Whispering_Jack

Trouble with blokes like you is the glass is always half empty. Hope it doesn't rain too much for you in Queensland.

At last ...

Nonetheless, we can trade players and picks in combination for players and picks from other clubs. We haven't really been involved a great deal in the trades in past years but I think it might be a necessity this year given the apparent shallowness of the draft pool and the fact that GWS dominates the early picks anyway. The panel on the TAC Cup Future Stars programme produced this phantom draft based on last week's ladder positions:- 1. Jonathan Patton (Eastern Ranges) - GWS 2. Stephen Coniglio (Swan Districts, WA) - GWS 3. Chad Wingard (Sturt,SA) - GWS 4. Dom Tyson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Port Adelaide 5. Billy Longer (Northern Knights) - GWS 6. Taylor Adams (Geelong Falcons) - Gold Coast 7. Devon Smith (Geelong Falcons) - GWS 8. Toby Greene (Oakleigh Chargers) - Brisbane 9. Will Hoskin-Elliot (Western Jets) - GWS 10. Matthew Buntine (Dandenong Stingrays) - Adelaide 11. Hayden Crozier (Eastern Ranges) -GWS 12. Todd Elton (Dandenong Stingrays) - Melbourne 13. Nick Haynes (Dandenong Stingrays) - GWS 14. Elliot Kavanagh (Western Jets) - Richmond 15. Daniel Markworth (Calder Cannons) - GWS 16. Liam Sumner (Sandringham Dragons) - Western Bulldogs 17. Sam Docherty (Gippsland Power) - Fremantle 18. Brad McKenzie (Sturt, SA) - North Melbourne 19. Mitchell Grigg (Norwood, SA) - Essendon 20. Tom Mitchell (Claremont) f/s - Sudney 21. Seb Ross (North Ballarat Rebels) - St. Kilda 22. Adam Tomlinson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Carlton 23. Clay Smith (Gippsland Power) - West Coast 24. Michael Talia (Calder Cannons) - Hawthorn 25. Josh Tynan (Gippsland Power) - Geelong 26. Brandon Ellis (Calder Cannons) - Collingwood

We've now added Melon22's HOW THE DEMONS FARED. Thanks Melon!

