mo64

People stating that we have depth are kidding themselves. We seriously lack quality mids. Which is why I think that JKH will be groomed as a mid rather than a small forward. Contrary to what Roos may have said about him on arrival, Garlett will play as a permanent small forward.

Watts' has hardly had a pre-season, and in a brief appearance in last week's match sim, he hardly got involved, despite having acres of space. I'm sure that previous coaches/asst. coaches have tried to influence Jack. The drive has to come from within.

The way I saw it, there was very little forward pressure, let alone a forward press, which is what they'll experience on match day. Players should be able to spot up a target, or at the very least put the ball to the advantage of their teammate, at a higher efficiency than I saw today. I'll admit that I get frustrated easily. A case in point was early on in the match sim, Pedo took a fantastic contested mark about 45m out on the boundary. He takes one step back and tries a 20m pass to Hogan in pocket. He had no momentum in his kick and it landed short of Hogan. He did the same thing up the other end. It may not look like a skill error or a silly mistake, but in my eyes it shouldn't happen at AFL level.

It was in the forward pocket at the Northern End AAMI Park side.

Trust me Sue it happened, and it was unsavoury. It was behind play, and the guy standing next to me didn't see it, so I'm not surprised that it went unnoticed. Dawes was apologetic to Jetta for some time afterwards.

As I found your comments about Spencer.

Not sure if it was a coach's instruction that led to Garland copping a spray from Jones. There was a switch in play and Garland took a mark at CHB, 15 metres in the clear. He could have easily taken off and pumped the ball to a leading forward. Instead he went back and chipped a 25m pass to White on a flank, who was under pressure, but probably should have taken the mark.

I really pumped him up after the match sim 2 weeks ago, so maybe I had high expectations for him. He made a couple of obvious mistakes in front of me that stuck in my head.

Like I said TDI, I look at training from the perspective of where we'll improve, remembering that we're coming from a low starting base. In perfect conditions, it was very rare for the ball to move from one end of the ground to the other without a mistake. My views aren't jaundiced by having emotional attachments to individual players. And I'm cynical about what an assistant coach would say to a supporter. Do you honestly think that he'd say the "it was pathetic, and you can quote me on that"?

Struggled today. Used a bit in centre clearances and a bit of half back. Jones, Tyson and Viney dominated the clearances, and Newton did little of half back.

Just got back from training, and BB was pretty much spot on with his analysis. I went there looking at structures, ball movement and the role that individual players were given. I'm basically looking at where we'll be better from past years. Positives Salem was outstanding. Toumpas was really good when he's given space, and his disposal was great. Tyson, N.Jones and Viney were the best of the mids. Hogan and Garlett will improve our forward line. Thought that Kent was also good up forward. Frost really impressed me at times with his clean ball handling and run. Of the youngsters, Stretch was impressive apart from one badly missed target at the end. He looks like he could be an inside/outside mid. Vandenburg did a couple of nice things. Oscar Mac may take time to develop, but looks like a footballer. Wasn't as impressed with White as BB. He's got nice size about him, and got involved, but struggled a bit in one on one contests. Negatives In what were ideal conditions, the number of missed targets was atrocious. I won't individualise because there were too many to remember. Dawes. If players can get reported during intra club match drills, he would be missing for another 4 weeks. Jetta was playing on him, and beat him every time in a body on body contest. In frustration, Dawes smashed him across the chops, in what can only be described as a cowardly act. Jetta was down for some time, then went off the ground shaken. Spencer. It's an indictment on a player when an assistant coach yells out to his opponent "you're on Spencil". The ball was duly kicked Spencer's opponent, who took the mark and ran off. There were a couple of other shocking efforts that I could point out. And before Saty or BB say that everyone makes mistakes, Spencer would be lucky to get involved in 5 acts of play during a game, excluding ruck contests. General Observations Backs - We have no shortage of backman who are capable in a one on one contest. But when opposition teams apply a forward press, we need players capable of clearing the ball through run or good foot skills. The backmen who can provide both are Jetta, Salem, and Dunn. T.Mac is a lock in as a kpb, but his skills are still average. Lumumba can provide some run and has good evasive skills, but is an ordinary kick. Frost has looked pretty good in the 2 match sims that I've seen. IMO, I wouldn't have Garland, Grimes of McKenzie in a starting 22. All are honest players, but we need more rebound and skill. Mids - Still a massive reliance on N.Jones and Tyson. Viney was good today. Michie was involved quite a bit but is very one paced, and hasn't got elite kicking skills. Really need Toumpas to have a breakout year. Forwards - Hogan is the only key forward we can rely on, and he hasn't played a game. Noticed Hogan deliberately punching the ball down to a waiting Garlett or Kent during one of the drills. Would like to see a structure that includes Garlett, Kent and JKH, because aside from Hogan, I struggle to see where the goals will come from. If we line up with Hogan, Dawes and [Pedersen], we'll struggle. Rucks - Jamar is still no.1 but doesn't offer much around the ground. Gawn has a presence when up forward, but doesn't impose as a ruckman. [Pedersen] did a bit of ruckwork in the match sim, and wouldn't mind seeing him used as a 2nd ruck /ruckrover. Spencer, Casey.

That's all well and good if the onfield coaches contribute during the game and are automatic selections. To say we are blessed to have those players is clutching at straws, and has had little impact in the win/loss column. And trust me, the players TDI stated are no Sam Mitchell or Luke Hodge.

TBO, Hogan looks like he knows what he's doing and Garland needs to find a spot in the team.. It's not nitpicking, because it's not all about getting it forwards at all costs. If the best option is a kick sideways, then that's what the player should do.

