The end is nigh

The amount of complaints about having Ben brown and Josh Schache on the list for too long was hard on the ears. IMO a list doesn’t need 6+ key forwards and we currently have Petty* Turner* JVR Jefferson Fullarton Johnson Kentfield* With Verrall as a ruck/fwd type on the list too. I get that petty and turner are swing types and kentfield is being trialed as a chb, but would rather not see any more brought on to the list until we decide someone is out first.

Big day for big Petty. I’m hoping for astounding clunks and set shot bullets. Great day for the challenges of many. Cheering extra hard for bowey and rivers to measure up to quality opponents. Hoping that little git Zorko get sufficiently quelled and is frustrated by his own lack of relevance. Dees by 22, 28 at 3/4 time (Yes I’m delusional, please let me enjoy it until reality kicks in)

Mitch Hardie looks too good at this level. Should get a go above midseason, which will be a huge loss for Casey

Picking for positives, I do like that Trac nailed (every time fairly) hustwaite holding the ball at least 3 times, so demoralising that he was subbed. Lindsay and Langford are showing their weaponry now, albeit short of four quarters. So much excitement for their futures.

Thought Lindsay was very good. Hawks wings aren’t mugs and he held his own and looked every bit the player I was hoping for. Won some very creative possessions. Turner went forward and the flood gates opened for them. I like what he does up forward but until we have lever back we need him in defence. Another great game by Gawn. Cherishing every memorable performance I get to witness now.

-10 Jefferson. Quite possibly a double agent. 6 Gawn 5 petracca 4 langford 3 Lindsay 2 Pickett 1 bowey

Great get! Would love to hear from him about so many things, he’s fast becoming a favourite. Who does he gravitate to at the club for his down time and for what kind of activities? (Is he more likely to play fifa with clarry, play golf with May or go bouldering with Langdon?) Where does he see himself making his greatest impact positionally? Has he picked up and incorporated any unusual/unexpected activities from teammates that have accelerated his progression?

Love that trajectory ghosty, will make for a record setting finals series!

I think the point changes make the comp a lot more fair. Brisbane and Collingwood can’t just trade for picks the way Gold Coast has in years past. If you are bringing in a player above their worth now, you’ll have to give up something big for it.

There will be a huge premium placed on picks with points attached. We have to amass enough for a father son (fingers crossed) and an academy player. In past years it’s been a buyers market but with Gold Coast and Collingwood most notably and no doubt many more needing to find points it’s going to be tough to get what we need. Can see us taking a deficit into 26 draft

Jonty faull for the tigers might be straight out of the draft but he is tall and his marking ability should be given some respect. With lynch and him out there we have to replace disco down back with a tall. If it has to be petty for a week, I hope whoever replaces him forward plays with the same hunger and presence. I’d rather see JVR sent back than adams in at this point personally. It’s been a few years but he was a good chb as a junior who also showed promise as a forward.

Was so happy to see turner at home at centre half back (best lever role replacement on the list imo) but protocols so he’s out. But also, we play against a different team each week. We need the match committee to be allowed to be tactical without berating them. If they say, bring Jefferson or JVR in to play petty back on Tom lynch, I’ll back them in that they think it’s best for getting the win. (Just an example, I think petty stays forward and Tmac does that job)

Something that was clear to me today at the ground was there was much better assessment of the setup when kicking out. It wasn’t May’s ‘kick it long to Gawn’ over and over. Instead they looked to create, looking for run and overlap at times and other times precision delivery to work it out slowly by our trusted kickers. Bowey is a great playmaker and I hope when May returns he doesn’t bully his way into taking every kick out.

There’s lots of pieces to move about but changes I really want to see: Disco in to play CHB, lever type roaming role. Came to the club and played this role at Casey to knock the door down for his debut. If he took an intercept mark a quarter and had a few spoils (with low frees against) that would be a huge win. Kynan in to tag serong. If he can’t last the game, no worries. Give him help. Sub him out if he empties his tank. But let him have a chance to make a difference. I have no doubt he is willing to try. A win for him in my eyes would be 12 touches and 8+ tackles. (That said Serong is a gun and could pick him or any one of our players apart on his day)

Don’t mind it. Very different coaching style; has a hard edge about him and can back foot the media if they come at us. Feel like when one of our players gets poked in the eye from a fend off which isn’t called high, bevo would work it into the press conference post match.

Two years ago we had two many key talls, now it seems everyone wants to fill the list with more. I’d be looking at a ruck and a key defender (although white is likely to fill one of these roles) given our list profile. May and Gawn will leave gaping holes if they decline as they well should at their ages. Replacing them should be higher priority than bemoaning first rounders who haven’t come on and filling the list with more. A coach who teaches forward craft to these kids would serve us far better. JVR and Jefferson are not spent. Personally I’ll be satisfied if we don’t mortgage our future any further. Pick up white and sinnema and hopefully snag a late ruck prospect, Jason Taylor has had far less opportunities to influence the back end of the draft in recent years.

.. commit to doing 200 push ups before our next game. If we keep losing, at least I’ll have something to show for it.

Can definitely give that goal to the umps.

For mine, the go big targets are at Gold Coast. With Ben king as their developed key, the two below in Ethan Read and Jed Walters both look like future stars. Towering (both 200+), quick, and with serious footy attributes. Academy kids, yes. So hard to dislodge. But playing three talls, as well as having Mac Andrew presenting as a good forward, maybe one sees the opportunity to own a forward line of their own and be the head line act.

Missed the last quarter so little said by me on the players, but I’m a big fan of the English fella doing the commentary. Knows the players, and adds extra tidbits when he sees appropriate lulls. His off sider who was doing special comments, awful. Added very little of value and brought any banter to a virtual standstill, which speaks to the the others guys skill being able to overcome the handicap. Glad he does a lot of Casey matches, hope he gets some help soon though.

Hoping Langford bangs the door down from the start. Clearances. Goals. Get it Harvey!

My guess is they are really impressed with both Sharp and Lindsay

Just curious with all the talk of father sons, is kynan in full training? Hoping so and he’s just not standing out

Played a while as one of the original “quarterback” accumulators. Got loads of the ball and used it well in a time where it mattered little. More half back than pocket, and a weapon anywhere on the field. Has all Australian vibes where you just have to shoehorn the stars in though.

I need more updates on GW’s nail! Is it a just a chip or a complete loss? How long until full recovery?? Will it hinder her efforts at training? I thought the clubs media game was on the improve but the lack of reports coming out about this are worrying