58er

Totally agree with you Lord Nev. To try nothing was admitting defeat really and it came back to bite us in September.

Rjay yes it's the easiest answer no one was ready but I believe that was a cop out and established that in my post, Not one player seemed to be at Casey as a possible recruit to be given a real chance to mdjd the grade even when we played unfit players and were fading in third and fourth quarters. Surely a player of equal ability on form who was fit eg Chandler over say ANB or Spargs could have been tried. No attempt was made to solve the problem and to do nothing was not to attempt change!!! Thst why we didn't have any players improve for the AFL by the season end except forJVR. We need st least 6 players this year to Make up for.

Prey tell what are the other stuff ups Sue? On the playing side especially please.

I am reasonably happy with that but Chandler instead of Hibberd ( if unfit especially )

That's probably why it will succeed. I believe that all AFL onlookers expect that if either Gawny or Brody are not BOG every second week this will be a disaster. What I want us for our team to improve with both around the ground and help in defence plus get the risk of say 30 goals between them With improvements in forward number of goals greater fitness and return to form of most 2021 players, plus some player changes all will team together up make a much more hardened team who kicks more goals to place opponents under greater pressure.

The effect Griffith had on selection compared to the Goody and SCttee "bias" towards 2021 premiership encumbants should ideally be a book on the same page. But any person who can glee from the outcomes in 2022 would clearly have to believe in Santa Clause. Very little promotions on merit all season were commonplace and as acknowledged about HALF our list were either banged up or carrying injuries that were more than slight niggles in our 2 Finals matches. (Or the overload effect was still in the group). Unlikely but who really knows. The selection enigmas pretty much all season were that if a player from 2021 was out injured his place was given only for that time of injury. Backs Tommo, J.Smith Or a rotation of Hibbo Hunt and Bowey with the May QB replacement a daring experiment of Disco being a disaster unfortunately and the most major change attempted. Lever Salem and J. Smith were injured underdone or continued with fitness issues for a lengthy part of the season. Mids Only Dunstan was really involved and he rarely played a bad game but is a defensive mid without outstanding skills although is persistent and honest but we have two or three of those playing ahead in the middle who can be game changers on occasions. Forwards Most changes should have occurred here with BBB ANB Spargs Jacko all underwhelming seasons and Gawny no goals in last few rounds plus Tmac out injured since end of May. It was mainly deck chairs on the Titanic here snd Chandler and Bedford definitely not tried enough and JVR a 2023 candidate on heat. Melky was promoted on average form to be honest but was a match winning heroes vs Blues and sort of handy otherwise playing a defensive role and being largely undersized. I wonder if JVR was selected in place or Petty moved at least a quarter per game would history be the same. Our last half with being overrun MAY not have occurred if we had "slightly inferior" players ( changes) but goers ALL day in lieu of fast starts to half time would have got us over the line and to the Prelim Final which I have no doubt Geelong would have returned our 83 pt demolition of 2021. At least we could have bleated like Scott sbout being banged up. Yes Binman has posted the opposite view that virtually no one deserved promotion ( we only lost ONE Casey game ) and the Dees frequently had two thirds or more of the team at Casey all year most contributing but not enough to look like AFL replacements to improve the team. The folly of not making some changes is that you must have a go sometimes and be creative and adventurous. This ha s the effects of no one at this stage than JVR and Bowey and Chandler bring looked upon as improvements for 2023 thank goodness for Brodee Lachie and Schachee! I like 90% of Fees fans are bullish and excited about 2023 as there is decidedly much more positivity in our fan base than with some scribes or " experts", which after all is immaterial both ways but much better for the excitement of new players and maybe a game plan tweak the faithful are expecting. Hard to see us not in the Top4 and in no way would it surprise me if we play Geelong or another improved team say Lions this year on the last day of September.

Good point but I rather think it was selection bias done how and that Goody especially found it hard to move on from the 23 that took us to the Flag in 2021. Guess 2023 might reveal a thing or two.