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS by Whispering Jack The hero of Melbourne's first win since its long ago trip to tropical Darwin was captain Brad Green who booted four invaluable goals against the Gold Coast Suns. Green's contribution was instrumental in securing an unconvincing and wonky 30-point first victory for caretaker coach Todd Viney and the beleaguered Demons in the penultimate round of the season. Melbourne seemingly held control in the opening stanza and, but for some severe marking yips that seemed to spread through the team like wildfire, it should have been much further than 19 points in front at quarter time. Green, who started shakily missing his first shot at goal, finally scored his first immediately before the main break at a time when the slow starting Suns pressed for the lead after dominating the contested ball for most of the second term and, at one stage got to within a point of their hosts. It was Green who kick-started the team early in the second half for what is now becoming its one fighting quarter per game and which yielded six goals. It was Green again who kicked the sealer when Gold Coast threatened in the final term and in this regard, Brad Green the captain, restored some much needed respect to his team with the way he went about accumulating his 18 possessions and nine marks on the way to four straight goals after what surely must have been one of the most difficult periods in his experience as a player with the club culminating in his being named as the sub a week ago against Richmond. Whatever the rationale behind that move, Green rose above it this week and led the team back onto the winner's list. And, after what’s taken place in this season of hope that has gone so badly pear shaped in the past month or so, I think I can allow myself the liberty of falling back on the old cliché about winners being grinners. One would have to be grinning after watching one’s team pick up the four points in what was such an embarrassingly poor exhibition of football from both sides (not to mention the umpires who matched the standard of the game perfectly) that it produced many more yawns from the bored crowd than cheers. The Demons won the game because of their superior defence. Colin Garland, Sam Blease and James Frawley were dashingly magnificent while Tom McDonald gave a good account of himself and showed strong potential in his debut game with 18 disposals and six marks. Melbourne also dominated the ruck contests with Mark Jamar and Stef Martin winning a combined 49 hit outs but things went awry from there because Gold Coast was far superior and won the clearances. As a result, the domination of the Demon big men at these contests was completely nullified and, looking forward to the future, this must be a worrying sign for the club. Whoever takes over as the coach in 2012 will require not only selective recruiting of midfielders who can win the footy at contests but also some expert assistance to turn around the massive midfield black hole that exists at the club. There were times during the game when the Suns won the contested ball out of defence and then moved it down the ground at will with pace cutting swathes through the Demon lines – yet another cause for concern to the coaches. Fortunately, opposition on the day is not yet polished enough to take advantage of such situations and Melbourne’s defence was able to hold firm. When you’re having a bad run it’s amazing how bad luck follows you around. Melbourne has had its fair share of injuries and more recently suspensions but it still didn’t need Liam Jurrah to hurt his shoulder/arm after flying for a great mark in the third term. It was the mark of the man that he kept his composure for his shot at goal (which failed to add to his first half tally of three) before ambling off the ground clutching arm and shoulder to be subbed for the day. Fortunately, his replacement, Jeremy Howe, worked hard when he got his chances and kicked two valuable goals while Jurrah was last seen with his arm in a sling. Since the heroics of Ricky Petterd in the opening round, the sub rule hasn’t exactly worked well for the Demons. Sam Blease started his career wearing the green vest against the Western Bulldogs, came on late in the game and failed to make an impression during the feature length junk time of that game. Since he’s come back into the side, Blease has been a revelation with his run and carry, his speed and his accuracy. At least the Demon defence in future years will be a strength with the likes of him, Luke Tapscott and Jack Grimes and James Strauss returning from injury. The use of Green as a sub last week might have been instrumental in sending him a message of sorts but I have a feeling that it also might have cost the club the four points against Richmond. Still, what the hell when the four points don't mean very much at this stage of proceedings? Apart from the midfield, a strong marking key forward would have to be another prime target for the recruiters. It should be an interesting trade period. Indeed, the coming weeks are crucial for the club. A new coach with a fresh approach is needed to polish a young team that seems to have lost its focus. All credit to Todd Viney for taking the job as a caretaker but the club really needs an outsider to come in and sort out this lot otherwise we won’t be grinning very much in the years to come despite the promise of our youth. Melbourne 4.3.27 7.5.47 13.7.85 17.10.112 Gold Coast Suns 1.2.8 6.5.41 7.8.50 12.10.82 Goals Melbourne Green 4 Jurrah Moloney 3 Howe 2 Garland Jetta Jones Martin Tapscott Gold Coast Suns Bennell Rischitelli Russell Smith 2 N Ablett Thompson Stanley Swallow Best Melbourne Blease Garland Green Jones Jurrah Frawley Gold Coast Suns Rischitelli G Ablett Swallow Iles Prestia Stanley Injuries Melbourne Jurrah (shoulder) Gold Coast Suns Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Suns Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Gold Coast Suns Nil Umpires Schmitt Stewart Ritchie Crowd 21,534 at MCG