Not sure about that. Roos ripped into Salem during one of the match practice drills for playing on and kicking long after taking a mark. Even though Salem's teammate took a contested mark from the resultant kick, Roos deemed that he should have waited and looked for other options that were less contested. Roos is all about taking the right option, not necessarily getting it forwards at all costs. And your last comment is all very well if they intend becoming coaches down the track, because it counts for diddly squat on match day.

I don't mind Bail, and from what I've seen at training, he'll be used as a running backman. I'd really like all of our back 6 to be quality ball users, but we already have some deficient ball users with T.Mac and Grimes, and to a lesser extent Lumumba. Salem comes into the side, and maybe even Newton who looks like a great kick. I wouldn't be surprised if Bail was in the team come round 1, but I'm hoping that some better ball users can supplant him.

Totally agree. We really lack genuine clearance players, and if Vandenburg impresses at Casey and is upgraded, I can't see why he wouldn't be part of the midfield rotation. At the moment I'd say he's competing with the likes of Michie and Newton, and if he impresses in the NAB Cup, he may get an early call up. If he is selected, I'd rather see the likes of N.Jones and Tyson resting on a half forward, and giving him time in the middle.

Because he'd still be more useful than some of the other options. I doubt that he'll play round 1, but he's a certainty to be picked if fit.

FB: Jetta Dunn Howe HB: Lumumba T. Mac Salem C: Toumpas Tyson Newton HF: Watts Dawes Vince FF: Garlett Hogan JKH Ruck: Jamar N.Jones Viney Int: Gawn, Cross, Grimes, M.Jones Unlike most, I'm not convinced about Kent as a mid just yet, and I believe that JKH has greater potential to be a mid. He'd be battling with M.Jones for a spot on the bench. Rotations: Grimes rotates with Jetta, Lumumba, Salem. Cross rotates with N.Jones, Tyson, Viney. M.Jones rotates with Toumpas, Newton, Vince. Gawn rotates with Jamar, Dawes, Hogan. N.Jones, Tyson, Viney have spells in the forward line. Lumumba, Newton, Vince, JKH, Cross all being part of the midfield rotation.

There is a difference between "players on notice" and players who are tradeable or become free agents. Players on notice would be those whose life at the club or the AFL in general would be dependent on how they perform this year. IMO, they would be the following: McKenzie - One dimensional role player with no offensive skills. No other club would pick up if delisted. Terlich - Can find the footy, but poor disposal and option taking is a cardinal sin for a backman in the modern game. Doubt that another club would pick up if delisted. Spencer - Not up to AFL standard. Won't get picked up by another club. Fitzpatrick - Unless he can develop as a ruckman, he may get cut, as he is not a KPF. Another club will probably take a chance with him. M.Jones - Will be a starter in Round 1, but if he loses his place during the year to one of the younger mids (Stretch, ANB, Brayshaw, JKH, Toumpas), he may struggle to retain a place on the list. Personally, I'd keep him, but it'd be line ball. Doubt that another club would pick up if delisted. Grimes, Watts, Garland and Toumpas may be on notice for a position in our 22, but all have currency and would be picked up by another club.

The issue was the timing of the game. The lack of membership/merchandise was a realistic call from the club, given that very few would be able to attend. That is not a whinge, but an observation. And no offence Saty, but I'd rather a club official give an explanation for the timing of the game than your 3rd hand info from an unidentified source.

Surely Jetta and JKH will be unavailable for Round 1 given their disrupted preseason. In all seriousness, clubs can alter their training schedule when it really matters, depending on whether they play any time from Friday night to Sunday twilight. It's ludicrous to suggest that moving a practice match would be a huge impost on the training schedule. And what if it was 35 degrees at 3.00PM, surely that would impact on the recovery time of the players or the intensity of the practice match.

I think it's his technique as mentioned earlier. He runs at the ball with flat palms facing the ball. Hogan and most decent forwards don't raise their hands till the last minute. Hogan really does clunk the ball in a vice like grip when it comes to him. One of the final drills had an open forward line comprising of Dawes, Hogan, Pedo and Garlett and no defenders. The ball was moved from the backline and the forwards lead in different patterns, and whoever took the mark had a shot for goal. Garlett played as a high half forward and only touched it once. Pedo moved really well and grabbed everything. Hogan stood out with his mobility and presence. Dawes was either double grabbing them, or seemed to be too far under the ball which would have made it easy for a backman to spoil.

Not sure how "endeavour and commitment to the contest" equates in a football sense, when marking, kicking and handballing are not your strong suit. BTW, Spencer did cop a spray from Roos today for not running back to help out the defense. I do agree that Gawn is our best long term option, but I think you massively overrate Spencer and under sell Jamar. I thought that Jamar was hugely influential in our early season wins last year. I'll cut players some slack if they make a rare simple mistake. In Spencer's case I see it too often.

Not from a perfectly weighted 25m pass that hit the players' hands as if they were a brick wall, and bounced straight out. And there weren't too many obvious fumbles because the ball shouldn't be hitting the deck in a ball movement drill. I was going to post that I was disappointed with some of the 2 grab marks of Dawes when on the lead, but I'd be portrayed as an out and out pessimist. BB, you mentioned in your Friday training report that Gawn was the best ruckman during the match prac because of his work around the ground. If that's the case then Spencer should never get a game, because Jamar is infinitely better than Spencer around the ground.

It;s not an opinion. I heard Allison clearly say to the players involved that the objective was to hit the target with the receiving player moving forward. Terlich's kicks reached their target every time, but that wasn't the objective. Saty, if you were anywhere near where it happened, you would have seen Terlich give himself a fist pump after getting it right at the 4th attempt. And you clearly didn't see Spencer drop a sitter in the middle of the ground and fumble during one of the ball movement drills. For mine, it stands out like dog;'s balls, because it shouldn't happen at local level footy let alone AFL.