Great work Nicko keep up the good work.

The very question was a panic mode one? Sit down and think it out.What happened in 2017? Pedo and Watts and Tmac. Just like getting in your car And saying What happens if we run out of petrol ?

Agree but Goody played them all too early back and they didn't get a rest to get to full fitness. Hence we couldn't play out the game after half time. Gawny Riv Lever BBB also had fitness issues but were still selected.

Broody Grundy first Will Verrall second Josh Schache third Dont be such a panic merchant . other's to do throw in's on forward line eg Tmac JVR etc.

I hope we select with improvement and goal scoring in mind.

Dee Zone Its like having an overrun orchard and suddenly the new trees planted are about to bear fruit next spring. We have got a good mix of styles in those talls some having some X factors and others skills that they can hang their hat on for quality and performance. Some are interchangeable also viz Schache JVR Jed Adams and Tmac. BTW Disco and Maysie say hi as does Rick Lever!! Over to the Fitness Conditioning and Coaching staff to tend to these new plants and to maintain the old ones in a pristine manner which will produce a bumper crop of fruit around September!

You knew he carried injuries from Round 1 don't you? Like about 7/8 who played below par for half the season Salo was never given a chance to get yo full fitness. He will star again in 2023.

SONS Chandler has to start in the 23. He is training like his life depends upon it and has improved and matured and deserves an opportunity to show he can kick goals as well as perform a defensive role. Goody will lose him if he doesn't play him Also our improvement is vital on the forward line snd Chandler and JVR are our future in this in 2023.

DFA How long are you going to demerit Tmac for his defensive quirks which ultimately led to his move forward along with some inconsistencies in disposal. He Hasnt done those things since 2017 as he has gone forward since. When he played back twice recently ( only 2 occasions since 2017) vs North at Blundstone replacing Tommo when he suffered his ACL injury in the first quarter.only other time was after Norton got away in the second quarter of the Round1 GF replay kicking 3/4 goals prior to half time and Tommy was sent back and quelled The Astronaut. He never made any of his previous errors and his disposal was in the 75/80% and very controlled. He is bigger physically than Maysie and on the odd occasion Tmac should be used to quieten a beast that Stephen only on a very rare occasion I admit fails. Usually our team game overcomes most rampant potential forwards more likely the smalls in reality.

This would be in support of Turner and Jed Adams already on our list for development. JVR can always be added depending upon our Forward KP successes.

Don't disagree greatly Kev. I don't think we can rule some in or out at this stage. BTW my name Tommo means Adam Tomlinson not Sparrow who could well have his break out year based on the training observers. He has up to now to be frank a very good looking tease who does quality plays but just not quite enough of them. His time should be this year also. Schache if he trains well and shows intensity might put his hands up as an I/C due to his versatility or as a replacement for an injured KPP forward or back. To be honest I hope Turner and Tommo in defence and JVR and Sestan ( if he can get fitness and endurance into his body) up forward are given opportunities as specialists if they have earned it. I see no reason so far that any players who have fitness issues now are ruled out yet but come February would want to be automatic match sim competitors in full scale match approach. Yes Tmac and Salo are vital and I have no doubts that both will fully fit raise our standard in play to more like 2021, and I include Riv in this category plus Tommo to have a stellar year as his ACL year becomes a thing of the past. He and Turner and perhaps Joel Smith ( if he has an extended run at full fitness) might go head to head for a third ( or fourth tall in defence) spot if those positions are ever needed. I hold high hopes also that Jed Adams is a quick developer ( although lightly framed as of now) as his highlight reel shows a real appreciation of how to play in defence at full throttle. I when I first saw Harry Petty's highlight reel earmarked him for a key position role in the future. Time and injury held up his progress but surely his opportunity came up when Tommo unluckily went down and he has never looked like surrendering his spot since. AA may be within his CV in the near future if he continues to mark and defend as safely as any one of his tender age. ANB needs a 2021 style goals total, Hibbo usually performs well once fitness is obtained, BBB needs his fitness to be carefully managed but we know his best is a boon to our goals per game totals. Melky could again be handy but if it was a flip of a coin job between him and Sestan I would give Oliver a go every time earlier in the season if he was AFL fit enough. Brodie and Lachie are virtually A graders who should improve our supply in total and style to our forwards if the game plan is upgraded from 2022. Plenty of hard work for all to replicate 2021 but I am confident we have a greater spread of talent and youth in 2023 than even that flag year. Have other sides like Geelong Brisbane Swans or Pies got their teams at the top gone past us. Not if we play with the culture desperation and demon spirit of 2021 again, along with the little bit of luck with injuries that is needed in a flag year.

