joeboy

Bail - pace and endeavour Bartram - outstanding all game Bate - slowly finding touch Bennell - wonderful up forward Bruce - reliable all game Davey - consecutive outstanding games Dunn - becoming important ingredient Frawley - becoming elite defender Garland - steady and reliable Green - classy and composed Grimes - fantastic last quarter Jamar - in oustanding form Jones - aggressive and steady MacDonald - composed and reliable McDonald - wonderful captain's game Moloney - loved his endeavour Petterd - not as dangerous Scully - improving each week Trengove - this week's nomination Warnock - obliterated all opposition McKenzie - improved beyond expectations Newton - played important role

Spencer played for Casey yesterday

Actually after viewing the replay I have changed my opinion on Bruce's game. I actually think he played exceedingly well in an unfamiliar role against taller and stronger opponents . He obviously made 1 or 2 glaring handling errors , but on the whole he was tight , composed , and put his body on the line on a number of occasions when required

I believe it may have even been from friendly fire via a Joel MacDonald swinging hand

If Junior was on Swan , then I retract my comments unreservedly . I did note that Swan was not a contributer , but I thought it was Bartram on him for much of the day .

Bail - surprised us all Bartram - excellent tagging game Bate - slow and unsure Bennell - effective forward pressure Bruce - some crucial turnovers Davey - player of old Dunn - some important possessions Frawley - tough and uncompromising Green - a wonderful leader Grimes - superlatives not enough Jamar - career best performance Jones - losing his way MacDonald - a great improvement McDonald - age has wearied Moloney - good , not great Petterd - always a danger Scully - some telling clangers Strauss - responsibility beyond capability Trengove - some important touches Warnock - excellent all day McKenzie - loved his game Newton - didn't take chance

I actually gave him votes ( admittedly by default ) My 3 word analysis was based on the overwelming memory of his performance , and his kicking was amateurish IMO !

6 - Grimes 5 - Trengove 4 - Scully 3 - Green 2 - Bruce 1 - Frawley

Bate - failed to impress Bennell - mistake after mistake Bruce - occasional positive involvement Davey - lost on flank Dunn - tried but failed Frawley - abysmal kicking game Green - our only forward Grimes - amongst the better Jamar - should have excelled Jones - same old same MacDonald - slow and unsure McDonald - many meaningless possessions Miller - had no influence Moloney - career worst game Petterd - doesn't deserve selection Rivers - was rarely sighted Scully - gradually gained confidence Strauss - nowhere near ready Trengove - gave exciting glimpses Warnock - was emphatically beaten McKenzie - not the worst Spencer - slow and cumbersome

Maybe it's time for me to become J Boy

Warnock - little to commend Jones - used ball well Bate - needed the run Miller - our only forward Frawley - strong , poor disposal Trengove - just a game Sylvia - played 1 quarter McKenzie - needs more time Dunn - an impressive game Petterd - probably 2 possessions Green - easily our best Maric - quiet 3 quarters Moloney - just bombed ball McDonald - worth his weight Cheney - was rarely sighted McNamara - little to commend Scully - good but clumsy Bruce - excellent in moderation Martin - failed Bailey's directions Davey - didn't push hard Hughes - out of depth Jamar - tried as expected Spencer - needs more time Bennell - often found out Bail - was rarely sighted Strauss - deserves his place

I am certainly amongst the ones who attended the game on Saturday who believed that Jamar's game was top class . There is no doubt in my mind that he clearly won the centre ruck duels with outstanding directional palming of the ball and strong work in close . Bearing in mind that this his pre season has been modified and restricted , I thought his performance was top class . In further defence of his game , I cannot clearly remember one time that he failed to use the ball to his team's advantage , but even if he hadn't played well I'd agree with you that ' compared to steph Martin ' ..' he is gold ' BTW his opponents were rated on their performances up forward , not in the rucking contest , IMO.

Bail - little to enthuse Bartram - very limited involvement Bell - good on Watson Bennell - loose and fumbled Cheney - was rarely sighted Fitzpatrick - had no possessions Frawley - some uncharacteristic clangers Grimes - one shining beacon Jamar - dominated the hitouts Jones - mistake riddled game Jurrah - not our saviour MacDonald - liked his game Maric - just a child Martin - certainly no ruckman Miller - had no impact Moloney - very quiet game Morton - quiet before injury Newton - limited game time Petterd - only winning forward Rivers - exceedingly quiet game Scully - definitely showed class Strauss - gradually showed something Sylvia - wonderful first half Trengove - very little impact McKenzie - provided some energy

Tongue in cheek - but yes

Jurrah - embarrassing performance Bennell - mistake ridden game Davey - couldn't get near it Jetta - clangers galore

Bail - a surprise packet Bartram - showed improved skills Bell - was rarely sighted Bennell - assured and impressive Cheney - was rarely sighted Davey - had little involvement Dunn - beefy but effective Frawley - loved his application Green - in the best Fitzpatrick - nowhere near ready Grimes - composed and unstoppable Gysberts - had minimal impact Jamar - played 2 quarters Jetta - had little impact Jones - an impressive game Jurrah - the best forward Maric - occasional poor disposal Martin - not a ruckman McNamara - had minimal impact Miller - a regular contributer Moloney - fit and strong Morton - an excellent performance Newton - little to enthuse Petterd - noticeably stronger game Rivers - enjoyed his enthusiasm Strauss - valuable game experience Sylvia - disposals at will Warnock - was beaten early Hughes - just a game McKenzie - showed promising glimpses Scully - better second half Spencer - gaining in confidence Trengove - reason for excitement

