Mel Bourne

Interesting, because Lockhart debuted for us in the forward line. His first goal for the club (against Geelong) was a blinder, as were goals against the Bombers and Hawks in subsequent rounds. Then the decision was made to train him as a defender. I wonder if there was a similar approach with him as the one you’re suggesting with Bowey. Also as an aside, not suggesting for a second the kid isn’t hugely talented, but how do you arrive at calling somebody who hasn’t played a game at AFL level “elite”?

I really don’t get that. His form at Casey after (returning from injury) has been very good. He’s played great games at AFL level in the past, and he’s also a very good kick ??‍♂️

Why Bowey and not Lockhart?

Langdon in for Hunt, who’s shoulder will obviously benefit from a week’s rest Salem is still hampered by “general soreness”. Get him out, get him right In his place comes Lockhart, who was the leading possession-getter in the last game Casey were allowed to play. While it’s the case that we can’t give our reserves match-play, then get them playing in the real thing.

Jesus, what a terrible idea.

Long-time defender and quietly smug in the best possible way about what he’s become (and becoming). Keep at it Chuck

I imagine Ben Brown is putting in some serious work right now to get himself right, now that a GF appearance is a very real possibility. It’s going to be tough for him or any of us to see how he’s travelling though, given no Casey games for the time being. Personally, I really hope he does get himself right. When he’s on, he’s a far better player than Weideman, and has the receipts to prove it.

1 Petracca 2 tMac 3 Harmes 4 Oliver 5 Spargo 6 Rivers Just realised I forgot to put Max in. Sorry Max! You definitely belong in there somewhere, probs near the top. Ah well.

Ha! Perhaps. But we caaaaan play 4 HUGE quarters if we want to. Mostly I’m just excited about the 4th. Knowing we have such formidable tanks makes so much difference to my blood pressure readings at the 3/4 time break.

If no Hunt, give Lockhart a run.

Yep. Thread closed. Except it’s not. Proceed...

I’m just so stoked with tonight’s win. Can you believe this is OUR TEAM? Oh man. I’m hammered. Hammered on the taste of success (and Japanese whisky) that is.

That last quarter was a jewel in Darren Burgess’s crown. It was going to come down to fitness, and it feels so great knowing we can play four HUGE quarters.

Welcome back to the 1sts, Ben Brown.

SCRAP WHAT I SAID

We were all very right to get excited by Kozzie - and still are - but in the last few matches a little reality has started to kick in. He’s a kid who’s still finding his way (and boy, won’t he). But I’ve noticed I don’t get the same rush of anticipation when he gets near the ball. Just hoping he does something good with it.

Can’t blame the umpires for this. We’re just not playing with the same intensity as them. And boy does having no Langdon make a difference.

Yeah I’d also be worried if we fielded one of those wacky inflatable guys you see out the front of car wash centres.

Just a week or two? Surely just one, right?

That’s a fair call. Many players who ultimately become crucial to their team’s success edge their way there through grit n’ grind, but I think it’s fair to say that all the “stars” of AFL invariably had that one match that made people sit up and take notice, and followed on from there. So maybe Weid won’t be a star, but he needs to put the work in to become crucial.

Yet to kick more than three goals in any his 46 games. And only on three occasions have three goals been kicked. Still waiting for the break-out game, and as Tom Petty sang “the waiting is the hardest part”.

Yeah, the selectors have a real pickle here. Two key forwards, currently in a race to the bottom. It’s going to be very difficult to give one the necessary game-time and instil the necessary confidence, without neglecting the other.

I mean, he dropped five marks. It’s safe to say he was not instructed to do that. I really don’t think we need to start making such excuses for our under-performers. There’s no way Sam would have been satisfied with his game on Friday, so we just have to hope that both he and BBB are doing all the necessary soul-searching it takes to find their form.

It’s a strange saying that one. If you were to ever witness a storm in a teacup it would actually be a big [censored] deal.

He's been doing a lot of personal training with his own agility coach, off the clock.