I think it's worth trying snd not assuming that it's not a goer. Max and Brodie like the mids can rest on the pine if necessary or play back or forward also if needed. JVR and Fritta are good at ground level and not slow either. it still leaves Kossie and Say Chandler Spargo ANB or Laurie in the forward 6. Might be complicated if say Sestan gets a gig He would replace either JVR or Fritta or a ruck or small as required I reckon.

Love the Tmac. What you get is what you see. One of the most intelligent footballers around. Great clubman also.

So accurately put Balls. BBB is a different Cat but skill is different but necessary for us to excel. JVR and Fritsch can both work with both or either.

I would get Sestan folllowing ANB around and training for the next 2 months to get some endurance into him. Actually maybe Tommo our latest time trial champ giving 2023 an even bigger red hot go than normal. My surprise packets for 2023 are : Tommo Spargo Howes Laurie Sestan Schache Taj and JJ. All are IMO due for breakout years and develop quicker than anticipated. Most if all of them if they have the year of surprise ability our depth and improvement will be amazing. Their level of improvement is greater than say ANB or Harmes of their 2022 form or expected level as a recruit. so much to look forward to Dees fans.

Cheers DD agree to disagree. Let's hope Tmac continues his practice form so far ha has revealed in the matches in 2033.

Hope your equally as pleased I am in Brisbane with my premiership 2021 stickers plus my AFLW sticker ( not premiership) all on show. All in good Nick as well. Will continue to fly the flag up North proudly and am keen to add a second flag sticker in 2023 should the Boys salute as I absolutely believe they are capable of with the best list actual and potential I can ever recall.

Much as I love ( for evermore) every one of our 23 heroes of 2021 I cannot come to grips that 21 are named in the First 23 18 months later. One replacement for Jacko which is Grundy and mandatory, and the other Hunter for Hibberd which means Angus will probably be part of our defence and Lachie almost permanent on the wing all day. ( no problems here). The rest are mids and forwards who can be mixed all day but leaves us short in the forward line should Tmac or BBB break down. JVR should be in the I/C as a big replacement should one be needed. One of Harmes Sparrow Spargo or Jordon should make way for JVR. Also Chandler to replace one of the four also. Touch of nit picking you say however new players are needed in 2023 for a number of reasons none as important to show that we are not chained to our heroes like Goody was last year, and that we have genuine talent that is needed on the forward line for improvement. It's not a great risk as JVR and Chandler were 2 of the very best for the flag winning Casey Demons throughout the season last year. Both have done everything right so far and Harmes and Angus so far underwhelming pre seasons for some seemingly mystery fitness issues. Tough on them but a statement on playing fit players in 2023 which is an improvement on 2022's mixed bag of niggling injuries and overrushed and premature returns which resulted in a banged up group short of fitness to fight the Finals matches out to the finish. The Emergencies are fine although maybe Turner for Tomlinson might be more enterprising. Not that Tommo has done anything wrong this pre season and a year on from his ACL injury I think he is truly making a statement he is far from finished. Winning a 2km trial is rare air for him as his recent marriage but testimony to his desire to join our elite defence at first call should the big boys falter injure or even fight!!! In short a refreshed forward line really that is necessary and well rewarded to its encumbents opportunities is a most welcome change in person and in policy for the future.