I only got to hear the latter portion of the interview this evening but can only marvel at the enthusiasm and dedication CC has for the club . There was no doubting at any stage in the interview that he was not trying to drum up memberships with his super positive slant on things , and it was only when the name Jim Stynes was brought up that he mellowed somewhat , but still managed to draw a positive out of the inspiration the President brought to the club just by his presence . Amongst the many significant comments he made was the mention of how exciting it was to have the raw brilliance of Trengrove ( his pronounciation )and Scully . He had no doubt that they were ready made players but would most likely be held back through the year to ensure they were not overworked . Grimes was mentioned as being a likely backman , even though he was being used on the ball at training . Of significance , he pointed out , was how highly Gimes had been regarded by his peers after being just pipped in the vote for a leadership role , even though he'd only played 12 games . CC made mention of the backline , after coaxing by The Ox , and believed that a fit Garland , coupled with superfit Rivers , a powerful and confident Frawley and Warnock , and the brilliance of the rebounding Grimes and Bennell would be the catalyst for ongoing success . Wona was mentioned as being on target for round one as he appears to have overcome the persistant soft tissue niggles of last year , whilst Watts gives constant reminders at training as to why he was so highly regarded as a junior , and with further work on his 90kg body there was no doubt that he would be thrilling supporters for years . Moloney was given rave reviews by CC because of his obvious heart on sleeve love for the club , along with his his willingness to foster this adoration amongst the newer members of the playing group . The ruck division was touted as being te main area for concern , with Spencer viewed as the long term heir to the number 1 position , though he believed the club was extremely fortunate to snare Gawn and Fitzpatrick with late selections , ostensibly because of prior injuries that had befallen them last year .It was perhaps telling that Jamar and Johnson were relegated to ' fighting for the ruck position 'along with Meesen , and the previously mentioned draftees . Finally , and most affectingly was his comment that the players were jumping out of their skins and ready to play today .

He's not really ' burning up the track ' but he IS showing terrific application along with Trengove and Tapscott , in particular .

Not in my starting 22 either but as a regular attendee at training this year I can vouch for the fact that he has not been idle over Summer and is looking exceedingly fit and strong .

PJ

I was there for about 90 minutes and witnessed an impressive and vigorous session. My most enduring memory of proceedings though was seeing Jim Stynes walking the boundry and personally greeting every supporter . Certainly he continues to look frail and gaunt but his firm handshake suggests that he is doing well . The young and lively recruits , as expected , tended to draw the most attention , and of the newbies Tapscott continues to impress me the most , and not just for his amazing build . From my recollection all players were doing some form of training , but those precluded from kicking were in a group comprising : Wona , Bate , Garland , Spencer , Gawn , Blease , Jamar . Scully was doing kicking work and as we can expect , he was focussed and driven in all his movements . I was impressed with Sylvia's work ethic along with usual suspects Jones and Moloney . Special reference should also be made of Mega who gladdened the heart of a 'slow ' young supporter by spending around 10 minutes of kick to kick with him before serious training began .

He WAS running and he WAS handballing - he wasn't kicking and he did go bike riding

I didn't mention it in my earlier thread , and the point doesn't appear to have been noted by other attendees today , but Matty Bate has worked overtime in the gym over the break and his upper body shape is actually very distinctive now . I have no hesitation in saying that he is now built along the lines we'd expect of a full time CHF - he has the height , smarts , kicking skills , and now , strength , to make this most important of positions his own .

I stayed for 90 minutes , until the heat overwhelmed me , and the following observations were noted: Scott West seemed to be issuing most of the instructions and I didn't notice if Bailey was present . Morton has finally developed a chest and arm definition.He is also wearing his hair longer . Moloney has massive arms Tapscott is extremely fit and strong . Scully is very scrawny and pale , but knows how to handle the football . Jurrah did not train with the main group , but did 200m run throughs only , and appeared to be struggling . Wona also did run throughs , without discomfort , but was not the lithe bodied player we noted at pre season last year . Garland was involved in alot of the main drills , though I didn't notice him kicking . He appeared fit and strong . Watts , like Morton , has developed definition in his arms and shoulders , but still appears to need significant more building up before he can hold his own amongst the Scarletts of the world . Sylvia looks remarkable and appears to bear the same countenance that led me to predict his coming out season last year , about the same time of year . He will have a top season if his body stands up ! Gawn and Spencer are both huge boys , with the latter having obviously added significantly to last year's relatively light frame . Green looks supremely fit . Davey was enthusiastic and involved as ever - he is a leader . Trengove showed classy movement with the ball . Gysberts is a nice , smooth mover and seemed to enjoy his involvement at training . Maric doesn't look scrawny or hunched now ,and appears to have worked hard and unhindered in the pre season. Jamar didn't seem to do anything other than slow laps from my observation . Dunn was probably the most enthusiastic trainer in at my view . He did everything with thorough conviction and application and enthusiasm . Newton was also an impressive trainer , much to the dismay of many at Demonland , I'm sure .

Watch footage of him on You Tube and you'll be hugely impressed . He's a boy mountain , and obviously still growing , whilst his athleticism for one so tall is outstanding , as is his desire to put himself into a contest . I think we can feel as excited about this one as we do about our first two picked prodigies .