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The reality is ( as binman has said) that Toby has pace PLUS good skills, is smart and a good decision maker, plus is super fit. And this has been building over 3 years and a half, especially the last year and a half as his confidence has also grown. I look at Toby now and he not only has developed as a player but into our system mentally and is ready with self belief to take his chance.when given the opportunity. He is also looking when at Casey above that level and AFL "ready". Baker since bring recruited which championed his leg speed as his point of difference has not despite small numbers of opportunities for about one year longer greatly improved his ball skills ie kicking and disposal especially, nor his natural game awareness to another level ie AFL. That is not saying Bakes does not try any less than Toby or is any less committed to our Club. In addition Sparrow Jordon Kossie Dogga Riv Petty Fritta and Bowser plus Laurie who are all now or have since joining been ready for AFL duties. Most of our other 2020 and 2021 draftees are younger and developing, improving at Casey at their pace given the advantage of time our strength now allows recruits to learn the Melbourne way over 2 or 3 years if necessary. Jordon and Sparrow needed this time and are still in some ways are works in progress and learning more on the journey as all of the above mentioned have). Ultimately it appears that Bakes does not possess the natural ability or footy smarts in spite of a red hot career go and sadly is now looking at having potentially missed his opportunity. He should be the one on the wing replacing Lingers in an ideal world or at least in the 26 named for the match.

Much of the Govt funding is foundation and set up costs. Although it is obvious the AFL would be supporting both Tas and NT each year like it does the GC and GWS. Unfortunately still some Clubs are going to depend upon the AFL to bolster them in some years if they are not prennislly successful. GWS it appears have a good fan base in Canberra and really an amalgamation like in the NRL of Illawarra /Dragons at least half home games seems logical and serves the ACT population all of which are reasonably well heeled. To grow new Clubs the AFL need bums on seats not 30,000 members ( some of which might be Canberra based) and 4,000 turning up at Homebush which is a disaster and AFL should be looking at same as 6,000 for Gold Coast home games. These figures are not sustainable but at least Tas and NT are afl footy based in contrast to Western Sydney and Gold Coast.

Isn't it a long term view to put $20 mill plus away for future funds? When we recruit we look to the future ( snd the present) by type of players and payment negotiations. Again no detail from you Mach 5 where we are not factoring in our future. If it's our Training/Admin base than we are being delayed by the fact that it is in the State Govt hands. Put up ( with examples) of lack of foresight OR shut up as you only make yourself look ignorant and panicky in decision making.

It's not always about the position a player plays in that determines his value. It's very often how good he plays in that position and how good a player he is. So you may have a player at half back say Salem, Angus that may earn more than Petty at CHB for instance. And how do you rate Fritta ? Plays at HF FP and FF at times. So he rates highly and his next contract will be a very good one because of his excellence and versatility. So let's not underestimate Angus either at HB Wing or on the ball. I can say for sure he would be deserving of more in most people's eyes if he was a midfielder not a flanker. But he plays so well there he deserves a healthy reward for his excellence and team attitude.

Seems a carbon copy of JVR. We haven't a vacancy anyway and JvR is doing just fine .

One player we should get more out of is Purcell. Seems to have taken all season to under perform and injury recovery may well be the reason. Hopefully she can have a great pre season. lMO both Petrevski and Fellowes from Casey AFLW are both small crumbing types and I believe that is a weakness when you see similar types in Crows and Lions with pace disrupt defences with their style. Bannon does it for us but not quite the same method and a clever small is a must up forward I believe. Mae should target someone.

Don't Pig and Melky qualify or did we lure them away?

We don't "rest" players and Brownie will kick 3 again on Sat.

Great BBP you have in your post disregarded the 2 major reasons why Weid won't be looking for a new Club in 2023. 1. He is contracted till the end of that year and in end of season 2021 he made the very conscious decision and after much deliberation to stay with Narrm. 2. Also at this stage the Club values his presence as either in AFL or as much needed forward KP depth irrespective of Tmac, BBB, JVR, Fritta, and the resting rucks. Unless it was interested in a trade Weid is safe for another season, as I also believe little by little he is improving in most of his game skills.

So he is not allowed inside our 50m zone and has to handpass and not go for goals ever? Good luck with that "never play in the forward line " ideology. He is going through a patch without any confidence and still is better on the run or snapping than a set shot. Agree with another poster here that he will recover his good kicking all of a sudden and delight is with his skill.

Please explain what was missing from Clarry's virtuoso performance? Whas it 5 goals or 1000 m gained? Or his hair that looks fantastically wild but suits his fabulous game style and aggression. Never seen a more determined player for us or the opposition in over 60 years. Keep it up Clarry you are amazing.

Clarry is very special in his midfield role excelling in lightning quick hands ( quickest in AFL) with amazing skill backed up by pace and good disposal. Clarry is also the hardest most determined player I have ever seen with an elite competitive attitude. A match winner whose consistency is amazing.

