The end is nigh

If Melbourne wins the flag on the back of a fit max firing in September, the Grundy trade is a big factor. To have Gawn this fresh this late in a year is a credit to the clubs list management

But clearly would push someone back to Casey. Commentary seemed to be saying harmes was injured (wasn’t able to watch closely unfortunately) but if he plays for Casey he’s a 30 touch mid. As is jordon. Even taj racks em up. Definitely stretched down back without turner and Tomlinson intercepting and Howes out now is just added pain. Wondering if Tmac (if deemed fit) or Schache is sent down back given the height up forward being excessive

Tmac might squeeze out a fairy tale, getting back on his feet right in time.

Usually yes. But not this kid. Which says just how special he is. He creates goals from the smallest of opportunity. Worthy of a top 3 pick, top 5 would be sliding. Watson would push spargo to Casey and do his role with aplomb and our on field profile wouldnt vary much. I’ve resigned myself to it being out of our hands anyway. Hoping for freos pick to be 4 and offering an impressive point bundle to gc (saving just enough for kynan as a third pick. Our first at 15-18 plus two second rounders 22 and ~33 surely is worthy and unmatchable by other clubs.)

Watson does all the things right but in recent drafts both north and hawks have collected high pick mids. I can’t see Watson getting passed the hawks who still rely heavily on Breust. Watson a sneaky chance for rising star. Has all the flashy talents to get a nomination early and then kick 30+ for the year.

Another great impact game from smith who is now closing in on his longest run of games ever. I think we are exceptionally lucky to be able to use a player whose athletism is clearly afl standard but whose endurance never has been. Exposing smith to full games may never again be problematic but this man has had a treacherous career plagued with injuries. Happy for him to own the sub role and get through the year playing a quarter a week.

Browns third quarter was good.

Knew that with BT’s eyesight he’d have no comment to offer on it. Wouldn’t have had a clue who it was

Jordan to tag crouch an option?

Minding their pacy forward is proving to be testing and the hit up mark on the wing hasn’t been there. Need the forwards to rotate up to be that option. Brown, trac, melk and JVR. Adelaide doing lots of block/grapple work to keep them quiet. Umps will chirp in if our forward go the ball in air (as they have a couple times already)

This intensity and will to impact is so hard to beat, keep it up dees!

Duursma seemed to play taller than I expected. Strong marks were impressive, but his brother has speed and run at ground level which I didn’t see as much as I hoped for. Based off this one performance (which isn’t enough) I’d rather draft Nate caddy to play the same hit up hff role. A wait and see for our draft hand.

This Grundy kid looks pretty well built. If he can work on his leading patterns and goal kicking, he’s a chance to get a run in the seniors

Anyone catch what number duursma is in? Keen on this kid as an option

I think the other side to it all for me is hope. Since winning a flag it’s easy to forget how it used to be but I remember the joy of Jesse hogan winning for the brightness of the future it created. Recent father sons have fudged things a little but often a rising star comes from a high draft pick, which usually means it’s attached to a club with little else to celebrate. I can understand the disinterest, but on dark days you take what you can get.

Disagree. An award celebrates the achievement of young players, why scrap that? Each week after the nomination when the player gets a bit of media time the public gets a chance to know them better. I doubt there is any distraction of consequence in this. I love the award, love the weekly nomination and hope that taj lands one in coming weeks off the back of a brilliant effort game! (Love Judd too, if he kept Cameron goalless this week and had 15 touches and some strong defensive numbers, I’d lobby hard for his nomination)

That’s a very potent forward line for vfl standards. Hopefully see them put on a huge score and a few put up bags for the selectors to notice

Add one more to the mass of elated fans, I love that he’s earned the debut now too. But so help me, if he misses even one shot on goal…

Smith to play frittas role and JVR in. Hopefully smith can decoy well enough and pressure because I don’t trust him to sink frittas boundary shots. Still pressures and contests. Give him a fly at a dry ball on a third tall (not sure who this is for saints now) clarry in for harmes. off broadway selection for mine is Andy moniz Wakefield. Woewodin did kick 3 as well for Casey but amw is a forward and that’s the spot that needs filling. I’d suggest a swap for anb just so goody doesn’t pick it up on the team sheet. if clarry can’t get up, Jordan to play full minutes as an inside mid. Offers more than harmes.

Harmes was well outside protected zone. You have to wonder how far around you can run before it’s play on. Round one it was half a step

Would love to see our first rounders utilised on talent rather than shoehorning a trade to fit a deal just because it’s there. A cheap (although I’d assume he’d get other bids to drive the price up) Georgiadis would be good, but a drafted Nate caddy could be so much more. With brown McDonald Schache Van Rooyen and Jefferson on the list, it’s a squeeze but the two oldest will likely not be renewed beyond next year. If the freo death ride can land us caddy, I for one will be ecstatic.

Loved the building game of JVR and looking forward to seeing how he goes against imo a close checking in form Murphy. Strong hands can get it done but Murphy puts a heavy body on and makes it tough. Regarding McVee, I feel he’s loving Salem in the side and suspect Salem is loving it too. An apprentice pushing his master to show off what can be done. But on topic, McVee is unlikely to get a nomination nod unless there’s a slow week and they want to reward a solid season. Maybe a 20 touch game at 90%+ efficiency in the last three rounds once all the potential winners have been named. No insult intended, just the reality that his position is rarely glamourised.

In the highlights I saw of Jefferson playing as a junior, it seemed he excelled in an emptied out forward line where he could beat a 1 on 1 opponent. I believe he won’t get this at Casey in the same line up as seasoned vets like brown/tmac and even Schache. Whether or not he needs this to exploit his greatest attributes is yet to be seen. Happy for him to have something of a gap year, developing in the gym and working on adding strings to his bow whilst we have other options ahead of him.

Funnily enough, I think the commentators have been decent. Their ad libs aren’t great, and their knowledge does present as local bias, but the call of the action has been accurate. Which is far superior to the dartboard shots BT takes at players and calls.

Very fortunate timing to get that kick to spargo in time. Smart play as it turned out