THE E WORD by KC from Casey with Whispering Jack "Emotion" is a word that isn't found in the dictionaries of some of the hardnosed people who operate at the pointy end of elite sports but, on Saturday at Casey Fields, it was there in bucket loads as the Scorpions surprised the pundits and thrashed the Bullants by exactly 100 points. The story of the day started with the return after almost two years in the football wilderness of courageous Casey co-captain Kyle Matthews but there are many other stories to tell from the game. Mathews suffered head injuries including a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain in an attack outside a Hawthorn hotel left him in a coma in March, 2010. He worked hard to return to the game after a 12-month absence but suffered further setbacks in the form of two hamstring injuries and a fractured fibula (from a mid-season scratch match). He was in line for senior selection last week against Werribee after three reserves games but his brother's wedding meant that his senior comeback was delayed a further week. The wait was worth it and his triumphant return came almost two years to the day after his last game which was his team's disastrous loss in the 2009 elimination final against Collingwood. Wearing a head guard and looking like a kid with his slight build, Matthews took the game by the scruff of the neck and set the example for his team with his second, third and sometimes fourth efforts that can only be described as sublime. His desperation, his attack on the football and the way he threw his body into every contest permeated through the team and inspired the group to produce its finest performance for the season. Matthews set the example through the midfield and up forward where he had five goals on the board by the final break at which time he had earned a rest and the opportunity to watch his team coast home against an opposition which until very recently was considered a top four certainty. The Bullants had every reason to feel confident when they arrived at the ground, their team brimming with AFL experience. They had 15 Carlton listed players, many with aspirations of taking part in the finals at elite level while suspensions and injuries at Melbourne kept Casey's AFL list down to a season's low of ten players. The early part of the game suggested that the Bullants' size and greater experience would prevail. At the midpoint of the opening term, they had McLean and Russell dominating possessions and things looked ominous after goals to Hampson and Houlihan gave them an eleven point lead - 3.1.19 to 1.2.8. Casey's lone goal had been kicked by Lynden Dunn. However, the game was dramatically turned on its head by the brilliance of Matthews and red headed Demon Matthew Bate. The pair were the catalysts for the turnaround which started when the day's other big emotional story Brendan Fevola kicked his first goal after accepting a fine pass from Rohan Bail. It was the first of ten for Fevola after a week in which it was revealed that he had yet to attract any interest from any AFL club for 2012 and in which his father Ange made a plea to the Demons to give his son a chance at AFL redemption in 2012. Fevola came to the club as an overweight tormented soul, missed the early part of the season, struggled for form and finally hit his straps with two double figure totals in the run home to finish four goals shy of the Frosty Miller trophy for the VFL's top goal kicker. Moreover, he's been a model citizen on and off the field and has well and truly justified the faith put into him by the Scorpions' board. He seems contented in his life and his work and was paid the ultimate compliment on Ten's Before the Game programme which crossed to the Casey rooms to award him the player of the day prize where he revealed he had lost 16kg since March on the same diet that has given Shane Warne a new slim line figure. The star forward saw off three quality AFL opponents in Jamison, Bower and Watson and finished with 17 possessions and ten marks. His 10.2 haul included angle goals, snaps and a couple that just dribbled through the big sticks. Posters of the man affectionately known as "The Fev" were for $10.00 and, by the game's latter stages, he even had the large contingent of Carlton fans on hand at the ground applauding as he destroyed the defenders who were unfortunate enough to be pitted against him. Casey won every quarter on its way to claiming a top four placing and an appointment with undefeated Port Melbourne for next week's qualifying final at North Port. The emotion of the day did not end there. Bate who has had a tough time finding the form to get an AFL game but has been very good at the Scorpions blitzed in the midfield with 38 possessions (14 in the final quarter), Bail starred with his pace and long kicking picking up 27 touches and Dan Nicholson (25 disposals) provided great run. Kelvin Lawrence also showed brilliance and some scintillating running and passing. The big men Robert Campbell and young Max Gawn dominated in the ruck and around the ground while beanpole Jack Fitzpatrick bobbed up with four goals and demonstrated amazing pace for one so tall. These big stories overshadowed the tale of Casey's dominant defence led by Matthew Warnock who was well backed up by Demon youngster Troy Davis who