Gator

I don't agree with you on a couple of fronts. Firstly, I find most posters on here own their opinions pretty well. I thought Neal-Bullen wouldn't make it, because he was exposed in the midfield as making poor decisions and skill executions under pressure. His turn around is a revelation and I have no qualms in acknowledging this. Secondly, there are supporters who simply are satisfied with bog ordinary players. Tonnes of Matt Jones have come through the MFC and there are always supporters who overrate the contribution of said types of players. Let's face it, you're going to get the odd one right occasionally.

It's as much structural. They obviously want 2 talls and 4 small/mediums. And Hibberd plays pretty tall and intercept marks well also.

In 10 years time some posters will still be spelling Bayley Bailey.

Other Harmes has 'surprised' me the most this off-season, closely followed by Melksham, who's also gone to a new level.

I thought the McDonald kick hit the post when I watched it a second time. The camera pans away from the umpire, so you don't get to see if he taps the point post.

His rate of improvement is phenomenal. The other player that has looked twice the player is Harmes. He could be a revelation as a rotating mid. Plus, of course, Melksham, who really is a class footballer and a difficult matchup. In fact, many players are elevating their game.

Fritsch has courage in the air.l

Round one is still a month away and "sadly" posters are agreeing re Brayshaw and his role. Hopefully they'll be happy soon.

There's one massive difference between Fritsch and Watts. What is it ?

It's not unreasonable to think we won't make the eight. I don't blame anyone for not trusting us. But I do expect insightful analysis. Btw, we'll be better than Port. We have a better and more balanced list. They do not have one elite defender and barely any I'd put in the very good category. I also have us ahead of the others you place us on a par with. Essendon have zero grunt in their midfield. They will be slaughtered by the good teams, because they don't win contested footy. We're now ahead of St Kilda by some margin. They lack genuine class. And perhaps you can tell me who's going to kick Footscray's goals ? We beat all three last year and I expect the gap too grow. It's one thing not being biased and another not understanding the opposition's strengths and weaknesses.

Correction. Pedersen has never kicked 4 goals in a game.

Surely posters realise we'll pick our best team available in JLT2 ? It's not about "hoping to see" anyone, it's about our best team preparing for round one.

Do me a favour. Rather than guess, it's your job to tally who gets caught and how often around stoppages in 2018. Thanks in advance.

You don't understand the modern game. Lever is the general who is the zone king. Yes, he'll occasionally get caught out, but his reading of the play is his greatest asset. He could easily play tight and be a lesser player. But that wouldn't make a lot of sense would it ?

Every player gets caught in congestion. If you don't see some of his quality releases in close then watch closer. And maybe wait until a game has been played in anger in 2018.

I sometimes wonder what people watch. I've been critical of Oscar at times, but he showed his development today. He spoiled well, he's a far better kick than his Brother and hits targets, and he outbodied Brown to win a 1v1 marking contest. He looks stronger and more composed. And he's 3-4 years from his best footy. McDonald takes Brown. Brown is beaten and has a stinker. McDonald is criticised.

Probably the worst observation of a player I've read on here.

My Brother was there on Wednesday and said he was participating in match simulation drills and looked impressive, especially his pace. But I take little notice of people's views on training. I saw Toumpas in a practice match one year and he was hopeless. But he did kick 3 soft goals. Later that day Demonlanders were talking him up based on that performance. Weideman hasn't looked agile enough to me with his lateral movement, but his ankle may have been impeding him.

I think it's pretty obvious that after an interrupted preseason he'll need a rich vein of form at Casey before he's promoted. I expect him to move and look better in 2018. I suspect his ankle, which has had off season surgery, inhibited his lateral movement.

These two matches are dress rehearsals for round one and they've stated they'll be picking the best available teams. Other than Lever, the two non MFC debutantes I'm hoping to see are Fritsch and Balic. At this stage the others are either developing, depth, or both.

Weideman is looking quicker at training and has bulked up noticeably. They want to get games into him this year. Hogan playing midfield minutes and Tom McDonald relieving in the ruck helps enable this. Not to mention Deespencer's excellent post re game-plan/Hogan above.

I was having a discussion re Tyson's pace this week. The consensus was his pace is ok, but more importantly, for someone not blessed with speed it rarely hurts him. He's rarely run down or rushed. He's one of those few players with time. If he can eliminate the 2 or 3 brain fades per game he can become a very good player. This has been his best preseason and at 24 he's only now entering his best years as a footballer. If a fit Tyson isn't making the team we'll be ridiculously good.

Tyson has had his best preseason since arriving at the club. He looks leaner and according to one track watcher I know he was moving better than he's seen him. I doubt a minor calf niggle will greatly impact his year.

A formal leadership group should never be more than 10% of your list/group, otherwise the message gets diluted, as a poster above correctly pointed out. I wasn't expecting this streamlined approach, but it's a great decision. And it doesn't mean that those who missed out don't have a voice.

One would have to be very Left to think labelling the ABC Left is "unfair".