Look at our draw with multiple back up games early in the season now for instance. Can't have it both ways And please 1pm Sat or Sunday are commercially and inconveniently ugly for developing Club marketing and premiership team at least should be 2 pm start. Prime time allows others to watch ( who can't go) and fills our Club with greater money to prosper as we deserve. Sat or Friday night is kid friendly as no school next day.

I think you can reasonably expect the Dees Round23 game in Brisbane to be Sat night as the majority of Lions games are in the Sat time slot at night. If not Sat then might just be Friday night or if AFL are off their mind and want this game almost last on the agenda fir excitement say for top etc. then 3.20 pm Sunday. But really it's about 80% certain of aSat night fixture. Starting around 7.30pm. IMO. PS I go to lions games as a Trust member if I aren't in Melb fir Dees matches.

No complaints Titan as usual has answered the question. All is fair after all.!!

Bate was never considered a KP player Dunn did at least get a real career after moving to defence and Newton was entirely a David Cordner clone who could jump but actually marking was beyond him. Should have been a high jumper in training for the Olympics was Juice. Jurrah was a freak like Jakovich or as we are lucky to see play for us now Bayley Fritsch who admittedly is only a third of his career into interestingly. Their careers were cut short unfortunately but a far better goal average than any over 190/192cm forward except for ex CHB Neiter and Schwarta who still were not 199cm I would not think. As for JVR I have seen more KP football skills in his pre draft highlights and half a dozen VFL Casey games to predict that he will be our best KPForward this century by halfway through this decade. That is given an injury free run and normal luck in his development irrespective of whether he stays at 193cm or extends to 195cms high. I remember sighting a first year David Schwartz in the Reserves about after 3 games and saying to my family that he was our next CHF. On the same basis JVR shows a wide range of skills but is not as flexible and agile as Schwartz ( yet) in His style but it is a very competitive rounded marking kicking and ground play package base for which to launch a career on. I hope I can get to see him live at Casey before too long when I am down from Qld for our next AFL game either Sydney or certainly Pies.

Not sure LDV whether you are being a little flippant about the Eddie / Caro argument about the advantages ( benefits) of a day or twilight Grand Final on Wed Footy Classified or are in fact very serious. To say that Caro kept interrupting is a complete distortion of the facts. As usual when Eddie gets on his high horse about a matter he totally is biased or very strong about he raises his voice and shouts above all others until they generally just give up and he gets the limelight to pronounce with arrogance his opinion. Footy Classified with Eddie as compère always has an edge and underlying tone of unless the Compere can show off his "extra knowledge" or views no One else should comment as they don't in fact know enough about the subject. Its hard going as Eddie still snidely remarks about matters of the last 40 years of his life either in journalism or as Pies President or just a supporter. He needs to completely get out of the footy scene and leave others handle it or go for the AFL Commissioners or Gils CEO job. The flashing on the screen of him in the super box boring Gill by standing over him near his face at last weeks Friday night Pies vs Dogs game is so typical of Eddie. To be honest 4 year olds have better manners than this out dated and largely now disgraced ex President who is ruining whatever legacy he left in our great game back in the old grandstands at Victoria Park or somewhere in the Holden Centre.

The WCEagles are racing towards the 10 losses on the trot. Have 6 since their upset win vs Pies in Round 4.

In 1993 we lost to Sydney in Sydney and the great Ron Barassi unfortunately coached the Seans and I think they broke a fairly long losing streak.

Wish I could be but have to wait fir Sydney QB and Brisbane's games to travel from interstate. Can't wait.

Fat Tony JVR will make a player forward or back despite his 192/3/4 cm height. He has other skills like all players and will use them plus his jump and judgement.

World won't end if JVR does'nt debut till 2023. What's most important is his improving confidence and skills snd experiencing the Melbourne brand while learning his craft and adding to his very wide skill base for a young forward. Giving debuts for debuts sake was exactly the problem with Petty that day. In 2018. Even when he played Hawthorn in Round5 last year replacing Maysie he was very nervous and was dropped for Anzac round and Kangas in Hobart Round7 then when Tommo injured himself Harry was mentally and physically ready for his third coming and he hasn't looked back since. JVR is 5th in line for a tall forwaRd spot and is putting the hard yards in learning and pressuring the other 3 plus resting rucks to play to their role and standards. Our forward setup is different to Blues as we have about 8/10 players that can Bob up with multiples and another half dozen who add to the scoreboard as the match progresses. No one is irreplaceable probably only Fritsch is close to that as he is so skilled and gets goals from spots no one else can on so many occasions and against any opponents. JVR is going nicely no need to hasten at this stage he will get his chance when the right time occurs as will Laurie probably only sooner if Bedford does not take his chances when they arrive. At some stage maybe Laurie might go past Bedford but that is another tale for another time.

Fat Tony Nor Viney a rest. Is running on top of the ground never been fitter and playing his best most confident and cleanest footy ever. When on a roll stick to it. Also if without Harmes why would you rest another mid who is similar ?

Something about the p..s in front of the week comes to mind also.

In 2020 they did not have to win 4 Finals to get Flag but after losing the Qual Final at the Gabba to Lions they then won next 3 at Metricon Adelaide Oval and then the flag at the Gabba.