overcome a thyroid problem to rise to prominence in the Scorpion backline and underscore his future potential at a higher level and the much improved Tim Mohr who is bound for the AFL draft combine in October. There's more because Matthews' inspiration also lifted many of his fellow Casey listed players to their personal best games of the season. His ever reliable co-skipper James Wall dominated his wing with 24 possessions, Danny Nicholls (who also overcame a serious injury to break back into the team), Rian McGough, Dave Collins and Will Petropoulos played out their respective roles and 23 year old debutant Jess Bolton will never forget his own impressive debut in senior ranks. Wade Lees captured another big scalp in shutting out Ed Curnow. The win was also a tribute to the work of coach Brad Gotch. Mindful of the fact that there's much work to do in the month ahead he fired his charges up at the last break urging them to go on with it and not to let up. "Good sides don't hold back." They didn't hold back and their coach's message will remain on the mind of every player as the team takes on the undefeated minor premiers in the big one next weekend. HOW THE DEMONS FARED There were only ten MFC listed players in the Casey 23 and they were all part of this fine team effort as Melon22 describes: Rohan Bail – was dynamic in his third game back from injury; his disposal all day was exquisite and ran out the game really well to show he is almost back to full fitness. Definitely ready to come back into the Demons line up but I am sure Brad Gotch would love to have his class for the crucial game against Port Melbourne next week. Matthew Bate – the dominant player for Casey in a brilliant team display. Because of injuries and suspension to the Demons, Matty was played in the midfield where he excelled. When he did spend time forward he was too strong and quick for his opponents in what was a brilliant all-round display. If he is called up for the Demons it would be a devastating blow for Casey’s chances as Matty always gives his all and has been probably been Casey’s best player this year. Robbie Campbell – formed a formidable ruck partnership with Gawn and dominated the hit outs all day. His agility and second efforts around the clearances have significantly improved over the last few weeks and he is starting to regain the kind of form that could see him on a senior AFL list next year. Troy Davis – one of his best displays for Casey this year, dominated across half back and was able to give good run out of defence as well. Troy plays with a great intensity and always hits the contest hard. He was a little sloppy with his kicking which slightly marred a fantastic performance. Lynden Dunn – played at CHF and he will be disappointed that he wasn’t able join in the demolition of the Bullants as much as he would have wanted but did kick two nice goals. Jack Fitzpatrick – kicked 4 goals including one brilliant snap on the run in an enterprising display from the big man. He has shown enough in small glimpses to suggest that he has a big future as a key forward. Max Gawn – shared the ruckwork evenly with Robbie Campbell and contributed to the dominant display with some sublime tap work. He is getting himself in some dangerous areas around the ground and becoming involved in the play as a target coming out of defense. Kelvin Lawrence – played on a wing and was energetic without having a great influence on the game. Missed a couple of early shots at goal which he would have been disappointed with. Daniel Nicholson – was played across half back with stints in the midfield. Displayed a great amount of energy all day and was always willing to run and carry. Managed to be a lot tidier in his disposal this week but had a couple of opportunities to finish his runs with a goal but unfortunately wasn't able to capitalise. Matthew Warnock – was on AFL calibre forwards in Hampson and Setenta O’Halpin and had the better of them for most of the day in a very impressive display. Casey Scorpions 4.6.30 13.8.86 19.10.124 28.12.180 Northern Bullants 3.3.21 5.3.33 7.8.50 11.14.80 Goals Casey Scorpions Fevola 10 Matthews 5 Fitzpatrick 4 Bate Dunn Petropoulos 2 Bail McGough Wall Northern Bullants Lambert Saad 2 Arrowsmith Austin Biffin Hampson Houlihan Iacobucci O'hAilpin Best Casey Scorpions Bate Bail Fevola Mohr Lees Matthews Northern Bullants Lucas McLean Iacobucci Russell Lambert Dare The Casey reserves made it ten games on end with a seven goal victory over the Bullants, the team that beat them way back in round one, well before the Scorpions began flexing their muscles on the way to their first finals series since moving from Springvale. Tom Corry starred in the midfield and was ably backed up by Matt Fieldsend while Blake Carew bobbed up with four goals. Aaron Purves finished the home and away series as the top goal kicker in the VFL Reserves competition. Casey Scorpions 3.2.20 8.4.52 13.7.85 18.13.121 Northern Bullants 2.6.18 3.10.22 7.13.55 11.13.79 Goals Casey Scorpions Carew 4 McShane 3 Dowse Waite 2 Baumgartner Clay Hill Lindsay Newton Purves J Roberts Northern Bullants Bray Casboult Marcon 2 Bransgrove Dorman Dufficy McLellan Wilson Best Casey Scorpions Corry Fieldsend McShane Pollard Dowse Purdy Northern Bullants A Gianfagna Dirago Marcon Gale Lincoln Bransgrove

