seventyfour

Sparrow really should go out, but i'm not sure who comes in. AWM should hopefully be better for the experience... disposal was a bit iffy at times but hopefully he cleans it up. Turner might lose his spot if Petty is fit.

Best game of Van Rooyen's career?

I've seen enough! He stays in the midfield for the rest of the year and trains there all next preseason. He'll need to improve in his work below the knees, but almost everything else about his game I love. Best of all, he's still only 22... prime generally isn't reached until around 25 years old.

JVR needs some grippo or finger extension surgery. He looks great but would be even better if a few more marks would stick!

Yep, haven't seen this from him since early in the season. Absolutely a barometer.

Lots of positives so far today, however: Turner would want to get involved in this, Jefferson is breathing down his neck. AMW has not been great. Looks a step behind AFL pace.

Salem and Oliver haven't touched the ball. Edit: On cue Salem gets involved

West Coast only getting entries from chaos hack kicks. Tighten up a bit and we'll get going.

Some unbelievably wasteful kicking on the rebound, JVR earlier, Sparrow just now.

KOLT!!!!

Kolt 🥰

Horrible kick JVR. This shot on goal is your fault.

I don't just want to win, I want to win by a lot. Give me some confidence that we can beat the Bombers next week.

You'd bloody hope they would. They have been [censored] for an eternity and didn't have to deal with compromised expansion team drafts like we did.

If we want to look at stats, he's currently equal seventh in the VFL goalkicking with 21. The leader is on 25 (with an extra game). I'm not sure how the 'best player' voting works, but the only Casey player with more games in the 'best' is Mitch White (9). Jeffo is equal with Laurie on 7. For reference, JVR kicked 33 from 18 games in 2022, finishing in the 'best player' 6 times. Jeffo is on pace to match that output, albeit in his second year.

Hope Essendon lose, Collingwood will keep coming no matter what. Bombers lose tonight and we roll them next week, they're out of the 8.

Hibberd, Melksham, Langdon. All of these were great trades that happened before the flag. Good players with no history of behavioural issues. All contributed to winning in 2021 or getting close the following years. Hunter, Schache, Billings. All three were either average players or had behavioural issues. None got us closer to a flag. Lobb would be firmly in group with Hunter, Schache, Billings. We've got Fullarton and Verrall, it makes more sense to keep developing there.

West Couast could easy restructure and extend Waterman's contract to match offers from Victoria. Who else do they have to pay in the next couple of years? He's from WA and his dad played for West Coast. Won't happen.

Completely off-topic but can I say that I love the Harvest Snap pea mascot at games. The mascot race at the Saints game was absolutely hilarious. I want that costume to wear to parties.

If one or two go through in 2023 we might be reigning Premiers 😔

When the heat was on early in the 2021 Grand Final, Salem was the difference. If the game ended at quarter time he would've won the Norm Smith voting unanimously. You don't just get rid of a player like Salem unless we were offered something silly like two first round picks. If we received anything less than that, the club would be taking a further step away from a flag in the next few years.

I am most interested in those who can make an impact in 2025. I want another premiership now while our generational talent is still playing and in their prime. First 22 in 2025. Rivers - A full preseason training as a midfielder and we could have something special. It might be the key to Petracca spending permanent time up forward. McVee - When (if) does the midfield move happen? It's either him or Rivers. JVR - So much of our hope for another flag depends on if, or when, it finally clicks for Roo. Windsor - Already AFL standard and should be fitter and stronger next year. Fringe 22: Turner - His position is a huge question mark. He's shown enough to suggest he would be a great third tall forward line. However, what if Tomlinson and Petty leave and McDonald retires? We then have almost zero depth with an aging May and injury-prone Lever. Jefferson - Based on talent and his improvement in 2024 you would hope he can meaningfully contribute at AFL level next year. Hugely important to our chances. Bowey - Not sure I see where huge improvement comes from, but his best is a lock for our first 22. Needs to regain his form. Tholstrup - Can he take a massive step next year? Or will he take a while? Seems the latter to me, will be the next generation. Depth for injuries: Howes, Woewodin, AMW, Brown Unlikely to play: Adams, Verrall, Sestan

It's games like that where it makes me so sad that we lost Brayshaw. I could just imagine him moving to half back and saving us a goal or two. We need to give West Coast a smacking next week and finish out the year strong even if finals are gone. Trade targets and free agents need to believe we still have a flag window open in 2025 and 2026.

Crazy thing is... the ladder is so tight, if we somehow snatched a win tonight and got the job done against West Coast at home next week, that Saturday night game against the Bombers would become a big game again, and we could jump them. Sadly with our inexperience and form we could lose all three, but I can dream. Ruining the Bombers season is one of the few things I can hope for in the rest of 2024.

or Woewodin...