I also think Gawn will go forward a fair bit and try and drag Goldy with him, I wouldn't mind them throwing Melky into the ruck around the ground when he is resting and backing our mids to win the clearance then have much better spread from the contest. Similar to what Richmond do with Grigg.

Next they'll be introducing flashing goal posts, less numbers on the field and rectangular playing fields

We've just got to hope it stays like that towards the pointy end, the Tigs only had 1 player from memory on the injury list come late last season/finals and I don't think he was anywhere near best 22. Pity that Viney and TMac are part of our 4 injured, as they are automatic best 22. Can't ever recall a start to the season where we've had 40 players to chose from?

Not as simple as just dumping the funds into the bank and getting a 3% return if we're lucky, it'll be about what they use those funds to invest/build so that we either replace the lost revenue or alternatively be able to reduce down costs overall - for instance removing some/all of the leasing we are currently paying (which was around $1.8m last year - but the financial report doesn't break down what that covers).

The more I think about this, the more it seems like a pure business decision. The Age article has been updated to show we sold out of Leighaok for $11 million, noting that we've still got Bentleigh for 3 years then have that asset to deal with (which you'd expect a better return). While having a 'feel good' element about the deal, there's every chance that due to the continual changing nature of the gaming industry and the increase in costs associated, it was just the best time to get out. Generate a return on the sale of the assets, and then use them to invest into other income generating assets (although they haven't said what they are). If those funds are used to help fund a new admin/training facility which might also be used in a commercial sense and we stop having to pay rent for our existing spaces, then this could be the most important move this administration has made.

The article really only mentioned that the funds from the sale of Leighoak will be invested in other areas - there's actually no cash coming in from not renewing the entitlement on the Bentleigh pokies in 2022. From what I understand most/all the debt we have relates to the purchase of the Bentleigh club outright, so they must be comfortable to hold that until they deal with what they do with that venue/land once the pokies cease to operate. I can't see the club holding onto a social club on such a big land holding, so they might look at either selling or a development project at that stage, which should cover the debt and more. I to think there might have been a bit of "assistance" offered by the AFL and Govt's that if we get out of pokies they'll help with home base model.

Really depends on what they could use those funds on? They seem to have a plan in place to replace that revenue, because they've said it won't be to repay debt.

Some more info in the Age article, gaming only makes up 10% of overall revenue, also Jackson said we wouldn't be repaying debt from the sale, as they expect the $5 million debt to naturally be repaid in the next 3-4 years. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-announce-gaming-industry-exit-20180404-p4z7p7.html

Few people jumping to conclusions, around lost revenue etc. without knowing, what the exact revenue and profits were for each venue, what sale proceeds they expect and what they will use those funds for. So far this administration has been pretty spot on with most of their moves (that's publicly visible) so happy to back them in until further info is provided. Have heard some talk that the venue in Bentleigh would be worth a whole lot more if bulldozed and housing/units built. Maybe they'll enter into some sort of property development opportunity?

Goodwin has come out and said he's 100% right for this week, just a little swelling they wanted to check out.

Probably wrong thread, but Tyson was one of the players who was most vocal in getting the training camp cancelled. he wasn't selected first round. The other player who was vocal was TMac, and he was demoted from the leadership group. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

One of the best things the Saints did was to completely tag Zorko out of the game, so if we get rid of Maynard then we need to either make Vince a full time tagger, or bring in Bugg to play that role. For mine I'd drop Maynard and bring in Brayshaw, to cover for Vince in the back half and also Lewis's midfield time and ensure he plays back all game. I'd also play Tyson in place of Hannan and make Melky start of the back of the square at center bounces then up forward for the rest of the game, he got lost in between yesterday, but was very damaging pre-season as a near pure forward.

Zorko got completely tagged out of the game, I wonder if we'll try the same (we should I think). Maynard tried hard against Ablett, but that's not his natural role and he seemed all at sea whenever he happened to get the ball cause it seemed like he was too focused on tagging. I'd play either Bernie on Zorko or bring in Bugg as a tagger, he's got the fitness and loves the niggle.

Can only suggest that Brayshaw might not be 100% after the wisdom teeth and they might like another week of training with Tyson after that minor injury hold up. Although I think there's a chance one will come in if it is looking being wet Sunday arvo.

Hawkins doesn't normally damage us with his strength, he normally gets on the end of a few leads. With Hibberd and Lever there to fill space and read the play, we don't really need that 'gorilla' defender we all seemed to cry out for. Not saying Frost won't play but I still think as a pure defensive 50 player OMac is much better option, Frost needs to be able to use his speed to break away from the back 50, but we've got Hunt, Hibberd, Lewis, Vince, Lever etc. to do that.