Extraordinary. The only thing that's remotely accurate about the above is the part about showing some guts. Those formidable guts of yours form a substantial roof over the toolshed that is truly a sight to behold. Thanks for the nice words about Alexis Poppy though.

Whether we try to trade for Scott Gumbleton, John Butcher or an extra midfielder, the mere involvement in the trades this year would represent a departure from our policies of recent years. We have certainly traded out on a few occasions, e.g Johnstone, McLean, Cheney but when was the last time that we traded into a new player? Brent Moloney? Perhaps with a new coach the possibilities for trading will be enhanced.

My wishlist starts with cleaning out those elements at the club on and off the field who are not prepared to work for its common good. Replace them with competent professionals including the best coach available. Trade wisely, draft wisely and start 2012 with a fresh approach and a healthy team and let's see what happens from there.

I don't usually have much time for Jason Akermanis but he does have experience at a club that had to replace a sacked coach when he was with the Brisbane Lions. This is an interesting read and, while the benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing, Aker describes exactly how the right choice of coach can turn things around at a club - Only the best will do: Jason Akermanis Let's hope this sub committee gets things right in the same way that the Brisbane people did when they chose Leigh Matthews!

It seems that things are going from bad to worse up there in Sydney for the GWS Giants. The news today is that the Giants appear to have missed out on their prime target "Daisy" Thomas who is about to shun the big coin on offer to sign a two year deal with Collingwood. This comes on top of news that some of the other players who were rumoured as certain signings were not certainties at all as as previously claimed. Mitch Clark's manager has ruled his client out of GWS and the word is that if he goes anywhere it will be to the Dockers. All of this on top of revelations that GWS recruiter Neville Stibbard has been stood down while the matter of his alleged intimidation of an opposition recruiting officer is dealt with just at the very time when that club should be stepping up it's recruiting activity. There are still question marks remaining over whether Sheedy, as the head coach with what will be close to five years out of the hurly burly of hands on coaching at AFL level is up to dealing with the highly sophisticated requirements of the modern game. The Sydney market is going to be hard to crack at the best of times, let alone during an economic recession, so the game doesn't need this sort of publicity - Ground Zero: why commission must tackle 'sporting apartheid.

Perhaps this one's a bit closer to the mark (adding the two suspended players for completeness):- Aaron Davey (suspended) 1 week Michael Evans (back) season Jack Grimes (foot) season Jordan Gysberts (wrist) season Michael Newton (foot) test Jake Spencer (knee) season James Strauss (leg) season Colin Sylvia (suspended) season Luke Tapscott (hip) test Austin Wonaeamirri (ankle) season

