mo64

I just listened to it, and there was nothing to suggest that there is any lure to return to WA. Gus said that he's getting a kick (playing well), and reading between the lines, I took that to mean that he's entitled to a decent contract. But he said that Dogga will get his, which I took as Jackson's the no.1 priority for the club, and Gus' contract is secondary. Gus then reiterated how much he loved the guys he's playing with. I don't think you can draw any conclusions from the podcast.

I disagree with your take on Bedford and Chandler. At this stage of their career, they should be primary midfielders at Casey. They play well enough to occasionally get amongst the best, but I've yet to see them dominate at VFL level. I don't see either of them as walk up starts in any AFL side. If ANB. Kozzie or Spargo got injured, Jordon or Sparrow would take over the role.

If Trac is out, Jordon becomes part of the midfield rotation, and Brayshaw moves back to the wing. Smith or Petty come in.

Pretty obvious from Goody's presser that Petty is considered best 22. If they want to give Petty another game in the VFL, I doubt that Tomlinson would get dropped for Smith, and then dropping Smith for Petty the following week. Whilst Salem and Hibberd are out, Gus will remain in the backline, which isn't a problem with the way JJ is playing on the wing.

Knightmare's demise from Bigfooty is of his own doing. He was initially warned for posting links to his ESPN Youtube channel, which the Mods eventually let slide. Then he had a link to a crypto investment advice business in his profile signature. That was the final straw for the Mods, and rightly so. They suspended his signature, but not his account. Knightmare cracked the sads, and won't be a major contributor. I thought his draft rankings were a good read, but over the last 2 years he's never seen a live match, and yet is the self proclaimed Draft Expert. I think he drinks his own bathwater.

The stand-in coaches are 3 for 3. All the tactics are worked out during the week, and gone are the days of the hot gospellers who motivated players on gameday.

100% agree that the incidents were the same, and English should have been suspended. If the AFL is trying to mitigate against players suffering post career head trauma, then as you say, it's nonsense that English gets off because Blakey didn't appear to suffer any immediate effects.

Ryder had the option of smothering the kick. His suspension was the most uncontroversial of the year. If you choose to bump and the opposition player suffers a head knock, you are gone. Everyone knows that.

Rosman's kicking technique is fine, similar to Anthony Ingerson. His biggest problem is his decision making by hand and foot when not under pressure. Has the tools, but needs more time at VFL level.

Ok WCW, we know you're into cryptic crosswords, and I think I've worked it out. The Stranglers - Golden Brown - Gold and Brown - Hawthorn. There is a Hawthorn supporter in our midst who tried to get you over to the dark side.

Chandler - Looks like he has the tools for AFL level, but has been like a deer in headlights when given the chance. Bedford - My biggest knock on him is his kicking. Truly awful. Again, he's been underwhelming when given a chance. Laurie - Too early to make an assessment. Does some nice things at VFL level, but will need time to develop. Hopefully another JJ and Sparrow, who both had to bide their time. It was interesting that Yze mentioned on the Demonland Podcast that all the mids are expected to play as forwards. I'd prefer to have Harmes, Sparrow, Trac, Clarry, ANB and Viney resting up forward than elevating either Chandler or Bedford. So unless Spargo and Kozzie get injured, I don't see either of them as best 22.

My comment is based on the Fox report. I'm not selling Gus short. I believe he's more value to us as a defensive wingman/defender. Whilst Gus had a good 2018 as an inside mid, he regressed in 2019, 2020. I'd hardly say that he's excelled in that role. It's all conjecture at the moment, but if there's any truth that Gus' role and subsequent financial rewards are a determining factor as to whether he stays or leaves, then the club has to do what's best for the club. FWIW, I think he'll 100% stay because he seems to be so invested in the team.

We've seen him impact a game twice in 5 years. T Mac was better last night, and plays a different role. Brown comes in for Weid.

Sorry to break it to you Gus, but your best football has been as a defensive wingman or as a defender. As an inside mid, the media keep using his 3rd in the Brownlow as his yardstick, but Gus finished 6th in the BnF, and in the subsequent 2 seasons he finished 8th. He's never been an A grade inside mid, that warrants a club throwing big bucks at him. It's similar to the Blues getting Zac Williams as a FA and paying him ridiculous money on the premise that he would be a midfielder.

This game reminded me of our clash in 1997 where the roles were reversed. Balmey decided to park the bus and we never looked like scoring. I think Juice Newton may have kicked 2 of our 3 goals. Balmey was sacked post game. If anyone deserves to be sacked it's the director of umpiring. All year the umpires have focussed on paying frees for minimal contact or ridiculous blocking in ruck contests. It's got to the point where they've forgotten the basic rules like you have to bounce the ball (Mitch Georgiadis), and Lycett was allowed to hip toss Max in a boundary throw-in. It must be so frustrating for the players.

Not confident at all, especially without Ben Brown. Don't see Weid kicking a bag again, so unless Fritta steps up, I can see the game being a low scoring slog.

They're not going to play ducks and drakes by flying him over and not playing him. If he's unfit, they'd leave him in Melbourne.

My old school in Essendon has never offered sports scholarships and currently have 9 old boys playing AFL. It's all due to their facilities and the coaching they provide. Conversely, I can't name a single academic that went to the school. Then again, my oldest brother went to the local high school in the late '60s, and the team included Geoff Blethyn, David Dench and Ken Montgomery.

Kicked bags full of goals for Northcote Park in the DVFL. He must have changed clubs a bit.

I just listened to the podcast, and I don't think you could draw any conclusions based on what Yze said. Where we are at as a club, we will continue to develop a player regardless of whether they are a pending free agent or out of contract. Times have changed from the Bailey tanking era and when Roos had pending free agent Frawley playing up forward.

H&S protocols doesn't mean he has Covid.

Bedford was sub last week, so omission means that he returns to the emergency list until sub is announced.

Mitch Brown wasn't hit in the head when collected. It seemed like he was blindsided by a bump, and initially it looked like he was winded. It may be a rib injury of some sort.

In the VFL game against Sandy, JVR was cramping really badly towards the end of the game. Hopefully it was just cramp, and he didn't miss the game against the Bombers through injury. I'd be shocked if he played this week.

Rosman is a bit of a conundrum. He has all the physical attributes to be a good AFL player, but his football IQ is low. On the positive side, he took some nice one grab contested marks, and is extremely quick for his size. He did a fantastic chase down from behind, but unfortunately was penalised for high contact. On the negative side, he got caught out of position in contests, and on one occasion when we moved the ball all the way up the flank, he inexplicably handballed to 2 Bombers players. The backline is definitely his go, but he needs to get better at defending and decision making to be close to consideration for the seniors. I'd persist with him, and can see him being another Joel Smith.