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No Melksham at all for Casey is interesting when he’s not in the emergencies.

Shack could be standby for both Max and Lever. If Max doesn’t play, Schache is the second ruck, and if Lever doesn’t, Petty stays back (rather than forward like he trained today) and Schache sits forward.

Anyone see Melksham today? Was listed for Casey but didn’t suit up and isn’t in our emergencies.

Tmac has been average since about Round 12, 2021. Schache may not be the answer but he’s banging down the door, and with Tmac showing almost nothing. If you’re going to bring up the Eagles game, look who he was playing against.

Nope. Tmac is awful and Schache has been banging down the door. Although I don’t think he’ll play. Maybe next week against North.

Yuck! Petty is not a forward. In certain matches where the game needs a change I don’t mind him swinging down there to try something different but starting him there is not the way to go in my opinion. He’s a starting centre half back and that’s that. I’ll die on this hill😂 To add to this, I thought in the second half last week Petty really grew into the game and gained some confidence back with his intercept marking and reading of the play. So swinging him forward and disrupting that momentum that he looked to gain again seems very unnecessary.

Was Petty with the forwards for the whole thing?

Melbourne want to keep him and would sign him up tomorrow if they could but JJ (understandably) is holding off talks while his position in the team is still not certain. He doesn’t want to keep playing at Casey or as the sun and knows if he went elsewhere he’d get games week in week out. He has plenty of interest. He doesn’t want to leave, but he wants to play footy. Kade Chandler is in the same position. Plenty of interest, and just holding off to know his place in the team won’t get knocked off once all our big names return. The club want them both to stay. But they also wanted Bedford to stay last year by offering him a 3 year contract. Interesting position to be in.

Can back up what a few have said. Kozzy and his management as well as the club are almost in the position of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. It’s as close as it’s ever been. Would imagine in the next couple of weeks at some point it will be announced. Brilliant news! Although from a personal stand point, I hope they hold the announcement off until the week of Round 10 when we play Port on the Friday night😂

Max Gawn and Ben Brown did a big running session this morning. Think it would suggest Brown will be a late out this afternoon because of the weather.

JJ would accept the terms if he was cemented in the teams but he’s been on the periphery in preseason and at the start of the season. He knows other clubs are watching him with keen interest. Unless he’s playing in the team, he won’t wait around when he knows there’s at least 4 other clubs willing to offer him better deals where he will play weekly. I understand where and why he is coming from that side. Just like Bedford did.

On the JJ part, the club have offered him a contract and doesn’t want him going anywhere, Jj is the one who has parked to talks. Melboutne would have him signed tomorrow if they could. He is also a free agent as he was delisted after 2020 and put onto the rookie list. Won’t net us anything more than a third rounder that we probably won’t even use.

Is* not will be ;)

I’m not as worried as other people put it that way. The noise from South Australia in particular Port, to a few parties at this stage is fairly amusing rather than legitimate. Kozzy’s relationship with the boys and in particular Goody, has given the club confidence he’ll put pen to paper. As I said, the money isn’t an issue, and the length is flexible based on what Kozzy wants to do which is a good thing.

Yes. Development coach and plays for their VFL side.

Melbourne are prepared to offer him up to 5 years to take him to free agency or happy for him to at least stay for another 2 seasons after this one. Length of contract is not an issue in the slightest. Just like it wasn’t with Luke Jackson.

He’s out for a long while. Could even be potentially in SA resting up. Not a lot he can do with his injury other than rest.

Tmac trained today and was involved in everything. Will have to manage his foot for the rest of his career and will be rested/managed throughout the rest of his career. His foot will flare up at some points over the season especially during the shorter breaks. Week by week situation but if managed properly he’ll be fine.

It’s not a fracture, but if it was not handled properly, it could’ve easily turned into one and that’s why he was on light duties. It’s that simple.

Garbage on Fritsch. No one is lying. A stomped on foot with bad bone bruising that’s not left to heal properly can turn stress related which can be anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months. No risks taken at all, as there shouldn’t be. Forwards and feet aren’t things you ever rush and when you do, it’s heavily regretted long term.

I do agree with this absolutely, but don’t think we’ll see Schache or JVR come in if Fritta returns this week. I think our best forward structure is 2 keys + Fritta but really don’t think they’ll do it.

Fritta says Hello.

And some genius scheduled them in Round 1 next week. Not ideal.

Melksham is the sub tonight. I imagine the other 3 emergencies will probably play a half.