WAFL DRAFT WATCH: JAEGER O'MEARA

Here's a rundown of what's happened so far (assuming my sources are reliable): The 2011 AFL International Cup began at Blacktown last Saturday week with a round of modfied games (2x15 min halves) for men to determine which teams went into Division 1 and 2. The results were: GROUP 1 PNG 6-8(44) def Tonga 1-1(7), PNG 10-10(70) def France 0-0(0), Tonga 7-6.(48) def France 1-1(7) GROUP 2 New Zealand 6-5(41) def Sweden 0-0(0), New Zealand 15-4(94) def India 0-0(0), Sweden 7-7(49) def India 0-1(1) GROUP 3 Sth Africa 4-2926) def Denmark 1-3(9), Sth Africa 18-6(114) def China 0-0(0), Denmark 10-8(68) def China 1-0(6) GROUP 4 Great Britain 10-10(70) def East Timor 0-0(0), Ireland 14-9(93) def East Timor 1-0(6), Ireland 8-6(54) def Great Britain 1-0(6) GROUP 5 Nauru 6-6(42) def Japan 3-1(19), Nauru 6-6(42) def Fiji 2-3(15), Japan 5-6(36) def Fiji 4-4(28) GROUP 6 USA 2-3(15) def Canada 2-0(12), Canada 3-6(24) def Peace Team 0-0(0), USA 12-8(80) def Peace Team 0-0(0) The teams were then graded into their respective divisions and the next two rounds were also played in Sydney (the women had three rounds in Sydney) DIVISION 1 MEN FIRST ROUND New Zealand 15-10(100) def Great Britain 0-2(2) PNG 17-17(119) def Tonga 0-2(2) South Africa 14-8(92) def Japan 1-4(10) Ireland 15-12(102) def Sweden 1-0(6) DIVISION 1 MEN SECOND ROUND New Zealand 5-9(39) def Canada 3-2(20) PNG 16-14(110) def Nauru 4-3(27) Ireland 11-6(72) def Denmark 1-3(9) USA 7-14(56) def South Africa 2-6(18) DIVISION 2 MEN FIRST ROUND Fiji 9-19(73) def Peace Team 4-2(26) China 5-12(42) def India 2-2(14) France 17-20(122) def East Timor 2-1(13) DIVISION 2 MEN SECOND ROUND France 14-15(99) def India 1-2(8 ) Peace Team 12-18(90) def China 1-1(7) Fiji 21-16(142) def East Timor 1-1(7) WOMENS DIVISION FIRST ROUND PNG 9-3(57) def Australia IM 1-1(7) Ireland 4-7(31) def Canada 1-1(7) WOMENS DIVISION SECOND ROUND Canada 3-7(25) def PNG 0-0(0) USA 10-12 def Australia IM 0-0-0 WOMENS DIVISION THIRD ROUND Ireland 12-8(80) def PNG 2-0(12) Canada 4-5(29) def USA 1-5(11) FIXTURE 25 AUGUST 2011 All games to be played at the Royal Park North Grounds at Park Street,Parkville. The grounds can be accessed by Upfield line train to Jewell Station then a 5 to 10 min walk to the grounds. By Tram to Stop 18 on Sydney Rd then about 10 min walk. RANSFORD OVAL 9am Div 1 Men 5-8 Playoff Denmark vs Nauru 11am Div 1 Men Semi Final USA vs PNG 1pm Div 1 Men Semi Final Ireland vs NZ 3pm Div 1 Men 5-8 Playoff Sth Africa vs Great Britain WESTERN OVAL 9am Div 2 Men India vs East Timor 11am Div 2 Men France vs Peace Team 1pm Div 2 Men Fiji vs China 3pm Div 1 Men 9-12 Playoff Sweden vs Tonga MCALISTER OVAL 11am Women Australia IM vs Canada 1pm Women Ireland vs USA 3pm Div 1 Men 9-12 Playoff Sweden vs Tonga

Won at Geelong? Wasn't wearing the red and blue colours was it?

The international award winning documentary Talking Peace will be shown tomorrow night at the Classic Cinema Elsternwick - TACKLING PEACE. It's being shown in conjunction with the AFL's International Cup which reaches the finals stages at the end of the week in Melbourne. The Peace Team plays France is the semi final of their B Grade International Cup game tomorrow at Royal Park (entrance through Park Street) at 11 am. The showing of the film will be followed by a panel discussion including Age journalist Martin Flanagan who visited the area in June and has written some great pieces in the Age about this unbelievable innovation. I heard Martin and some of the team members speaking last night at the Melbourne launch and the story is riveting. The initiative is well supported by the AFL and there were two MFC board members at last night's reception as well as our own legendary Ron Barassi. You can reserve your tickets for the Classic Theatre, Elsternwick by paying $20.00 to: Account: Ameinu Inc. Westpac Banking Corporation BSB: 033047 Acct No: 375978 Once you pay your name(s) will be put on the list at the door and you will have automatic entry. There should also be tickets available at the door. Please don't miss this - I'm not sure if it will be shown here publicly for some time and it is an incredible story!

Melon22's how the Demons fared has now been added to KC'a article. Casey's chances of winning on Saturday have certainly not been enhanced by the two suspensions at AFL level. It's going to be a tough battle for the Scorpions against the Bullants this Saturday. I wonder if Brock McLean still remembers how to get to Casey Fields?

Red. I don't know about Ross Lyon because I haven't given him much thought as a possible coach but I know that if I go most weeks these days then a team coached by Lyon couldn't really dish up anything much more horrific that what I get to see ATM. After experiencing 2011, I would welcome watching them pick up the four points every week by playing ugly which just goes to show that ugly is in the eyes of the beholder.

There's so much talk about base camps and climbing mountains that we're soon going to need an altitude coach as well.

Nice work KC. I was also at the game and I believe that Melon22 will be doing his usual excellent job on "How the Demons fared?" but I'd like to give a few players a mention: • Neville Jetta - a terrific game and I'm still not sure why he's not in Melbourne's team today. Perhaps Jamie Bennell has been given a particular task but Nev must be a certainty for next week. • Kelvin Lawrence really started like a house on fire and I would say that with a good pre season behind him, he could be anything next year. He faded a little later in the game but he still did some amazing things. His tackling and defensive pressure reminded me a little of how Aaron Davey used to go about things about five or six years ago. • I'll pair Max Gawn and Jack Fitzpatrick - these two are both so athletic and agile for such tall players, all I can say is watch out for them in 2013, 14 and beyond. • Rohan Bail - a good second off game after a long lay off. • Dan Nicholson - good upside with lots of pace.

You could easily have come to the Railway Hotel in Port Melbourne for an 800g steak topped off with sticky date pudding and a hot chocolate, watched the footy on the big screen and been involved in some scintillating conversation during which the name Tom S..., er Tom ... Tom Swift from West Coast Eagles was not mentioned on a single occasion.

I voted no without giving the idea too much time because I believe that, philosophically, he doesn't fit into the mould of the group that the club's developing at this point in time. It's hard for some people to accept this especially in light of what the club's going through at the moment. In the face of the political upheaval, the bad media and the frustration of heavy defeats it's easy to claim someone like Fevola as a quick fix to our current woes but it would only be a band aid. The truth is that we need to continue along our current path because it's our best chance of bearing fruit in the medium to long term. As far as Fev himself is concerned, I reckon he's been fantastic for Casey and that includes the Melbourne players around him who would be learning a few things from an experienced forward who was once elite level. You notice the little things with Fev like the way he spoiled a Hamish McIntosh attempt to mark from in front of him. Fev put him out of a contest (sort of legally) with his body and the result was a goal to a teammate a few seconds later. I just hope that Max Gawn, Jack Fitzpatrick, Tom McDonald and (in the crowd) Lucas Cook were all watching.

This is a real headline from today's West Australian which I would like to see replicated one day over here - O'Meara shines in Demons delight although the context would need to be a little different because I would want to see the player in Melbourne Demons colours. It tells the story of Jaeger O'Meara's WAFL debut in a losing Peel Thunder side. The club's recruiters could really show their worth if they would manage to snaffle this kid, especially if we lose a certain player to the GWS pirates at the end of the year. If that happened a package deal of players could possibly be brokered to ensure that our compensation was fair and reasonable in the circumstances.

I think the idea of extending Todd Viney's caretaker coaching role by another twelve months is fraught with danger. We desperately need someone to come in with a plan, not just for the present but also for the years to come. We need to have someone in who will bring stability back to the club and not uncertainty and another change in a year's time. A stop gap measure would be a disaster for our young list which needs firm direction and a coach who can bring it into line with the most modern and up to date coaching methods - not another year of wondering what will happen next.

Well done. Having both coach's sons in the same team would have to be a first!